A new Chromecast with Google TV could be featured on the Google Home app. A new leak points to this feature just months after its release. The new dongle was featured in a preview update for the Google Home app.
The new Google Chromecast dongle, according to the app preview, includes a new Google TV device with the YTC moniker. As a trend, the original Chromecast with Google TV was codenamed YTV, while the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) had the YTB codename. The inference to draw from the leaked codename is that the product will be another iteration of the Chromecast with Google TV.
Little is still known about the upcoming dongle outside the Google Home app preview. It could still be under development and is expected to be a high-end product higher than the HD variant of Chromecast. Moreover, there is a need to refresh the current Chromecast released in 2020. It is speculated that the new dongle will support AV1 decoding as a new Google standard. The device will also likely come with a more powerful chipset than its predecessor. There will also be improvements in storage and other features.
Google hasn’t made any announcement yet on the leaked Chromecast with Google TV. This is not the first time when a Google product will leak before its release. We, therefore, expect more release details for the upcoming dongle in the coming weeks. The price and availability details of the new device will also be available later. The mystery however remains that the specific release date for the product is not known. In addition, this could well be a rumor that the company doesn’t have any plans to pursue.
Motorola is expected to soon launch a new mid-range smartphone, dubbed Moto G53, in the global market. It is rumored that the Moto G73 will also tag along. The two smartphones have been making rounds on various certification sites recently, however, there’s no official confirmation from the brand yet. While we wait, The Tech Outlook has leaked the promotional materials as well as the specifications of the upcoming devices. Let’s look at the details.
Moto G53
The Moto G53, not to be confused with the Chinese version of the same name, is reported to have a 6.5-inch LCD display with 1600 × 720-pixel resolution, 269ppi pixel density, and 120Hz refresh rate. It could feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ processor under the hood, paired with 4GB/6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB storage.
For photography, the handset may feature a 50MP primary sensor with a 2MP macro shoot. There could be an 8MP selfie snapper. Backed by a 5000mAh battery unit, the smartphone is said to support only 10W charging. The 5G phone will be equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a stereo speaker setup. It could measure 162.7 × 74.66 × 8.19mm and weighs 183 grams.
Moto G73
The Moto G73 6.5-inch is also said to have a 120Hz LCD display but with a Full HD+ (2400 × 1080 pixel) resolution and 405ppi pixel density. It could get a more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor with up to 8GB of RAM. The handset could be offered in two storage options – 128GB and 256 GB. On the software front, the handset is reported to run Android 13.
This one also features a dual-rear camera setup with a 50MP primary shooter but the macro sensor is replaced with an 8MP ultrawide. For selfies, there’s a 16MP snapper. The handset could draw power from a 5000mAh battery unit with 30W charging support. It features stereo speakers as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack.
FiiO has unveiled its M11S Digital Audio Player. The portable audio player is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and runs Android 10 OS. It also has a decent 5,300mAh battery to deliver spotless audio for extended periods. The FiiO M11S supports high-fidelity Bluetooth and wired connectivity options. It is also compatible with Apple AirPlay and DLNA. The M11S is already on sale in some markets.
The new FiiO digital audio player was leaked in 2022 and joins a widening market of digital audio players. The Sony Walkman models are still the pick of the crowd but the M11S could offer a competitive pricing advantage. The M11S has a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels. For comparison, the recently released Sony NW-ZX707 has the same screen parameters as the M11S.
The FiiO M11S weighs up to 50g above the Sony NW-ZX707, tipping the scales at 271g. It measures 125.2 x 74 x 18.5mm. Its Snapdragon 660 chipset pairs with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The audio player’s 5,300mAh battery delivers up to 14 hours of playback. It can play music via its 2.5mm, 4.4mm and 3.5mm jacks and supports aptX HD/ LDAC/ LDHC Bluetooth codecs.
The audio player can stream lossless audio via Tidal apart from its Apple AirPlay and DLNA support. The FiiO M11S is priced at $499.99 and can be ordered from Amazon. It is available in black and titanium color options currently, but other colorways may be added later.
Premium accessories maker, TAG Heuer has announced the Connected Calibre E4 lineup of smartwatches. The Connected Calibre E4 series has three models added to the lineup. This comes after the 2022 debut of the lineup. The smartwatches, as usual, target the high end of the consumer spectrum and come with hefty price tags.
The three new Connected Calibre E4 models are the Sports Edition, 42mm Golf Edition, and standard 42mm Calibre E4 smartwatch. The 42mm model has a 1.28-inch display and an almost bezel-less panel with Sapphire Dome glass protection. The screen is an OLED with a display resolution of 416 x 416 pixels. The body of the smartwatch is made of grade 2 titanium and has a black veneer. The 42mm is the lightest smartwatch from TAG Heuer and the least expensive of the three models.
The Connected Calibre E4 42mm Golf Edition has the same body design as the plain 42mm model. It comes with three TAG Heuer-branded golf balls and two straps. One of the straps is made from black leather with green stitchings, while the other is a white rubber strap. The 42mm Golf Edition supports 40,000 golf courses and allows for automatic tracking. The golf courses are spread across the world and the watch can track your score and several other golfing parameters.
