Oppo Reno 8 Pro 5G Review – Almost a Flagship, Experience Enhanced with ColorOS 13 Upgrade

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Dec 23, 2022

At the launch of the Reno 8 series, which was a couple of months ago, Oppo said that its users would receive two major OS upgrades and four years of security updates. As promised, both devices have received the latest Android 13 OS upgrade, which is overlaid with the company’s latest ColorOS 13 UI. Aquamorphic effects throughout the UI, new Always-On Display animations, the Meeting Assistant, Multi-Screen Connect, the Dynamic Computing Engine, and enhanced privacy and security features are some of the major highlights of ColorOS 13. Here is a review of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro 5G.

What’s in the box?

The OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G retail package has the following contents:

Oppo Reno 8 Pro handset
Transparent case
SIM ejector tool
80W charger
USB-C to USB-A cable
User manual
Safety Guide

Design and Display

Dimensions	Display
Size – 161.2 x 74.2 x 7.34mm	6.7-inch AMOLED display	10-bit colors
Weight – 183 grams	2412 x 1080 (Full HD+) pixels	93.4 percent screen-to-body ratio
	20:9 aspect ratio	Gorilla Glass 5
Color variants	Up to 120Hz refresh rate	Widevine L1 support
Glazed Black	Up to 180Hz touch sampling rate	Under-display fingerprint scanner
Glazed Green	394ppi pixel density
	Up to 950 nits peak brightness

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro has a glass back and an aluminum frame. The camera bump melts into the rear shell of the device. Overall, it has a premium appeal. On the front, there is an earpiece integrated with a speaker above the display punch-hole. The chin of the device is quite thin, which allows it to offer 93.4 percent screen space, as OPPO claims.

In September, I got the opportunity to visit the Oppo lab in Noida, India. During my visit, the company stated that the Reno 8 series is built to last because it undergoes over 300 rigorous durability and quality tests, such as free fall tests, extreme temperature tests, and others, before releasing it to the market.

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a centrally positioned punch-hole. The display simply looks gorgeous thanks to those super-slim bezels that you would normally see on a flagship phone. For a better viewing experience, while watching videos, the O1 Ultra Vision Engine offers features like Image Sharpner (upscale videos), Video Color Boost, and Bright HDR video mode. Speaking of brightness, the screen supports up to 950 nits of brightness. It offers two color profiles, Natural (sRGB color gamut) and Vivid (DCI-P3 color gamut). The colors appear more saturated on the latter.

The Reno 8 Pro offers Standard (60Hz) and High (120Hz) refresh rate options. The 120Hz RR translates to a smoother experience throughout the UI. The phone supports playback of HD content from OTT platforms as well as 4K HD YouTube videos. The display is also good for playing games.

Oppo Reno 8 Pro – ColorOS 13 key features

The ColorOS 13-based Android 13 OS upgrade for the Oppo Reno 8 Pro weighs 2.70GB. It also includes the October Android security update.

The ColorOS 13 does not offer a completely different user interface as compared to the older ColorOS 12. Instead, the new version packs several new improvements to offer an overall enhanced user experience.

Aquamorphic Design: The ColorOS 13 offers a fluid experience just like the fluidity of water. Hence, the system animation and transitions appear softer and more natural. The system theme palette is inspired by the changing color of light between sunrise and sunset.

[envira-gallery id=’504700′]

Fonts, Icons, and Layouts: The fonts are more reader-friendly even if the ColorOS 13 is used in different languages. The redesigned icons are also easily readable. The adaptive layouts provide consistent layouts on Oppo devices with different-sized screens. In addition, it offers a card-style layout, which offers different-sized cards in the Settings and first-party apps.

Enlarged Folder on Homescreen: A folder housing multiple apps on the homescreen can be kept in an enlarged state. It enables users to open internal apps with a single tap rather than opening the folder.

Quantum Animation Engine 4.0: ColorOS 13 is equipped with Quantum Animation Engine 4.0, which focuses on offering an intuitive experience by reducing as many steps as possible. With Behavioural Prediction, it reduces steps for a better navigation experience by prioritizing intended commands while using gestures.

Omoji for contacts: The Oppo Contact app can use Omoji avatars to show cute, moving characters for your favourite contacts when a call comes in.

System Illustrations: Instead of showing empty spaces throughout the UI, ColorOS 13 shows some interesting illustrations.

Quick Settings: The Quick Settings user experience has been improved. One of the improvements is that it shows media playback control.

Shelf: A swipe down on the homescreen opens the Shelf, which gives access to widgets, useful tools, and a global search.

[envira-gallery id=’504703′]

Always-On Display: ColorOS 13 has some interesting AOD images, including “homeland,” that showcase endangered species like clownfish, polar bears, and penguins to remind users to take greater care of their environments. There are some new AODs that offer real-time information from third-party food delivery apps like Zomato / Swiggy, which show the status of the order, and Spotify. At present, only the Spotify AOD is working. Other AOD options include Bitmoji AOD and Insight AOD.

Multi-Screen Connect: The Multi-Screen Connect has been improved to offer seamless connectivity between Oppo phones and the Oppo Pad Air, as well as between Oppo phones and PC. The mirrored Oppo phone can be used to sync clipboards, sync notifications, and file transfer. In addition, it can display up to three separate screens for each app, as shown above.

Meeting Assistant: When an online meeting is going on, the Meeting Assistant can automatically detect it and optimize the network and simplify notifications to reduce distractions.

Privacy: For chat screenshots, it offers a pixelate feature, that automatically pixelates profile photos and display names. Private Safe, which allows users to store sensitive data like photos, videos, and files, can now be secured using the widely used Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Performance improvements: Dynamic Computing Engine available on the ColorOS 13 can enhance system speed, stability, battery life, and app experience. The HyperBoost GPA 4.0 can stabilize the frame rate and reduce power consumption while playing games.

