It might still be too early for Galaxy Z Fold 5 leaks, but that’s the world we live in. According to the Vietnamese publication The Pixel, Samsung is going to introduce its 2023 foldable with some significant changes. The device could include an entirely new processor based on the 4nm process and even come with a built-in S-Pen slot, just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The publication, citing sources, claims that the test version of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs a new processor named Qualcomm Snapdragon 985 5G. It is based on a 4nm process node. This is the first time we are hearing about this chipset, and it has not yet been officially announced by the semiconductor manufacturer.
The Pixel’s report contradicts a previous ET News report, which revealed the Z Fold 5 would be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. More information is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
Further, it has been reported that the smartphone will be slightly thicker (6.5mm instead of 6.3mm) and weigh a little more than its predecessor. The device will also come equipped with an S-Pen slot, which is probably the reason behind the increase in weight and thickness.
Previously, it was revealed that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will have a triple camera unit featuring a 50-megapixel ISOCELL GN3 camera and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. Other details about the smartphone are yet to be known.
Just like every year, Samsung may unveil the new foldable at the Galaxy Unpacked event in August. We should be learning more information about the device in the coming days. Also, the Korean company just (accidentally) confirmed the launch date of the Galaxy S23 series. Check it out!
boAt has launched a new smartwatch in India. The latest offering falls in the homegrown brand’s Wave series. It is called boAt Wave Edge. The device packs a host of features and is priced aggressively. The boAt Wave Edge competes against the likes of other smartwatches from brands like Noise, Fire Boltt, DIZO, Realme, and more in the market. Read on to know what it offers out of the box.
The boAt Wave Edge sports a square dial with a rotating digital crown on the right side similar to the Apple Watch. It comes with a 1.85-inch display bearing an HD resolution, 550 nits brightness, and a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. The device is also IP68-certified dust and splash resistant.
On the health-centric front, the boAt Wave Edge is equipped with a heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, and a sleep tracker. It also offers guided breathing sessions. The device supports more than 100 sports modes.
The boAt Wave Edge comes with a built-in speaker and a microphone for hands-free calling via Bluetooth connectivity. There is also the ability to save up to 10 contacts and a dial pad. The device features Siri and Google Assistant. The smartwatch also packs in-built games like Young Bird, 2047, and Thunder Battleship. It comes with convenient features like notifications display and updates. The wearable device is backed by a 210mAh battery unit that is claimed to offer 7 days of usage.
The boAt Wave Edge is priced at Rs 1,999 and can be purchased from the brand’s official website and Amazon. It is offered in Active Black, Beige, Deep Blue, and Sage Green colours.
Yesterday Noiselaunched the ColorFit Caliber Buzz smartwatch. Now the homegrown brand has announced a new device in the country. The latest offering is called NoiseFit Twist. It carries a budget price tag and is available under the sub-Rs 2,000 price bracket. Read on to know what the wearable device offers out of the box.
The NoiseFit Twist sports a round dial with a metallic unibody and two buttons on the right side. It is IP68-certified dust and water-resistant. The device features a 1.38-inch TFT display with 550 nits peak brightness and more than 100 customisable watch faces.
In terms of fitness, the NoiseFit Twist is equipped with a heart-rate sensor, SpO2 monitor, and a menstrual cycle tracker. It is also capable of tracking sleep patterns, stress levels, and offering breathing exercises. The wearable device packs support for 100 sports modes.
The NoiseFit Twist comes with an advanced Bluetooth calling feature with the brand’s Tru Sync technology. It is said to offer quicker pairing, better call connection, and lower power consumption. The smartwatch also packs contacts, call history, and dial pad.
The NoiseFit Twist is powered by a 7-day battery life. It offers other convenient features like a built-in calculator, notification display, quick reply, weather and stock updates, remote camera, music control, and more.
The NoiseFit Twist carries a special launch price tag of Rs 1,999. It will be available for purchase from January 12th via Amazon and the brand’s official website.
Earlier reports have indicated that the Samsung Galaxy S23 series is expected to debut on February 1, 2023. The flagship series is said to feature three models – the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Now, a new official-looking poster has confirmed the February 1 launch date.
The launch date was revealed ahead of official confirmation on the Samsung Columbia website. Other than revealing the launch date, the poster also features the signature triple camera module found on the recent Ultra variants of the Samsung flagships.
Details about the phones have previously leaked. The official high-resolution design renders of the phones were recently leaked, revealing the four color options. The Galaxy S23 will be available in four different colors: Phantom Black, Cotton Flower, Misty Lilac, and Botanic Green are some of the colors available.
