Redmi Note 11E Pro tipped earlier is no different than the Note 11 Pro 5G

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Feb 28, 2022

A new report has just revealed interesting information related to the LATAM (Latin American) smartphone market for the year 2021. In the region, Samsung took the throne with the highest market share and a notable growth year on year.

According to Counterpoint Research, the LATAM smartphone market saw an overall growth of 13.4 percent last year over 2020. Although, this figure was still 9 percent lower than that of 2019. As per Principal Analyst Tina Lu, “Most LATAM countries saw YoY growth driven by Chinese brands entering the region and increasing competition. But Brazil’s TAM decreased YoY. With local manufacturing/assembly representing more than 80% of its smartphone volume, Brazil felt the full impact of component shortages.”

During 2021, most brands saw growth in sales volume, but some companies saw higher growths. Samsung lead the market in 2021 and even in the fourth quarter as well. It was the leader in a number of nations, except, Argentina and Mexico. The South Korean tech giant managed to see a strong performance in Latin America despite suffering from supply shortages. Meanwhile, Motorola came second, leading in Argentina and Mexico, and seeing an impressive 39 percent growth year on year as well.

Furthermore, LG’s departure from the smartphone market also left a void in the market, especially in the entry level segment. So brands competed intensely to take advantage of LG exiting the segment. With more and more Chinese brands enter the region, the competition is also rising, so it remains to be seen how they shake up the market in the coming quarters.

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OPPO Ace2 gets Android 12-based ColorOS 12 stable update

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Feb 28, 2022

Before New Year, OPPO kickstarted the ColorOS 12 beta program for the OPPO Ace2. Two months later, the company has finally started rolling out the stable update for this smartphone. It is the last OPPO phone to bag Android 12 stable update in February.

According to an official announcement post on OPPO Community, OPPO has begun to seed ColorOS 12 stable update based on Android 12 for OPPO Ace2 in its home country China. The latest software update is available for both the regular variant and the EVA Limited Edition.

In order to receive the update, users should be on firmware version C.20 or above. Most importantly, it is currently only available for those who want to try out the new software before everyone else. It will be made available for everyone via OTA in the coming days.

In order to receive the update, interested users need to go to Settings > Software Update > Gear Icon > Upgrade Early Adopters > Official Version Application > Agree to Privacy Policy > Apply Now > Check for Updates. Once the update is detected, download and install it.

This process will not wipe the device’s internal storage. However, the brand still recommends backing up the data.

The Android 12-based ColorOS is the second and last major software update for OPPO Ace2. It will only receive necessary security updates going forward.

Global variant of Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G appears on Google Play Console

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Feb 28, 2022

The Redmi Note 11 series for China was unveiled in October. The ‘Pro’ models made their way to India as Xiaomi 11i series. The Pro+ is expected to release in select international markets with its original branding. This is going to finally happen as the device markets its appearance on Google Play Console.

Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus review 10 — Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G

The ‘Global’ variant of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G codenamed ‘pissaropro’ with model number 21091116UG has been spotted on Google Play Console. According to the listing, the smartphone will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC paired with 8GB RAM.

It will flaunt an FHD+ display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. Finally, it will ship with outdated Android 11.

Since the handset is expected to be the same as the original Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G from China and Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge from India, it will most likely feature an identical set of specifications.

Hence, the ‘Global’ variant of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G will come with features such as a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED display, 108MP + 8MP + 2MP triple camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, dual stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, IR blaster, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, MIUI 12.5, 4,500mAh battery, and 120W fast charging.

The global wing of Xiaomi is yet to announce the launch date for Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G.

Google launches its Play Pass game service in India, Here are the prices

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Feb 28, 2022

Google has just launched a new service in India. It is the new Play Pass that was announced for mobile gamers that use Android smartphones. This service was first rolled out in the US back in 2019, and has been released in India earlier today (28th February 2022).

For those unaware, the Search Engine giant’s Play Pass is a subscription based service for mobile games, which is similar to Apple Arcade. Although, rather than providing numerous games for the platform, the company is giving plenty of pre-existing popular games that buyers can download and play. Since it is basically a game pass, subscribers will gain access to games that are usually locked behind a paywall.