ColorOS 13 rollout status

The stable ColorOS 13 version based on Android 13 is available for devices like the Find X5, Find X5 Pro, Reno 8 Pro 5G, Reno 8 5G, K10 5G, F21 Pro, F21 Pro 5G, K10, A76, and Oppo A96.

The beta version of the OS upgrade is available for multiple devices, like the Reno 7 Pro 5G, Reno 7 5G, Reno 6 Pro 5G, Reno 6 5G, Reno 5 Pro 5G, F19 Pro+, and A74.

Photography and Other Features

Rear Camera	Front Camera
Triple cam: – 50MP Sony IMX766 – 8MP Sony IMX355 (ultra-wide) – 2MP OmniVision OV02B10 (macro)	32MP Sony IMX709 camera
MariSilicon X chip	Autofocus support
Video recording: Up to 4K at 30fps + EIS	Video: Full HD at 30fps
Slow motion: Up to Full HD at 960fps

The triple camera setup available on the Reno 8 Pro is the same as that available on the Realme GT Neo 3 and OnePlus 10R. Still, photography is one of the strengths of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro, since it features the MariSilicon X chip. It misses out on Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) but comes with support for Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). With the MariSilicon X chip onboard, it manages to shoot clearer videos in low-light conditions. The Reno 8 Pro also does a good job shooting 4K videos with good color reproduction and dynamic range in low-light conditions.

OPPO Reno 8 Pro daylight1 — OPPO Reno 8 Pro daylight

The main camera performs well in low light, and the details are quite good, but not quite as sharp as during the day. The noise is noticeable in photos taken in less ideal conditions. By default, the camera captures 12.5-megapixel images. Since the camera shutter speed is fast, users can capture multiple shots of a moving object. Users can use the 50MP mode for detailed shots. The Extra HD mode shoots in 108.5-megapixel, but the result is similar to the 50-megapixel shots.

The portrait shots using the main camera capture photos with blurred backgrounds and more focus on the subject. The ultra-wide shots come out well when there is enough light. In low light, the details on ultra-wide images decrease. As far as the macro camera is concerned, it requires a couple of attempts to get decent images.

OPPO Reno 8 Pro night mode — OPPO Reno 8 Pro regular night shot

The Reno 8 Pro captures in 32-megapixel resolution only, which means users will end up with large files. The 21mm focal length allows it to accommodate more people in a single frame. Another good thing about the front camera is that it supports autofocus, which is not common in the upper mid-range segment, and even in the flagship segment. The portrait selfies come with an impressive bokeh effect. It focuses on the subject well and does a good job at edge detection.

Shooting in low light is one of the strengths of the Reno 8 Pro, thanks to the MariSilicon X NPU onboard. In regular mode, the quality of the images is passable, but with the night mode on, it manages to capture brighter and better images with reduced noise.

Performance and Battery Life

Peformance	Other Features
Dimensity 8100-Max	Dual speakers
12GB of LPDDR5 RAM	Face unlock
256GB of UFS 3.1 storage	Dual-frequency GPS
4,500mAh battery	12 5G bands: n77/78/38/40/41/1/3/5/7/8/20/28 BlockA&BlockB
80W SuperVOOC charging	Wi-Fi 6, 2 x 2 MIMO
Ultra-Conductive Cooling System	Bluetooth 5.3
Android 13 OS with ColorOS 13	NFC
	X-axis linear motor

The Dimensity 8100-Max, a customized version of the D1800 chip for Oppo phones, powers the Reno 8 Pro. The chip competes with the Snapdragon 888 chip from the Qualcomm camp. Like the flagship phones from 2021, the device offers LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1. With a massive 256GB of built-in storage onboard, the device does not offer a microSD card slot.

[envira-gallery id=’504698′]

The bundled 80W charger can fully charge the Reno 8 Pro in just around 35 minutes. According to Oppo, the Reno 8 Pro promises 1600 charge cycles, and its Battery Health Engine (BHW) helps prolong the battery lifespan. In addition, the Reno 8 series will offer smooth performance even after 4 years. OPPO has made this claim after carrying out nearly 500 tests to achieve the 36-month Fluency Rating A mark from TÜV SÜD.

The gaming experience on the Reno 8 Pro is enhanced with a 360Hz touch sampling rate, stereo speakers, good haptic feedback via an X-axis linear motor, and an ultra-constructive cooling system. The placement of the fingerprint sensor seems to be a bit low. However, there is no issue with its performance. Also, I did not encounter any issues with its connectivity features.

The Reno 8 Pro will get the latest Android OS upgrades until the second quarter of 2024. It will also get security updates for four years. The ColorOS 13’s new improvements that I mentioned above enhance the overall experience on the Reno 8 Pro.

Verdict

In some markets, the Oppo Reno 8 Pro faces competition from phones like the OnePlus 10R and Realme GT Neo 3. These phones pack similar specs, but the Reno 8 Pro excels in the selfie photography department. The Reno 8 Pro misses out on OIS and packs a smaller battery compared to its competitors. However, the Reno 8 Pro is not only impressive in hardware but also offers better software and customer support.

Apart from black and green, there is a special limited-edition version called the Reno 8 Pro House of the Dragon, which comes in a special package that includes exclusive House of the Dragon-themed accessories. Readers can learn more about it here. It costs Rs 45,999 (~$554) and is available for purchase through Flipkart in India. The regular Oppo Reno 8 Pro is also priced at Rs 45,999.

WHERE TO BUY

Buy OPPO Reno 8 Pro @ Flipkart | Oppo India’s website in India

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G review are solely mine based on my experience. The review highlights some of the best features of ColorOS 13 on Oppo’s recommendation.

