Vivo has been working on a foldable smartphone for some time and now the company is all set to officially launch the device, which is named Vivo X Fold. The company has announced that the launch event will take place on 11th April in China.
Ahead of the launch event, key details about the Vivo X Fold smartphone have already been leaked. Now, just days ahead of the launch event, a photo of the marketing material for the smartphone has leaked, revealing more specifications.
It confirms that the Vivo X Fold features an 8-inch 2K LTPO 3.0 internal folding screen with support for a 120Hz refresh rate. There is also a 6.53-inch Full HD+ outer display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, coupled with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 internal storage. It is expected to have up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
In the camera department, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back with Zeiss lens and T* coating. There’s a 50-megapixel Samsung GN5 primary camera sensor, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 12-megapixel portrait lens, and a 5-megapixel periscope lens.
It runs the Android 12 operating system with the company’s own custom UI on top. The phone packs a 4,600mAh battery and comes with 66W fast charging support and 50W wireless charging. Based on the previous reports, the phone may be available in three colors options — Blue, Crimson, and Orange.
It has also been revealed that the display of the Vivo X Fold smartphone has matched or broken 19 DisplayMate records. The hinge on the phone has been certified to work for 300,000 folds and unfolds.
Back in June 2021, Tecno unveiled the Phantom X smartphone in African markets. According to a report by PassionateGeekz, the Phantom X will launch this month (April) in India. In addition, it has leaked the smartphone’s configuration and color variants for the Indian market.
The global listing of the Phantom X states that it is equipped with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage. It is likely that the smartphone may debut with the same variant in India. However, the possibility of it being available in 8GB+128GB or lower variants cannot be ruled out. It is likely to arrive in Starry Night Blue and Summer Sunset colors.
Tecno Phantom X
Tecno Phantom X specifications
The Tecno Phantom X is the first premium smartphone from the brand. It has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a curved edge design and a pill-shaped cutout for the dual selfie camera system. The screen comes with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The display cutout a 48-megapixel primary selfie snapper and an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera.
The back panel of the Phantom X has a 50-megapixel primary camera with laser autofocus support. It is coupled with a 13-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a quad-LED flash unit.
The Phantom X is powered by the MediaTek Helio G95 chipset, 8 GB of RAM, and a 4,700mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. It comes with 256 GB of native storage and a microSD card. It comes with an in-screen fingerprint scanner for security. The device runs on HiOS flavored Android 11 OS.
Since the Tecno Phantom X is tipped to launch this month in India, the company may roll out its first teasers in the country in the next few days. At present, there is no information on the Phantom X’s price in India.
On March 28, the POCO X4 Pro 5G went official in India. As announced during the launch, the smartphone will be available for purchase starting from today (April 5) at 12 pm (local time) in the country. Here is all the information on the offers that are available for buyers of the POCO X4 Pro 5G.
POCO X5 Pro 5G price in India
The POCO X4 Pro 5G is available in three options in India. The 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage edition is priced at Rs 18,999 (~$252), the 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage model is priced at Rs 19,999 (~$265), and the 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant costs Rs 21,999 (~$291). The handset can be purchased in three colors, such as Laser Black, Laser Blue, and POCO Yellow. it is available for purchase exclusively through Flipkart.
POCO X4 Pro 5G launch offers in India
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POCO X4 Pro 5G
Customers purchasing the POCO X4 Pro through HDFC Bank credit / debit cards and credit card EMI transactions will benefit from a flat discount of Rs 1,000 (~$13). Owners of the POCO X series smartphones such as the POCO X3 Pro, POCO X3, and POCO X2 can trade in their smartphones to get an additional discount of Rs 3,000 (~$40) apart from the exchange value.
POCO X4 Pro 5G specifications
The POCO X4 Pro 5G has a 6.67-inch AMOLED FHD+ display that delivers a 120Hz refresh rate. For selfies, it has a 16-megapixel camera, and its back panel has a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The device runs on the Android 11 OS and MIUI 13.
The Snapdragon 695 chipset powers the POCO X4 Pro 5G. It comes with up to 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Other features of the device include a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging, a side-facing fingerprint scanner, and a microSD card slot.