Samsung Galaxy S23 series specs
The phones are also said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The Galaxy S23 series will have a 12MP selfie camera across the board. All three phones will come pre-installed with Android 13 and a layer of One UI 5.0 on top.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display. It will have a 120Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ resolution. The only phone in the lineup with a curved display is this one.
It is also claimed that the S23 Ultra’s display, at 2200 nits, is brighter than the iPhone 14 Pro series. A new 200MP main camera will also be added to the phone. The quad camera system will be completed by two 10MP telephoto cameras with 3x and 10x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The battery capacity of the device will be 5000mAh, and it will support 25W fast charging and at least 15W wireless charging. There won’t be a charger in the box, in case you were wondering.
The camera configuration will be shared by the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23. On the back, they will sport a triple camera arrangement. A 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera with a 3x optical zoom are reportedly included in the phones.
The 6.1-inch screen on the S23 5G will have a Full HD+ resolution. A 120Hz refresh rate will be supported by the AMOLED panel. The top center of the screen will have a hole-punch cutout while remaining flat. Additionally, a 3900mAh battery and 25W wired fast charging as well as 15W wireless charging are believed to be supported by the gadget.
With a larger 6.6-inch panel, the Galaxy S23 Plus 5G will have the same display features. Additionally, a larger battery can fit into the larger form factor. The S23 Plus is rumored to have a 4700mAh battery. It will support both 15W wireless charging and 25W wired fast charging, just like the other two variants.
In recent times, wireless charging for phones has become common due to massive improvements in the wireless charging protocol to speed up the charging time just like wired charging. Wireless charging technology may soon be available for notebook PCs. Leading PC manufacturer Lenovo has unveiled a new wireless docking station dubbed ThinkBook Wireless Dock.
The new ThinkBook Wireless Dock is capable of providing wireless charging for standard-compliant notebooks such as the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2. The wireless docking station adopts Power-by-Contact technology, which can provide a maximum of 65W wireless charging for compatible notebooks. The charging dock also doubles as a wireless charging pad for smartphones as there is a pad on the side that will provide a maximum of 10W wireless charging for mobile phones.
At the same time, the docking station has an intelligent detection function, which can determine whether the notebook is placed properly on it. This is to ensure that the Power-by-Contact is working at the maximum power. It uses Wi-Fi 6 to ensure that the Power-by-Contact connection is at full strength.
In addition, the device also has an unlimited hub function as it is equipped with three USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C port, and an HDMI display output port. It supports dual displays at up to 4K/60Hz. There is also the Lenovo Slim-Tip jack to provide power for the wireless dock.
At present, Lenovo has not yet announced the specific price and release date of the ThinkBook Wireless Dock. We expect the product to be available when the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2 is released.
The Xiaomi Redmi K60 and Redmi K60 Pro smartphones come with several similarities inside. A teardown video of the two Xiaomi models has highlighted the similarities and differences in their internals.
Xiaomi sold over 300,000 units of the Redmi K60 series within five minutes of its release. The teardown video by Wekihome presents a sneak peek of the K60/ K60 Pro’s internal components. The detailed disassembly video shows that the two phones have striking similarities. This implies a simplified assembly process for the two models. The Redmi K60 Pro has a larger camera sensor than the K60. The vanilla model thus has a plastic bracket around its camera to adjust its dimensions. Both models also have a similar motherboard layout.
The video reveals the two different chipsets of the K60 and K60 Pro. While the base model is equipped with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset while the K60 Pro has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The pro model uses UFS 4.0 from Samsung and Micron’s LPDDR5X RAM. On the other hand, the K60 uses UFS 3.1 and LPDDR5 from Samsung. In terms of heat management, both models use a massive vapor chamber for cooling the chipsets. The sizes of the vapor chambers are slightly different, however.
The Redmi K60 Pro supports 120W wired fast charging and its motherboard has an extra chip for that. Both models sport the Surge P1 charging chip at the bottom. The K60 has a larger battery size than its pro sibling. The K60 also has a larger battery capacity but both models could offer similar battery performance.
The Xiaomi Redmi K60 and K60 Pro were released in December 2022. They both got a tumultuous reception in the market and the flagship K60 Pro model offers up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
JBL has unveiled its first Bluetooth turntable featuring aptX HD wireless steaming. The JBL Spinner BT was unveiled during the ongoing CES 2023 and joins the TT350 Classic earlier released. The turntable has an all-black design with orange accents and analog output.
The JBL Spinner BT turntable is capable of streaming vinyl records to compatible wireless speakers, soundbars, and headphones with 24-bit hi-res quality. It has a built-in switchable moving magnet phono stage for use with active speakers. It can also feed into a traditional audio system with an external phono preamp.
