Xiaomi Mi 11X Android 12-based MIUI 13 update finally arrives in India

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Mar 21, 2022

The Indian Xiaomi Mi 11X is finally receiving the Android 12-based MIUI 13 update in India a few days after the POCO F3 bagged it and over a month after the Redmi K40 did. The update also includes the February security patch.

The official changelog doesn’t mention much aside from improved system security and some optimizations for system apps and features. The MIUI 13 launch event for India hadn’t introduced any new features either aside from new wallpapers, proving the update is just another optimization-focused thing like MIUI 12.5 Enhanced was.

Anyway, the complete official changelog for the Xiaomi Mi 11X MIUI 13 update has been given below for your reference.

System

Stable MIUI based on Android 12
Updated Android Security Patch to February 2022. Increased system security

More features and improvements

New: Apps can be opened as floating windows directly from the sidebar
Optimization: Enhanced accessibility support for Phone, Clock, and Weather
Optimization: Mind map nodes are more convenient and intuitive now

Do note here that the update is currently only being rolled out to Mi Pilot Testers in India, according to Xiaomiui. If all’s found well with it, then expect a wider rollout within a couple of weeks. Alternatively, you can attempt a manual installation after downloading the ROM zip via this link.

Xiaomi typically provides two Android version upgrades to its mid-range devices and the same can be expected for the Mi 11X too. With Android 12 now out, the device should receive its final Android version bump after Android 13 hits stable.

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Xiaomi Automobile to show off EV development progress with first prototype in Q3 2022

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Mar 21, 2022

The engineering prototype of Xiaomi’s very first electric car will be shown off in the third quarter of this year, according to Luo Baojun, general manager of Xiaomi’s Beijing-Tianjin branch, who also promised “breakthroughs” with the vehicle.

Xiaomi announced the production of its electric car in March last year, following which Xiaomi Automobile Co. Ltd. completed the industrial and commercial registration with a capital of 10 billion Yuan (around USD 1.57 billion). The company is being led by Lei Jun with over 500 employees working on R&D under him.

Plans show that Xiaomi Auto will build an EV factory in two phases in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone (via My Drivers). The cumulative annual output of the factory is expected to be 300,000 vehicles, of which the first and second phases have a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles.

At the start of 2022, Lei Jun put forth a requirement for Xiaomi’s smartphone department to sort of become a middle ground for the entire company. This will encourage talent and technological transfers to the automotive business in the future.

In response to the new requirement, Zeng Xuezhong, senior vice president of Xiaomi Group and president of the mobile phone department, said that the Xiaomi mobile phone department is conducting monthly multi-dimensional technical exchanges with the automotive team involving battery, imaging, software, and supply chain.

The first mass-produced Xiaomi EV will be launched in the first half of 2024.

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realme GT NEO 3 frame insertion tech makes games like Genshin Impact run twice as smooth

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Mar 21, 2022

The realme GT NEO 3 is all set for a launch tomorrow in China, and ahead of that, a new leak has given us a glimpse into its gaming performance. The MediaTek Dimensity 8100 under the hood is undoubtedly one of the most powerful mobile chips currently, but its capabilities are further enhanced with the frame insertion tech onboard the device.

As clear from the video demo below (via WHYLAB), the frame insertion tech does wonders with Genshin Impact, nearly doubling its framerate. The game is among the most demanding mobile titles, but with frame insertion turned on, the realme GT NEO 3 handles it without breaking a sweat.

It isn’t clear if the tech will work universally, across all games, or if it will only support select titles, but we should know soon enough.

The Dimensity 8100 in the realme GT NEO 3 has outperformed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in some tests and has been declared a high-end chip rather than a flagship one. It is touted as being more power-efficient than Qualcomm’s flagship as well as the Dimensity 9000, too.

A high-end chip means the device is high-end too, and features near-flagship-level specifications. As such, its display is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The back features a triple camera setup with a 50MP main cam alongside 8MP ultrawide and 2MP auxiliary modules. The device even supports 150W charging, which is the fastest in the industry.

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Samsung Galaxy A53 5G launched in India with 120Hz display and Exynos 1280 SoC

By

Pranav Sawant

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Mar 21, 2022

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has now officially arrived in the Indian market. The smartphone comes a few days after its global release, and it brings features like 120Hz display, 64MP OIS cameras, up to 8GB + 8GB of total RAM support.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G comes at a starting price of Rs. 34,499($453) for the base 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. It is priced at Rs. 35,999(~$473) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The smartphone comes in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, and Awesome Peach colors.