Samsung has quietly unveiled the Galaxy S20 FE 2022, which is exclusively available in South Korea. The device has been available for purchase in the home market through partnered carriers, such as KT and LG Uplus. Here is all the information on the specifications, features, and pricing of the Galaxy S20 FE 2022.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 specifications
The Galaxy S20 FE 2022 features a 6.5-inch S-AMOLED display that offers a Full HD+ resolution. The Infinity-O punch-hole display offers a 120Hz refresh rate. The front side of the Galaxy S20 FE 2022 has a 32-megapixel selfie camera, and its back panel has a 12-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide) + 8-megapixel (telephoto, with OIS) triple camera unit.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022
The Snapdragon 865 chipset is present under the hood of the device. It comes with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The device packs a 4,500mAh battery. However, there is no information on the fast-charging and wireless charging capabilities of the device. It is unclear whether the device runs on the latest Android 12 OS or Android 11.
The Galaxy S20 FE 2022 comes with an IP68 rated chassis. For security, it features an in-screen fingerprint scanner. According to GSMArena, it is the same Galaxy S20 FE that debuted in 2020. However, the AKG headset is no longer included in the retail box of the phone.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 pricing and availability
There is no word on whether the Galaxy S20 FE 2022 will be made available for purchase outside South Korea. It carries a price tag of KRW 700,000 (~$574). It comes in Cloud White, Cloud Lavender, and Cloud Navy colors. KT is offering a free AKG headset for buyers of the S20 FE 2022 until the end of this month.
Apple‘s next-generation iPhone launch is still several months away but leaks and reports about the upcoming devices keep making rounds, revealing some major changes that the company has planned for this year’s smartphones.
In the latest development, detailed schematics of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max have surfaced online. The pill cutout on the phone’s front panel is claimed to be 7.15mm while the punch-hole cutout will be 5.59mm.
The leaked images also indicate that there will be a gap between the pill-shaped cutout and the punch-hole cutout that is set to replace the notch on the upcoming iPhone models for housing the front-facing camera and the Face ID sensors.
It is also being claimed that the 14 Pro Max will have 1.95mm thin bezels, which is significantly thinner than the 2.42mm bezels found on the 13 Pro Max. This would lead to an increase in the screen-to-body ratio for the upcoming smartphone.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max will be 160.7mm high and the width of the device will be 78.53mm with the side buttons. The depth of the phone, including the camera bump at the back, will be 12.16mm.
It has already been reported that the camera bump on the upcoming iPhone 14 series models is a bit thicker as the company will be using a 48-megapixel primary camera sensor instead of the usual 12-megapixel sensor.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is expected to feature a 6.7-inch display, the same as its predecessor while the Pro model will have a 6.1-inch screen. The Pro models are said to be powered by the Apple 16 Pro processor, unlike the non-Pro models will be running the A16 SoC which is said to be the renamed variant of the current-generation A15 Bionic chip.
Boult Audio has launched a new true wireless earphones in the Indian market, dubbed ENCore X. The announcement of this new wearable device from the brand comes just after the launch of Boult Airbass Z1.
The new Boult ENCore X comes with some advanced features like Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC). The company is also saying that it offers a Pro+ calling experience with a Quad Mic configuration.
The ergonomically designed wireless earbuds have an angled bud with extra-soft silicone which the company says is for improved comfort when used for extended periods of time. It is made up of high-quality ABS chassis with a premium finish. It is rated IPX5, making it water and sweat-resistant.
It packs 10mm drivers and comes with Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity to ensure that it quickly connects with the device and has a reliable connection even across a longer distance. The device has a USB Type-C port which is used for charging the earphones.
The TWS earbuds come with support for touch controls for functions like adjusting volume, changing tracks, answering calls, or triggering voice assistant. Once paired with the device, the earphones can be used as a monopod or in stereo mode.
As for the battery, the company claims that it offers 30 hours of playback time on a single charge. There’s also support for fast charging and Boult Audio adds that even charging the wireless earbuds for just 10 minutes offers a playback time of 100 minutes.
The Boult Audio AirBass ENCore X TWS Earbuds come in Black and White color options and are available for purchase in the Indian market for ₹1,799 (~$24) through the company’s own website. It will go on sale on Amazon.com from 8th April in India.
