Advertisement

LG Gram 2023 & Gram Style Pre-orders Live Now, Features 13th Gen Intel CPU

Earlier today (25th January 2023), LG announced it has began taking pre-orders for the Gram 2023 (17Z90R, 16Z90R) and Gram Style (16Z90RS and 14Z90RS) ultrabook models. These notebooks were announced during the CES 2023 event a couple of weeks prior, so here are all the details.

Looking at the new laptops, the South Korean brand has opted for a glass design on both of these models. We can tell that there was an emphasis on design since the angle at which the light hits the laptop also affects the color that is reflected. Furthermore, both models also come with a ‘hidden’ haptic touchpad with soft LED backlighting that illuminates the surface.

LG Gram Style

Talking about the Gram Style variant first, it arrives in display size variants, which includes a 14 inch and a 16 inch model. The latter has a 3,200 x 2,000px resolution while the former has a 2,880 x 1,800px resolution (WQXGA+). Furthermore, both models features an OLED display panel. The taller 16 inch variant even offers 120Hz refresh rate, while the 14 inch variant offers a 90Hz refresh rate. The panels on the Style models also have Anti Glare.

LG

Under the hood, Intel’s latest 13th Gen Core Processor powers the device, which is be paired with 256GB of Gen4 NVMe SSD storage and 16GB of RAM. The CPU is paired with Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics as well. The 16 inch model weighs 1,230 grams while the 14 inch model weighs just 999 grams. The laptops are also equipped with either an 80Wh or a 72Wh battery pack depending on the size variant you opt for.

LG Gram 2023

The brand has also launched two variants with the 2023 lineup of the standard Gram laptops as well. This includes a 17 inch version that has a 2,560 x 1,600px resolution and a 14 inch model that has the same WQXGA panel. Notably, the screen on both models is an IPS LCD panel. However, the smaller version only supports 60Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the Gram 17 offers up to 144Hz refresh rate (VRR) and a normal refresh rate of 60Hz as well.

LG

These laptops are also equipped with 13th Gen Intel Core processors but can also be outfitted with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050 mobile GPUs. This enables the 17 inch variant to support VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), which can automatically adjust the refresh rate from 31Hz to 144Hz depending on the usage. Other notable features include Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI connectivity along with the first ever appearance of Dolby Atmos in the Gram lineup.

Pricing & Availability

The LG Gram Style 14 inch model with 13th Gen Intel Core i5 has a price tag of 2.49 million won (roughly 2,018 US Dollars). On the other hand, the 16 inch variant is available for a 2.74 million won (roughly 2,221 US Dollars) price tag. Meanwhile, the Gram 16 inch with an i5 CPU can be pre ordered for 2,44 million won (roughly 1,977 US Dollars) while the 17 inch model costs 2.59 million won (roughly 2,099 US Dollars).

The company has already begun taking reservations for these laptops, which will continue till the 1st of February in South Korea. Those that Pre-orders these notebooks will get a gram mouse, gift pack, and goodies on a first come, first served basis, as per official notes.

RELATED:

(Via)

Oppo Reno 8T 5G Appears in a Live Video Along With Specs & Pricing Ahead of Launch

Oppo will soon debut the Reno 8T series in India. So far, extensive leaks have revealed the majority of the details regarding the 4G variant of the Reno 8T. Now, a known tipster has released a video showcasing the Reno 8T 5G, while also revealing its specs and expected prices.

The leak comes from tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore via a Tweet. In the video, it is revealed that the Reno 8T 5G will come with a slightly curved display. The bottom bezel is quite thin and there is a hole-punch cutout at the top center.

The phone’s back features a pill-shaped camera module with two sizable circular perforations. “108MP Portrait camera” is visibly etched below the camera island, confirming that the device will indeed come with a 108MP primary camera.

Coming to the specification leak, Sudhanshu states that the phone has a 6.7-inch curved OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution. The 10-bit display will support a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Snapdragon 695 chipset, which will be paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

The 108MP primary camera will be paired with a 2MP portrait camera, while on the front it will feature a 16MP selfie snapper. The batter has a 4,800mAh capacity and features 67W fast charging capabilities. Other than that, the in-display fingerprint sensor will provide security, and a 3.5mm audio jack will be present for users who like lossless audio and don’t like latency. The device will operate on Android 13-based ColorOS 13.

