It was reported earlier today that the upcoming Google Pixel 6a has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. Hence, it appears that it may not take too long for the Pixel 6a midrange phone to go official. The rumor mill has leaked the Pixel 6a specifications in bits and pieces. Now, well-known tipster Yogesh Brar has tipped the entire specifications of the device.
Google Pixel 6a specifications (rumored)
The Google Pixel 6a will arrive with a 6.62-inch OLED screen that offers a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The CAD renders of the device that surfaced in November 2021 will feature a centrally positioned punch-hole. The device is equipped with an 8-megapixel Sony IMX355 front-facing camera.
Google Pixel 6A CAD renders by Steve Hemmerstoffer / 91mobiles
The rear panel of the Pixel 6a has a horizontal camera module. It has a 12.2-megapixel Sony IMX363 main camera and a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 ultrawide snapper. The device will come preloaded with the Android 12 OS. For security, it will be equipped with an in-screen fingerprint scanner.
The Pixel 6a will be powered by the Google Tensor GS101 chipset. It is the same SoC that fuels the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro flagship phones. The device has 6 GB / 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. It has a 4,800mAh battery that supports 30W rapid charging.
In May, Google will be holding its I/O 2022 developers conference. The event could be used to announce the Pixel 6a mid-ranger phone. At present, there is no information on the pricing of the device.
The Realme Q5 series’ launch had recently been teased by the company. It is the latest lineup of smartphones from the brand, but prior to its release, a new leak has revealed that a new collaboration is also on the way.
Looking at a leaked promotional image poster, it appears that the Chinese smartphone maker is partnering up with Vans. This “realme X Vans” collaboration will have the former launch a limited edition model of the Q5 Pro smartphone. The leaked teaser image also highlights the upcoming special edition’s unique new aesthetic, which consists of a checkerboard pattern design. This design also carries a dual tone color scheme, which includes yellow and white.
So, we can expect the new handset to be called the Realme Q5 Pro Vans Special Edition, or something along this line. The news arrives from known tipster @stufflistings that stated that the Realme Q5 series will be collaborating with the popular clothing brand. Talking about the device itself, the Q5 Pro is expected to sport a 6.62-inch AMOLED screen that offers an FHD+ resolution. It also has a 16 megapixel selfie camera and a 64 megapixel triple camera setup on the rear.
The company will launch the Q5 series in China on April 20
Under the hood, the device is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 870 chipset. It may arrive with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of internal storage. A large 5,000mAh battery will reportedly power the smartphone, which also features an in display fingerprint scanner, and a microSD card slot for additional storage. It is expected to arrive in three colors such as Mirror Black, Dream Blue, and Super Orange. So stick around for more , as we will be providing additional updates regarding this matter.
A new rumor has suggested that Samsung Electronics does not have any plans of shifting its flagship lineup of smartphones away from its proprietary Exynos and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoCs.
Galaxy S22
For those unaware, there were rumors that had recently surfaced, which had hinted at the South Korean tech giant possibly moving to MediaTek chipsets. These Dimensity SoCs would reportedly power its upcoming Galaxy S22 FE model. Similarly, Korean media also added that the next gen Galaxy S23 series might also make the shift to MediaTek Dimensity chipsets. Since these are flagship models, the processors would be within the Dimensity 9000 series.
But a new tweet has suggested otherwise. According to Yogesh Brar, we might not be seeing a MediaTek Dimensity powered premium Samsung phone for a while now. In other words, we can still expect the brand to ship the Galaxy S22 FE or the Galaxy S23 lineup with either the Snapdragon or Exynos chipsets, depending on the market. Although, Samsung may still have future plans or could even be mulling over this decision right now. So, it’s hard to tell if it is entirely out of the picture.
Galaxy S21 FE
However, if it does decide to make the transition, it is likely that it will replace the Snapdragon variants in favor of the Dimensity chips, rather than discontinuing its proprietary chips. Keep in mind that this is still just an unconfirmed report, so take this news with a pinch of salt and stay tuned for more updates regarding this matter.
Just yesterday (13th April 2022), Oppo announced its F21 Pro series of smartphones in India. This lineup consists of two models, namely the F21 Pro 5G and the F21 Pro 4G. But despite having similar names, they both feature some differences in design and color, so let’s take a look.