The new JBL Bluetooth turntable has a belt drive and a vibrant orange-accented design. It also has an aluminum platter and an MDF plinth with damped feet for effective vibration modulation. Its forearm has a high-quality audio technical moving magnet cartridge. The turntable speed options are locked with a speed sensor to deliver a great pitch.
The JBL Spinner BT will enter the market officially by Q3 2023. It is priced at around $399 and will be available in multiple markets globally. In comparison, the JBL Spinner BT is significantly less expensive than the current aptX HD-equipped turntables in the market. The Cambridge Audio Alva ST is about $1,000 although it sports a similar belt design as the Spinner BT. However, there are a few other affordable competitors to the Spinner BT. Sony PS-LX310 BT and the AT-LPW50BTRW although both decks are not aptX HD-compatible.
Modern turntables are fast catching the attention of the market. These devices can take you on a voyage through the good old days of vinyl records. They are also increasingly capable of producing high-resolution audio via Bluetooth aptX HD. They bring new life to antiquated vinyl records.
OnePlus 11 is official: it is going on sale in the Chinese market and it will be launched in the global market in the first part of February. This year, the vanilla version came alone and there won’t be any Pro variant. Last year, it was the opposite: we saw the OnePlus 10 Pro, but there was no vanilla version. However, this year, the vanilla version replaces the Pro and comes with very advanced specifications. That is the reason why it is a perfect rival for its predecessor, even though it is not a Pro. So, in order to let you find the differences, we decided to publish a comparison between the main specifications of the OnePlus 11 and the OnePlus 10 Pro while waiting for the global launch of the former.
Triple 50 + 32 + 48 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.0 + f/2.2
16 MP f/2.4 front camera
Triple 48 + 8 + 50 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2
32 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY
5000 mAh, fast charging 100W
5000 mAh, fast charging 80W, fast wireless charging 50W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
5G, dual SIM
5G, dual SIM, reverse wireless charging
Design
The OnePlus 11 comes with a renewed design compared to its predecessor. There are no significant changes, but you can immediately notice that the camera module is totally different. While on the older model, the camera module has a square shape, on the new one it is circular, even though both are placed on the left part of the phone. The color options did not change: there are a green one and a black one, and even the dimensions, the weight, and the thickness are very similar. Further, they are both equipped with curved displays with a similar screen to body ratio, as well as a punch hole placed on the top left corner of the panel.
Display
The differences between the panels of the OnePlus 11 and the OnePlus 10 Pro are just marginal, so you will get more or less the same image quality and you would better focus on the other specifications. In both cases, we are talking about an AMOLED display with a diagonal of 6.7 inches, a Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3216 pixels, an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, Dolby Vision support, HDR10+ certification, a peak brightness of 1,300 nits, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The only difference we can notice is the presence of the LTPO 3.0 technology on the most recent model, instead of LTPO 2.0: that means a lower energy consumption.
Specs & Software
The OnePlus 11 is fueled by an upgraded mobile platform. It packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset running at a max frequency of 3.19 GHz and is composed of a Cortex X3 CPU, two Cortex A715 CPUs, two Cortex A710 CPUs, three Cortex A510 CPUs, and an Adreno 740 GPU. It is the successor of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 found on the OnePlus 10 Pro, built at 4 nm and running at a max frequency of 3 GHz. Besides sporting a superior chipset, the 11 also comes with a higher amount of RAM: up to 16 GB, as well as faster storage thanks to the UFS 4.0 technology. Last but not least, the OnePlus 11 ships with a more recent operating system: Android 13 instead of Android 12, which means it will get longer support.
Camera
The OnePlus 11 has an improved camera setup compared to its predecessor. It is equipped with a triple Hasselblad rear camera including a 50 MP Sony IMX890 main sensor with OIS, a 32 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 48 MP ultrawide shooter. The OnePlus 10 Pro has an inferior 48 MP main camera, but the ultrawide camera is better as it is a 50 MP Sony IMX766 shooter. Even the selfie snapper is better with its 16 MP resolution, while the 11th has a 16 MP selfie snapper.
These two phones come with the same battery capacity: 5000 mAh. The OnePlus 11 charges quicker thanks to 100W fast charging, but the 10 Pro is the only one in the duo with wireless charging (50W).
Price
The OnePlus 11 starts from $585/€550 in China, while the OnePlus 10 Pro begins at $509/€479. The OP 11 wins the specs comparison thanks to a better processor and main camera, but the 10 Pro remains very good thanks to its street prices, wireless charging, and a better selfie camera.