In other words, you can get many paid games for free with this service. However, the service isn’t limited to just games and also offers other premium applications as well. At the moment, the Indian model of Play Pass offers over 1000 titles across 41 different categories from developers from 59 countries. Play Pass will enable Indian developers to launch their apps and games through this service to a global audience.

As of right now, Google Play Pass is being launched in India with three different plans. The first one is 1 month free trial for all users, but users will have to pay 99 INR (roughly 1.3 US Dollars) per month to continue the service. The brand is also offering an annual Play Pass as well, which costs 889 INR (roughly 1.3 US Dollars). Prospective buyers can even consider a prepaid one month subscription for 109 INR (roughly 1.4 US Dollars). The service is compatible with smartphone that run Android 4.4 or above.

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MediaTek Dimensity 8100 launch date officially announced, chip is in Snapdragon 888’s league

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Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 28, 2022

MediaTek announced through its official Weibo account that a new Dimensity product will be unveiled tomorrow. While the model was unmentioned, it is most likely the Dimensity 8100 chip that has been the source of much discussion and leaks for the past few weeks.

Further, notable industry insider Digital Chat Station a couple of days back had tipped the processor’s specifications, speculating that it will be making its debut through a Redmi device next month.

From this, it is easy to ascertain that the chip MediaTek is talking about is no other than the Dimensity 8100. The Dimensity 8100 is part of the Taiwanese chipmaker’s Dimensity 8xxx series and will likely also be joined by the Dimensity 8000.

The same tipster had also revealed performance benchmarks of the 8100. With scores passing the 800,000 mark in AnTuTu, the chip sits in last year’s Qualcomm flagship Snapdragon 888’s league comfortably.

Previous reports had shown that the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 adopts TSMC’s 5nm manufacturing process and comprises 4x 2.85GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x 2.0GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The CPU is assisted by the Mali-G610 MC6 GPU for graphics and comes with 4MB of L3 cache. Support for LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage is also present.

The first phone expected to use the Dimensity 8100 will be a Redmi – most likely a performance-focused mid-ranger. It will be joined by another offering from realme around the same time, following which the processor will gain wider adoption.

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MWC 2022: TCL 30 5G, 30, 30+, 30 SE, and 30 E launched: specifications, features, and price

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Feb 28, 2022

At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022 tech trade show, TCL unveiled four new smartphones such as TCL 30 5G, 30+, 30 SE, and 30 E. Here is all the information on the specifications, features, and pricing of these smartphones.

TCL 30 5G and TCL 30 specifications, price

The TCL 30 5G has a 6.7-inch AMOLED FHD+ 60Hz display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. It has a 13-megapixel selfie camera and a 50-megapixel (main) + 2-megapixel (macro) + 2-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit on the back. It is equipped with a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The Dimensity 700 chipset powers the device with 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64 GB of built-in storage. It has a 5,010mAh battery that supports 18W charging. It is priced at €249 and comes in Dreamy Blue or Tech Black.

The TCL 30+ has a 6.7-inch AMOLED FHD+ 60Hz 20:9 display. It features the same set of front and rear cameras that are available on the TCL 30 5G. The Helio G37 chipset powers the device with 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 GB of eMMC storage. The device packs a 5,010mAh battery with 18W charging support.

The TCL 30 is an affordable variant of the TCL 30+. It packs the same specs as the Plus model, but packs in differences such as 64 GB of storage and an 8-megapixel front camera,. While it supports 18W charging, it comes with a 10W charger. The TCL 30 and 30+ are equipped with dual stereo speakers and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. All three phones come preinstalled with Android 12 OS. The TCL 30 and 30+ are priced at €199 and €179, respectively.

TCL 30 SE, 30 E specifications, price

The TCL 30 SE has a 6.52-inch LCD FHD+ display, an 8-megapixel front camera, and a 50-megapixel (main) + 2-megapixel (depth) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit. The Helio G25 chip fuels the TCL 30 SE has 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB / 128 GB of storage, a 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. It is priced at €149.

The TCL 30 E feature the same display, triple rear cameras, chipset, and battery as the TCL 30 SE. However, it ships with 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, and a 10W charger. The handset is priced at €139.

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Realme Pad Mini tipped to launch in India in March

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Feb 28, 2022

Chinese tech brand Realme entered the tablet category with the launch of the ‘realme Pad’ last year. Within a few months, the company is expected to release yet another tablet dubbed as ‘realme Pad Mini’. A report has now even revealed when this product will make its debut.