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Samsung is offering Rs. 3,000(~$39) instant cashback with ICICI bank cards. The device is already up for pre-booking starting today and will start shipping from March 27 in the country.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Specifications

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G comes in the standard A-series design featuring a 6.5-inch Infinity-O display with Full-HD+ resolution. It is a Super AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate, up to 800 nits of brightness, and Eye Comfort Shield for reduced blue light on the screen.

It sports a quad-camera system at the rear with a 64MP OIS main lens with f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP depth sensor, and lastly a 5MP macro lens. Upfront, it has a 32MP selfie snapper with f/2.2 aperture.

Powering the device is the 5nm Exynos 1280 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device also has the RAM Plus feather, where additional 8GB of RAM can be added using the internal storage. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging support. However, the phone doesn’t ship with a charging adapter.

It has IP67 water and dust resistant rating and has Dolby Atmos-tuned speaker setup. As for security, it has the on-screen fingerprint scanner and also supports facial unlock option. The phone boots on One UI 4 (Android 12 OS) out of the box and has Samsung’s Knox security.

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Get Discounts and Free Gifts at the ADO E-Bike Spring Super Deals

By

Daily Deals

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Mar 21, 2022

ADO E-bike has launched its super spring deals. Under this spring sale, you can get huge discounts and free gifts on the purchase of the ADO A20+ and A20F+ E-bikes. The sale starts on 20 March and ends on 30 March 2022, 7:59 UTC. So let’s check out the two discounted E-bikes.

ADO A20+ E-bike

Retail Price: €799 Discounted Price: €769 (including VAT, exclusive coupon: coupon code：ADOFRIEND30, 30euros off)

*Free Gift – 1 Pc Helmet

Key Features:

350W Hall brushless gear DC motor
Shimano 7 speed
High energy power battery
G drive control system
Double disc brake
Aluminum alloy frame
7 point shock absorption des
HD LCD screen for real-time data
USB charging port
Foldable design
IPX5 waterproof design
Max load capacity – 120 Kg

ADO A20F+ E-bike

Retail Price: €1069 Discounted Price: €969 (including VAT, exclusive coupon: coupon code：ADOFRIEND30, 30euros off)

*Free Gift – 1 pair fenders

Key Features:

Hybrid drive mode / Pedal-assist mode
500W high-speed motor
Shimano 7 speed
G drive control system
Double disc brakes
Aluminum alloy frame
High energy power battery
Double shock absorption and anti-bump design
LED headlights
HD LCD screen for real-time data
USB charging port
IPX5 waterproof design
Foldable design
Max load capacity – 120 Kg

Please note that the abovementioned e-bikes come with fast and free shipping, approximately 3 to 7 days delivery, and one year warranty. The free gifts are shipped from the Chinese warehouse and may take a longer delivery time.

About the Brand:

ADO creates powerful and stylish electric bikes, electric scooters, and accessories that can be your urban commute partner. Apart from urban commuting they also cater to the needs of cross country bikers, adventure enthusiasts, mountain climbers, campers, etc, and have specially designed bikes for different venues and needs. ADO’s mission is to provide people around the world with extraordinary riding experiences in their daily commute by creating electric bikes, electric scooters, and accessories. They are a fast-growing brand and have joined Xiaomiyoupin for partners events and collaborated with Insta360 to make ADO & Insta360 GO2 XE Set-Cycling Camera and Bike Air Pump.

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

Apple supplier Foxconn “basically” resumes normal operations in China

By

Sean

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Mar 21, 2022

Foxconn, a known Apple supplier, has “basically” resumed normal operations in Shenzhen China. The supplier had initially halted operations due to outbreak of COVID-19 cases and later partially reignited production.

According to a Reuters report, the Cupertino based giant’s major supplier has brought production in its Shenzhen site to nearly full capacity again. Foxconn made the announcement earlier today (21st March 2022) as the city eases up restrictions following the COVID-19 outbreaks. Furthermore, the brand added that is has restarted some production and operations at its Shenzhen campuses. To restart production, the company even had to make arrangements to have some staff live within the work bubble.

