OnePlus smartphones have been around for quite some time and now the brand is planning to foray into a new product category— tablets. The Chinese company is ready to bring its first-ever tablet, dubbed OnePlus Pad to the international market on February 7. Ahead of the launch, the brand has already revealed the slate’s design and today, thanks to a tipster, we get to learn its detailed specifications.
Tipster Digital Chat Station has shared the specifications of the OnePlus Pad on Chinese social media Weibo. As per the tipster, the upcoming tablet will have specifications similar to Oppo Pad 2. Based on this, the OnePlus tablet is expected to feature a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, paired with 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. Do note that storage options may vary market-to-market.
It could come with a large 11.6-inch LCD with a 2K resolution and support for a 144Hz refresh rate. In the camera department, the tablet could feature a 13MP sensor with an LED flash module on the rear and an 8MP front camera. OnePlus Pad will likely run Android 13 with ColorOS 13 skin in China and OxygenOS 13 globally. Fueled by a massive 9500mAh battery, the slate could support 67W fast charging. The device is expected to come with a Wi-Fi-only connectivity option.
As mentioned, the company has already revealed the design of the forthcoming OnePlus Pad. It will come with an aluminum alloy chassis with a cambered frame. Unlike other tablets in the market, the OnePlus slate will have its camera module placed in a central position on the back. It will feature a single camera placed in the top bezel above the screen.
Chinese automaker Xpeng had a rough year in 2022. The company’s sales failed to meet expectations and its share price plummeted by 81.34%. However, Chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng, recently sent a letter to its employees promising to end the bad course. It seems that Xiaopeng is determined to keep that promise. Chinese electric vehicle startup launched its P7 sedan and G9 Sports SUV in Europe. Here are the details…
Xpeng launches flagship EVs in Europe in international push
Xpeng, has launched its P7 sedan and G9 sports SUV in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden, as part of its international expansion efforts. The P7 sedan is priced lower than Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range in the four countries. It has starting price of 49,990 euros ($54,917) for a range of 576 kilometers on a single charge.
Xpeng is pushing aggressively into international markets. The Chinese electric car start-up launched its P7 sedan and G9 SUV in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden.
The G9 SUV is priced higher than Tesla’s Model Y Long Range, with a range of 570 kilometers on a single charge and a starting price of 57,990 euros in the Netherlands. Xpeng faces tuff competition in Europe, not just from Tesla but also from other Chinese automakers and European giants like Volkswagen.
However, Xpeng isn’t the only Chinese manufacturer on the market.Chinese rival Nio has already started deliveries in Norway. Xpeng has accelerated its international push in recent years, with physical stores in Europe and the launch of its mass-market P5 sedan. However, supply chain issues have suspended the start of sales for the P5.
We’re all aware that webcams on laptops aren’t excellent. As a result, most individuals prefer to utilise an external webcam, and some even use their smartphone as a webcam for their computers via third-party apps. iPhones may also be used as webcams for MacBooks. Now, rumours are circulating that Google is developing a function that will allow you to utilise your smartphone as a webcam for your laptop. This will be offered as a native function on Android soon, eliminating the requirement for third-party software. This will undoubtedly be one of the best features Google has ever added.
Today, Android expert Mishaal Rahman revealed on Twitter that Google may add functionality for turning your Android phone into a USB webcam. Rahman discovered evidence indicating that Android is adding a “DeviceAsWebcam” service in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository. If you’re not familiar with AOSP, it’s Google’s open-source operating system development initiative for stock Android.
Your Android device's kernel may need to be compiled with CONFIG_USB_CONFIGFS_F_UVC=y for this new functionality to work. This is the case on GKI kernels since android12-5.10.https://t.co/R52BVvxcXa
It allows anyone to examine and contribute code and changes while being directed and overseen by Google. “DeviceAsWebcam” is defined as “a new service that transforms an Android device into a webcam.” According to Rahman, this would work on Android smartphones that support the standard UVC (USB video class) gadget mode, which allows video data to be sent.
