Google previews its upcoming Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro flagship smartphones

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May 12, 2022

Google kicked off its annual developers’ conference and during event, the company revealed information about the upcoming flagship smartphones from the brand.

It revealed that the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones would be officially getting launched later this fall. Apart from that, the search engine giant has also shared some of the key details and features of the devices.

Google confirmed that the upcoming flagship smartphones would come powered by the company’s own next-generation Tensor chipset. The set of sensors remains the same in the camera department as its precessors, and so does the horizontal camera bar on the back.

But the camera bar on the phone’s back panel has been updated and is now made of aluminum and runs across the side rails. In the software department, the devices will come running the latest Android 13 operating system out-of-the-box.

It also appears that the company has ditched the two-tone color design on the back panel for the upcoming Pixel 7 series smartphones. Apart from this information, the company has not revealed much about the devices.

Based on the rumors and leaks so far, the Google Pixel 7 Pro smartphone could feature a 6.7-inch or 6.8-inch curved OLED display with an LTPO panel and have a QHD+ screen resolution (1440p) with support for a 120Hz refresh rate.

Despite the current-generation models facing issues, it is also expected to continue offering an under-display fingerprint sensor. It is expected to be powered by the second-generation Google Tensor chipset and offer up to 512GB of internal storage.

Some reports have revealed that the Google Pixel 7 series is expected to come in Stormy Black, Sorta SeaFoam, and Cloudy White shades. While the smartphones are expected to launch after autumn this year, the technology giant has not yet shared more information, including pricing and availability.

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Infinix Note 12i launched with 90Hz display, 50MP triple cameras, 5,000mAh battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 12, 2022

Last month, Infinix announced the Infinix Note 12 smartphone. Now, the brand has unveiled a new handset named the Infinix Note 12i in Kenya. The 12i is packed with inferior specs as compared to the Note 12. However, both smartphones sport an identical design. Here is everything that is known about the Note 12i.

Infinix Note 12i specifications and features

The Infinix Note 12i has a massive 6.82-inch IPS LCD screen with a waterdrop notch. The screen offers an HD+ resolution, a 20.5:9 aspect ratio, and a 90Hz refresh rate. The size of the display is smaller than the Infinix Note 11i, which features a 6.95-inch LCD panel.

The MediaTek Helio G85 chipset drives the Note 12i. The device comes with 4 GB of RAM, 3 GB of virtual RAM, and 128 GB of built-in storage. The handset comes pre-installed with Android 12 OS and XOS 10.6.

The Note 12i has an 8-megapixel camera with a dual-LED flash for capturing selfies and video calls. It supports 30fps Full HD video recording. The rear camera array is headlined by a 50-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.6 aperture. It is accompanied by a 2-megapixel camera, an AI lens, and a quad-LED flash unit. The back cameras have features like Ultra Night mode, portrait mode, panorama, HDR, PDF, and the ability to record up to 30fps of 2K video.

To keep the lights on, the Note 12i features a 5,000mAh battery that carries support for 18W rapid charging. For audiophiles, it is fitted with dual stereo speakers with DTS Audio support. For security, it has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and supports face unlock.

Infinix Note 12i pricing and availability

The Infinix Note 12i is priced at KES 20,500 (~$175) in Kenya. It comes in three colours, such as Sunset Golden, Jewel Blue, and Force Black.

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iQOO Neo 6 launching soon in India with Snapdragon 870, 80W charging

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 12, 2022

iQOO has recently launched the iQOO Neo 6 and Neo 6 SE smartphones in China. Earlier this week, reliable tipster Mukul Sharma claimed that the company is planning to launch its first Neo-branded smartphone in India. Now, iQOO has dropped the first teaser of the iQOO Neo 6 for the Indian market. The official poster for the Indian market has shown how the back of the iQOO Neo 6 looks, what chipset it has, and how fast it can charge.

The poster confirms that the iQOO Neo 6 will be powered by the Snapdragon 870 and will carry support for 80W fast charging. The top-left corner of the phone’s back has a triple camera unit. It will be available in gradient blue and dark teal colors. It appears that the company will soon confirm the other details of the Neo 6 soon. It may launch later this month in India.

The iQOO Neo 6 and Neo 6 SE available in China is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 870 chipsets, respectively. According to Sharma, the iQOO Neo 6 heading to India will arrive with different specifications as compared to its Chinese variant. The above poster suggests that China’s iQOO Neo 6 SE could be rebranded as the iQOO Neo 6 in India.

