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pTron Basspods Flare Launched in India; Starting from INR 899

In India, pTron is one of the most well-known smartphone accessory manufacturers. They have introduced a number of products in the nation. A new model of pTron Basspods Flare with a couple of exciting features has now been released by the company in India. The Basspods Flare is a gaming-focused TWS that provides low-latency wireless technology for a fluid gaming experience and gaming-grade audio performance on a variety of devices. Let’s take a closer look at the device’s features and characteristics.

The 13mm high-fidelity audio drivers in the pTron Basspods Flare provide an immersive listening experience. According to the manufacturer, the drivers are specifically tuned to deliver a clear and rich audio experience with support for surround sound. The drivers have also been tweaked to deliver the finest gaming experience possible. TruTalk technology, which is also included with the TWS, delivers dynamic noise reduction and offers a clean and crisp audio pickup while on calls. The gadget has a special gaming mode that makes use of AptSense technology. When playing games, the technique reduces the device’s latency to 40ms.

ptron basspods flare

The manufacturer has included RGB light support in the charging case to give it a gaming-focused look. The weight of each earbud is about 3.5 grammes. Additionally, the device supports multi-function touch control. The touch controls allow users to do a variety of things, like play and pause audio. In terms of connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3 is included with the earphones. The device has a USB Type-C charging port, and the manufacturer claims that a single full charge will power it for up to 35 hours.

Additionally, the earbuds have a voice assistant capability. The brand has additionally incorporated an IPX4 grade for sweat and splash resistance. There will be three colour options for the TWS: Black, Blue, and Yellow. Starting on February 9th, 2022, Flipkart India will offer it for sale in the nation at a price of INR 1,299 per unit. However, as an introductory deal, the device would be priced at INR 899. This concludes the post on the pTron Basspods Flare. Many thanks for reading this post all the way through.

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Nokia X30 5G Teased To Launch In India Soon

The Nokia X30 5G was launched in the global markets in September last year. Now the device is set to arrive in the Indian markets soon. The revelation comes from Nokia India’s Vice President on the microblogging platform Twitter. He added that the X30 5G is ‘coming to India soon’. However, the exact launch timeline remains a mystery. We can expect to learn the official details in the coming days. 

The Indian variant of the Nokia X30 5G is expected to pack the same specifications as its global counterpart. It is an environmentally friendly smartphone made up of 100 percent recycled aluminium and 65 percent plastic. The device features a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. It is equipped with an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The device is shielded by Gorilla Glass Victus and is IP67-certified waterproof. 

The Nokia X30 5G sports a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50MP main sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens. There is a 16MP front-facing selfie snapper. 

Internally, the Nokia X30 5G is equipped with a Snapdragon 695 processor. It is offered in 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage configurations. The smartphone is backed by a 4,200mAh battery unit with support for 33W fast charging. On the software front, the device comes with three years of OS upgrades as well as monthly security updates. 

The Nokia X30 5G is priced at $529 in the global market. 

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Vivo V27 Pro, V27e Spotted On Google Play Console

Two new Vivo V-series smartphones have been spotted on the Google Play Console listing. The devices are the upcoming Vivo V27 Pro and V27e. The former is listed with model number V2230 whereas the latter has model number V2237. The Vivo V27 series has been subject to leaks and rumours in the past. This suggests that the smartphones may launch soon in India. 

Beginning with the Play Console listing, the Vivo V27 Pro will feature a display resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels and have a 440 ppi pixel density. The rendered image shows the phone with a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout and curved edges. The listing mentions the presence of MediaTek MT6896Z/CZA processor that corresponds to the Dimensity 8200 SoC. It packs 8GB RAM and runs on Android 13 OS out of the box. We can expect the smartphone to be available in more RAM and storage configurations. 

As for the Vivo V27e, it is listed with the same display, RAM, and operating system details as the V27 Pro. The V27e is expected to be powered by MediaTek MT6789 SoC which is actually the Helio G99. The smartphone is also seen with a curved display and centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. 

The Vivo V27 series also includes a standard variant. It has not appeared on the Play Console listing but was spotted on Geekbench recently with an unannounced MediaTek chipset and 12GB RAM. The smartphone is rumoured to be priced around Rs 35,000 whereas the Pro model is expected to cost Rs around Rs 40,000. 

We will learn more details about the Vivo V27 series in the coming weeks.

