Upcoming Smartphones: iPhone SE 2022, Galaxy F23 5G, realme 9 5G SE, and more

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Mar 5, 2022

Around 7 smartphones are expected to launch next month. Out of these, only 4 are new, while the remaining 3 are making their way to India. In other words, the number of releases in the upcoming week will be fewer than the last week.

Almost all the handsets launching next month are successors of their bestsellers. With that being said, let us take a look at all the forthcoming phones one by one.

Upcoming Smartphones Next Week

1. realme C35

realme C35

The realme C35 made its global debut in Thailand in February. It has been now confirmed to launch in India on March 7. Interested readers can watch the announcement of the handset on the brand’s official YouTube channel starting at 12:30 PM.

The highlights of the realme C35 include a 6.6-inch FHD+ notched display (LCD) with up to 600 nits peak brightness, UNISOC T616 chipset, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, 50MP (wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (monochrome) triple camera setup, 8MP selfie camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 5,000mAh battery, 18W fast charging, and Android 11 (realme UI 2.0).

2. Samsung Galaxy F23 5G

Samsung has scheduled to launch the Galaxy F23 5G in India on March 8. The Flipkart-exclusive smartphone will be announced in a live stream that will begin at 12 PM on the company’s official YouTube channel.

The South Korean tech giant has disclosed some of the features of the device already. It will arrive with a 120Hz FHD+ display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC, a triple-camera system comprising of a 50MP primary sensor and a 123° ultra-wide lens, 5,000mAh battery, and support for 25W fast charging

3. Apple iPhone SE 2022

Apple iPhone SE 2020

Apple will be hosting its first event of 2022 labeled ‘Peek Performance. The live stream is planned to kickstart at 10 AM PT. It can be watched on the official YouTube channel of the company.

The American tech giant is expected to announce multiple products at this virtual conference. One of them is said to be the iPhone SE 2022, the successor of the iPhone SE 2020. The handset will reportedly retain the design of its predecessor and bring 5G connectivity. Most interestingly, it may cost as low as $300.

4. Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G

Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

Xiaomi has already announced Redmi Note 11 Pro series in multiple markets. The handsets are finally making their way to India on March 9. They will be unveiled in a live stream, which will kickstart at 12 PM on the brand’s official YouTube channel.

Talking about the devices, the company has confirmed to debut two models, namely Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro+. According to teasers and earlier reports, the former will be the same as the international Redmi Note 11 Pro with 4G connectivity. Whereas, the latter will be a rebranded international Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.

5. realme 9 5G and realme 9 5G SE

Chinese tech brand has planned yet another launch event for India on March 10. It will be also live-streamed starting at 12:30 PM on the said date on the firm’s official YouTube channel. The stars of the show will be realme 9 5G and realme 9 5G SE.

These two will be the third and fourth phones in the realme 9 series respectively. The realme 9 5G will be almost identical to the realme 8 5G. On the other hand, the realme 9 5G SE is expected to be a rebadged realme Q3s.

Xiaomi 12X and Mi Pad 5 Pro get a limited period price drop in China

By

Pranav Sawant

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Mar 5, 2022

Xiaomi 12 series was launched in December 2021, with the series comprising the Xiaomi 12X, 12, and 12 Pro. Out of the three, the Xiaomi 12X brings an interesting specs sheet to the table like the Snapdragon 870 at a cheaper price. Now, the smartphone has received a price drop in China making it even more affordable. Additionally, the Mi Pad 5 Pro has also received a limited period price drop in the region.

Xiaomi 12X

The Xiaomi 12X was launched in China for a starting price of CNY 3,199(~$506) for the 8GB + 128GB variant, CNY 3,499(~$554) for the 8GB + 256GB variant, and CNY 3,799(~$601) for the 12GB + 256GB variant.

Now, the smartphone’s price has gone down by CNY 200(~$32) making the new discounted prices as follows: CNY 2,999(~$475), CNY 3,299(~$522), and CNY 3,599(~$570). The smartphone can be bought in Black, Blue, and Purple colors. Notably, the phone will be available for the discounted price till March 10 in China.

The Xiaomi 12X sports a 6.28-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It has a 50MP + 13MP + 5MP triple camera system and has a 32MP selfie snapper. It is powered by the Snapdragon 870 SoC and packs a 4,500mAh battery. The phone has 67W fast charging support and boots on Android 12 OS out of the box.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro

In addition to this, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro has also received a price drop in the region. The tablet’s price has gone down by CNY 100(~$16). The tablet now starts at CNY 2,399(~$380) over its launch price of CNY 2,499(~$396). It can be picked up in Black and Dazzling White colors.

The offer price for the Mi Pad 5 Pro stays till March 8.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro has an 11-inch LCD display with 2560 x 1600 pixels resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The tablet comes with eight Dolby Atmos branded speaker-setup and is powered by the Snapdragon 870 SoC. It houses an 8,600mAh battery and has 67W fast charging support. It boots on Android 11 out of the box.