Making your phone become a webcam isn’t necessarily innovative for Android. However, this would be the first time Android has permitted turning your phone into a UVC device without the use of a third-party app. It is unknown whether Google will integrate this capability in a future OS upgrade. However, in order to exploit the new capabilities right now, Rahman suggests that your device’s kernel be compiled with CONFIG USB CONFIGFS F UVC=y first. Technically, it would still require an app or service to function. You might call it an official app, but hey!
Last week Japan and Netherlands decided to join the US and agreed to abide by the additional sanctions on semiconductor export to China.
However, Semiconductor Equipments and Material International (SEMI), an industry association that includes the world’s top semiconductor designing, manufacturing, and selling companies, stated that the curbs laid on China were not strict enough.
According to SEMI, if US allies like Japan and Netherlands did not levy tougher curbs, then the sanctions would be ineffective. The industry group has openly sided with the US in the US-China Tech war and said that it had a vested interest in the US and welcomed the additional sanction agreement on China.
Though the exact details of the agreement are undisclosed, SEMI believes that China will keep on growing in the semiconductor industry unless the allies come together and agree to wider control and restrictions on Chinese fabrication facilities.
source: SEMI
Semiconductor Fabrication facilities or fabs are factories that make integrated circuits. Semi said that as long as Chinese fabs are running, the country has a strong chance to manufacture advanced chips. It further added that allies need to restrict their engineers and others from supporting China’s high-end fabs.
The current sanctions levied by the Biden administration ban the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, technology, and personnel to China. American nationals are not allowed to partner with or work at Chinese semiconductor companies.
Japan and Netherlands have agreed to restrictions on semiconductor export to China. Essentially, these two countries have agreed not to export advanced chip-making equipment and cutting-edge technology to China. However, older technologies and equipment are still exported to China.
China is the largest semiconductor market in the world and aims to be a global leader in advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence. With its current technology, China can make chips that can be used in low to mid-level industries like washing machines, air conditioners, automobiles, and smart home appliances. However, it still relies on the US and its allies to make advanced chips used in weaponry, Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud computing.
Though Japan and Netherlands have agreed to additional restrictions on China, the allies are not in favor of a complete ban as it will adversely affect their economies which are largely dependent on technology exports to countries like China.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will be unveiled globally on February 7. Ahead of the launch, the company has revealed an interesting detail about the upcoming earbuds. OnePlus has confirmed that the Buds Pro 2’s Master EQ will be tuned by veteran Hollywood music composer Hans Zimmer. You might know him from his work on popular movies such as Dune, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Dark Knight trilogy.
The Master EQ tuned by the legendary music composer is named “Soundscape” and is claimed to have fewer low frequencies than the default setting as well as a brighter and wider sound field. OnePlus says the Master EQ will let the users enjoy the full orchestral sound of classical and the multidimensional score of an action film.
For the unaware, an EQ, short for equalizer, is a tool that lets you adjust the sound signature of your earphones or speakers according to your wish. It can be used to adjust the gain of various frequency ranges in the complete frequency range of a given output device.
As part of the collaboration, Zimmer has rearranged “Lost but Won”— a part of the original soundtrack for the movie Rush, to integrate spatial audio components into the music. This soundtrack will enable customers to test their OnePlus Buds Pro 2’s spatial audio feature and to ensure it is set at an optimal level.
The company had already confirmed that Buds Pro is one of the first TWS earbuds to adopt Google’s signature spatial audio function. The earbuds should be able to offer a customized spatial audio experience through a wide sound field and clear vocals.
OnePlus says it is planning to collaborate with other world-famous music composers to develop more customized EQs for users to choose from. Let’s see which big name is next!
DIZO has launched a new smartwatch in India. The latest offering is the DIZO Watch D2. The Realme TechLife brand has expanded its range of smartwatches in the country. The Watch D2 falls under the Rs 2,000 price segment and competes against other devices offered by brands like Noise, boAt, Xiaomi, and more in the market. Read on to know what it offers out of the box.
The DIZO Watch D2 features a large 1.91-inch display in a square dial. It has 500 nits peak brightness and more than 150 customisable watch faces. The device comes with a hybrid aluminium frame and a skin-friendly soft silicone strap. There is a button on the right side of the device.