Sharma further said that the company will focus on offering an all-round flagship experience through the Neo6. The device will be priced between Rs 30,000 (~$388) and Rs 35,000 (~$453).

iQOO Neo 6 specifications (Indian variant – expected)

The iQOO Neo 6 SE, which is available in China, offers a 6.62-inch AMOLED FHD+ display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. For security, it has an in-screen fingerprint scanner. It has a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 64-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit.

The Snapdragon 870 SoC powers the iQOO Neo 6 SE. It comes with up to 12 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The device is backed by a 4,700mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging. It comes preloaded with Android 12 OS and OriginOS Ocean / iQOO UI. As mentioned above, the iQOO Neo 6 for India could be a rebadged version of China’s IQOO Neo 6 SE.

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Honor Play 30 5G launched with iPhone-like design, Snapdragon 480+, 5000mAh battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 12, 2022

In December 2021, Honor announced the Honor Play 30 Plus 5G mid-range phone in China. Now, the company has unveiled a new phone called the Honor Play 30 5G in the homeland. The front side of the device features a teardrop notch display, and its rear shell has an iPhone-like camera module. Here is all the information on its specifications, features, and price.

Honor Play 30 5G specifications and features

The Honor Play 30 5G houses a 6.5-inch LCD display that offers an HD+ resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a 269ppi pixel density. The display notch serves as a home for its 5-megapixel selfie camera. The rear shell of the device has a square-shaped camera module, which comprises a 13-megapixel camera and an LED flash in a diagonal design.

The Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G chipset powers the Honor Play 30 5G. The device comes with 4 GB / 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage. For more storage, it is equipped with a microSD card slot.

The handset is packed with a 5,000mAh battery, which unfortunately supports only 10W charging. It comes preinstalled with the Android 11 OS with Magic UI 5.0 on top. On the connectivity front, the device offers dual SIM support, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Honor Play 30 5G price and availability

The Honor Play 30 5G is now available for reservations in China. The company is yet to confirm its price tag. There is no word on the availability of the device. The device will be available in as many as four colors such as black, blue, gold, and white.

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Sony Xperia Ace 3 launched as Sony’s most affordable 5G phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 12, 2022

Apart from announcing the Xperia 1 IV flagship phone and the Xperia 10 IV mid-range smartphone, Sony also unveiled the Xperia Ace 3 entry-level smartphone. It has debuted as Sony’s most affordable 5G smartphone. The device offers key features such as an HD+ display, a 5G-ready Qualcomm chipset, and a large battery. It has arrived as a successor to last year’s Xperia Ace II, which was a 4G device.

Sony Xperia Ace III specifications and features

The Xperia Ace 3 measures 140 x 69 x 8.9mm and weighs around 162 grams. The device features a 5.5-inch display with a waterdrop notch design. It offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1496 pixels and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. It features a 5-megapixel camera for selfies, and its back panel has a 13-megapixel camera with an LED flash.

The Snapdragon 480 5G mobile platform powers the Xperia Ace III. It comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. For additional storage, it has a microSD card. The phone runs on the Android 12 OS.

The Xperia Ace II has a 4,500mAh battery, which carries support for USB-PD charging and rapid charging. For security, it has a side-facing fingerprint scanner. The device offers other features such as 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port. It is an IP6X rated dustproof and an IPX5 / IPX8 water-resistant device.

Sony Xperia Ace III price and availability

The Xperia Ace III is available for pre-order in Japan and is scheduled for release by mid-June. The device is priced at JPY 34,408 (~$265). It comes in colors like black, grey, blue, and brick orange.

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Xiaomi launches the Redmi 10 2022 & Redmi 10A in Nigeria

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 11, 2022

Leading global tech company Xiaomi has introduced its Redmi 10 2022 and Redmi 10A smartphones in Nigeria. The Redmi 10 2022 is a surprise entrant into the Redmi 10 series and it was first announced in February packing several impressive features. On the other hand, the Redmi 10A offers customers a great user experience to go with affordability.

Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 sports a 6.5-inch FHD+ AdaptiveSync screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, and a sleek design. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 chipset, an octa-core processor with a 2.0Hz clock speed. The memory configurations of the Redmi 10 2022 include 4GB/64GB, 4GB/128GB, and 6GB/128GB.

The Redmi 10 2022 camera setup includes a 50MP AI quad-camera, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. The smartphone offers an array of options when creating videos and taking photos. The 8MP selfie camera delivers panoramic selfie shots interspersed with a beautiful environment.

The 2022 edition of the Redmi 10 has a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery which can last for 24 hours. The device can be charged quickly using the 22.5W charger.

