Redmi Note 12 5G Review: Reliable Midrange 5G Phone with 120Hz AMOLED Display

By

-

Jan 15, 2023

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

WHERE TO BUY

Buy Redmi Note 12 5G @ Amazon | Xiaomi India’s website in India

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.

RELATED:

New Leak Reveals Pricing for Samsung Galaxy S23 series: This time it goes up to $1,499

By

Oğuz Çakır

-

Jan 15, 2023

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.

Galaxy S23 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage: US$799
Galaxy S23 8 GB RAM/256 GB storage: US$849
Galaxy S23+ 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage: US$999
Galaxy S23+ 8 GB RAM/256 GB storage: US$1,049
Galaxy S23 Ultra: 8 GB RAM/256 GB storage: US$1,249
Galaxy S23 Ultra: 12 GB RAM/512 GB storage: US$1,349
Galaxy S23 Ultra 12 GB RAM/1 TB storage: US$1,499

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.

RELATED:

(via)

Realme 10 4G with Helio G99, 33W charging & 90Hz AMOLED display goes on sale in India

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jan 15, 2023

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.

RELATED:

Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro: Official Teaser and Leaked Images Reveal Design

By

Oğuz Çakır

-

Jan 15, 2023

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.

RELATED:

(via)

Tecno Phantom X2 vs Tecno Phantom X2 Pro: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Jan 14, 2023

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?

Read More: RED MAGIC 8 Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 6D: Specs Comparison

Tecno Phantom X2 vs Tecno Phantom X2 Pro: PRO and CONS

Tecno Phantom X2

PROS

More affordable
Same chipset as the Pro
Same battery as the Pro
Same display as the Pro

CONS

Inferior camera
Less RAM

Tecno Phantom X2 Pro

PROS

More RAM
Better main camera
Telephoto sensor
Original color options

CONS

Price

RELATED

Check the latest videos from our YouTube channel and subscribe:

iQOO Neo 7 Could Make Its India Debut in February

By

Anurag

-

Jan 14, 2023

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.

RELATED:

(Source)

Nothing Phone (1) Gets Android 13 Beta 2 With New Features

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jan 14, 2023

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.

RELATED:

OnePlus Nord CE 3’s Live Images Surface Revealing Complete Design

By

Anurag

-

Jan 14, 2023

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.

Related:

(Source)

Red Magic 8 Pro Jan 16 Global Launch Confirmed Along With Altered Specs

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jan 14, 2023

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.

RELATED:

Apple Launches the iPhone 14 Series Year of the Rabbit Protective Case in China

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 14, 2023

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.

iPhone 14 series Year of the Rabbit Protective case

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.

RELATED:

(source)

POCO C50 vs POCO C40: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Jan 13, 2023

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.

Xiaomi POCO C50 vs Xiaomi POCO C40

	Xiaomi POCO C50	Xiaomi POCO C40
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	164.9 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm, 192 g	169.6 x 76.6 x 9.2 mm, 204 grams
DISPLAY	6.52 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), IPS LCD	6.71 inches, 720 x 1650p (HD+), IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Mediatek Helio A22, octa-core 2 GHz	JLQ JR510, octa-core 2 GHz
MEMORY	2 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 12 Go Edition	Android 11, MIUI for POCO
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 8 + 0.08 MP f/2.0 5 MP f/2.2 front camera	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.

Read More: RED MAGIC 8 Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 6D: Specs Comparison

Xiaomi POCO C50 vs Xiaomi POCO C40: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi POCO C50

PROS

More compact
Great price
Android 12
Lighter

CONS

Inferior camera

Xiaomi POCO C40

PROS

Better hardware
Wider display
Bigger battery
Faster charging
Better cameras

CONS

Android 11 out of the box

RELATED

Check the latest videos from our YouTube channel and subscribe:

Mobvoi Unveils a new Platform for Creating and Sharing Watch Faces

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 13, 2023

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.

RELATED:

Liger X and Liger X+ Showcased in India as the World’s First Self-balancing e-Scooters

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 13, 2023

The Liger X and Liger X+ electric scooters are the world’s first self-balancing e-scooters. The two models were showcased during the Auto Expo 2023 in India and their specs sheets are out. These models are among the major highlights of this year’s flagship motor show in India.

