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iQOO 11 Pro Isle of Man Edition Now Available for Pre-order in China

iQOO 11 Pro went for sale in China today with a starting price of 4,999 yuan ($717). Interested shoppers will be able to get the smartphone in Grey and White. The company also has a special Isle of Man edition of the Pro model, which can be pre-ordered in China, starting today.

Unlike the standard models, the iQOO 11 Pro Isle of Man Edition features a textured back made up of green silicone leather with micron-sized fiberglass substrates. The special edition handset carries a price tag of 5999 Yuan and comes in a sole 16GB+512GB storage variant. It can be pre-ordered in China through Jingdong.

iQOO 11 Pro isle of man pre-sale

The specifications of the smartphone are the same as the rest two models. It features a 6.78-inch E6 AMOLED curved display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 2K screen resolution. Powering the smartphone is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, paired with quad-channel LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage.

As far as the cameras are concerned, the device has a triple-camera unit on the back that includes a 50-megapixel primary Sony IMX866 camera sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a fisheye lens, and a 13-megapixel portrait telephoto unit. For selfies, the phone has a 16-megapixel snapper on the front.

In terms of software, the iQOO 11 Pro runs the Android 13 out-of-the-box with the company’s OriginOS Forest custom interface on top. The device packs a 4,700mAh battery that supports 200W fast charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

In related news, iQOO is gearing up to launch the iQOO 11 in India on January 11. However, the Pro model will likely remain limited to mainland China. The vanilla model is rumored to be priced between Rs 55,000 (~$664) and Rs 60,000 (~$725) in India.

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iPhone 15’s A17 Chip Could Be More Focused on Battery Life Than Power

Apple’s silicon always had an upper hand over other mobile SoCs. Every new A series Bionic chip offered better performance than the previous one. However, this might not be the case with the 2025’s A17 chip that will be used in the iPhone 15 series. It is reported that the next-gen chipset will focus more on battery-life improvements than processing power.

According to 9to5Mac, the A17 Bionic chips for iPhone 15 series may prioritize battery life over processing power. The information was revealed by a statement made by TSMC’s chairman when asked about the company’s 3nm chips.

A16 chip

For those who don’t know, TSMC manufactures the chips that are used in Apple’s iPhones. The semiconductor manufacturer is going to use a smaller 3nm process node in the next-gen A17 chip and the production of the same was started a few days ago.

To celebrate the start of mass production of 3nm chips, the company held a ceremony a few days ago. And today, TSMC’s chairman Mark Liu revealed impressive efficiency improvement figures resulting from the new process. Liu, in a statement given to Bloomberg, said the 3nm processes offer better performance than the 5nm chips while requiring about 35% less power.

Macs powered by a new M2 Pro chip might debut with the new process node before the iPhone 15’s A17 processor. In addition, M3 chips are also expected to use a 3nm process. A17 will not necessarily prioritize performance over power efficiency, despite the chipmaker’s emphasis on power efficiency. That’s something Apple would decide.

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Oppo Is Apparently Readying an Unknown Flagship With Hasselblad Cameras

Oppo’s flagship Find X6 series seems to be just around the corner, with rumors hinting at an early 2023 launch. The lineup should include the vanilla Find X6 and the higher-end Find X6 Pro. However, these two might not be the only Oppo flagships launching next year. Tipster Digital Chat Station says the brand has another premium smartphone in the works that could have Hasselblad cameras (Via TechGoing).

Earlier this month, Mr. Chat Station shared a schematic image of an unknown Oppo smartphone with a round-shaped Hasselblad-labelled camera module. It seems the tipster has revealed more information about the same phone today.

unknown oppo flagship

DCS says the mysterious smartphone will have a circular camera module with a main camera, a periscope portrait center-focus lens, and a movie lens. The cameras will feature Hasselblad tuning. The device should belong to the Find X6 series, however, the tipster is not certain of its moniker.

Notably, a recent leaked render shared by Evan Blass revealed the Find X6 series will have a rectangular camera island with three cameras inside. So, if the alleged handset is indeed a Find X6 series model, it would differ significantly from other models in terms of design.

oppo find x6

As mentioned, Oppo’s next premium flagship series is expected to arrive in early 2023. The lineup may come with an OLED display bearing a resolution of 1.5K and 2K pixels. The vanilla variant may be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 while the Pro model could be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. They will pack up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. Both models are rumored to feature a 1-inch Sony IMX989 primary sensor.