On its part, the budget Redmi 10A packs a 6.53-inch HD+ display and a 3D curved design. It is an entry-level smartphone but it hopes to compete strongly in the Nigerian market considering its price offering and decent features. The smartphone features a fingerprint sensor at the back for enhanced security and a more convenient way to unlock the device. It has a 13MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The Redmi 10A’s depth camera helps to achieve a natural blur effect in portrait backgrounds. The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G25 chipset. The RAM/ internal storage configuration of the Redmi 10A are 2GB/32GB, 3GB/64GB, and 4GB/128GB.

The Redmi 10 2022 comes in carbon gray, pebble white, and sea blue colors and the base model will retail at NGN 92,000 (~$222). The Redmi 10A on the other hand comes in graphite gray, chrome silver, and sky blue colors. The Redmi 10A will retail between NGN 57,800 (~$140) and NGN 77,800 (~$188). The Redmi 10 2022 and Redmi 10A are available at all Xiaomi official sales outlets and authorized dealers across Nigeria.

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Google Pixel Watch announced packing an “improved” Wear OS 3 & more!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 11, 2022

After several weeks of extended hype, Google has finally announced the release of the Pixel Watch. We have been serenaded for several weeks with leaks and photos of the Pixel Watch. Now the wait for the device is over, Google today announced the device although more details are likely to follow later. Google has indicated that the Pixel Watch will arrive in markets this fall, together with the Pixel 7 smartphone.

The raft of rumors relating to the Pixel Watch had remained at a crescendo within the past couple of weeks. Given the quantum of details about the device already available prior to its official announcement, there are no surprises. It sports a circular, domed design with a tactile crown and side button present. The product is made from recyclable stainless steel and offers swappable bands. The Pixel Watch runs on an improved Wear OS 3 offering improvements across several aspects. There is the option of a cellular version of the Pixel Watch for users interested in standalone connectivity.

The Pixel Watch comes with traditional Google apps as well as the Fitbit integration as rumored. The Google apps include Google Maps, Assistant, Wallet, and Google Home. Emergency SOS is also featured in the new and improved Wear OS. This means that the Pixel Watch can be used to contact your friend or emergency services when the user is in distress. The Fitbit integration provides insights into several health and fitness features monitored by the device.

Google has stressed that the Fitbit Integration with the Pixel Watch will continue to expand beyond its current level. It will go beyond customizing watch faces for a more compelling user experience. Users will be able to sync their data with a Fitbit account. This means that such data could also be viewed via the Fitbit app and on the internet. According to Google, the Pixel Watch deploys Fitbit’s latest algorithms for health and fitness tracking. However, Google says that data privacy will be of the highest level. Fitbit and Google data will stay private and separate, in line with Google’s earlier commitments.

Google still keeps the price of the Pixel Watch under wraps. It however says that the device will be a premium offering and will be priced competitively. The Pixel Watch is compatible with devices running on Android 8.0 and later and it is not compatible with iPhones. With these details, we look forward to the official specs sheet of the Google Pixel Watch. That is something together with price and availability details that will be out by the time the product is released.

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Google Pixel Buds Pro launched with ANC, long battery life for $199

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 11, 2022

Google Pixel Buds Pro is one of the many products that were unveiled at the Google I/O 2022 developers conference. As the name suggests, it is a premium audio product to rival the likes of the Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. One of its major attractions is that it is Google’s first earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC). Here is all the information on the Pixel Buds Pro’s features and price.

Google Pixel Buds Pro specifications and features

The Pixel Buds Pro look like the Pixel Buds that debuted in 2020. On the inside, it features a custom-made six-core audio processor that works with Google algorithms to produce sound through custom drivers.

The earbuds sport an in-ear design and are equipped with silicon tips. It is equipped with dedicated sensors that “measure the pressure in your ear canal so the earbuds can actively relieve it and stay comfortable.” The retail package of Buds Pro includes ear tips of three different sizes. It offers a feature called “Silent Seal” for optimal ANC experience.

The Pixel Buds Pro allows users to seamlessly switch between commonly used Android devices without going to the Bluetooth settings. In addition, it can be paired with two audio sources at the same time. With ANC activated, the Pixel Buds Pro can last for up to 7 hours, whereas it promises a playback time of around 11 hours when it is deactivated. It has support for wireless charging and supports quick charge. The company claims it can last for up to one hour by charging it only for 5 minutes.

The earbuds offer IPX4 rated water resistance, while its charging case carries an IPX2 rating. Some of its other features include Google Assistant support, spatial audio, fast pair, transparency mode, beamforming microphones, a voice accelerometer, wind-blocking mesh covers, and Volume EQ, which changes the loudness of the earbuds based on the surroundings.