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Honor 80 GT Roundup: Design, Specs, Expected Price, and More

By

Anurag

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Dec 23, 2022

Honor is all set to introduce a new flagship killer smartphone –Honor 80 GT– that will offer much more bounce for the ounce. The handset will debut in China next week and it will be accompanied by the new Honor Pad V8 Pro.

Honor 80 GT will arrive as the fourth phone in the 80 series unveiled only last month. However, it will have a different design and will offer the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset at an affordable price. It will also boast a dedicated display chip for enabling a fast and efficient refresh rate.

Continue on to find out everything that’s known about this device ahead of its official announcement.

Honor 80 GT Launch Date

Honor recently posted a teaser on its official Weibo handle, confirming the launch date of the upcoming Honor 80 GT. The smartphone will debut in the company’s home country China next Monday, December 26.

The device will share the stage with a new Honor tablet, called Honor Pad V8 Pro (roundup). The launch event will commence at 7:30 pm (local time) and it will be live-streamed via Weibo and other leading Chinese video streaming platforms.

Honor 80 GT Design

The design of the Honor 80 GT is entirely different from the rest of the 80 series models. There’s a large rectangular camera module, aligned vertically, unlike other devices with camera islands shaped like an “8” or infinity.

The smartphone will have a flat OLED at the front with a punch hole for a single selfie camera. It will be 7.9mm thick and have curved side frames. The device will be available in two colors and a special edition.

It will have the power key and the volume buttons on the left side and the right side will remain empty. The company is said to be using a plastic frame on the device to keep the cost low. It could have a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power key.

The bottom of the device will include a microphone hole, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker grille. There will be no 3.5mm headphone jack.

Honor 80 GT Specifications

The Honor 80 GT will get a flat OLED display with an FHD+ resolution, up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and a punch hole cutout. The panel could offer a 360Hz touch sampling rate and high brightness.

The gaming-focused smartphone will draw power from Qualcomm’s older Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 Soc. Rumors suggest the device will use a low-frequency version of the chip with the prime Cortex-X2 core running at 3.0Ghz and the three Cortex-A710 Gold cores clocked at 2.5GHz

The chipset could be paired with up to 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. On the software front, the phone will boot MagicOS 7 based on Android 13.

Honor recently revealed that the device will be equipped with a VC (vapor chamber) liquid cooling mechanism. It will also feature 74mm thermal materials to keep the temperature under control. The handset will be backed by a 4,900mAh battery with support for 66W fast wired charging.

For photography, the Honor 80 GT will feature a triple camera unit, headlined by a 54-megapixel primary camera. It likely uses the Sony IMX800 sensor, which was also seen on the Honor 70 series from earlier this year. Details about the other two cameras are yet to be known.

Honor 80 GT Expected Price

The official pricing of the Honor 80 GT will be revealed during the launch (of course), but don’t let that curb your enthusiasm. Leaker Digital Chat Station claims the upcoming Honor smartphone will be priced at around 3,000 Yuan (roughly $429).

If the leaker’s words are anything to go by, this is a very competitive pricing and will likely make the device a popular option. We’ll learn all details about the Honor 80 GT on December 26. So, stick around if you don’t want to miss out.

Meizu returns to flagship market with Meizu 20

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Dec 23, 2022

Meizu has officially announced the upcoming release of its Meizu 20 smartphone. The company has confirmed that the device will be launched in spring 2023 and is currently in mass pre-production. The Meizu 20 has been highly anticipated by fans of the brand, as the company has not released a top of the range device in recent years, leading to speculation about the future of the company.

However, the news of the Meizu 20’s release has been met with excitement, as it marks the return of the company to the top of the range market. While no official information about the design or specifications of the Meizu 20 has been released, it is expected to feature Qualcomm’s latest high-end chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen2.

This would make the Meizu 20 a powerful and advanced device, capable of handling the most demanding tasks and providing a smooth and efficient user experience. There have also been rumors that the Meizu 20 may be accompanied by a Pro model, although this has not been confirmed. An official teaser for the Meizu 20 has also been released, a short clip that leaves fans in suspense about the potential capabilities of the upcoming device.

The teaser does not reveal much about the phone, but it has generated excitement and speculation about the device’s potential to be a flagship product for the company. The Meizu 20’s release will be a significant event for the company, as it looks to make a strong comeback in the highly competitive smartphone market.

With the expected inclusion of the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 chipset and potentially a Pro model, the Meizu 20 has the potential to be a strong contender in the top of the range market. It will be interesting to see if the Meizu 20 can live up to the hype and solidify the company’s return to the flagship market.

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Microsoft plans to release 3 Xbox exclusive Bethesda games

By

Sean

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Dec 23, 2022

Microsoft has just confirmed that it is planning on releasing a couple of new exclusive games for its Xbox series and Windows PCs. This is big news for the Xbox and Windows platform and the games will be arriving from none other than the popular Bethesda studio.

As of right now, Bethesda is known to be working on Starfield, which will be exclusive to the Xbox and PC. Apart from that, the studio is also working on The Elder Scrolls VI is also expected to be an exclusive that will be skipping the Nintendo and PlayStation as well. Furthermore, Microsoft’s lawyers have revealed that they are working on bringing one more exclusive title, which will bring the total Xbox exclusive lineup to a total of three from Bethesda.

According to the official response, “Xbox anticipates that three future titles all of which are designed to be played primarily alone or in small groups — will be exclusive to Xbox and PCs.” Unfortunately, it is still unclear, which title is the third game in the exclusive lineup. There is no clear indication as to which series it will be a part of considering Fallout is kind of in a hiatus, but Fallout 5 is supposedly planned to launch sometime in the future.