Realme Pad Mini leaked render 2 — realme Pad Mini | Source: @OnLeaks via SmartPrix

According to tech influencer Mukul Sharma (via MySmartPrice), the Realme Pad Mini will launch in India in March. The tablet will likely release in the second half of the said month.

Unfortunately, that’s all the information he has to say. Anyway, we know about the device’s design and some of its specs. We also expect to learn about its price before its official announcement next month.

According to previous reports, the Realme Pad Mini will arrive with a revamped design. The tablet will have the same metal unibody finish but it will have two antenna lines on the top and bottom of the rear panel instead of one on the left side like the original Realme Pad.

Most importantly the newer device will have a different camera module design. The camera on this tablet will be placed on a rectangular island. Whereas, the camera on the older device rests on the back panel itself.

Realme Pad Mini leaked render by Steve Hemmerstoffer / SmartPrix — realme Pad Mini | Source: @OnLeaks via SmartPrix

Talking about specs, the Realme Pad Mini is said to come with an 8.7-inch display. It will be powered by a UNISOC T616 SoC and will boot Android 11.

It is expected to arrive in multiple memory configurations. One of them will have 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The device will feature an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera.

Last but not least, despite sporting a 7.6mm thin profile, the tablet will be backed by a 6,400mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.

Apple working on 20 inch foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid with touchscreen keyboard: Gurman

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Feb 28, 2022

We had recently reported on Apple delaying its foldable iPhone to 2025 and shifting its focus towards a foldable MacBook. Now, new information has just surfaced regarding what appears to be a foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid.

The news was shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (Via 9to5Mac) in his Power On newsletter. For those unaware, the Cupertino based giant is reportedly working on a 20 inch foldable device. Furthermore, the new report suggests that the brand is also exploring a dual display format for the foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid. In other words, this is a new size for the company and could create a new category in its product portfolio. Although, the actual product is likely a long while away.

Gurman added that “The company could go with a foldable 20 inch screen attached to a physical keyboard or just have one side of the display serving as a virtual keyboard. I’m told Apple has indeed been exploring a dual screen, foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid that would take the second approach. It would trade in the physical keyboard and trackpad for a fully touchscreen base.”

As of right now, the iPhone maker could release this new product around 2026, which is the close to the release timeline for its first foldable smartphone as well. Other notable projects arriving around the same time includes its AR glasses, mixed reality headset, and even its highly anticipated Apple Car. So stick around for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this matter.

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ASUS 8z launched with 5.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, SD888, 64MP dual cameras

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Feb 28, 2022

ASUS 8z has debuted in India. The company had first teased the arrival of the ASUS 8z back in August 2021. For unknown reasons, the company did not launch the smartphone in India last year. Today, it finally unveiled the compact flagship phone in the country with a price tag of Rs 42,999 (~$570).

ASUS 8z specifications and features

The ASUS 8z has a 5.9-inch S-AMOLED display that offers a 20:9 aspect ratio, an FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10, HDR10+, 1,100 nits of brightness, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. The display punch-hole placed at the top-left corner has a 12-megapixel Sony IMX663 selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture and dual PD autofocus.

The back panel of the ASUS 8z features a dual-camera system, which comprises a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and 4-axis OIS support. It is accompanied by a 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 ultrawide camera. The 8z carries support for 3-axis EIS, motion tracking, up to 4K UHD 120fps slow-motion video recording, and up to 8K video shooting.

The ASUS 8z is powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. It is equipped with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It lacks a microSD card slot. The handset comes pre-installed with Android 11 OS and Zen UI. It is packed with a 4,000mAh battery that supports 30W fast charging (Quick Charge 5).

The device comes connectivity features such as dual SIM support, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, a USB-C port, Dirac tuned dual stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Lastly, it comes equipped with an IP68 rated dustproof and water-resistant chassis. The ASUS 8z is the very same device that debuted as the ZenFone 8 in the global markets last year.

ASUS 8z price in India

The ASUS 8z is priced at Rs 42,999 (~$570) for the sole 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant. It comes in Obsidian Black and Horizon Silver. The device will be available for purchase through Flipkart starting from 12 pm (local time) on March 7.