Google Pixel Buds Pro price and availability

The Pixel Buds Pro will be up for pre-orders along with the Pixel 6a on July 21 in the US. It will be available in stores starting July 28. The Pixel Buds Pro will be available for $199 with color options such as Charcoal, Coral, Lemongrass, and Fog.

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Google Pixel 6a with 6.1-inch OLED display, Tensor chipset launched for $449

By

Sudhanshu

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May 11, 2022

After launching the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro back in October 2021, Google has now finally launched the next addition to the Pixel 6 series dubbed the Google Pixel 6a. So let’s take a look at what the new device brings to the table.

Design & Display

Design-wise, the device is pretty similar to the previous Pixel 6 series phones and features a visor design for its camera module. It has a recycled aluminum frame with curved edges and a flat-screen display. It has a centered punch-hole for the selfie camera.

The display measures 6.1-inch in size and is a Full HD+ resolution OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate. It has HDR support and offers a 24-bit depth with 16 million colors. It has a centered punch-hole for the selfie camera, noticeable bezels, and an in-display fingerprint sensor for security.

Specs

Similar to its siblings, the Pixel 6a comes powered by Google’s in-house Tensor chipset with AI-powered features. Google has paired this chip with 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. The device also comes with the Titan M2 security chip.

It draws power from a 4,400mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. Google claims that this battery can last up to 24 hours and up to 72 hours while using the Extreme Battery Saver. The device has a stereo speaker setup and features two microphones with noise suppression capabilities for clearer audio input while attending calls in a noisy environment.

Google has promised a minimum of 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 6a. The device also offers in-built Anti-phishing and anti-malware protection.

The smartphone comes with many sensors like a Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Magnetometer, and Barometer. For connectivity, the device offers Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) with MIMO, and Bluetooth 5.2.

Cameras

Coming to the optics, the device has a dual-camera setup on the rear with a 12.2-megapixel Sony IMX363 wide-angle primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. On the front, the device has an 8-megapixel sensor for selfies and video calls.

The rear camera of the device is capable of 4K and 1080P video recording at 30 FPS and 60 FPS. The front camera however is only capable of 30 FPS video recording 30FPS. It also offers Slo-mo video recording at up to 240 FPS.

The camera system on the Google Pixel 6a also comes with popular features like Magic Eraser, Real Tone, Face Unblur, and more.

Price & availability

Google has priced the Pixel 6a at just $449 and has made it available in three different colors namely Black, White, and Mint Green. The device will be available for pre-order starting July 21.

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OPPO Reno7 Pro and SE 5G Receive Android 12 Official Update in China

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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May 11, 2022

The Oppo Reno 7 series was launched back in China in November 2021, and it came with Oppo’s latest ColorOS 12. However, although Android 12 was available at the time, the series did not launch with Android 12. Instead, the Oppo Reno 7 series came with Android 11 out of the box.

oppo reno 7 pro 5g coloros 12 update china — Source: Oppo China

6 months after its release, Oppo has finally announced that from today onwards, the Oppo Reno 7 Pro and Reno 7 SE 5G owners in China will finally be getting the Android 12 official update from the company via its ColorOS 12 x Android 12 rollout programme by the company.

The models eligible for the update are:

Oppo Reno 7 Pro 5G, Reno 7 Pro 5G League of Legends Lited Edition (Firmware version number C.04 and above)
Oppo Reno 7 SE 5G (Firmware version number C.03 and above)

To be the first to receive the official update on your Oppo device, you need to follow the steps below:

Go to Settings > About Phone > Firmware Version Info
Then tap on the three-dots icon on the top-right corner, and select “Apply for Update”.
In this menu, select “Apply for Official Update”, then tick the Terms and Conditions, and click Accept.
Your update will be immediately downloaded and then installed upon successful download.

OPPO Reno7 Pro Review starry design 2 — Oppo Reno 7 Pro

In the announcement post, Oppo has noted that this official ColorOS 12 x Android 12 update will not clear user data, but the company highly recommends its users to back up important personal data in advance to at least have a data backup when things suddenly go wrong.

Oppo states that it should be noted that there are still many common third-party applications that are not yet compatible with Android 12. Therefore, there may be situations where third-party applications cannot be used normally after the update (such as app crashes, stutters, blank screens, abonormal power consumption, etc.). The brand then states that it recommends its Chinese users to update the app to the latest version in the company’s app store after the update to prevent bugs and crashes on these 3rd party applications.

