Intel and AMD halt all shipments to Russia and Belarus over Ukraine invasion

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Mar 4, 2022

Lava has just launched a new smartphone in India earlier today (4th March 2022). The handset in question is the Lava X2, which is the company’s latest entry level device. The device features a large battery pack and display at a budget price point.

The Indian smartphone maker’s newly launched X2 sports a 6.5 inch HD+ IPS display that has a notch on the front. This screen also has a 20:9 aspect ratio and the regular 60Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by an octa core MediaTek Helio processor. Unfortunately, the exact model of this chipset is currently unknown, although, it is paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

For security, the device offers a fingerprint scanner on the rear and even face unlock as well. The rear features an 8 megapixel dual camera setup while the front has a 5 megapixel selfie shooter. Other features include, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi, Dual 4G SIM, 3.5mm headphone jack and USB Type C charging port. The company is also offering a free protective cover with the box.

The Lava X2 has been launched in India for a price of 6,599 INR (roughly 86 US Dollars). It will be available in the region via Amazon India, with its first sale starting in 12th March 2022. For those interested, pre bookings are currently live till March 11. This device is exclusive to Amazon and will be sold in two color variants, namely blue and cyan.

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Realme 9 5G SE could be rebadged version of the Realme Q3s

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Mar 4, 2022

In October 2021, Realme announced the Realme Q3s in China. Today, Realme India confirmed that it will be announcing the Realme 9 series of smartphones on March 10 in India. The lineup will include two models, the Realme 9 5G and Realme 9 5G SE (Speed Edition). It seems that the China-exclusive Realme Q3s may be rebranded as the Realme 9 5G SE.

So far, the company has revealed the Realme 9 SE 5G will be equipped with the Snapdragon 778G chip, a 48-megapixel triple camera unit, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. A recent report claimed that the Realme 9 may carry support for a 144Hz refresh rate. However, it is more likely that the company may offer a 144Hz screen on the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition.

Realme 9 5G (left) and Realme 9 5G Speed Edition (right)

All the above-mentioned specs are available on the Realme Q3s. In addition, the design of the Realme 9 5G SE also matches with the Q3s. Hence, it is likely that the Q3s could be launched in India with the Realme 9 5G SE moniker. According to a recent report, the Speed Edition will come with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage. It may go on sale in colours like Starry Glow and Azure Glow.

Realme Q3s specifications

The Realme Q3s has a 6.6-inch IPS LCD punch-hole display that offers a Full HD resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The Snapdragon 778G SoC fuels the device with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage. A 5,000mAh battery powers the Q3s, and it carries support for 30W fast charging.

The back panel of the Q3s has a 48-megapixel primary camera, which is coupled with a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro camera. A 16-megapixel camera is available on the device for selfies and video calls. It is equipped with a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

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New POCO, Redmi smartphones for India receive BIS certification

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 4, 2022

The Xiaomi group is expected to introduce new smartphones very soon. The company’s next big release will be the Redmi K50 series. Other than that, it is also anticipated to announce new budget models under Redmi and POCO brands, in addition to ultra-premium phones like the successors of Mi 11 Ultra and Mi MIX Fold. Amidst this, two mysterious handsets from the company have made their appearance on a certification website.

According to Xiaomiui, three Xiaomi group smartphones have been certified by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). This suggests that these devices with model numbers 22021211RI, 22041219PI, and 22011119I may launch in India.

Out of the trio, one of them carrying model number 22021211RI had already received the BIS certification in early February. The Chinese variant of this phone with model number 22021211RC is said to go official as Redmi K50.

Per TENAA, the so-called Redmi K50 will be available in three memory configurations, such as 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB. It is rumored to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC and is expected to look like a vivo handset.

Xiaomiui says that the device will launch under the POCO brand in India. It might go official as POCO F4 in the country.

On the other hand, the smartphones with model numbers 22041219PI and 22011119I were also earlier spotted in the IMEI database in January. The former is said to release under the POCO brand and the latter under Redmi. Specifically, Xiaomiui suggests that the first one could launch as POCO M4 5G.

What are your thoughts on these upcoming phones? Do let us know in the comment section below.

realme 9 5G series, TechLife Watch S100, TechLife Buds N100 launch date is here!

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Zohaib Ahmed

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Mar 4, 2022

realme through its website revealed the launch dates of the realme 9 5G series, realme TechLife Watch S100, and the realme TechLife Buds N100 together. All three devices are scheduled for a March 10th launch at 12:30 PM in India.

The realme 9 5G series will comprise of two models, one of which will be powered by the upper-mid-range Snapdragon 778G while the other will feature the Dimensity 810. Both appear to have very similar designs, save for their camera modules which have lenses in different positions. From the two, the realme 9 5G SE will come with a crazy-smooth 144Hz display.

Specifications of the realme TechLife Watch S100 have been revealed in slightly greater detail. The smartwatch comes with a 1.69″ display and promises a battery life of 12 days. Its body is metallic and protects the innards with an IP68 water resistance rating. Support for blood oxygen, heart rate, and body temperature monitoring are also present.

The aforementioned devices will be joined by the realme TechLife Buds N100 at the March 10th launch event. The neckband earphones come with ear wings for a better fit and use soft, flexible material for the body. Audio is outputted through 9.22mm dynamic bass drivers and a full charge gets you a promised 17 hours of playback. Connection is made through Bluetooth 5.2 and the whole thing is protected by an IPx4 rating. Color options are two — black and grey.

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Elon Musk warns that SpaceX’s Starlink system may be targeted in Ukraine

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Mar 4, 2022

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has shared a warning that there is a high change for its Starlink satellite broadband system to be “targeted” in Ukraine that has been facing an ongoing crisis due to the Russian invasion.

The warning from the executive arrives after an internet security researched warned that devices that use satellite communications could potentially become “beacons” that Russia could use to target for airstrikes. Thus, Elon Musk tweet read “Important warning: Starlink is the only non Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution.”

Furthermore, he asked users to “turn on Starlink only when needed and place antenna away as far away from people as possible.” He added that users should place “light camouflage over antenna to avoid visual detection.” Last week, the senior SpaceX official announced that the company had activated its services in Ukraine and SpaceX was sending more terminals to the country. This announcement arrived as a response to a Ukraine government official who had requested Musk to provide the nation with additional Starlink stations.

Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has since thanked Starlink for “keeping our cities connected and emergency services saving lives!” Although, the government official said that the country needs generators to keep Starlink service online due to Russian attacks on the nation’s infrastructure. This also led Elon Musk to release an update that reduced Starlin’s peak power consumption.

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POCO announces free YouTube Premium for POCO X4 Pro 5G, M4 Pro buyers

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Zohaib Ahmed

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Mar 4, 2022

POCO has announced a partnership with YouTube to fetch its customers a free YouTube Premium trial on the purchase of select POCO devices. Buyers of the POCO X4 Pro 5G and the POCO M4 Pro will now get two months of YouTube Premium without any charge.

The duo was launched on February 28th as entry-mid-range offerings and came with some pretty compelling specs for their price. The POCO X4 Pro 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 695 chipset, has a 120Hz 6.67″ FHD+ AMOLED display, packs a 5,000mAh battery with 67W charging support, and sports a 108MP primary camera.

Meanwhile, the POCO M4 Pro features the MediaTek Helio G96 chip, a 90Hz 6.43″ FHD+ AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging support, and a 64MP main camera.

The YouTube Premium offer is only applicable to these two devices as of now and is valid until January 31st, 2023. Don’t get confused here, though, as the subscription itself will last for two months only.

YouTube Premium will fetch you ad-free video streaming along with the ability to background play and offline download. You also gain access to YouTube Music and its catalog of over 80 million songs.

Availing of the subscription after purchasing any of the two devices is easy. Simply open the YouTube app where you should see some instructions pop up. Just follow these and you will be good to go.

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Apple raises Mini LED display orders for upcoming devices in 2022

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Mar 4, 2022

Apple has apparently raised the production of Mini LED chips and has brought in additional manufacturers into its supply chain to help meet demand for its new orders of Mini LED displays. These new panels are reportedly for the company’s upcoming lineup of devices that are set to launch later this year.

Recently, the Cupertino based giant has begun using Mini LED panels for some of its products. This includes the Pro Display XDR, the 12.9 inch iPad Pro, and the top end MacBook Pro. Now, the company is expected to further expand the use of Mini LED for its future products that will be launching later in 2022. These new devices may include the likes of the new 11 inch iPad Pro, 27 inch iMac Pro, the new and redesigned MacBook Air, and even another external display as well.

At the moment, Taiwanese supplier Epistar is currently the iPhone maker’s primary supplied of Mini LED chipss. However, since Apple is raising the number of devices that use this display technology, it has sought to bring in additional suppliers. According to DigiTimes, the news arrives from industry sources close to the matter. The new suppliers reportedly include China’s Sanan Optoelectronics, which is significantly undercutting the prices of Apple’s current suppliers.

The report added that Apple’s demand for Mini LED display is “expected to significantly increase in 2022” following the success of its high end MacBook Pro. So, Epistar is expanding its production facilities in China to ramp up production, starting in the second quarter of 2022. Furthermore, Sanan Optoelectronics is also expected to begin shipments around the same time.

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Qualcomm & MediaTek battle for the chip market throne in the US

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Mar 4, 2022

Earlier this week, we had covered MediaTek’s announcement, in which it claimed that it had become the No 1 chip manufacturer for Android smartphones in the US. However, Qualcomm is challenging this claim, considering a separate report suggests otherwise.

In recent months, the Taiwanese chipmaker has seen great success across the globe with its chips that target every smartphone segment. Previously, the company was largely popular in the budget category, but it has been eating away at Qualcomm’s mid range segment dominance in recent times. Following a report from known analytics based firm IDC, MediaTek claimed that it became the market leader in the US (Via PCMag).

However, the American chip giant contradicted its claim of being the top chipmaker by providing data from another known analysis firm, Counterpoint Research. It isn’t surprising that both firms arrived at different results considering they use different proprietary data methods of collecting data. Although, both firms agreed that Qualcomm is the top chipmaker for Android phones for the year of 2021, since MediaTek only took the lead in the fourth quarter report from IDC.

According to a MediaTek spokeswoman, “MediaTek trusts IDC and the accuracy of information from its recent report.” The original IDC data showed that the Taiwanese chipmaker saw a stellar performance in Q4 2021 in the US since the top three selling phones in the period featured MediaTek chipsets. This included the Samsung Galaxy A12, Galaxy A32, and the Motorola G Pure. Google shifting to its own proprietary chipset also meant orders lost for Qualcomm.

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Realme C35 launch date, key features confirmed for India

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Mar 4, 2022

Last month, Realme announced the Realme C35 in Malaysia. Now, the Chinese manufacturer has confirmed that it will be unveiling the C35 at 12:30 PM (local time) on March 7 in India. Its landing page is now live on Realme India’s website.

Realme C35 key features

The Realme C35’s official images, available on Realme India’s website, show that it will be equipped with a waterdrop notch display, triple rear cameras, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. The C35 has a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels, a screen-to-body ratio of 90.7 percent, and a brightness of 600 nits.

The landing page does not mention the exact battery size of the Realme C35. However, it mentions that the device will offer 50.2 hours of standby time and 1.8 hours of talk time in Super Power Saving Mode. It carries support for 18W fast charging. It appears that the C35 headed to India will pack the same specs that are available on its Malaysian edition.

Realme C35 specifications

The Realme C35 has a 6.6-inch IPS LCD FHD+ that offers a 60Hz refresh rate. It has an 8-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel (main) + 2-megapixel (depth) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit. The device is powered by the Unisoc T616 chipset.

The C35 will come with 4 GB / 6 GB and 64 GB / 128 GB of storage. It has a 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging support. The handset runs on Android 11 OS and Realme UI 2.0.

In Thailand, the Realme C35 is priced at THB 5,799 (~Rs 13,540: ~$178). Probably, the device will be priced around Rs 11,000 (~$146) in India. In related news, Realme will be announcing the Realme 9 5G series, Realme Watch S100, and Realme Buds N100 at 12:30 PM (local time) in India.

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Samsung Galaxy F23 smartphone confirmed to go official in India on March 8

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Mar 4, 2022

Samsung is expected to launch a new F-series smartphone in the market — Samsung Galaxy F23. After a few leaks and reports related to the device, the official launch date of the smartphone has been revealed.

It has been confirmed that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy F23 smartphone will be officially launched in the Indian market on 8th March. Flipkart has created a landing page for the device, which also reveals that it will be exclusively sold through Flipkart in India.

The Samsung Galaxy F23 is confirmed to feature a Full HD+ display with support for a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Under the hood, the device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor.

This is in line with the previous reports which indicated that the Galaxy F23 could be a rebranded version of the Samsung Galaxy M23 5G.

The smartphone is likely to have a 6.4-inch screen. It will reportedly come in two memory variants — 6GB RAM and 8GB RAM along with 128GB of internal storage. As for the camera, the phone has a triple-camera setup and is likely to have a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel tertiary lens.

While not yet confirmed, the device will be running the Android operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own One UI custom interface on top. It is expected to be powered by a 5,000mAh battery.

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Motorola Edge 30 Pro first sale begins today in India, check out pricing, offers

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Mar 4, 2022

Motorola Edge 30 Pro was announced on Feb. 24 in India. As confirmed on the launch date, Motorola’s latest flagship will be available for purchase for the first time at 12 PM today (March 4). Here is all the information on the specifications, pricing, and offers for those who are looking forward to purchasing the Edge 30 Pro.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro price in India, offers

The Edge 30 Pro buyers can take advantage of offers like Rs 5,000 (~$65) off on SBI credit card transactions and 5 percent unlimited cashback on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card. The handset is available for purchase only through Flipkart.

The Edge 30 Pro is priced at Rs 49,999 (~$657). With the SBI offer, it can be bought for as low as Rs 44,999 (~$592). Buyers can also purchase it through no-cost EMI. The device comes in Cosmic Blue color only.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro specifications

The Edge 30 Pro has a 6.7-inch OLED FHD+ display that offers an FHD+ resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The Android 12 OS comes preinstalled on the device. It has a 60-megapixel camera for capturing selfies and its back panel has an OIS-enabled 50-megapixel front-facing camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset is present under the hood of the Edge 30 Pro. The device packs in a 4,800mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging. For security, it features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

To those who are unaware, the Edge 30 Pro is a rebranded version of the Edge X30, which debuted in China back in December 2021. Rumors have it that Motorola will be announcing the Edge X30 Under Screen Edition in March this year. As the name suggests, it will be equipped with an in-display camera.

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Huawei MateStation X with Ryzen 7 5800H processor and 1TB storage goes on sale for 13,999 yuan ($2,215)

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Mar 4, 2022

Last year, Huawei officially announced its first all-in-one computer under its Mate lineup, dubbed as Huawei MateStation X which comes packed with a powerful set of specs. A few days ago, a new 1TB model of the device was announced.

Now, just days after getting launched, the top-end model of the Huawei MateStation X is available for purchase in the Chinese market today. The 1TB storage model has a discounted price of 13,999 yuan which is about $2,215.

In terms of design, the device looks quite similar to the Huawei MateView monitor launched by the company. It features a 28.2-inch 4K+ 3:2 display with 3840 x 2560 pixels screen resolution and a screen-to-body ratio of 92 percent.

The company mentions 98% DCI-P3 color gamut, 100% sRGB, and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free certification. The stand of the MateStation X is also wider and the speaker doesn’t occupy the whole height.

Under the hood, the Huawei MateStation X is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H or the Ryzen 7 5800H processor, coupled with up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB of NVMe SSD storage. It also features a 1-megapixel 720p HD camera for video calling.

There are four microphones that can pick up a user’s voice from up to 5 meters away. It also has three Devialet speakers – 2x 5W full-range speakers and a 10W subwoofer. It also has two USB-C ports, two USB-A, ports, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and an audio jack.

Huawei ships the MateStation X with its Huawei Wireless Keyboard. The fingerprint scanner in the keyboard also doubles as the power button. Along with that, the company is also offering Huawei Bluetooth Mouse AF30 in the box.

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Redmi 23.8-inch Gaming Monitor now available for purchase for 1,599 yuan ($253)

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Mar 4, 2022

A few days ago, Xiaomi-backed Redmi had launched a new gaming monitor in the market, dubbed as Redmi 23.8-inch Gaming Monitor. Days after the official announcement, it is now available for purchase in China.

The gaming monitor, which packs some advanced set of features, is priced at 1,599 yuan in China, which roughly converts to $253.

The new Redmi Gaming Monitor features a 23.8-inch display with a Full HD screen resolution and up to 240Hz refresh rate. The company adds that it uses FAST IPS technology and has a 1ms response time.

The device is also certified for AMD FreeSync Premium and has a 100% sRGB color gamut, support for DC Dimming, and is said to be certified for protection from Blue Light to ensure that it’s safe for eyes.

As for the design, the new 23.8-inch Redmi Gaming Monitor has a narrow-frame bezel design from the three sides. There’s also a magnetic back cover at the IO panel and the base has support for vertical adjustment and rotating adjustment using which the monitor can also be used in a portrait or vertical position.

Coming to the interfaces, the monitor comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. For those who want a bigger screen, the company had launched the 27-inch models last year.

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Honor 60 Pro’s new color variant with electrochromic technology launched in China

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Mar 4, 2022

In December 2021, Honor unveiled the Honor 60 and Honor 60 Pro smartphones in China. The handset has been available in multiple colors such as blue, gold, green, and black. Today, the Chinese manufacturer confirmed the arrival of Honor 60 Pro’s new color variant called Honor Code.

The Honor 60 Pro’s Honor Code color variant is equipped with electrochromic technology. As can be seen, the letters H, O, N, O, R can glow according to the rhythm of the ringtone during incoming calls, alarm clocks, and reminders. It offers millisecond-level response speed and allows users to customize the pattern of the glowing letters.

The Honor 60 Pro’s new color variant arrives in a sole version that offers 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of built-in storage. The device is priced at 3,999 Yuan (~$633). Its limited pre-sale begins today in China. The company is yet to confirm the sale date of the new color variant.

Honor 60 Pro specifications

The Honor 60 Pro has a 6.78-inch OLED display with curved edges. It offers a Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The device features a 50-megapixel front camera, and it is fitted with a 108-megapixel (main) + 50-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit.

The Snapdragon 778G Plus chipset is present under the hood of the Honor 60 Pro. The device is equipped with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. It has a 4,500mAh battery that supports 66W rapid charging.

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Redmi Note 11E Pro now available for purchase in China; price starts at 1,699 yuan ($269)

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