On the health-centric front, the DIZO Watch D2 is equipped with a heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, sleep tracker, and menstrual period monitor. The wearable device offers hydration and sedentary reminders. It packs support for more than 120 indoor and outdoor sports modes.
The DIZO Watch D2 comes with a Bluetooth calling feature. Users can call, answer, and reject incoming calls directly from the wrist. There is a silent mode as well as noise cancellation on calls. The smartwatch packs convenient features like built-in mini-games, camera and music control, smart notifications, weather updates, find my phone, and more. The DIZO Watch D2 is powered by a 260mAh battery unit that is claimed to deliver 7 days of usage under normal mode and 3 days with Bluetooth calling.
The DIZO Watch D2 carries a price tag of Rs 1,799. It will be available for purchase from the brand’s official website and Flipkart starting February 10th.
Samsung is done with its big 2023 unveil and now it’s OnePlus’ turn to show its cards. The Chinese brand will be introducing the OnePlus 11 flagship to global consumers on February 7 at the Cloud 11 event. The company has been teasing its latest smartphone intensively, revealing information in bits and pieces. In the latest development, it has been confirmed that the OnePlus 11 will be available for pre-order in India on the launch day itself.
OnePlus 11 will go on sale in India through Amazon. And today, a microsite on the e-commerce platform revealed the premium smartphone’s pre-orders in India will open on February 7, the same day as the launch event. The sale date and official pricing of the handset will be announced during the launch.
Unofficially, a tipster has claimed that the higher-end 16GB RAM+ 256GB storage version of the OnePlus 11 will cost Indian consumers around Rs 61,999. There will also be an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version but its pricing is still a mystery. Given OnePlus’ popularity in India, we expect the upcoming smartphone to attract many buyers. The prices also seem fair this time.
The OnePlus 11 got sold like hotcakes in China. According to the company’s executive, the smartphone broke pre-sales records for the brand after just two hours. It remains to be seen whether the same response will be reciprocated in the global market.
This year, OnePlus will not be launching a pro model but instead, we’ll be getting a more affordable OnePlus 11R with an older Snapdragon 8+ gen 1 processor and decent cameras. The 11R will be unveiled at the same event alongside several other products, including the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro, OnePlus TV Q2 Pro, and a new Keyboard.
Stuffcool has expanded its range of wireless chargers. The homegrown brand has launched a new 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger called Stuffcool Stack. The striking feature is that it can be folded when not in use. Read on to know what it offers out of the box.
The Stuffcool Stack is a wireless charger that can top up three devices simultaneously. The wireless charging station features three magnetic chargers. It is compact and can be folded making it ideal for travel and carrying in the bag easily. The device also doubles up as a foldable stand and a phone can be placed in portrait as well as landscape orientation. The charging accessory measures 10cm in diameter and 2.6cm in height.
The Stuffcool Stack is compatible with Qi-certified smartphones and TWS earphones. It supports the iPhone 12, 13, and 14 series along with devices from Samsung, Pixel, and more. The TWS module is capable of outputting power to AirPods, Samsung Buds, Pixel Buds, and Nothing Buds. Meanwhile, the watch module is only compatible with all versions of the Apple Watch.
In terms of delivering power, the Stuffcool Stack offers up to 10W speed for smartphones, 3W for TWS earphones, and 2.5W for Apple Watch. It features an 18W QC3.0 adapter and a fast-charging Type-C cable for plug-and-charge convenience. The wireless charger is capable of detecting any foreign object placed on the stack.
The Stuffcool Stack wireless charger carries a price tag of Rs 4,990. It is offered in Black and White colour options and comes with a 6-month warranty. It can be purchased from the brand’s website, Amazon, and various offline stores across the country.
Vivo X90 series has debuted in the global markets. The brand has also announced the availability of the smartphones in various regions. The Vivo X90 smartphones were launched in China last November and the lineup includes the standard (review), Pro, and Pro+ models in China. Only the former two have arrived in the international markets while the Pro+ variant remains exclusive to China.
The Vivo X90 and X90 Pro are vastly the same phones except for differences in the camera department. The global variants also have the same specifications as their Chinese counterparts.
