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Global Xiaomi 13 Pro Stops by Geekbench Ahead of Launch

Xiaomi 13 series was unveiled in China last year in November and the lineup has been on the shelves for quite some time now. Now, the company is ready to bring its latest number series, which includes the Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 13 Pro, and Xiaomi 13 Lite, to the global market on February 26. While we wait, the top-end model of the series has visited the Geekbench website, revealing some interesting details in the process.

Xiaomi 13 Pro has visited the Geekbench benchmarking site with model number 2210132G. The handset has been listed with an octa-core processor, codenamed “Kalama”. We already know it is Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The listing reveals the global version of Xiaomi 13 Pro will have 12GB of RAM and run Android 13 out of the box.

Xiaomi-13-Pro-Geekbench

The handset has received a single-core score of 1481 and a multi-core score of 4676. While these scores may seem impressive, the Chinese variant of the device did better. For reference, Xiaomi 13 Pro released in China managed to get a score of 1504 in single-core and 5342 in multi-core tests. However, these may be early tests and the retail units could perform better.

To recall, the handset debuted in China with a 6.73-inch 2K OLED display that offers up to 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1900 nits of peak brightness. Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, paired with Adreno GPU.

For photography, the handset gets a Leica-tuned triple camera setup on the back. The primary sensor is 50MP. There’s also a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 50MP telephoto sensor. The front houses a 32MP shooter for selfies and video calls. It packs a 4,820mAh battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging support.

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Google Pixel 7 Series Lacks Support for the Latest 5G Standard, Says Report

Google Pixel 7 series debuted back in 2022 with top-notch hardware, including a new Tensor G2 chip, improved cameras, better display, and a lot more. However, it is being reported that devices fall short in 5G connectivity. According to a report, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro models only support 5G Release 15, the initial 3GPP standard, instead of the latest 5G standard. Let’s look at the details.

The 3GPP, an engineering organization that develops protocols for mobile telecommunications, is responsible for deriving standards for 5G connectivity. These standards are made available as “releases”. Back in 2018, the organization launched Release 15 as the first 5G standard, which was followed by Release 16 in 2020. Now, as per a 9to5Google report, the latest Pixel 7 models are still on the older 3GPP Release 15.

Google-pixel-7-Pro

Other major flagships, such as the latest Galaxy S23 series, can support the newer Release 16. The Release 16 supports the Snapdragon X65 and last year’s X70 modem. According to Qualcomm, Release 16 brings a number of enhancements to the foundational aspects of the 5G system, in terms of coverage, capacity, latency, power, mobility, reliability, ease of deployment, and more.

According to Samsung, the Exynos 5300 modem included in Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones is capable of supporting Release 16. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that these smartphones will receive support for the latest 5G standard with the upcoming Android 14 release later this year.

It’s important to keep in mind that 5G Release 17 has already been launched, announced in July 2022. Furthermore, the upcoming Release 18 is expected to arrive sometime in 2024. Qualcomm has recently announced the Snapdragon X75, which includes support for both 5G Release 17 and 18, just earlier this month.

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Hongqi E202 EV Concept Features LiDAR-equipped Roof & 800v Fast Charging

Hongqi, the Chinese luxury car brand, has released the official images for its latest fully electric concept car called the E202. The EV which will be launched under the Hongqi New Energy Brand is a medium to large SUV and will come with the luminous Hongqi New Energy LOGO. 

The concept images of the EV, show a closed layout and a brand-new logo on the front. The vehicle features concave and convex facades, with a smooth and shiny finish that gives it a futuristic look. The side windows extend directly from the A-pillar to the rear of the car, giving it a simple and crisp finish. The waistline extends from the taillight to the front door and outlines downwards, gradually changing from the sculpted lines to the smooth concave surface. 

Hongqi E202 will come with advanced features like an intelligent four-wheel drive system, air suspension, automatic driving system, HAC intelligent driving advanced safety chassis, and more.  It will feature CATL’s Qilin batteries, an 800V platform, and battery swap technology. 

Other interesting features include electronic exterior mirrors, a two-color body, a dot-matrix decorated D-pillar, and a LiDAR-equipped roof to support the autonomous driving system.

The company claims that E202 can be charged within 5 minutes for a 300km drive thanks to its 800V fast charging system. The car will be unveiled in December this year and will launch in the market in 2024.