The Calibre E4 Sports Edition is the biggest model among the trio. It is 45mm and has a 1.39-inch OLED display with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. It has a breathable rubber strap so that the watch can be comfortably worn during sports activities. It features a Trail & Hiking application combined with its barometer to assess performance.
All three models will get the Wear OS 3 update when it is released, according to TAG Heuer. The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 smartwatches are priced between $2,350 and $2,600. The least expensive model is the 42mm version while the Sports Edition is the most expensive. The trio of new Calibre E4 smartwatches will be released later this month, according to the company.
Samsung is rolling out a new software update for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 series. These include the ability to record 360 audio and an improved camera controller. The new updates will enhance the content-capturing capabilities for Galaxy users. Samsung stated that “Paired with a Galaxy smartphone, the latest wearable software updates bring users new ways to capture the world as they hear and see it. These software updates reflect Samsung’s continuous commitment to providing the most up-to-date experiences to existing devices.”
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s 360 audio recording allows users to record sound on video as they hear it. This is possible by pairing the TWS earphone with a Galaxy smartphone. Users can capture and record high-quality realistic audio for videos without the need for professional equipment. The feature is possible because it uses a microphone in each earbud to pick up 360-degree sound
The 360 audio recording is said to be the first feature in the Galaxy line that utilises an advanced new Bluetooth audio standard called LE audio. It offers better audio quality, lower latency, and longer battery life. LE audio also enables binaural recording on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 4 series gain new features in its Camera Controller app. The new update for the smartwatches adds zoom capabilities that expand the camera experience when paired with a Galaxy smartphone. Users can control the phone’s zoom camera by pinching the watch’s face or turning the rotating bezel. This eliminates the need to run back and forth to the camera to frame a picture.
The 360 Audio Recording will be released on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Galaxy Z Flip 4, and Galaxy Z Fold 4 through software updates starting today. The updated camera controller feature will be available on the Galaxy Watch 5, 5 Pro, Watch 4 and 4 Classic starting this February.
According to recent reports, Apple is planning to transition the Apple Watch from OLED to a new in-house Micro-LED display. While this move has been widely speculated, a display industry analyst has recently confirmed that the transition is indeed taking place. Here are the details…
Apple Watch’s Transition to Micro-LED: What it Means for Consumers
Apple’s switch to a Micro-LED display for the Apple Watch is a much-discussed topic in the tech industry. It was previously reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that Apple plans to use Micro-LED displays in the Apple Watch starting in 2024 or 2025, with parts designed in-house rather than by third-party companies like Samsung or LG Display.
We published in our November Capex Report that LGD is building a small line for microLED backplanes for the Apple Watch. It doesn't start production till 2H'24. It is this small line that will likely assemble microLEDs from Apple for '25 launch. Apple won't do the full process.
However, a new report by display industry analyst Ross Young adds further context to this story, stating that LG Display will begin production of Micro-LED parts in the second half of 2024, leaving enough time to produce panels for Apple. The move to Micro-LED technology could allow for improved color reproduction, better contrast, and even brighter displays in the Apple Watch.
While it’s not yet clear which models of the Apple Watch will be the first to make the switch, the high-end Apple Watch Ultra seems like a logical choice given its target audience and price point. The increased brightness could also be a benefit for customers who use the watch outdoors. It’s worth noting that Apple isn’t the only company considering Micro-LED technology for wearables, as a recent report suggests Samsung is also looking into the technology for its own wearables.
The switch to Micro-LED technology is a significant one and will require the help of companies like LG Display to make it happen. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how and when these tech giants will implement Micro-LED into their product lines.
Amazon is testing a new subscription service called Prime Lite for users in India. The service is currently only available to select Prime members in the country as a Beta version, with an introductory price of Rs. 999 per year.
Prime Lite provides nearly identical benefits and services to Amazon Prime, with a few key differences. One significant difference is that the new Prime Lite membership does not include access to Amazon Prime Music. Furthermore, Prime Lite users are not eligible for no-cost EMI, free ebooks, or Prime Gaming.
In terms of delivery, Prime Lite offers Two-Day delivery on products, as opposed to Amazon Prime’s Same-Day or One-Day delivery. Prime Lite users can access unlimited content on Prime Video, but it will not be in HD format and will contain advertisements. The content can be streamed simultaneously on two devices, one of which must be a mobile phone.
It’s worth noting that Amazon raised the annual subscription price of Prime in India from Rs. 999 to Rs. 1,499 in December 2021. The new Prime Lite subscription offer is available at the previous price of Rs. 999 and is a more affordable option for users who do not require all of the benefits of Amazon Prime.
Amazon’s Prime Lite service is currently in beta testing and is only available to a limited number of users in India. The company has not stated when or if the service will be available to all users throughout the country.
Android 13 QPR2 Beta is preparing to offer users the ability to change the lockscreen shortcuts on Pixel phones. Currently, Pixel phones offer two lockscreen shortcuts that are locked to Google Wallet and Home. However, with Android 13 QPR2, it looks like users will soon be able to select other functionality for these shortcuts.