The Realme GT2 series contains the first premium flagship released by Realme, known as the Realme GT 2 Pro. But there is another variant that is being eclipsed by this top-tier flagship: the Realme GT 2. Besides not being the most advanced phone from the brand, the vanilla version is still an amazing handset providing an incredibly high quality price ratio, and we think it is being underestimated. In order to let you understand the differences between the new handsets, we decided to compare the specifications of the Realme GT 2 Pro to the ones of the GT 2. In this comparison, you will hopefully discover which device has the highest value for money according to your actual needs.
Realme GT 2 Pro vs Realme GT 2
Realme GT 2 Pro
Realme GT 2
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
163.2 x 74.7 x 8.2 mm,
189/199 g
162.9 x 75.8 x 8.6 mm,
194.5 g
DISPLAY
6.7 inches, 1440 x 3216 pixels (Quad HD+), AMOLED
6.62 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels (Full HD+), AMOLED
Triple 50 + 50 + 3 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/3.0
32 MP f/2.4 front camera
Triple 50 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
16 MP f/2.5 front camera
BATTERY
5000 mAh, fast charging 65W
5000 mAh, Fast Charging 65W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
5G, dual SIM
5G, dual SIM
Design
The designs of the Realme GT 2 and the Realme GT 2 Pro are not so different. The only difference is the position of the elements in the camera module: there is more distance between the sensors on the vanilla version, while the Pro variant looks more attractive because the cameras are closer to each other, more similar to a lot of other flagship phones. Both the phones come in two special variants designed by the known Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa and built with a bio-polymer that resembles the touch and feel of real paper. There are also a few additional variants with standard glass backs, for those who do not like this sustainable bio-polymer. But Realme recommends it because it reduces the carbon emissions during the production process and it helps to respect the environment.
Display
One of the most important advantages of the Realme GT 2 Pro is the presence of a better, flagship-class display. Its panel is at the same level as the one found on the most advanced flagships by OPPO and OnePlus: the OPPO Find X5 Pro and the OnePlus 10 Pro. It is an AMOLED display with one billion colors, a diagonal of 6.7 inches, a Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels, the LTPO 2.0 technology enabling an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, and the HDR10+ certification. It is definitely a stunning panel with great color accuracy and a very high level of detail. The Realme GT 2 has a lower-end AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+, but it is still a great panel.
Specs & Software
The Realme GT 2 Pro is fueled by the brand new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform: the best chipset by Qualcomm. It is actually a big upgrade if compared to the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform found on the Realme GT 2, which is the flagship chipset by Qualcomm released in 2021. Both provide flagship-class performance thanks to their high-end chipset, but if you need the fastest phone with the highest GPU performance, then you have to go for the Pro variant. In both cases, you get Android 12 out of the box, customized by Realme UI 3.0. These phones will get three major Android updates and four years of security patches. Is it enough for you?
Camera
Another difference between these two handsets is in the camera department. Both come with a 50 MP Sony IMX766 main camera supporting OIS, but the secondary sensors are different. The Realme GT 2 packs an 8 MP ultrawide camera and a 2 MP macro camera: nothing special, you can get these sensors on most of the midrange phones out there. The Pro variant replaces them with a great 50 MP Sony IMX766 ultrawide sensor and a 3 MP microscope lens with great magnification. Further, the Pro comes with a better 32 MP front camera for selfies.
The battery capacities of these two phones are exactly the same: 5000 mAh. So expect a similar battery life, maybe something more on the Pro variant because it has more efficient components (LTPO 2.0 display and 5 nm chipset).
Price
The Realme GT 2 sells for €549/$603 globally, while the Realme GT 2 Pro starts from €749/$822. Now that you know all the differences, which one would you pick?
Chinese electric scooter and e-bike manufacturer Freego has launched a new electric scooter. The Freego F12 electric scooter is a great entrance into the e-scooter market, especially for intra-city commutes. It features a wide deck, 12-inch wheels, a folding design, and a bigger payload capacity than is commonly seen. The Freego F12 has a maximum payload capacity of 120kg, far above the average of 80kg.
The Freego F12 has been described as the best folding electric scooter primed for suburban pleasure and that may be the fact. It comes with a 500W brushless DC motor that delivers high performance for the F12 as it can get to a top speed of 35km/h (21mph). The Freego F12’s 15Ah battery gives the e-scooter a range of 60km (37 miles). The EV’s range means that it can comfortably operate as a compact and highly maneuverable e-scooter on daily commutes.