Hongqi’s Electric Vehicle Brand

Established in 1959, Hongqi is one of the oldest Chinese passenger car brands. Originally made for high-ranking Chinese officials and leaders, the brand moved to the open market and become commercial in the 1970s. In 2018, the Hongqi brand released a new strategy and design concept, which led to a surge in market sales and the gradual realization of global exports.

Recently, the company launched its Hongqi New Energy sub-brand for Electric Vehicles. The new brand will focus not only on the Chinese market but also on global options, especially in Europe. The company is planning to launch 15 new EVs under the New Energy Brand. 

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Samsung Galaxy A33 and Galaxy A53 5G Grabs One UI 5.1 Update

Samsung recently launched its One UI 5.1 user interface, based on Android 13, alongside the Galaxy S23 series. The brand recently released the first OTA update for the Galaxy S23 series. The Korean tech giant is now rolling out the One UI 5.1 update to the Samsung Galaxy A33 and Galaxy A53 5G devices. However, there’s a catch. The update is currently limited to the South Korean market and other global variants will grab the update soon.

The firmware version of the One UI 5.1 update for the Galaxy A33 5G is A336NKSU3CWB3, while the firmware version for the Galaxy A53 5G is A536NKSU4CWB3. The February 2023 security patch is also included in these updates for the devices. Samsung may, as previously said, issue the One UI 5.1 upgrade for the Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A33 5G in other nations in the upcoming weeks. There’s no official confirmation on the rollout schedule yet.

Samsung Galaxy A33 5G

You may now check for the most recent update if you possess one of these devices and reside in South Korea by going to Settings » Software update and selecting Download and install. We suggest waiting a few more days if you haven’t yet gotten the update before manually downloading it on your smartphone. The update is being carried out gradually, so it can take some time before it reaches all devices.

With the new update, the user interface and performance are also expected to be improved. The phone will operate more quickly and respond to user input more quickly as a result, making it easier to use. It is also expected that the update would include security enhancements that will shield the user data and the device from malicious attacks and other security threats. So there was the end of the topic. I appreciate you taking the time to read this entire post.

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HarmonyOS 3.1 Hands-on Video Reveals Impressive Animation Improvements

Huawei has recently begun testing the HarmonyOS 3.1 operating system in its P50 series, and early reports indicate that the new OS comes with some impressive changes to system animations. According to a HarmonyOS 3.1 developer beta tester, the new animations have been improved for various parts of the user interface, including the notification center and service widget combos.

One of the most significant changes is the relocation of the clock to the top left side of the status bar, which animates and blends seamlessly with the large clock of the animation bar. The animation shows this transformation in real-time, making it a more interactive experience. Huawei could further optimize the status bar clock for devices with different types of notches.

In addition to these changes, the widget combo shape selection also features a new animation that is more realistic and interactive compared to the previous HarmonyOS 3.0.

These are some of the tweaks that have surfaced now. The beta build will have many more changes and tweaks with the upcoming testing phase. You can check out the video here.

HarmonyOS 3.1 Developer Preview Details

The developer preview of HarmonyOS 3.1 adds a new ArkTS language and other performance improvements. The beta developer preview includes stage model life cycle management, scheduling, callback, context acquisition, authentication, and more. It also includes new operation and management capabilities.

The ArkUI development framework enhances declarative Canvas/XComponent component capabilities, component layout capabilities, and state management capabilities. It also optimizes the usability of some components.

While some of these changes may seem more developer-focused, it is likely that users will soon see more user-friendly improvements in future HarmonyOS 3.1 releases. Huawei is expected to release more devices in the developer beta phase, and we will keep you updated on any new developments.

Huawei is reportedly preparing to launch its P60 series smartphones in March, which may feature HarmonyOS 3.1, although an exact release date has not been confirmed.

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Philips 45-inch Ultra-wide Monitor With KVM Switches and USB Type-C Ports Announced

The Philips 45B1U6900C and 45B1U6900CH ultra-wide monitors have been announced. The two new Philips monitors share several similarities including 44.5-inch panels with 1500R curvature and 1440p resolutions. They are also equipped with KVM switches and USB-C connectivity. The VA panels in both models have a resolution of 5,120 x 1,440 pixels with a 32:9 aspect ratio.