The Vivo X90 and X90 Pro come with a 6.78-inch OLED display with curved edges and a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. Both devices offer an FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,300 nits peak brightness, and HDR10+ support. The phones are equipped with an in-screen fingerprint scanner. Design-wise, the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro a circular protruding camera module and a horizontal metal bridge below it with text revealing ‘Xtreme Imagination’ and the camera co-engineered by Vivo and Zeiss. The standard and Pro models are IP64 and IP68-certified water-resistant.
On the imaging front, the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro have Zeiss-branded triple rear cameras. The setup on the former comprises an OIS-enabled 50MP Sony IMX866 main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide unit, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The Pro variant has a 1-inch Sony IMX989 50MP primary sensor with the industry’s only f/1.75 aperture coupled with a 50MP portrait unit and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The Vivo X90 duo pack the brand’s V2 ISP enabling superior photography performance. Up front, both Vivo smartphones feature a 32MP selfie snapper. There are also various camera-related features on the devices.
Under the hood, the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro are equipped with a Dimensity 9200 processor. It packs up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. There is a vapour cooling chamber onboard for heat dissipation. The X90 draws its power from a 4,810mAh battery whereas the X90 Pro is backed by a 4,870mAh unit with both supporting 120W fast charging. The later is also compatible with 50W wireless charging.
In Malaysia, the Vivo X90 costs MYR 3,699 (~$868) for the 12GB + 256GB variant whereas the X90 Pro carries a price tag of MYR 4,999 (~$1,175) for the same configuration. The standard model will be available in Black and Blue colour and in Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Thailand, and Malaysia markets. The Pro variant will be sold in only Black colour and in the same countries as the regular X90 but along with some European markets like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Czechia, Austria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and Serbia. The pricing and availability details will vary from region to region.
When it comes to PC accessories, the first brand that comes to mind is Razer. The company manages to attract the attention of gamers, especially with its interesting designs and products. Finally, a new one has been added to these products. Razer introduced its new $280 mouse, the Viper Mini Signature Edition, today. Here are the details…
Razer’s $280 mouse is covered in gaping holes
The Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition (SE), priced at $280. This mouse is unique in design with its magnesium alloy chassis exoskeleton and large holes. While the honeycomb design is meant to reduce weight, the Viper Mini SE’s holes are significantly larger. Therefore, this design raises questions about the mouse’s durability.
To address these concerns, Razer has added a three-year warranty to the Viper Mini SE. Thats a year longer than the company’s usual warranty for mouse. The large holes in the mouse’s design could also help keep hands cool during intense use by allowing for more airflow but I don’t know how important this feature is for gamers.
However, despite the unique design, the Viper Mini SE is not the lightest mouse on the market. It weighs almost 50 grams. It also lacks buttons on its right side, making it less versatile for competitive use. The mouse targets gamers seeking a mouse that is easy to flick around their desk, with a high dots-per-inch (DPI) spec of up to 30,000 DPI.
Unfortunately, the price is also quite high. As we mentioned above, the wireless model is $ 280. However, if you’re interested in expensive and “with-holel” PC accessories, you can order the Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition starting February 11.
Samsung has just finished off the launch of the flagship Galaxy S23 lineup and the Galaxy Book 5 series. The brand is now probably preparing for the launch of a Samsung 77-inch OLED TV and a 49-inch OLED Monitor. Anyway, going back to the main headline, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 has now got the support of Android 13. Well, you should not get too much happy as it is not an official ROM. The Noble ROM 3.0 brings OneUI 5.0 based on Android 13 to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 devices.
Noble ROM, developed by XDA Recognized Developer AlexisXDA, is a project aimed at giving the latest edition of Samsung’s custom skin to the Galaxy S9/S9+ and Note 9. It has now reached the 3.0 milestone, which means that the fifth major version of One UI is now available for anyone who is willing to flash the modified firmware on their devices. The build was moved over by the developer using a modified Galaxy Note 10 Lite and the Galaxy S20’s Android 13 version, which has been adjusted to make use of the 2018 flagships. In this way, they have enabled the support of the latest ROM to these galaxy devices.