OPPO F21 Pro 5G
Talking about the 5G model first, the Chinese smartphone maker’s F21 Pro 5G is basically a rebranded model of the Reno7 Pro 5G and one of its key aspects in design is the Dual Orbit Lights, which highlight notifications through LED lighting. For color options, it comes in either a Rainbow Spectrum or Cosmic Black. While both versions of the F21 Pro 5G feature a rear glass panel, there is some slight difference between the two.
Depending on the angle at which the light hits the rear panel, the F21 Pro 5G’s Rainbow Spectrum model reflects different colors. So as the name suggests, you might see hues of different colors over the predominantly sky blue base. On the other hand, the F21 Pro 4G also has a Black model that features a glass rear panel, but the Orange variant is definitely the most unique out of the entire series.
F21 Pro 4G
Unlike the rest, the F21 Pro 4G’s Orange variant features fibreglass leather finish. In other words, it comes with an artificial leather finish that feels and looks quite premium. The hand feel of this version is quite good (You can check out our review of this model), so one would be tempted to use it without a cover. The F21 Pro 4G is also a rebranded Reno7 Pro 4G, so its camera setup is slightly different from its 5G enabled sibling but it still offers the Orbit Light effect. It is clear that the company placed an emphasis on the design and aesthetics of the series, so this variant easily takes the cake in terms of overall appeal.
Yesterday, OPPO announced the OPPO F21 Pro 4G and OPPO F21 Pro 5G smartphones in India. While the 4G variant will go on sale later this week, the 5G model will be available for purchase in the coming week. At present, both models are available for pre-order. Here is all the information on the launch offers that are available for buyers of the F21 Pro series.
OPPO F21 Pro series price in India
The OPPO F21 Pro 4G and F21 Pro 5G both come in a single version that offers 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The F21 Pro is priced at Rs 22,999 ($302). It is available in two colors: Sunset Orange (with a fibreglass-leather design) and Cosmic Black.
OPPO F21 Pro
The OPPO F21 Pro 5G comes in Rainbow Spectrum and Cosmic Black colors and costs Rs 26,999 (~$354). Both smartphones can be purchased through OPPO India’s online store, leading online stores such as Amazon India and Reliance Digital, and offline stores.
OPPO F21 Pro first sale date
The OPPO F21 Pro (review) is scheduled to go on sale on April 15 in India. On the other hand, the F21 Pro 5G is expected to go on sale on April 21 in the country. On April 21, the Enco Air2 Pro TWS earbuds, which debuted with the F21 Pro 5G series, will also go on sale. It costs Rs 3,499 (~$46).
OPPO F21 Pro series launch offers
On OPPO India’s site, the F21 Pro series buyers can get up to a Rs 3,000 discount through Bank of Baroda credit card and credit card EMI transactions. In addition, buyers can also purchase it with up to 6 months no-cost EMI. Buyers can also get other OPPO products such as wireless neckbands, USB -C cables, and power banks at discounted rates.
OPPO F21 Pro 5G
On Amazon India, buyers can get up to Rs 2,300 (~$30) off on SBI credit card and credit card EMI transactions. Furthermore, there is a Rs 3,000 ($39) off on exchange discount, no-cost EMI for up to 6 months, a one-time screen replacement with 180 days, and an OPPO M32 wireless neckband for Rs 1,499 ($20).
Lenovo has just launched new desktop PCs in China. The new models are from the brand’s Xiaoxin line of products and are All in One computers that feature Intel’s latest generation of processors.
Notably, the latest Xiaoxin AIO PCs come in two different sizes, namely a 24 inch and a 27 inch model. Although, both models are powered by Team Blue’s Core P series of processors. While the screen sizes differ, the 24 inch and 27 inch versions offer a 1080p resolution panel, which is surrounded by narrow bezels on three sides. Under the hood, the new computers are equipped with an i5-1250P processor, which is a 12 core CPU.
Furthermore, this chipset has a 35W power draw. Although, the Chinese PC maker claims that this chip is capable of offering performance that rivals the Intel Core i5-12400 desktop processor that has a 65W TDP. The reason for the brand opting for the Intel P series CPUs is likely due to the form factor. Unlike regular desktop PCs, All in One (AIO) computers have all the necessary components housed within a single body, which also includes the display.