Philips 45-inch Ultra-wide Monitor

The ultra-wide display in both models has a 1500R curvature, 75Hz refresh rate, and a maximum brightness of 450 nits. Philips says the panels offer 107% DCI-P3 color space coverage, 8-bit color depth, and 4ms response times. Furthermore, the pair have adjustable stands and a telescopic hook on which to hang headphones.

Philips 45-inch Ultra-wide Monitors

The 45B1U6900C and 45B1U6900CH come with dual HDMI 2.0 ports and DisplayPort 1.4 connectivity. The USB Type-C ports support 100W Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alt Mode. Both models also have Gigabit LAN ports and four USB 3.2 Type-A ports.

The 45B1U6900CH model however comes with a Windows Hello-certified webcam and a noise-canceling microphone. It is thus well-suited for professional use. The 45B1U6900C has a USB Type-B upstream port. The camera outputs at 5 MP and it can also provide biometric authentication for a connected PC.

Philips 45-inch Ultra-wide Monitor

Pricing information and full release details are lacking for both monitors at this time. More details about the new Philips lineup of ultra-wide monitors can be found on the company’s website. For now, Philips is however keeping the release details and pricing under wraps.

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Tesla Under Investigation in China After Fatal Crash

On Friday, a Tesla Model 3 EV crashed in East China’s Zhejiang Province causing one death and a critical injury. Though the exact reason for the crash is unknown, there are allegations that the accident happened due to a braking system failure in the EV.

The incident occurred on February 17, when a Tesla Model 3 which was speeding on an urban road, crashed into a bus. Before crashing into the bus, the vehicle also hit an electric bicycle and several cars on the road. Surveillance footage shows that during the crash, the brake lights were not engaged on the EV. The crash was so severe that it instantly killed the passenger, critically injured the driver, and damaged three other cars in the vicinity. 

Tesla Model 3

Tesla has agreed to fully cooperate with the local authorities during the investigation. Tesla China also released a statement saying, “We are very sad about this accident. We fully understand everyone’s concern about this accident. Currently, the local traffic police are investigating the cause of the crash, and we will do our best to cooperate with the authorities. We also ask everyone not to believe or spread unconfirmed information”.

Tesla is having a hard time in China as the company is facing tough competition from homegrown EV makers like BYD. The fatal crash on Friday has added to the company’s woes as consumers are now questioning the safety of EVs. After the crash, the company has seen a drop in its sales as rumors and allegations state that there is something wrong with Tesla EV’s braking system. Recently more than 300000 Tesla EVs were recalled in the US after authorities found that they posed a crash risk. Though the company has rolled out an OTA update to mitigate the crash risk, Tesla’s reputation has taken a hit after the US investigation reports.

Tesla has faced similar allegations in the past, where customers have complained of braking issues and brake failure. However, investigations have always come out in favor of the company, as in all previous cases authorities found that it was the driver’s mistake that caused the accident.

Tesla, which was the number one EV seller in the world, was recently dethroned by the Chinese EV company BYD. China is the biggest EV market in the world, with a projected revenue of $190.40 billion in 2023. The country reported a 113% growth in its EV sale, a staggering figure as compared to North America and Europe. China’s BYD overtook Tesla last year to be the number one Electric Vehicle seller in the world. Hence, it is obvious that Tesla will keep an eye on China and its growing EV market. 

During the Q4 2022 earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that Chinese workers worked the smartest and hardest of all and Chinese EV makers are the biggest rival to Tesla. Hence the company is working harder to recapture its market in China by introducing price cuts and other benefits exclusive to Chinese customers. 

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Samsung Rolls Out its First Software Update for Galaxy S23 Ultra

It hasn’t been long since the official release of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone. We recently discovered a strange OIS-related problem on the smartphone. Regardless, the manufacturer has begun releasing the S23 Ultra device’s first firmware update. The most recent update adds a security patch for February 2023 to the device, as well as other minor tweaks. For the issues reported by the reviewers, the update may contain a fix.

The Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra are receiving the February 2023 security patch. The most recent update has the build number S91xBXXU1AWBD. The latest update is currently being rolled out to European variants of the smartphone. Other regional versions should receive the update soon. The update is usually released to all global regions within a few days. Unlocked smartphones will receive updates ahead of carrier-locked models, particularly in the United States. The most recent update is 567MB in size.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

If you have a Galaxy S23 series phone and live in Europe, you can now check for the most recent update by navigating to Settings » Software update and choosing Download and install. If you haven’t yet received the update, we advise you to give it a few more days before downloading it to your smartphone manually. It can take some time for all devices to get the update because it is being rolled out in stages.