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Huawei Mate Xs 2 to Launch Globally on May 18th, Alongside Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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May 11, 2022

Huawei had revealed in its latest flagship foldable, the Huawei Mate Xs 2 in China last month. Previously, the its predecessor, the Huawei Mate Xs was exclusively on sale in the Chinese market only.

But to much surprise, the company is apparently planning to bring the new Huawei Mate Xs 2 foldable device to be available in the global market as the company announced that it will be holding a flagship product launch event on May 18th (Thursday) next week, at 8pm Beijing Time (UTC +8) / 5:30pm IST (UTC +5:30).

This launch event is set to announce several of Huawei’s 2022 highly antipicated products to the global markets like the Huawei Mate Xs 2 foldable, the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro and the Huawei Watch Fit 2. The event will be livestreamed online via Huawei official portals on Facebook and YouTube.

In addition to the global launch, the company is also holding an exclusive Malaysia Premier Launch for its flagship device on 19th May 2022 5pm MYT, which Huawei is expected to announce roadshows and promotions for its products at the event.

To recap, the Huawei Mate Xs 2 was launched earlier in China as a premium foldable smartphone that folded outwards instead of the conventional inwards you would find on the Oppo Find N and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. The screen is 6.5-inch OLED display when folded and when unfolded, it expands to a 7.8-inch OLED with a resolution of 2480 x 2200 pixels. The screen has a 120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz touch sampling rate and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut.

Onboard the Huawei Mate Xs 2, you will find the Snapdragon 888 4G chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Battery-wise, the standard Huawei Mate Xs 2 has a 4600mAh capacity while the Collector’s edition comes with a bigger 4880mAh battery. Both variants come with 66W fast charging support which the company claims can refill the battery to 90% in just 30 minutes.

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 features a powerful triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture, a 13MP ultrawide lens with f/2.2 aperture, and an 8MP telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture, OIS and 3x optical zoom. On the front, we have a 10.7MP ultra-wide-angle selfie camera with f/2.2 aperture.

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Apple AirTag helps man recover valuables worth $7k stolen from his hotel room

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 11, 2022

A man who went on vacation in Australia has had his expensive equipment recovered, thanks to the Apple AirTags in his luggage. The AirTag assisted the man to track his stolen possessions with the assistance of the police. This is yet another great positive story about the AirTag which has had a raft of negative news lately.

The man is named Graham Tait and the incident happened a few days back in South Australia. His car was broken into in the night and several valuables with an estimated value of $7,000 were taken away. The items included a Sony camera, a notebook, a wallet, and a GoPro. Luckily for Tait, he had been an active user of his AirTags which were attached to the laptop back and Sony camera. Using the Find My app, Tait was able to track down the items.

Tait had lodged in a hotel when the incident happened and the items were tracked to another room in the hotel. Police were called in and his stolen possessions were returned back to him. The Police are now dealing with the alleged thief, according to the report. The name of the suspect alleged to have stolen Tait’s possessions has not been released yet.

This news is another positive and original use of the Apple AirTag and it is satisfying. Criminals have continued to use the AirTag for negative purposes including stalking and robbery. Apple has also made stringent efforts to safeguard the privacy of AirTags owners. There are also measures to ensure that users are notified when a foreign AirTag is in range.

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Xiaomi Pad 5 vs OPPO Pad: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 11, 2022

This year OPPO released its first tablet ever: the OPPO Pad. Despite being the first device of its kind from this brand, it is a high-end tablet and not an entry-level one like the Realme Pad. That is the reason why it can compete directly with the Xiaomi Pad 5: a device from one of the first Chinese companies which released a tablet with a long experience in the niche. Each of these two tablets has its pros and cons, but the specs sheets are not so different after all. So which one should you go for? This is a comparison between the specifications of the OPPO Pad and the Xiaomi Pad 5 which will let you find out by listing their specifications and what changes between them.

Xiaomi Pad 5 vs OPPO Pad

	Xiaomi Pad 5	OPPO Pad
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	254.7 x 166.3 x 6.9 mm, 511 grams	252.2 x 163.8 x 7.1 mm, 507 g
DISPLAY	11 inches, 1600 x 2560p (Quad HD+), IPS LCD	11 inches, 1600 x 2560p (Quad HD+), IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 860, octa-core 2.96 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, octa-core 3.2 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 11, MIUI	Android 11, ColorOS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS
CAMERA	13 MP f/2.0 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Single 13 MP f/2.2 8 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	8720 mAh, fast charging 33W	8360 mAh, fast charging 33W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Stylus support, keyboard support	Pen support, keyboard support, reverse charging

Design

The OPPO Pad has a very catchy design and it is more interesting than its rival in terms of aesthetics. Just like the Xiaomi Pad 5, it has very narrow bezels, but the screen-to-body ratio is a bit higher. Further, the rear side is very original and the materials are premium as it is made of aluminum. The Xiaomi Pad 5 comes with an aluminum frame and a plastic back and it has a design reminiscent of the Xiaomi Mi 11 with that pill-shaped camera module. Both the tablets are very thin and pretty lightweight to be tablets, but the Xiaomi Pad 5 is slightly thinner and lighter.