For memory, the computers arrive with 16GB of 3200MHz DDR4 RAM, 512GB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, and even a built in pop up 2.5 inch hard disk bay. Other features include dual speakers that support Dolby sound, a built in camera, and a dual microphone array. Connectivity options include four USB Type A, one HDMI, and one network port. The 24 inch Lenovo Xiaoxin AIO PC costs 4,699 Yuan (roughly 740 US Dollars) while the 27 inch model is priced at 4,999 Yuan (roughly 785 US Dollars).
Apple is planning on rolling out new features for its smartwatch. The company will be bringing satellite connectivity features for its Apple Watch along with support for emergency texting and SOS response as well.
According to a Bloombergreport, the Cupertino based giant’s smart wearable will soon be able to offer these crucial emergency features directly from the wearer’s wrist. The satellite connectivity was first rumored to arrive in the iPhone 13 series, although, the brand skipped it on the lineup. Now, it is rumored to launch with the iPhone 14 series, which means that it will be capable of sending short messages over satellite networks without a carrier network.
To put things simply, the iPhone maker is bringing these features to help offer users connectivity options in cases of emergencies. This plan will have Apple include two parts, with the first being “Emergency Message via Contacts.” The feature would allow users to send short text messages in areas that do not have cellular signals. Notably, this new system would appear with gray bubbles inside of the Messages app.
Furthermore, the second part of the system will let users report a crisis. This includes a car, boat, or plane crash to the authorities. This feature would be capable of taking more specific information such as a person falling overboard or a ship sinking. It will even ask users if search and rescue services are required. Keep in mind that this feature is still not confirmed by Apple yet, so take it with a pinch of salt for now and stick around for more updates.
iQOO will be announcing the iQOO Neo6 today at 5 PM (local time) in China. In the past few days, the Chinese manufacturer has revealed the design and key features of the Neo6. Hours before the official announcement, the Neo6 has a model number of V2196A popped up in the database of the TENAA certification with full specifications.
iQOO Neo6 specifications
The TENAA listing of the iQOO Neo6 states that it measures 163 x 76.16 x 8.5mm and weighs around 197 grams. It has a 6.62-inch AMOLED screen that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. iQOO has already confirmed that it supports a 120Hz refresh rate and packs a 4,700mAh dual-cell battery that supports 80W fast charging.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is present under the hood of the iQOO Neo6. The device is equipped with 6 GB / 8 GB / 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB storage. The device lacks a microSD card slot.
iQOO Neo6
The Neo6 has a 16-megapixel camera for snapping selfies. Its rear camera unit has a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel secondary lens, and a 2-megapixel camera. iQOO has confirmed that the main camera of the Neo6 will have support for optical image stabilization.
It is expected to come preinstalled with the Android 12 OS and OriginOS Ocean UI. For security, it features an in-screen fingerprint scanner. iQOO has revealed that the Neo6 will come in black and orange colors. Rumors have it that it will also arrive in a blue option.
The iQOO Neo6 will replace the Neo5 from last year. The Neo5 key specs include a 6.62-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED screen, the Snapdragon 870 SoC, OIS-enabled 48-megapixel triple cameras, and a 4,400mAh battery with 66W fast charging support.
Google has launched its flagship Pixel 6 series smartphones last year which includes the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Now, the technology giant is gearing up to launch the Pixel 6a smartphones in the market.
While the company has not yet confirmed the launch date for the upcoming Pixel A-series smartphone, new reports indicate that the Google Pixel 6a could be officially announced sometime in the month of May this year.
Google Pixel 6a CAD renders by 91mobiles/Steve Hemmerstoffer
The phone has also been spotted on the FCC website and the documents from the listing reveal some features that will be available on the Pixel 6a, which has been listed with multiple models. From the listing, it appears that at least one model of the Pixel 6a will come with support for mmWave 5G which is also known as high-band 5G.
It is being speculated that the device will be released at the company’s annual developer conference named Google I/O, which is scheduled to start on 11th May. Last year, the Pixel 5a passed through FCC in July, just a month before it got launched. If we have to go by that timing, then the Pixel 6a, which passed thorugh FCC this month, should get launched next month, i.e. May 2022.