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Tecno Pop 7 Pro India Launch Next Week, Here’s What to Expect

Tecno has confirmed that it will unveil the Tecno Pop 7 Pro in India next week. It is not an entirely new phone since it has already been launched in Africa. In addition, it bears similarities with the Spark Go 2023. Hence, it appears that the Spark Go 2023 and Pop 7 Pro may mainly differ in departments like RAM and storage.

Yesterday, GizmoChina carried an exclusive post to reveal that the Tecno Pop 7 Pro will debut this month, and as can be seen in the tweet, the company has confirmed that it will launch next week. In Africa, the device is available in black, blue, and purple.

Tecno POP 7 Pro
Tecno Pop 7 Pro

In India, the Tecno Pop 7 Pro will come in two colors, and one of them is blue. It will succeed the Pop 6 Pro, which debuted for Rs 7,999 in September 2022. Here is a look at the specifications of the Pop 7 Pro.

Tecno Pop 7 Pro specifications

The Tecno Pop 7 Pro, available in Africa, has a 6.56-inch LCD display with a teardrop notch. It has an HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz. Under the hood, the Pop 7 Pro features a Helio A22 chipset, up to 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage. The device runs the HiOS 12-based Android 12 OS. For additional storage, it has a microSD card slot.

On the front of the Pop 7 Pro is a 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash. The rear shell of the device has a 13-megapixel camera with an LED flash and a fingerprint scanner. It has a 5,000mAh battery that supports charging via the USB-C port.

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Sonos CEO Slams Big Tech for Lack of Innovation in Audio

Sonos CEO, Patrick Spence, recently took aim at big tech companies Amazon, Google and Apple during the company’s Q1 2023 earnings call. Despite facing strong competition in the audio market, Spence praised Sonos’ financial performance and sales momentum and took the opportunity to criticize his competitors for not “doing anything interesting” in the audio industry. Here are the details…

Sonos CEO says Amazon, Google aren’t ‘doing anything interesting’ in audio

According to Patrick Spence none of the big tech companies launched any new audio hardware during the crucial holiday quarter. However, Spence remains confident about Sonos’ future, stating that he is “excited and confident about the product roadmap we have and our ability to take more and more of that $96 billion [global audio market]”.

Sonos sound

Google’s most recent home audio product is the aging Nest Audio, while Amazon’s fall 2022 hardware event lacked the introduction of new smart speakers. Sonos has said it will release a product in one of its four new categories in 2023 and is set to revitalize its high-end home audio lineup with new speakers. The company also has a second-generation Sonos Move portable speaker under development.

Sonos delivered strong earnings and beat Wall Street expectations for the Q1 fiscal quarter, thanks in part to discounts on its products over the holidays. This was the first time in three years that Sonos was able to offer promotions and the company emphasized bundles that boosted the percentage of multi-product customer households. The average number of products for each Sonos household is currently 2.98 and the company sees a $5 billion revenue opportunity in converting single-product customers to the multi-device lifestyle.

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China Holds its Spot as the Largest Semiconductor Market in 2022

In a recent report, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) announced that the global semiconductor sales for 2022 stand at $573.5 billion, showing a 3.2% increase from last year. China still holds the number one position in the semiconductor market which accounts for one-third of the global revenue. This is also the highest global sales ever reported by the industry, despite the ongoing US-China tech war and economic downturn.

source: SIA

SIA President and CEO, John Neuffer, said that the global semiconductor market experienced significant ups and downs in 2022, with record-high sales early in the year followed by a cyclical downturn taking hold later in the year.  

He further added that despite short-term fluctuations in sales due to market cyclicality and macroeconomic conditions, the long-term outlook for the semiconductor market remains incredibly strong, due to the ever-increasing role of chips in making the world smarter, more efficient, and better connected.

Why are semiconductors important?

Semiconductors are one of the most important technology items of the era. . All the major technology sectors, like wired communication, consumer electronics, industrial electronics, automotive electronics, wireless communication, and computing and data storage, require semiconductors. Advancement in artificial intelligence, military and weapons systems, space technology, and more is not possible without having the latest and cutting-edge semiconductor tech.

Semiconductors are divided on the basis of circuit design and function. As per the integrated circuitry, the semiconductors can be classified as digital, analog, and mixed and as per functionality they are classified as memory chips, microprocessors, standard chips, and complex systems-on-a-chip (SoCs). 