Roborock has unveiled the Roborock Dyad Pro upright vacuum cleaner. It was showcased during CES 2023 and comes with app connectivity. It also has a longer battery life and a revised dock design. The Dyad Pro brings significant performance improvements over its predecessor, the Dyad. Both the Dyad Pro and Dyad are upright, non-robotic vacuum cleaners.
Roborock has also lined up a number of robot vacuum cleaners for release later this year. The Dyad Pro comes with several improvements from the earlier Dyad model. It has a superior dock. Interestingly, the Dyad Pro’s predecessor was announced during CES 2022. The Dyad Pro features physical buttons for switching cleaning modes during its operation.
The Dyad Pro has a 43-minute battery life and 30% higher battery efficiency than the Dyad. Its redesigned body allows the Dyad Pro to efficiently clean corners and difficult spots than the Dyad. The Dyad Pro’s dock cleans and dries the rollers unlike the Dyad which only cleans the rollers.
There are still a few details lacking about the Dyad Pro at this time. The Roborock Dyad Pro will enter the US market later this month at $449.99. Its release will precede the launch of the Roborock S8, S8 Plus, and S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum cleaners. The Dyad Pro has the same price as its predecessor and will expectedly be less expensive than the upcoming robot models. It is expected that the Roborock Dyad will subsequently be available in multiple markets. Furthermore, its affordable price and extensive functionality could spur demand for the gadget.
iQOO recently finished launching its premium iQOO 11 series and the mid-range iQOO Neo 7 SE in China. Now, it seems the brand has a new budget smartphone in the making. A new iQOO smartphone with model number V2230EA has been spotted on multiple Chinese certification sites, which reveal its specifications and design. Here are the details.
An unknown iQOO smartphone has appeared on China’s TENAA and 3C certification sites with model number V2230EA. The listings reveal the device will be equipped with an LCD and support 18W fast charging. This suggests the smartphone will debut as a budget-friendly offering.
Further, TENAA has also shared live images of the smartphone, giving us a good look at its design. As can be seen in the images, the mysterious iQOO smartphone has a flat back with a large camera island that houses two lenses. The handset has a flat display with a waterdrop notch and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
The marketing name of the smartphone is yet to be known, however, rumors in China suggest it will be called the iQOO U6. In addition, the device is said to be priced in the range of 1000-1500 Yuan ($146- $220).
It is expected to debut as the successor to the affordable iQOO U5, which was released back in December 2021. To recall, the handset packs an LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It brings a large 5000mAh battery and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chip. There’s a 50MP main camera and 33W fast charging support.
We should be learning more details about the smartphone in the coming. The device’s marketing name is still anyone’s guess and it is probably a good idea to wait for more information before making any conclusions.
2022 was a year of change for Oppo, as the brand stepped up its software game and updated the majority of its devices at an impressive pace. The Chinese OEM is entering the new year with the same enthusiasm and plans to extend the latest ColorOS 13 update to more devices. In that light, Oppo recently shared the ColorOS 13 Global Update Timeline for Q1 2023, revealing the smartphones that will get the new update. Here are the details.
The brand will be releasing the latest Android 13-based update to a sizable number of smartphones in the first quarter of 2023. This includes the Reno 8, Reno 5, Reno 6, and a bunch of other smartphones. Oppo says the timeline is approximate and is subject to change depending on the device, country, and carriers.
Further, the company says the beta version of the software will be released to the eligible smartphone on a batch-by-batch basis and will be limited to certain markets. Now, let’s have a look at the timeline.
ColorOS 13 Global Update Timeline Q1 2023
Beta Update
From February, 2023
Oppo Reno 5 F
Oppo F19 Pro
From March, 2023
Oppo Reno 6
Oppo Reno 5
Oppo Reno 5 Marvel Edition
Oppo A55
Oppo A53s 5G
Stable Update
From January 13, 2023
Oppo Find X2 Pro (India, Indonesia)
Oppo Find X2 Pro Automobili Lamborghini (India, Indonesia)
Oppo Find X2 (India, Indonesia)
From January 14, 2023
Oppo Reno 8 (Indonesia)
Oppo F21s Pro (India)
As can be seen in the timeline, Oppo will be releasing stable and beta builds of the ColorOS 13 to several smartphones in January. The software will be rolling out in India and Indonesia. If you own the above-mentioned smartphones, keep an eye out for an OTA notification. Check out our ColorOS 13 review for all the information about the latest software.
Lenovo unveiled a raft of PCs during CES 2023. The Lenovo PC lineup includes the Legion Tower 5/5i and Legion Tower 7i. The Legion Tower 5/5i desktop computers come with AMD Zen 4 and Inter Raptor Lake processors.