Unlike the Pixel 5a smartphone, which was available only in the United States and Japan, the upcoming Google Pixel 6a is expected to get launched in multiple countries.
If the previous reports are to be believed, then the Pixel 6a will have a 6.2-inch OLED display and will come with an under-display fingerprint sensor. It is expected to keep the same camera configuration as its predecessor but will come powered by Google’s own Tensor mobile processor along with the AI-powered features.
Apple has a lineup of successful audio products in the form of Airpods and products under its Beats brand. The Beats Studio Buds were launched last year and the company is now adding more color options for the customers to choose from.
The company is adding three color options — Pink, Blue, and Gray. This is in addition to the existing color options — Black, Red, and White. The new color options will be available for purchase from today through Apple Store, Best Buy, Amazon, and Target.
In addition to the new color options, Beats Studio Buds is also getting some major useful features targeted toward Android users. The company is adding support for a feature called “Locate my Beats” and Product Widgets.
As the name itself indicates, Locate mu Buds feature will be helpful to track down the misplaced earbuds. Through product widgets, users will be able to view battery life information and control listening modes from Android devices.
It’s noteworthy that these new features are coming to Android but were already available for iOS users. Also, the features aren’t limited to the Beats Studio Buds but are rolled out for all products from the brand that works with the Beats application on Android.
Apple has also revealed that the Beats Studio Buds have been the best-selling Beats products so far. The wireless earbuds are available for purchase for the price of $150 in the United States through various stores, including Apple’s own stores.
Huawei’s homegrown HarmonyOS has evolved rapidly since the advent of US sanctions against the company. The third iteration of the HarmonyOS is billed for a September 2022 release. The Beta version of the software will be out in the coming weeks, according to Weibo tipster, Changan Digital King.
HarmonyOS 3.0 was announced in October 2021 and its first Developer Preview was out shortly thereafter. The trajectory of the evolution of the HarmonyOS 3.0 has seen a review of the timeline. As per the details provided by the tipster, the stable release of Harmony OS 3.0 is slated for September 2022. The previous version (Version 2.0) was launched in June 2021 and its ecosystem is already 100 million.
The HarmonyOS 3.0 has an improved UI and better performance overall. It, however, doesn’t come with significant changes to the look and feel of the OS. Other accompanying apps like ArkUI have also been released. ArkUI is a declarative UI environment for building apps using TypeScript or JavaScript.
The Huawei Mate 50 lineup is predicted to feature one of the first models to deploy the HarmonyOS 3.0. The Huawei Mate 50 could be released by July this year. As for which existing devices will be updated to the new version, we should get an indication of that as the first betas start rolling out.
A few months back, Vivo announced the Vivo Y15s budget smartphone in the Indian market with modest specs like dual cameras and MediaTek’s Helio chipset. At the launch, the smartphone was priced at Rs. 10,990. Now, however, the phone has received a price cut in the country.
The Vivo Y15s has received a Rs. 500 price cut in just two months of its release. The device now costs Rs. 10,490 in India. This pricing is for the lone variant of 3GB RAM + 32GB storage. The phone can be purchased in Mystic Blue and Wave Green color options.
The Vivo Y15s comes with a 6.51-inch water-drop notch display having an HD+(720 1600 pixels) resolution. It is an IPS LCD screen with a 60Hz refresh rate and thin bezels on all three sides except for the bottom.
It has an 8MP front camera for selfies and features a dual-camera system at the back. It has a 13MP main and a 2MP macro camera setup.
Powering the handset is the MediaTek Helio P35 SoC paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It also has a microSD card slot for additional storage requirements. It comes with a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom.
The device packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging speed. The phone boots on Android 11 Go Edition and has FunTouch OS 11.1 on top of it.
Renowned motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha is gradually making inroads into the Indian electric scooter market. The company is well known as a manufacturer of petrol-powered motorcycles but is gradually embracing electric vehicles production. Yamaha has showcased some of its new e-scooter offerings in India. The move is a precursor to the release of the new models to the Indian market.
Yamaha showcased the E01 and NEO’s e-scooters at a dealers’ meet which it organized Monday. The Yamaha E01 is comparable to a 125cc petrol motorbike and could be an instant sensation in the subcontinent. Yamaha will build on the traction already created for some of its popular scooters like Fascino and RayZR to leverage the new models. Moreover, Yamaha has already filed the trademark for the E01 which was showcased at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. The Yamaha E01 e-scooter is a maxi-styled scooter that has a sporty design. It has a prominent front fascia, dual headlights, a compact windscreen, and an expansive single-piece seat.