In 2022, microprocessors generated the highest revenue of $176 billion followed by memory chips which reported sales of $130 billion.  The biggest revenue jump was seen in analog chips used in automobiles, computers, and other consumer goods. Analog chips reported $89 billion in revenue, a 7.5% increase in 2022. 

China’s Semiconductor Industry:

China the world’s largest semiconductor market accounted for almost one-third of the global sales. The Chinese semiconductor industry plays a major role in the technology sector of the country, which accounts for almost 30% of its GDP. The semiconductor industry includes a wide variety of companies, from integrated device manufacturers to pure-play foundries, fabless semiconductor companies, and OSAT companies.

Currently, China’s semiconductor industry includes a wide variety of companies from Fabless semiconductor firms like ZhaoXin, UNISOC, and HiSilocon to IDMs (Integrated Device Manufacturers) like Yangtze Memory Technology Corp and ChangXin memory Technologies.

China which aims to become the global leader in artificial intelligence and quantum computing needs an uninterrupted supply of semiconductors to achieve this target. However, the country is facing huge pressure under the US sanctions on the semiconductor export to China. 

Last year US introduced increased restrictions on semiconductor exports to China to stop its advancement in AI and disrupt its progress in chip making. These restrictions stopped US companies and some of its allies like the Netherlands and Japan from providing machines, tools, personnel, and technical know-how to Chinese companies.

The sanctions and additional restrictions on China have made a global impact as, despite the increase in total sales, the second half of 2022 reported a gradual decrease in revenue.  The fourth-quarter sales of $130.2 billion were 14.7% less than in the same period in 2021 and 7.7% lower than in the third quarter of 2022. Global sales for the month of December 2022 were $43.4 billion, a decrease of 4.4% compared to November 2022. 

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Infinix Smart 7 To Launch In India On February 22

Infinix Smart 7 launch date in India has been revealed. The brand has set out launch invites. The device is set to debut in the country on February 22nd. The upcoming offering will arrive as the successor to the last year’s Infinix Smart 6. It will also come with upgrades compared to its predecessor. 

The Infinix Smart 7 will come with a compact form factor. The back panel has a wave pattern that is said to be coated with Silver-ion spray which has a 99 percent antibacterial rate. There is a squarish camera module housing two camera sensors, an LED flash, and a fingerprint scanner. On the front, the smartphone is said to feature a 6.6-inch display bearing an HD+ resolution, 400 nits brightness, and a waterdrop notch.

The Infinix Smart 7 will be powered by a 6,000mAh battery unit compared to the 5,000mAh on its predecessor. The phone will pack 4GB RAM along with 3GB virtual RAM and 64GB onboard storage. The upcoming offering is expected to be offered in Green and Blue colour options. 

The Infinix Smart 7 is teased to be priced under Rs 7,500 as per the company. This will pit it against the likes of the Redmi A1, Moto E13, Realme C30, and more in the market. 

As for the Infinix Smart 6, it is powered by Helio A22 SoC and a 5,000mAh battery unit. It packs 2GB RAM along with an additional 2GB virtual RAM and 64GB onboard storage. The device features an 8MP rear camera paired with an depth sensor and a 5MP front-facing snapper.

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Vivo V27, V27 Pro Prices Leaked, Tipped to Arrive with Dimensity 7200, Dimensity 8200

Vivo V27 series is expected to arrive in multiple markets soon. As per reports, the Vivo V27 5G and Vivo V27 Pro 5G will be unveiled later this month in the global market. Both devices may launch in India by the middle of March. A new report by 91mobiles has spilt key details on the chipsets of both smartphones. In addition, the report has leaked the prices of both models.

The publication has not revealed the exact price of the Vivo V27 5G but claims that the base model will cost around Rs 35,000 in India. The Pro version is expected to cost around Rs 40,000. The leak claims that both models will be available in 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage configurations.

Vivo V25 Pr
Vivo V25 Pro

As per the report, the Vivo V27 5G will debut as the world’s first phone powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200, which hasn’t gone official yet. The V27 Pro 5G is said to be equipped with the Dimensity 8200 SoC, which also powers the China-exclusive Vivo S16 Pro. Hence, there is a possibility that the S16 Pro will be rebadged as the Vivo V27 Pro 5G in markets outside of China.

The S16 Pro has a 6.78-inch AMOLED FHD+ 120Hz curved-edge display, a 50-megapixel front camera with dual-LED flash, and a 50-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit. The D8200-powered phone will be equipped with a 4,600mAh battery with 66W fast charging. The device is also equipped with Android 13 OS and an under-display fingerprint scanner.