As for pricing, it will have a price tag between ₹30,00 – ₹32,000. A recent report has also revealed the price point of the Oppo Reno 8T 4G. You can read about it by following this link.

RELATED:

POCO India Appoints Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya as Its Brand Ambassador

Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya was recently spotted with the POCO X5 Pro ahead of the X5 series launch. Now, the company has officially announced that it is appointing the known athlete as its brand ambassador in India.

With the new appointment, we can expect to see Hardik Pandya promoting the brand directly. He will likely also be a part of the Chinese smartphone maker’s promotions for its upcoming X5 series. The company claims that the X5 lineup will arrive with a number of upgrades and improvements over its predecessor. So the brand would also have the popular Indian Cricketer help establish this in its marketing efforts as well.

POCO

The company has also stated that the new mid range smartphones will offer great performance with an aggressive price tag. According to Himanshu Tandon, Country Head, POCO India “Hardik Pandya is a name that connects with India in a heartbeat. His never give up attitude, zeal, and enthusiasm go perfectly well with our brand’s DNA and we are confident that his personality will resonate with our audience and fans. Aligned with our brand imagery, we are confident that he will play an instrumental role for our brand and we are extremely proud to have him on board as POCO’s ambassador.”

Similarly, Hardik Pandya, who is managed by RISE Worldwide, stated that “I am pleased to partner with a youth centric smartphone brand like POCO. I admire their smart, sleek and absolute performance led smartphones. Most importantly, I resonate with the brand’s motto of ‘Everything you need, Nothing you don’t. I look forward to this partnership and connecting with the brand’s young community.”

RELATED:

(Via)

Sony Unveils Innovative Float Run Earphones For Athletes

Sony is a company that’s known for innovating with its products, especially in the audio department. The Japanese electronics manufacturer has an impressive lineup of audio products, including the WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones that were launched recently. Now, Sony has introduced the Float Run, a new variant of earphones designed for those who like to stay active while listening to music.

Sony Float Run Earphones

Unlike traditional earphones, the Float Run is designed to sit outside the ear canal, held in place with ear hooks and a flexible skull-band. This design, referred to as “off-ear” by Sony, aims to reduce discomfort and eliminate the risk of earphones falling out during exercise. As per reports, the earphones were tested on a variety of head shapes and hairstyles. It’s worth noting that this is the company’s most unique earphone design since the launch of the LinkBuds, which sported an innovative design as well.

Because of the earphone’s unique design, active noise cancellation is not an option. However, Sony claims that the Float Run’s large 16mm drivers will deliver “a more natural and wider sound” without compromising on audio quality, which will go perfectly with a workout session.

The earphones weigh merely 33 grams, which is quite light and will ensure comfort while on the move. As per Sony, this is expected to reduce drag and pressure during a session. The earphones come equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, a 10-hour battery that charges via USB type-C, and support for SBC/AAC codecs. They have an IPX4 rating, so users won’t have to worry about sweat ruining their earphones. 

Float Run will be available in black and will be priced at $129.99. However, Sony states that the earphones won’t be available for purchase until February 2023, so you might have to wait to get your hands on these.

RELATED:

(Via)

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Series Pre-bookings Begin in India – Checkout Benefits & Offers

Samsung has the Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for February 1. At this event, the brand will launch the Galaxy S23 series of smartphones along with other devices like the Galaxy Book 3 laptop series.

Samsung

A couple of days ago, the Galaxy Book 3 Pro and Book 3 Ultra leaked revealing major details about the device. Pre-bookings also kicked off in multiple regions around the globe. Now, Samsung India has also begun taking pre-bookings in the sub-continent. Let’s take a look at the details.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Series

Samsung has started accepting pre-bookings for the Galaxy Book 3 series laptops on platforms like Samsung eStore, Samsung Smart Cafes, Samsung Smart Plazas, Flipkart, Amazon, and other brick-and-mortar stores. As with any pre-reservation campaign, customers ordering the devices will be getting several benefits.

Samsung

The customers who pre-book the devices via Samsung eStore, Flipkart, Amazon, and other retail outlets will get a Rs 5,000 eVoucher which can be redeemed while purchasing the device. On the other hand, pre-bookings made through Samsung Smart Cafes and Smart Plazas will get 5000 Smart Club points (worth Rs 5000). Do note that customers pre-booking these devices will need to purchase them on or before March 31 to avail the benefits.