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Realme Watch T1 gets EEC certified confirming a sooner global release

By

Pranav Sawant

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Mar 5, 2022

Back in October 2021, Realme launched the Realme Watch T1 with a circular dial and over 110 sports modes. However, the smartwatch is still limited to China. There’s no global launch date, nor there have been any leaks. But, a Realme Watch with model number RMW2103 was previously spotted on India’s BIS. It was said to be the Watch T1. Now, the smartwatch with the same model number has appeared on the EEC certification.

The listing was first spotted by the tipster Piyush Bhasarkar. Unfortunately, the listing doesn’t reveal any details of the smartwatch but it does confirm its global release. Coming to its name, this smartwatch is expected to be the global version of the Realme Watch T1 since the Chinese version of the Watch T1 has the model number RMW2102.

So the #realme's upcoming smartwatch is listed on EEC certification🇷🇺

Model no. RMW2103

Asian launch immediate

(Already listed on BIS🇮🇳https://t.co/6pgKC8dwl0)#Russia #realmeWatch #realmeTechLife https://t.co/Oqm6JeZn6y pic.twitter.com/fyXObw2DP7

— Piyush Bhasarkar (@IndianTech_1) March 4, 2022

If we go by this, then we can expect the smartwatch to have similar specs as the China’s Realme Watch T1. The Watch T1 was launched with a 1.3-inch round display with a resolution of 416 x 416 pixels. It has Always On Display and supports NFC.

The smartwatch comes with 110 sports modes and has over 50 watch faces. It has a Bluetooth calling feature with the help of Bluetooth v5.0 and is 5ATM waterproof. It packs a 228mAh battery and has 7-day battery life. It comes with health features like a real-time heart rate monitor, Sp2 sensor, and also has a sleep tracker.

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Oppo K10 arrives on 3C revealing 80W fast charging support

By

Pranav Sawant

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Mar 5, 2022

A few days back, we learned that there will be a new smartphone from Oppo named the Oppo K10. Rumors are rife that it will be one of the models to come powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 8000 series chipset. Now, in new development, we learn that the smartphone will come with an impressive fast charging solution.

The Oppo K10 has passed China’s 3C certification site with model number PGIM10. The smartphone has a charger with model number VCB8JACH and it will have 80W fast charging support.

Furthermore, the tipster @BaldPanda revealed that the smartphone will come with a combination of the new Dimensity 8000 SoC and 80W fast charging technology. This clears up the previous confusion, where we were unsure of which 8000 series processor the K10 would have, whether the 8000 or the 8100.

For starters, the Dimensity 8000 and 8100 are new mid-range chipsets, but the Dimensity 8000 has a slightly slower GPU compared to the Dimensity 8100. MediaTek has officially confirmed that the first smartphone coming with these chips would be by the end of Q1. So, we can expect the Oppo K10 to arrive in the coming months.

It is worth noting that Oppo will not be the only brand to bring the Dimensity 8000 series chipset phones. Some of the first brands to launch phones with either the 8000 or 8100 SoCs would be OnePlus and Redmi. While the name of the upcoming OnePlus handset powered by this chip is yet to be known, we do know that Redmi’s K50 Pro will use the 8000 series processor.

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Redmi Note 11 Pro vs POCO X4 Pro: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Mar 4, 2022

Xiaomi is releasing a lot of affordable phones this year and we are not even at the end of the first quarter. After the Redmi Note 11 series, new low cost devices came up even under the POCO sub-brand. For the following comparison, we chose two models because of their similarities: the Redmi Note 11 Pro and the POCO X4 Pro 5G. While the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is almost a rebrand of the POCO X4 Pro, the 4G variant is a bit different and it makes sense because it allows saving some money to those people who do not need the 5G connectivity. Given that these two phones have a lot of identical specifications, this comparison will be mainly focused on the differences between these two models rather than on establishing which one is the best.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Xiaomi POCO X4 Pro

	Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro	Xiaomi POCO X4 Pro 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm, 202 grams	164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm, 205 grams
DISPLAY	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Mediatek Helio G96, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 11, MIUI	Android 11, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 108 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.9, f/2.2 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.4 front camera	Triple 108 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY	5000 mAh, 67W fast charging	5000 mAh, fast charging 67W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

An important difference between these two phones is the design. The POCO X4 Pro 5G comes with a more original and aggressive design, targeted to young people, with flat borders like iPhones and a great texture on the rear side. The Redmi Note 11 Pro is definitely more elegant, more suitable for casual and normal users. Further, it is built with better materials, including a glass back and a front glass protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Both the phones feature the IP53 certification making them dust resistant and splash resistant, and they have exactly the same dimensions.

Display

There is not any difference between the Redmi Note 11 Pro and the POCO X4 Pro 5G when it comes to the display. The two handsets come with a good Super AMOLED panel showing bright colors and deep blacks. The display has a diagonal of 6.67 inches, a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 120 Hz refresh rate, the HDR10 certification, a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits, and the Gorilla Glass 5 protection. They are not the best display, but they are at a great level, especially if we consider the price range. The fingerprint readers are side-mounted and both the phones feature stereo speakers.