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Google Possibly Wanted To Buy Nuvia; Here’s Why

A start-up led by former Google and Apple employees, Nuvia, was acquired by Qualcomm last year. Qualcomm wants Nuvia’s custom Arm chip because it could use it to more effectively compete with Apple. To put things in perspective, one of Nuvia’s executives was regarded as the Apple Silicon M1 chipset’s “Chief Architect.” According to a report by The Information, Nuvia was a takeover target for a number of businesses, including Google. The Information also said that Apple had issues with the next-generation GPU it was developing for the A16 Bionic.

A “world-class CPU and design team with experience in high-performance CPUs, Systems on a Chip (SoC), and power management for compute-intensive devices and applications” is touted to be the foundation of NUVIA. The combination with Qualcomm will strengthen Qualcomm’s position as a market leader. Qualcomm is already well-known for its mobile GPUs, DSP, and dedicated multimedia accelerators. The results of Nuvia’s work are already evident in Qualcomm Oryon, a product that is based on work done at Nuvia.

This is especially a very good idea because it’s extremely possible that Google was pursuing Nuvia for its own Tensor chips. Google’s Tensor effort for Pixel smartphones offers it some control over the SoCs that go into its handsets, but having its own chipset designers ready to go with bespoke Arm cores would mean that it would no longer have to rely on Samsung and its Exynos chips for reference designs in the future. 

Qualcomm confirmed that NUVIA CPUs will be integrated with its current portfolio of products, which includes mobile processors for flagship smartphones, next-generation laptops, digital cockpits, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, extended reality, and infrastructure networking solutions when it acquired the Nuvia. According to a press release issued by Qualcomm, the agreement was signed to acquire NUVIA for about $1.4 billion.

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Motorola ThinkPhone Appears In Marketing Material, Reveals More Details

Earlier this month, Motorola ThinkPhone was spotted in leaked renders along with key specifications. In the past, it had also bagged China’s 3C certification. Now Twitter user SnoopyTech has shared the marketing material of the smartphone. The ThinkPhone is expected to be targeted towards business-centric customers similar to Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops. The smartphone could come with productivity-focused features and functions. 

The Motorola ThinkPhone in the latest marketing material images has the same design as seen in previously leaked renders. It has a slightly compact form factor with three buttons on the right edge whereas an additional button accentuated in Red colour is located on the top left side of the device. 

As per the latest development, the Motorola ThinkPhone is seen beside a laptop hinting that the phone will work seamlessly with a computing device. We can spot options like connected display, mirror phone, and webcam. Additionally, users will also be able to respond to incoming calls or messages and control music from the laptop. Most of these features are similar to the ones found on Galaxy phones and laptops, courtesy of DeX mode. 

The Motorola ThinkPhone will come with a textured finish on the back panel and an IP rating for water resistance. The back panel has a rectangular camera module housing three sensors. Internally, the device is tipped to be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor coupled with up to 12GB RAM, 512GB storage and be backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 68W charging. It will run on Android 13 OS out of the box. The upcoming offering is expected to feature a 6.6-inch OLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate. 

The Motorola ThinkPhone’s exact launch date remains a mystery. Considering that the device has surfaced online in recent weeks, we can expect it to debut soon. 

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New 2023 BYD Dolphin Launched in China, Price Starts at 16,700 USD

BYD has launched its new 2023 Dolphin electric hatchback in China, targeting tech-savvy young consumers with a starting price of 16,700 USD. The Dolphin is based on BYD’s e-platform 3.0 and powered by LFP Blade batteries, and comes with a range of single and dual-color exterior options. It has a sleek design based on BYD’s “Marine Aesthetics” design language, developed by Chief Designer Wolfgang Egger. The car measures 4070/1770/1570mm with a 2700mm wheelbase and is available with 16 or 17-inch wheels.