The Yamaha E01 also features a digital instrument console, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless start. Three ride modes are available namely Eco, Normal, and Power. The E01 will have an 11kW electric motor and offers a range of up to 80km on a single charge.
Yamaha Neo’s e-scooter is based on the E02 concept showcased at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. It is available in Europe and a few other markets for EUR 3,005. It is equipped with a 50.4V, 19.2Ah Lithium-ion battery pack and the powertrain is at par with that of a 50cc scooter. The Yamaha Neo is already available as a 50cc petrol-powered scooter in select markets. The dual battery pack could give the Neo’s a range of 68km with charging times up to 8 hours.
There are no specifics yet on the release dates and other key details for the new Yamaha e-scooters. It will be interesting to see how these models square up in India. For the Neo’s, it is difficult to see it being a success due to the poor charging infrastructure in the country and its low range.
Portronics on Tuesday launched the all-new Portronics SoundDrum P. A portable Bluetooth speaker that has 20-watt bass-boosted audio and a non-stop 7 hours of battery life.
Portronics SoundDrum P Pricing and Specifications
The Portronics SoundDrum P is priced at Rs. 2,649(~$35) and comes in Black and Blue color options. However, on Amazon, the speaker is being sold for a lower price tag of Rs. 2,399(~$32). It can be purchased from Amazon.in, Portronics website, and other online and offline stores in the country.
Black
Blue
The Portronics SoundDrum P comes with a small portable design. It is made out of plastic, silicone, and fabric materials. The speaker weighs 740 grams and has multiple ports like an AUX port, USB Type-C, USB Type-A port, and a microSD card slot. It comes with a control panel that lets you switch between modes, skip music tracks, control volume, and answer calls directly through the speaker.
It packs a 4,000mAh dual-cell battery (2x 2000mAh) that is claimed to offer up to 7 hours of non-stop music. Interestingly, the speaker can also act as a power bank, thanks to its wired reverse charging capability. It has 12 months of warranty and can be paired with both Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth v5.0.
Realme C35 and C31 were launched last month in India, and now, both devices have headed to the UK. Both phones have a similar design and have a UNISOC chipset, under the hood. Starting today, two of the phones can be purchased at affordable prices.
By affordable, we mean a really cheap price. The Realme C35 costs £150 for the 4GB + 64GB variant and £170 for the 4GB + 128GB variant. However, the phone will go on a flash sale promo offer that gets you £10 off on the base variant and £20 off on the higher variant. The discounted price will be from April 12 to April 18.
Realme C35
On the other hand, the Realme C31 is priced at £130 for the 4GB + 64GB variant, but you will be eligible for £10 off during the aforementioned promo period.
The specs of these phones are similar and so is their design. Both devices bring a newer look, especially at the back. The camera island is where the design’s been changed. The front is unchanged with the notch display.
The C35 gets a 6.6-inch HD+ LCD screen, while the C31 boasts a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD panel. Both are backed by a 5,000mAh cell, but the C35 has a faster 18W fast charging speed, whereas, the C31 supports a 10W charging speed.
The Realme C35 is powered by a UNISOC T616 chipset, while the C31 draws power from the UNISOC T612. The duo has LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.2 expandable storage via a microSD card.
The C35 gets a better 50MP + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (monochrome) rear camera setup, whereas, the C31 has a 13MP + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (monochrome) rear camera array. Both boot on Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 OS and have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Redmi 10A was launched last month in China with a revamped design, Helio G25, and a big battery. Now, the phone is expected to land in several other major markets outside China. It appears that the first global market to get the device will be India as a tipster has revealed the release date of the smartphone for the Indian market.
As per PassionateGeekz, the Redmi 10A will launch on April 20 in the Indian market. We expect it to arrive in Black, Blue, and Silver colors. The pricing of the phone is yet to be revealed, but we can expect it to come under Rs. 10,000 segment in India.