Hardware/Software

The most important difference between Redmi Note 11 Pro and POCO X4 Pro 5G is the hardware setup. The former has a MediaTek Helio G96 chipset built at 12 nm with a max frequency of 2.05 GHz, while the latter is powered by a Snapdragon 695 mobile platform built at 6 nm with a max frequency of 2.2 GHz. The Snapdragon 695 is faster and more efficient in terms of energy consumption. Further, it supports the 5G connectivity, while the Mediatek Helio G96 does not. Last but not least, the POCO X4 Pro 5G offers up to 256 GB of internal storage, while you can get only 128 GB with the Redmi Note 11 Pro. Both the phones still run Android 11 customized by MIUI 13, but they will be updated to Android 12 soon.

Camera

The Redmi Note 11 Pro and the POCO X4 Pro 5G are equipped with a 108 MP main camera coming with an f/1.9 focal aperture, an 8 MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2 MP macro camera. The former adds a third secondary sensor that is a 2 MP depth sensor, but it is a pretty useless camera nowadays. The selfie cameras come with a 16 MP resolution and an f/2.4 aperture.

Battery

There are no differences when it comes to the batteries: POCO X4 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro are equipped with a 5000 mAh battery and they support 67W fast charging. Despite having the same battery capacity, the POCO X4 Pro 5G is able to provide a longer battery life because its processor is more efficient as it is built at 6 nm.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G vs Xiaomi POCO X4 Pro 5G: Price

The starting price of the POCO X4 Pro 5G is €299/$328, while you can find the Redmi Note 11 Pro for €269/$295. The Redmi Note 11 Pro actually comes with better build quality, but it is less interesting due to its inferior processor and no 5G connectivity. The POCO X4 Pro 5G provides 5G and a stronger chipset, as well as lower energy consumption.

Read More: Redmi Note 10 vs Note 10 Pro vs Note 10 Pro Max: Specs Comparison

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G vs Xiaomi POCO X4 Pro 5G: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro

PROS

More affordable
Lighter
Depth sensor
Elegant design
Glass back

CONS

No 5G
Inferior processor

Xiaomi POCO X4 Pro 5G

PROS

5G
Better processor
Original design
Up to 256 GB of internal storage

CONS

Materials

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BGMI won’t get banned in India: PIL update

By

Sudhanshu

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Mar 4, 2022

Recently, a public interest litigation was filed in Telangana High Court in February seeking the ban of mobile gaming app Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI).

The PIL which was filed by Advocate Anil Stevenson Jangam, called for the ban of the extremely popular battle royale title, claiming that the game was essentially just PUBG Mobile under a different name, ‘BGMI’.

The PIL claimed that the earlier banned ‘PUBG Mobile’ and ‘BGMI’ are essentially the same applications and it also stated that Tencent and publisher Krafton had employed the process of front companies to hide the app’s Chinese ties and hoodwink Indian Authorities.

For those unaware, the game PUBG was banned in India citing Chinese ties specifically its publisher Tencent which is one of the biggest game companies in the world, based in China.

The game was re-launched under the name, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) after the ban with a few changes by the South Korean publisher Krafton in India.

In response to the PIL, the representative of (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) MeitY N. Samaya Balan responded to Telangana High court and assured the public that the two apps ‘PUBG Mobile’ and ‘BGMI’ are different. The affidavit filed by Balan confirmed that the two applications – ‘PUBG Mobile’ and ‘BGMI’ are not, in fact, the same app. The affidavit later also explained that only the government has the ability and power to restrict computer access.

The response by Meity towards the PIL on BGMI suggests that the game will not be banned any time in the future.

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Samsung Galaxy M33 5G, Galaxy M23 5G officially unveiled

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 4, 2022

Samsung has officially unveiled its upcoming budget-friendly devices in a press release listing all their key specs and features. So let’s take a look at what these smartphones have to offer.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G specs and features

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G

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Starting with the Galaxy M33 5G, we get a square camera array design with four cutouts. The rest of the rear design has been kept clean however, the LED flash is placed below the camera island. The device measures 165.4 x 76.9 x 9.4mm and weighs 215 grams.

The Galaxy M33 5G offers a 6.6-inch TFT FHD+ (1080 x 2408) LCD display. For photography, Samsung has offered a quad-camera setup on the back of the device with a 50MP f/1.8 primary camera, a 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor, and a 2MP f/2.2 macro shooter. For selfies, we get an 8MP f/ 2.2 snapper.

Under the hood, the Galaxy M33 5G comes with an octa-core SoC which according to previous Geekbench listings, should be the 5G enabled Exynos 1200 octa-core SoC. It is offered in two RAM variants, 6GB and 8GB and the internal storage available is 128GB. This, however, can be expanded by up to 1TB with a Micro-SD card. The device gets a 6000mAh battery and will boot Android 12 based One UI 4.1 out of the box. The sensors present in the device are an accelerometer, fingerprint sensor, gyro sensor geomagnetic sensor, virtual light sensor, virtual and proximity sensor. The Samsung Galaxy M33 will be available for purchase in Green, Blue, and Brown color options.

Samsung Galaxy M23 5G specs and features

Samsung Galaxy M23 5G

1 of 3

The Samsung Galaxy M23 comes with a rectangular-shaped camera island with a vertically aligned triple camera setup. The front holds a flat display with thick bezels and a waterdrop notch. The device measures 165.5 x 77 x 8.4mm and weighs 198 grams.

The Galaxy M23 comes with a 6.6-inch TFT LCD 1080 x 2408P display. Although the press release doesn’t specify, the display is said to offer up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

In the camera department, it features a 50MP f/1.8 main camera sensor, coupled with an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The main camera sensor is said to come to support optical image stabilization (OIS). For selfies, we get an 8MP f/2.2 camera.

Under the hood, the Galaxy M23 houses an octa-core (2.2GHz + 1.8GHz) SoC said to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G. The SoC gets paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The 5G smartphone also offers storage expansion of up to 1TB via a microSD card slot. The device gets a 5000mAh battery and runs Android 12 based One UI 4.1 out of the box. For security, Samsung has provided a fingerprint sensor likely mounted on the side of the smartphone. The device will be available to purchase in Deep Green and Light Blue colors.

Currently, these are all the specs provided by Samsung for their upcoming M23 and M33 devices, however, we are sure to soon receive an in-depth spec sheet of the smartphones, so stay tuned.

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(Source 1, 2)

Greta Glide electric scooter with up to 100km range launched in India

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 4, 2022

The Greta Glide electric scooter has been launched in India and it comes with several decent features. It is powered by lithium-ion batteries with fast charging support that fully charges the e-scooter in under 3 hours.

Greta Electric Scooters put the price of the new electric scooter at Rs. 80,000 (~$1,053) and it has a driving range of about 100km. Interested customers can pre-order the Greta Glide with some incentives available for customers in this segment. A discount of Rs. 6,000 (~$79) is being offered on pre-booked scooters and Rs. 2,000 (~$27) will be off on spot-booked scooters.

The Greta Glide e-scooter is suited for within city short commutes and has a 3-speed drive mode as well as reverse feature. It also boasts of DRL, EBS, ATA System, and Smart Shift. The LED digital instrument cluster display provides an illuminating overview of various controls on the e-scooter. Keyless start, anti-theft alarm, a front glove box, light designer consoles are also featured in the Greta Glide.

Greta Glide offers spacious leg room for the rider, unlike some cramped models. An added security feature is the Find My Vehicle Alarm. The black leatherette seat cover also serves to accentuate the looks of the e-scooter. The e-scooter is available in seven color options namely Yellow, Grey, Orange, Scarlet Red, Rose Gold, Candy White, and Jet Black.

The Greta Glide electric two-wheeler has efficient 3.5-inch tubeless tires. The suspension system consists of telescopic forks at the front and a Dual Hydraulic Cell Shocker at the rear. The Greta Glide has Dual Hydraulic Disc Brakes at both ends. There are several battery options available for the Greta Glide with range options between 60km and 100km. A three-year warranty on battery packs is also in place.

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Samsung Galaxy A13, A23 Announced with Gorilla Glass 5 Protection, 5000 mAh battery

By

Leo Wong De Quan

-

Mar 4, 2022

As the hype for the latest Samsung Galaxy S22 flagship series cools down, Samsung is right on schedule to release its best-selling Galaxy A series to the market in 2022 as well. Today, Samsung officially unveiled its brand new entry-level smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A13 4G and A23 4G to the public.

Let’s start with the highlights. Both the Samsung Galaxy A13 4G and A23 4G feature enhanced durability with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for the front display(the same one used on the Galaxy Note 9), a long-lasting 5000mAh battery, faster 25W charging support compared to last year’s 15W, and upgraded cameras.

Samsung Galaxy A13 4G

Despite bearing a similar name to the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G launched last year, besides the connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy A13 4G actually has upgraded internals compared to the A13 5G.

The Samsung Galaxy A13 features a 6.6” FHD+ TFT LCD display with a refresh rate of 60Hz. Powering the phone is a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging support and an unnamed octa-core processor (2.2GHz + 2GHz) under the hood(though previous Geekbench listings showed that the device was running on an Exynos 850). The device runs on Samsung’s latest One UI 4.1 based on Android 12.

For the back, the Samsung Galaxy A13 features a quad-camera setup with a 50MP f/1.8 main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro and depth sensors. The selfie camera houses an 8MP f/2.2 unit.

The device weighs 195g, with dimensions of 165.1 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm and its housing is made of Samsung’s polycarbonate “glasstic” material. The phone comes in 4 pastel colours which are blue, peach, white and black.

It is available to be purchased in 3/4/6GB RAM + 32/64/128GB configurations.

galaxy_a13_spec-info_f — Galaxy A13 Info Sheet

Samsung Galaxy A23 4G

The Samsung Galaxy A23 is the successor to last year’s Samsung Galaxy A22. The big difference between it and its predecessor is the screen. Where the Samsung Galaxy A22 featured a 6.4” 60Hz HD+ AMOLED panel, the Samsung Galaxy A23 comes with a 6.6” 60Hz FHD+ TFT LCD panel.

Under the hood, the device runs on an unnamed octa-core processor with a base clock of 1.9GHz and a boost clock of 2.4GHz(Recent certifications mention the device running a Snapdragon 680). Keeping the lights on are its 5000mAh with upgraded 25W USB-C super fast charging support. The device runs on Samsung’s latest One UI 4.1 based on Android 12.

The device sports a quad-camera setup with a 50MP f/1.8 main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro and depth sensors. The selfie camera houses an 8MP f/2.2 unit. You’ll find the fingerprint scanner on the power button to your right and a microSD card slot for expandable storage.

The device weighs 195g, with dimensions of 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.44 mm and its housing is made of Samsung’s polycarbonate “glasstic” material. The Galaxy A23 also features Gorilla Glass 5 at the front for enhanced durability. The phone comes in 4 pastel colours which are blue, peach, white and black.

It is available to be purchased in 4/6/8GB RAM + 64/128GB configurations.

galaxy_a23_spec-info_f — Samsung Galaxy A23 info sheet

Samsung mentions that the availability of both the Samsung Galaxy A13 and A23 devices will be rolled out gradually across global markets in 2022, and RAM and storage configurations may differ between countries and regions across the globe.

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(Source 1, Source 2)

Smart TV shipments in India peaked in 2021, OnePlus grew by 354%

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 4, 2022

Counterpoint Research has released a report on the Indian smart TV market for 2021. According to the report, the market grew more than the year-earlier and registered its highest-ever shipments. More consumers started preferring large-screen televisions. In fact, they accounted for almost half of the shipments.

Counterpoint reports that the TV shipments in India grew by 24% YoY and 48% YoY in 2021 and Q4 2021 respectively. These numbers stood at 55% YoY and 65% YoY for smart TVs. As a result of the aforementioned growth, the market share of smart televisions increased to 84% from 67%.

The growth of the smart TV category was supported by demand for home entertainment during lockdowns, newer launches at affordable price tags, growth of newcomers, discounts, and availability of premium features at attractive prices.

As mentioned earlier, the market share of large-screen televisions (above 40-inch) increased to 42% last year compared to just 31% in 2020. At the same time, the online channel continued to show growth due to brands’ partnerships with eCommerce platforms and launching their own websites. Anyway, the market is still offline-centric as this channel alone drove 69% of the shipments in 2021.

Talking about brands, Xiaomi led the smart TV market in India throughout 2021 with an 18% market share. It was closely followed by Samsung with a 16% market share. The South Korean electronics giant’s entire TV shipments (smart and non-smart) accounted for 18%. LG, Sony, and OnePlus rounded off the top 5 with 11%, 6%, and 6% market shares respectively.

As far as interesting facts are concerned, OnePlus witnessed a record 354% shipment growth. Further, Sony was the most preferred brand over ₹40,000 segment. Finally, budget models were the best-selling TVs for all the brands.

Honor X8 4G clears FCC and TÜV Rheinland certifications, launch imminent

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 4, 2022

Honor recently launched their Magic4 series of flagship smartphones at MWC 2022. And now, it appears that the company might soon launch a new budget phone in the X series called the Honor X8 as it has now been spotted on FCC and TÜV Rheinland databases.

Honor X8 FCC and TÜV Rheinland Certification

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According to a MySmartPrice report, the listings reveal that the Honor X8 will carry TFY-LX2, TFY-LX1, and TFY-LX3 model numbers and will come with Google apps and services. The listings also reveal that it will have Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi support. The battery capacity is also confirmed by the TÜV Rheinland to be 4000mAh with 22.5W fast charging support.

Honor X8 4G Specifications (rumored)

Previous reports have suggested that the Honor X8 will be based on the Honor X30i that was announced in Chinese markets in the recent past. But unlike the X30i, the X8 will only offer support for 4G LTE connectivity.

The device will likely come equipped with a 6.7-inch LTPS LCD panel with a punch-hole design. It offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2388 pixels.

The front side of the Honor X8 features a 16-megapixel camera. The rear side of the phone has a squarish camera module that includes a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 5-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth helper.

The device is powered by an unknown ARM chipset that includes four Cortex-A73 performance cores working at up to 2.4GHz and four Cortex-A53 CPU cores working at up to 1.9GHz. It is assisted by 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage. Even though it is a mid-range device, it lacks a microSD card slot.

The Honor X8 has a 4,000mAh battery, which can be charged using the USB-C port. For security, it has a fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button. It will come preinstalled with Android 11.

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Polestar O2 is a sleek electric convertible that comes with a drone for aerial photography

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Mar 4, 2022

The addition of an integrated drone for aerial filming is an impressive innovation that is present in the Polestar O2 roadster. The Polestar O2 is the second concept from the Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer recently announced.

The Polestar O2 is a sporty convertible designed to showcase the automaker’s bonded aluminum platform and rich history. Polestar is a joint venture between Volvo and Geely focused on delivering top-notch EV offerings. The Polestar O2 sports an impressive sporty design and could be a delight on wheels. It is an electric two-seater sports car that could rival the Tesla Roadster and a few other established EVs. Currently, only a few sports EVs are market-ready. This creates an opportunity for Polestar to place a marker for subsequent brands with its beautiful concept.

Key details for the Polestar O2 are not known at this time but as the concept evolves, its performance metrics will surface. The company however says it has over 110 kWh of battery power, The exterior design of the Polestar O2 bears some semblance with the company’s first concept and also reflects its Volvo roots.

The interior of the O2 showcases the environmental credentials of Polestar. It is made from a new thermoplastic mono-material – a recycled polyester that is used as the sole material for all the soft interior components. Polestar says this represents a step towards what it calls greater circularity, while also reducing weight and waste.

By far, the most distinctive feature in the Polestar O2 is its “cinematic drone” which is a concept developed in collaboration with Hoco Flow. The integrated drone is designed to be deployed while the car is moving, to record driving sequences. Although there is no specific timeline for the transformation of the O2 from concept to a production vehicle the company is hopeful of that direction.

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DOOGEE S98 with Dual Screen and Night Vision Camera is Expected to Launch in Late March (Giveaway)

By

Daily Deals

-

Mar 4, 2022

DOOGEE has announced a new addition to its S Series of rugged smartphones. The dual-screen, night vision camera-enabled rugged smartphone DOOGEE S98 is scheduled to be launched by the end of March 2022. So let’s check out the specs and features on S98.

DOOGEE S98 will come with an eye-catching dual-screen design. The phone will sport a 6.3” LCD FHD+ main display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection in the front and a unique smart round display in the rear. The rear display will feature a customizable background wherein you can use any picture of your choice. The rear display can be used to check the time, control music, check the battery levels, and more.

The new DOOGEE S98 will run on a MediaTek G96 octa-core processor with a clocking speed of 2.05GHz and will come with an 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM expandable using a microSD card.

For your images and videos, you have a triple rear camera set up placed elegantly around the round rear display. It will feature a 64MP main sensor, 20MP night vision camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera. A primary LED flashlight and infrared light complete the setup on the back. The highlighting camera feature will surely be the 20MP night vision camera which allows you to capture videos and images in pitch-black surroundings. For your selfies, you have a 16MP sensor in the front.

DOOGEE S98 will be fueled by a massive 6000mAh battery and will support 33W fast charging. The phone will also support 15W wireless charging. It will run on Android 12 out of the box with the company confirming at least 3 years of security and Android version updates.

This rugged smartphone from DOGEE will be IP68 / IP69K rated and MIL-STD-810G certified. This means it’s waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof and can work even in extreme and hazardous conditions making it perfect for outdoor adventures and long-term travels.

Other interesting features like NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, etc will also be available on the smartphone. Although DOOGEE hasn’t confirmed the exact launch date for the S98 rugged smartphone, rumor has it that the phone will be launched by the end of March 2022. We will keep you updated about the relevant details as and when we get them.

Also for all the DOOGEE fans out there, the company is conducting a Giveaway on their official website. So do check out the details of the same.

Doogee S98 Teaser Page: https://bit.ly/3vk2Shv
Doogee Official Homepage: www.doogee.cc

Realme GT Neo3 appears on Geekbench with Dimensity 8100, 12GB RAM

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 4, 2022

Earlier this week, some key specifications of the upcoming Realme GT Neo3 surfaced online along with the confirmation that it will debut in the H2 of this year. And now, the device has appeared on Geekbench hinting at an imminent launch.

The Geekbench listing reveals that the phone has the model number RMX3562, which was previously seen at TENAA. It also revealed that the phone indeed comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC which was recently launched alongside the Dimensity 8000 SoC. The SoC is paired with a Mali-G610 MC6 GPU. It has a peak clock speed of 2.85GHz. the lower four cores have a clock speed of 2.0GHz.

The smartphone was benchmarked while operating on Android 12 and with 12GB RAM. We are certain that the device will also be offered in lower ran configurations like 8GB and 6GB. As for the performance, the phone manages a score of 966 in the single-core department and manages 3901 points in the multi-core test.

Realme GT Neo3 specs

Firstly, the Realme GT Neo3 is confirmed to come with the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC. The brand has already revealed this feature officially, in addition to 150W UltraDart fast charging support.

And according to the rumors, the device will have a 6.7-inch FHD+ display. This OLED panel will have support for 10-bit color depth, HDR10+, and up to 120Hz refresh rate.

For photography, the smartphone will house a triple-lens system on the rear consisting of a 50MP Sony IMX766 with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide unit, and a 2MP macro shooter. On the front, it will have a 16MP snapper for selfies and video calls. As far as power is concerned, the phone will get its juice from a respectable 4,500mAh battery.

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Xiaomi MIJIA Ambient Light Strip launched at ¥299 ($47)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 4, 2022

Xiaomi is known for selling a wide variety of products. Most of its interesting products are sold under the MIJIA brand in China. Today, the company has launched one such product. It is a new RGB light strip with support for popular lighting systems and much more.

The latest light accessory from Xiaomi is officially called Xiaomi MIJIA Ambient Light Strip. It is priced at ¥299 ($47) for a limited and is already up for sale. It measures 2m in length but can be extended up to 5m by investing in more.

The light strip can be linked with Xiaomi’s MIJIA smart home system. it is compatible with RAZER CHROMA RGB as well as ASUS AURA SYNC. It also has native support for select Xiaomi TVs (aka Mi TVs) sold in China.

Additionally, the controller features a built-in microphone to sync with the audio. In other words, the new MIJIA RGB light strip is well-suited for all types of entertainment, in addition to furnishing your home.

The company says that the RGB light offers over 100 color combinations to choose from 16 million colors. Users can customize as per their needs from the official app.

Finally, since it is a smart light, the Xiaomi MIJIA Ambient Light Strip supports OTA software updates. Hence, the firm may deliver new features and bug fixes in the future if quired.

Samsung confirms smartphone performance throttling, patch in works

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 4, 2022

A couple of days ago, Samsung was found to be artificially limiting the performance of over 10,000 apps including system apps, Google apps, and numerous third-party apps with their Game Optimizing Service (GOS) which is often pre-installed on Galaxy smartphones.

The GOS is claimed to improve performance in games by preventing overheating and throttling issues, however, it appears to be more of a solution catered towards extending the battery life by restricting app performance. In tests conducted by a Korean Youtube, it was revealed that the GOS cuts down the performance of apps by over 56%. The Youtuber was able to achieve these results by changing the package name of the popular benchmarking app 3DMark (which GOS does not limit the performance of) to Genshin Impact, which is mentioned in the list of apps that get their performance throttled.

Now, Samsung has released a statement (translated by known tipster Dohyun Kim) for its Korean users who uncovered the app throttling issue. The statement reads ” GOS (Game Optimizing Service) of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series is pre-installed to optimize CPU and GPU performance and prevent excessive heating when you play a game for a long time. To meet the current needs of different customers, we are planning to update the Game Booster Lab as soon as possible to offer an option to prioritize performance.”

So it appears that Samsung is working hard to quickly resolve this issue and will soon be pushing an update that will optimize the GOS to focus more on performance rather than saving battery.

It is still unclear as to how many devices are affected by this performance limitation of the GOS, however, it is confirmed to be preinstalled on the Samsung Galaxy S22 series devices along with the Galaxy S21 Plus and the Galaxy S20 FE.

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Deal: Get Discounts and Free Gifts at the World Premiere of ADO D30 Series High Value E-Bikes

By

Daily Deals

-

Mar 4, 2022

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.

Now ADO has launched their latest ADO D30 and D30C E-bikes globally. And under this global launch, you can get huge discounts and free gifts on the purchase of the D30 and D30C E-bikes. So let’s take a look at the two new E-bikes by ADO.

ADO D30 E-bike

Retail Price: €2499 Discounted Price: €1899 @adoebike.com

Buy from AliExpress Buy from Banggood

Designed to be the perfect commute partner the D30 E-bike is a one-stop solution for your work and adventure travel. The 27.5” lightweight electric bike comes with Shimano 11 speed that rolls your bike at a faster pace on a flat surface and uses less effort to climb uphill. With Hydraulic disc brakes, you get high quality, anti-wear, and durable brakes and the wire-controlled shock absorption effortlessly adapts to the various road conditions making your ride smooth and comfortable.

Also with SGS CE certification, the E-bike meets the compulsory product safety directives needed to trade in the EU.

Key Features:

SGS CE certified
250W 42N-M super torque motor
Shimano 11 speed
90km ultra-long-range
10.4Ah detachable and multi protected power battery
ADO G drive 2.0 AI intelligent system
Hydraulic disc brake
Wire control shock absorption
Lightweight aluminum alloy frame
E Mark lights / reflectors
HD LCD screen for real-time data
Aluminum alloy non-slip pedal
USB charging port
Weight – 22 Kg
Max load capacity – 120 Kg

ADO D30C E-bike

Retail Price: €1999 Discounted Price: €1499 @adoebike.com

Buy from AliExpress

Buy from Banggood

ADO D30C similar to the D30 variant is a great option for your urban commute and leisure travel. It comes with Shimano 9 speed and unlike the D30 model, the D30C variant features a manual shock absorption. D30C E-bike also comes with SGS CE certification that meets the compulsory product safety directives needed to trade in the EU.

Key Features:

90 Km ultra-high endurance
250W 42N-M super torque motor
Shimano 9 speed
ADO G-Drive 2.0 AI intelligent system
Hydraulic disc brakes
SGS CE certified
10.4Ah detachable and multi protected power battery
Lightweight aluminum alloy frame
Controlled fork shock
E Mark lights / reflectors
HD LCD screen for real-time data
Aluminum alloy non-slip pedal
USB charging port
Weight – 22 Kg
Max load capacity – 120 Kg

The ADO DC series comes with fast and free shipping, approximately 3 to 7 days delivery, and a Life free warranty. You can make the payments securely using Paypal or even opt for installment payment.

Please note that you can buy the same products from official adoebike.com, Banggood, and AliExpress. ADO has provided these multiple purchase options to support its global customers. However, the above price is region-specific and the final price may vary according to your shipping region, warehouse, and regional taxes.

ADO D30 Series World Premiere Deal (Discounts/ Free Gifts / Give-Away):

The deal ends on 23 March 2022, 7:59 UTC
D30 and D30C E-bikes are available at discounted prices
Free Gift: All orders made before 23 March will receive a free helmet and lock
Banggood: Giveaway to win Ado&Insta360 GO2 XE action camera(total 30pcs)
adoebike.com: Frist one order of the day (every day till the deal ends) will get free Ado&Insta360 GO2 XE action camera (total 30pcs)

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

Alleged OnePlus 10 back panel image surfaces, reveals distinct design from OnePlus 10 Pro

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 4, 2022

Earlier this year, OnePlus released their latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 clad flagship, the OnePlus 10 Pro in the Chinese market. The company has recently confirmed that the OnePlus 10 Pro will come to Indian, European, and US markets by the end of March.

Rumors also emerged of OnePlus working on a new smartphone codenamed “Oscar,” which is believed to be the vanilla OnePlus 10 and is said to launch in Q2 2022. Now, potential back panel images of the OnePlus 10 have surfaced online revealing a pretty distinct camera module to its Pro counterpart.

According to a Weibo tipster, the image is obtained from industry sources, although there is not much information as to which model the back panel actually belongs to. Looking at the design, there is no stovetop camera module present, and instead, it looks similar to the camera of the Xiaomi 12.

It appears to have one massive primary camera located in the top left corner and three other cutouts which could house an ultrawide camera, a telephoto camera, and even a monochrome camera. The pictures also reveal that the device will at least come in white and Matte black colors.

Unrelatedly, OnePlus is also said to be working on the next generation of Nord smartphone dubbed the OnePlus Nord 3. So far, it has been revealed to have a 6.7-inch Full-HD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device will likely have a centered positioned punch-hole for the selfie camera.

It could be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor with four Cortex-A78 cores. The chipset will support LDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The rear side of the phone will be equipped with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main camera and will draw power from a 4,500mAh battery. It will have a 150W fast charging support and is likely to boot Android 12 OS. This smartphone is also rumored to hit the markets in the second quarter of 2022.

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Google app’s dark mode goes even darker on Android

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Mar 4, 2022

The Google app on Android may be getting even darker on dark mode as a new shade for the app’s background is currently being tested. The color isn’t really pitch black but is still darker than the usual dark grey and also looks to be having a warmer tone.

The change reflects on the search bar too on the Discover page of the app, although the bottom tab retains the lighter grey color. Search results look largely unaltered though and the same goes for the Snapshot page as well.

All in all, the new colors should be easier on the eyes during your late-night Google searching sessions. Darker colors are also less taxing on the battery with OLED displays so that’s another plus.

As to why Google bothered with such a subtle change, well, it could have something to do with Material You. I recall spotting Chrome and the Play Store switch to a similar darker shade of grey sometime back before they gained support for dynamic theming, so the Google app could be getting treated to the same now. The app currently does not appear to support Material You and looks rather out of place among the sea of monet-supporting Google apps.

If you wish to check out the new colors on the app too, then you’ll want to download Google’s latest 13.8 update which you can get via APKMirror. Or you could just wait for the changes to appear on the stable branch, which shouldn’t be much longer.

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realme GT Master Explorer Edition gets Android 12-based realme UI 3.0 stable update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 4, 2022

Last year, realme launched two models in the realme GT Master series. These smartphones are called realme GT Master Edition and realme GT Master Explorer Edition. The latter has now started receiving realme UI 3.0 stable update based on Android 12.

Realme GT Master Explorer Hands on 07 — realme GT Master Explorer Edition

The realme GT Master Explorer Edition got access to the realme UI 3.0 Early Access update in November. This means it took the brand almost 4 months to deliver the stable release.

Unsurprisingly, the update is being rolled out in batches. In simpler words, it is only available for a select few users. But it should reach every user in the coming days.

Further, since this is an OTA software update intended for the general public, it will not erase the device’s internal storage. However, it is recommended to back up important data to avoid loss in case of any issue.

Having said that, the realme GT Master Explorer Edtion is a China-exclusive smartphone. Hence, there will not be a global rollout for its latest software update.

Anyway, if you have imported one, the unit will get the OTA update when it is made available for everyone in the coming days. In fact, going by realme’s track record, the handset may receive one more Android update in the future.