Signing up on the Samsung Shop App will earn users an extra 2% in loyalty points. A Rs 2000 welcome voucher is also available to those who are using the Shop app for the first time.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro and Book 3 Ultra Specifications

The Galaxy Book 3 series will be equipped with Intel’s 13th Gen processors. The Ultra variant will get access to the i9-13900H processor paired with NVIDIA RTX 4070 GDDR6 8GB GPU, while the Pro variant will feature up to Core i7-1360P paired with Intel Iris XE integrated graphics. Both devices will support LPDDR5 RAM and PCI-E Gen4 NVME SSDs.

The Galaxy Book 3 Ultra will sport a large 16-inch 3K AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2880x1800p for its display. According to reports, the 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes for the Galaxy Book 3 Pro will be available.

RELATED:

Twitter Ad Sales Fell By 70% in December: Report

It seems like Twitter is playing a losing battle with its advertisers, as the Ad sales for one of the most profitable and lucrative months of December went down by more than 70%. November and December are the months when brands and companies spend extravagantly on their Ad budgets to rope in the benefits of the holiday season. However, according to recent data by SMI (Standard Media Index via Reuters), Twitter’s Ad spending for November fell by 55% and now December shows a fall of almost 71% in Ad sales. This huge fall comes after the major policy changes introduced by CEO Elon Musk. 

Major Brands Suspended Ads On Twitter After Musk Takeover

Last October, Musk took over Twitter for $44 billion and since then has made a series of changes including mass layoffs, paid verification, reinstating banned accounts, no doxxing policy, banning links to competing social media apps, and more. 

As soon as Musk took over, major brands like General Motors Company, Pfizer Inc., Ford Motor Company, and AMC Networks Inc. suspended their advertising on Twitter. Since then, more than 1000 advertisers have left the company. This is a great blow for Twitter, as advertisements accounted for more than 90% of its revenue. 

Advertisers in general have left Twitter due to the uncertainty of Musk’s transformational policies. For instance, among the mass layoffs, Twitter fired most of its Ad team, including the top two employees responsible for networking and maintaining good relations with the brands. In November, the head of British Ad operations left Twitter, just a month after Musk became the CEO. 

Advertisers protested against the new paid verification policy as they feared that random users could now impersonate famous brands and cheat the public. Musk’s takeover has also caused panic amongst the Automotive brands as they are worried that the data shared with Twitter might be passed on to competing companies owned by Musk like Tesla. 

Apple one of Twitter’s biggest advertisers was also publicly criticized by Musk for pausing and reducing their Ad spending. Musk criticized Apple for its censorship policies and 30% Cut on App Store. However, this public shaming did not bring any considerable benefit to the company, as many more brands left Twitter. 

Musk knows that Ad revenue is the blood of the business and has tried to bring back the brands. To rope in more advertisers and increase the Ad revenue, Musk offered Free Ads, greater control over Ad positioning, and even lifted the Political Ad ban. 

In 2019, the then-CEO Jack Dorsey banned political Ads from Twitter as he believed that reaching people with political messages should be “earned, not bought”. But now Musk has lifted the ban and said that Twitter will align its Ad policies with TV and other media outlets. 

In November, at one of the investment conferences in New York, Musk publicly said that they had done their absolute best to appease the advertisers, but nothing is working. At the same time, Musk had also blamed activist groups for pressurizing brands to pull Ads off social media platforms. 

Musk Looking At Alternative Revenue Models

Now that the Ad Revenue has dwindled, Musk is trying to revive Twitter by changing the revenue strategy from advertisements to subscriptions. Twitter has already started charging $8 per month for the Blue Verification Tick ($11 for iOS and Android) and now is planning to launch an Ad-free subscription tier

According to a VP, Musk has said that he wants subscriptions to account for 50% of Twitter’s total revenue. However, a survey conducted by global marketing and consulting firm Harris Poll found that half of Twitter users from the US would not pay to use the site. 

Related:

(Source)

U&i Launches My Beat Series Smartwatch and Peter Series BT Speaker

U&i has expanded its product lineup in India by launching two of its new gadgets in India. The brand has announced the My Beat Series Smartwatch and Peter wireless BT Speaker. Both products are aimed towards making the users’ work life, health and entertainment better than before. Both are products are quite amazing and offer a really good set of specifications at a reasonable price range. Let’s have a closer look at the products.