The Vivo V27 and V27 Pro will arrive in two shades, such as blue (color changing back) and black. Both phones will be sold via Flipkart, Vivo’s online shop, and offline stores in India.

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India Smartwatch Market Doubles in 2022, While Wrist Bands Fall by 84%

A new report has revealed interesting details regarding the wearable market in India. In 2022, smartwatches and hearables have seen robust growth, while smart bands/wrist bands have seen a major decline. Here are all the details.

An IDC report found that India saw 30.72 million units of smartwatches being shipped in 2022, which marks a whopping 151.3 percent growth over the previous year which saw just 12.22 million units in sales. On a similar positive trend even the hearables category saw a 28 percent growth year on year, reaching 68.83 million units in shipments last year. However, the wrist band category saw a hefty 84.4 percent decline during this same period, shipping just around 592,000 units in the whole year, compared to 2.2 million units in 2021.

One of the reasons for the decline of smart bands is due to the falling price tags of smartwatches. The latter are generally more powerful and more capable in terms of functionality, so its not surprising that cheaper smartwatches have basically replaced these gadgets. Brands that took advantage of this includes boAt and Noise that took the two top spots in the wearable market in India, with a 29.3 percent and 12.2 percent market share respectively.

Notably, OnePlus also rounded up the top 3 list with an 8.7 percent market share. While most brands saw a rise in this time, boAt’s market share saw a decline but it still leads the market. The top three brands accounted for over half of the entire market primarily due to strong sales in the hearables category, which is worth more than half of the entire wearables market in the region.

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Xiaomi TV Stick 4K India to Launch on Feb 14 with Dolby Atmos & Built-in Chromecast

Earlier today (9th February 2023), Xiaomi announced that it will be launching a new smart home product. The device in question is the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K and the company has official released its launch date for the Indian market.

Xiaomi

For those unaware, the Chinese tech giant’s Xiaomi TV Stick 4K was first unveiled back in 2021 and is finally making its way to the Indian region. As the name suggests, it is a TV Stick device that basically turns your regular television into a Smart TV after you plug in this product. This device features support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even comes with a built-in Chromecast.

It is paired with a Mi Voice Remote that features Netflix and Amazon Prime Video shortcut buttons and even Disney+ Hotstar and a dedicated Assistant buttons as well for easy voice searches. Under the hood, the TV Stick 4K houses a quad core Cortex A35 processor and also supports dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac. While the global variant of the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K comes with Android TV 11, the Indian variant will come with the brand’s Patchwall that is also available on its smart TV offerings.

Xiaomi

The new TV Stick will enable seamless streaming in high 4K resolution, which will allow users to enjoy their favorite movies and videos in Ultra High Definition. Unfortunately, the company has yet to officially reveal the price tag of this device. So stay tuned for the announcement and block your calendar for 14th February 2023.

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NIO Unveils Render of Upcoming NIO Phone with Mixed Reactions

The product range of technology companies is expanding day by day. For example, Apple and Huawei continue to work to make electric vehicles. Moreover, Xiaomi and a few other companies are following in their footsteps. However, the situation is slightly different for NIO. Because this time, the car manufacturer is preparing to launch a smartphone. Here are the details about the NIO Phone….

NIO smartphone will launch in 2023

NIO has recently released a render of its upcoming smartphone, the NIO Phone. According to the company’s statement, the phone is expected to be released in the third quarter of the year and will have a circular camera module on the back and a triangular camera distribution. The phone is designed with rounded edges and the NIO logo is located on the lower half of the device.

However, the design of the phone has received mixed reviews from the public. Some have compared the phone’s design to Huawei’s Mate 50 and Honor’s Magic 5 series, with some saying it lacks originality. There are also comments on the internet that criticize the phone’s appearance as “roughly PS processed” and “ugly.” It should be noted that these are not our thoughts.

The NIO Phone is positioned as a high-end flagship device and is expected to be priced above 5000 yuan, potentially reaching up to 7000 yuan. This would make it one of the few flagship devices on the market that is a straight-plate phone. NIO’s CEO, Li Bin, has previously stated that the NIO Phone will be the product with the highest matching degree with NIO’s electric cars, indicating that the company is looking to integrate its products into a seamless user experience.