The Freego F12 is currently available for preorder via Indiegogo for as low as $1,000. The first deliveries are expected by May 2022. The added power capacity of the F12 that assures a greater torque makes it easy for the e-scooter to climb hills seamlessly even with its added load. This makes the Freego F12 an exciting buy for a wide variety of riders.
Xiaomi has announced the MIJIA Smart Hot and Cold Water Dispenser in China. The gadget will be sold under crowdfunding and it will commence on April 6. While the water dispenser carries an affordable retail price tag of 599 yuan (~$94), the product will be available during the crowdfunding exercise for 549 yuan (~$86).
The MIJIA Smart Hot and Cold Water Dispenser keeps up with the minimalist white design for which Xiaomi’s MIJIA products are known. The device features an LCD screen and supports intelligent digital display function. The gadget packs a water storage bucket at the back and the water level can be observed from the transparent vertical line, which is convenient for adding water in time.
The major difference between this product and the regular instant hot water dispenser is this new product also provides cold water making it a useful product both in winter and summer seasons.
Not long ago, Xiaomi also launched the Mijia Desktop Drinking Machine Hot and Cold Version. This version has three functions. It can chill or warm water and also filters the water before dispensing. The top-end desktop drinking machine is capable of handling 5°C iced water with one click, and can supply hot water in 3 seconds.
The filtration function is missing in this new model but considering the price, that feature won’t likely be missed.
Samsung has announced two new soundbars to accompany the latest Neo OLED 8K TV released this year. They are the Samsung HW-Q990B and HW-S800B soundbars. These audio accessories for the 2022 Neo OLED 8K TV promise to deliver an excellent sound experience to users. The two soundbars feature cutting-edge technology and bear the imprimatur of Samsung’s touch of excellence.
The Samsung HW-S800B soundbar measures 38mm x40mm and is promoted as the best soundbar to combine with The Frame TV. The ultra-slim soundbar can be hung on the wall unobtrusively and comes in colors that accentuate The Frame. The HW-S800B has two speakers on both sides and supports Dolby Atmos. The Samsung HW-S800B soundbar is priced at 899,000 won (~$739).
The Samsung HW-Q990B soundbar comes well kitted for an immersive sound experience with several innovative features. Some of its highlights include 3D surround sound, Dolby Atmos, and when it is connected to the Samsung Neo OLED 8K TV, it outputs high-octane 3D stereophonic sound, unlike any other device. The Q-Symphony feature helps to create an optimal surround sound experience. This new version of the Q-Symphony utilizes all the speakers of the TV, unlike previous models. Connectivity to the TV can be achieved via Wi-Fi in place of using an HDMI cable. The HW-S800B soundbar is priced at 1.89 million won (~$1,555).
The two soundbars were announced in Samsung’s home market of South Korea and their availability is only in Korea at the moment. There are no indications yet on the global availability and pricing of the two premium soundbars.
Fossil is making significant inroads into the Indian smartwatch market with the unveiling of its range of Skagen Falster Gen 6 and Wear OS smartwatches in the country. This comes on the back of the unveiling last year of the Fossil Gen 6 lineup in India. The Fossil Skagen Falster Gen 6 smartwatches sport a slightly different design from the Fossil Gen 6 lineup and added features. The Skagen Falster Gen 6 is priced at Rs. 21,995 (~$290) and is available via Skagen’s website.
The Fossil Skagen Falster Gen 6 smartwatches sport a stainless steel build, a 1.28-inch AMOLED screen, and a 42mm case size. The smartwatch is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ SoC. The Skagen Falster Gen 6 has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The magnetic charging port of the Skagen Falster Gen 6 supports rapid charging and an array of sensors is available for monitoring. These include heart rate, SpO2, compass, gyroscope, and altimeter.
As specified, the Skagen Falster Gen 6 smartwatches will run on Wear OS 2 out of the box but will be updated to Wear OS 3 subsequently. The smartwatch is water-resistant up to 34 ATM. Connectivity is via Bluetooth 5.0 LE, Wi-Fi, GPS, and NFC SE.
The Skagen Falster Gen 6 in India will be available in 5 color variants with basically the same size and design. There are several strap options also available including leather, silicone, and Skagen’s stainless steel mesh. The Skagen Falster Gen 6 smartwatch is also compatible with existing 20mm straps and offers greater customization options.