Coming down to the My Beat series smartwatch. The smartwatch comes with a large square dial which houses a colour touchscreen display. The dial is encased in a premium aluminium alloy frame and has a soft silicone strap for better comfort. The watch comes with multiple sports tracking features and activity modes such as a pedometer, calorie counter, indoor walk, and cycling. The watch further comes with all the necessary sensors such as a heart rate monitor and sleep monitoring. Additional features of the watch include an alarm reminder, messages and class reminders and find my phone support. It will be available in Black, blue and Pink colour variants.

U&i

Now speaking about the Peter series wireless BT speaker, it’s a portable wireless Bluetooth speaker with 7W of output. The brand claims that it can last up to 8 hours on a single full charge. The speaker comes with a built-in mobile phone holder which ensures entertainment on the go. It comes in a trendy design and Green and Yellow colour variants. So that was all we had regarding the U&i Peter Series Bluetooth speaker.

Regarding price and availability, the U&i My Beats Smartwatch will be available for INR 3,699 and the Peter Series Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is priced at INR 1,199. Both the gadgets come with a 6-month of on-site warranty. The product will be soon available to purchase from official U&i outlets and other partner stores across the nation. That concludes our post on the launch of these two gadgets. Thanks a lot for reading till the end.

RELATED

Is The New ‘Nvidia Eye Contact’ the Next Big Thing or a Creepy Misstep?

Nvidia recently released a beta version of Eye Contact. This is a new AI-powered software video feature that automatically maintains user eye contact while on camera by estimating and aligning gaze. Software included with version 1.4 of the Nvidia Broadcast app draws mixed reactions. Some users praised its potential uses, while others criticized it as unnatural and creepy. Here are the details…

Nvidia Eye Contact Released with Nvidia Broadcast 1.4 Update

The technology works by replacing the user’s eyes in the video stream with software-controlled simulated eyeballs that always look directly at the camera. Even when the user looks away in real life, always seems to be looking at the lens. The prosthetic eye tries to replicate the user’s natural eye color, even blinking in sync Follow the natural blink of the user. You can see the results in the video below. However, this constant eye contact can feel weird and uncomfortable for some people.

Former TV news anchor Scott Baker weighed in on the technology, saying the role of eye contact in human communication has been well researched. Eye contact with someone for more than 7-10 seconds is intuitively considered creepy or uncomfortable. This isn’t the first time a company has tried using simulated eyeballs to maintain eye contact during video calls or streaming.

In 2019, Apple introduced its own eye contact feature in FaceTime, which also received negative reviews when it launched. While eye contact can be beneficial in certain situations, such as virtual job interviews or livestreaming, it’s important to consider the potential downsides of uninterrupted eye contact and use the technique with caution.

Users can try Eye Contact for themselves by downloading Nvidia It’s free to play from the company’s website, but it should be known that it requires Windows and an Nvidia RTX graphics card.

RELATED:

(via)

Infinix Note 12i Launched in India With Helio G85 & 6.7 Inch AMOLED Display

Infinix has just launched a new smartphone model in the Indian market. This device in question is a mid range model dubbed the Note 12i. The smartphone is the same model that was released as the Note 12i 2022 back in September 2022 in the global markets and it is finally making its way to India. So let’s have a look.

The Infinix Note 12i sports a tall 6.7 inch AMOLED display that has a Full HD+ resolution and 1000 nits of peak brightness. Although this model only offers just 60Hz refresh rate. This screen also comes with Widevine L1 certification and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Under the hood, it is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity G85 SoC that is paired with Mali G52 GPU. This chipset is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

Infinix

Furthermore, this features a dedicated microSD card slot to expand memory up to 512GB. The device runs on Android 12 OS based XOS 12. The rear features a triple camera setup that consists of a 50 megapixel primary sensor, a 2 megapixel depth sensor, a QVGA AI lens, and an LED flash. Meanwhile, the front houses an 8 megapixel selfie camera. The smartphone is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack that supports up to 33W fast charging.

Other notable features include, a side mounted fingerprint scanner, stereo speaker setup with DTS audio support, Bluetooth 5.0, and 3Gb of virtual RAM expansion. The Infinix Note 12i is available in two color variants, namely Metaverse Blue and Force Black options. It can be purchased for a price of just 9,999 INR (roughly 122 US Dollars), with its sale set to begin on January 30 exclusively from Flipkart.