The Redmi 10A in China comes with a 6.53-inch water-drop notch display with an HD+(1600 x 720 pixels) resolution. The panel has 400 nits of peak brightness and an aspect ratio of 20:9. It sports a single 5MP front camera for selfies and has a 13MP single camera on the rear.
It is a 4G device that packs the MediaTek Helio G25 SoC paired with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of internal storage. It has a microSD card for storage expandability up to 512GB. The phone houses a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging speed.
The phone has a micro-USB port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio. It boasts a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for security. MIUI 12.5 is what runs on the handset and has Android 11 OS on top of it.
Xiaomi has launched the MIJIA Smart DC Variable Frequency Floor-standing Fan. The product will be available under crowdfunding on Xiaomi Mall from April 13 with a crowdfunding price tag of 429 yuan(~$67). After the exercise, the product will adopt a retail price of 499 yuan (~$78).
Among the top selling points of the fan is the ability to circulate air to the entire house within 2 minutes thanks to its large air volume of 29m3/min. It also comes with an automatic rotating head with an ultra-wide angle of rotation. Other features include temperature and humidity sensor wind control, and 16m long-distance deep circulation.
The MIJIA Smart DC Variable Frequency Floor-standing Fan outputs up to 6.5m/s vortex gathering wind at high speed, and the air supply distance is as long as 16 meters, so that the air in the whole house can be deeply circulated.
In addition, the fan features a built-in Hall sensor, supports horizontal 150°, vertical 90° dual-axis automatic rotation, and multi-angle wide sweep, reaching a larger area. When the fan is turned off, the head returns to its resting position.
At the same time, the fan has a built-in high-precision temperature and humidity sensor. In smart mode and sleep mode, it can automatically match the gear and wind speed according to different indoor environmental conditions.
As a Xiaomi smart home appliance, it can also link other home appliances, including dehumidifiers, air conditioners, humidifiers, heating, and more. At the same time, you can also fine-tune the 100-degree wind block through the MIJIA app.
After teasing for days, Oppo has officially launched the Oppo F21 Pro in India. The mid-range smartphone arrives with a revamped design and a new set of features. Just like its predecessors, it has a unique look and feel, but comes with mediocre specs. Is this phone any better than other devices in the segment? Should you buy it? I try to answer these questions in this review.
Before delving into the review, I would like to put a disclaimer that this review is based on my personal experience with an Oppo F21 Pro review sample loaned to me by Oppo India. The opinions stated here are mine alone, and the company had no early look or editorial input.
Oppo F21 Pro Review
Box Contents
Oppo F21 Pro
Transparent Case
33W SuperVOOC Charger
USB Type-A to Type-C cable
SIM Ejector Tool
Documentation
Unlike previous models in the lineup, the device does not ship with a free pair of wired earphones.
Design and Build
The best thing about the Oppo F21 Pro is its design. The phone comes in two color options, namely Sunset Orange (fiberglass leather) and Cosmic Black (glass).
I have the former color variant. The back of this version is made of fiberglass leather. This artificial leather finish feels good in the hands and looks fascinating in the orange color. It’s one of a kind, as there aren’t many orange-colored smartphones in the market.
I didn’t use the case included in the box at all. Clearly, the handset wants to be used naked. During my week of usage, the leather back did not accumulate any noticeable dirt.
Another notable thing about the phone’s design is its camera island. It mimics a camcorder with a dual-tone finish. Apart from an LED flashlight, there’s also an LED ring for notifications.
The flat frame of the handset is made of plastic, but it feels sturdy in the hands. The two sides of the frame are occupied by a tactile power key on the right and volume buttons, as well as the SIM card slot on the left.
The top only includes a secondary microphone hole. Whereas, the bottom houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, a primary microphone hole, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker grille.
As a whole, the smartphone measures only 7.54mm in thickness (excluding the camera bump) and weighs just 175 grams. Hence, it is very comfortable to hold for a long period of time.
Display and Sound
The Oppo F21 Pro sports a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole on the top left corner. The canvas has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio.
The screen supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate. The display performs well for the price. It gets sufficiently bright under direct sunlight.
However, it is worth noting that the panel could not run at 90Hz refresh rate at all times. This could be either due to the lower mid-range chipset or because of the software optimization. It is a known issue on phones with a similar configuration.