Back in December 2020, Huami introduced the popular Amazfit GTS 2 Mini smartwatch In the Indian market. And now 15 months after the initial launch, the brand is now launching a new version of the popular smartwatch in India dubbed the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini New Version which will debut on April 11.
Amazfit GTS 2 Mini New Version specs & features
The new version of the smart wearable comes in three new colors, namely Midnight Black, Flamingo Pink, and Sage Green. The original GTS 2 Mini also offers three color options being Meteor Black, Flamingo Pink, and Breeze Blue.
The smartwatch offers 68+ sports modes in the new version compared to over 70 sports modes in the older version. The GTS 2 Mini New Version also misses on the barometric altimeter meaning that this time around, it does not support sports modes like Snowboarding, Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing, Snowboarding double, and Skiing.
Apart from the above-mentioned changes, the rest of the features of the smartwatch remains the same as in the older version. The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini New Version sports a 2.5D curved 1.55-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 354 x 306 pixels and 301 PPI pixel density. It offers 450 nits brightness, 80+ watch faces, and comes with Always On Display (AOD) feature with 60+ different patterns.
The body of the wearable is made of aluminum alloy, which measures 8.95mm thick. The watch weighs 19.5 grams in total. In terms of sensors, the watch comes with a BioTracker 2 PPG sensor for heart rate tracking, a movement acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an ambient light sensor, a SpO2 sensor, and a vibration motor.
Other features offered on the smartwatch are sleep quality monitoring, female cycle tracking, and a built-in Amazon Alexa assistant. It also has a breathing exercise mode that guides users through the process and helps in relaxation.
The watch is said to last anywhere from 7 days to 21 days on a single charge. It comes with all the usual smartwatch features like notification and call alerts, and camera and music control. It can also be worn worry-free while swimming as it comes with a 5ATM water resistance rating.
Amazfit GTS 2 Mini New Version will be launched in India via Amazon on April 11 at 12 PM. Although its pricing is yet to be revealed, it is expected to be priced at Rs 6,999.
Post-processing is what makes smartphone cameras great. Even though every smartphone manufacturer has its way of doing it, Google might be one of the best in the league in the post-processing department. The American tech giant’s Pixel line-up is known for its image processing capabilities.
Credit is due where it should be, and Google CAM might be one of the best camera apps in the Android realm. So in this guide, we’ll show you how to download and install GCAM on any Android device.
What makes GCAM great over other camera apps is its unmatched post-processing ability of images. Clever programming has allowed them to use the same camera sensors for three generations of Pixel devices. Any smartphone enthusiast would agree that Pixel devices are best suited for photography.
Download & Install GCAM on any Android device
GCAM is a name given to the mod that brings the Google Camera app to non-Pixel devices. These mods were made specific to certain brands and smartphones, and now it seems developers are taking a new turn. Many are doing their best to make a generic mod that can be installed on any Android device without rooting the device. The mod performs well on any device, but we’d recommend a mid-range or a premium smartphone for better results. We’ll show you how to download GCAM 8.4.
But first, here are the key features of the app.
What’s new in GCAM 8.4
Bug fixes are critical for the proper function of an app, and Google has been updating the application regularly. The GCAM mod you’re about to download will also come packed with these patches and fixes.
Added AUX mode with button detection. Also, you can go to the Advanced menu for advanced controls.
Fixes glitches and artifacts while switching between modes.
The version you’re about to download has been tested on the following devices. But, we believe it would work on any Android device.
Most OnePlus users won’t be having problems running the app.
The app has been tested on the Samsung S line from the S8 onwards, and things seem to be working just fine.
The app has also been tested on Poco, Xiaomi, and Asus smartphones. But as we said, it should work on most Android devices.
We believe you’re aware that Android 10 is a requirement for GCAM. So make sure your device is running on Android 10 or later. But no one will stop you from trying it on your older Android device.
Download GCAM 8.4
Visit the official GCAM forum and download the latest version. Note that the APK is in beta, and do not be amazed by the plethora of bugs.
Open the APK file once the downloading is complete. You might be asked to allow installs from Unknown sources. Make sure to permit it if you want to proceed with the installation.
Wait for the installation to complete. Open the app once done.
You can click here to try out older device-specific versions of the GCAM app.
Make sure that your device supports camera2.API. It should be enabled for the proper functioning of the app. If you have no clue what it is, you can download apps from the Play Store to see if your device supports it.
You can refer to this BSG page for additional information on the APK you’re about to download and install on your device.
In case you’re wondering what the GCAM has to offer over native camera apps, here are some features that should give you a kickstart.
Astrophotography
The mode enables you to capture the stars and planets. You can grab some great shots of the night sky, but patience is a prerequisite for such situations.
High-Res Video Recording
Video recording is a passion for many, and Google nails it among other Android devices. You can now capture high-res videos with the GCAM app if your hardware is up for the job.
AI-powered HDR
HDR in itself is great, and Google is doing its best to take it miles further. You can now grab the tiniest details thanks to Google’s AI and machine learning capabilities.
There are rumors that a major update is on its way for the Pixel devices. The camera will likely be a crucial part of that update. We hope GCAM developers will be waiting to bring the next best thing from Google to others. Until then, our best choice is to keep up with the GCAM 8.4.
Apple has been focusing more on the services side of the business and selling more subscriptions. The company has introduced several subscription services in recent years and now the tech giant could be coming up with a hardware subscription offer.
If the recent reports are anything to go by, then Apple is planning to offer its iPhone as a subscription service where the users will need to pay a monthly fee instead of buying the smartphone by paying the full price upfront.
Now, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says that the subscription fee for the iPhone 13 could be $35 per month while the 13 Pro could cost $45 per month. The top-end model, iPhone 13 Pro Max, is expected to cost $50 per month.
There’s a possibility that the program may include some other services from the company such as the Apple One or Apple Care.
The company has an Apple Upgrade program where the user pays a monthly amount for the Apple iPhone and at the end of the term of 24 months, the user owns the device. Unlike that, in the hardware subscription, the user won’t own the iPhone as it will just be like monthly rent for the iPhone.
It’s pretty clear that the Cupertino-based technology giant is looking to earn more revenue and the subscription service fits that model as it would enable the brand to generate recurring revenue from the users.
Apple has not yet officially announced this subscription program for the iPhone but the reports indicate that the company could announce it by the end of this year or next year.
Last week, Fire-Boltt launched the Ring 2 smartwatch in India which will be available for purchase starting April 6. The company has now listed a new smartwatch on Amazon dubbed the Fire-Boltt Incredible which is expected to launch soon in India.
Fire-Boltt Incredible: Specs & features
The Amazon listing reveals that the upcoming smartwatch will feature a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with a 360 x 360-pixel resolution. The screen will offer deep blacks and true-to-life colors along with a swift touch response. It features a classic circular dial design and offers a crown button for easy navigation across the UI and the watch’s menu.
Health-related features on the Fire-Boltt Incredible smartwatch include a SpO2 monitor and a heart rate tracker which give provide breakdowns of readings throughout the day. The watch also features a meditative breathing exercise mode that guides you through the process. Coming to fitness features on the smartwatch, it features 28 sports modes including walking, running, cricket, yoga, badminton, cycling, football, and more. The watch also keeps track of daily step count, distance traveled, calories burnt, and average heart rate.
The Fire-Boltt Incredible offers functionalities like on-watch notifications from apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and incoming call alerts. The watch also gives users control over the camera of the paired smartphone along with control over the music. For entertainment, the watch features built-in offline games like flappy bird clone and 2048.
Fire-Boltt claims that the Incredible smartwatch can last up to 7 days on a single charge in normal mode and 20 days of standby time. It comes with an IP68 dust and water resistance rating and offers 200+ cloud-based watch faces.
The pricing and launch date of the Fire-Boltt Incredible is expected to be revealed in the coming days, so stay tuned for the latest updates.
Last week was not the busiest in the consumer technology world. However, we did witness multiple product launches in different markets though some of them had already gone official earlier.
The most notable events were hosted by OnePlus and Black Shark for the OnePlus 10 series and the Black Shark 5 series respectively. Then, there was also a Xiaomi conference at which the company introduced two more Redmi Note 11s.
Finally, as far as non-launches are concerned, we have selected two articles to complete our list. These are regarding Samsung’s self-repair program and Chrome v100.
With that out of the day, let’s take a look at the aforementioned stories one by one.
The OnePlus 10 Pro finally made its global debut on March 31. The smartphone was also accompanied by the OnePlus Bullets wireless Z2 neckband-style wireless earphones.
The handset has the exact same set of features as the original Chinese model, except for a couple of changes. The North American version is limited to 65W fast wired charging. Further, the T-Mobile variant has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Interestingly, the device comes in a single 8GB + 128GB memory configuration in North America. While the rest of the world gets the handset in 8GB + 128GB as well as 12GB + 256GB memory versions.
The phone starts at $899/₹66,999/€899/£799, while the earphones are priced at ₹1,999.
2. Black Shark 5 series goes official offering 4 chipset options
Black Shark 5 Pro
The Black Shark 5 series wasunveiled last week consisting of three models. Customers can select from four different chipset options and slightly varying specs.
The vanilla model is powered by Snapdragon 870, whereas the Pro model houses the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Then, there’s an RS model, which comes in Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 888+ variants.
The RS version looks identical to the Black Shark 4/4S series. On the other hand, the other two models sport a new design. Apart from the cameras, the rest of the specs are more or less the same on all three.
As far as pricing is concerned, the Black Shark 5, 5 Pro, 5 RS start at ¥2,799 ($440), ¥4,199 ($660), and ¥3,299 ($518) respectively in China.
3. Two new Redmi Note 11s and Redmi 10s
Xiaomi launched two new Redmi Note 11s called Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G and Redmi Note 11S for select international markets. The former is the same as the model sold in China, whereas the latter is a rebranded Redmi Note 11 5G from China and it also goes by the name of POCO M4 Pro 5G in some regions. Additionally, the vanilla Redmi Note 11 got a Xiaomi Fan Festival Special Edition.
The company also unveiled a device called Redmi 10 5G for global markets. This phone is called Redmi Note 11E 5G in China.
Last but not least, Xiaomi also took wraps off the Redmi 10A in China. It is nothing but a refreshed Redmi 9A with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and a different rear design.
4. Samsung partners with iFixit for a self-repair program
Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Ultra
In November 2021, Apple announced a self-repair program for its iPhones. Following the trendsetter, last week, Samsung launched its version of the self-repair program in collaboration with iFixit.
The South Korean electronics giant’s initiative is currently limited to the Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy S21 series, and Galaxy Tab S7+. The program provides authentic parts, repair tools, and repair guides to the customers.
We expect more companies to introduce their self-repair program as part of the ‘right to repair.’
5. Chrome v100 is here
Last week, the world’s popular internet browser, Google Chrome, hit version 100 on all the platforms — Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, At the same time, Chrome OS also got updated to version 100 since it is based on Chrome browser.
Talking about changes, the latest version of the browser arrives with new iconography, multi-screen window placement API, and no more ‘Lite Mode’ on Android as well as iOS.
On the other hand, Chrome OS gets a new launcher, search improvements, ability to edit text using voice, option to make GIFs using camera, and granular options for screenshots and screen recordings.
After a Pune-registered Ola S1 Pro electric scooter caught fire for an unknown reason, Ola now seems to be having another PR nightmare coming its way. A video shared by an Ola S1 Pro owner shows the scooter plagued with a glitch that causes it to run in reverse mode without stopping.
The video (via Zee News) shows the scooter lying on its side with its wheel spinning at 90kmph and its turn signal blinking, possibly stuck as well. Of course, an issue like this is highly dangerous — turning the scooter upright will immediately cause it to zoom backward. And if the glitch strikes while the scooter is being ridden, there can be grave consequences.
It is worth mentioning here that this isn’t the first time an issue involving the wheel spinning in reverse mode has been reported, meaning Ola could be having a genuine problem in its hands. The last time the problem was reported was when the scooter switched to reverse mode while it was being ridden at 102kmph.
The Ola S1 Pro offers a reverse mode feature which is useful for stuff like pulling the vehicle when it’s stuck in a ditch or out of a tough spot when it’s parked. It could be possible that this feature glitched out in the aforementioned incidents.
As with every EV, the Ola S1 Pro is largely software-controlled, meaning that the glitch is probably nothing that can’t be fixed with a software update. But given its nature, Ola sure needs to hurry up.
Last week, Vivo officially confirmed the upcoming Vivo X Note premium flagship phone which is set to launch alongside the Vivo X Fold and the Vivo X Pad on April 11 in China.
So far, the device has been subject to multiple leaks, however, the company has been silent about its specs and features. Now, according to a MySmartPrice report, the device has been spotted on Geekbench running the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.
The device is listed on Geekbench with the model number V2170A. The listing reveals that the device’s motherboard is codenamed “taro” which implies that it runs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. The octa-core processor on the SoC has a peak clock speed of 3.0Ghz and comes paired with an Adreno 730 GPU. The listing also reveals that the phone has 12GB RAM and is running Android 12.
Coming to the Geekbench results, the device scored 794 points in the single-core test and managed 3158 points in the multi-core test.
Vivo X Note specifications
So far, rumors state that the Vivo X Note will house a 7-inch AMOLED Quad HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. For security, it will feature an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner. The premium flagship phone is confirmed to feature a curved edge display with a centrally aligned punch-hole.
The X Note will be driven by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. It is likely to arrive in options such as 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage.
The device will house a 5,000mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging. The handset is also expected to come with 50W wireless charging support. There is no information on the selfie camera of the device. The round-shaped camera module available on the back will comprise a 50-megapixel Samsung S5KGN1 primary camera, a 48-megapixel Sony IMX598 lens, a 12-megapixel Sony IMX663 lens, and an 8-megapixel OV08A10 camera with 5x zoom.
Other features of the device will be revealed on April 11, so stay tuned for more.
The Mi Note 10 was launched as a premium mid-ranger back in 2019. Having already received two Android version upgrades in the form of Android 10 and 11, it’s obvious that the device won’t be getting a taste of Android 12. And that’s exactly what’s come about with the MIUI 13 update released for the phone today in China — it’s based on Android 11.
Still, the update comes with a slew of changes in the form of new widgets, improved system font, new super wallpapers, and numerous optimizations, so the missing Android upgrade shouldn’t be too much of a bother.
The complete changelog for the update has been given below (via Xiaomiui).
Highlights
New: Privacy camera for face recognition and protective watermarks for images
New: All-new Mi Sans system font with better readability
New: “Crystallization” super wallpapers
New: A new widget ecosystem with app support and personalization options
New: New features for performing tasks seamlessly on multiple connected devices
Optimization: Improved overall stability
Widgets
New: A new widget ecosystem offers lots of items that can make your Home screen more informative
New: New gorgeous widgets for system and third party apps
New: Lots of customizable widgets, including different clocks, signatures, and sticker
More features and improvements
New: Apps can be opened as floating windows directly from the sidebar
Optimization: Enhanced accessibility support for Phone, Clock, Weather, and Themes
Optimization: Privacy protection, secure web browsing, and better feed
Optimization: Mind map nodes are more convenient and intuitive now
System
Stable MIUI based on Android 11
Sized 3GB and carrying firmware version 13.0.1.0.RFDCNXM, the update is only available for Mi Pilot Testers as of now. But once it’s found to be bug-free, it should be rolled out for more users in China, after which a global rollout should commence. As with every other update, not all of the features will be making their way into the global MIUI 13 build for the Mi Note 10, though.
A Reddit user going by the name Enough_Dance_956 shared a strange tale where a headset, apparently the original Razer Kraken, turned guardian angel and blocked a bullet, saving their life.
A bullet came in through their bedroom window and was on course to hit the head of the OP but was deflected by the head strap of the headset, hitting the wall and landing on the user’s bed. The bullet allegedly came from a block away and was a stray, meaning it wasn’t meant to hit the user. The incident happened in California.
“hello to everyone who sees this. i’m trying to get a hold of someone at razer to thank them with all my heart. wednesday morning at 10:30am a stray bullet went through my window and hit the razer headphones on top of my head. if it wasn’t for the headphones made with good quality i would’ve been a dead kid at the age of 18. i couldn’t even imagine all the pain my family and friends would’ve been through,” says the original post.
The post (via Windows Central) also includes photos showing the damage done to the headphones as well as the window, while another post shows where the bullet hit the wall and the bullet itself.
The Razer Kraken seems to come with a very solid build and has quite some padding in the head strap, with a metal band inside. It’s hard to say if the headset would’ve offered similar protection had it been of a plastic construction.
In another comment, the Reddit user stated that Razer had reached out and offered to replace their headset but they had declined the offer, saying they only meant to express their gratitude to Razer.
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