On other other hand, there is also an Indiana Jones game in the making as well. Recently, Microsoft has been on a spree of acquisition that has it buyout various studios. This move also had it include multiple titles into the Xbox and its Game Pass exclusives lineup. Regardless, this is a great move by Xbox since the lack of true and diverse exclusives had it struggle against its competitors like Nintendo and Sony PlayStation.

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TSMC Considers Building First European Plant in Germany

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Dec 23, 2022

TSMC, the world’s largest chipmaker, is considering building its first European plant in Dresden, Germany. The plant, which could begin construction in 2024, would meet the growing demand for locally-manufactured chips from Europe’s car industry. A team of senior executives from TSMC will visit Germany in the new year to discuss government support and the local supply chain’s capacity to meet the company’s needs.

A final decision on whether to invest billions of dollars in the plant will be made soon after the visit. TSMC is in talks with several materials and equipment suppliers to determine if they can invest in the company’s proposed chip plant in Dresden, Germany. If the plant is built, it will focus on producing 22-nanometer and 28-nanometer chips using over 50 types of equipment and more than 2,000 materials, such as chemicals and industrial gases.

These chip technologies will be similar to those that TSMC plans to make at a factory in Japan with Sony. Nanometers refer to the size of the transistors on a chip, with smaller nanometers indicating more advanced and powerful semiconductors. As global chipmakers like Intel and Samsung expand their capacity, TSMC is considering entering the European market. The three largest chipmakers in the world have committed to investing at least $380 billion over the next decade to build new factories in Taiwan, South Korea, the US, Japan, Germany, Ireland, and Israel.

The Chips Act, passed by Congress in the US last year, has attracted around $200 billion in private investment in the country’s chipmaking capacity, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. The rapid expansion of the semiconductor industry has raised concerns that there could be an excess supply of chips if the global economy experiences a significant slowdown. However, market research firm Mordor Intelligence predicts that the global semiconductor market will grow at a rate of around 6% per year between 2021 and 2025, indicating that demand for chips is likely to remain strong.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) decision to build a plant in Dresden would be beneficial for the European Union, which is trying to reduce its reliance on importing semiconductors from Asia. The EU approved 43 billion euros in subsidies in 2021 to encourage chipmakers to locate in Europe.

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Honor Pad V8 Pro Roundup — the upcoming tablet with 6 world’s first features

By

Sudhanshu

-

Dec 23, 2022

Honor will be holding a launch event on December 26 in China. The brand will be launching two new devices at this event – the Honor 80 TG smartphone and the Honor Pad V8 Pro tablet. So far, the brand has confirmed many of the specifications and features. Six of these features will be making their debut on a tablet for the first time in the world. So let’s check out the details.

Starting with the display, the Honor Pad V8 Pro will be the first 12.1-inch tablet to arrive with an IMAX Enhanced-certified panel. This essentially means that the tablet will be able to stream IMAX Enhanced titles from Tencent Video and iQIYI in the Intended quality.

This is a 2.5K resolution panel that will also be the world’s first to offer 144Hz resolution on this large of a display. And keeping up with the above mentioned features, it will also have a natural light eye protection technology baked in – also a first for a flagship tablet.

The Dimensity 8100 chip will be making its tablet debut on the Honor Pad V8 Pro. This is a solid mid-range chipset that gives previous-gen Snapdragon 888 a run for its money. The chip is based on a 6-nm node and comes with 4 Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.85GHz and the remaining 4 cores at Cortex-A55 at 2.00GHz. The SoC also has the Mali-G610 MC6 GPU clocked at 912 MHz included on the chipset, making it quite capable in gaming scenarios.

Talking about the software side of things, the Pad V8 Pro is the first tablet from the brand to feature the MagicOS 7.0 operating system. Lastly, the tablet also comes with the Honor SuperNote feature. This feature is essentially a helper for work and study. Through system-level integration, it enables features like recording while broadcasting, and changing video to notes in seconds.

Other than these features, the device is confirmed to feature thin bezels, and an eight speaker setup for immersive sound. The last bit of information available on the tablet confirms 33W fast charging support.

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Red Magic 8 Pro series Roundup: Design, Specs, & more

By

Sean

-

Dec 23, 2022

With the launch of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, various brands are working on launching their next gen flagship smartphones that will feature this chipset. Red Magic is one such company with its upcoming Red Magic 8 Pro series being one such model, so here is a roundup of all the details we know ahead of its December 26 launch event.

Design

The upcoming lineup of phones from the Chinese smartphone maker will consist of two models. This includes the Red Magic 8 Pro and the 8 Pro+ model. Both models are expected to be quite similar in terms of specifications but with minor differences. Both the the Red Magic 8 Pro and 8 Pro+ are expected to feature a flat rear panel and edge design. Furthermore, the company might be planning on launching two variants of for both of the phones, with one featuring a transparent design that offers us a look at some of the key internal specs and the RGB fan housed under the hood for cooling.

The brand has dedicated its smartphone models to gaming, with past models also featuring a small physical fan. So its no surprise that the next gen variant with the latest and greatest Qualcomm chip also features it as well. The brand also teased the cooling mechanism of the device, stating that it features the largest volume of VC cooling ever from the company’s history thanks to its size of 2068mm³. On the other hand, the other variant has a conventional rear cover, but it is unclear if it is a matte or glossy back. The rear also has a triple camera setup that is stacked vertically while the front sensor is housed underneath the display panel on the front.

Specifications

The Red Magic 8 Pro series is expected to sport a similar sized display on the two variants. Meaning, the front has a tall 6.8 inch OLED display that has a resolution of 2480 x 1116 pixels. Furthermore, this panel will also offer a high 120Hz refresh rate and a 93.7 percent screen to body ratio. Under the hood, the new flagship series will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC that will be paired with either 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of internal storage.