Display

Unfortunately, you do not get an OLED display with any of these tablets, but this does not mean that their IPS LCD panels are bad. If you are looking for the best display, then you should choose the Xiaomi Pad 5. It has a panel with a diagonal of 11 inches, a Quad HD+ resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels, a 120 Hz refresh rate, the HDR10+ certification, and Dolby Vision support which is able to show up to one billion colors. The OPPO Pad has similar display specs with an 11-inch panel sporting a Quad HD+ resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels and a 120 Hz refresh rate, but it lacks Dolby Vision support and it shows just 16 million colors. The audio is provided by good stereo speakers but none of these devices comes with a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Specs & Software

The most powerful hardware is provided by the OPPO Pad: it is fueled by the Snapdragon 870 mobile platform built at 7 nm and running at a max frequency of 3.2 GHz, paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage. With the Xiaomi Pad 5, you get a weaker Snapdragon 860 chipset with a 7 nm production process and a 2.96 GHz max frequency, paired with just 6 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of native storage. The operating system installed on these tablets is Android 11 but the ColorOS 12 found on the OPPO Pad is particularly interesting because of the Multi-Screen connect feature allowing to achieve a seamless experience between the tablet and PCs.

Camera

The Xiaomi Pad 5 has a slightly better camera on paper: both these devices get a single 13 MP main sensor, but the Xiaomi tablet has a brighter f/2.0 focal aperture which should allow capturing clearer photos in the dark. Further, the camera of the Pad 5 is paired with a dual-LED flash (instead of the OPPO Pad) and is able to record 4K videos. The front cameras are exactly the same: two 8 MP snappers with an f/2.0 focal aperture and 1080p video recording.

Read More: Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 & Mi Pad 5 Pro Official: 11″, 120Hz refresh rate, 5G, MIUI for Pad & more!

Battery

Despite being a thinner tablet, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is equipped with a bigger 8720 mAh battery and it provides a longer battery life in most scenarios. The OPPO Pad is the only one to support reverse charging, but with a smaller battery capacity.

Price

The starting price of the Xiaomi Pad 5 in China roughly translates into €330/$347, while you need about €310/$327 to purchase the OPPO Pad. As already mentioned, each of these tablets has its pros and cons. The Xiaomi Pad 5 provides a better display and a bigger battery, while the OPPO Pad has a higher performance and reverse charging. Which one would you pick?

Xiaomi Pad 5 vs OPPO Pad: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Pad 5

PRO

Great price
Better display
Bigger battery
Wider availability

CONS

Inferior hardware

OPPO Pad

PRO

Reverse charging
Better chipset
More RAM
Wi-Fi 6

CONS

Smaller battery

RELATED

Samsung Galaxy S22 Pink Gold color variant launched in India

By

Sudhanshu

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May 11, 2022

Last month, customers in India finally got the much-awaited Green color variant of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Now, the vanilla S22 has also received a new color variant.

The new color option is the Pink Gold variant which Samsung has already introduced in multiple regions. The new color is only available with the 8GB + 128GB base configuration of the Galaxy S22 and is priced at ₹72,999 ($945) in India. It can be purchased from Samsung’s online store, as well as all the reading retail outlets in the country.

Samsung Galaxy S22 specs

The vanilla Galaxy S22 comes with a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a Full-HD+ resolution, up to 120Hz refresh rate, 1300 nits of brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.

Under the hood, the smartphone houses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset (Indian variant) paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of memory. The device houses a 3,700mAh battery with 25W fast charging support and boots Android 12-based OneUI 4.1 out of the box. The device also supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

For optics, the S22 has a triple camera setup on the back consisting of a 50-megapixel Samsung GN5 primary sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens with a 13mm focal length, and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 30x Space Zoom and 3x optical Zoom. on the front, the device has a 10-megapixel snapper for selfies and video calls.