The Liger X and X+ e-scooters are among the most unique models showcased during this year’s motor show. The lineup of manufacturers at the event included Honda, Tata, Hyundai, Suzuki, Kia, and several e-scooter makers. Liger Mobility claims that the two e-scooters are the first-ever self-balancing e-scooters. The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles (FAME II) is applicable to the two models. Up to 40% subsidy is available through the FAME II subsidy regime.

There are lots of interesting technical details needed for the e-scooters. The exact specifications of the models are still under wraps. Both models, however, have a top speed of 65km/h with a range between 60km and 100km.

The two Liger Mobility e-scooters will have liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery packs for the hot Indian environment. The battery capacities of the two models have not been specified yet. However, the Liger X will have a detachable battery that can be fully charged in 3 hours. The Liger X+ has a non-detachable battery pack that can be fully charged in 4.5 hours. There are faster-charging options that will be available.

Some highlights of the Liger X and X+ electric scooters are OTA software updates, a reverse button, and a learner mode, amongst others. The Liger X+ has turn-by-turn navigation functionality, in addition to 4G and GPS functionalities. The Liger X+ is the more expensive of the duo while the Liger X retails for Rs. 90,000 (~$1,108) (ex-showroom).

RELATED:

OnePlus 11 Global Variant Stops by Geekbench Website

By

Anurag

-

Jan 13, 2023

The new OnePlus 11 is here and it brings the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with itself. It is already up for sale in China and will be launched in the international market on February 7. Ahead of its formal debut, the global version of the OnePlus 11 has appeared on the Geekbench website. Here are the details.

A new OnePlus smartphone has been spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking site with model number CPH2451. This is said to be the global version of the OnePlus 11. The Chinese version of the handset has the model number PBH110. The device is listed with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and up to 16GB RAM.

The handset managed to get impressive 1,468 single-core points and a 4,965 multi-core score on the benchmark. Geekbench reveals the smartphone will run Android 13 which will likely be overlaid by OxygenOS 13 instead of the Color OS 13 found on the Chinese model.

As the smartphone has already launched in China, we know all about its specifications. The OnePlus 11 features a 6.7-inch E4 AMOLED LTPO 3.0 display that offers a Quad HD+ resolution, up to 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1,300 nits of brightness, and an under-display fingerprint scanner. Under the hood, it is powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, paired with LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 100W charging.

The handset gets a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. On the back, there’s a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS support, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom.

We have already published a detailed review of the OnePlus 11. You may check it out. In case you don’t feel like reading, we have a video review as well. It’s embedded below.

RELATED:

(Source)

Upcoming Smartphones: Oppo A78 5G, Galaxy A23 5G, and More

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jan 13, 2023

There won’t be many smartphone launches next week either. As of writing this article, only two brands have confirmed new releases — Oppo and Samsung.

These two companies will debut three handsets together. The South Korean tech giant will unveil two devices, while the Chinese brand will announce a single phone.

All of these smartphones are already official in some markets. They are merely heading to a new and important market: India.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at these phones.

Upcoming Smartphones Next Week

Oppo A78 5G

The Oppo A78 5G is set to launch in India on January 16. Since the device has already been released in Southeast Asia, we know everything about it.

The handset comes with a 6.56-inch HD+ 90Hz display (LCD), a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, a 50MP rear camera, an 8MP front-facing camera, dual stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 5,000mAh battery, and 33W fast wired charging support.

The phone is expected to cost under ₹20,000 in the country.

Samsung Galaxy A23 5G and Galaxy A14 5G

Samsung has confirmed to debut Galaxy A23 5G and Galaxy A14 5G in India on January 18. The former is on sale in multiple countries for months, whereas the latter was announced just last week.

Both devices arrive with a 6.6-inch FHD+ display (LCD), a 50MP primary camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 5,000mAh battery. However, the A23 5G offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, and 25W fast charging support.

On the other hand, the A14 5G comes with a 90Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 700 or an Exynos 1330 chip (varies by market), and 15W charging support.