For optics, the device will feature a triple camera setup on the rear, which consists of a 50 megapixel primary sensor, an 8 megapixel ultra wide angle lens, and a megapixel depth or macro sensor. The front houses an 8 megapixel selfie shooter that is believed to be housed under the display. However, the exact make of these sensors are still unclear at the moment.

Other features include the ultra linear dual stereo speakers that will support Snapdragon sound, 96kHz lossless audio, and 48ms low latency. One of the aspects that differentiate the base Pro and Pro+ model is the battery size and charging rates. The former is expected to house a large 5,000mAh battery pack that supports 120W fast charging, while the latter has a humongous 6,000mAh battery pack that supports an even larger 165W fast charging rate. But both models will boot Android 13 OS based Red Magic UI out of the box.

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DIZO Buds Z Power With ENC, 7 Hours Battery Launched In India

By

Viraj Gawde

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Dec 23, 2022

DIZO has quietly launched a new TWS earphone in India. It is dubbed the DIZO Buds Z Power and is an upgraded version of the Buds Z Pro that debuted earlier this year. The latest audio device from the Realme TechLife brand is an affordable offering. It competes against the likes of other TWS earphones offered by brands like Noise, boAt, Redmi, and others in the market. Read on to know what the DIZO Buds Z Power offer out of the box.

The DIZO Buds Z Power are semi-in-ear TWS earbuds with a stem and silicone ear tips. They are IPX4-certified water-resistant. Users can control various functions by tapping on the stem of the earbuds.

On the audio front, the DIZO Buds Z Power are equipped with a 10mm dynamic driver. They feature environmental noise cancellation for clear quality on calls. There is also a bass boost+ algorithm. The TWS earphones come with an 88ms low latency mode for gaming.

The DIZO Buds Z Power are backed by a 380mAh battery unit and are claimed to offer 30 hours of battery life with the pebble-shaped charging case. Each earbud is claimed to deliver 7 hours of usage and a 10-minute quick charge is said to offer 3 hours of playback time.

The DIZO Buds Z Power are priced at Rs 1,999 and are offered in Leaf Green, Onyx Black, and Pearl White colours. The TWS earphones can be purchased from Flipkart and retail stores across the country.

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Apple Watch Independence: 2022 Models No Longer Rely on iPhone GPS

By

Oğuz Çakır

-

Dec 23, 2022

Apple has confirmed that all three of its 2022 Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra, are equipped with their own GPS systems. This marks a significant departure from previous models, which relied on the GPS of a nearby iPhone to save battery life on the watch.

When the Apple Watch was first released, it relied on a nearby Apple Watch for processing. However, this changed with the release of the Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017, which offered cellular connectivity and allowed the device to make calls without the presence of an iPhone. The following year, the Apple Watch Series 2 introduced its own GPS system, although it still relied on the GPS of a nearby iPhone whenever possible.

The new Apple Watch models are able to use their own GPS thanks to larger batteries that provide longer battery life. The Apple Watch Ultra, for example, has a battery that keeps the device powered for “up to 36 hours,” allowing it to use its own GPS system. The battery on the Apple Watch Series 8 and the second-generation Apple Watch SE is also large enough to enable the use of their own GPS systems.

In addition to the larger batteries, the Watch Ultra and the iPhone 14 line also feature dual-band GPS frequency, which provides more accurate location data in large cities. Dual-frequency GPS measures its accuracy in centimeters, while single-frequency GPS delivers accuracy to a distance of 5 meters. This makes the dual-band GPS particularly useful in urban environments where the density of buildings and other structures can interfere with location accuracy.

The shift towards self-sufficient GPS capabilities on the Apple Watch highlights the progress that the device has made towards independence from the iPhone. While the Apple Watch was once reliant on the iPhone for processing and location data, it has now become a standalone device with its own GPS system and the ability to make calls without the presence of an iPhone. This makes the Apple Watch an increasingly versatile and convenient device for a wide range of activities and tasks.

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Samsung rolls out Android 13 update for Galaxy M12 & US variant of Galaxy A13

By

Sean

-

Dec 23, 2022

Samsung has been aggressively rolling out the Android 13 update for a number of its smartphone models. The company first began releasing the major update with its flagship phones and now two new affordable models have received this update. So here are all the details.

The South Korean tech giant is rolling out the update for the Galaxy M12 and the US variant of the Galaxy A13 5G model. For those unaware, the company had already rolled out the major Android software upgrade for the Galaxy A13 5G model in Europe, but now the model in the US is also receiving this update. On the other hand, the Galaxy M12 is also receiving the Android 13 OS update, but this roll out is strictly limited to Russia as of right now.

For the Galaxy A13 5G US variant, the company is bringing the new firmware version A136USQU3CVK9. This update also arrives with the November 2022 security patch as well. Although, it is unclear whether Samsung will expand expand the availability of this update to other carries as well by the end of the year since it is limited to the US cellular locked versions of the Galaxy A13 5G.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy M12 model is getting the firmware version up to M127FXXU3CVL2 along with the November 2022 security patch as well. So for those that own the two models in the US and Russia respectively, can head to Settings > Software update menu to manually check for the new major software update.

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Redmi K60 Pro to feature 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB UFS 4.0, and more

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Dec 23, 2022

Redmi K60 series is scheduled to debut on Dec. 27 in China. Ahead of the launch, the company has started confirming the key specifications of the K60 Pro. Earlier today, the company confirmed the K60 Pro will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Now, it has released new posters to reveal and confirm a few more things about the device.