So, here's a fun one. Nothing OS 1.5.1 (Android 13 Beta 2) contains various fun features… Including the ability to customize the lockscreen shortcuts!
Google started working on it in their latest beta (QPR2). But Nothing implemented it themselves 🙂 pic.twitter.com/yWj4G0jDiw
According to a recent code review, in addition to Home and Wallet, users will be able to choose from the flashlight, camera, and QR code scanner as lockscreen shortcuts. This is a welcome change as it allows for more customization and convenience for the user.
Furthermore, Google is also introducing a new feature that requires users to “Press and hold to activate” the shortcuts, as opposed to the current simple tap. This is especially necessary for the flashlight and camera shortcuts to prevent accidental, in-pocket activations.
Lastly, there is also a sneak peek at what the Pixel UI change to the lockscreen “Shortcuts” might look like. It is modeled after the existing Wallpaper & style interface and although it doesn’t work yet, it gives users an idea of what to expect in the future.
All in all, the Android 13 QPR2 Beta update is shaping up to bring useful and much-needed changes to Pixel phone users. The ability to change lockscreen shortcuts, new activation method and a new UI design for shortcuts all add up to a more personalized and convenient experience for users.
Redmi recently unveiled the Redmi Note 12 series in India. The lineup has three models: the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, and the Redmi Note 12 5G. The Xiaomi sub-brand released a lot of phones under the Redmi Note 11 series last year in the country. While it launched the Redmi Note 11 4G, Note 11T 5G, and other models, there was no device named Redmi Note 11 5G in the Indian market. In terms of specs, the Chinese and Indian editions are identical devices. But the Note 12 5G that came out in India is a little different from the one that is available in China. The main difference is that the Chinese variant has a dual-camera setup, whereas the Indian model has a triple camera unit on the back. I have been using the Note 12 5G for nearly 10 days, and here is my review of the device.
Redmi Note 12 5G – What’s in the box?
Redmi Note 12 5G
The Redmi Note 12 5G’s retail package includes these items:
Redmi Note 12 5G handset
33W power adapter
USB Type-C cable
Transparent TPU case
SIM eject tool
Quick Start Guide
Design and Display
Dimensions
Display
Size – 165.88 x 76.21 x 7.98mm
6.6.7-inch AMOLED display
4500000:1 contrast ratio
Weight – 188 grams
1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+)
Widevine L1 support
IP53 rating
20:9 aspect ratio
Gorilla Glass 3
Color variants
Up to 120Hz refresh rate
Matte Black
Up to 1200 nits of brightness
Frosted Green
100% P3 wide color gamut
Mystique Blue
The Frosted Green variant of the Redmi Note 12 5G I received has a matte finish for its polycarbonate back, which I believe may develop scratches later on. Not only the back but also the plastic frame sport the same green color. The camera island has a glossy finish and attracts fingerprint marks. While the design is not bad, it reminds me of Realme phones, and I wish the brand offered a unique design on its next-generation Redmi Note 13 series.
When it comes to durability, the Redmi Note 12 5G offers IP53 dust and water resistance and Gorilla Glass 3 protection for the display. The top edge of the phone has a microphone, an IR blaster, and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the opposite side are another microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille. The left spine houses a SIM slot, whereas its right edge has a volume rocker and a power key, which is integrated with a fingerprint sensor. The handset measures only 8mm in thickness and weighs 188 grams, which I feel is not that bulky.
One of the strengths of the Redmi Note 12 5G is its display. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display has a punch-hole chin and slim bezels on three sides, except for the bottom one, which is a bit thick. Apart from Dark / Light modes, the Note 12 5G display offers 60Hz – 120Hz refresh rate options, Reading Mode, Sunlight Mode, Always-on Display, and colour scheme. The latter offers three options: Vivid, Saturated, and Standard. Each of these has colour temperature options like Default, Warm, Cool, and Custom. There is Widevine L1 support, but no HDR support on YouTube.
Redmi Note 12 5G (front)Redmi Note 12 5G (rear)
The display produces accurate colors and offers a good viewing experience in general as well as under bright sunlight. Except for YouTube and camera apps, where the refresh rate was reduced to 60Hz, most of the native apps ran in 120Hz mode.
Performance and Software
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1
5,000Ah battery
4GB / 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM
33W fast charging
128GB of UFS 2.2 storage
Android 12 OS with MIUI 13
5GB of virtual RAM
Dual graphite sheet
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, a 6nm chipset that comes with support for 5G connectivity, is present under the hood of the Redmi Note 12 5G. The iQOO Z6 Lite, which has a 120Hz LCD panel, is the only other phone that features the same chip. In terms of specs, the SD4G1 is almost identical to the Snapdragon 695, which offers slightly higher clock speeds of up to 2.2GHz. In comparison, the SD4G1 offers processing speeds of up to 2.0GHz. In the 60-minute CPU throttle test, throttling was observed around the 25-minute mark, but the chip gradually gained its performance, as seen in the screenshot below. I tested games like Free Fire Max and Shadow Fight 4 on the device for around an hour, and it became moderately warm. For enhanced gaming, it offers the Game Turbo feature. The phone is equipped with dual graphite sheets for thermal management.