The user interface and performance are also expected to be enhanced with the new update. This will speed up the phone’s performance and make it more responsive to user input, making it simpler to use. Additionally, the update is anticipated to feature security upgrades that will protect the device and user data from malicious assaults and other security risks. So that was all there was to the subject. Many thanks for reading this post all the way through.

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OnePlus Foldable Will Not Be a Rebranded Version of the Oppo Find N2

OnePlus will enter the foldable smartphone market with the launch of its own foldable device later this year. The company revealed its plans during its Cloud 11 event, where it also announced the launch of its highly anticipated OnePlus 11 flagship smartphone.

OnePlus-Fold-teaser

Digital Chat Station, a popular leaker on Weibo, has shared more details about the upcoming device, revealing that it will have a large display with a 2K display resolution, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series.

OnePlus foldable leak

This suggests that the new OnePlus foldable will not be a rebranded Oppo Find N2, which has a folding screen resolution of 1,792 x 1,920, closer to FHD+ than 2K. However, it is possible that the OnePlus foldable and Oppo’s foldable Find N2 may share similar features.

While fans eagerly await the new device’s arrival, they will have to be patient, as the official launch is expected no earlier than July. Until then, we will have to wait for more information about the specs, design, and features of OnePlus’ highly anticipated foldable phone.

OnePlus will be following in the footsteps of its sister companies OPPO and Vivo, both of which have already released their own foldable devices in China. As all three brands are owned by BBK Electronics, it is not surprising that OnePlus is now entering the foldable smartphone segment.

OPPO, which entered the foldable market in 2021, recently unveiled the Find N2 and Find N2 Flip in China. By launching its own foldable device, OnePlus is poised to compete with other major OEMs such as Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi. The company’s reputation for delivering high-quality, affordable smartphones is likely to make its foldable device an attractive option for consumers looking to try out the latest technology.

With the foldable smartphone market still in its early stages, it remains to be seen how well OnePlus’s upcoming device will fare. However, with the backing of BBK Electronics and the success of its sister companies’ foldable devices, OnePlus is well-positioned to make a splash in this exciting new segment of the smartphone market.

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Xiaomi Pad 5 Bags MIUI 14 Update Based on Android 13

Xiaomi unveiled MIUI 14 at the Xiaomi 13 series launch event in China in December. Since then, the company has been rolling out the latest software for its devices worldwide.

However, the rollout has been limited to smartphones for now. Thankfully, that’s changing now as the company has started pushing the tablet version of the software (MIUI 14 Pad).

Xiaomi Pad 5

Xiaomi had earlier revealed that the stable version of MIUI 14 Pad will reach all eligible tablets in April 2023. Therefore, the company has begun to roll out the update now itself.

Currently, the fresh software is only available for the vanilla Xiaomi Pad 5 in China. The update arrives with build number V14.0.4.0.TKXCNXM and it is based on Android 13.

In other words, the device is now receiving its second MIUI as well as second Android update. Since the company hasn’t disclosed anything about the product’s software policy, we are not sure if it will receive any major software updates hereafter.

Anyway, as of now, the update is limited to ‘Pilot Testers’. The general public will initially get access to the update as part of the ‘Stable Beta’ rollout, followed by the final ‘Stable’ release later.

Xiaomiui says that the software is also ready for ‘Global’ and ‘EEA’ variants of the Xiaomi Pad 5. These builds are expected to release by March end.

There’s a chance that Xiaomi may start pushing MIUI 14 Pad for the remaining eligible tablets in China in the coming days. We will be updating our readers regarding the same whenever that happens.

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WhatsApp Adds Support of Picture-in-Picture Video Calls on iOS

WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms. They had recently rolled out an update for Android devices which adds numerous features to the devices like Avatars and extended media sharing limit. Now, it has recently announced that they are adding picture-in-picture support for iOS video calls. This feature will allow users to make and receive calls while still being able to do other tasks on their phones at the same time.

Picture-in-picture (PiP) mode enables users to watch a video in a smaller window while continuing to use their device in other ways. For example, if you are viewing an online tutorial or conversing with someone over WhatsApp Video Call, you may continue working on your emails or browsing social media without interfering with your call session. The PiP window can also be moved and resized as needed by the user so that it does not interfere with whatever else they are doing at the time.