The Redmi K60 Pro is confirmed to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform. As can be seen in the poster below, the K60 Pro will be equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

Hence, it appears that the K60 Pro will offer topnotch performance like other flagship phones such as the Xiaomi 13 series, iQOO 11 series, Moto X40, and OnePlus 11, which are also equipped with SD8G2, LPDDR5x RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage.

The company revealed that the K60 Pro has recorded the highest-ever score of 1,350,526 points on AnTuTu benchmarks. On Geekbench 5, it scored 1462 in the single-core test and 5038 in the multi-core test. The 12 GB RAM variant of the device was benchmarked on the K60 Pro.

The K60 Pro is also confirmed to house a 5,000mm2 vapor-chamber liquid cooling area, which is made out of stainless steel material. The company says that the K60 Pro is so powerful that there is no need for a gaming phone. Hence, the company will be launching the K60 Pro instead of the K60 Gaming.

Other reports have claimed that it will have an OLED panel that offers a 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It may feature a 50-megapixel primary camera on the back. The device may house a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging.

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Samsung Develops Industry’s First 12nm-Class DDR5 DRAM

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Dec 23, 2022

Samsung Electronics has developed an industry-first 12nm-class DDR5 dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in collaboration with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). This new DRAM is set to begin mass production in 2023 and is expected to advance the capabilities of next-generation computing, data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications with its exceptional performance and greater power efficiency.

Samsung’s 12nm DDR5 DRAM to advance data centers and AI applications

The 16GB DDR5 DRAM was made possible through the use of innovative technology, including a new high-κ material that increases cell capacitance and proprietary design technology that improves critical circuit characteristics. This, combined with advanced multi-layer extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, has resulted in the industry’s highest die density, enabling a 20% gain in wafer productivity.

Leveraging the latest DDR5 standard, Samsung’s 12nm-class DRAM will offer speeds of up to 7.2 gigabits per second (Gbps), allowing it to process two 30 gigabyte (GB) ultra-high definition (UHD) movies in just one second. In addition to its impressive speed, the new DRAM is also notable for its power efficiency. It consumes up to 23% less power than previous DRAMs, making it an ideal solution for global IT companies seeking more environmentally friendly operations.

“Our 12nm-range DRAM will be a key enabler in driving market-wide adoption of DDR5 DRAM,” said Jooyoung Lee, Executive Vice President of DRAM Product & Technology at Samsung Electronics. “With exceptional performance and power efficiency, we expect our new DRAM to serve as the foundation for more sustainable operations in areas such as next-generation computing, data centers, and AI-driven systems.”

The development of the 12nm-class DDR5 DRAM was made possible through close collaboration with industry partner AMD. “We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Samsung, particularly on introducing DDR5 memory products that are optimized and validated on ‘Zen’ platforms,” said Joe Macri, Senior VP, Corporate Fellow, and Client, Compute and Graphics CTO at AMD.

With mass production set to begin in 2023, Samsung plans to broaden its DRAM lineup built on this cutting-edge 12nm-class process technology into a wide range of market segments. The company will continue to work with industry partners to support the rapid expansion of next-generation computing.

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ZMI denies rumors of mass lay offs and ceasing its operations

By

Sean

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Dec 23, 2022

ZMI has just offered an official statement to clarify the ongoing rumors that have claimed that it will be ceasing its operations. The company denied these rumors and said that it will continue to operate under the ZMI brand.

Looking at the official statement, the Chinese brand has stated that the ZMI brand will continue to exist and develop new products. Furthermore, it said that any remarks or rumors that hint at the brand suspending its operations is false. The company also added that it will continue to provide all of its loyal customers with high value and high quality products along with long term stable after sales services.

This statement was shared on Weibo (a Chinese microblogging website) where it thanked its fans for their concern and hoped that future rumors will not be believed. For those unaware, there were some rumors online that were being shared that claimed that the company has seen a massive restructuring following an acquisition. Reportedly, the brand had been purchased by Xiaomi Corp and the turn over had ZMI lay off around 80 percent of its staff.

The rumor also claimed that there were only some technicians left who were then merged into Xiaomi’s smart wearable department while others were incorporated into the various other departments in the Chinese tech giant. So stick around for more as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this matter.

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Realme 240W Charger Surfaces Online, Expected to Debut on the GT Neo 5

By

Viraj Gawde

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Dec 23, 2022

Realme’s fastest charging technology maxes out at 150W. It is found on the Realme GT Neo 3. Now, the brand is aiming to introduce a new charging technology that will take the speed further. It is expected to debut on the upcoming Realme GT Neo 5. Reliable tipster Ice Universe has shared some details about the Realme 240W charger on the microblogging platform Weibo.

Ice Universe says that the 240W charger is Realme’s first mass-produced charger. It has a model number VCKCJACH and is significantly improved compared to the 150W charger. The charger is compatible with multiple protocols such as 65W PD fast charging. The tipster also shared a photo of the charger. It is seen in White colour. Despite a 160 percent increase in power delivery, the size is similar to the previous generation.

The information shared by Ice Universe is also in line with past reports suggesting that the Realme GT Neo 5 will come equipped with 240W charging. The exact launch timeline of the smartphone remains a mystery. However, it has already been spotted in leaked renders and rumours.

The Realme GT Neo 5 will come with a new design language compared to its predecessor. The back panel sports a dual-toned design with the camera module in Black colour and the rest in White paint job. It has an elongated rectangular island that also houses another vertical rectangular module. The latter is slightly protruding and accommodates two rings. The first one has a primary sensor whereas two lenses are seen in the second circle.

As for the core specifications, the Realme GT Neo 5 is rumoured to come with a 6.7-inch 144Hz display and an integrated fingerprint scanner. Internally, the upcoming offering will be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC and come in 5,000 and 4,600mAh battery variants with support for 150 and 240W charging speed respectively.