This arrangement was requested by the local government, as it was battling the outbreak of Coronavirus. Notably, the company said in a statement that it has “basically resumed normal work order and production operations” at its major campuses, including the Longhua and Guanlan districts. Foxconn further added that the process is taking place “under the premise of abiding by epidemic prevention policies and strictly implementing epidemic prevention and control.”

As per an internal document reviewed by Reuters, staff within the “high risk” area of Futian will have to continue to work from home. In other words, only a small part of Apple iPhone production is dedicated in the southern city of Shenzhen. Meanwhile, the majority of the production takes place in Zhengzhou in the central province of Henan.

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Honor MagicBook X14 India launch soon, Amazon listing with key features appear

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 21, 2022

Honor has started teasing the arrival of a new laptop named MagicBook X14 in India. The landing page of the device is now live on Amazon India. To recall, the MagicBook 15 was the last notebook for India. It was made official in July 2020. Here is all the information on what to expect from the MagicBook X14.

The Honor MagicBook X14 heading to India weighs 1.38kg and measures 15.9mm. The aluminium-bodied device is equipped with a 180-degree hinge. The notebook features an IPS panel that offers features such as Full HD resolution and anti-glare.

The MagicBook X14 packs a 56Wh battery that promises to last for up to 13.2 hours. It carries support for 65W fast charging. According to the company, a 30-minute charge will restore approximately 59 percent of the battery’s capacity. It offers other features such as a pop-up camera, a fingerprint scanner, and a backlit keyboard. It will probably come pre-installed with the latest Windows 11 OS.

The Amazon listing is yet to confirm the launch date of the MagicBook X14 for India. Now that the laptop is being teased, it may go official as early as this week in the country.

Honor announced the Honor MagicBook X14 and MagicBook X15 in May 2021 in China. It is likely that the same X14 could be heading to the Indian market. The device is equipped with a 14-inch IPS LCD FHD panel, a 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, and a 56Wh battery. It is unclear whether the MagicBook X15 will also arrive in India.

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HUAWEI Mate 40 gets new Dimensity 1000+ version, but it will be sold under a different brand

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Mar 21, 2022

The HUAWEI Mate 40 was launched almost two years ago, back in October 2020, but that hasn’t stopped HUAWEI from refreshing it with nothing but a new chipset (and a new primary camera sensor). A new variant of the device has now been listed on the Chinese “Tianyi Product Library” with the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+, replacing the Kirin 9000E 5G of its previous iteration.

The Dimensity 1000+ isn’t exactly an upgrade but seems to be put under the hood as a necessity, since HUAWEI is apparently running out of its Kirin stock quickly, if it hasn’t already. The chip scores around 3,000 and 800 in Geekbench 5 multi-core and single-core tests respectively, as opposed to the Kirin 9000’s 3,600 and 950 scores for the same (approx.).

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Aside from the change of the processor, the HUAWEI Mate 40 Dimensity version comes with a higher resolution primary rear camera sensor. The original model had a 50MP unit, which has been increased to 64MP.

It’s worth mentioning here that the phone will actually be sold as the TD Tech M40 in China. TD Tech is a licensee of Huawei hardware products and will launch not only smartphones, but also smartwatches, fitness trackers, tablets, and smart TVs. The move looks to be the result of Huawei licensing its products to other brands in order to circumvent the US ban. As a result, the back panel of the phone will ditch the “HUAWEI” branding in favor of “TD Tech.”

The price of the TD Tech M40 starts at 4,599 Yuan for the 8+128GB variant while the 8+256GB will set you back by 5,099 Yuan — very similar to the pricing of the HUAWEI Mate 40E, overall (via WHYLAB).

RELATED:

Redmi K40S global variant arrives on Geekbench, could launch as POCO F4

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 21, 2022

Last week, Redmi finally took wraps off the Redmi K50 series in China. The lineup was accompanied by Redmi K40S. It is the most affordable phone announced at the event. The global variant of this smartphone has now made its appearance on Geekbench.

The Redmi K40S launched in China is codenamed ‘Munch’ and it bears the model number 22021211RC. The global version of this handset with model number 22021211RG has been now spotted at Geekbench in less than a week from the release of the original.