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POCO F4 key specs leaked: Snapdragon 870, 50MP triple camera, and more

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Feb 28, 2022

Last year, the POCO F3 was released as a rebranded Redmi K40. The Redmi K50 is expected to debut in March. Going by its predecessor, it may break cover as POCO F4 in international markets. However, as of now, there’s no proof for this claim. Amidst this, a reliable tipster has now shared the key specs of the mysterious POCO F4 before the brand could even announce the launch date.

Leaker Yogesh Brar has disclosed the primary specifications of the upcoming POCO F4 on Twitter. According to him, the device will be powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC as its forerunner POCO F3. The chipset will be paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

The handset will sport a 6.3-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It will house a triple camera system on the rear consisting of a 50MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide unit, and a 5MP telemacro snapper. Whereas, for selfies and video calls, the phone will use a 32MP shooter.

On the software front, the POCO F4 will boot MIUI 13 based on Android 12. It will get its juice from a 4,5000mAh battery, which will be able to charge at 67W.

Last but not least, the smartphone will arrive in 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB RAM versions coupled with either 128GB or 256GB storage.

Ukraine urges Apple to stop its product sales & App Store service in Russia

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Feb 28, 2022

Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this week. In this letter, the government official asked to stop the sales of its products and even block Russia’s access to its App Store.

Fedorov’s letter stated that he is asking for the Cupertino based giant’s support amid the ongoing crisis (the invasion of Ukraine). It is asking the brand to stop supply its services and products to users in Russia. At the moment, Apple sells its iPhones, Macs, and other products through its official website in Russia. However, the US has already pushed sanctions that will prevent the company from exporting select products to Russia. But, this move might have not affected the brand yet since it has not stopped sales as of right now.

The letter states “I appeal to you and I am sure you will not only hear, but also do everything possible to protect Ukraine, Europe, and finally, the entire democratic world from bloody authoritarian aggression – to stop supplying Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to App Store! We are sure that such actions will motivate youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression.”

I’ve contacted @tim_cook, Apple's CEO, to block the Apple Store for citizens of the Russian Federation, and to support the package of US government sanctions! If you agree to have the president-killer, then you will have to be satisfied with the only available site Russia 24. pic.twitter.com/b5dm78g2vS

— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 25, 2022

Recently, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he was “deeply concerned” with the situation in Ukraine and that Apple will be “supporting local humanitarian efforts.” Currently, the App Store in Russia is operational, although, sanctions on banks have interfered with Apple Pay. This includes five major Russian banks that are no longer eligible for Apple Pay or Google Pay.

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Apple Al Maryah Island Store Looks Stunning, Here are Some Photos Apple Shared on its Opening Day

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Leo Wong De Quan

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Feb 28, 2022

As a company that focuses on both online and offline retail, Apple has always tried to attract its offline customers with its warm and friendly customer service coupled with its uniquely designed Apple stores, to create a nice and inviting atmosphere to shop for Apple products.

Apple’s newest and latest retail store arrives in the heart of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Apple Al Maryah Island Store opened last Friday, February 25, a new retail destination elevated above steps of cascading water. Serving as Apple’s newest store in the United Arab Emirates, the space delivers the best of Apple with shoreline views amid Abu Dhabi’s prestigious financial district.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to open the stunning Apple Al Maryah Island,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People. “Our talented team is ready to welcome and delight customers from this vibrant community to our newest location in the Emirates.”

To celebrate the grand opening, the store will debut three unique Today at Apple sessions that draw inspiration from the beautiful surroundings and creative culture of Abu Dhabi:

Photo Walk: Fluidity and Motion with iPhone 13 Pro, co-created with local photographer Mohamed Somji
Music Walk: Liquid Soundscapes with GarageBand
Art Walk: Drawing Creativity Within Session Guide

Apple-AL-Maryah-2 — Hosted in the Forum, Today at Apple sessions will invite the local community into the new store.

Coming to the design, Apple Al Maryah Island introduces several new design elements reflective of its surroundings. From the promenade, two ramps paved with Absolute Black granite stone cut through water and continue seamlessly inside the store, blurring the barrier between inside and out. The store also features a golden carbon fibre roof locally sourced in the UAE. At the entrance of The Galleria Al Maryah Island Mall, visitors entering will walk through a mirrored stainless steel portal, enveloped by the sights and sounds of water jets cascading over exterior glass walls. A 72-foot-long mirrored foil ceiling creates a kaleidoscopic effect, with water falling down the walls, and reflections seen below.