The developer was able to adapt One UI 5.0 with Android 13 to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 in the form of Noble ROM, an aftermarket firmware. Noble ROM can provide some comfort for long-term owners, especially those who don’t want to migrate to a conventional AOSP-derived Android 13 custom ROM because Samsung ended the monthly security patch release for the Galaxy Note 9 and S9 family a long time ago. Of course, it isn’t flawless, with a few flaws here and there. But what’s better than getting the latest operating system for outdated devices?
This port is only available for the Exynos 9810-powered Galaxy S9 and Note 9 global and Korean models. This indicates that consumers in the United States and Canada who own Qualcomm models will be unable to use One UI 5 on their Galaxy S9/S9+ or Note 9. That was all for the unofficial Android 13 ROM for the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 devices. What are your thoughts on the post? Please let us know by leaving a remark in your own words down below. Thank you for sticking with me until the end.
Sony has just revealed its sales figures for its popular PlayStation 5 console in the fourth and final quarter of 2022. This period is also seen as the holiday season or holiday quarter, and it appears that the company has managed to achieve some robust shipments.
During Q4 2022, the Japanese tech giant sold around 7.1 million units of its PS5s between the months of October to December. This marked a sizeable 82 percent rise year on year when compared to the 3.9 million units sold in 2021. Thanks to this high figure, the company also managed to reach more than 32 million units in sales for the PlayStation 5 since the launch of the current gen gaming console.
The rise in sales is likely due to better inventory thanks to stabilizing supply chains that would enable little to no delay in shipments. Furthermore, its Game & Network Services segment overall saw a jump to 9.7 billion US Dollars last year, marking a year on year rise of 53 percent. So now, Sony has sold over 32.1 million PS5s compared to the 25 million shipped by November 2022. In other words, this also means that the brand has sold around 28 percent of all PS5s in just this single quarter alone.
If the company manages to ship around another 5.2 million units of the PlayStation 5 console, it can end its fiscal year with a total of 37 million shipments. This could mark a significant boost in sales compared to last year. Such high sales figures initially seemed like optimistic numbers considering the various sourcing issues like component shortages and rising cost of raw materials. But with this trend, Sony might be able to achieve this goal as well.
Huawei has just announced a new project, in which it employs its expertise in telecommunications. The company is installing 5G networking gear on fishing boats to improve connectivity for people working in the sea. So here are all the details.
The Chinese tech giant worked with China Unicom for the ‘Digital Fishing Boat’ project, which also won the 2023 GSMA ‘5G Productivity Challenge Award’. Both companies worked together since Huawei required China Unicom’s private 5G network and product systems. Although, the brand jointly developed the 5G tech for the system on the fishing boats. Thanks to 5G, the people at sea gain access to cloud computing, IoT (Internet of Things) Beidou positioning technology, and improved connectivity.
This would enable the fishing boats to monitor the dynamic weather at sea. The boats will come with the 5G MetaAAU ultra large scale antenna array that offers various advantage from its large bandwidth of the 3.5G frequency band. Furthermore, this can also maintain a stable 60Mbps download speeds and 2Mbps upload speeds within the range of 61 kilometers in the sea.
These new Digital Fishing Boats would also allow fishermen to also keep up to date by watching the news, get up to date weather information, and even make high definition video calls to their families. Although one of its highlighting aspects is the ability to let fishermen call for help through a one click app to get emergency assistance while in the waters.
The Reno 8T 5G is the latest Reno-series phone to launch in India. Apart from launching the 8T today, Oppo also announced the Enco Air 3 TWS earbuds. I will be reviewing both products in the coming week. Before I release the review, here is my first impressions post on the Reno 8T 5G and Enco Air 3.
Oppo Reno 8T 5G
The Reno 8T 5G is available in 128 GB and 256 GB variants in other markets. In India, however, the device is only available with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It is priced at Rs 29,999 (~$366). Readers can checkout our launch story to learn more about the bank offers that are available for online and offline buyers in India.
The Reno 8T 5G looks very impressive from the front as well as the back. It has a premium feel as the display and the back panel of the phone taper towards the edges. The top and bottom bezels (2.32mm chin) are slim and appear symmetrical, and the polycarbonate back panel shows off different colours when viewed from different angles.