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Here’s how to watch the Realme 9 series Europe launch event live

By

Anurag

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May 11, 2022

Realme is set to introduce the Realme 9 series smartphones along with Realme Pad Mini in the European market. The Chinese company has confirmed that the launch event will take place on May 12. Realme has already launched these products on the Asian continent, and now it’s moving toward Europe. Let’s learn more about this event and find out how to watch it live.

How to watch the Realme 9 series Europe launch event

The Realme 9 series launch event is scheduled to take place on May 12 at 1 PM CET time. As per the official announcement, the event will be live-streamed on the company’s YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Twitter handle.

You can watch the Realme 9 series Europe launch event by clicking here

What to expect from the upcoming event?

Realme is expected to launch two new smartphones at the event, dubbed Realm 9 and Realme 9 5G. A recent report confirmed that the Realme 9 5G is different from its Indian counterpart. Thanks to the company’s Poland website, we have a good idea of Realme 9 5G’s specifications.

As per the specifications listed on the website, the upcoming Realme 9 5G boasts a 6.6” LCD display with 1080p resolution. The panel carries support for 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 695 5G processor and has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W charging.

The other smartphone that is going to be launched is Realme 9. Its features are expected to be the same as the previously launched version. It will be a 4G smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 680 4G chipset and fueled by a 5,000mAh battery. It comes with 33W fast charging support. The smartphone features a particularly extreme 108MP main camera and a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate.

Realme is also going to unveil the Realme Pad Mini in Europe. The pad comes with an 8.7-inch LCD display. It has a 1340 x 800 pixels resolution. The tablet is powered by a UNISOC T616 chipset paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It features a 6,400mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. The tablet has an 8MP single camera at the back and a 5MP snapper at the front.

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Samsung Galaxy A31 starts receiving Android 12 update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 11, 2022

Samsung launched the Galaxy A31 in the first half of 2020. The device debuted with One UI 2.x based on Android 10. It was updated to Android 11-based One UI 3.1 in April 2021. A little over a year from that, the smartphone has now started receiving the Android 12 update with One UI 4.1.

According to SamMobile, Samsung has started pushing One UI 4.1 update based on Android 12 for the Galaxy A31. Apart from bringing a new version of Android and features, the latest software update for the handset also bumps up the security patch level to April 2022.

The OTA update is currently live in Russia. It arrives with firmware version A315FXXU1DVD8 and it is being rolled out in batches. It should be available in other regions in the coming days.

That being said, Android 12 is the final major system update for the Galaxy A31. Unlike the Galaxy A51 and the Galaxy A71, it is only eligible for two Android updates and has received them. Anyway, it will get security updates for a while.

The Samsung Galaxy A31 offers features like a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, a MediaTek Helio P65 SoC, 48MP (wide) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 5MP (macro) + 5MP (depth) quad-camera setup, 20MP selfie camera, 5,000mAh battery, and 15W charging support.

iPhone 15 will reportedly ditch Lightning port for USB-C claims analyst Ming-Chi Kuo

By

Viraj Gawde

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May 11, 2022

iPhone 15 will reportedly come with a USB-C port according to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It’s too early to believe the claim since there’s still time for the iPhone 15 and the Cupertino based tech giant will unveil the iPhone 14 later this year.

Kuo’s claim is based on his latest survey i.e. talking to suppliers instead of anything based on evidence. He adds that the new iPhone will ditch the Lightning port in favour of the USB-C port. It will improve the iPhone’s transfer and charging speed in hardware design but the final spec details will depend on iOS support. The analysts states that existing USB-C related suppliers of Apple are expected to become the market focus in the next two-three years attributing to vast orders of iPhones and accessories adoption of the USB-C ports. This also hints that Kuo anticipates Apple to drop the port altogether.

Additionally, the EU is closing in on introducing a new law that will require smartphone makers to remove all proprietary charging ports and switch to USB-C which is considered to be the gold standard for charging and data transfers.

Currently, Apple’s iPhones come with Lightning ports. The brand adopted the USB-C port for Mac back in 2015 and the iPad made the switch from Lightning to USB-C in 2018. This left the iPhone as the core Apple device with the Lightning socket. As per reports, there was a view that the iPhone will continue to retain the older connector until it goes entirely portless.

The iPhone 15 with USB-C will debut in the second half of next year. Till then we can expect more developments to crop up.