While the NIO Phone has garnered attention for its association with the electric vehicle maker, its design has not been well received by the public. The phone’s high price point and lack of originality are factors that may deter consumers from buying the device. Only time will tell if NIO’s entry into the smartphone market will be successfu

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boAt Rockerz Apex Launched in India With Dirac Virtuo Spatial Bionic Sound

boAt has launched another new hearable product in the Indian market. This time around, it is a pair of neckband wireless earphones that come with some notable features. So here are all the details.

boAt

The highlighting aspect regarding the new wireless earphones is undoubtedly its new spatial audio support from Dirac. The Rockerz Apex features large 12mm dynamic drivers for improved audio quality, which also supports Dirac Virtuo’s Spatial Bionic Sound technology as well. This essentially lets users have a more immersive listening experience with stereo content. It works by widening the soundstage and even enhancing spatial cues as well.

The boAt Rockerz Apex adopts a neckband design, meaning both earbuds are connected via a band that wraps around the user’s neck. It is built to be comfortable and also adopts an ergonomic design that is rated for IPX4 protection against sweat. Furthermore, the new wireless earphones also come with a dedicated low latency BEAST Mode that lowers the latency down to just 40ms. This basically makes the lag between visual content and audio to be negligible. The earphones offers ENx Technology as well for better call quality.

Other notable features include, Bluetooth 5.3, magnetic buds for ease in storage, touch control support, One Touch Voice Assistant, USB Type C port for charging, 30 hours of battery life, and fast charging support. Just 10 minutes of charging can allow up to 10 hours of audio playback. The boAt Rockerz Apex comes with a 1 year warranty and is available in three color options, namely Stellar Black, Classic Grey and Funk Lime. It is currently listed for sale a special introductory price tag of just 1,299 INR on Amazon, Flipkart, and the company’s official website in India.

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Sony Launches New Walkman With Hi-Res Audio for Improved Audio Experience

Sony has just launched its latest entry in its iconic Walkman series of audio products. The company claims that the new device will offer a world class audio experience, so here are all the details.

The Japanese tech giant has unveiled the new NW-A306 Walkman which is a stylish and compact music player. It comes with a lightweight and compact design that makes it quite portable since it weighs just 199 grams. The front sports a 3.6 inch touch display that also has a tactile physical music controls as well. This product is clearly built for audiophiles as it supports S-Master HX digital amp technology, which is proprietary to Walkman.

Furthermore, it also comes with high resolution audio support while using Edge AI with DSEE Ultimate (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine). This tech can upscale compressed digital music files in real time. In simpler terms improved audio quality of your favorite songs. Other optimizations come in the form of restoring acoustic subtleties and dynamic range for an improved audio experience.

The new Sony Walkman also offers a longer lasting battery life compared to its predecessors. The new NW-A306 model can allow users to see a 36 hours of audio playback of 44.1kHz FLAC playback. On the other hand, the 96kHz FLAC high resolution audio playback can last for up to 32 hours. The new Walkman was just released in the Indian market for a price tag of 25,990 INR (roughly 315 US Dollars).

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OPPO To Offer Exciting Discounts on the Reno8 T 5G and Enco Air3

Starting February 10, 2023, OPPO is offering unbeatable deals on the Reno8 T 5G and Enco Air3. Those interested can find the devices at the OPPO Store, Flipkart, and mainline retail outlets, as well as on Amazon.

oppo reno 8t

Customers can avail 10% cash back and no-cost EMI for up to 6 months with ICICI Bank, SBI Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank, One Card, AU Small Finance Bank, IndusInd Bank. They can also take advantage of attractive EMI schemes from leading financiers like Bajaj Finserv, ICICI Bank, TVS Credit, IDFC First Bank, HDB Financial Services, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HomeCredit, Zest Money, and Mahindra Finance. If consumers choose to upgrade to an OPPO phone through Cashify, they are eligible to receive up to INR 2000 Exchange Bonus + INR 1000 Loyalty Bonus.

Online customers can trade in their old devices for up to INR 3,000. They can also avail up to a 10% instant bank discount when purchasing Reno8 T 5G with Kotak Bank, HDFC, Yes Bank, and SBI credit cards. Another icing on the cake is that customers can enjoy no-cost EMI for up to 6 months. Furthermore, those who purchase the Reno8 T 5G will receive INR 500 off on the Enco Air3. This offer is valid until the 16th of February

The Reno 8T 5G features a 6.57-inch curved OLED panel with FHD+ (2412×1080) resolution, up to 120Hz refresh rate, 1.07 billion colors, and 950nits peak brightness. The handset is 7.7mm thick and weighs around 171g. Under its hood, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage.