OPPO Reno 8T 5G
The 8T has a thickness of 7.7mm and weighs only 171 grams, which makes it a few grams lighter than the Reno 8 5G, which weighs 179 grams. While I received the Sunrise Gold variant, the 8T also comes in Midnight Black. Like the other Reno 8 5G and Reno 8 Pro 5G, the Reno 8T does not have an IP rating.
The Reno 8T 5G has a flagship-level 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, which produces an FHD+ resolution, up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and 10-bit colors. It offers a screen-to-body ratio of 93 percent. One of the drawbacks of the Reno 5G (review) was that it had a single speaker. The Reno 8T 5G is blessed with dual stereo speakers.
OPPO Reno 8T 5G
Under the hood, the Reno 8T 5G features the Snapdragon 695, a reliable chip for mid-range performance. It has LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, up to 8GB of virtual RAM, and a 4,800mAh battery. The retail package includes an 80W charger, but the phone supports 67W charging. The company claims a full charge in just 44 minutes.
Cameras are one of the major highlights of the Reno series. For selfies, the Reno 8T inherits the reliable 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 sensor from the Reno 8 and Reno 7 series. It is the first Oppo phone to feature a 108-megapixel Samsung HM6 camera. It is assisted by a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel microlens with support for 40x magnification. The handset runs on the Android 13 OS with the ColorOS 13 on top. Also, it features a microSD card slot for more storage.
Oppo Enco Air 3 TWS earbuds
The Enco Air 3 has a distinct dual-tone design and retails for Rs 2,999 ($37). It comes in a “Glaze White” colour only and has a translucent lid. While it looks beautiful, I feel that its lid is a bit delicate. The compact case houses the earbuds, which have a half-in-ear design like the AirPods. Hence, it does not come with silicon ear tips. The charging case has an LED indicator, which glows green when the lid is opened or closed or when the earbuds are taken out or placed in their grooves.
OPPO Enco AIr 3
The earbuds have 13.4mm audio drivers that promise rich bass and clear vocals. For better speech recognition, it has the Cadence HiFi 5 DSP onboard. There is Oppo Alive Audio support for an enhanced surround-sound experience. The usual touch controls are available on the earbuds.
The Enco Air 3 supports the latest Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. One of the good things about it is that users can pair it with up to two devices simultaneously. However, there is no physical button on the case for Bluetooth pairing. It is not a big problem as it pairs quickly with new devices.
OPPO Enco AIr 3
There is a gaming mode that offers 47ms low latency. Oppo claims that the Enco Air 3 offers up to 25 hours of playback time with the charging case. A USB-C port is available for charging. Lastly, the device weighs only 50 grams.
The Reno 8T 5G is an enticing package that offers an attractive design, an impressive display, a smooth experience, and decent cameras. The 8T faces other similarly priced devices, such as the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Nothing Phone (1), and iQOO 9 SE.
I will be thoroughly testing the Reno 8T 5G and Enco Air 3 over the following few days to evaluate their performance and claims. The Reno 8T review will arrive in the coming week, while the Air 3’s review will be up a bit later. Meanwhile, those who are interested can head to Oppo India’s website, Flipkart, or offline stores in India to pre-order them. Both devices are scheduled to go on sale starting Feb. 10.
If you wish to know anything these products, you can drop in your questions in the comments section.
Noise had just recently announced a new rugged smartwatch for the Indian market. Now, the NoiseFit Force has finally gone on sale in the region. So here are all the details regarding the new wearable product.
The NoiseFit Force arrives with a circular display that has a 1.32 inch IPS panel that has a 360 x 360 pixel resolution. The company is also offering 150 customizable watch faces. It also comes with two physical buttons on the right side and a fully functioning rotating crown. Bring a rugged smartwatch, it also comes with water, dust, and scratch resistance along with a sporty look. The body is built with a combination of zinc alloy and polycarbonate.
The device also comes with various health related sensors like heart rate tracking, SpO2 blood oxygen mapping, sleep tracking, step counter, and more. It also comes with support for multiple sports related modes as well like running, cycling, cricket, hockey, trekking, and more. One of the device’s highlighting functions include Bluetooth Calling, which allows users to manage and receive phone calls directly from the smartwatch.