The review unit that I have has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Its 4 GB RAM edition also offers the same storage. The phone packs a 5,000mAh battery that can last for the entire day on a full charge. It took around 70 minutes to charge it completely using the 33W in-box charger. While the device allowed me to run AnTuTu, Geekbench, and CPU Throttle tests, it did not connect to the servers of 3D Mark and GFXBench benchmarking apps.
The Redmi Note 12 5G runs on the Android 12 OS with the MIUI 13 skin on top. In my opinion, Redmi should have offered Android 13 OS on the device. The handset is promised to receive two years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates. Apart from native and Google apps, the device comes preloaded with apps like Amazon, Prime Video, Netflix, LinkedIn, Bubble Shooting Relaxing, Zili, and a few more. The good news is that all these additional apps can be uninstalled.
Photography and Other Features
Rear Camera
Other features
48MP OmniVision OV48B2 main camera
Side-facing fingerprint scanner
8MP OmniVision OV08D10 ultra-wide less
Face unlock
2MP OmniVision OV02B10 depth sensor
7 5G bands: n1, n3, n5, n8, n28, n40, n78
LED flash
Hybrid SIM slot
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Front Camera
Bluetooth 5.1
13MP Samsung S5K3L6 front camera
IR blaster
3.5mm audio jack
Redmi Note 12 5G
The Redmi Note 12 5G can capture good shots with natural colors in daylight through its main and ultra-wide cameras. The camera interface offers photography modes, such as Pro, Documents, Video, Photo, Portrait, Night, and More. It took me time to find the macro mode, which is not available in the “More” section or in the Pro mode. The More section has other options like 48MP mode, Short Video, Panorama, Slow Motion, Time-lapse, and AI Watermark. The macro mode is available through the hamburger icon in the Photo mode. It can only capture passable macro shots when there is a lot of light.
The portrait mode adds a decent amount of blur to the background of shots captured via the main camera on the back and the selfie camera. The front camera offers options like beauty modes, filters, and HDR. The performance of the Redmi Note 12 5G suffers in indoor and low-light conditions. The indoor shots are okay if there is enough light.
main camera2x zoomUltra-wideregularultra-wideRegular shotWith Night modenight modemacro shotselfieportrait selfieportrait modeportrait mode
The Redmi Note 12 5G supports up to 30fps Full HD video recording through the main and ultrawide cameras. It supports HD quality slow-motion videos at 120fps. To sum up, the Note 12’s camera capabilities are good enough for uploading content on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. Lastly, I think Redmi should modify the camera and clock app icons. While I am not sure about others, I frequently ended up opening the clock app instead of the camera app a couple of times!
The Redmi Note 12 5G has a single bottom-firing speaker. The Note 11 offered a dual speaker system. So, I was expecting the same on the successor model. The audio features available on the device include a 3.5mm audio jack, Smart PA, and High-Res Audio. The biometric recognition features, such as face unlock and a side-facing fingerprint scanner, work fine. It offers other sensors, such as an ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor, an e-compass, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. When it comes to 5G connectivity, I achieved up to 940 Mbps download speeds on Jio 5G outdoors. Indoors, it peaked at 880 Mbps.
Verdict
To recall, the Redmi Note 11 4G was available for Rs 13,499 (~$166) at launch. The main things that set the new model apart from its predecessor are its impressive 120Hz AMOLED display, a new chipset, and 5G connectivity. The battery performance of the device is also good. The camera performs fine when there is good light. It would be good if there was some software to enhance the low-light photography.
The 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant of the Redmi Note 12 5G costs Rs 17,999 (~$221), while the 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant costs Rs 19,999 (~$246). However, readers should note that the Redmi Note 12 5G is the only phone in its price segment to offer a 120Hz AMOLED screen and 5G for Rs 17,999. Hence, there are not many competitors for the Note 12 5G, except for the Snapdragon 695-powered POCO X4 Pro 5G, which currently costs Rs 17,999 for the 6GB +128GB storage edition.
All in all, the Redmi Note 12 5G is a good package and a terrific deal if buyers avail it for as low as Rs 15,499 (~$191) with ongoing offers.
It is available for purchase across Mi.com, Amazon.in, Mi Home, Mi Studio, and Mi Preferred partners. Customers can either opt for exchange offers or use an ICICI credit card / credit card EMI / net banking to get an extra discount of Rs 1,500 (~$18). With the offer, both variants of the Note 12 can be bought for Rs 16,499 (~$203) and Rs 18,499 (~$228), respectively. Existing Xiaomi/ Mi and Redmi smartphone users can get the Note 12 for Rs 15,499 (~$191) and Rs 17,499 (~$215) by availing extra Rs 1000 off on exchange.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this Redmi Note 12 5G review are solely mine based on my experience, and there has been no editorial input from Xiaomi.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is one of the most highly-anticipated smartphone releases of the year. The latest leak from Twitter leaker RGCloudS sheds some light on the pricing of the upcoming devices, and it looks like they will be more affordable than previously thought.