Whatsapp

iOS users can update their application to the latest V23.3.77 to enjoy these features. This new WhatsApp update makes multitasking during video calls much easier than before; users will no longer have to choose between staying in touch with friends and family via voice/video chat and getting work done! It’s also wonderful news for people who frequently find themselves juggling many conversations at once – owing to this new PiP function, they’ll be able to bounce back and forth between them more simply!

Not only that, but the most recent version now supports adding captions to documents as well as longer subjects and descriptions to better express what your chat groups are all about. Overall, we believe that this is a fantastic addition to Whatsapp that will dramatically improve the user experience while doing Video Calls. So that was all we had to say about WhatsApp’s most recent update. Thank you for sticking with me until the end.

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Sony PlayStation 5 Sales Sees Impressive 200% Boost in Europe

The Sony PlayStation 5 has apparently seen a massive bump in sales in Europe last month. The company’s latest generation of gaming console saw sales more than double over the same month last year. So here are all the details.

According to a new report, the Japanese tech giant sold over 493,000 units of its consoles across the European region (not including UK and Germany) in January 2023. The company saw an impressive rise of around 202 percent in Ps5 sales across the European market. One of the reasons for this impressive rise in sales is due to improving supply chains. Back in January 2022, the PS5 sales were lackluster owing to supply constraints.

Sony

But with the PS5 sales last month, it appears that the situation has improved significantly. The PS5 was also the No. 1 console of the month, beating the Nintendo Switch, which saw a drop in sales of around 11 percent from January 2022. Lastly, the Microsoft Xbox Series S and X also saw drop in sales by around 32 percent year on year. During this same period, the brand sold 1.76 million add on products across Europe. However, this also marked a 2.1 percent drop in sales over the month before.

The PS5 DualSense controllers were by far the best selling accessory. Apart from this, Sony also sold 1.37 million points and subscription cards were sold across Europe last month, which also marked another 4 percent drop over January 2022.

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Stuffcool Palm 10,000mAh Power Bank Launched In India

Stuffcool has expanded its range of power banks. The homegrown brand has announced Stuffcool Palm. As the name suggests, it is a palm-sized power bank. The device is also Made in India. Read on to know what it offers out of the box. 

The Stuffcool Palm is an ultra-compact power bank. It is basically the size of a credit card and measures just 6 x 8 cm. The device fits into the user’s palm and pockets making it easy to carry everywhere. The charging accessory features a sleek and glossy finish. There is an LED indicator and a circular button. 

The Stuffcool Palm is BIS-certified and features an extra intelligent safety layer. It houses a 10,000mAh battery unit. There is a USB-C port with 20W PD power that is claimed to top up any iPhone 50 percent in 30 minutes. The power bank can charge itself via the same port with an 18W PD power input. The charging accessory also features a USB-A port that is capable of outputting 22.5W QC3.0 for Android phones and other devices. 

The Stuffcool Palm 10,000mAh power bank carries a price tag of Rs 2,999. It is available in Yellow and White colours and can be purchased from the brand’s official website, Amazon, and leading retail stores across the country. 

Earlier this month, Stuffcool also launched the Stack 3-in-1 magnetic charger. It can be folded when not in use and can also charge three devices including a smartphone, TWS earphones, and a smartwatch simultaneously. The device carries a price tag of Rs 4,990. 

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Vivo V27 Series Confirmed To Launch In India On March 1

Vivo has been teasing its upcoming V-series since the last few days. The V27 series is set to launch globally in eight days. Now the brand’s India branch has confirmed that the upcoming V-series smartphones will debut in the country on March 1st at 12 pm local time. It’s unclear how many devices will launch but since the company says ‘V-series’, we can expect a standard and Pro variant. The Vivo V27e may arrive at a later date in the country. Additionally, Flipkart has put up a microsite of the V27 series confirming the smartphone’s availability on the e-commerce platform. 

As per the teasers, the Vivo V27 series is confirmed to come with a 120Hz display and a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. It will feature a 3D curved screen with a 60-degree screen curvature offering an ergonomic grip. The Vivo V27 series will sport a large rectangular camera module housing three sensors, an LED flash, and an LED ring light. The upcoming offering is confirmed to feature a 1/1.56” Sony IMX766V sensor with support for OIS. The smartphone will retain the colour-changing back panel from its predecessor i.e. the Vivo V25 series. 