Inside, the 2023 Dolphin features a flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel, a 5-inch full LCD instrument panel, and a 12.8-inch floating central control screen. It also comes equipped with front seat heating, a 4-way electronically adjustable passenger seat, a 6-way electronically adjustable driver seat, and a rear center armrest with a cup holder.

The car has a front parking radar, electric exterior mirrors, and a seatbelt warning light, as well as real-time tire pressure monitoring. In addition to the existing energy-saving, snow, and sports driving modes, the 2023 Dolphin now also offers a comfort mode.

The 2023 BYD Dolphin is powered by a front permanent magnet synchronous motor with two output options: 70 kW/180 Nm and 130 kW/290 Nm. The corresponding pure electric cruising range is 420 km and 401 km, respectively, with 0-100 km/h acceleration times of 10.9 seconds and 7.5 seconds. The motor is paired with a 44.9 kWh BYD LFP Blade battery pack and supports 60kW fast charging.

In November 2022, BYD sold 26,029 units of the Dolphin, a year-on-year increase of 195.8%. The car’s compact size and sleek design, combined with its advanced technology and range of convenience features, make it an appealing choice for young, tech-minded consumers in China.

New 2023 BYD Dolphin Specs

  • Exterior:
    • Color options: Pupu Pink, Beibei Grey, Cheese Yellow, Surfing Blue, Atlantis Grey, Taro Purple, and Black
    • Measures 4070/1770/1570mm with a 2700mm wheelbase
    • Available with 16 or 17-inch wheels
  • Interior:
    • Flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel
    • 5-inch full LCD instrument panel
    • 12.8-inch floating central control screen
    • 4-way electronically adjustable passenger seat
    • 6-way electronically adjustable driver seat
    • Rear center armrest with cup holder
    • Front parking radar
    • Electric exterior mirrors
    • Seatbelt warning light
    • Real-time tire pressure monitoring
    • Two cupholders for rear seat passengers
  • Powertrain:
    • Front permanent magnet synchronous motor with 70 kW/180 Nm or 130 kW/290 Nm output options
    • Pure electric cruising range of 420 km or 401 km
    • 0-100 km/h acceleration times of 10.9 seconds or 7.5 seconds
    • 44.9 kWh BYD LFP Blade battery pack
    • Supports 60kW fast charging
  • Price:
    • 116,800 – 136,800 RMB (16,700 – 19,600 USD)

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Samsung Protects iPhone 14 Series Displays with Inkjet Process

Apple released the iPhone 14 series in last September, which with a lot of features. One of the standout features of these devices was the use of OLED displays manufactured by LG and Samsung Display. According to recent reports, Samsung used an additional inkjet printing process in the production of these displays in order to protect them from moisture and oxygen. Here are the details…

Samsung’s inkjet process protects iPhone 14 Pro’s display from moisture

This process involved the use of inkjet equipment after the thin film encapsulation (TFE) process, which is normally used to protect OLED screens from moisture and oxygen. The additional inkjet equipment was used to create a separation between the hole in the display and the rest of the OLED panel, as well as to flatten areas with uneven heights.

The use of inkjet equipment in this way is a departure from Samsung‘s previous production methods, which only involved the use of inkjet equipment during the TFE process. It is believed that Apple requested the use of the inkjet printing method in order to seal the edges of the Dynamic Island, a feature of the iPhone 14 Pro’s display. Samsung Display’s subsidiary, SEMES, supplied the inkjet equipment used in the process.

LG Display, which also produced OLED displays for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, is said to have applied the same method. It was reported that LG encountered some difficulties in meeting Apple’s requirements for the iPhone 14 Pro Max display, but these issues seem to have been resolved. The iPhone 14 Pro lineup consists of two models: the 6.1-inch Pro and the 6.7-inch Pro Max, with Samsung supplying OLED displays for both models and LG supplying the display for the 6.7-inch Pro Max model.

It is worth noting that Samsung Display has previously used inkjet equipment to apply a Micro Lens Array (MLA) to smartphone OLED displays, including the Galaxy S21 Ultra. However, it is believed that this equipment has not been used for MLA since then, and may have been repurposed for other purposes.