RELATED:

ASUS ROG Strix 15 Custom Configured Models With Up To 64GB RAM and 8TB SSD Goes On Sale

ASUS recently unveiled the latest ROG Strix series laptops, which are yet to go on sale in the market. Before the new laptops go on sale, customized models of the last year’s device with high-end configurations are now available for purchase.

A custom upgraded ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 with model number G533QS-DS98, which was first released in 2021, is now available for purchase through Amazon for a whopping price of $8,568.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15

The laptop in question packs AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, along with 64GB of DDR4 RAM and 8TB of PCIe SSD storage. The device is configured by GreatPriceTech and comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.

It features a 15.6-inch 2K display with a 165Hz refresh rate, and the device comes running the new Windows 11 64-bit operating system out-of-the-box. When purchased, the seller also includes a wired TUF Gaming M3 mouse and TUG Gaming P3 mouse pad.

There are a few more configurations available from GreatPriceTech. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 with 32GB RAM and 8TB SSD is priced at $8,088, 64GB RAM and 2 x 4TB costs $5,368, 64GB RAM and 2 x 2TB model is priced at $4,568, and the 32GB RAM model with 2 x 2TB storage costs $4,088.

The newly announced ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G33 models come powered by the 12th generation Intel Core i9 processor, DDR5 RAM, and PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage, among others. The devices are yet to be available for purchase in the market.

RELATED:

Via

Samsung Galaxy S23 Lineup Pricing in Europe Leaked, Expensive Compared to the US

As Samsung gears up for the launch of its latest flagship lineup, speculation around the prices of the smartphones is still looming. While rumors indicate that the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and the Galaxy S23 Ultra will retain the original S22 series pricing from its predecessors in the US; the same may not be true for Europe. Latest leaks indicate that the Galaxy S23 lineup will be sold at a higher price point in the EU region. 

Samsung

Where the Galaxy S22 base model was priced at €850 (~$927) in Europe at the time of launch, the Galaxy S23 base model is expected to be priced at €950 (~$1036) this year. Similarly, the price of the Galaxy S23+ (256GB) will be bumped up to €1100 (~$1199) from €950 ($~1036) for the Galaxy S22+ base model. Lastly, the price for the base model of Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to be priced at €1399 (~$1523), which is €150 higher than the pricing point of the Galaxy S22 Ultra base model, €1150 (~$1254). It is worth noting that customers do get 256GB storage in the base model, which wasn’t the case last year. The bump in prices can be attributed to higher VAT levels in Eurozone countries. 

The Galaxy S23 lineup is highly anticipated, with its launch just around the corner. The specifications of the phones have already been leaked. For starters, the base model Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080) AMOLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S23+ has a larger 6.6-inch screen, but the same display specifications as the Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to feature a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3,088 x 1,440) AMOLED screen and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The phones have top-of-the-line specifications and camera setups. The Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup is expected to launch on February 1, 2023 at the Galaxy Unpacked event

RELATED:

(Source, Via)

Tunez Elements E11 TWS Launched with up to 30-Hours of Playtime

Tunez has launched its new TWS in the Indian market. The Tunez Elements E11 TWS has been officially launched in the country offering some decent set of specifications such as up to 30 hours of playtime on a single full charge and a lot more. The TWS is built using polycarbonate and comes in an all-new design and build which gives its a unique and funky look. The gadget will be made available in different colour variants. Let’s look into the specifications and features of the TWS in more detail.

Starting from the specifications of the device, the Tunez Elements E11 TWS offers 13mm dynamic audio drivers for an immersive sound experience. The firm claims that it can provide the best possible sound quality with deep bass and optimum tuning. The earbuds pack a 40mAh battery each and the charging case packs a 300mAh battery. The device can give up to 30 hours of playtime on a single full charge. It comes with a USB Type-C charging port.

Tunez Elements E11

The TWS comes with support for Bluetooth V5.1 which has a claimed range of up to 10 metres. The earbuds are sweatproof and can be used while running, walking, and in a gym without any hassles. It comes in different colour variants such as yellow, red, white, black, green, pink and blue. More details about the device will be revealed soon on the official website of the partner e-commerce sites. The device is priced at INR 999 and will be available to purchase from Amazon, Flipkart and other official partner stores.

So that was it regarding the recent launch of Tunez Elements E11 TWS in India. The gadget seems really good considering its price and w are really excited to test out the performance of the device in real life. What are your thoughts on the newly launched product? Do let us know by dropping a comment in your words down below. Thanks a lot for reading the post till the end.