According to the leak, the entry-level Galaxy S23 will start at $799 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant. The 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant will be priced at $849, which is $50 cheaper than the starting price of the Galaxy S22. However, it’s worth noting that the entry-level Galaxy S23 will not support Wi-Fi 7, which will be exclusive to the Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra. All three models will support Wi-Fi 6 and UWB (ultra-wideband) technology.
The Galaxy S23+ will be priced at $999 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant and $1,049 for the 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant. There’s no mention of the 512GB storage variant in this leak, despite previous rumors of its existence.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra will be the most expensive of the bunch, starting at $1,249 for the 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant. The 12GB RAM/512GB storage variant will be priced at $1,349, and the top-of-the-line 12GB RAM/1TB storage variant will be priced at $1,499. RGClouds notes that shipments of the 1TB storage variant may be delayed by up to six weeks, and colorways exclusive to the Samsung store may also be delayed.
It’s worth noting that these prices are tentative and could change closer to the Galaxy Unpacked event, which is scheduled for February 1. Samsung is also offering a $50 discount for pre-orders of the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra on its website. Additionally, the price can be brought down even further through Samsung’s exchange program, though the value offered for smartphones, even high-end ones, varies greatly by region.
Overall, the Galaxy S23 series looks set to offer a range of options for different budgets, with the entry-level Galaxy S23 starting at a more affordable $799 and the fully-kitted out Galaxy S23 Ultra reaching up to $1,499. With the release date just around the corner, we’ll have to wait and see if these leaks prove to be accurate.
Realme recently launched the Realme 10 series of smartphones in India, with the latest entry being the Realme 10 4G, which debuted last week. The device has a 90Hz AMOLED display, Helio G99 chipset, and 33W fast charging support.
Now, the device has been made available to purchase in the country. So, let’s take a look at details like the pricing, offers, and more.
Realme 10 price, availability & offers
For the 4GB + 64GB variant, the Realme 10 4G starts at Rs 13,999, while for the 8GB +128GB variant, it costs Rs 16,999. Thanks to an introductory discount that saves you Rs 1,000, the Realme 10 4G 4GB + 64GB model will cost Rs 12,999 for users of ICICI Bank, CITI Bank, and HDFC Bank cards. The device can be purchased from realme.com, Flipkart, and retail stores.
Realme 10 specs
The Realme 10 is equipped with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a refresh rate of 90Hz. A touch sampling rate of 360Hz is also included. The device runs Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 and has the Always on Display (AOD) feature.
The phone has an internal storage capacity of up to 128 GB and a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC with up to 4 GB or 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM. It comes with a 5000mAh battery that can be recharged using the 33W charger that is also included. For added security, it has a fingerprint scanner on the side.
The Realme 10 4G has three cameras: a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a rear LED flash. The phone has a 16-megapixel camera on the front.
The Realme 10 4G comes equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB Type-C connector, a microSD card slot, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, and NFC. The gadget is 159.9 x 73.3 x 7.95 mm in size, and it weighs about 178.5 grams.
There are two color options available for the Realme 10 4G: Clash White and Rush Black.
Poco is expected to unveil the Poco X5 series of smartphones in the coming weeks. So far, the rumor mill has leaked a lot of information about the Poco X5 and X5 Pro. Latsly, the design of the Poco X 5 Pro has been leaked.
Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro design revealed in official teaser and alleged live image leak
Poco has recently teased its upcoming Poco X5 Pro, on Flipkart with the tagline “Are You Ready To Unleash Your Rebel?”. The teaser reveals the design of the Poco X5 Pro to an extent, showing consistency with both an existing Redmi model and a supposed live image of the Poco X5 Pro that leaked a few days ago.
The Poco X4 Pro 5G debuted in Q1 2022 and Xiaomi already looks geared to launch a direct successor to that device. The Poco X5 Pro is coming, as evidenced by its recent appearances at various certification websites, and its design now appears to have leaked online.
The leaked design of the Poco X5 Pro suggests that the phone will sport three rear cameras in a triangle-shaped arrangement. Going by this design, the Poco X5 Pro could share a chassis, at least, with the Redmi Note 12 Pro models that debuted in China recently. The leaked image also confirms that the Poco X5 Pro will come equipped with a 108 MP main camera. Other specs could include a Snapdragon 778G, a 5000 mAh battery, and a 120 Hz FHD+ AMOLED.
In conclusion, it seems that the X5 Pro is set to be a powerful and stylish device, with a design that is consistent with other recent Xiaomi models. The phone’s specs and features, including the 108 MP main camera, suggest that it will be a great option for photography enthusiasts. The Poco X5 Pro is expected to launch soon, and fans of the brand are eagerly waiting for its official release.
Tecno is a brand known for its very affordable phones, but at the end of last year, it surprised everyone by launching two flagships. We are talking about the Tecno Phantom X2 and the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro: two high-end phone coming with one of the best chipsets out there and even an interesting camera department. After the launch, a lot of people are wondering which of these phones is the very best to get and which one provides the highest value for money. Should you save some money for the vanilla version or it is worth spending more for the Pro variant? You will find it out through this comparison between the main specifications of the Tecno Phantom X2 and the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro. The comparison is focused on the differences between these two devices because they share several things in common.