Overall, the use of inkjet equipment in the production of the OLED displays for the iPhone 14 Pro lineup represents a significant shift in Samsung’s manufacturing process. The addition of this equipment was reportedly necessary in order to meet Apple’s requirements for the Dynamic Island feature and to ensure the durability and lifespan of the displays. It will be interesting to see if this method is continued in future iPhone models or if it remains unique to the iPhone 14 Pro lineup.

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OnePlus 11 Microsite Goes Live On Amazon India

OnePlus is set to launch its next-generation flagship smartphone in China on January 4th. The OnePlus 11 will debut in the global markets on February 7th. Now, ahead of the India launch, the smartphone’s microsite has gone live on the e-commerce platform Amazon. It reveals some key features of the upcoming device as well as its availability on the shopping portal. 

OnePlus

The OnePlus 11 Amazon microsite highlights the return of the alert slider which was missing on several premium OnePlus phones in recent years. The teaser also reveals that the brand is partnering with Hasselblad for imaging capabilities. Apart from the smartphone, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is also listed on the same microsite. This means that both the smartphone and TWS earphones will be available for purchase from Amazon. 

Ahead of the launch, the OnePlus 11 has already been spotted in official images revealing its design. The upcoming offering has a redesigned camera island with a half-pill-shaped border that stretches from the side frame to the middle of the back panel. It houses a circular camera bump with three sensors and an LED flash. There is a Hasselblad text between the camera arrangement. The smartphone will be available in Green and Black colours, with the latter having a sandstone-like finish. 

As for the core specifications, the OnePlus 11 is confirmed to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. It is expected to come with up to 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. The device will reportedly be backed by a 5,000mAh battery unit with support for 100W fast charging. It is tipped to feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED display bearing a 2K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

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Tecno pushes for 4 new Standards to improve Photography on Smartphones

Tecno is apparently pushing to introduce four new standards of photography on future smartphones. The company is taking a leading role in forming ‘Four ITU-T International Standards for Mobile Terminal Computational Photography System.’

As per an official announcement, the smartphone maker revealed that its four new proposals were successfully accepted by ITU-T Study Group. This makes Tecno one of the innovative brands that is working to promote the creation of new international standards for smartphone photography. For those unaware, the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) is an organization that promotes authorized standards corporation, which has 193 member states and more than 900 private-public members. IT also provides an internal platform for telecom and Information Communication Technology (ICTs) and a unified voice for innovation in the industry.

Tecno

Among its four new proposals, the company is pushing for ‘Metadata Management in Image Processing Algorithms.’ As various brands employ different image processing algorithms, Tecno is working on solving issues revolving compatibility and consistency. In simpler terms, make the image processing process more refined across the board. Another proposal is the ‘Guarantee for AWB Training Data Consistency and Reality.’ This standard will help deal with the problem of color cast and capture the ideal white light for improve image quality.

Tecno

AWB or Automatic White Balance is the primary method for computational photography, and Tecno’s team is working on breakthroughs in the AWB module to unify the data collection and processing standard for the mobile devices category. This would again make the process more efficient and create consistency among different devices from various other OEMs. The company is also working on ‘Significant Progress in Image Aesthetics Assessment.’ As smartphone users now require higher quality images and better looking shots nowadays, Tecno uses its localized and inclusive aesthetics algorithms to help the photography experience for users.

Lastly, Tecno is pushing for ‘Standardization on Multi-camera Collaboration’ as well. As the average number of image sensors have risen over the last couple of years, mult-camera systems have become an important feature in the industry. However, the wide range of camera applcations were using different operating systems that caused gaps in the multi-camera collaboration technologies and created incompatibility among different manufacturers. Thus, experts from Tecno are working on standardizing the multi-camera collaboration, which will help specifications be shared and promote an industry wide collaboration. This system can even be found on its premium smartphone such as the newly launched Phantom X2.

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Xiaomi Pad 6 Series to Launch in Q2 2023, Report

Xiaomi is reportedly working on the Xiaomi Pad 6 series of flagship tablets. Since the Xiaomi Pad 5 series debuted in 2021, several reports have speculated that the Pad 6 lineup will launch this year in China. However, with the year coming to an end, it appears that it will break cover in 2023. In a new Weibo poster, tipster Digital Chat Station has revealed the launch timeframe of the Xiaomi Pad 6 series.