The Legion Tower 5 and Tower 5i have the same case and similar internal components. However, the Tower 5i uses the Intel Raptor CPU while the Tower 5 has an AMD Ryzen 7000 processor. The casing of the Tower 5/5i/7i has an illuminated legion badge, a mesh front, ARGB fans, and a glass side panel.
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i specs sheet
The PCs can be configured with the RTX 4070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 5600MHz memory, 2TB SATA HDD, and 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. The Intel-based Tower 5i can get between Core i5 and Core i9 on an Intel B660 motherboard. There are lots of ports in both the Legion Tower 5/5i. The ports include USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type -A (4), USB 3.2 Gen 3 Type-C, Ethernet. Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 are supported on the PCs.
The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i offers up to a Core i9-13900K CPU and RTX 4090. It features updated internals from its predecessor and a catchy casing. The Legion Tower 7i can be configured with either air or water cooling. Lenovo says that Tower 7i is designed for extreme performance. Connectivity options for the Tower 7i are via Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6.
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Specs sheet
The Lenovo Tower 5/5i will enter the market in March 2023. The starting prices of the models are $1,299 and $1,499 for the AMD and Intel models respectively. The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i is priced at $2,999 and will be available later this month.
Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Specs sheet
The powerful CPU+GPU combination in the Tower 7i delivers up to 64GB of 4800MHz/ 5200MHz DDR5 memory. The Tower 7i has up to 4TB of storage via its mechanical hard drive and up to 6TB of PCI Gen 4 storage. The Type-C USB 3.2 ports deliver up to 20Gbps while the Gen 1 Type-A ports offer up to 10Gbps. The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i also has six audio ports with SPDIF and an Ethernet connection.
Oppo is reportedly gearing up to launch a new mid-range device called the Oppo A78 5G. The handset has been making the rounds on various certification sites recently, and it is expected to debut as the successor of the Oppo A77. Unlike the A77, the A78 could also arrive in various Asian markets, including India. The Chinese company is yet to confirm any details. But a new report reveals the India launch date, specifications, as well as price of the upcoming smartphone.
An Appauls report claims the Oppo A78 5G will be launching in India on January 14. The budget-friendly smartphone will target the offline market and will be priced around Rs. 18,500 and Rs. 19,000 for its base storage variant.
The publication has also shared a live image of the “About device” section of the smartphone, which reveals its key specifications. The Oppo A78 5G, bearing model number CPH2495, could flaunt a 6.6-inch LCD display. It may be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor.
For reference, Dimensity 700 is a budget-friendly processor that is manufactured in the modern 7nm process. It has two fast ARM Cortex-A76 cores clocked at up to 2.2 GHz and six power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores at up to 2 GHz. The SoC is reported to be accompanied by 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage. The smartphone will also support 4GB RAM Expansion technology.
As per the report, the Oppo smartphone will have a 50MP Primary unit and a secondary 2MP unit for Depth or Macro at the back. While at the front, it will feature an 8MP snapper. It could pack a 5,000mAh battery with 33W SuperVOOC fast charging. It will run Android 13 OS with ColorOS 13 on top.
Aqara has previewed three new products it hopes to launch in the coming months. They are the Video Doorbell G4, Smart Lock U100, Presence Sensor FP2, and the Aqara LED Strip T1. The new devices come with some impressive features. Aqara is a smart home products manufacturer and expects a decent reception for its 2023 portfolio.
The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 complements the Aqara indoor cameras and both combine to help users monitor their homes. The Video Doorbell G4 can be installed easily with battery or wired options. It supports HomeKit Secure Video and can stream to Amazon or Google smart displays.
The smart doorbell camera will work with Matter after the camera specification for Matter is ready. The G4 supports local, AI facial recognition and can trigger different automation. The device has 7-day free cloud storage while local storage is via a microSD card.
The Smart Lock U100 offers a secure and convenient smart lock for the home. It is Aqara’s first deadbolt lock and can be integrated into the smart home ecosystem. The U100 lock is compatible with HomeKit and supports Apple Wallet home key. You can also use fingerprints, passwords, the Aqara Home app, NFC, and mechanical keys to open the lock. The U100 smart lock supports Matter using the Aqara hub.
The Presence Sensor FP2 is based on mmWave radar technology and detects humans even when the person is sitting still. Using zone positioning, users can define different zones within the room to trigger different animations. It is also capable of multi-person detection, and fall detection. It also comes with a built-in light sensor.
The LED Strip T1 provides lighting for a raft of scenarios. The multipurpose RGB CCI light strip produces up to 16 million vibrant colors and white light. It supports HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home compatibility, and Matter support is expected. The T1 is Zigbee-based and offers higher power efficiency. It also serves as a repeater enhancement for the Zigbee network. Aqara has not provided definite release details for the products although they could enter the market in a few months.