The Galaxy A23 5G is tipped to cost around ₹25,000, while the Galaxy A14 5G is expected to carry a price tag of about ₹17,000.

Noise ColorFit Pro 4 GPS with an Apple Watch-like Design Launched

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 13, 2023

Indian smartwatch maker Noise last month unveiled the ColorFit Pro 4 Alpha smartwatch. Less than a month later, the company has launched a new model for its home market dubbed ColorFit Pro 4 GPS. The smartwatch is billed to go on sale in India on January 14th.

The Noise ColorFit Pro 4 GPS shares the same design style as the ColorFit Pro 4 Alpha with its square dial and pronounced knob that spews the vibes of the Apple Watch. The watch features a 1.85-inch TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 240 x 284 pixels and a peak brightness of 600 nits. This is a downgrade, sort of, from the AMOLED screen on the ColorFit Pro 4 Alpha but you get GPS onboard this cheaper model. Users also get up to 150 custom watch faces that allow them to personalize their user experience.

The smartwatch is equipped with Noise Tru Sync technology that speeds up pairing and Bluetooth calling and also helps reduce power consumption. There is also a Noise Health Suite onboard bringing tracking features such as 24×7 heart rate monitoring, SpO2 measurement, sleep tracking, and stress management. Noise also included a female cycle tracker on this model.

Other impressive features onboard the ColorFit Pro 4 GPS include a built-in calculator, notification display, weather and stock updates, music control, reminders, camera control, smart DND, quick reply, and others. The watch is equipped with 100 sports modes and has IP68-level water and dust resistance. The watch crams a 250mAh battery under the hood which delivers up to 7 days of battery life.

As for the price, the Noise ColorFit Pro 4 GPS is priced at Rs. 2,999 ($37) and comes in Charcoal Black, Deep Wine, Mint Green, Silver Grey, Sunset Orange, Teal Blue, Rose Pink, and Midnight Blue colors. The smartwatch will be sold via gonoise.com and Amazon.in.

Related:

Fossil’s Skagen Falster Gen 6 Gets Wear OS 3 Update

By

Anurag

-

Jan 13, 2023

Good things take time. It seems Fossil took this saying very seriously when it came to releasing the latest Wear OS update to the 2022’s Skagen Falster Gen 6 smartwatch. The wearable, launched during CES last year, is finally receiving the Wear OS 3 update. The company was supposed to release the software sometime in 2022 but it missed the deadline.

According to the users on Reddit, Fossil’s Skagen Falster Gen 6 is now receiving the Wear OS 3 update. A user posted an image of the update arriving to the smartwatch and shared that it looks a lot like stock Wear OS 3 with fewer Skagen watch faces and no Pixel Watch faces. Another user reported that only 8 Skagen watch faces are available.

Others report that some features are missing. For instance, Google Assistant is not an option on the watch, but Amazon’s Alexa is available at your service. This is apparently due to some hardware limitations of Wear OS 3. As of now, Google Assistant is only compatible with Wear OS 3 watches featuring Samsung’s Exynos chipsets

Overall, the users on Reddit suggest that the update runs pretty well, with some saying that the UI feels smoother and quicker. The watch is reported to require more time when booting up, however, there seems to be no noticeable difference in battery life. Connectivity and app options are also said to have improved on iOS.

Before you proceed to update your Skagen Falster Gen 6, note that all user data on the wearable will be deleted, and you’ll need to set up the watch with the new Skagen companion app.

RELATED:

(Source, Via)

Tecno Spark Go 2023 Could Launch Soon, Gets Indonesia Telecom Certification

By

Anurag

-

Jan 13, 2023

Tecno has been in the news recently for its latest Phantom X2 series, which debuts with an appealing design that is unlike any other smartphone in the market. The Phantom X2 Pro also features the world’s first retractable 50-megapixel portrait camera. Although the flagship lineup has gained some popularity around the globe, budget smartphones are still the brand’s biggest seller. And it seems the Chinese company has a new affordable smartphone in the works, dubbed Tecno Spark Go 2022.