According to the tipster, the Xiaomi Pad 6 series will be released at the beginning of Q2 2023. He added Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi is also working on a new tablet, but he did not share any details about it.

Xiaomi Pad 5

The Xiaomi Pad 6 and Pad 6 Pro are said to have respective codenames, such as Pipa and Liuqin. The former is said to be equipped with the Snapdragon 870 chipset, whereas the latter is likely to arrive with the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 onboard.

The tipster revealed that both tablets have an 11- to 12-inch display with narrow bezels. A dual-camera setup will be available on the upper-left corner of the back panel of both models. It appears that both devices may come equipped with a dual-cell battery.

Previous reports have claimed that the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro’s AMOLED display will support 2880 x 1880 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is also expected to come with other features like quad speakers, NFC support, a keyboard and stylus support.

It is speculated that the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro will remain exclusive to the Chinese market. The Xiaomi Pad 6, on the other hand, is likely to release in China, India, and the global market.

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iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition With Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 120W Charging Launched

iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition has been launched in China. It is the third device in the Neo 7 series after the regular and SE variants. The latest offering packs top-end specifications. Read on to know what the iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition offers out of the box. 

The iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition boasts a 6.78-inch E5 AMOLED display bearing an FHD+ resolution and a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. It features a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,500 nits peak brightness, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, and HDR10+ support. There is a Pro+ display chip that offers features like frame rate interpolation, image rendering etc. 

The iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition features a squarish camera module on the back panel. It accommodates a 50MP Samsung GN5 main sensor with OIS support, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP third unit. There is a 16MP front-facing selfie snapper. 

Under the hood, the iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition houses the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. It packs up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. There is a large vapour chamber cooling system for heat dissipation. The device draws its power from a 5,000mAh battery unit with support for 120W fast charging. The smartphone runs on OriginOS 3 based on Android 13 out of the box. 

The iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition starts at RMB 2,799 (~$402) for the 8GB + 128GB variant. The 12GB + 256GB option costs RMB 2,999(~430). The 16GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB configurations carry a price tag of RMB 3,299 (~$473) and RMB 3,599(~$516) respectively. The smartphone is offered in Pop Orange, Impression Blue, and Geometric Black colours.

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Lenovo Xiaoxin 2023: Pro, Air, and Digital Series Teased

Lenovo has recently announced that it will be releasing a range of new laptops in 2023. According to reports, the company will unveil five new models as part of the Xiaoxin series, which includes the Digital Series, the Pro Series, and the Air Series.

Lenovo Xiaoxin Series set to release three new models in 2023

Lenovo has teased its Xiaoxin 2023 product line for notebooks, which includes three categories: Pro, Air, and digital. The Xiaoxin digital series will feature the Xiaoxin 14 and Xiaoxin 16, which are known for their “true and reliable” performance, popular 16:10 aspect ratio, long battery life, and multiple interfaces.

The Xiaoxin Air series ultrabooks are designed to be thin and light, and will be equipped with a “super good” screen and silent tuning. The Xiaoxin Pro series, on the other hand, focuses on high performance and will feature a high refresh rate screen, stronger performance, and a variety of interfaces.

The AMD version of the new IdeaPad Pro notebook will be available with processors such as the R5 7535HS, R7 7735HS, R5 7640HS, and R7 7840HS, while the Core version will be available with 13th-generation Intel Core processors like the i7-13700H and i5-13500H. In terms of graphics cards, the IdeaPad Pro 5 series will be available with the Nvidia RTX 3050 6GB and RTX 4050. These notebooks can also be equipped with 32GB LPDDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD.

According to Lenovo’s overseas news, the Ryzen Edition of the IdeaPad Pro 5 14 and IdeaPad Pro 5 16 will be available in May 2023, with prices starting at 1099 Euros (approximately 8133 RMB). The Core Edition will be available in April of next year, with prices starting at 1199 Euros (approximately 8873 RMB).

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Apple iPhone’s Find My feature helps save woman involved in a Car Crash

Apple iPhone 14 series launched a couple of months prior with a slew of emergency SOS features to ensure it users’ safety. We covered various reports of this already helping people, and now, the latest news has found that the Find My feature has also helped saved a woman that was involved in a car crash.