Poco X4 Pro debuted back in March 2022, and we’ll have to admit it wasn’t as impressive as its predecessor, Poco X3 Pro. But we’ll also have to admit that the smartphone came with a good-looking design. It’s 2023 now, and the release of the next-generation Poco X5 Pro is imminent. While we wait for an official announcement, a new report has revealed the launch timeline as well as key specifications of the smartphone. Here are the details.
A 91Mobiles report, citing tipster Yogesh Brar, claims the Poco X5 Pro will make its grand debut in the Indian market in the last week of January. The smartphone could share the stage with the vanilla Poco X5.
The report says the X5 Pro will arrive as a rebranded Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed Edition, which debuted only recently in China. Tipster Kacper Skrzypek already revealed this in his recent tweet. This is not the first and clearly not the last time Poco will be doing this, so it’s not surprising.
Based on this, we can expect the Poco X5 Pro to pack a 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED display with 1080×2400 pixels resolution and up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The smartphone will likely draw power from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Fueled by a 5,000mAh battery, the device could support 67W fast charging.
The Poco handset could feature a 16MP front-facing snapper. While for photography, it may have a triple-rear camera setup headlined by a 108MP primary sensor. The main sensor is expected to be accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro shooter.
While the specs of the device may remain the same as the Redmi Note 12 SE, it could come with a different design. We are saying this because last year’s Poco X4 Pro was also a rebranded phone, but it came with a novel design.
Honor Magic 5 Lite 5G has appeared on Google Play Console. The listing carries a model number HNRMO-Q and it was first spotted by MyFixGuide. The Honor Magic 5 Lite 5G is expected to arrive as the successor to the Magic 4 Lite that debuted in April last year. The Play Console listing reveals some key specifications of the device. Read on to know more below.
The rendered image of the Honor Magic 5 Lite 5G on the Play Console listing reveals that it will come with a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. The device has curved edges and thin bezels around the screen. The predecessor model featured a flat screen. There is a power and volume rocker button on the right side. The listing reveals that the smartphone will bear a display resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels and 480 PPI pixel density.
The Honor Magic 5 Lite 5G is listed with an SM6375 system-on-chip. It corresponds to the Snapdragon 695 which is found on the Magic 4 Lite but its successor will have a different version of the chip. It features six Cortex A55 cores at 1.8GHz and two Cortex A78 cores clocked at 2.2GHz. The processor will be paired with Adreno 619 GPU onboard. The Play Console listing reveals that the Magic 5 Lite will pack 8GB RAM and run on Android 12 OS out of the box.
The rest of the details about the Honor Magic 5 Lite 5G remain minimal at the moment. We will learn more about the smartphone in the coming days.
Noise has launched a new smartwatch in India. It is dubbed the ColorFit Caliber Buzz. The latest offering carries an affordable price tag and falls under the Rs 2,000 price segment. Read on to know what the smartwatch offers out of the box.
The Noise ColorFit Caliber Buzz features a 1.69-inch display in a square dial. It offers 550 nits peak brightness, a resolution of 240 x 280 pixels, and more than 100 customisable watch faces. The device has a button on the right side and it is IP68-certified water-resistant.
On the fitness front, the Noise ColorFit Caliber Buzz is equipped with a heart-rate sensor, SpO2 monitor, and a menstrual cycle tracker. It is also capable of tracking sleep patterns, and stress levels, and offering breathing exercises. The wearable device comes with support for 100 sports modes.
The Noise ColorFit Caliber Buzz is equipped with a built-in mic and speaker for Bluetooth calling without the need of a smartphone. It offers a dial pad and recent logs. The smartwatch is backed by a 300mAh battery unit that is capable of lasting 7 days. It offers other convenient features like a notification display, DND mode, weather and stock updates, remote camera, music control, and more.
The Noise ColorFit Caliber Buzz is priced at Rs 1,499 and offered in Jet Black, Rose Pink, Midnight Blue, and Olive Green colorways. It can be purchased from the brand’s official website and Flipkart.
Amazfit is quite a reliable name when it comes to smartwatches and fitness trackers. In November, the company unveiled the Amazfit Pop 2 as a low-priced smartwatch with a Bluetooth calling feature in India. It has been selling for Rs 3,999 (~$48) on Flipkart. However, at the time of writing this review, it was listed on Flipkart for Rs 3,699 (~$45). It comes in two colors, such as black and pink. Amazfit sent us the black variant for review. Continue reading ahead to know whether it’s worth purchasing.