RELATED

OnePlus 11 Visits Thailand’s NBTC Certification Ahead of Feb 7 Debut

OnePlus will be launching the OnePlus 11 5G smartphone globally on February 7. The launch event will see many more device launching alongside the flagship smartphone, including the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro, the OnePlus 11R 5G smartphone, and more.

Ahead of the launch, the OnePlus 11 5G has cleared NBTC certification, indicating that the device will launch in Thailand. A recent report has revealed that the device will not be launching in Germany due to the ongoing ban on OnePlus and Oppo smartphones in the country (more about that here).

The certification has the device marked with model number CPH2449. No other information regarding the device has been revealed by the certification. However, we already know all there is to know about the OnePlus 11 as it is already available in China.

OnePlus 11 specs

The OnePlus 11’s display is a 6.7-inch E4 AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 3216 x 1440p. It has a punch-hole cutout in the top left corner and supports HDR10+. There is an in-display fingerprint sensor available for security, and the side of the phone features the iconic alert slider for convenient switching between volume profiles.

OnePlus 11 5G

Under the hood, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. In terms of software, the device runs OxygenOS 13 on top of Android 13.

A 48MP Sony IMX581 ultra-wide-angle camera, a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor with OIS, and a 32MP Sony IMX709 2x telephoto camera make up the triple camera setup on the back of the OnePlus 11. The front camera includes a 16MP sensor and can be used for video calls and selfies.

The OnePlus 11 includes a 5,000mAh battery with 100W fast charging. Connectivity options include a USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, Wi-Fi 6E, and 5G. The phone measures 163.1 x 74.1 x 8.53mm and weighs 205 grams. Water and dust proofing is not up to flagship standards on the device as it is rated at IP54.

RELATED:

(Via)

Galaxy S23 Ultra to Offer a Better Zoom Quality with the Same Hardware

Samsung is all set for the launch of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 series of smartphones. The devices are hovering around the corners and the official launch is not too far from now. The promotional images of the Galaxy S23 Ultra were leaked previously, which reveals almost the same design and form factor of the device when compared to its predecessor. Now, a new report making the rounds of the internet claims that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will offer better zoomed-in images despite the same hardware.

There won’t be any significant changes to the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s auxiliary camera lenses, according to the leaks. The telephoto and periscope lenses will be the same as those on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The device will, however, include an upgraded primary camera with a 200-megapixel lens. It will include an improved 12-megapixel selfie camera on the front. Returning to our main headline, a user on Twitter shared side-by-side photographs of the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra that were zoomed in.

The user published the photos taken with a 10x and 30x zoom. When comparing side by side, it is obvious that the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers marginally better photos than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Despite having identical technology, the S23 Ultra did manage to capture some somewhat better shots. Obviously, there isn’t any day and night difference. This demonstrates unequivocally how hard the company has worked on image optimization.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s camera sensors were identified in a prior report.  Its main rear camera has an F1.7 aperture, an ISOCELL HP2 sensor with OIS, and Super QPD autofocus. The Sony IMX564 sensor, which is marginally more advanced than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s IMX563 sensor, is utilized by the 12MP ultrawide camera. There hasn’t been a replacement for the 10MP telephoto sensors, the IMX754 (3x zoom) and IMX754 (10x zoom). Additionally, even the aperture is unchanged from the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It appears that Samsung’s upgraded algorithms and the new ISP in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 are what contribute the most to this zoom enhancement.

RELATED

Oppo Reno 8T 4G Live Images Confirm Specs and Design

Oppo‘s upcoming Reno 8T 4G smartphone has been leaked quite extensively, with both images, and specs surfacing online in recent reports. The official launch date is yet to be unveiled by the company, however, rumors suggest that it could be available from February 6th in India.

Ahead of the launch, popular tipster Paras Guglani has shared new live images in a report revealing the front panel of the device, while also confirming some specifications.

Oppo

Starting with the design, we can see that the Reno 8T 4G will come with symmetrical bezels on three sides, while the chin will be a bit thicker. The front camera will be placed in the top left corner in a punch-hole style.

The image also displays the specifications of the device confirming that it will indeed come with a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC for the global market. The operating system will be Android 13-based ColorOS 13. The physical RAM present in the device is 8GB with an option of virtually extending by another 4GB. As for storage, the device has 256GB ROM.