For those unaware, the latest generation of iPhones come with Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via its Satellite connectivity features. These have helped people stranded or in other life threatening accidents. But in the latest report, rather that the crash detection, the Find My feature has helped save a woman that was a victim of a car crash. The accident took place in San Bernardino, California after a night of Christmas gathering.

Apple

The accident had her vehicle fall 200 feet down a hill on the side of the road. Although, her family had noticed that she had yet to make it home and was unresponsive. Thus, they used the Find My feature to track down her location. They found that her car was in a location over the side of the highway on the map and immediately contacted emergency services to get the relevant authorities involved.

The story was first broken out by the San Bernardino County Fire Department in a Facebook post. The woman had sustained severe injuries and had spent the night in the vehicle following the crash. Firefighter paramedics had to use advanced life support interventions and a rope system to retrieve the injured woman. Unlike the Crash Detection and Satellite SOS features, almost every iPhone universally supports the Find My feature. So another life was saved thanks by an Apple product.

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Oppo Reno 9 All Things Red is the First Device to Support China’s New Universal Charging Standard

The China Communications Standardization Association and the Telecommunications Terminal Industry Association jointly held a mobile terminal universal fast charging standards results conference in Beijing in October of this year and released the first batch of 11 fast charging certifications, involving 4 terminals and 5 adapters from six companies. And two chip products, which cover mobile phones, fast chips, and charging items from manufacturers such as Xiaomi, OPPO, and Huawei.

According to Weibo tipster @Digital Chat Station, the UFCS Agreement’s universal highest power is 40W, which aims to promote faster charging compatibility between different manufacturers. It surely cannot be compared to 100-watt chargers, however, the second stage will raise to 65W, increasing further availability. Now, according to an official statement, the OPPO Reno9 All Things Red becomes the first smartphone to support the country’s new Universal charging standard.

OPPO Reno9

More devices will be further added to the compatibility list in the future. All the compatible devices will have a universal charging technology shared between them. Let’s see how many smartphones will be added later in the future.

The new universal fast charging standard was created to encourage the advancement of fast charging technologies in five key areas: to continue improving rapid charging technology and expanding its support for new applications, to encourage the advancement of fast charging technologies in five key areas, Encourage the consolidation of rapid charging group standards into a single worldwide standard that is valid throughout the industry. This will also help follow the progress of international fast charging standardisation, as well as raise Chinese group standards up to international standards level, allowing China to become the global standard for fast charging solutions. Encourage more firms to embrace a common fast charging standard, and it will also help to improve third-party certification and identification.

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Samsung might launch next-gen Galaxy Book laptops alongside the Galaxy S23 series

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S23 series on February 1st. The launch event is expected to feature the launch of three smartphones in the Galaxy S23 series and some new accessories. Along with these gadgets, it appears that Samsung will also be launching the next-gen Galaxy Book laptops.

Galaxy Book2 Pro

The report comes from SamMobile which claims that the upcoming high-end laptops will feature improved specifications and improved software features compared to the current Galaxy Book 2 series. It is speculated that the laptops could be powered by Intel’s 13th Gen processors. Specification details of the laptops are still behind the veil, however, we can look at the current-gen Galaxy Booklaptops to get an idea of what to expect.

Galaxy Book2 Pro, Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 specifications

The display on the Galaxy Book 2 Pro is 13.3 inches, while the display on the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is 15.6 inches. Both devices have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Both devices have AMOLED displays with Full HD resolution and 400 nits of brightness for normal viewing. When viewing HDR content, the brightness can reach 500 nits. The 13.3-inch model is 1.04kg, while the 15.6-inch model is 1.41kg.

Although neither model has Bluetooth connectivity, they both run Windows 11 OS and have support for the S Pen. The S Pen’s decreased latency makes it possible to write and sketch. The Samsung Notes software promises advancements in areas like hyperlink support and handwriting recognition. With the appropriate apps running on Galaxy devices, the app can instantaneously synch.