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Tesla launches a $300 Cybertruck inspired wireless charger

By

Sean

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Dec 23, 2022

Tesla has just launched a new product earlier today (23rd December 2022). It is a new wireless charger that has its design inspired by the ever elusive Cybertruck. So here are all the details about this product.

As per official notes, “Inspired by the angular design and metallic styling of Cybertruck.” In other words, the known electric vehicle maker has just built a wireless charger that is inspired by its Cybertruck, which hasn’t even be launched yet. This wireless charger will offer a maximum output of 15W and can charge up to three smartphones at the same time. Although it is not limited to just handsets and can even charge other devices that support Qi standard like Apple AirPods.

Talking about its design, the Tesla charging mat can charge up to three devices on its surface. It features an angular design on that charging mat and features an aluminum housing with an alcantara surface and detachable magnetic stand that can be used for charging flat or at an angle. The device features FreePower technology from Aira that enables wireless charging to Qi compatible devices. Funnily enough, this also oddly resembles Apple AirPower, which was another multi device wireless charger.

This model was also capable of charging devices from anywhere on its charging pad surface. As of right now, the Tesla Wireless Charging Platform has been announced for a hefty price tag of just 300 US Dollars. This is by no means an affordable accessory for a simple wireless charging pad but it might interest certain enthusiasts or fans of the Tesla brand.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 14 / 16 laptops with Intel Raptor Lake CPUs announced

By

Sudhanshu

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Dec 23, 2022

Lenovo recently launched a bunch of laptops in its IdeaPad series. The brand also debuted the ThinkVision mini-LED monitors, a 4K Pro webcam, and a wireless keyboard and mouse combo with up to 3 months of battery life.

Just like the recently announced Ideapad Slim 5 laptops that come with AMD chips, Lenovo has also announced the laptops in a large selection of 13th-Gen Intel Raptor Lake CPU. Other than that, the rest of the specs of the laptop remains the same.

Raptor Lake-H processors such as the i7-13700H, i7-13620H, i5-13500H, i5-13420H, and i5-13450H are found in the top-tier IdeaPad Slim 5i laptops. Additionally, there are mid-range variants available with either an i5-1340P or i7-1360P. Lenovo offers ULV CPUs such as the i7-1355U, i5-1335U, and i5-1334U for entry-level variants. Each of the CPUs can be supplemented with up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X memory and up to 1 TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage (only for the 14-inch variants).

Lenovo chose not to incorporate Thunderbolt 4 connectors in these models because of their thin and light design. The port selection, which includes 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (full function), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 1.4 video out, a combination audio jack, and a miniSD card reader, is the same as those of the AMD variants. Also included is a Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.1 card.

The 16-inch laptops, like the AMD variants, come with either a 2.5K IPS display with a 60 Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB color gamut, or an FHD+ IPS display with a 45% NTSC color spectrum. The 14-inch laptops can be fitted with either 2.2K or FHD+ IPS panels, or an FHD+ OLED.

Chassis are available in plastic with 0.7-inch profiles or metal with 0.67-inch profiles. The 16-inch models can weigh up to 4.39 lbs, while the 14-inch versions can weigh up to 3.51 lbs. Variants of the 47, 56.6, and 75.4 Wh batteries are available.

The Intel-based IdeaPad Slim 5i laptops are expected to go on sale in April 2023, with prices for both sizes beginning at €899.

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Upcoming Smartphones: Redmi K60 Series, iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition, and More

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Dec 23, 2022

Though we have reached the end of the year, smartphone releases keep happening. The next week will be the last week of 2022 but still, companies have scheduled phone launches.

Four brands have confirmed to debut new handsets in the coming days. These companies are Honor, Red Magic, iQOO, and Redmi.

Interestingly, all of them are set to introduce devices with high-end chipsets. These phones either fall under flagship killer or gaming categories.

Now, as we are done with the basic introduction, let’s go through all the handsets that are planned to go official in the next few days.

Upcoming Smartphones Next Week

Prev Next

1. Red Magic 8 Pro Series

The Red Magic 8 Pro series is scheduled to launch in China on December 26 (Monday). The conference will start at 3 PM GMT+8 and will be live-streamed on Weibo and other popular Chinese platforms.

The lineup will consist of two models, namely Red Magic 8 Pro and Redmi Magic 8 Pro Plus. The handsets will be almost identical with a few differences.

For instance, the Pro and Pro Plus are expected to house 5,000mAh and 6,000mAh batteries, respectively. The former is said to be limited to 120W charging, while the latter will support up to 165W charging.

These phones are anticipated to come with a 6.8-inch 120Hz OLED display with an under-screen camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, liquid cooling system, cooling fan, RGB lights, 50MP primary camera, up to 1TB storage, and more.

2. Honor 80 GT

The Honor 80 GT is set to launch in China on December 26 (Monday). The event will begin at 7:30 PM GMT+8 and it will be live-streamed on multiple Chinese platforms, including Weibo. The smartphone will be accompanied by a premium tablet called Honor Pad V8 Pro.

According to teasers and leaks, the Honor 80 GT will feature a centered punch-hole OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset paired with a VC cooling system.

The device will arrive with a plastic frame, a 54MP Sony IMX800 primary camera, 66W fast wired charging support, and Android 13-based MagicOS 7.0.

3. Redmi K60 Series

The Redmi K60 series will be unveiled on December 27 (Tuesday) in China. The launch conference will start at 7 PM GMT+8 and will be live-streamed on Weibo and leading Chinese video streaming platforms.

As per leaks and teasers, the series will comprise three models, namely Redmi K60E, Redmi K60, and Redmi K60 Pro. They will be powered by Dimensity 8200, Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips, respectively.