OPPO Reno 8T 4G
OPPO Reno 8T 4G

The screen of the smartphone measures 6.43 inches, which we can assume is an FHD+ AMOLED panel. Going by previous leaks, it should have 90Hz refresh rate, a 120Hz touch sampling rate, 600nits peak brightness, and a 409 PPI pixel density. There will also be an in-display fingerprint sensor onboard.

The image also confirms the presence of a 108MP primary camera, aided by a couple of 2MP units. The front on the other hand will feature a 32MP selfie snapper. Last but not the least, all the hardware will be powered by a 5,000mAh battery unit, rumored to support up to 33W of fast charging.

RELATED:

World’s Fastest Mobile DRAM, LPDDR5T Unveiled by SK hynix

SK hynix Inc., the South Korean memory chip manufacturer, has made a groundbreaking announcement with the unveiling of the world’s fastest mobile DRAM, the LPDDR5T (Low Power Double Data Rate 5 Turbo). The LPDDR5T operates at an impressive data rate of 9.6 gigabits per second (Gbps), a 13% increase from the previous generation LPDDR5X, which was released in November 2022. The company added ‘Turbo’ to the standard name LPDDR5 to highlight the maximum speed of the product.

LPDDR5T Mobile DRAM

The LPDDR5T operates within the ultra-low voltage range of 1.01 to 1.12V set by the JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council). As per company reports, LPDDR5T is extremely fast while having ultra-low power consumption at the same time. SK hynix also plans to provide customers with a variety of storage capacities. The company has provided samples of 16 gigabyte multi-chip packages, which combine multiple LPDDR5T chips into one package. This allows for a processing power of 77GB of data per second. 

SK hynix plans to begin mass production of LPDDR5T using 1anm technology in the latter half of the year 2023. 1anm technology is the fourth generation of the 10nm technology. As per IT industry forecasts, there will be an increased demand for memory chips with better specifications, owing to the imminent expansion of the 5G smartphone market. With Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and Virtual reality becoming more and more accessible, SK Hynix predicts that their LPDDR5T DRAM will be an asset to the same. 

Sungsoo Ryu, Head of DRAM Product Planning at SK hynix, stated that the company has fulfilled customers’ demand for ultra-high-performance products and will continue to work on technology development to lead the next-generation semiconductor market and become a game-changer in the IT world.

RELATED:

Android 14 May Prevent Installation of Outdated Applications for Security Reasons

Google has taken measures to address the issue of malware infections on Android smartphones by implementing stricter guidelines for app development and distribution. The company has ensured that apps available on the Google Play Store are free from malware, but the ability to sideload apps has created a loophole for malware to spread. In response, Google plans to block the installation of outdated apps on Android 14, as seen in recent code changes. This move aims to eliminate the potential for malware to spread through sideloading and older apps.

Android

Google also urges Android users to update their applications regularly. Since the latest version of Android, Android 13, is only available to 5.2% of all devices, Google might increase the minimum API limit to Android 6.0 to further protect users from malware spread. This is because malware attacks usually target older versions of Android with outdated security patches and loopholes. Once Google starts blocking the sideloading feature, the number of malware attacks will go down considerably. It is worth noting that this won’t affect newer smartphones with later versions of the OS, since they receive timely updates for their applications. 

Google is considering offering options for brands to turn on or off the feature that blocks the installation of outdated apps on Android 14. The company recognizes that the spread of malware among Android smartphones is a concern and is taking steps to address it. To ensure that users have complete control over their devices, Google may also provide a way for users to bypass the feature through the command shell. This can be done by introducing a specific flag in the command shell. However, it’s important to note that this process would be more complex than simply installing an APK on an Android smartphone. The goal is to make it more difficult for most users to bypass the feature, but still provide a way for those who need it. 

Users might see the feature in the developer preview of Android 14, which is set to be available in March 2023. 

RELATED:


(Source)

Redmi Band 2 Likely to Launch Soon in Europe

In December 2022, Redmi unveiled the Redmi Watch 3 and Redmi Band 2 fitness tracker in China. Today, the company will be releasing Band 2 in the Indonesian market.  As per a report by XiaomiTaday, the fitness tracker will also be released soon in Europe.