The 12th generation Intel Core i7 and Core i5 CPUs, up to 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 1 TB of NVMe SSD storage power the Galaxy Book2 Pro and Book2 Pro 360. A 63Wh battery powers the Book2 Pro, while a 68Wh battery powers the Book2 Pro 360. Both devices enable USB-C 65W rapid charging.

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Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) Might Make a Comeback in January 2023

Back in July 2022, the Government of India blocked access to Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) in the country in accordance with their law. Following the order, the BGMI application was taken down from the Google Play Store and Apple app store. The citizens were unable to download the game from any official source. However, those who already had the games installed on their smartphones were able to play the game without any major interruptions.

But soon after that, the users started reporting server problems across the country. Now, a new piece of information hovering online claims that BGMI could soon return back to the Play Store and App store in the month of January 2023. Soon after the ban, Krafton assured their players that they are in talks with the Government of India to bring back the game as soon as possible. Although, we really did not get to see any official statement regarding the BGMI unban after that.

bgmi

Pratik “Alpha Clasher” Jogiya and Sohail “Hector” Shaikh, according to AFKGaming, have claimed that BGMI would be returning to Android very soon. In a recent live stream, Alpha Clasher was joined by another player named predatorsasuke, who claimed to work at Google and revealed the tentative debut date of BGMI. “You’d be very thrilled,” he said, “BGMI will launch on Google Play Store on January 15th; this is a preliminary date.” Following this webcast, Hector was asked on one of his recent streams regarding the comeback of BGMI. “The game will return in January, according to someone from Google,” he claimed. I’m not directly aware of this, but I’ve heard it.”

“He is a leader in the Google community. It makes no difference if someone in the gaming community claims that the game will return. That individual stated that the game would return on January 15th. I even asked Thug about it, and he stated he would notify me two weeks before the game’s release,” Hector continued. “So, we’ll notify you two weeks before the game returns.”

Let’s see what really happens after the prescribed timeline. We may finally see the game back again in the country very soon.

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Esports is officially recognized as a sport by the Indian Govt

Esports is being officially recognized by the Indian government. The term basically means video games that are played on a competitive level with spectators and are finally being recognized as an actual sport.

The Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will now also be authorized for the esports category. As per official notes, video games will also be recognized as a competitive spectator sport since athletes also use their physical and mental abilities to compete with one another in varying genres of games. This marks a major shift since the Indian Esports Industry has pushed for such an official recognition for a while now.

So now, competitive gaming will have a lot more depth to their structure since the umbrella term of “Gaming” will also be included in the official multi sports sections. Thus, all tournaments will also be treated with the same gravity as any other form of physical competition. Furthermore, this move will also help create a more budding environment around esports and also push the gaming industry in the region. India has already hosted the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, and now, they can finally be a great competitor in the esports category as well.

esports

According to Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), “Great news for us to begin the New Year. We have been constantly working on establishing the difference between esports and iGaming, and finally, our efforts have been fulfilled. We welcome this announcement by our government under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Modi ji, which will open new avenues to pour in more investment opportunities in this booming industry.”

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Baseus Launches GaN 5 Pro Lightweight Fast Charger

Known smartphone accessories manufacturer Baseus has now launched its all-new Bauseus GaN 5 Pro fast charger. The brand has worked really hard on its manufacturing and form factor as the final product is really very thin, compact and lightweight. Despite being a lightweight and compact charger, it can provide a faster-charging output of up to 65W. Unlike usual charging bricks, this one adopts a flat and compact build and the charging pin and foldable, which means one can fold the pin downs to store it anywhere easily.

Baseus

Furthermore, the charging adapter has two sharing ports, one with USB Type-A output and the other with USB Type-C output. When used individually, the Type-C port can produce an output of up to 65W, while the USB Type-A port can provide an output of up to 60W. The charger also supports dual charging mode, which allows you to charge your devices at the same time utilising both ports, but charging rates are limited to 20W from the USB Type-A port and 45W from the Type-C port. That’s probably enough!

The Baseus GaN5 Pro Gallium Nitride Lightweight Fast Chargé 65W has been upgraded to fifth-generation GaN technology, Baseus has re-optimized its structure to reduce the number of components, and its performance and speed are faster, according to the official release. The previous generation achieves the same power in a smaller volume, and the dual-channel simultaneous charging does not suffer from any speed loss.