Other notable features include, 7 day battery life, IP67 water resistance, voice assistant support, and more. It also arrives in multiple color options, namely Teal Green, Misty Grey, and Lunar Black colors. The NoiseFit Force is currently available for purchase for a special price tag of 2,999 INR from the company’s official website and Amazon India website.
Realme has already updated a sizable number of its smartphones with stable Android 13-based Realme UI 4.0 and many devices are on the beta build as well. The latest handset to get the software treat is the Realme GT Neo2, which was announced back in 2021. The update is currently being seeded in China but could extend to other regions soon. Here are the details.
Late in December 2022, Realme started the open beta program for GT Neo2 in the global market, allowing users to get an early taste of the Realme UI 4.0 ahead of the stable release. Now, after more than a month of beta testing, the company has started rolling out the final build of the Android 13 update. As mentioned, the rollout is currently limited to the Chinese market.
Realme UI 4.0 brings several new changes with itself. It adds a new aquatic theme and more vibrant colors to enhance the overall user experience. It promises seamless connectivity with multiple devices and improved security and privacy. The performance and gaming experience have also been optimized.
To recall, Realme GT Neo2 debuted in 2021 and is expected to receive only two major OS updates. It came running Android 11 out of the box and has already received the Android 12 update, so Android 13 is probably its last big update. It will continue to receive security updates.
The GT Neo2 packs a 6.62 inches AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The smartphone gets a triple camera setup on the back, headlined by a 64 MP primary sensor.
A couple of months back, Redmi debuted the affordable Redmi 12C smartphone in China. Now, there are rumors that the device might soon launch for the global market. Ahead of any official announcements, the smartphone has appeared on BIS & NBTC certification websites.
Redmi 12C NBTCRedmi 12C BIS
Starting with the NBTC listing, the certification shows the Redmi 12C model number, which is 22120RN86G, and its name, with no additional information provided. The Redmi device with model number 22120RN86G has also been spotted on the BIS website. However, the BIS listing does not provide any information about the device’s specifications or features. Let’s recall the specification of the Redmi 12C Chinese variant to get an idea of what to expect from the global model.
Redmi 12C specs
The Redmi 12C features a 6.71-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution (1650 x 720 pixels) and a dewdrop notch, offering 500 nits brightness. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC and comes with LPDDR4x RAM and eMMC 5.1 storage. The device runs on an optimized version of MIUI 13, likely based on Android 13.
In terms of cameras, the Redmi 12C has a dual camera setup on the back including a 50MP primary sensor and a depth sensor, and a 5MP front-facing camera. The phone supports dual SIM, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, and GNSS. Additionally, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a dedicated MicroSD card slot, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a MicroUSB port.
The Redmi 12C is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery and supports 10W standard charging. However, since the software is optimized for low-level hardware, some MIUI 13 features may not be available.
OnePlus has just officially confirmed that its next gen flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 11, will arrive with support for 4 years of major Android updates. This makes the device the first ever handset from the company get this extended software support. So here are all the details.
We're adding another dimension to Fast and Smooth. The #OnePlus11 is our first flagship supporting 4 years of Android versions and 5 years of security updates.
For those unaware, the Chinese smartphone maker is gearing up to launch its highly anticipated OnePlus 11 phone on February 7, which will run on Android 13 OS based ColorOS 13/OxyegenOS 13 custom skin out of the box. But earlier today (3rd February 2023), the brand’s CEO Pete Lau has revealed that the OnePlus 11 5G model will get the highest number of software updates that it has ever offered on any smartphone.
The latest premium grade handset will come with four major Android updates. In other words, we can expect OnePlus 11 users to get the Android 14, Android 15, Android 15, and even the Android 17 OS update in the next few years. Furthermore, the phone will also come with five years of security patches as well. This means that OnePlus is now also offering longer software support for its devices, joining the ranks of other brands that offer similar experiences on their flagship phones like Samsung.
Similarly, even Apple offers such a long update cycle as well. Although, Google still falls behind Samsung with just 3 years of Android updates. It is unclear if this extended software support would also include any other handsets, or if it is only restricted to its flagship grade models.
The Q4 2022 smartphone market faced a sharp decline, with shipments dropping 18% YoY (Year on Year) to the lowest level since 2013, despite a 1% QoQ (Quarter to Quarter) growth to 303.9 million units. Full-year 2022 shipments also dipped to 1.2 billion units, the lowest number since 2013.
Counterpoint’s Senior Analyst Harmeet Singh Walia noted that various factors such as the war in Ukraine, inflation, economic uncertainty, and macroeconomic challenges weakened consumer sentiment. This, in turn, decreased the frequency of smartphone purchases, leading to double-digit decreases in shipments for the top smartphone manufacturers, impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, labor market shortage, and declining consumer purchasing power. Consequently, smartphone revenue and operating profit saw a dip, although not as severe as the decline in shipments. In 2022, Apple sold a total of 224.7 million units, with Q4 being the biggest quarter for the company. However, Samsung sold a total of 259.5 million units, still remaining at the top for yearly smartphone shipments globally.
According to Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service, the overall average selling price rose 5% YoY in 2022 due to an increased mix of premium phone offerings from major OEMs. While there was a 9% decrease in revenue, annual smartphone revenues reached $409 billion, the lowest since 2017. Apple was only one of the top five smartphone OEMs to see growth. Research Director Jeff Fieldhack praised Apple’s performance, since the company outperformed a struggling market in terms of shipment, revenue, and operating profit growth. In 2022, Apple achieved its highest-ever shares of 18%, 48%, and 85% in these metrics, respectively. This was attributed to the proficient management of production issues and strong iPhone Pro series sales.
Additionally, premium devices, favored by well-informed smartphone users, saw less impact from economic and geopolitical uncertainties. Research Director Tarun Pathak also highlighted the premiumization trend driven by Samsung with its foldable smartphones. Samsung was the only top five OEM besides Apple to see a 1% growth in revenue, despite a 5% shipment decline and 1% operating profit decrease, in 2022. Samsung outperformed market projections, resulting in a slight increase in its operating profit share to 12% in 2022.
Chinese smartphone giants, including Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo, faced significant challenges due to domestic lockdowns and global economic and geopolitical difficulties, resulting in more than 20% decline in shipments and double-digit declines in revenue and operating profit. They have yet to make a significant impact in the premium market.
The market is expected to remain under pressure in the first half of 2023 before recovery sets in and market trends start stabilizing.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will be launching alongside the OnePlus 11 and OnePlus 11R globally on February 7. Ahead of the launch, many details about the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 have already surfaced like its price in Europe. Now, OnePlus Buds Pro 2 global variant has appeared on FCC with its battery and wireless charging details.
The FCC listing (via 91mobiles) reveals that the earbuds will have 0.231Wh batteries, while the charging case will be equipped with a 520mAh rated capacity lithium-ion battery pack. However, the actual battery capacity in the case is slightly larger, with a typical capacity of 525mAh, which is presumably to counteract battery degradation for long-term use.
The listing also confirms that the charging case will support wireless charging. The device’s frequency range is stated to be 2,402MHz to 2,480 MHz and will operate within temperatures of 0°C to 35°C. Other than that, not much is revealed by the certification listing, however, we already know all there is to know about the earbuds as OnePlus has already launched them in China.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 specs
Design-wise, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is similar to its predecessor, however, it comes with Dynaudio tuning this time around. The wireless earbuds feature dual drivers. They measure 11mm and 6mm in size. The buds use Bluetooth 5.2 to connect with devices. They offer a ‘dual connection’ feature, so they can be connected to two different devices simultaneously.
Just like any other premium TWS product, these also come with an intelligent Active Noise Cancellation feature. It uses algorithms to activate ANC (up to 48dB) based on the surrounding environment.
Additionally, the Hi-Res Audio Wireless-certified earbuds support LHDC 5.0 audio codec and 360° spatial audio. They also offer up to 54ms low latency mode for gaming. There’s also support for touch controls, fast pairing with ColorOS devices, and cervical spine health function.
With ANC disabled, the IP55-rated earbuds can last up to 9 hours on a full charge. With the charging case, users can get up to 39 hours of playback time. With ANC enabled, these numbers drop to 6 hours and 25 hours.
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