Interestingly, though the screen supports HDR10 and HLG standards, it cannot play HDR videos on YouTube. Also, the device lacks Widevine L1 certification, and therefore, it cannot play HD videos on popular streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. But Oppo says these issues will not be present on the retail unit.
Unlike most smartphones in the segment, the Oppo F21 Pro does not come with dual stereo speakers. Though it has a single bottom-firing unit, it is loud enough for binge-watching. Anyway, the absence of stereo sound will always be felt if you are used to it, like me.
Then, there’s a headphone jack for those who don’t own or prefer wireless earphones. But as mentioned earlier, you won’t find a free pair of wired earphones in the box.
Hardware and Software
The Oppo F21 Pro is run by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC. The chipset is paired with 8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage.
The handset also has support for up to 5GB of virtual RAM. By default, it ships with the 3GB virtual RAM option enabled. I did not make any changes to the value throughout my usage, as most users would.
On the software front, the device boots ColorOS 12.1 based on Android 12. The experience is the same as what you would find on Oppo smartphones with the same software, but only slower. This means you also get bloatware, but unfortunately, they are uninstallable.
Geekbench
AnTuTu Benchmark
Wild Life Stress Test
CPU Throttling Test
Though the software tries to be responsive as possible, it is held down by the lower-end chip. That does not mean the phone is dead slow. It’s just not as fast as the competitors and Oppo’s own Reno 7 and Reno 6.
The handset performs well for day-to-day usage. It can hold multiple apps in memory, but not for a long period of time, which is expected from a similarly specced device. Just don’t expect a good gaming experience, as it is not built for it.
Camera
The Oppo F21 Pro comes equipped with a triple camera setup on the rear. The system consists of a 64MP OmniVision OV64B primary sensor, a 2MP Galaxycore GC02M1 sensor with a 15x microlens, and a 2MP Galaxycore GC02M1B depth sensor. Whereas, on the front, it features a 32MP Sony IMX709 RGBW sensor for selfies.
Out of the four cameras, only two of them are useful. The depth sensor is of no use like on any other smartphone. On the other hand, there’s not much to do with the microlens. One would get bored in a while and may forget that it even exists.
Human (Rear Camera)
Human (Selfie Camera)
Talking about the primary camera first, it is the same sensor found on the expensive Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G (review) and Oppo Reno 6 5G (review) last year. However, the software processing is quite different.
Those two Reno handsets couldn’t output the proper skin tones of human subjects. But the new F21 Pro comes close. I really like how it shows the color of dark skin. The device even does not make changes to irregularities like pimples. The output from the camera is almost the same as what you see in real life.
But the color accuracy is not great, and that’s fine because people love pictures that are appealing to their eyes. There’s no over-saturation as such, which is a good thing.
HDR or high dynamic range is good but just like the Renos I have tested earlier, the processing is sometimes too extreme when there’s more backlight. Hence, you get to see halo effects in such images.
Evening
Night
Night (Night Mode)
In low light conditions, the pictures are grainy, as you would expect from a lower mid-range smartphone. The night mode does not help much either.
Coming to the selfie camera, though the device has good hardware, the processing is poor. I did not like using the front camera at all. The skin tones are way off the chart. But the other aspects are similar to that of the main camera. Additionally, both the front and rear cameras have a wider lens to accommodate more subjects.
As far as video recording is concerned, both the rear and front cameras are limited to 1080p at 30fps quality. The videos out of these two sensors are average at best. They are slow at focussing and there’s no stability. In low light, they are grainy, just like the photos. Anyway, the audio captured by the microphones is clear, but there’s no noticeable noise cancellation.
Miscellaneous
The handset is limited to 4G connectivity, which is fine as 5G networks are yet to go live in India. Even if the new generation network gets launched by the end of 2022 or early 2023, it won’t be widely available across the country.
Talking about what’s present, LTE mobile data works well as it should and so does mobile hotspot. There’s no issue with the audio from the headpiece, and the same can be said for the microphone quality. Similarly, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth work fine. I did not face any drops.
Finally, the LED ring light for the microscope camera can also be used for notifications, call alerts, charging indications, and even for game launches. Though it looks cool, I didn’t find any use for it as I usually place my phone backside down.
Battery and Charging
The Oppo F21 Pro gets its juice from a 4,500mAh battery. On a full charge, it can easily last a day and some more. Because the Snapdragon 680 chip present inside the device is energy-efficient as it uses a 6nm process.