The Baseus GaN5 Pro 65W Lightweight Gallium Nitride Fast Charger can intelligently regulate the output voltage, current, and power distribution based on the number of connected devices, and the single port can reach the highest power, thanks to the self-developed Baseus BPSII charging technology.

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Samsung Unveils Bespoke Refrigerator Family Hub Plus with Large Screen at CES 2023

Samsung Electronics is set to unveil its new Bespoke Refrigerator Family Hub Plus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas. The new refrigerator features a large 32-inch full HD touch screen, more than double the size of the screen on the original Family Hub fridge, which was first introduced in 2016. The Family Hub fridge utilizes artificial intelligence and internet of things technology to provide entertainment, family communication, cooking, and smart home services.

The new Family Hub Plus has been upgraded to include the Samsung TV Plus service, which offers users the ability to watch around 190 US TV channels and approximately 80 Korean channels in picture-in-picture mode. The large screen also allows for multitasking, such as searching for recipes while watching a music channel or controlling home appliances while watching the news.

Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator

The screen is optimized for vertical format videos from social media platforms like YouTube and includes content such as recipe videos from the SmartThings cooking service and artworks from the Bespoke Atelier app.

In addition to its entertainment capabilities, the Bespoke Refrigerator Family Hub Plus also serves as a smart home hub, allowing users to monitor and control multiple devices connected to SmartThings through the Big Widget feature. The fridge also includes the SmartThings Home Life service, which offers energy, cooking, air care, home care, pet care, and clothing care options.

The fridge can also be linked to the cloud through Google Photos in addition to the existing OneDrive integration, allowing for expanded sharing capabilities. The fridge will also include the Amazon Your Essentials service in the US, allowing users to easily order frequently purchased items with just one click.

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Indian PC Market Ends Growth Streak with 4% Fall in Q3 2022

The Indian PC market, including desktops, notebooks, and tablets, saw a downturn in the third quarter of 2022, with shipments falling 4% year on year to 5.1 million units. According to research firm Canalys, notebook shipments were the main contributor to the overall market decline, falling sharply by 21%. However, desktop and tablet shipments saw significant annual growth, with 36% and 24% increases to 766,000 units and 1.5 million units respectively.

Weak Demand from Commercial and Consumer Sectors Affects Indian PC Market

One bright spot for the Indian PC market was the education sector, which saw a surge in shipments due to the release of public sector tenders that had been postponed in the previous two years. This led to a 181% increase in shipments across all product categories in the third quarter. The segment is expected to continue to be a strong performer, particularly for tablets, which are a key part of India’s digital education expansion strategy.

Vendor Q3 2022 shipments Q3 2022 
market share 
Q3 2021 
shipments 
Q3 2021 
market share 
Annual 
growth 
Lenovo  1,095 21.6%  1,429  27.0% -23.4% 
HP  940  18.5%  1,268  24.0% -25.9% 
Acer  532  10.5%  398  7.5% 33.7% 
Apple  456  9.0%  283  5.3% 61.1% 
Dell  455  9.0%  726  13.7% -37.3% 
Others  1,593  31.4%  1,187  22.4% 34.2% 
Grand Total  5,071  100.0%  5,292  100.0% -4.2% 

Canalys PC Market Pulse: Q3 2022 

On the commercial side, however, demand for PCs was weaker due to businesses reprioritizing IT spending in the face of an uncertain economic climate. Shipments to the commercial segment fell 11% compared to the same period in the previous year, as both enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses saw weaker demand due to inflation and interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India.

On the consumer side, demand for PCs was also relatively weak during the festive season, with household spending declining significantly after a surge in the second quarter. Despite promotional activity by vendors and retailers, consumer shipments fell 12% year on year as inventory clearance remained an issue.

The return to in-person education also reduced the need for devices to support remote learning, leading to sluggish consumer demand that is expected to continue into the beginning of 2023. The weakening rupee is also putting additional upward pressure on prices. In terms of market share, HP was the top vendor in the third quarter of 2022, with 26.5% of shipments, followed by Lenovo with 23.6% and Dell with 12.8%. Acer and Asus also had significant market share, with 12.7% and 10.7% respectively.

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