For photography, the handset features a triple camera unit on the back, headlined by a 108MP primary camera. There’s also a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP microscope lens. Up front, a 32MP selfie shooter is fitted hole-punch cutout. Fueling the smartphone is a 4,800mAh battery that supports 67W Supervooc charging. On the software front, the Reno 8T 5G runs ColorOS 13 with Android 13 on top.

The OPPO Enco Air 3 boasts large 13.4mm audio drivers and houses the new Cadence HiFi5 DSP (Digital Signal Processor) that promises to offer clearer speech during voice-based interactions like calls. The earbuds also offer a low latency mode with delay as low as 47ms, which should benefit mobile gaming fans. It supports SBC and AAC codecs. The earbuds run on Bluetooth version 5.3 and can be paired with two devices at the same time. The Oppo Enco Air 3 comes with support for up to 25 hours of battery life.

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Redmi Note 12 Turbo Does Not Have Pro+ Version, Claims New Leak

In May 2022, Redmi unveiled the Redmi Note 11T Pro and Note 11T Pro+ smartphones in the Chinese market. Rumors are rife that a Note-branded model featuring the upcoming Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 chip is in the works. In all likelihood, it will arrive as a successor to the Redmi Note 11T series. The final marketing name of the device is yet to be revealed. According to rumors, the device will be called the Note 12T or Note 12 Turbo. Today, tipster Digital Chat Station shared some information about the device on Weibo. The original post is no longer available since DCS has modified it. However, TechGoing has published a report based on what he originally posted.

As per the report, the tipster revealed that the Redmi Note 12 Turbo has the upcoming Snapdragon 7-series chipset, which is said to be the Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 chip. He added that the device will arrive with a 6.67-inch Full HD+ OLED display with eye-protection dimming, a 5,500mAh battery that offers 67W fast charging, an IR blaster, and a linear motor.

As can be seen, the tipster has just reiterated what he shared before. However, he also added that there will not be a Pro+ version for the device.

Redmi Note 11T Pro
Redmi Note 11T Pro

To recall, the Redmi Note 11T and 11T Pro+ offered the same specs but differed in battery size and charging capabilities. Hence, it appears that the Redmi Note 12 Turbo will succeed the Note 11T Pro, but there will not be a Pro+ version.

Other leaks have revealed that the Redmi Note 12 Turbo will have an in-screen fingerprint scanner and a 50-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit. It will run on Android 13, which will be overlaid with MIUI 14.

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Bing’s Downloads Increase Tenfold Since ChatGPT Integration Goes Public

Excitement has been building around Microsoft’s plan to enhance its search engine, Bing, with AI-powered capabilities, similar to OpenAI‘s ChatGPT. The news has sparked a surge in the popularity of the Bing app, propelling it to the top of the App Store charts for the first time in years. In the US, the app has skyrocketed to the number 12 spot among all free iPhone apps. At the same time, Microsoft’s Edge browser is now the number 3 utility app. According to estimates from data.ai, new downloads of the Bing app have increased tenfold globally. 

Microsoft

This shows that there is clear consumer demand for these AI-powered experiences, and users are eager to try new search engines and browsers to gain access. Yesterday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talked about the company’s plans for the new Bing.com, including OpenAI’s language model integration with the company’s services. This new addition will provide users with a ChatGPT-like experience within the search engine, allowing them to converse with an AI chatbot for more complex queries and to assist in content creation tasks, like writing a LinkedIn post. Microsoft also unveiled a new version of its Edge web browser with the same AI features built into the sidebar for easy access.

Although the new Bing is now available, it is currently in a limited preview phase, and users must join a waitlist to try the new AI features. Microsoft has stated that millions of users will be invited from the waitlist over the next few weeks. The company has also come up with a way for users to move up the waitlist by setting Microsoft’s search as the default on their PC and scanning a QR code to install the Microsoft Bing app on their smartphone. This push from Microsoft clearly implies the company’s intentions of getting ahead of its competition, especially Google. This has clearly inspired the rapid climb of the app up the App Store charts.

The Bing app’s sudden rise in popularity demonstrates the demand for AI and the potential threat to Google. Google currently pays Apple billions each year to be the default search engine in Safari, but if a significant number of consumers switch to another web search app like Bing or Edge to try out the new AI capabilities, Google could lose market share on one of the largest platforms to browse the web.