Tecno Phantom X2 vs Tecno Phantom X2 Pro
Tecno Phantom X2
Tecno Phantom X2 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
164.6 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm, 203 g
164.6 x 72.7 x 9 mm, 201 g
DISPLAY
6.8 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED
6.8 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR
Mediatek Dimensity 9000, octa-core 3.05 GHz
Mediatek Dimensity 9000, octa-core 3.05 GHz
MEMORY
8 GB RAM, 256 GB
12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE
Android 12, Hi OS
Android 12, Hi OS
CONNECTIVITY
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS
CAMERA
Triple 64 + 13 + 2 MP f/1.7 + f/2.2
32 MP f/2.5 front camera
Triple 50 + 50 + 13 MP f/1.9 + f/1.5 + f/2.2
32 MP f/2.5 front camera
BATTERY
5160 mAh, fast charging 45W
5160 mAh, fast charging 45W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Design
The Tecno Phantom X2 and the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro have the same design. They are equipped with a glass back, a front glass protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, and an aluminum frame. They come with a huge camera module placed centrally on the rear cover, as well as a display with a very high screen to body ratio (more than 93 percent) and curved edges at the sides. The display has a punch hole placed centrally for the front camera. The only difference between these two models is one single color option: the Pro variant comes in a special Mars Orange leather variant, while the vanilla version replaces it with a more anonymous Moonlight Silver one. Both phones can also be chosen in a Stardust Gray color option.
Display
Just like the design, even the displays of these two phones are exactly the same. We are talking about an AMOLED panel with a wide diagonal of 6.8 inches, a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and an in-display fingerprint reader, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. It is not a disappointing display, but it is not a flagship panel. It is pretty good thanks to its deep blacks and vivid colors typical of OLED display, and it is very smooth thanks to its high refresh rate. Unfortunately, these phones are not equipped with stereo speakers and they do not have an audio jack, but they support FM radio.
Hardware/Software
The Tecno Phantom X2 and the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro are powered by the same chipset: the Dimensity 9000, which is the flagship chipset by MediaTek of 2022. The SoC is actually at the same performance level as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It is built with a 4 nm production process and it has an octa-core architecture composed of a Cortex X2 CPU running at a max frequency of 3.05 GHz, three Cortex A710 CPUs running at 2.85 GHz, four Cortex A510 CPUs running at 1.8 GHz, and a Mali G710 MC10 GPU. Both phones come with 256 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. The only difference in the hardware department is the quantity of RAM: the vanilla version has just 8 GB of RAM, while the Pro variant has 12 GB, which is the reason why it wins the hardware comparison. The operating system installed on these phones is Android 12, customized by HiOS 12.
Camera
The most important difference and the only big difference between the Tecno Phantom X2 and the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro is the camera setup. The vanilla version is just a midrange camera phone, while the Pro is a high-end camera phone. On the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro, you can find a triple rear camera composed of a 50 MP main shooter, a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom, and a 13 MP ultrawide lens. The vanilla version has a 64 MP main camera with OIS, a 13 MP ultrawide shooter, and a useless 2 MP depth sensor. As you can see, there is a huge difference between these two camera departments. Both phones are equipped with a 32 MP selfie shooter.
Battery
The battery capacity does not change: the phones feature a 5160 mAh battery with 45W fast charging; even the charging speeds are the same.
Tecno Phantom X2 vs Tecno Phantom X2 Pro
Tecno Phantom X2 is available in the Indian market with a price tag of Rs. 39,999 / $492, while the price of the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro is yet to be unveiled. How much would you spend for the Pro variant?
The iQOO Neo 7 was launched recently in China, followed by the Neo 7 SE and the Neo 7 Racing Edition. Now, the Vivo-owned is apparently gearing up to bring the Neo 7 to the Indian market. While there’s no official confirmation yet, a popular tipster says the smartphone will debut in the country in February. Here are the details.
Noted Tipster Mukul Sharma claims in an exclusive leak that the iQOO Neo 7 will be unveiled in India in mid-February. He didn’t reveal the exact launch date but said the smartphone will debut as a “solid mid-range offering”. Currently, there’s no official confirmation from the brand regarding the launch of the iQOO Neo 7.
Reports foretell that the Neo 7 launching in India will not be the same as the Chinese one. Instead, the company could take the iQOO Neo 7 SE and rebrand it as the Neo 7 for the Indian market, similar to what it did with the iQOO Neo 6. If this sounds confusing, that’s because it is.
To recall, the iQOO Neo 7 SE comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, HDR10+ certification, and a centered punch-hole notch. The handset has an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor with a Mali G610 GPU. The SoC is accompanied by up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
The smartphone packs a 5000mAh battery and supports 120W fast charging. It has a triple camera unit on the rear with a 64MP primary camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. There’s a 16MP sensor on the front for selfies and video calls. The device has an in-display fingerprint scanner for security.