Amazfit Pop 2: What’s in the box?
Amazfit Pop 2
The Amazfit Pop 2 watch comes in a small square-shaped retail package. It packs the following items:
Amazfit Pop 2 smartwatch
Charging cable
User manual
Design and Display
The Amazfit Pop 2 looks premium, as its display glass has curved edges on all four sides. The silicone strap, which can be easily swapped, feels soft, is skin-friendly and comes equipped with a buckle. The aluminium frame has a glossy appeal, while the rear shell of the device has a polycarbonate shell. The top side of the watch has a microphone, its right edge has a physical button made from stainless-steel, its bottom edge is barren, and towards the underside on the left is the speaker.
Amazfit Pop 2 (front)Amazfit Pop 2 (top)Amazfit Pop 2 (right)Amazfit Pop 2 (left)Amazfit Pop 2 (left, underside)Amazfit Pop 2 (bottom)Removable strapBuckleStrap
The chin of the device is slightly thick as compared to other bezels. It features a 1.78-inch AMOLED display, which is bright enough to be used outside. It supports a 368 x 448 pixels resolution and 326 ppi pixel density. Because of the large display, the device may appear a bit large for people with thin wrists. The device lacks auto-brightness, which could be an important feature for some users.
Amazfit Pop 2 on the wrist
So, how does it feel using the Amazfit Pop 2? It looks premium thanks to the curved-edge display and sturdy build quality. Since it weighs around 59 grams, it feels slightly heavy. I have used the Pop 2 for longer durations and even while sleeping to monitor my sleep. I did not feel any discomfort while using it for prolonged hours.
Software
The companion app for the Amazfit Pop 2 is not the usual Zepp app, but Zepp Active by LinWear Smartwatch. To those who don’t know, LinWear is an ODM that makes watches for other brands, including Dizo. The Pop 2 looks quite similar to the LinWear LA21 watch. However, it does not seem to be a rebranded version.
The Zepp Active requires users to create an account to login and then pair the Pop 2 with the phone via a QR code. The app has three tabs, such as “Home,” “Exercise,” and “Me.” The Home interface of the app shows the sync data on heart rate, sleep, and SpO2. I used the watch for nearly a month, and during this time I found that the Zepp Active app did not show any SpO2 reading even when the watch had no issue monitoring it. The Exercise tab relies on the phone’s GPS for location-based tracking, and the Me tab can be used to customize the watch. Speaking of customization, it is preloaded with four watch faces. The Zepp Active app provides users with numerous watch face options. In addition, users can also use any desired photo from the phone as a watch face. The Pop 2 is compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Zepp Active app
The physical button available on the right edge of the Pop 2 can be used to access all its features, such as health sensors, workout mode, miscellaneous features, and settings. Swiping down on the main screen gives access to quick settings, and swiping up allows users to check notifications, like messages, but there is no option to respond to them. By keeping on swiping right / left, users can access main features, such as a step counter, heart rate tracker, sleep monitor, SpO2 tracker, weather app, music control, and voice ball (voice assistant). The UI does not feel very smooth. I hope the company releases a fix for it through a software update.
The voice ball only works when paired with a smartphone. Once paired, the voice ball can be used to access Google Assistant on Android or Siri on iOS. It works fine in less noisy environments.
In Settings, users can change menu style, change watch face, adjust screen brightness, set AOD time (up to 20 minutes), set digital or analogue AOD clock, access a QR code for pairing it with a device, alter vibration intensity, change language (English or Hindi), access system info, shutdown, reset, and restart.
Quick SettingsVoice ball (voice assistant)Amazfit Pop 2 Custom watch faceAlways-on DisplayMusic controlSupported languages
The Zepp Active app can be used to add more sports modes. To the Amazfit Pop 2. According to the company, it supports more than 100 work modes. While it is an IP68-rated device, there is no swimming mode on the device. It can also be used to sync new watch faces to Pop 2 and enable / disable notifications for different apps. The raise-to-wake feature, which allows users to see the data and time, without touching the watch or using the AOD feature, works fine. It can be activated through Quick Settings on the watch.
Health and Fitness
The step counter, heart rate monitor, SpO2, and sleep tracking features of the Amazfit Pop 2 work fine. The readings from these sensors are almost accurate. There is no option to sync health data to Google Fit or Strava. There is no GPS on Pop 2. Hence, it relies on the paired phone’s GPS for location-based tracking while walking, outdoor running, and outdoor cycling.
Zepp Active app
It can track deep sleep, light sleep and awake time, but it does not record REM (rapid eye movement) data. Other health and fitness features include tracking 100+ sports activities, female health, and breathing exercises for reducing stress.