Although the Edge app hasn’t seen the same rapid climb as Bing, it has now reached number 3 on the US App Store’s Top Charts for Utilities, up from number 7 on Monday. More specific data on the total new installs may become available in the coming weeks, but one thing is very apparent – Microsoft is banking on the hype behind Artificial Intelligence, and this might be the company’s best strategy to make Bing relevant as a search engine again.

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Realme GT Neo 5 Launched With Up to 240W Charging, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, LED Lighting, & More

The highly anticipated Realme GT Neo 5 has just been launched. The brand new smartphone was announced in the company’s home market of China and arrives with some very notable specs and features. So let’s have a look.

Design & Display

The Chinese smartphone maker has placed an emphasis on the design of this smartphone. Despite top notch specs and features at a budget, the company also aimed to offer a unique design. While the front has a typical design, the rear is where the device stands out. A large camera island on the back isn’t exactly new, but it also includes a transparent window and LED lighting on the right of the camera system. As per official notes, this transparent panel on the back offers users a look at the flagship grade chipset that powers the smartphone.

Realme

This window is surrounded by the Halo LED lighting. The device comes in multiple color options with its purple variant featuring the industry’s rear panel made with light matte fusion process to offer a textured glass. Meanwhile, the LED lighting is RGB enabled and offers 25 different color options to choose from. The Realme GT Neo 5 sports a tall 6.74 inch OLED display with a resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels (1.5K), a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 2160Hz PWM dimming.

Specifications

The Realme GT Neo 5 is a flagship grade handset in terms of performance and internal specs. It is equipped with the last gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, which is still quite capable. This chipset is paired with up to 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 256GB or 1TB of UFS 3.1 internal storage on the different charging variant. Notably, the smartphone is offered in two distinct models, which feature different charging rates and battery sizes.

Realme

The first is the more affordable 150W variant, which features a large 5,000mAh battery pack and support for an impressive 150W fast wired charging. On the other hand, the more expensive variant is powered by a smaller 4,600mAh battery pack that supports the world’s first 240W fast charging support. At the moment, this is the highest charging rate supported by the USB Type C port. According to Realme, the device can charge from 1 percent battery to 20 percent in just 80 seconds of charging.

Realme

The Realme GT Neo 5 features a triple camera setup on the rear. This module consists of a 50 megapixel Sony IMX890 sensor that supports OIS. This primary shooter is paired with an 8 megapixel ultra wide angle lens (Sony IMX355), and a 2 megapixel macro sensor. Meanwhile the front houses a 16 megapixel selfie camera.

Pricing & Availability

The GT Neo 5 will go on sale in three different colors, including a Black, White, and a Purple model. It will also be available in multiple storage variants on both the 150W and 240W charging variants. So here are the prices:

Realme GT Neo 5 150W

  • 8GB + 256GB – 2,499 Yuan (roughly $368)
  • 12GB + 256GB – 2,699 Yuan (roughly $398)
  • 16GB + 256GB – 2,899 Yuan (roughly $427)

Realme GT Neo 5 240W

  • 16GB + 256GB – 3,199 Yuan (roughly $470)
  • 16GB + 1TB – 3,499 Yuan (roughly $515)
Realme

Both smartphones are currently available for pre-orders, with the official first sale set to begin in china on 15th February 2023 from leading online retailers and other channels.

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OneXplayer 2 Handheld Console Now Orderable After Crossing $1 Million Mark in Crowdfunding

One-Netbook recently announced the Windows-powered gaming handheld console called OneXPlayer 2. As usual, the console was listed on Indiegogo where interested customers could reserve it on the crowdfunding website with some added perks.

OneXPlayer

Now, the device is finally orderable after crossing the $1 Million mark in crowdfunding. The latest console resembles its predecessor in design, however, it comes with detachable controller pads, and also offers the option to use a tablet or a mini-laptop by including a stylus and keyboard support.

OneXPlayer 2 specs

The ONEXPLAYER 2 features the Ryzen 7 6800U APU, an 8.4-inch display with a 2.5K resolution, and a 65.5 Wh battery. The device is equipped with interchangeable controllers, a built-in kickstand, and offers pen input with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity.

OneXPlayer

The ONEXPLAYER 2 is equipped with a dual speaker system certified by Harman and features a smart cooling system that takes in air from the rear and dissipates heat from the top. It offers WiFi 6e for connectivity and even has eGPU support for additional graphics power beyond what the Ryzen 7 6800U APU can provide. The device is powered by a 65.5Wh battery.