At the same time, the battery can be recharged in less than 90 minutes with the included 33W SuperVOOC fast charger. It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes to fill from 10% to 100%.
It is definitely not the fastest charging handset in the segment. But that’s fine for most people, unless you are one of those who are always in a hurry.
Verdict
Just like most Oppo smartphones, the Oppo F21 Pro is not meant for everyone. It is average in all categories, except for the design. The phone’s look and in-hand feel need to be experienced firsthand to appreciate them.
There are consumers for whom design comes first. For them, this could be the best purchase.
Whereas, for others, if you are fine with the shortcomings mentioned above, there’s nothing wrong in choosing this handset over competitors.
Alternately, the Oppo F21 Pro is probably one of the best options for those looking for a secondary smartphone in this price segment. Mostly because it is thin and light and offers a good battery life, in addition to its looks being a head turner.
After launching the iQOO Z6 5G a few weeks back, the brand is back, this time for the release of its Pro version called the iQOO Z5 Pro 5G. The smartphone is going through a lot of leaks online and the brand has also confirmed its price segment last week. Now, the tipster Yogesh Brar has shared the specs sheet of the smartphone. Additionally, the phone’s design has been leaked by a Youtuber.
The iQOO Z6 Pro 5G will come with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display sporting a Full-HD+ resolution. It will be a water-drop notch panel with a 90Hz refresh rate.
The smartphone will house a 16MP camera on the front for selfies. On the back, it will come with a triple camera system. The setup will include a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP macro unit.
Courtesy – Tech Burner
It will come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC paired with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of internal storage. The device is expected to pack a 4,500mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging technology.
The device is said to come with Gaming mode and also has a stereo speaker setup. It will boot on FunTouchOS with Android 12 OS on the top.
In addition to this, a Youtuber shared a hands-on video of the device ahead of its release. The phone has a new rear design as opposed to its younger sibling, the iQOO Z6 5G.
Courtesy – Tech Burner
It has a big camera island with two big rings holding three of the aforementioned sensors. The phone is made out of polycarbonate plastic and has a matte finish on the back. We also get to learn that the device does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is not the case with the vanilla iQOO Z6 5G. Furthermore, the phone has a Dark Grey/Black color option.
Other than this, iQOO has previously confirmed that the iQOO Z6 Pro 5G will arrive under Rs. 25,000 segment in India. It is claimed to be the fastest phone in the segment.
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi crowdfunded the Xiaomi Wireless Car Charger Pro in December last year. The product which was offered for 349 yuan (~$54) received backing from over 18,000 people with gross revenue of more than 2.13 million yuan.
More than three months after, the tech giant has now launched the Mi Wireless Car Charger in China. The car accessory adopts a slightly higher 369 yuan (~$58) price tag.
The wireless car charger features support for 50W MAX wireless fast flash charging and is compatible with a variety of wireless charging devices including the Xiaomi MIX 4, Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11 Pro, and Mi 11. It also delivers fast charging for Samsung mobile phones and iPhones that support wireless charging. It should be noted that this product does not support the wireless charging function of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition.
Xiaomi Wireless Car Charger Pro uses a new generation of microwave radar sensors to sense and identify the opening of the clip arm through the movement of objects. This is different from infrared sensors.
The Wireless Car Charger Pro adopts a triangular structure design and will not shake on bumpy roads. The clip arm can reach 84mm after the arm is opened, and the effective charging induction can reach 4mm.
The Xiaomi Wireless Car Charger Pro adopts a hidden straight air duct design, which directly fits the surface of the car charger through the internal air duct. It can be intelligently adjusted according to the level of charging power. When charging with high power, it can help the mobile phone to actively cool down, shorten the charging time and improve the charging efficiency.
At the same time, the Xiaomi Wireless Car Charger Pro has a built-in supercapacitor. When the car charger is in normal use, if the power supply vehicle is powered off, the electric clip arm can still be opened by touching the button once so that the phone can be taken out.
In addition, the Xiaomi Wireless Car Charger Pro adds a universal hook fixing clip compared to the previous generation, which is specially designed for the circular air outlet. It can also use the standard flat sticking base to directly stick to the plane inside the car.
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