Nothing released its first beta version for Android 13 on December 15th with a variety of additions, including quicker loading speeds, a new Weather app, and many other improvements.
The update however faced an issue as some essential apps, like Google Pay, ceased to function for users since the OS had failed Google’s Safetynet API. Now, the brand has started rolling out Nothing OS 1.5.1 as part of the second beta test addressing the Safetynet API issue. Read the changelog below to know about all of the changes coming with the second beta.
Nothing OS 1.5.1 changelog
A brand new handcrafted glyph ringtone and notification soundpack of a slightly different style!
A new collection of minimalist wallpapers are now available in the customization menu on the homescreen.
Lockscreen shortcut customizations! Choose to display shortcuts for the camera, torch, device controls, and wallet.
Easily switch between data usage when using dual SIM with the improved network Quick Settings panel.
Smoother animation when transitioning the display between on and off (regardless if Always on Display status).
Improved the display auto-brightness algorithm.
The full Nothing X app will now be available in Nothing OS.
The pop-up view has been brought back with some interaction improvements.
Improved Camera app UI and animations. Improved battery life.
Increased system stability and bug fixes
This is an incremental update that will take up about 127 MB for the initial group of beta testers. Users who applied for beta testing in the past but were unable to receive the initial upgrade will also directly receive this update via OTA.
OnePlus is reportedly readying a new mid-range smartphone, called Nord CE 3. The handset is already said to be in the testing phase in India under the codename “Larry”. It could arrive sometime in the second quarter of this year. While we wait, a report has shared live images of the upcoming smartphone, revealing its design and a few other details.
The live images, shared by MySmartPrice, give us a good look at the phone’s design from all angles. As can be seen in the images, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 features a glossy back panel with two large circular rings for the triple-camera unit. The sides have a green accent with the right one featuring a power button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner.
The front is business as usual. There’s a flat display with slightly thick bezels and a hole-punch cutout for the front camera. On the bottom, the phone has a rare 3.5mm headphone jack and a speaker grille.
Previous reports have already revealed the specifications of the forthcoming OnePlus device. The smartphone could arrive with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD with 120Hz refresh rate support. The panel may house a 16MP front camera. Under the hood, the handset is rumored to be equipped with the Snapdragon 695 SoC, which will be paired with 8GB/12GB RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
For photography, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 will boast a 108MP main camera as well as two 2MP depth and macro sensors. There’s no ultrawide camera, which is a bit of a letdown. The handset could draw power from a 5000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.
Last month, the Red Magic 8 Pro series of flagship gaming smartphones were launched in China. The series consists of two devices – Red Magic 8 Pro and Red Magic 8 Pro+. Now, the brand has announced the arrival of the Red Magic 8 Pro to the global market.
While it appears that the global market is not getting the top-end Red Magic 8 Pro+, the Red Magic 8 Pro that’s launching outside of China on January 16 will also lack a key feature. The official teaser of the device confirms that the Red Magic 8 Pro global variant will feature 65W fast charging. To recall, the Chinese variant of the same device comes with 80W fast charging support. The battery, however, will have the same 6,000mAh capacity. It remains to be seen if the brand has chosen to change up any other specifications for the global market.
Red Magic 8 Pro specs
The Red Magic 8 Pro which is already available in China is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It is paired with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
It sports a 6.8-inch OLED display offering 2480 x 1116 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Additionally, the devices include ultra linear dual stereo speakers that support 48 ms low latency, 96 kHz lossless music, and Snapdragon sound.
A 50-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, and a megapixel macro sensor make up the device’s triple camera setup on the back. An under-display 16-megapixel selfie camera is located on the front.
The Red Magic 8 Pro’s big 6,000mAh battery pack supports 80W rapid charging and, according to the manufacturer, can provide a substantial 47 hours of battery life. The gadget comes pre-installed with Red Magic OS 6.0, a custom skin based on Android 13 OS.
China will soon usher in its new year, precisely on January 22, and this year 2023 is known as the Year of the Rabbit. Many mobile phone manufacturers have, in recent times, launched limited-edition products for the Year of the Rabbit in order to cater to domestic consumers. Only recently, US tech giant Apple launched a new AirPods Pro “Year of the Rabbit” special edition. The company has now silently listed another custom product on its China website.
The new product is a limited edition protective case for the Year of the Rabbit. The protective case is said to be suitable for the iPhone 14 series models which include the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Plus, and the vanilla iPhone 14. According to the official website, the protective case celebrates the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit with an exclusive design, using traditional red and gold with a rabbit pattern, symbolizing a safe and smooth new year. The slim case fits seamlessly with MagSafe chargers and accessories.
At present, this Year of the Rabbit limited edition protective case is listed on the official website of Apple China. The protective case carries a retail price tag of 398 yuan ($59). The current official website shows that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models of the protective case are available, while the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models are sold out.
The launch of the AirPods Pro Year of the Rabbit special edition and now, this Year of the Rabbit-themed protective cases for the iPhone 14 series are indications that Apple is hoping to build on its recent successes in the Chinese market.