The Vivo V27 series is teased to be available in Magic Blue and Noble Black colours. The upcoming offering is expected to be rebranded versions of the Vivo V16 series that debuted in China in December. 

The rest of the specifications of the Vivo V27 series remain unknown at the moment. We can expect the brand to tease more details leading up to the launch event. 

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BYD Showcases Its New N7 SUV Model in a Snowy Teaser Video

BYD has been gearing up to launch a new SUV model. But prior to its official announcement, the company has shared a new teaser video which showcases the upcoming N7 SUV model.

BYD

Looking at the new teaser, we can see the N7 SUV being driven through the snow. For those unaware, the N series is the Chinese automobile manufacturer’s SUV series and the N7 will be the latest addition. This model will be a medium sized SUV with five seats. The company had teased the concept of this vehicle in the past and it appears that a mass produced version of this vehicle features camouflage as well, based on the trailer.

We can see sharp headlights at the front with a wing shaped grille just below both headlights. Rumors have suggested that the BYD N7 will feature the brand’s proprietary DM-i hybrid engine, which means that it can run on both regular fuel and even on pure electricity as well. Unfortunately, the pricing of this vehicle is still at large, but the N7 SUV model may launch in the 200,000 to 300,000 Yuan price range (roughly 29,000 to 43,000 US Dollars).

BYD

As of right now, the company has yet to official reveal the launch date for this vehicle. Although, an official had previously mentioned that the N7 SUV will be released in the first half of this year. Meaning, we can expect it to launch in the Spring season in China. So stick around for more updates regarding this matter.

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Alleged Nubia Z50 Ultra Arrives on TENAA

Back in December, the Nubia Z50 went official in China as one of the first smartphones powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It has been two months since then, however, the brand is yet to debut the next models in the lineup.

Looks like that may happen soon. That’s because the top variant in the series seems to have been certified by TENAA. At the same time, its features have been tipped by a reliable leaker.

Nubia Z50
Nubia Z50

As per ITHome, an unknown Nubia smartphone has been listed on TENAA. This device bears model number NX712J. The publication suggests that this handset could go official as Nubia Z50 Ultra.

A couple of reliable tipsters have recently revealed a few details about this phone. Hence, there’s a high chance that this mysterious device could be the ‘Ultra’ model of the Z50 family.

The TENAA listing currently does not include the specs. We expect the listing to get populated with specs in the coming days.

According to Digital Chat Station, the upcoming Nubia Z50 Ultra will come equipped with ZTE’s fourth generation under screen front-facing camera. The tech implemented is said to be from BOE.

Further, the display is tipped to offer 2K resolution and curved edges. It will be run by a second-gen display chip.

The phone is expected to house a periscope zoom camera. Last but not least, it is said to be backed by a 5,000mAh battery.

We are looking forward to learning more about the Nubia Z50 Ultra in the coming days.

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Sony PlayStation Plus to Bring This New Feature to a 24yr Old Classic PS1 Game

Sony is apparently planning on bringing a new feature update to a classic PlayStation 1 era title. The new update for the 24 year old game could be arriving from the company’s PlayStation Plus premium service.

Sony

For those unaware, PlayStation Plus is the Japanese tech giant’s most expensive tier on its newly overhauled PS Plus service. There are various benefits offered to PS Plus buyers, which includes the ability to play certain PS1, PS2, and PSP games at no extra cost. Buyers can even gain access to streaming select PS3 titles as well. Premium users can also download trials for a set duration, allowing them to try out games for a limited time (like 3 hours for God of War Ragnarok) as a part of this subscription plan.

But now, sources have revealed that this is also bringing updates to much older games as well. This includes The Legend of Dragoon. Apparently, the PS Plus Premium Tier would offer a new trophy system, which wasn’t even a feature available more than two decades ago. Although, this feature might no be ready for launch yet. But sources have claimed that the trophies for The Legend of Dragoon will be added soon after the release on PS Plus Premium.

Sony

The Premium service is set to launch February 21. Sony has recently been adding trophy support for classic games that were available on PS Plus Premium. This includes titles like No Heroes Allowed and Super Stardust Portable. So it won’t be very surprising if the company also brings trophy support for The Legend of Dragoon.

