Garmin Venu Sq 2 series smartwatches have been launched in the US. The lineup comprises a regular variant and a Music Edition. Both devices are identical to each other in terms of core specifications. The only difference between them is that the Music Edition offers offline music playback and WiFi connectivity. Read on to know what the Garmin Venu Sq 2 series offers out of the box.
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 and Venu Sq 2 Music Edition feature a squarish dial and comes in 40, 43, and 45mm sizes. There are two physical buttons on the right side. The smartwatches offer a 1.41-inch AMOLED display bearing a resolution of 320 x 360 pixels. The Garmin Venu Sq 2 series has a fibre-reinforced polymer case and Gorilla Glass 3. It is water-resistant up to 5 meters.
Talking about health and fitness features, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 series is equipped with a heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, all-day stress, sleep, menstrual cycle tracker, and body battery energy monitor. The wearable devices come pre-loaded with more than 25 indoor and outdoor sports. Users can also create their own workouts from more than 1,600 exercises. The Garmin Venu Sq 2 duo also feature built-in GPS and support contactless payments via Garmin Pay.
The Garmin Ven Sq 2 series offer safety and tracking features allowing users to send a message with their live location to pre-selected contacts if they need any assistance when paired with the smartphone. Other convenient features on the smartwatches include notifications for email, texts, and other apps. The Venu 2 Sq Music Edition comes with built-in WiFi and is capable of storing 500 songs onboard through Spotify Deezer, and Amazon Music.
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 series is claimed to offer up to 12 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 26 hours under GPS-GNSS mode.
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 comes in Shadow Grey, Cream Gold, and Cool Mint colours and is priced at $249.99. Meanwhile, the Venu Sq 2 Music Edition costs $299.99and is available in Black, Slate, Ivory, Peach Gold, Grey and Cream Gold. Both smartwatches are available for purchase in the US from Garmin’s official website.
Following multiple leaks and rumors regarding the smartwatch, Amazfit has officially debuted the GTS 4. The GTS 4 joins the GTS 4 Mini and GTR 4 as Amazfit’s latest smartwatches, which were unveiled at IFA 2022 in Berlin. The GTS 4 Mini, by the way, is the largest of Amazfit’s fourth-generation smartwatches. The GTS 4 has a 1.75-inch AMOLED display, but the GTR 4 and GTS 4 Mini have 1.43-inch and 1.65-inch displays, respectively.
Amazfit also says that the GTS 4 would last up to a week between charges. The GTS 4 uses Amazfit’s new BioTracker 4.0 PPG optical sensor and includes dual-band GPS, just like the GTR 4. Amazfit, on the other hand, pre-installs Zepp OS 2.0, Amazfit’s in-house operating system.
The GTS 4 is available in Autumn Brown, Infinite Black, Misty White, and Rosebud Pink. To compare, all but the Infinite Black variant have a gold chassis. To complement its black watch band, Infinite Black variant has a dark grey chassis.
Amazfit GTS 4 Mini
The GTS 4 will first be available in Germany and Poland, according to Amazfit, with a pre-sale event slated for September 2. However, the smartwatch will not be available for purchase until September 12 in Germany and September 16 in the rest of Europe. Furthermore, Amazfit is evasive about the smartwatch’s availability in other nations. Currently, the business has announced that the GTS 4 will be available in France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom “from mid-September through October.” The GTS 4 should be released in additional undisclosed nations and locations as well.
The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini features a 1.65-inch AMOLED display. It is the first model in the GTS 4 series and has a 0.1-inch larger AMOLED panel than the GTS 2 Mini. The screen also has Always-on display technology. The display bends into the smartwatch’s frame, and there is only one physical button on the smartwatch. Smartwatch Amazfit GTS 2 Mini
The watch also has health and fitness tracking, such as heart rate and SpO2, as well as over 120 sports modes. The smartwatch is powered by a 270mAh battery that can last up to 15 days. When in battery saver mode, the device’s battery may last up to 45 days, which is quite outstanding.
The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini is available in the Eurozone (starting with Germany) for €99.99, which is €100 less expensive than the newly launched GTR 4 and GTS 4. According to Amazfit, the smartwatch will be released in other countries soon, though no date has been provided. The smartwatch comes in four colorways – Flamingo Pink, Midnight Black, Mint Blue, and Moonlight White.
pTron Force X10 smartwatch has launched in India today. The homegrown brand has expanded its range of smartwatches with the latest offering. The Force X10 is an affordable offering priced under Rs 2,000. It packs a host of features along with a Bluetooth calling function. Read on to know what the device offers out of the box.
The pTron Force X10 comes with a square dial and a 1.7-inch display bearing an HD resolution. It is equipped with an alloy metal casing and is IP68 certified water-resistant. There is a button on the right side of the device.
The pTron Force X10 is equipped with heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, and sleep tracker. It packs support for 8 workout modes and is also capable of tracking sedentary reminder. The wearable device can also track calories, steps, and distance travelled.
The pTron Force X10 also offers convenient features including Bluetooth calling, remote camera and music control, shake function to click picture, raise and wake, weather updates, alarms, social notifications, and more. The smartwatch supports Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and is powered by a 200mAh battery unit that is claimed to offer 5 days of battery life with three hours of charging.
The pTron Force X10 carries a special launch price tag of Rs 1,499. It will go on sale from Amazon starting September 4th and the first 100 customers can avail the smartwatch at Rs 99 only. The device is offered in Glam Black, Pure Black, Space Blue & Suede Pink colours
POCO has announced that it will launch two new budget-oriented smartphones on September 6th. These are the POCO M5 and the POCO M5s. The M5 will launch globally while the M5s will only debut in the Indian market. So, let’s take a look at what we know so far about these upcoming devices.
POCO M5 specs & features
The POCO M5 will be a sleek-looking device with curved edges and a shiny black camera module with three lens cutouts and an LED flash. The rest of the back features a leather-like texture.
POCO M5
According to leaks, the device will be offered in Black, Yellow, Blue, and Green color options. Coming to specs, the POCO M5 is confirmed to feature the new MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. This chip is based on TSMC’s 6nm node and has an octa-core processor with two cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores with a maximum frequency of 2GHz.
Other than that, the device is expected to feature a 6.58-inch LDC display with FHD+ resolution. A 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging is also expected. It might have a side-facing fingerprint sensor for security and will likely run MIUI 13 based on Android 12.
POCO M5s specs & features
The POCO M5s is said to be a rebranded Redmi Note 10S. Based on this assumption, the device will likely feature a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, 386 ppi pixel density, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
Under the hood, we can expect the Helio G96 SoC paired with LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. The smartphone will sport a quad-camera configuration consisting of a 64MP main, an 8MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. The front-facing camera will be 13 MP.
Other features could include twin stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone connector, a dedicated MicroSD card slot, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, an IP53 rating, a 5,000mAh battery, and support for 33W rapid charging.
Both the POCO M5 and the M5s are rumored to feature 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. The M5 is expected to cost EUR 189 for the 64GB storage model while the 128GB model is said to cost EUR 209. The M5s model is rumored to start at EUR 229 and the 128GB model could cost EUR 249.
Leica, the globally renowned photography brand, recently announced the Leica Cine 1 – an ultra-short throw (UST) laser projector, which the brand calls a laser TV, and the brand claims to have revolutionized the future of television.
Leica Cine 1 Projector
In collaboration with Hisense, Leica launched the Leica Cine 1 at the annual 2022 IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin. And before we get into the specifics of the Leica Cine 1, here’s the pricing of the Leica Cine 1.
The Leica Cine 1 will be available in 80-inch and 100-inch setups. The Leica Cine 1 projector will set you back around 6900 USD for the 80-inch projector unit, and 7900 USD for the 100-inch projector unit. As for the screen, Leica is selling its exclusive ambient light rejection (ALR) screens that are compatible with the Leica Cine 1 at 1600 USD and 1800 USD for the 80-inch and 100-inch screens respectively.
However, users can still opt for third-party projector screens as well, but Leica recommends users that its Leica Cine 1 UST laser projector be paired with its ambient light rejection (ALR) screens for the best viewing experience. So if you were to have the full 100-inch Leica Cine 1 setup, it will cost you a total of 9700 USD to own this “laser TV”.
So what makes the Leica Cine 1 cost almost 10 thousand dollars? And should you get one yourself?
Leica Cine 1
The Leica Cine 1 is a UST projector with a triple RGB laser as a light source and an integrated TV tuner. The technology which Leica calls Laser TV, will fundamentally change the television display market according to the brand. Leica claims that according to market experts, the new technology will quickly establish itself in the range of display sizes from 80 inches.
The Leica Cine 1 enters the market as a large-scale TV and home cinema alternative. With brilliant picture quality in 4K resolution, but significantly lower consumption values at the same time compared to traditional LED televisions, consumers will be able to have a real home cinema experience in the comfort of their own living room in the future with display sizes up to 140 inches.
At its core is the projection system with triple RGB laser technology has a sophisticated optical system manufactured in accordance with Leica’s optics expertise and high standards. The system will be available in 2100 to 2500 ANSI lumens of brightness and can refresh up to 60Hz.
Leica claims that the Leica Cine 1 laser TV can last more than 25,000 hours in a single continuous session. In terms of the sound system, this laser TV has 2 built-in 20W speakers and supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus.
Ports-wise, the Leica Cine 1 has three HDMI slots (one HDMI 2.1 port with eARC), one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0, a built-in TV tuner, and a Common Interface slot.
The Leica Cine 1 will be available for sale in Europe starting Q2 2023, meanwhile, a release for China and the US is slated for Q3 2023 and Q4 2023 respectively.
Motorola India recently confirmed that it will be holding a launch event on Sept. 8 in India. On the specified date, it may announce up to three devices. Rumors are rife that the Lenovo-owned brand may unveil as many as three devices, such as the Edge 30 Ultra, Edge 30 Fusion, and Edge 30 Neo. Ahead of the launch, the Edge 30 Ultra has bagged approval from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in India.
As can be seen in the screenshot shared by tipster Abhishek Yadav, the Edge 30 Ultra, which has an XT2241-2 model number, has appeared in the database of BIS authority. As usual, the BIS listing has not revealed any information about the device. However, its mere appearance at BIS is a good hint that it will be launched soon in the country.
The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is the world’s first smartphone to feature a 200-megapixel camera. It appears that it will be landing on Sept. 8 as India’s first 200-megapixel camera phone. The specifications of the device are no secret since it is believed to be a rebranded version of the Moto X30 Pro, which went official in China last month.
Motorola Edge 30 Ultra specifications (rumored)
The Edge 30 Ultra will house a 6.7-inch OLED curved edge display that offers a Full HD+ resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a 144Hz refresh rate. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, up to 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 512 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It will pack a 5,000mAh battery that supports 125W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.
For selfies, the Edge 30 Ultra will offer a 60-megapixel front-facing camera. Its back panel will feature a 200-megapixel main camera with OIS support, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera. For security, it will feature an in-screen fingerprint scanner.
The last couple of weeks has been slow in terms of smartphone launches. This is going to change next week as multiple big announcements are scheduled to happen.
Five brands have confirmed to hold launch events next week. They are Poco, Xiaomi, Huawei, Apple, and Motorola.
Out of all companies, the last three will debut premium handsets. Whereas, the first two will announce budget models.
The Poco M5 will be a new device, whereas the Poco M5s will be a rebranded Redmi Note 10S. Both of them will be announced in a live stream at 8 PM GMT+8 on September 5.
The M5 is said to come with a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, 6.58-inch FHD+ display (LCD), 5,00mAh battery, and 33W fast charging support.
Whereas, the M5s is expected to arrive with a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, MediaTek Helio G96 SoC, 64MP main camera, dual stereo speakers, 5,000mAh battery, and 33W fast charging support.
2. Redmi 11 Prime 5G
Redmi Note 11E
The Redmi 11 Prime is set to launch in India at 12 PM IST on September 6. This phone is a rebranded Redmi Note 11E, which also goes by Redmi 10 5G in Southeast Asia.
The handset is expected to come with a 6.58-inch 90Hz FHD+ display (LCD), MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip, 50MP main camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 5,000mAh battery, and 18W wired charging support.
3. Huawei Mate 50 Series
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
The Huawei Mate 50 series is scheduled to go official on September 6. It will be announced at an event, which will be live-streamed from 2:30 PM CST.
The Mate 50 lineup is rumored to include four models, namely Mate 50, Mate 50 Pro, Porsche Design Mate 50 RS, and Mate 50E. The first three devices are said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, while the last one is tipped to house a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC.
Either way, all of them will be limited to 4G connectivity. The series is expected to offer up to 66W fast wired charging support and a variable aperture camera.
4. Apple iPhone 14 Series
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Apple has scheduled its annual fall event for September 7 at 10 AM PT. The company is expected to debut the iPhone 14 series.
The iPhone 14 lineup is tipped to include four models. They are iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max (or Plus), iPhone Pro, and iPhone Pro Max. As you can see, there will be no Mini as it will be replaced by the new Max or Plus.
Major upgrades are only expected for the Pro models. The expensive iPhones are said to offer a high-resolution camera, a new chipset, and a redesigned notch.
5. Motorola Edge 30 Series
Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
Motorola has confirmed to unveil new Edge series smartphones on September 8. The Lenovo-owned brand is expected to debut three devices, namely Edge 30 Ultra, Edge 30 Fusion, and Edge 30 Neo.
The Ultra and Fusion will be rebranded Moto X30 Pro and Moto S30 Pro, respectively. Whereas, the Neo will be a new device.
The Ultra will be the first globally available smartphone with a 200MP main camera. On the other hand, Fusion and Neo will be lifestyle smartphones.
Vivo has recently unveiled the Vivo Y22s smartphone in Vietnam. Leaked information that surfaced in the previous month revealed that the company also plans to launch the standard Vivo Y22. It has also been spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking site. A new report by My Smart Price has revealed the specifications of the device.
Vivo Y22 specifications (rumored)
The publication, which cites tipster Paras Guglani as its source, claims that the Vivo Y22 will be equipped with a 6.5-inch display that offers a Full HD+ resolution. In all likelihood, it will be equipped with an LCD panel.
Vivo Y22 leaked shot by My Smart Price
As it was in its Geekbench listing, the Vivo Y22 will feature the Helio G85 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. It will offer users 64 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for more storage. The Geekbench appearance also revealed that the device runs on the Android 12 OS. For smoother performance, while launching apps, the Y22 will offer the virtual RAM feature.
For photography, the device will offer a 50-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel auxiliary camera on the back. For selfies, it will be equipped with an 8-megapixel snapper. It will be backed by a 5,000mAh battery. The leak has no information on the fast-charging capabilities of the device.
Vivo Y22 price, launch timeframe (rumored)
The above-mentioned specifications suggest that the Vivo Y22 will be priced at around Rs 12,000 (~$150) in India. It is speculated that the device will go official by next week in the country. It will be made available in Starlight Blue and Green colors.
TECNO Launches its first ever Laptop the Megabook T1. After its success in the smartphone industry, the Global consumer brand TECNO is now getting into the laptop segment. Today at the IFA 2022, Berlin, the company unveiled its first-ever laptop the Megabook T1. This newest addition to TECNO’s AIoT ecosystem is designed to cater to the needs of the ever-evolving Generation Z. And as such the laptop comes with a lightweight and robust form factor and stylish design backed by a plethora of colors to choose from.
Megabook T1 features a dual-tone finish with multiple shiny strips running across, which the company calls the Startrail Phantom. The body is made with aluminum metal, giving it a premium look and glossy finish. The ultrathin and lightweight laptop measures just 14.8mm and weighs 1.4kgs which is lighter than most of the 15-inch laptops available.
Megabook T1 is powered by the Intel Core i5 -1157G processor. However, you also have the option of choosing an upgraded Intel Core i7 processor. The laptop comes with two memory options viz. 8GB RAM + 512GB SSD storage and 16GB RAM + 1TB SSD storage. Fueled with a massive 70Wh battery the laptop gives you up to 17 hours of non-stop battery life and comes with a 65W GaN charger that is 400 times faster and 100 times lighter than contemporary laptop chargers. This means you can easily carry your Megabook T1 for work, study, and travel without worrying about its battery life and bulkiness.
Megabook T1 features a 15.6 inch IPS Full HD display that uses 100% sRGB and comes with TUV eye comfort certification, 350nits brightness, and DC adaptive dimming. This means you get a fluid display that gives you a great visual experience, accurate color, and image projection and protects your eye from harmful blue light and retinal damage.
To enhance your audio experience, Megabook T1 uses the indigenously developed TECNO VOC sound system that combines AI tech with Tecno audio lab and DTS immersive sound. By using the self-made VOC technology, users can enjoy superior audio quality while watching movies and listening to music. Furthermore fitted with AI and ENC-enabled dual mics, the laptop can easily access the priority sounds and reduce the background noise within 5 meters.
Megabook T1 runs the latest Windows 11 OS and comes with 9 connectivity hubs for external device transmission. Other interesting features include a 2MP HP camera with privacy shade, a power button with fingerprint unlock sensor, Bluetooth v5.0, TECNO Link for wireless transmission to techno phones, a backlit keyboard, and more.
Megabook T1 is all set to retail in the third quarter of 2022. For more information, you can check out their official website.
At the IFA 2022 event, Honor launched a slew of new devices, such as the Honor 70 5G, Honor X8 5G, Honor Choice Earbuds X, and Honor Pad 8 tablet. The Chinese manufacturer has also unveiled another tablet named the Honor Pad X8 Lite. Here is all the information on the specifications, features, and price of the device.
Honor Pad X8 Lite specifications and features
The Honor Pad X8 Lite measures 7.55mm in thickness and weighs 460 grams. It is fitted with a 9.7-inch LCD panel that produces a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It boots to the Android 12 OS with Magic UI 6.1 on top, which allows users to run up to four windows on one screen through the multi-window speaker.
Honor Pad X8 Lite
On the front, it has a 2-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls. Its back panel has a 5-megapixel snapper without a flash. The device carries support for Histen Audio and comes equipped with dual speakers.
The tablet is powered by the Helio G80 chipset and has 3 GB / 4 GB of RAM. It offers 32 GB of native storage and a microSD card slot. It houses a 5,100mAH battery, which seemingly supports 10W charging.
On the connectivity front, the Honor Pad X8 Lite comes with support dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, and a USB-C port. It lacks a SIM card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Honor Pad X8 Lite price and availability
The Honor Pad X8 Lite will be available for purchase in global markets very soon. However, the company is yet to confirm the price of the tablet.
Nokia unveiled a slew of products yesterday including the Nokia X30 5G, G60 5G, C31 smartphones, and T21 tablet. Both the Nokia C31 and T21 slate come with 3.5mm audio jacks but the good old audio jack was missing on the Nokia X30 and C60. To make up for that, the company equally announced two new wireless audio devices.
The Nokia Clarity Earbuds 2 Pro is a TWS headset featuring hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and Fast Pair. The buds are equipped with 13mm neodymium drivers. The case is made of 100% post-consumer recycled materials, and the packaging is made of recycled materials as well.
The pair can each last up to 7 hours of playtime while ANC is turned on. The playtime can be extended to 9 hours when ANC is turned off. But with the charging case, the overall playback time is 28 hours with ANC turned on and 36 hours when ANC is turned off. The charging case crams a 500mAh battery that takes about 2 hours to fully recharge the buds’ 60mAh battery via a USB-C port.
On its part, the Nokia Portable Wireless Speaker 2 supports Bluetooth 5.1 and may be connected to two devices at once for stereo playback. It’s a tough little speaker with an IPX7 rating, and it’s also eco-friendly: the enclosure is made entirely of post-consumer waste, and the mesh is made entirely of recycled aluminum.
The speaker contains a single 5W (45mm) driver and a 1,200mAh battery, which allows for 22 hours of continuous listening. USB-C is used for charging. The speaker is 90 x 90 x 74mm in size and weighs 225g.
Later this month, Nokia Clarity Earbuds 2 Pro and Portable Wireless Speaker 2 will be available in select markets. The buds will cost €100 ($100/8,000), while the speaker will cost €55 ($55/4,400).
Last year in September, Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 11T series of smartphones. Hence, it appears that the 12T lineup may debut later this month in the global market. Ahead of the expected launch, tipster Abhishek Yadav has shared a leaked image of the Xiaomi 12T Pro. The same image also gives a good look at the alleged Redmi Pad, which will be Redmi’s first-ever tablet.
Xiaomi 12T Pro
In the leaked image, the Xiaomi 12T Pro can be seen sporting a 200-megapixel triple camera unit. Rumors are rife that the main snapper will be coupled with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The back panel of the phone has curved edges. A volume controller and a power button can be seen on the right side of the 12T Pro.
Xiaomi 12T Pro, Redmi Pad leaked image
Reports have revealed that the Xiaomi 12T Pro will be a modified version of the Redmi K50 Ultra, which was announced in China last month. Hence, the 12T Pro is likely to feature a 6.67-inch OLED display on the front with a centrally positioned punch-hole. It should be able to handle a resolution of 1.5K (1220 x 2712 pixels) and a refresh rate of 120Hz.
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 will power the Xiaomi 12T Pro. It may ship with 12 GB of LPDDDR5 RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The device may lack features like a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack. It will run on Android 12 OS with MIUI 13 on top. The 12T Pro may pack a 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging.
Redmi Pad
The Redmi Pad is said to be a mid-range offering from the brand. The device has a flat back with an 8-megapixel camera without a flash. A power button is placed on the top of the device, whereas its left side has a volume rocker. Rumors are rife that it has an 11-inch 2K display, Android 12 OS, a new MediaTek MT8781 chip, and a 7,800mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging.
Redmi is gearing up to launch the Redmi 11 Prime 5G on September 6th in the Indian market. Now, the company has revealed that another device called the Redmi 11 Prime 4G will also be launching on September 6th.
The device has appeared on Amazon via a microsite revealing its design and some key specifications, so let’s check them out.
The device is called the Redmi 11 Prime 4G and features a textured curved back design with a rectangular camera module. The device will have flat edges, with the volume rocker and power button+fingerprint sensor on the right side. Up front, the device features thick bezels and a water-drop notch.
The Redmi 11 Prime 4G will feature the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset based on TSMC’s 6nm node. It will have an octa-core processor with two cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores with a maximum frequency of 2GHz. Other than that, it is revealed that the device has a 50MP primary camera on the rear and a 5000mAh battery unit. The Redmi 11 Prime is expected to offer a 90Hz display panel.
In July, Xiaomi launched its latest flagship device, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra exclusively in the Chinese market. The device was highly praised by reviewers for its camera performance. Now, a couple of months after the launch, the device has finally gone through the DxOMark camera testing. So, let’s check out the results.
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra has managed to take fifth place on DxOMark’s global rankings for smartphone cameras. It has scored 138 points in the test, knocking iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max out of the top 5, both of which have 137 points.
The device is praised for its excellent overall image quality in most use cases, and its versatility, offering two different image signatures for users to choose from. Low light imaging is also a strong point, with the camera offering a wide dynamic range in night mode. The ultra-wide and zoom cameras provide excellent images at all distances, particularly long-range. The camera also has an excellent performance in video mode, offering extended dynamic range, natural texture rendering, and good exposure.
All that said, the camera sometimes lacks consistency, resulting in disparities among images, even sometimes between consecutive shots. Also, the preview does not always match the final captured image. Other than that, the camera struggles with very challenging light situations like highly contrasted scenes.
In the first half of 2022, Vivo announced the Vivo X Fold as its first foldable phone. Several reports have claimed that the Chinese manufacturer is working on a new foldable phone, which could be called the Vivo X Fold S. Today, well-known tipster Digital Chat Station tipped the camera configurations of the device. The tipster added, in the same Weibo post, that the device could be renamed the Plus model. Hence, it appears that Vivo’s next foldable could be called the Vivo X Fold Plus.
Vivo X Fold Plus specifications (rumoured)
According to the source, the Vivo X Fold Plus’s rear camera setup will include a 50-megapixel camera. The main snapper will be accompanied by a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 12-megapixel portrait camera with 2x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel periscope lens with 5x optical zoom. For selfies, the device will be equipped with a 16-megapixel front camera.
Vivo X Fold
The leaked camera specs of the Vivo X Fold S show that it will have the same set of cameras that were made available on the Vivo X Fold. The device will draw power from a 4,700mAh dual-cell battery and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset.
The X Fold Plus, according to the tip, will have a longer battery life than the X Fold, which has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and a 4,600 mAh battery. The Plus model should support 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging when it comes out.
The device is likely to feature an 8.03-inch inner foldable AMOLED LTPO display, which may support a 2K resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. On the outside, it may house a 6.53-inch 120Hz AMOLED cover display. Both displays are said to be equipped with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner. Lastly, the device is tipped to arrive in a red paintjob, which will have a leather finish. In all likelihood, the X Fold Plus will debut this month in China.
The Mi Mix Fold is Xiaomi’s first foldable smartphone. It was announced at the end of March 2021 and was made available for purchase in mid-April. Just like the current-gen Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, its predecessor is not sold outside mainland China.
The handset debuted with Android 11. Now, almost a year and a half after its release, the device is finally receiving the Android 12 update.
Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold
The latest software update for the Mi Mix Fold 2 arrives with build number V13.1.1.0.SJTCNXM. According to the official changelog, the update bumps up the Android version to 12 and the security patch level to August 2022.
The device is currently on MIUI 13, which is the latest version of Xiaomi’s Android skin at the moment. MIUI 13 was released for the phone in late April.
Since the beginning, the Mi Mix Fold has been receiving software updates slower than Xiaomi’s other handsets. But it did get an update in October with the longest changelog in MIUI history. This particular software update provided improvements and features based on the feedback from the actual users of the phone.
In December, a report suggested that the Mi Mix Fold might not receive new MIUI updates. Fortunately, that turned out to be false. However, it’s not known whether the smartphone will be upgraded to Android 13 or at least Android 12L in the future.
Xiaomi announced its first commercial foldable in the market back in 2021, the Xiaomi Mix Fold. The phone was the company’s first attempt at this emerging form factor and did a pretty decent job of delivering a foldable experience. However, the phone was not perfect, with a visible crease on the internal display as well as an unusual resolution on both the foldable and cover displays. Not to mention the phone was really thick at 17.2mm in its foldable state.
More than a year later, the brand is out with a new generation of foldable, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2. The phone improves on basically every aspect of its predecessor, now coming in a compact form factor with the same sized displays, better resolution matching industry standards, and the latest Qualcomm processor.
So let’s take a look at the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 vs Xiaomi Mix Fold comparison and see how much of an upgrade the new device brings to the table.
Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 2 vs Xiaomi Mix Fold
Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 vs Mix Fold
SPECS TABLE
Design
The Mix Fold 2 and the Mix Fold come with similar-sized displays on the outside as well as the inside. However, what’s commendable is that the dimensions on the new model have slimmed down considerably.
The Mix Fold 2 measures 161.1 x 144.7 x 5.4mm in its unfolded, open state which is way more compact than the Fold’s dimensions of 173.3 x 133.4 x 7.6 mm. Even in its folded state, the previous generation model is wider and slimmer (161.1 x 73.9 x 11.2mm vs 173.3 x 69.8 x 17.2mm). Finally, the weight has also reduced drastically from the Mix Fold’s 332 grams to a Galaxy Fold4-like 262g weight on the Mix Fold 2.
You don’t have a ceramic option like the original Mix Fold model but given the considerable drop in weight, it might be for the better. The wider profile of the cover display definitely makes it feel like a regular smartphone, unlike the narrow display on the original Fold.
Overall, when it comes to the form factor, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 is miles ahead of the Mix Fold, with lighter, slimmer, and industry-standard sizing.
Display
Despite its reduced form factor, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 boasts almost the exact same screen size as its predecessor. On the outside, the phone features a 120Hz HDR10+ 8-inch 1914 x 2160 pixel resolution display (LTPO2) with school UTG glass. The cover screen comes with a 6.56-inch 120Hz panel with a 21:9 aspect ratio and HDR10+. As you can see, these resolutions are very close to standard smartphone resolutions, making it very easy to adjust to its unique form factor.
In comparison, the original Mix Fold comes with the same screen sizes on the front and the back with both featuring HDR10+ and Dolby Vision screens. However, its foldable display features a resolution of 1860 x 2480 pixels while the cover display features an even weirder resolution of 840 x 2520 pixels which translates to a 27:9 ratio. Note that the cover display is limited to 90Hz resolutions as compared to 120Hz on the Mix Fold 2.
Both foldables feature a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Specs & Software
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 gets the biggest update in the processor department, featuring the Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 chip, which is faster and more efficient than the one found inside the original Mi Mix Fold. To recall, the original Fold comes with the Snapdragon 888 chip, which was the flagship SoC of 2021.
Xiaomi went all out in terms of memory configuration for its original foldable. The phone came with up to 512GB ROM and 16GB of RAM. On the other hand, the new Mix Fold 2 maxes out at 12GB RAM but with up to 1TB of storage.
In terms of software, the Mix Fold 2 runs on the newer Android 12-based MIUI Fold 13 OS. The original Mix Fold started off with Android 10-based MIUI 12. But it is expected to receive MIUI 13 in the coming months. Both phones have features tweaked to take full advantage of their foldable form factor. While the original Mix Fold started off with limited foldable UI tweaks, subsequent updates have added a bunch of foldable-specific features to the device.
Camera
Both foldables have good camera setups. However, the new Mix Fold 2 brings Leica-based optimizations to its camera module. The Mix Fold 2 starts off with a 50MP f/1.8 primary camera featuring OIS, another 8MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 13MP Ultra Wide shooter.
The original Mix had an even larger resolution primary camera, a 108MP shooter paired with a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and the same 13MP Ultra Wide shooter as the Mix Fold 2.
On the front, both generations feature the same 20MP selfie camera.
While the Mix Fold 2 features a solid camera setup, powered by a new chip that should enable better image processing, the original Mix Fold’s camera setup is actually pretty good too. Only a real-life comparison would help us identify the better cameras among these two phones.
Battery
Surprisingly, the original Mix Fold had a larger battery than the new generation model. It featured a 5000mAh battery with 67W fast charging, which is the same charging speed as found on the new Mix Fold 2. However, the new generation model reduces the battery capacity to 4500mAh, likely due to its slimmer and lighter profile.
Unfortunately, both phones lack wireless charging support, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold series.
Price
Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 2 starts around 8,999 yuan (~$1,335) for the base 256GB storage., while Xiaomi Mix Fold can be bought as low as $1000 right now. Given that the Xiaomi foldable is a brand new device, it’s pretty expensive to buy globally and retails for around $1700 via Giztop.
There’s no doubt that the Mix Fold 2 is a way superior foldable, even one of the best options for a foldable in the 2022 market. However, it does come at a cost internationally, and if you can get the original Mix Fold for less than $1000, it might actually be a tempting offer.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 vs Xiaomi Mix Fold: PRO and CONS
Google Chrome is currently the most popular web browser in the world by a mile. The Google browser’s support for different extensions that help increase productivity and user experience is one of the reasons for its popularity.
Now, a new report from McAfee states that four Google Chrome extensions were stealing users’ browsing data. Over 1.4 million people have downloaded these five extensions. These extensions include Netflix Party, Netflix Party 2, Full Page Screenshot Capture – Screenshotting, and AutoBuy Flash Sales.
Among these, Netflix Party and Netflix Party 2 were the most downloaded of the five extensions. These extensions enable users to watch shows or movies on Netflix together even when they are in different locations by syncing the videos. Netflix Party has over 800,000 downloads, whereas Netflix Party 2 Chrome Extension has over 300,000 downloads.
According to the report, these extensions loaded a multipurpose script that transfers browsing data to an attacker-controlled domain. Every time a user visits a new URL, their browsing data is transferred to this domain. The data includes the user ID, device location, nationality, zip code, and an encoded referral URL. They use this in order to insert code into eCommerce websites that are being visited. This operation alters the site’s cookies so that the extension creators receive affiliate payment for any products purchased.
The Chrome Web Store has removed Netflix Play, Netflix Play 2, and AutoBuy Flash Sales extensions. The other extensions, on the other hand, are still available for download.
A couple of months ago, Huawei launched its new Nova-series smartphones in the form of Huawei Nova 10 and Nova 10 Pro in the Chinese market as a successor to the company’s Nova 9 series smartphones.
Now, the company is bringing the Huawei Nova 10 and Huawei Nova 10 Pro to the international markets as the phones are set to launch soon in select European countries.
Coming to the specifications, the Nova 10 features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display. On the other hand, the Pro model features a 6.78-inch Full HD+ OLED display with 2652 × 1200 pixels resolution, and both phones offer a 120Hz refresh rate and 20:9 aspect ratio.
Both smartphones come with an in-display fingerprint sensor for added security. The devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 4G processor and pack 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
In the camera department, there’s a 50-megapixel primary camera sensor coupled with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. On the front side, there’s a 60-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.
The smartphones run the company’s own HarmonyOS 2.0 operating system. As for the battery, the Nova 10 is powered by a 4,000mAh battery with 66W fast charging, and the Pro model is powered by a 4,500mAh battery with 100W fast charging.
As for the pricing, the company has not yet revealed pricing details, and it will be different based on the country the phones get launched in, but the standard model should cost around €390 while the Pro model should be priced at around €530.
Last month, Samsung had unveiled the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G smartphone as a successor to the Galaxy A22 5G. It is also a 5G variant of a 4G phone that was launched earlier this year.
Now, the budget smartphone Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is available for purchase in the United States, and the company has set the recommended price at $299.99.
Coming to the specifications, the Galaxy A23 5G features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display with an Infinity-V notch, 2400 x 1080 pixels screen resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security.
In the camera department, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back that includes a 50MP primary camera sensor with OIS support, a 5MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. On the front side, the phone comes with an 8MP snapper for taking selfies and video calling.
The smartphone runs the Android 12 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own One UI 4.1 custom interface on top. The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging.
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is now available for purchase through AT&T and T-Mobile for the price of $299.99 and $312, respectively.
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