The Xiaomi sub-brand announced its first phone of 2023. A few days ago, the new POCO C50 went official. It is an entry-level from the most affordable lineup of the brand and it comes with low-end specifications, but also with a big battery and a recent Android version. Earlier last year, its predecessor made its debut too: the POCO C40. In a world where new phones are not always better than older ones, it became harder to understand which device to choose. Is the new POCO C50 really better than the POCO C40 or it is better to opt for the older model? We will try to answer this question through this specs comparison between the latest entry-level phones from the brand.
Dual 13 + 2 MP, f/2.2 + f/2.4
5 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY
5000 mAh
6000 mAh, fast charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot, dust and splash resistant
Dual SIM slot, dust and splash resistant
Design
There is an important change in the design between the POCO C40 and the POCO C50. The latter comes with a rear design similar to the one of the Xiaomi 11 series, while the former is definitely uglier due to its big camera module painted in black. Further, the C50 has more compact dimensions thanks to the presence of a smaller display and a smaller battery. I think you understood which one is the best. Both phones are dust resistant and splash resistant, but they do not have any IP certification. They come with pretty thick bezels around the display and a waterdrop notch, and their fingerprint readers are placed on the rear side like very old phones.
Display
The specifications of the displays found on these two phones are more or less the same. The only different thing is the diagonal. The POCO C40 has a bigger display with a diagonal of 6.71 inches, while the POCO C50 has a smaller panel with 6.52 inches. For the rest, they are pretty much the same. We are talking about two IPS LCD panels with an HD+ resolution and a brightness of 400 nits. It is not an insufficient display, but it is a low-end display with a low level of detail and not very realistic colors. It is sufficient for everyone, but nothing special. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass and it does not include a fingerprint reader as it is placed on the rear side of the phone. The handsets include a mono speaker, as well as a 3.5 mm audio jack for wired earphones.
Hardware/Software
Even though it is an older device, the POCO C40 has a superior hardware department. First of all, it comes with a better SoC, even though it is an unknown processor released by an unknown chipmaker. We are talking about the JLQ JR510 chipset built with an 11 nm production process and sporting an octa-core architecture composed of four Cortex A55 CPUs running at a max frequency of 2 GHz, four Cortex A55 CPUs running at a max frequency of 1.5 GHz, and a Mali G57 MC1 GPU. The chipset is paired with up to 4 GB of RAM and up to 64 GB of native storage expandable with a micro SD slot. The POCO C50 has an inferior MediaTek Helio A22 chipset built at 12 nm and running at a max frequency of 2 GHz. It has a quad-core architecture composed of four Cortex A53 CPUs running at 2 GHz and a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. Alongside the chipset, there are up to 3 GB of RAM and up to 32 GB of native storage. Note that the POCO C50 runs Android 12 out of the box (Go Edition), while the C40 is based on Android 11.
Camera
The POCO C40 is equipped with better rear cameras. It has a dual camera setup composed of a 13 MP main shooter and a 2 MP depth sensor. With the POCO C50, you actually get a very disappointing 8 MP main shooter and an even more disappointing depth sensor with less than 1 MP of resolution. Both phones come with the same 5 MP selfie snapper.
Battery
The POCO C40 wins the battery comparison because it is equipped with a bigger 6000 mAh battery: one of the biggest batteries this year. It even supports 18W fast charging, while the POCO C50 has no fast charging support.
Xiaomi POCO C50 vs Xiaomi POCO C40: Price
The starting price of the POCO C50 roughly translates into $87/€80, while the POCO C40 begins at $139/€128. The C40 wins the comparison.
Chinese smartwatch manufacturer Mobvoi has introduced a new platform for creating and sharing smartwatch faces. The TicWatch maker is introducing its own watch face marketplace alongside the platform. TicWatch users will get an opportunity to create and share unique watch face designs using the platform.
Mobvoi has an impressive collection of Android smartwatches. However, the TicWatch lineup does not offer as many customization options as Samsung or Google, for example. The Samsung Galaxy Watch lineup and the Google Pixel Watch models provide several customization options. This goes beyond your choices of strap, size, and color.
The Mobvoi TimeShow app is a marketplace for watch faces for Wear OS and watchOS smartwatches. You can tinker with various aspects of your smartwatch including its display, health and exercise data, dynamic photos, and lots more.
The TimeShow app also allows the user to create free watch faces, as well as paid designs. You can pick from interactive games as well as settle for a traditional watch face. Both classic and modern design options are available in the marketplace according to your preference. An additional layer of customization is achieved through your choice of fonts and effects. You can also tailor your customization around your choice of widgets.
Mobvoi says that the app will introduce new watch faces every week, while the DIY site will also contribute to the expanding catalog. A user can create a watch face via the DIY site and share it on the app’s marketplace. Mobvoi plans to scale up the platform in the future so that watch face designers could earn from their designs. It plans to put in place a revenue-sharing arrangement for this. The marketplace will be open to WearOS and watchOS smartwatches outside the TicWatch ecosystem. The TimeShow app is available for download from both Google Play Store and the App Store.
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