According to One-netbook, shipments of the OneXPlayer 2 are expected to start in March 2023 and will include units for backers. The magnetic keyboard, portable connector, and stylus are all sold separately for US$39, US$29, and US$39, respectively.

OneXPlayer pricing, availability

OneXPlayer 2 pre-orders made on the OnexPlayer Store as well as the Indiegogo are expected to start shipping around the end of February.

The brand will also start selling the OneXPlayer 2 on various eCommerce platforms at the following prices:

  • 16 GB RAM/512 GB storage – US$1,099 (US$1,249 list price)
  • 16 GB RAM/1 TB storage – US$1,199 (US$1,349 list price)
  • 16 GB RAM/2 TB storage – US$1,299 (US$1,499 list price)
  • 32 RAM/1 TB storage – US$1,299 (US$1,500 list price)
  • 32 GB RAM/2 TB storage – US$1,499 (US$1,599 list price)

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(Source 1, 2, via Notebookcheck)

Twitter Blue Subscribers Can Now Post 4,000-character Tweets

Twitter, which was designed around the idea of having short, bite-sized posts known as Tweets is slowly deviating away from the idea. With the latest addition to its Twitter Blue perks, the platform has now given its paid subscribers the ability to post tweets that are up to 4,000 characters long. Previously, the character limit for tweets was merely 280. This feature also applies to quote tweets and replies, and users can also add media to their longer posts.

Twitter Logo

While only Blue subscribers can take advantage of this new feature, all users can still read these longer tweets. On the timeline, only the first 280 characters will be visible, but users can easily click on “Show more” to access the entire tweet. This change could encourage more users to opt for the Twitter Blue subscription, and may also discourage the use of threads for longer content. However, this is merely a speculation, since the paywall behind which Twitter Blue is present is quite steep, as discussed later in this article.

Twitter is also giving Blue subscribers a break from excessive ads, with plans to reduce the number of advertisements by almost 50 percent. This move is in line with Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s vision for a costlier, ad-free subscription plan. Additionally, Twitter Blue has introduced the ability to post 60-minute-long videos, catering to bloggers and video content creators.

Twitter Blue is currently purchasable in 15 markets. The most recent inclusions in this list are India, Brazil, and Indonesia. However, at a monthly cost of INR 650 ($7.87) in India, it is even more expensive than other media subscription services like YouTube Premium, Spotify, and Apple Music, which are all priced under $4 (INR 330). The cost of Twitter Blue is on par with Netflix’s highest tier plan, which offers 4K quality on four screens.

In conclusion, Twitter’s latest offering of longer tweets and reduced ads is set to change the social media landscape, with its Blue subscribers reaping the benefits. However, time will tell how this impacts future Twitter Blue updates.

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(Source)

Lava Blaze 5G 6GB Ram Variant Teased, Could Launch Soon

Back in November 2022, the Indian smartphone and electronics manufacturer Lava launched the Lava Blaze 5G. The device offers good performance and a decent spec sheet in the sub-Rs 11,000 segment.

Currently, the Lava Blaze 5G comes with 4GB RAM onboard. Fans of the brand have been asking the company to launch a 6GB RAM variant of the device, which is apparently what they will be getting very soon.

Lava has posted a teaser on Twitter confirming that the 6GB RAM variant of the Lava Blaze 5G will be launching soon. This is sure to give the device a bump in performance and multitasking. However, with the increased RAM capacity, the price tag is also expected to go up a little bit. The Blaze 5G currently sells for Rs 10,999 for the 4GB RAM & 128GB storage model. The 6GB model will likely cross the Rs 12,000 mark. Spec-wise, nothing will be changing other than the amount of RAM.

Lava Blaze 5G specs

The Lava Blaze 5G boasts a 6.5-inch LCD display with 720 x 1600 pixel HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate, featuring a waterdrop notch and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner on the power button. On the back panel is a rectangular camera module holding a 50MP main lens, depth lens, and macro unit, while the front boasts an 8MP selfie camera.

Powered by a Dimensity 700 processor with support for up to eight 5G bands, the device comes equipped with 4GB of RAM, 3GB of virtual RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, along with a dedicated microSD card slot. Running on the Android 12 operating system, the Lava Blaze 5G also has a 5,000mAh battery.

Connectivity options include dual SIM support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The device is available in Glass Blue and Glass Green color options. To know more about the device, you can check out our Lava Blaze 5G review.

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