The Redmi Band 2’s listing has appeared in the database of the Declaration of Conformity in Italy. The moniker of the device is not explicitly mentioned in the listing. However, it does mention the model number M2225B1, which belongs to Band 2. At present, there is no word on the launch timeframe of the fitness tracker for the European market.

Redmi Band 2 specifications

Redmi Band 2
Redmi Band 2

The Redmi Band 2 has a 1.47-inch LCD display that offers 247 ppi pixel density and 450 nits of peak brightness. Its appearance can be customised by choosing from more than 100 watch face options. The fitness tracker houses a 210mAh battery that supports up to 14 days of battery life.

The device is equipped with health tracking features like 24 x 7 heart rate tracking, SpO2 monitoring, and female health tracking. It offers 30+ sports modes for tracking different sports activities.

The Redmi Band 2 offers Bluetooth 5.1 LE connectivity and is compatible with devices running on Android 6 or higher or iOS 12 or later. The fitness band offers other features like remote camera control, time, stopwatch, weather, and music playback. Lastly, it offers 5ATM water resistance.

In China, the Redmi Band 2 is priced at 169 Yuan. It comes in shades like Midnight Black and Dream White. There is a possibility that it may arrive in other colours, such as pink, blue, and green.

RELATED:

OnePlus 11R 5G’s Launch Date Appears on Amazon

OnePlus is scheduled to announce the OnePlus 11 5G, Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds, and its first keyboard on Feb. 7 in India. A notification for the rumored OnePlus 11R 5G has reportedly surfaced on Amazon India. Clicking on it reveals the following poster, which confirms that it will also break cover at 7:30 pm (local time) on Feb. 7.

As can be seen, the OnePlus 11R 5G will be marketed with the “The Shape of Power” tagline. While the launch date has appeared on Amazon, there has been no official confirmation from the brand about its arrival.

Several reports have already leaked a lot of information about the OnePlus 11R 5G. Speculations are rife that the same device will be heading to the Chinese market with the OnePlus Ace 2 moniker.

OnePlus 11R 5G launch date

OnePlus 11R 5G specifications (rumored)

The OnePlus 11R 5G is expected to feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with curved edges. It will support an HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone will run on OxygenOS 13-based Android 13.

The OP11R will arrive with a 16-megapixel selfie. On the back, it will feature an OIS-enabled 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

Under the hood, it will have the underclocked edition of the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset. It is expected to arrive with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. It will house a 5,000mAh battery with 100W charging. For security, it will be equipped with an under-display fingerprint scanner. It will also feature an alert slider.

The device will be available in two configurations: 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM with 512 GB of storage. The base model is likely to cost between Rs 35,000 (~$429) and Rs 40,000 (~$490), while the higher edition may cost between Rs 40,000 (~$490) and Rs 45,000 (~$552).

RELATED:

(via 1, 2)

Poco X5 Pro Indian Price Range Tipped, Could Be the Cheapest SD 778G Smartphone on the Market

After the debut of various Redmi Note 12 series devices in the global market, POCO appears to be gearing up to launch the X5 lineup of smartphones globally. Leaked promo material has already confirmed the design of the POCO X5 Pro, and rumors state that the device will be a rebrand of the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed Edition.

Poco x5 Pro

Now, a new leak has surfaced, hinting at the Indian launch price range of the X5 Pro. According to tipster Debayan Roy, the POCO X5 Pro will be priced between ₹21,000 ($258) to ₹23,000 ($282). As mentioned, these will be the launch prices of the device, and therefore it is expected that the device will cost more after the introductory period is over. Nonetheless, this pricing will certainly make the POCO X5 Pro the cheapest Snapdragon 778G-clad smartphone on the Indian market.

 Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed Edition

So far, the leaked image of the POCO X5 Pro suggests that it will share its frame design with the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed Edition. Obviously, the device will come with a POCO-exclusive paint job. The back will house a triple-camera setup and an LED flash.

Coming to specifications, we can expect the handset to feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ 10-bit OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate as well as 240Hz touch sampling and up to 1920Hz PWM dimming.

As mentioned above, the device will likely have a Snapdragon 778G chipset coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. On the software front, we can expect the device to come pre-loaded with Android 13-based MIUI 14.

The camera system on the device will likely be headlined by a 108MP sensor, paired with an 8MP ultra-wide unit and a 2MP macro camera. A 5,000mAh battery will power the smartphone, and fast charging is expected to be as high as 67W.

RELATED: