Upcoming Smartphones in May 2022: Sony, Samsung, Vivo, OnePlus & more

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May 2, 2022

After having a bucketful of launches last month, we have officially entered May. This month, we are expected to see phone launches from brands like Sony, Samsung, Vivo, OnePlus, and others. Apart from the regular phones, we’ll also see the launch of flagship phones like the Vivo X80 and Xperia 1 IV. So without further ado let’s take a look at all the upcoming smartphones in May 2022.

Upcoming Smartphones in May 2022

1. Vivo T1 Pro/T1 44W

Vivo has already launched the Vivo T1 series in India and it includes the vanilla Vivo T1 5G. Now, the brand will release two more devices dubbed Vivo T1 Pro 5G and Vivo T1 44W version on May 4 in India.

The Vivo T1 Pro 5G will come with an AMOLED panel featuring 1300 nits of peak brightness. It will have a 64MP main lens and will be powered by the Snapdragon 778G SoC. The device will have up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The phone’s battery capacity is unknown, but we do know that it will come with a 66W fast charging support. It will also have an 8-layer liquid cooling system and boot on Android 12 OS.

On the other hand, the Vivo T1 44W will be a 4G smartphone. It will come with an AMOLED panel and will be powered by the Snapdragon 680 SoC. The device will pack a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging support. Lastly, it will run on Android 12 OS out of the box.

2. iQOO Neo6 SE

iQOO Neo6 SE has been scheduled to launch on May 6 in China. The smartphone is expected to come with a 6.62-inch punch-hole display featuring a Full-HD+ resolution. It will be an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1200Hz touch sampling rate, and HD10+ certification.

The smartphone will come with a 64MP primary camera with OIS support. It will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC and pack a 4,700mAh battery. The battery will have 80W fast charging technology.

3. ZTE Axon 40

Next up we have ZTE whose launch is set for May 9 in China. The company is expected to launch the Axon 40, Axon 40 Pro, and Axon 40 Ultra. The series will come with an independent security chip for hardware-level protection.

The Axon 40 Pro will come with a 100-megapixel camera setup, while the Axon 40 Ultra will feature a 64MP triple camera system. On the front, the Ultra is expected to come with a 16MP under-display camera having 2.24μm pixel fusion technology. The series will come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound and dtsX Ultrasound technology. As for performance, it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.

4. Sony Xperia 1 IV

Sony has scheduled a launch event for May 11 where it is expected to launch the Xperia 1 IV. The smartphone is expected to come with a 6.5-inch display with 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It will have Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection and HDR support.

The device will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC paired with 12GB of RAM. It is expected to come with a big 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging support. The camera details of the phone are scarce, however, it is expected to come with a ZEISS branded triple camera system.

5. Vivo X80

Vivo has already launched the X80 series in China. Now, the series will go official in Malaysia on May 8 and in India on May 18. The series comprises the Vivo X80 and Vivo X80 Pro.

The Vivo X80 and X80 Pro come with a similar design. The phones feature a 6.78-inch E5 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1500 nits of peak brightness, and 100% P3 color gamut. The vanilla X80 has an FHD+ resolution screen, whereas, the X80 Pro sports a QHD+ resolution panel.

The X80 has a 50MP IMX866 + 12MP + 12MP triple camera system, whereas, the X80 Pro features a 50MP GNV 1G + 48MP + 12MP + 8MP quad-camera system. Both have 32MP selfie snappers. The X80 is powered by the Dimensity 9000 SoC and houses a 4,500mAh battery, while the X80 Pro packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC with a 4,700mAh cell. The duo has an 80W fast charging support and runs on Android 12 OS out of the box.

6. Samsung Galaxy A13 5G

Samsung’s Galaxy A13 5G has bagged several certifications and its launch is expected as early as this month. The phone’s support page is also live on Samsung’s official website.

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Featured A — Samsung Galaxy A13 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G carries the model number SM-A136B and will feature a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display. It will have a 90Hz refresh rate and an HD+ resolution. The smartphone will come with a 50MP triple camera system and will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC. The device will come in a 4GB RAM + 64GB configuration and will boot on Android 12 OS.

7. OnePlus Nord 2T

Although OnePlus has released multiple phones in different regions last month, the brand still has a few more phones in the pipeline. One such phone expected to arrive this month is the OnePlus Nord 2T. The smartphone will succeed the Nord 2 and is expected to come with some upgraded features.

The smartphone was spotted on a few certifications recently. The device is expected to come with a 50MP primary camera having an aperture of f/1.9. It will have Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) support. The main lens will be accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP depth shooter. On the front, it will have a 32MP selfie snapper.

It is expected to come with MediaTek’s Dimensity 1300 SoC paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. It is expected to come with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging technology.

8. Redmi Note 12

Redmi has started teasing the forthcoming Redmi Note 12 series. The series will likely have the Note 12 and Note 12 Pro. Although the company hasn’t revealed the release date of the series, CEO Lu Weibing has hinted the announcement to happen soon. We expect it to launch as early as this month in China considering the launch trends of the Note series.

This time around, the Note 12 series is said to offer a significant performance jump over its predecessor. However, there’s no detail as to what chipset the phones would board. The design and the camera details are also yet to be known. But, since we are already in May, we expect the series’ teasers to drop in the coming days.

9. Samsung Galaxy A04s

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy A04s this month. The smartphone’s renders have already surfaced on the Internet. The device will be an upgrade to the Galaxy A03s and will have an improved design and specs sheet.

Samsung Galaxy A04s CAD renders by Steve Hemmerstoffer / GizNext

The Samsung Galaxy A04s will come with a new design on the rear while having the same waterdrop notch screen on the front. The smartphone will feature a 6.5-inch display with an HD+ resolution. It will come with a triple camera system on the back is expected to be powered by an entry-level chipset. It will have a 3.5mm headphone jack and is expected to boot on the Android 12 OS.

These are some of the smartphones launching in May. Which device are you most excited about? Do let us know in the comments below.

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Apple Watch SE 2022 leak reveals always-on display, improved processor, and more

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 2, 2022

Apple Watch SE 2022 is speculated to launch this year. The original Watch SE, which debuted in September 2022, is yet to receive an upgrade. However, the 2022 Apple Watch SE may break cover alongside the iPhone 14 lineup in September this year. A new report by iDropNews has revealed the key features that could be present on Apple’s upcoming affordable smartwatch.

Apple Watch SE 2022 design

According to the report, the Apple Watch 2022 will look identical to the 2020 edition. However, there could be some differences that may not be immediately noticeable. Like the original model, it is likely to arrive in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. The device is expected to feature an aluminum build.

Apple Watch SE 2022 specifications, features (rumored)

While there won’t be any major changes in the design of the Watch SE 2022, it is expected to come with a couple of improvements in the hardware department. It is expected to carry support for always-on display technology and a sensor for measuring ECG. However, it is unlikely to feature a blood oxygen sensor.

The older Watch SE is powered by the S5 chipset. The report claims that its 2022 edition will feature a faster S7 processor. The same chip powers the Watch Series 7. It is also tipped to feature a new speaker.

The Watch SE 2022 is likely to offer the same 18-hour battery life as the 2022 model. However, it is expected to carry support for the same fast charging that is available on the Watch Series 7.

Apple Watch SE 2022 price (rumored)

The Watch SE 2022 will be costlier than the original model, which was announced for $279. The report claims that the successor model will be priced at $299. It also states that the Cupertino-based firm is not expecting a production delay. Hence, it is likely to be available with a normal shipping schedule.

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Redmi Pad 5G tablet might launch soon in India, Here’s what we know so far

By

Sudhanshu

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May 2, 2022

Last week, Xiaomi Pad 5 was launched in India with a 10.95-inch WQHD+ and the Snapdragon 860 SoC. Now, its sub-brand Redmi which is rumored to be working on a tablet as well might debut the device in India soon.

According to noted tipster Mukul Sharma, the upcoming tablet dubbed the Redmi Pad 5G will be made available in India. The tipster does not mention an expected launch timeline, so we will likely have to wait a while for more info on the tablet. Interestingly, the tablet was previously tipped back in April 2020 with the same name.

According to the previous report, Redmi Pad 5G features a Snapdragon 765 chipset and a 90Hz refresh rate panel. The device has 30W fast charging support and a 48-megapixel Sony camera on its rear. The previous report also mentions that the device was expected to debut in China for 1,999 Yuan ($302), however, reports on the tablet went cold afterward.

Currently, it is unclear if the Redmi Pad 5G is the same device rumored back in 2020 or a new tablet altogether. We expect to learn more about it in the coming days.

For now, Xiaomi Pad 5 remains a good deal at a price point below ₹30,000 in India. The tablet has a 10.95-inch 2560 x 1600 pixels LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate, 275 PPI pixel density, and 650 nits peak brightness. The screen offers Smart Pen stylus support and incorporates DCI-P3 color gamut and Dolby Vision HDR standard.

Powering the tablet is a Snapdragon 860 chipset with 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The device has a large 8,720mAh battery capable of 33W fast charging and operates in Android 11-based MIUI 13.

For optics, it has a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera. Audio is taken care of by a set of quad speakers with support for Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and Hi-Res Audio Wireless. The device, however, omits the 3.5mm headphone jack, MicroSD card slot, and fingerprint sensor.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 has a starting price of ₹26,999 ($352) in India, but it can be bought for ₹24,999 till May 7th.

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[Deal] Buy Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 for as low as ₹12,824.15

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 2, 2022

Other than the Galaxy Buds Pro, Samsung is also offering an insane discount on the Galaxy Watch 4 in India. The South Korean electronics giant has reduced the price of the 44mm Bluetooth-only variant of the smartwatch by a whopping ₹12,009. Additionally, customers can further lower the price by clubbing other offers.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 44mm Bluetooth model debuted in India at ₹26,999 in late August 2022. Less than a year after its release, the company is now providing this smartwatch at only ₹14,990 on its website and Flipkart. The offer is available for all three colors, namely Black, Silver, and Green.

Purchasing from the Samsung Shop app will get you the best deal. Because customers can apply a ₹500 discount coupon, referral code, and also avail of a 10% instant cashback on almost all debit and credit cards.

Hence, the effective price of the wearable drops down to ₹12,824.15 from ₹14,990. The final price includes a ₹500 coupon discount, a ₹240.95 referral bonus, and a ₹1,424.90 cashback on card transaction.

However, on Flipkart, buyers can only get a ₹1250 discount on SBI credit cards. Hence, the effective price there is higher at ₹13,740.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is currently the only smartwatch in the market with the latest Wear OS 3. It also comes with other interesting features like body composition measurement, sleep coaching, and contactless payment to name a few.

Redmi K50 and K50 Pro gets price cut in China; now starts at 2,349 yuan ($355)

By

Jeet

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May 2, 2022

Xioami had launched the Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro smartphones in the Chinese market last month. Now, just a few weeks after the phones were made available for purchase in China, they have received a price cut.

Both the Redmi K50 and K50 Pro have received a 50 yuan price cut, similar to the Redmi K40S smartphone. With this, the base model of the Redmi K50 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage now starts at 2,349 yuan, which is around $355.

Similarly, the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage model now costs 2,449 yuan (~$371) and the 12GB RAM with 256GB internal storage is priced at 2,649 yuan (~$401).

On the other hand, the Redmi K50 Pro has also received a 50 yuan price cut in China, bringing down the cost of the base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage to 2,949 yuan (~$445). The 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage model is now available for 3,149 yuan, which is about $477.

The 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model of the Redmi K50 Pro is now priced at 3,449 yuan (~$522) while the 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage model costs 3,849 yuan, which is approximately $582.

Both the smartphones feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED QHD+ 120Hz screen. While the K50 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC, the Pro model is powered by the Dimensity 9000 SoC, both of which have LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

The devices are running the latest Android 12 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own MIUI 13 custom user interface on top. The K50 is powered by a 5,500mAh battery with 67W fast charging while the K50 Pro is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging.

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Xiaomi 12 Pro goes on first sale in India- check price, offers & more

By

Sudhanshu

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May 2, 2022

Last week, the Xiaomi 12 Pro made its Indian debut featuring the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and a 50-megapixel triple camera setup. The device has gone on live sale starting today so let’s check out its price and offers.

Xiaomi 12 Pro Indian price & offers

The 12 Pro is available in two variants in the sub-continent. The 8GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration has a price tag of ₹62,999 while the top-spec 12GB RAM + 256GB configuration is priced at ₹66,999. The device is offered in three different colors – Couture Blue, Noir Black, and Olive Mauve.

Coming to offers, customers using an ICICI Bank card are eligible for an instant discount of ₹6,000 on the purchase of the Xiaomi 12 Pro. The brand is also offering an introductory discount of ₹4,000 for a limited time period.

Other than that, users of older Xiaomi and Redmi Note devices can exchange their smartphones for a discount of up to ₹20,000 on a new Xiaomi 12 Pro. You can find out more about the eligible devices for exchange by reading our previous coverage.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro is available for purchase via Mi.com and Amazon India.

Xiaomi 12 Pro specs & features

The latest Xiaomi flagship has a 6.78-inch LTPO E5 AMOLED screen with a 2K (QHD+) resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and a peak brightness of 1500nits. It has a punch hole for the front camera and an in-screen fingerprint scanner for security.

Powering the device is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The device operates on Android 12-based MIUI 13 out of the box and features lightning-fast 120W fast charging for its 4,600mAh capacity battery.

The device features an interesting 50-megapixel triple camera setup with a Sony IMX707 primary camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 50-megapixel portrait camera. On the front, the device houses a 32-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calls.

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iQOO Neo6 SE specifications leaked, here’s what set it apart from the Neo6

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 2, 2022

iQOO will be announcing the iQOO Neo6 SE on May 6 in China. The smartphone is now listed for pre-orders in the home market. The company has been gradually revealing the specifications and key features of the Neo6 SE. Today, tipster Yogesh Brar shared all the main specs of the device to reveal what sets it apart from the Neo6, which debuted in China last month.

iQOO Neo6 SE specifications (rumored)

To begin with, the iQOO Neo6 SE houses a 6.62-inch OLED screen that offers an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It will be an AMOLED E4 panel that offers 10-bit colors, a 1200Hz touch sampling rate, 1,300 nits of brightness, and HDR10+ support. As far as the display design is concerned, it features a centrally positioned punch-hole.

The Snapdragon 870 is confirmed to power the device. The device is expected to arrive with 8 GB / 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB / 256 GB of built-in storage. It will come preinstalled with the Android 12 OS and OriginOS Ocean UI. For security, the device is equipped with an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The Neo6 SE will be packed with a 4,700mAh battery with 80W rapid charging support. It has a 16-megapixel front camera and a 64-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel depth assist lens. It will also feature an X-axis linear motor.

The new leak reveals that the Neo6 and Neo6 SE have identical specs, and they mainly differ in the chipset department. The Neo6 features the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, whereas the Neo6 SE has the SD870, which was announced in May 2021. As far as design goes, the official renders that were released last week show that the Neo6 SE will look a lot like the iQOO Neo6 in terms of how it looks.

RELATED:

Apple iPhone 13 gets up to ₹10,000 discount on Amazon India

By

Sudhanshu

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May 2, 2022

Apple iPhone 13 is available to purchase at the lowest price yet in India. The device made its Indian debut on September 14, 2021, for the starting price of ₹79900.

Now, the iPhone 13 vanilla variant is available to purchase for a starting price of ₹70,900 (128GB model) with the Amazon Summer Sale countdown deal. The offer is available for the next 4 days, after which the price of the device will come back to normal.

The other storage variants of the iPhone 13 are also on sale right now as the 256GB model is being offered with a discount of ₹10,000, bringing its price down to ₹79,900. On the other hand, the top-spec 512GB iPhone 13 which usually retails for ₹1,09,900 in India is currently available for ₹1,03,990.

These offers are available on all the color variants of the iPhone 13, including the Dark Green color option that Apple debuted in March. We would like to remind our readers that iPhone 13 series come without a charging brick included in the box, so if you are a first-time iPhone buyer, you will likely have to shell out an additional ₹1,899 for the Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter.

The iPhone 13 comes with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with 2532×1170p resolution and 460ppi pixel density. It pairs 4GB RAM with the A15 Bionic chipset and is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants. It has a 3,240mAh battery which is said to provide up to 19 hours of video playback.

The device has two 12-megapixel cameras working as the primary and ultrawide lens and on the front, it has another 12-megapixel sensor for selfies and FaceTime.

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[Deal] Buy Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro at only ₹6,291 (61% off)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 2, 2022

Samsung launched the Galaxy Buds Pro alongside the Galaxy S21 series in early 2021. The premium truly wireless earphones from the company were introduced at ₹15,990 in India. A little over a year after its release, the audio accessory is now available at a whopping 61% discount in the country.

Samsung has listed the Galaxy Buds Pro at only ₹6,990 on its website as well as on Amazon in India. Additionally, the American eCommerce giant is offering an instant 10% discount on multiple cards. Hence, the effective price of the high-end Samsung TWS comes down to ₹6,291.

The flat 10% discount (₹699 off) is available on transactions via credit cards issued by ICICI Bank, RBL Bank, and Kotak Bank. At the same time, a ₹500 discount is also available on Kotak Bank debit card transactions.

This offer is applicable to all three colors, such as Black, Silver, and Violet. Most importantly, this is the lowest price for Galaxy Buds Pro to date in India. Hence, if you were planning to buy this product, then now is the right time to make your move.

Being a high-end offering, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (review) comes with almost all the features one could ask for. They offer dual drivers, intelligent ANC, 360 Audio, auto switch, up to 28-hour battery life (wit ANC turned off), IPX7 rating, and Qi wireless charging. You can learn more about them here.

Worldwide Tablet and Chromebook shipments decreased significantly in Q1 of 2022: IDC

By

Anurag

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May 2, 2022

2020 and 2021 were the golden years for tablets and Chromebooks, with record shipments in both years. It was because the pandemic pushed people more toward tablet and Chromebook purchases for work, studying at home, and entertainment. However, now with the pandemic situation stabilizing, the shipments of these devices are also declining, according to data from the IDC.

As per the report, global tablet shipments hit 38.4 million units in the first quarter of 2022, a 3.9 percent decrease year-on-year as demand declined. Shipments of tablets are still higher than the pre-pandemic level, however, growth has slowed down, indicating that the market is rebounding to normal seasonality. Furthermore, the intensive device purchases in 2020 and 2021 caused many customers to hold on to their freshly purchased tablets.

Chromebooks are not untouched by this trend and witnessed a 61.9% decline in shipments in Q1 of 2022. The decline in Chromebooks is unsurprising considering the building of inventories owing to lower demand over the previous three quarters, revealed Jitesh Ubrani, research manager with IDC.

While the global market contracted due to saturation in established markets, Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan and China) witnessed growth in the quarter due to many substantial investments in digital education in the area.

The report also mentions that several new players like Realme, OPPO, and Xiaomi have also entered this emerging segment. However, their volumes are not significant enough to move the market as of now.

Coming to the companies, Apple is dominating the tablet market with over 31.5% market share and shipments of 12.1 million units. However, the Cupertino company’s shipments of iPads have dropped by 4.6%.

Lenovo is leading the Chromebook segment with a 23.2% market share and shipments of 1.2 million units. However, the Chinese company is facing a sharp decline of 65.6% in Q1 of 2022.

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iQOO Z6 5G’s new variant without in-box charger spotted with Rs 1,500 (~$20) discount

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 2, 2022

In March, iQOO announced the iQOO Z6 5G with a starting price of Rs 15,999 (~$209). Since launch, the handset has been available with an in-box charger. However, as revealed by tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore, the company is now providing users an option to purchase it without an in-box charger. The variant that comes without a charger costs Rs 1,500 (~$20) less than its regular version.

It is unclear when the company started offering the iQOO Z6 5G without a charger. To recall, the iQOO Z6 5G that ships with an 18W travel charger come in three configurations, such as 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. They are priced at Rs 15,999 (~$209), Rs 16,999 (~$222), and Rs 17,999 (~$235), respectively. The base model is now available with a Rs 500 (~$7) discount on Amazon India, while the other two configurations have a Rs 1,000 (~$13) discount.

As can be seen in the screenshot, only the base model (4GB+128GB) of the Z6 5G is available without a travel charger. It is listed with a price tag of Rs 13,999 (~$183). While the smartphone is also available through iQOO India’s website, it is not yet offering the variant that comes without a travel charger.

Apple and Samsung were the first brands to sell their flagship phones without a charger. Starting in March this year, Samsung started offering Galaxy A and M series phones without in-box chargers. The recently unveiled Realme Narzo 50A Prime does not come with a charger. Now that iQOO has started offering the iQOO Z6 5G in a new non-charger variant, it seems that some of the upcoming iQOO phones may come without a charger. There is a possibility that selling phones without a charger may soon become the new normal in the smartphone industry.

Should companies sell midrange phones without an in-box charger? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

RELATED:

ZTE Axon 40 series teaser poster reveals new key features of flagship smartphones

By

Jeet

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May 2, 2022

ZTE is gearing up to launch its next-generation Axon series flagship smartphones in the form of Axon 40, Axon 40 Pro, and Axon 40 Ultra. The devices are set to officially launch in the Chinese market next week, on 9th May.

Ahead of the official announcement, the company has started teasing some key features of the phone through posters. In the latest teaser poster shared today, the company sheds light on the security chip and the camera sensor.

The company has confirmed that the Axon 40 series smartphones will come equipped with an independent security chip for hardware-level protection. Such chips usually act as a gateway for encryption and authentication features.

Further, in the camera department, the Axon 40 Pro will feature a 100-megapixel camera setup. It was previously revealed that the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra will have a triple-camera setup with a 64MP Sony IMX787 primary sensor, a 64MP ultra-wide OmniVision OV64GB sensor, and a 64MP OmniVision OV64GB telephoto lens.

Earlier, it was confirmed that the Axon 40 series will come with next-generation stereo speakers that could provide an out-of-this-world audio experience. The devices also have support for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound and dtsX Ultrasound technology.

If the reports are to be believed, then the smartphones will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. It will also come with an under-display camera setup and an almost bezel-less display panel. Since the launch is still a few days away, we expect the company to confirm these details through teaser posters in the coming days.

RELATED:

Vivo S15e goes on sale in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 2, 2022

Vivo S15e was announced last week in China. As scheduled, the S15e is now available for purchase starting from today in the home market. Here’s everything on the pricing and specifications of this device.

Vivo S15e price

The Vivo S15e comes in three configurations, such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. They are priced at 1,999 Yuan (~$302), 2,299 Yuan (~$348), and 2,499 Yuan (~$378), respectively. It comes in three colors: black, gold, and blue.

Vivo S15e specifications

The Vivo S15e has a 6.44-inch AMOLED display that offers a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It boots to the Android 11 OS and OriginOS Ocean UI. For security, it features an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

The Exynos 1080 chipset is present under the hood of the device. The device is equipped with 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. It lacks a microSD card slot.

The front of the Vivo S15e features a 16-megapixel selfie camera. Its rear shell has a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide snapper, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The Vivo S15e packs a 4,700mAh battery, which carries support for 66W fast charging.

Currently, the Vivo S15e is exclusively available in China. There is no word on whether it will be released in other markets. Speculations are rife that Vivo is working on other S15 series of smartphones, such as the Vivo S15 Pro and Vivo S15. Past reports have claimed that the Vivo S15 Pro will feature an OLED screen and be powered by the Dimensity 8100 chipset. It may house a 50-megapixel main camera with OIS. On the other hand, the vanilla Vivo S15 may feature the same 6.62-inch OLED screen, a 4,580mAh battery, and the Snapdragon 870 chipset.

RELATED:

Motorola’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ flagship seemingly hinted again

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 2, 2022

Several reports have claimed in the past that Motorola is working on a flagship phone with the “Frontier” codename. It is expected to arrive with two major features. The first one is that it could feature the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus mobile platform and the second one is that it may come with a 200-megapixel camera. Lenovo China’s General Manager for the Mobile Phone Business department has been teasing its arrival since the past few months. It appears that the executive may have once again teased its arrival.

In the screenshot shown below, Chen Jin can be seen using an unknown Motorola phone on Weibo. It is being speculated that he could be hinting at the arrival of a new Motorola flagship, probably, the Frontier phone featuring the SD8G1+ chip.

Another highlight of this phone is that it may arrive with support for 125W. In March, Jin had showcased an image of a 125W charger, which hinted that the arrival of the Motorola Frontier is not far away. The new Weibo also suggests the same.

The Motorola Frontier is most likely to be announced after Qualcomm unveils the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+. It is speculated that the US-based chipmaker will announce the SD8G1+ by early May. The company is also expected to launch the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset alongside it.

motorola frontier featured from evleaks — motorola frontier render by Evan Blass

As far as configurations are concerned, the SD8G1+ chip is expected to feature Cortex-X2 core, Cortex-A710, and Cortex-A510 cores. It may also include the Adreno 730 GPU. It will be a 4nm chip manufactured by TSMC. As far as Motorola Frontier’s launch is concerned, the company is speculated to unveil it in June. It is expected to arrive with key specs such as a 6.7-inch POLED FHD+ 144Hz display, 200-megapixel + 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel triple rear cameras, a 60-megapixel front camera, 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and a 4,500mAh battery with 125W wired / 50W wireless charging support. This phone is likely to launch with the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra moniker in global markets.

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Redmi K40S gets price cut in China; now starts at 1,949 yuan ($255)

By

Jeet

-

May 2, 2022

A couple of months ago, the Redmi K40S smartphone was launched in the Chinese market along with the Redmi K50 series phones. As the name itself indicates, the Redmi K40S is another variant of the Redmi K40 that was launched last year.

Now, just a few weeks after the device went on sale in its home country China, the company has introduced a price cut, reducing the retail price of the smartphone.

The Redmi K40S had a price of 1,999 yuan for the base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. After the price cut, it is available for 1,949 yuan, which is around $295.

Similarly, the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage as well as 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage models also received a 50 yuan price cut, bringing down the cost to 2,149 yuan (~$325) and 2,349 yuan (~$355) respectively.

As for the specifications, the phone features a 6.67-inch Samsung E4 AMOLED display with support for Full HD+ screen resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, coupled with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 internal storage.

In the camera department, there’s a 48-megapixel Sony IMX582 primary sensor, coupled with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front side, the device has a 20-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The device runs the Android 12 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own MIUI custom interface on top. It is powered by a 4,500mAh battery and comes with support for 67W fast charging.

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Get Hotwav T5 Pro Rugged Smartphone at a Heavily Discounted Price of $85 (Retail Price $199)

By

Daily Deals

-

May 2, 2022

Hotwav is giving out an amazing deal on its latest Hotwav T5 Pro 4G smartphone. The phone which generally retails for $199 will be available at a heavily discounted price of $89.99 only at AliExpress. Also, the first 100 buyers will get an additional $5 discount coupon bringing down the final price to $84.99 only. Please note that this deal starts on 2 May and ends on 6 May 2022.

WHERE TO BUY

Hotwav T5 Pro 4G at $84.99 (after discount)@AliExpress

Hotwav T5 Pro 4G

Key Features:

Rugged smartphone
6.0”, 480 x 960p water-drop display
Processor: MT6761 Octa-Core
Battery: 7500mAh – lasts fro 2- 4 days
4GB RAM + 32GB ROM
Dual rear camera: 13MP + 2MP
5MP AI selfie camera
Android 12 OS
Rear fingerprint sensor
GPS + GLONASS + Beidou + Galileo
Specially designed outdoor tookit
IP68/ IP69K – Waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof
Colors: Vitality Orange, Silver Grey

To know more about the device check out this review video.

From 2 May to 6 May 2021, you can buy Hotwav T5 Pro 4G rugged smartphone at a heavily discounted price of $89.99. And the first 100 customers can get this phone for $84.99 only at AliExpress. So place your orders before the deal expires.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

Acer is Holding its Spring Global Launch Event on May 18th

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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May 2, 2022

Acer, the renowned Taiwan-based international hardware and electronics corporation, is holding its Spring Global Launch Event/Press Conference virtually on May 18th, 2022 Wednesday.

Officially referred to as “Next@Acer 2022”, the launch event is will be live-streamed via YouTube at 9 PM Taipei time (UTC +8) / 6:30 PM IST (UTC +5:30) / 3 PM Berlin Time (UTC +2) / 9 AM New York Time (UTC -4) on May 28th.

Acer has not revealed what series of laptops the company will be launching in May, but if we refer to Acer’s last year’s launch schedule, the company is expected to launch a brand new array of Windows laptops, Chromebooks, gaming devices, business ultrabooks, and professional creator-focused laptops for the masses.

Although Acer did not explicitly announce the devices that will be revealed, the company did share some teaser photos of what to expect from the company at the Next@Acer 2022 launch event, which gives us confirmation on which laptops lineups will get announced on May 28th.

First of all, Acer’s gaming sub-brand, Predator will be refreshing its Acer Helios and Acer Triton series for 2022 with AMD and Intel’s latest processors. The teaser for the 2022 Predator series this year seems to be space-themed which could mean that Acer is planning to deliver an out-of-this-world gaming experience to its users in 2022.

Next is Acer’s bold and innovative sub-brand, the ConceptD. You might know the ConceptD series for its creative-focused easel series which has an adjustable hinge similar to the Apple iPad’s Magic Keyboard, but specifically engineered for the Acer ConceptD series.

The ConceptD teaser looks like a whirlpool of sorts made out of wood, which could hint that the laptop may have a wooden-like texture feel to it.

The last teaser that Acer has put out is for the event which seems to focus on saving the Earth. Acer could announce a 2022 refresh of its eco-friendly Acer Vero series that it had launched last year, and the company could announce that it will be incorporating green technology into its laptops to reduce the company’s carbon emissions, like switching out plastic packaging for paper packaging for its laptops instead.

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(Source)

The Nothing Launcher Could Get You Detained at Airport Security

By

Leo Wong De Quan

-

May 1, 2022

Recently, Nothing gave a sneak peek at what the public should expect from the Nothing Phone(1) by publishing the Nothing Launcher Beta on the Google Play Store last week.

However, despite all the hype for the launcher, the product has only received sub-par reviews on Google Play Store. But the most concerning flaw of the Nothing Launcher is that the Nothing Launcher could hypothetically get you detained at airport security with its included ringtones, and here’s how.

Upon downloading the Nothing Launcher, besides changing the icon packs and the home screen, the Nothing Launcher also changes your wallpaper background, your alarms, ringtones, and notification sounds.

Although the provided launcher wallpapers(Hand.png and Face.png) look rather unsettling, they will not get you into much trouble in public spaces. The trouble lies within the ringtones and notifications sounds.

If you would like to experience the ringtones and notification sound effects of the Nothing Launcher yourself, we have prepared a Dropbox link below.

Dropbox link to Nothing Launcher Ringtone, Notification Sound Effect HERE.

Let’s start with the Ringtone, named “Nothing_ing_1.ogg”. The ringtone is an 11-second audio clip that is to be played on loop when you receive an incoming call. If you have a more innocent mind, the audio clip would sound like a woodpecker pecking on a tree bark.

However, the folks at airport security may not assume the same, as the ringtone playing at full volume resembles the soundwave frequencies of 4 muffled consecutive assault rifle gunshots that could lead security to assume there was a shooting happening, leading to panic at the airport when in reality, you were receiving an incoming call.