All three phones will sport an OLED display with a high refresh rate. The K60E will boot MIUI 13 based on Android 12, while the K60 and K60 Pro will ship with the latest MIUI 14 based on Android 13.

Last but not least, the Redmi K60 is expected to release as Poco F5 in global markets.

4. iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition

iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition

The iQOO Neo 7 Racing Edition will be made official on December 29 in China. Its launch live stream will begin at 7 PM GMT+8 on popular Chinese video streaming platforms.

Thanks to leaks and official teasers, we know a lot about this forthcoming device. First and foremost, it will come powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus SoC.

Further, it will feature a 6.78-inch 120Hz FHD+ OLED display, a 50MP + 8MP + 2MP triple camera system, a 16MP front-facing camera, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and an IR blaster.

The handset will boot Android 13-based OriginOS. Finally, it will be backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 120W fast wired charging.

Redmi K60 Pro appears on Geekbench with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC – Check performance

By

Sudhanshu

-

Dec 23, 2022

Earlier today, Redmi confirmed that the Redmi K60 series will be launching on December 27. Alongside the launch date confirmation, the brand has also revealed the design of one of the smartphones in the series.

Redmi K60 series first look- — *Redmi K60 series first look*

Now, the Redmi K60 Pro has appeared on Geekbench revealing its performance, while simultaneously confirming some of its specs. Notably, the brand revealed the AnTuTu results of the smartphone today, revealing an impressive score of 1.35 Million.

Geekbench has the device listed with model number 22127RK46C, which we know to be the Redmi K60 Pro. According to the listing, the phone will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC with the “Kalama” motherboard. It has an octa-core processor with a 3.19GHz maximum clock speed. The SoC also includes three efficiency cores running at 2.02GHz and four performance cores clocked at 2.8GHz. This is none other than the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip.

The phone will arrive with 12GB of RAM, according to the listing. Xiaomi should introduce the phone with additional RAM and storage choices. It is also revealed that Android 13 will be pre-installed on the handset. It should have MIUI 14 on top of it.

The phone’s single-core and multi-core tests are also included in the Geekbench listing. In the single-core and multi-core tests, it received 1462 and 5038 respectively. This result is on par with other flagships launching with the new chip, meaning that we can expect top-tier performance from the mid-ranger.

Redmi K60 Pro specifications

The Redmi K60 Pro will include an OLED display with a 2K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage will be included with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered phone. It will have a 5,000mAh battery and support 30W wireless charging in addition to 67W rapid charging.

The device will come preinstalled with an Android 13 OS based on MIUI 14. It might have a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 primary camera for photography. It will have a fingerprint scanner embedded in the display.

The Dimensity 8200 will undoubtedly be found in the Redmi K60e. Most likely, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 will be found in the K60. In areas outside of China, it’s possible that the K60 will be a rebranded POCO F5 5G.

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Reliance Jio Launches New INR 749 Prepaid Plan in India

By

Chandan

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Dec 23, 2022

Online, there are solid rumours that Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio’s tariff plans may increase its price. According to reports, prices will increase in 2023, presumably as a result of the country’s recent adoption of 5G network technology. Anyway, in the midst of all of this, Reliance Jio has unexpectedly introduced a new INR 749 prepaid plan across the nation. The new plan, which offers up to 90 days of validity, is available to all prepaid customers nationwide.

The new plan offers 180GB of total internet access, or up to 2GB each day, for the duration of the service. The plan also includes access to Jio apps like JioTV, JioCinema, JioCloud, and JioSecurity, as well as unlimited phone and SMS services. The plan will be valid for 90 days after the activation or recharge date. In essence, the telecom provider took its current INR 719 plan and increased its validity to 90 days; as a result, the cost increased to INR 749. The recently unveiled plan appears to be relatively cost-effective.

So that’s all there is to say about Reliance Jio’s recently unveiled prepaid plan. The plan is now active in the country, and customers can recharge their phone numbers with the brand-new plan through any authorised partner or store. Depending on the telecom operator, the new plan will be activated after recharging in a matter of seconds or it may take a little longer. What do you think of the new plan? Please tell us in the comments section.

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Nubia Z50 Smartphone Goes On Sale In China; Price Starts At 2,999 Yuan ($430)

By

Jeet

-

Dec 23, 2022

A few days ago, ZTE-backed Nubia announced its new Z-series smartphone — Nubia Z50 and soon after that, the company also started taking pre-orders for the device in China.

Now, the Nubia Z50 smartphone is officially available for purchase in the Chinese market. Those who pre-ordered the smartphone will get a one-year extended warranty, six months of broken screen insurance, and unlimited battery replacement for one year.

The base model of the Nubia Z50 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is priced at 2,999 yuan (~$430), while the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage model cost 3,399 yuan (~$487). The 12GB RAM and 256GB model has a price tag of 3,699 yuan (~$530), while the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage model is priced at 3,999 yuan (~$573).

There’s also a top-end model in the lineup with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage that carries a price tag of 5,999 yuan, which roughly converts to $859. It smartphone is being offered in three color options — White, Black, and Green Leather.

As for the specifications, the Nubia Z50 features a 6.67-inch curved AMOLED Full HD+ display with a screen resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, 10-bit color depth, and up to a 144Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, coupled with LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage.

In the camera department, there’s a dual-camera setup on the back that features a 64-megapixel Sony IMX787 primary camera sensor with f/1.6 aperture and OIS support and a 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN1 sensor with a 116° ultra-wide lens and autofocus support for macro shots. On the front side, the phone features a 16-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The smartphone runs the Android 13 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own MyOS 13 custom interface on top. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging.

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