A new Tecno smartphone called the Spark Go 2023 has been spotted on the Indonesia Telecom website. The “Go” in the moniker of the smartphone suggests it could debut as a budget smartphone. The listing did not reveal any specifications of the smartphone but hints at an imminent launch in Indonesia as well as other markets.

Tecno Spark Go 2023 receives the Indonesian Telecom certification.#Tecno #TecnoSparkGo2023 pic.twitter.com/qoOLL1Yn8O
— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) January 13, 2023

The Tecno Spark series is quite popular among buyers who are looking for a value-for-money smartphone. The lineup includes devices like Tecno Spark 9 Pro, Spark 9, Spark 9T, and more. The company also makes flagship smartphones under the Phantom series.

In related news, Tecno is reportedly planning to launch the premium Phantom X2 Pro in India by the end of this month. As mentioned, the smartphone comes with a unique design and features a retractable portrait camera. The pre-booking for the handset will begin on January 17 through Amazon.

The handset is powered by the Dimensity 9000 chipset, paired with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage. It has a 6.8-inch AMOLED FHD+ curved-edge display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The handset packs a 5,160mAh battery with 45W fast charging.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is Now on Sale in the US for $199.99

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 13, 2023

Samsung has followed up the unveiling of the Galaxy A14 during the just-concluded CES 2023. The South Korean tech powerhouse has now released the entry-level Samsung Galaxy A14 into the US market. This kickstarts a lineup of product releases this year that includes the Galaxy S23 and A54. The Samsung Galaxy A54 (and possibly A34) will be launched later this month while the S23 series will debut on February 1.

The Samsung Galaxy A14 is an entry-level smartphone and it is available in the US directly via Samsung’s online store. It comes unlocked and has basic specifications. It has a 6.6-inch 1080 x 2480 pixel LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. The MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset powers the smartphone with a 4GB/ 64GB RAM/ storage configuration. The A14’s storage is expandable via SSD and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner is embedded in the power button.

The Galaxy A14 has a 5,000mAh battery but it’s unclear how long it lasts. The charging architecture and charging speed for the device is not known at this time. The A14 has a 50MP main sensor, a 2MP macro, a 2MP depth, and a 13MP selfie camera. It comes with Android 13 out of the box and One UI 5 Core. The One UI 5 is Samsung’s skin for budget offerings. It lacks some features that could slow down the smartphone’s operation.

The Samsung Galaxy A14 will retail in the US for $199.99. Samsung only released the Galaxy A14 in a black colorway. The model could be subsequently available in other markets. The focus will however shift to the lineup of Samsung Galaxy models that will be released next week and in February.

RELATED:

(source)

Honda Dax, Cub, and Zoomer e-Scooter Models Announced in China

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 13, 2023

Honda has released three new electric scooters in China. The three models are the electric version of the Dax, Cub, and Zoomer motorbikes. They join a growing collection of sustainability-focused EVs being released by Honda. Honda says the new models target the youthful population.

Honda continues to expand its EV portfolio both in terms of two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The Japanese auto giant has been in the two-wheeler industry for decades but is gradually embracing electric technology. It plans to release ten new electric motorbikes by 2025 although that’s a huge plan. The company has based its new e-scooter lineup on previous gas-powered motorbikes. The pedal-assisted versions of the Honda Dax, Cub, and Zoomer are now in the Chinese market.

The models bear the moniker of their gas-powered siblings. The three electric bikes are the Club e, Dax e, and Zoomer e. The three models have been highly successful small displacement scooters. The three new e-bikes have attractive and unique designs. They also bear some semblance to the S07 and the Muji x Honda e-bike.

The classification category of the new Honda e-bikes in China is Electric Bicycles (EB). Thus, their speeds will be limited to 25km/h. Honda says the new electric bikes will appeal to the needs of Generation Z with their features and design.

The prices of the models, although yet to be released, are expected to be competitive. Their EB categorization also means that the bikes will not need a license for their operation. Since there are restrictions on the age of obtaining a driver’s license, younger riders could use the bike.

There are few technical details known about the three new Honda e-scooters. There are no pricing and global availability details as well.

RELATED

(via)