The worst hypothetical case scenario was that security found that you were the culprit in charge of the mass panic, and you could get detained at the airport for pulling a prank of this scale that had misled the national security defence force into thinking there was a terrorist attack.

The notification sound on the other hand, named “Nothing_notification_1.ogg” is a shortened version of the ringtone, which swaps out the 4 shots for 1 shot. If you were to receive multiple notification sounds at once at full volume, it would be as if someone thought you had a gun in your pocket.

Since the Nothing Launcher is still in its Beta development, Nothing should take note of users’ feedback to refine the Nothing software experience before the launcher is officially preinstalled on Nothing’s first-ever smartphone, the Nothing Phone(1).

The Nothing Phone(1) is due for release in the Summer of 2022 and for more updates on Chinese tech companies, stay tuned for our coverage here at Gizmochina.

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(Via)

Redmi Teases the Imminent Launch of its Redmi Note 12 series

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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May 1, 2022

Although Xiaomi had just launched the Redmi Note 11 series globally in February this year, it seems that the company is already prepping itself up for the launch of the Redmi Note 12 series.

The news comes from Redmi CEO, Lu Weibing himself via Weibo. In the Weibo post, Lu had posted a teaser photo that hinted at the company announcement for a Redmi Note 12 series launch series in the country soon promising that the Redmi Note 12 series will offer a significant performance jump over the Redmi Note 11 series.

In the Weibo announcement post, Lu also mentions that since 2021, the Redmi brand has decided to launch two Redmi Note series phones a year, starting with the Redmi Note 10 series which was launched in China in H1 2021 and the Redmi Note 11 series which was launched in China in H2 2021. Lu reiterates that the company launched the Redmi Note 10 “performance powerhouse” series earlier in the year to cater to the audience that values device speed above all else, whereas the more “fashionable and camera-focused” Redmi Note 11 series was launched later in the year.

Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Note 11 Pro+ Featured 1 — Redmi note 11 Series

The CEO reiterates that the Redmi brand is looking to employ the same strategy of launching 2 series of Redmi Note devices in a year going forward, and that means we are going to see a “performance-focused” Redmi Note 12 series launch in H1 2022 and a “fashionable” Redmi Note 13 series launch in H2 2022.

At the end of the post Redmi CEO, Lu replies to its dedicated Xiaomi fans that Redmi had received feedback from its fans and users that the Redmi naming scheme had gotten confusing with the brand’s launch marketing strategy. Thus, the Redmi brand is currently open to any suggestions from fans and netizens alike to name its next “Redmi Note” series.

As of current, the suggestions for the name of the next Redmi Note series from Chinese netizens include “Redmi Note 12”, “Redmi Note 11T”, “Redmi Note 12X”, and “Redmi Note 12T”.

Which name will Xiaomi and Redmi reserve for its next Redmi Note series, is to be announced soon as the company is scheduled to announce this new Redmi Note series of phones in May or June of 2022.

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(Source)

Vivo T1 Pro 5G’s main camera, fast charging capabilities confirmed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 1, 2022

Vivo will be unveiling the Vivo T1 Pro 5G and Vivo T1 44W on May 4 in India. The landing page of the Pro model has been live on the Flipkart retailer site since last week. Through the listing, the company has been gradually confirming a couple of specifications of the phone. First, it was confirmed that it would be powered by the Snapdragon 778G. Now, it has revealed some more details about the device.

The Flipkart listing has revealed that the Vivo T1 Pro 5G will carry support for 66W fast charging. The company claims that the phone will be able to go from 0 to 50 percent by charging it only for 18 minutes.

For photography, it will feature a triple camera, which will be led by a 64-megapixel main camera. It will be accompanied by a wide-angle lens with a 117-degree FOV and a macro camera. Vivo is yet to confirm the configurations of the auxiliary cameras. The Super Night Camera feature may allow the T1 Pro to capture better shots in dim-light conditions. Tomorrow, the company will be confirming the details about the T1 Pro’s display tomorrow.

It is speculated that the Vivo T1 Pro 5G could be a rebranded version of the iQOO Z6 Pro 5G, which debuted recently in India. It is available for purchase through Amazon India in the country.

The iQOO Z6 Pro 5G features a 6.44-inch AMOLED FHD+ 90Hz display, a 16-megapixel front camera, and a triple camera unit with 64-megapixel (main) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (macro) cameras. The Snapdragon 778G powered device has up to 8 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, and a 4,700mAh battery that supports 66W fast charging. It is equipped with a side-facing fingerprint scanner. The T1 Pro is likely to be priced around Rs 25,000 (~$327) in India.

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