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Tencent Pulls the Plug on Its VR Hardware Plans: Report

Tencent is apparently planning on abandoning one of its more recent projects. The company is rumored to be ending its VR (Virtual Reality) hardware project. So here are all the details.

With the unveiling of the Metaverse, brands rushed to launch their own products that would enable users to tap into the new sphere of social networking. However, it seems that it wasn’t quite an easy market to capture. The Chinese tech giant was originally planning on building VR based products through its XR unit last year. But now it has seemingly asking its staff to “seek other opportunities” after the hype behind Metaverse died down.

Tencent

As per a new report, the company faced “Difficulties in achieving quick profitability”. In simpler terms, the amount of money it would have to spend to compete with other rival brands in the same category wouldn’t have brought in any profit. Furthermore, this decision was also made following a lack of compelling games and non gaming apps, which were the original reason that saw the company focus in virtual reality.

Previously, Tencent had also made a “ring like handheld game controller” concept, but this unit wouldn’t have been profitable until 2027. Thus, the company decided to pull the plug on this project. The brand has worked in VR for sometime now, but it appears that it no longer sees a point in entering the market with its own hardware for the time being. So stick around for more updates regarding this matter.

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Infinix INBook Y1 Plus 15.6″ FHD display laptop launched in India

Infinix has extended its laptop offerings with the launch of the new Infinix INBook Y1 Plus. Featuring a 15.6-inch FHD display, this laptop is equipped with a 10th Gen i3 processor and is available in two storage options: 8 GB + 256 GB and 8 GB + 512 GB. The laptop boasts an aluminum alloy finish and has a weight of 1.76 kg, measuring a slim 18.2 mm in thickness. Let’s take a closer look at the machine.

Infinix

Infinix INBook Y1 Plus specs

The Infinix Inbook Y1 Plus laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD display, which delivers a peak brightness of 250 nits and 86% sRGB color space. With its slim design and narrow bezels, the laptop exudes a modern aesthetic. The device is powered by an Intel i3-1005G1 (3.4GHz) dual-core processor, with 8GB RAM and 256GB/512GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD storage options.

The laptop is equipped with a 50Whr battery that can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. Additionally, the laptop comes with a 45W Type-C charger, which can recharge the device up to 75% in approximately one hour. The laptop includes a variety of ports, such as two USB 3.0, one HDMI, and a Type-C port. The device runs on the Windows 11 operating system and features a backlit keyboard, a 2MP webcam with dual LED lights, dual microphones, and an AI noise reduction feature.

Pricing & availability

Available in Blue, Grey, and Silver color options, the Infinix INBook Y1 Plus is priced at Rs. 29,990 for the 8GB + 128GB variant, while the 8GB + 256GB version costs Rs. 32,990. The laptop will be available for purchase on Flipkart from February 24th, with an attractive bank discount of Rs. 2000, bringing the effective price down to Rs. 27,990.

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Gizmore Cloud Smartwatch Launched in India with 1.85 Inch Display & 7 Day Battery

Gizmore has just launched a new smart wearable product in the Indian market. The new device in question is the Cloud smartwatch that is built to allow users to track their heath and fitness, and more. So here are all the details.

Despite its budget price tag, the new Cloud smartwatch model sports a tall 1.85 inch HD IPS LCD curve display that outputs 500 nits of peak brightness. This panel is also surrounded by a metallic casing as well. The new Gizmore Cloud features Bluetooth calling as well, which means that users can take calls seamlessly from their smartwatches when paired with a smartphone.

Gizmore

The device is jam packed with features like IP67 water and dust resistance and seamless calling and music playback. It also features a multifunction rotating crown and split screen support as well. The Cloud smartwatch also supports AI voice assistants like Alexa and Siri that can also control the watch as well. The watch is powered by a large battery pack that enables it to offer seven days of battery life on a single full charge.

Other notable features include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, SpO2 blood oxygen monitoring, and more. This is quite impressive considering the new smartwatch costs just 1,699 INR (roughly 20 US Dollars). It arrives in multiple color options, namely Black Strap, Blue Strap with Black Metal Body and Brown Color Strap with Rose Gold Metal Body. The Gizmore Cloud will go on sale starting on February 20 on Flipkart with an introductory price tag of just 1,199 INR (roughly 15 US Dollars).

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