This is not the first time we are hearing about the global variant of the Redmi K40S (previously known as Redmi K50). The device has been already certified by other agencies earlier. In fact, there’s also an Indian variant with model number 22021211RI.

Per certifications, the smartphone will release with POCO branding outside mainland China. It is rumored to be called POCO F4. The handset is said to retain the same name for India.

Talking about specifications, it will likely have the same set of features as the Redmi K40S. However, there could be some differences in the rear design.

So we can expect the so-called POCO F4 to arrive with a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, 48MP (wide, OIS) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (macro) triple camera system, 20MP selfie camera, dual stereo speakers, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, MIUI 13 based on Android 12, 4,500mAh battery, and 67W fast charging.

POCO is yet to officially tease the arrival of the rumored POCO F4.

Portronics launches Talk One in India, a new portable wireless conference speaker

By

Sean

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Mar 21, 2022

Following the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, the world saw changes in various aspects ranging from work, education, entertainment, and more. And now, it seems that Portronics has just launched a new product that better adapts to this changing environment in the professional segment.

The company has just announced the new Talk One, which is a portable wireless conference speaker. This device is being targeted towards new office space of current day. The Talk One promises to offer a superior audio and voice clarity over any other online application. Furthermore, it is compact and portable, which allows you to host your meetings from anywhere at anytime. It is even compatible with a number of applications that are used for conferencing from Apple, Google, Skye, Hangouts, and more.

The Talk One from the brand has three omnidirectional microphones paired with 360° voice pickup. Its pickup range works optimally up to a distance of 5 meters. Through its three microphones, the Portronics Talk One is capable of removing background noise, functioning similarly to ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) on hearables. Under the hood, the device is powered by a 2,600mAh battery pack that lets you place music all day or work on a meeting for up to 10 hours on a single full charge.

Other features include, Bluetooth 5.1, Aux input, and a USB Type C charging port. The Portronics Talk One is priced at 14,999 INR (roughly 197 US Dollars). Although, the brand is offering its customers the product for an introductory discounted price of just 8,999 INR (roughly 118 US Dollars). The portable wireless conference speaker arrives with a 12 month warranty and will be available on the company’s official website, Amazon India, and other leading online and offline retailers.

RELATED:

Redmi 10 Prime Plus surfaces on BIS, possibly a rebadged Note 11E 5G

By

Sean

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Mar 21, 2022

Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi 10 in India. But now, it appears that the company is planning on launching another model within the series. This phone could be the Redmi 10 Prime+ 5G, which was recently spotted on BIS website.

#RedmiNote11E will have a few rebrands (Redmi 10 5G, Redmi 10 Prime+ 5G, POCO M4 5G).

— Kacper Skrzypek 🇵🇱 (@kacskrz) March 15, 2022

According to a MySmartPrice report, the Redmi 10 Prime+ launch might be right around the corner as it was spotted on the BIS certification website. The device was listed on the Bureau of Indian Standards, with the 22041219I model number. Unfortunately, the certification listing does not reveal any finer details regarding this handset, but known tipster Kacper Skrzypek shared some additional information (Via MySmartPrice) about the upcoming smartphone.

In his latest tweet, Kacper stated that the Redmi Note 11E, which was launched in China just a few days prior, might have a few rebadges under both the POCO and Redmi branded series. The tipster claims that this will include the likes of the Redmi 10 5G, 10 Prime+ 5G, and even the POCO M4 5G as well. So while the BIS listing does not reveal any information, the Note 11E’s specifications helps in offering us a clearer picture of its possible features.

Thus, the 10 Prime+ 5G may sport a 6.58 inch Full HD+ LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 600 nits of maximum brightness. The device is also powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor, paired with up to 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage. Under the hood, a large 5,000mAh battery pack runs the device, which supports 18W fast charging. For photography, the device may house a 50 megapixel dual camera setup on the rear. Keep in mind that this is still an unconfirmed report, so take it with a pinch of salt for now.

RELATED:

OnePlus 2022 smartphone launch timeline tipped, expect new releases almost every month

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 21, 2022

In its earlier days, OnePlus used to release only one smartphone per year. The number increased to two with the introduction of the OnePlus T series. Then, the number doubled to four with the Pro models. Now, years later, the number keeps shooting up after the launch of the Nord lineup and merger with OPPO. So far, the brand has released 2 phones in 2022. According to a tipster, there will be at least 6 more OnePlus-branded smartphones this year.

OnePlus 10 Pro review featured 2 — OnePlus 10 Pro

Yogesh Brar has shared a rough launch timeline for the upcoming OnePlus handsets. His tweet lists 6 devices that will be making their debut starting this month till Q3. We believe that there could be even more phones as he hasn’t mentioned successors to entry-level Nord models.

Anyway, let’s take a look at the release schedule for these handsets.

OnePlus 2022 Smartphone Launch Timeline

March – OnePlus 10 Pro
April – OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite
Late April/Early May – OnePlus Nord 2T
May – OnePlus 10R
July – OnePlus Nord 3 (Oneplus Nord Pro)
Late Q3 – OnePlus 10 Ultra (OnePlus 10 Pro+)

All the aforementioned phones have leaked in the past. Additionally, one of them, the OnePlus 10 Pro, is on sale in China since January.

We are looking forward to learning more about these handsets in the coming days. Also, going by the schedule, expect more OnePlus coverage from us since there will be new launches every month.

Redmi 10 Power India launch tipped, could be similar to Redmi 10C heading to Europe

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 21, 2022

Redmi has recently launched the Snapdragon 680 powered Redmi 10 smartphone in India. According to reliable tipster Kacper Skrzypek, the company could be planning to launch a new Redmi 10 series phone called the Redmi 10 Power in India.

According to Skrzypek, the Redmi 10 Power heading to India will be similar to the Redmi 10C, which is expected to launch soon in European markets. The tipster did not reveal any information on the specs of the Redmi 10 Power. It appears that it may borrow most of its specs from the Redmi 10C, which recently debuted in Nigeria. To those who are unaware, the global Redmi 10C is rebranded as the Redmi 10 in India.

Redmi 10C specifications

The Redmi 10C has a 6.71-inch IPS LCD display that offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a 60Hz refresh rate. It features a front-facing camera of 5-megapixel, and its rear side has a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

The Snapdragon 680 is present under the hood of the Redmi 10. It comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB / 128 GB of built-in storage. For more storage, it has a dedicated microSD card slot. The device ships with MIUI 13 flavored Android 11 OS.

The Redmi 10C has a 6,000mAh battery that offers 18W fast charging. It is equipped with a rear-facing fingerprint scanner. It comes with other features such as Gorilla Glass 3 protection, Widevine L1 support for HD playback, dual 4G VoLTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The Redmi 10 is priced at Rs 10,999 (~$144) in India. As a result, the Redmi 10 Power is likely to start at around Rs 12,000 (~$158) in the country.

RELATED:

MG Motors to launch affordable EV for Urban population of India

By

Sean

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Mar 21, 2022

We already reported on MG Motors (Morris Garages) raising funds for electric vehicle future in India. Now, a new report has revealed that the company is planning on launching a relatively affordable EV model in the country.

According to a CarToq report, the British brand, which is a subsidiary of SAIC Motor a China based automobile maker, will be targeting the urban population in India with this model. This will be a low cost electric four wheeler. Notably, the news arrives soon after the company launched the new refreshed version of the MG ZS EV. But it seems that the cost of its EVs will be even lower in the near future. The report adds that the brand is planning on releasing a new EV that is tailor made for Indian buyers.

This model will be placed within an affordable price range of around 10 lakh INR (roughly 13,140 US Dollars) and will be based on the SAIC-GM-Wuling Global Small Electric Vehicle (GSEV) platform. In other words, MG Motors is clearly placing a focus on the Indian automobile market’s EV segment. It has clearly realized that the industry is price sensitive. So, it won’t be a surprise that the company is actually planning on introducing a budget EV models in the near future. Apart from the Indian market, MG Motors will also be looking at other surrounding markets as well.

Furthermore, the report adds that the EVs are compact two door cars that have short length and tight turning circles, which are great for urban environments. As previously mentioned, the affordable EV will be based on the SAIC-GM-Wuling Global Small Electric Vehicle platform, which includes the likes of Baojun E100, E200, E300, and E300 Plus, as well as the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. The upcoming MG EV will likely be based on the Hongguang Mini EV, although, with changes that suit the Indian market. Some changes may include a longer wheelbase and a possible five door design since three doors have historically been unsuccessful in the country.

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Toyota Mirai launched with over 600km range, India’s first Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

By

Sean

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Mar 21, 2022

Toyota has just launched a new vehicle in India. But this model is special for more than one reason. For starters, it was the Indian Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari that launched the new Mirai and that it runs on Hydrogen fuel cells.

The government official has unveiled the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle (FCEV). Alongside the Toyota Mirai, Nitin Gadkari also announced a new research and development project that will seek to investigate and analyze the feasibility of Hydrogen fuel cell based cars in India. The Japanese Automobile giant will be working with International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) to conduct the pilot study program in the region that will use Indian roads and climatic conditions.

For those unaware, the Mirai is currently a global product and is even considered as one of the most advanced vehicle of its kind. Notably, this also further showcases the official’s stance on renewable energy based transportation in the Indian automobile industry. The new generation of Toyota Mirai also promises to offer up to 30 percent more range along with improved handling than its previous iteration.

Delighted to launch the world's most advanced technology – developed Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Toyota Mirai along with Union Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri ji, Union Minister Shri @RajKSinghIndia ji,… pic.twitter.com/teu8pm1l57

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) March 16, 2022

As per official claims, the car can deliver up to a 600 kilometer maximum range of a single full charge and can instantly be refilled similar to a gasoline powered car. This even cuts down on the refill time issue that many electric vehicles face. At the moment, the Indian government is looking for ways to decarbonize a range of sectors, and this includes the automobile industry. So, Hydrogen fuel cell based transportation systems might play an integral role in the low carbon energy plans of the nation.

RELATED:

Google rolls out new status bar icons for Chat & Spaces on Gmail for Android

By

Sean

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Mar 21, 2022

With Hangouts nearing the end of its life, Google is working on expanding its support for its Chat and Spaces platforms. Now, the company has even rolled out an update for Gmail for Android, which brings new status bar icons that helps users differentiate from Chat and Spaces.

For those unaware, new message alerts for either Google Chat (basically a chat app like WhatsApp) and Spaces (Slack-like platform) were the same. Notifications on the status bar featured a filled in message bubble with another one behind it. But now, the Search Engine giant is working on making the two platforms more distinct from one another thanks to a revamp in status bar icons (Via 9To5Google).

Now, the Chat app will have a single message bubble that is outlined and has an empty interior. On the other hand, Spaces will now have three people standing next to each other. In other words, the company is also using the bottom bar tab icons for the status bar as well. This also matches the Gmail icon for email and even adds a quality of life improvement that helps people, like professional enterprise users to quickly figure out which platform the message belongs to.

As of right now, the new status bar icons has only been seen on a singly Android device, which runs the version 2022.02.20.x of Gmail. This build has not been widely released at the moment. Although, we can expect to see the change arrive in more smartphones in the near future. Notably, the change also arrives as Gmail for iOS begins showing the Chat sender’s profile photo starting from this month.

RELATED:

Apple iPad Air 5 users are facing various issues with build quality: Report

By

Sean

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Mar 21, 2022

Just recently, Apple unveiled its latest iteration of the iPad Air. It is the fifth iteration of the model and launched with refreshed specs over the previous versions. However, it seems that the external build quality has taken a hit while the internal components saw an upgrade.

Thus, users of the new iPad Air 5 have been complaining regarding the noticeably thinner aluminum casing, which causes creaking and a hollow sensation in the hand. Furthermore, the users also added that light pressure ends up warping the display as well. These complaints were shared on a thread on Reddit (Via MacRumors), with many Apple customers also adding to the list of large complaints, all of which is related to the build quality.

The thread reads “I ordered and received two blue iPad Air 2022 today and I’m a bit shocked. The aluminum backplate is a lot thinner than on the iPad 4 which I also have. You can almost feel the battery through the plate when you hold the device. Both iPads have the same feeling and are making creaking noises when you hold them. This did not happen on the iPad Air 4.” Similarly, a number of other users agreed and even shared their own similar experiences on this thread.

As of right now, there have been no complaints regarding build quality apart from users on Reddit. Even reviewers did not specifically mention this point yet. But it seems that this is a real issue considering the vast number of people commenting on the thread. The Cupertino based giant has yet to official share a statement regarding this matter, so stay tuned for more updates.

RELATED:

OPPO K10 launching in India on March 23, here’s what to expect

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 21, 2022

OPPO K10 is all set to go official in India on March 23. The OPPO K3 that debuted in May 2019 was the last K-series that OPPO launched in India. The official landing pages of the K10, available on OPPO India’s website and Flipkart, have revealed its design and key features. Here is all that is known about the upcoming OPPO K10 handset.

The OPPO K10 will come equipped with a punch-hole display. It will come equipped with the Snapdragon 680 chipset. For photography, it will feature a 16-megapixel front camera and a rear-facing 50-megapixel triple camera unit. The device will arrive in black and blue colors. Apart from announcing the K10 handset, the company will be also unveiling the OPPO Enco Air2 TWS earbuds alongside it in India.

OPPO K10 specifications (rumored)

Last week, 91mobiles leaked all the major specs of the OPPO K10. The leak revealed that the smartphone will feature a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display that offers an FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. Apart from the 16-megapixel selfie snapper, the K10 will come with a 50-megapixel (main) + 2-megapixel (depth) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit.

The Snapdragon 680 chipset powered OPPO K10 will come with 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, and a dedicated slot for adding a microSD card. It will boot to Android 11 OS and ColorOS 11.1. For security, the K10 will feature a side-facing fingerprint scanner. It will pack a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.

As can be seen, the OPPO K10 is packed with specs similar to the Realme 9i, which debuted with a price of Rs 13,999 (~$184) in India. The K10 is likely to arrive at a similar price in the country.

RELATED:

Honor 60 SE 12GB RAM model now up for pre-order in China; priced at 2,799 yuan ($440)

By

Jeet

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Mar 21, 2022

After launching the Honor 60 and 60 Pro smartphones, the Honor 60 SE smartphone was launched by the company last month in the Chinese market and has been available for purchase in the country for a few weeks now.

Now, a new variant of the Honor 60 SE with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage is up for pre-sale at a price of 2,799 yuan (~$440). It will be available for pre-order starting today and will go on sale from 25th March.

Prior to this, the device was being sold in two models — 8GB RAM + 128GB storage priced at 2,199 yuan and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage costing 2,499 yuan.

As for the specifications, the Honor 60 SE features a 6.67-inch OLED hyperbolic screen with 2400 x 1080 pixels Full HD+ screen resolution along with support for a 120Hz refresh rate and 1920Hz high-frequency PWM dimming.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, coupled with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It also has support for a Smart Memory Engine that can use 2GB of storage space as memory.

In the camera department, the Honor 60 SE smartphone comes with a triple-camera setup on the back that includes a 64-megapixel primary sensor, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front side, there’s a 16-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The device runs the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own Magic UI 5.0 on top. It is powered by a 4,300mAh battery and comes with support for 66W Super Fast Chare technology.

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OPPO A16e launched with HD+ display, Helio P22, and 4,230mAh battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 21, 2022

In the previous week, OPPO unveiled the OPPO A76 and OPPO A96 smartphones in India. Last week also saw the arrival of a budget-friendly phone called the OPPO A16e. Here is all the information on the specifications, features, and pricing of the A16e.

OPPO A16e specifications and features

The OPPO A16e features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with a teardrop notch display. The handset offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 60Hz refresh rate, a 269ppi pixel density, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The company claims that the A16e offers a screen-to-body ratio of 89.27 percent.

For selfies and video calls, the OPPO A16e features a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The square-shaped camera module on the phone’s back has a 13-megapixel primary camera and an LED flash. The device comes preinstalled with the older Android 11 OS and ColorOS 11.1.

The OPPO A16e is powered by the MediaTek Helio P22 chipset. The device ships with 3 GB / 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 32 GB / 64 GB of built-in eMMC 5.1 storage. The handset draws power from a 4,230mAh battery, which supports charging through a microUSB port.

The A16e lacks a fingerprint scanner. Instead, it carries support for face unlock. All of these other features are also available on this device. It has dual 4G VoLTE and WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 5, GPS, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack, among other things.

OPPO A16e price in India

The OPPO A16e comes in Midnight Black, Blue, and White colors. OPPO is yet to confirm the pricing and availability of the A16e. The 3 GB RAM + 32 GB and 4 GB + 64 GB variants of the A16e will be priced at Rs 9,990 ($131) and Rs 11,990 ($157), respectively, according to leaked information that surfaced last week.

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