Bluetooth Calling and Battery Life
The Bluetooth calling feature allows users to make and receive calls once paired with a smartwatch. However, there is no way to control call volume through the watch. When I tested the feature, the recipients didn’t notice a difference whether I was using the watch or the phone to talk. The sound output through Pop 2’s built-in speaker is good, but it becomes inaudible in noisy surroundings, which is understandable.
On a side note, I am generally not a fan of the Bluetooth calling feature. There is no option on the watch to disable the Bluetooth calling feature. However, on my Samsung phone, I was able to disable the function through the Bluetooth settings for Pop 2. There is a Media Audio feature on Pop 2, which when activated can be used to transmit the phone’s audio through the watch’s speaker.
Bluetooth callingend call and mute options in callNotificationsCall audio and media audioAmazfit Pop 2Amazfit Pop 2Amazfit Pop 2
The Amazfit Pop 2 has a 270mAh battery, which can be charged by connecting a magnetic charging connector on its back. It took around 1.5 hours to achieve a full charge. With AOD activated, full brightness, and all-day heart tracking enabled, the Pop 2 lasts for around 4-5 days. Otherwise, the smartwatch can last for up to 10 days, as the company claims. Whether the Pop 2 is kept for charging or is generally used, it does not show the exact battery percentage. Instead, the battery percentage just increases or decreases by 10 percent.
Verdict
The Amazfit Pop 2 offers a similar experience as other smartwatches in the same price range. There is nothing significantly different about it. However, what swings in its favour are a large AMOLED screen, the Bluetooth calling feature, build quality, water resistance, and long battery life Also, it offers nearly accurate readings. Having used a few other, costlier Amazfit smartwatches, I was expecting a similar experience on the Pop 2. Nevertheless, the UI experience is not bad. All in all, it is worth recommending and is certainly something to consider in the Rs 3000 (~$36) to Rs 4,000 (~$47) price bracket.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the Amazfit Pop 2 review are solely mine based on my experience, and there has been no editorial input from Amazfit.
Apple has long been rumored to be working on its very own mixed reality headset. However, it seems like that launch schedule for this new product has been delayed due to various reasons. So let’s have a look.
The news arrives from known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He had previously claimed that the mixed reality headset from the Cupertino based giant was seeing various hurdles in development. This led to delays in the announcement of the AR/VR headset. Now, Kuo has doubled down on this prediction, stating that the revealing and the release of the device will be pushed back. Apple reportedly had planned to announce its first ever headset via a dedicated event this January 2023.
However, it appears that the AR/VR headset release has been postponed to Apple’s Spring event or possibly even as late as the WWDC 2023 event where it typically unveils new software tech. Kuo also added that the mixed reality headset development is behind schedule to due issues with mechanical component drop testing and the availability of software development tools. So the mass shipments might also be delayed from the original Q2 2023 timeline to the end of this same period or to Q3 2023.
The design and finer details regarding the Apple headset is still at large, although previous reports have suggested that it will feature 15 cameras all around. It could also pack a ton of head tracking sensors, along with spatial audio support, sport dual 8K OLED displays, and pack the latest M2 chipset. This is all the information we have regarding this matter, so stick around for more updates.
Samsung has teased the launch of its Galaxy A-series smartphones in India. The event is set to take place on January 18th at 12 noon. The South Korean brand has put up a dedicated microsite of the upcoming offerings revealing its key features on its website. However, Samsung hasn’t explicitly revealed how many devices are launching as well as the name of the upcoming phones.
We assume that Samsung could launch the Galaxy A14 5G, A34 5G, and the A54 5G at on January 18th. It remains to be seen how many devices will debut at the event. The Galaxy A14 5G has already debuted in the US market whereas the A34 5G and A54 5G are yet to go official anywhere but have received multiple certifications and have also been spotted in leaks and rumours.
The microsite reveals that the upcoming Galaxy A-series will be available in three colours – Awesome Black, Awesome Burgundy, and Awesome Green. The Galaxy A-series device is confirmed to feature a 6.6-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is expected on the rumoured Galaxy A34 5G or A54 5G since the Galaxy A14 5G has a 90Hz screen. One of the teasers also shows three camera rings on the back panel without any module. The Galaxy A14 5G, A34 5G, and A54 5G all have the same camera design but the microsite also reveals that the upcoming A-series offering will feature optical image stabilisation (OIS).
One of the teasers also reveals a thick chin and a waterdrop notch which is seen on the Galaxy A14 5G and the rumoured A34 5G. Lastly, the microsite states that the upcoming Galaxy A-series phone will be powered by a 5G-compatible processor and run on OneUI.
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