For the interior, guests are greeted with panoramic views of Abu Dhabi’s extraordinary skyline. When looking up, customers will also find a one-of-a-kind ceiling made of stretched gold fabric. The glass walls bring in the natural light, with ficus trees adding greenery to the interior. In addition, the store also features an innovative radiant floor system combined with displacement ventilation that helps cool the building.

Apple’s new store features a multicultural team of more than 80 members who represent 28 nationalities and collectively speak over 30 languages, including Arabic, French, Hindi, Tagalog, and more. Throughout the expansive space, customers can get shopping assistance from highly knowledgeable Apple specialists as they explore the latest products, learn more about Apple services such as the Trade-In program, or receive expert advice and support at the Genius Grove.

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(Source 1, Source 2)

HMD Global officially announces Nokia C2 2nd Edition entry-level smartphone

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Jeet

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Feb 28, 2022

Along with the Nokia C21 and C21 Plus smartphones, HMD Global has also launched another C-series smartphone in the European market, dubbed as Nokia C2 2nd Edition.

As the name itself indicates, it is launched as a successor to the Nokia C2 that was announced in 2020. The Nokia C2 2nd Edition comes in two color options — Dark Blue and Warm Grey. The company is yet to reveal pricing and availability details.

The Nokia C2 2nd Edition features a 5.7-inch display that offers a screen resolution of 480 x 960 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. The company has not specified which processor is powering the device but it has been revealed that it is powered by a Unisoc quad-core SoC running at a clock speed of 1.5GHz.

The device is offered in two models — 1GB RAM with 32GB of internal storage and 2GB RAM with 32GB of internal storage. Both of them come with a microSD card slot, allowing users to expand the storage capacity.

In the camera department, the smartphone has an 8-megapixel camera sensor on the back and a 5-megapixel snapper on the front side. It comes with support for Face Unlock as well as fingerprint sensor for added security.

It runs the Android 11 Go Edition operating system and the company has promised to release security updates for two years. The device is powered by a 2,400mAh battery and supports just 5W charging.

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Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro, Pro 360 launched with AMOLED displays, Intel 12th gen CPU

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Feb 28, 2022

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022 event is now live. Samsung is one of the first brands to announce new products at the MWC event. The South Korean tech giant has unveiled the Galaxy Book2 Pro and Galaxy Book2 Pro 360.

Galaxy Book2 Pro, Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 specifications

The Galaxy Book2 Pro has a 13.3-inch display, whereas the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 has a 15.6-inch screen. Both phones offer a 16:9 aspect ratio. Both devices are equipped with AMOLED displays that offer a Full HD resolution with 400 nits of brightness while regular viewing. The brightness can reach up to 500 nits while viewing HDR content. The 13.3-inch model weighs 1.04kg, whereas the 15.6-inch variant weighs 1.41kg.

Both models run on Windows 11 OS and carry support for S Pen, which lacks support for Bluetooth connectivity. With reduced latency, the S Pen can be used for drawing and writing. The Samsung Notes app promises improvements in departments like handwriting recognition and hyperlink support. The app can instantly synch with respective apps running on Galaxy devices.

The Galaxy Book2 Pro and Book2 Pro 360 are powered by the 12^th generation Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors, up to 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 1 TB of NVMe SSD storage. The Book2 Pro has a 63Wh battery, while the Book2 Pro 360 packs a 68Wh battery. Both carry support for 65W fast charging through USB-C.

Both notebooks come with Dolby Atmos powered dual stereo 4 speakers. These devices are equipped with connectivity features such as Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, and 5G (only on Pro). When it comes to ports, these devices offer a Thunderbolt 4, a USB-C port (two on 360), 2 x USB 3.2 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack.

Galaxy Book2 Pro, Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 pricing, availability

The Galaxy Book2 Pro is priced at $1,049 and it will be available in colors such as Silver and Graphite. On the other side, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 costs $1,249 and comes in Burgundy, Graphite, and Silver colors. Both models will go on sale from April 1 in the U.S,

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Mysterious OnePlus phone with Dimensity 8100 tipped, key specifications leaked

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