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DJI Mini 3 Pro with a flight time of 47 minutes & weighing 249g announced

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 11, 2022

The much-awaited announcement of the release of the DJI Mini 3 Pro has now been made. The DJI Mini 3 Pro had been on the rumor mill lately with a raft of details relating to the drone popping up. Interestingly, most of the rumors relating to the drone have been proved to be correct.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is a pretty lightweight drone that offers several impressive features. The DJI Mini 3 Pro’s 249g weight allows the device to be deployed without a license in many jurisdictions. The Mini 3 Pro comes with substantial improvements in its camera capabilities and it is compact. The Mini 3 Pro’s camera can shoot 48MP photos and 4K videos in HDR. The maneuverability of the DJI Mini 3 Pro is brought to focus as it can also shoot vertical images and videos.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro has an improved battery that offers a flight time of 30 minutes. The standard battery pack of the Mini 3 Pro can be further extended to deliver a flight time of 47 minutes. The flipside of using a bigger battery is that the drone will weigh above 249g. True to rumors, the Mini 3 Pro will feature ActiveTrack, a tri-directional obstacle sensing technology. The drone, with its obstacle-avoiding technology, can be easily operated by even amateurs.

DJI Mini 3 Pro

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The DJI Mini 3 Pro is already available for pre-order and will cost $669 for the base model. There is an intermediate model with a DJI RC-N1 remote which costs $759. However, the flagship model of the DJI Mini 3 Pro comes with the DJI RC controller and this package costs $909. The DJI RC is an improved version of its previous controllers and it has a 5.5-inch display. There are still some grey areas relating to global availability and retail details.

Drone makers, especially DJI had been in the spotlight during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. Drones continue to play a critical role in the execution of the war from both sides. The pressure on DJI to stop supplying the Russian and Ukrainian war machines led it to suspend supplies and support to both countries.

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boAt Watch Primia with Bluetooth calling, AMOLED display listed on Amazon, launching soon in India

By

Viraj Gawde

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May 11, 2022

boAt Watch Primia is set to launch in India soon. It has been listed on the e-commerce platform Amazon. The landing page of the smartwatch reveals key specifications and features. The upcoming offering is said to be the brand’s first smartwatch with a built-in speaker and Bluetooth calling feature. Like the previous smartwatches, the boAt Watch Primia is also expected to be a budget device.

The boAt Watch Primia sports a circular AMOLED display measuring 1.39-inches and bearing a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. The device offers more than 100 customisable watch faces. It comes with a metallic design and there are two physical buttons on the right side. The smartwatch is IP67 certified dust and splash resistant.

The boAt Watch Primia is confirmed to be equipped with a heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, and a sleep tracker. It comes with a daily activity tracker with multiple sports modes along with features like custom fitness plans, fitness buddies, and a wellness crew. The wearable device is equipped with a built-in speaker and microphone that enables Bluetooth calling. The smartwatch supports Google and Siri voice assistants.

The boAt Watch Primia is capable of displaying smart updates and notifications, as well as controlling music playback. It supports Google Fit and Apple Health. The smartwatch is claimed to deliver 7 days of usage without Bluetooth calling and 48 hours with the feature enabled.

The boAt Watch Primia price has not been announced yet. It is offered in Black and Blue colors. We will learn about the smartwatch’s pricing and availability in the coming days.

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Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 2022 launched with 120Hz 2.5K display, 12th Gen Intel CPUs, 100W USB PD charging, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 11, 2022

After teasing for days, Lenovo has finally taken wraps off the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 2022 laptop in China today. The latest ultrabook from the Chinese PC maker offers features that are expected from a mainstream Windows-powered notebook in 2022.

The computer sports a metal unibody design. It arrives with a backlit keyboard with a 1.3mm key travel and a dedicated Numpad. It offers multiple ports like 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C), 1 X USB Type-C, 2 x USB Type-A, HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a card reader.

The laptop is powered by 12th Gen Intel Core i5/i7 processors with Intel Iris Xe GPU and up to 60W performance mode. The chip is paired with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and dual fans for cooling.

As the name suggests, the notebook flaunts a 16-inch display. The LED-backlit LCD screen has a 2.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel supports up to 350 nits peak brightness level, 100% of the sRGB color gamut, and DC dimming certified by TÜV Rheinland. Finally, the display has a 16:10 aspect ratio and a color accuracy of ΔE<1.5.

The computer boots Microsoft Windows 11. It sports a 1080p webcam and Dolby Atmos-powered stereo speakers. Last but not least, it is backed by a 75Wh battery with support for 100W USB PD charging.

The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 2022 is priced at ¥5,499 ($819) and ¥6,499 ($968) for Core i5 and Core i7 variants respectively. They will be discounted ¥500 for a limited time. The cheaper model is already up for pre-order and will be available for purchase starting May 18. There’s no official word on the availability of the costlier model yet.