Redmi K50G Gaming Flagship Unboxing and Hands-on: Believe it or not, it’s a Gaming Phone!

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Feb 18, 2022

Redmi K50 Gaming version was finally released this week. Some of you may remember the K40 Gaming edition, which was a bit disappointing with very few gaming features. And the K40 Gaming version powered by the Dimensity 1200 wasn’t widely accepted as a powerful gaming model.

But this time it seems that the K series Gaming edition is back on its feet. It comes with the best performance module, including a snapdragon 8Gen1 chip, LPDDR5 Flash memory, and UFS3.1 storage.

The silver-color version that we ordered just came in early today. Well in addition to the standard version coming in silver and blue color variants, there’s another limited Champion edition of 10000 units that is co-designed with Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, which, of course, is priced a bit higher. But apart from the special appearance, it’s no different from the standard version.

Anyway, let’s focus back on the silver phone in my hand and check out how much of a better ‘gaming’ phone is this new model.

The packaging of the K50 Gaming continues Redmi’s style, with a large K50 title on the front.

Open the box, and there’s nothing really special compared to other Redmi phones. In addition to the phone itself, there’s a transparent case included, along with a 120W fast charging kit, which, as claimed, could fully charge the phone’s 4700mAh large battery only in 17 minutes and supports fast-charge while playing games.

Looking back at the silver phone, it’s probably the most elegant and low-profile model among the three variants. The back is made of AG glass with a decorative texture in the middle. The phone weighs around 210g, which is pretty lightweight in the category of gaming phones.

There’s not much fancy reflection, and the back feels pretty good in the hand. The edge frame is made of metal material.

At the top, Redmi still reserves the IR remote, by which you can use the phone to remote control your TV, air conditioner, and so on.

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At the bottom, we can see the JBL logo. The phone features JBL’s 4-unit speakers to bring excellent audio performance with stereo effect. And the speakers’ location is gamer-friendly, which makes sure that the sound wouldn’t be blocked when playing games.

As a gaming phone, the K50 Gaming naturally reserves the lift shoulder buttons on the side, still with a toggle switch and a power button supporting fingerprint unlock.

Let’s look at its camera module. The Redmi K50 Gaming inherits the camera ambient light and thunderbolt design for the flash from the K40 Gaming edition.

The phone comes with three rear cameras, including a 64MP Sony IMX686 main camera, which was widely seen on 2020s flagships. But it’s been two years already, so we actually don’t expect it to bring any surprises. The other two cameras are an 8MP wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro lens.

Okay, I understand it’s a gaming phone, and it means that gamers do not really care about cameras especially when it sells for a start price of 520 USD, right?

The front face is a 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED flat display, which received A+ certification from DisplayMate. It has a Full HD+ resolution with wide color coverage of a billion colors and HDR10+ high dynamic range. And it also features a 1920Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, which should be good for your eyes even when using the screen in dim light.

No matter for color or detail, the display looks pretty good so far. And Redmi has claimed that they’ve optimized the touch resolution to improve the operating precision and smoothness in certain games. And we will show you whether it’s fact in actual gaming in our full review soon. Stay tuned!

As a gaming phone, another great selling point for the K50 Gaming is the upgraded cooling system, which is likely to make it one of the 8Gen1 phones with the best cooling effect. And we will also test this in our review. Other details like the shoulder button and ultra-large X-axis vibration will also be included in the upcoming review.

REDMI K50G hands-on MIUI 13 FEATURED — MIUI 13 preinstalled

For software, the Redmi K50 GAMING comes preinstalled with MIUI 13, and obviously, Redmi enriched its software features for a better gaming experience.

With a starting price of around 520USD, the Redmi K50 Gaming edition is probably the most competitive killer against other gaming phones. Apart from the ordinary camera module, there’s no obvious downside to the phone on paper.

Our detailed full review is coming soon, so stay tuned for that. You can leave your comments down below and let us know if there’s anything specific you want to know about the phone. We’ll try to answer them in our review.

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Deal: Get Baseus Blade 100W 20000mAh Laptop Power Bank for $64.99 (Retail Price $80)

By

Daily Deals

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Feb 18, 2022

Baseus Blade 100W 20000mAh Power Bank which generally retails for $80 is now available at a discounted price of $64.99 only at AliExpress. Please note that this power bank can be used to charge your laptops, tablets, gaming devices, and smartphones. This is a limited-time deal.

WHERE TO BUY

Baseus Blade 100W 20000mAh Power Bank at $64.99 (after discount)@AliExpress

Baseus Blade 100W 20000mAh Power Bank

Key Features:

Portable power bank for laptops and smartphones
One of the fastest power bank
100W dual-port – Type C
Input : Type-C x 2
Output : Type-C x 2 , USB x 2
BPSII technology – Simultaneous dual port fast charging
20000mAh high capacity battery
18mm thin and 490g lightweight
ABS and PC shell material tough body
Fully charge the power bank in just 90 minutes – with a 65W charger
Compatible with Laptops, Tablets, Smartphones, Smartwatches, Gaming devices, etc
Compatible Laptops: MacBook Pro 13” & 15”, MacBook 12”, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga, Lenovo Yoga 920, Lenovo ThinkPad T470, X270, X1C 7th, E595, S3-490, Dell Latitude 5300, 7300, 5480, Dell XPS 13, E7480, InSpiron 13, etc
Compatible with Lenovo XiaoXin Pro
Advanced NTC temperature sensing technology
Multiple safety protections and certifications

Generally retailing for $80, you can now buy Baseus Blade 100W 20000mAh Power Bank for $64.99 only at AliExpress.

Please note that the above price is region-specific and the final price may vary according to your shipping region, warehouse, and regional taxes.

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Deal: Get Baseus 65W GaN Pro Charger for $27.55 (Retail Price $45)

By

Daily Deals

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Feb 18, 2022

Baseus 65W GaN Pro Charger which generally retails for $45 is now available at a discounted price of $27.55 only at AliExpress. This deal ends in the next 18 hours.

WHERE TO BUY

Baseus 65W GaN Pro Charger at $27.55 (after discount)@AliExpress

Baseus 65W GaN Pro Charger

Key Features:

Perfect travel charger
65W High Power Quick Charge
100W PD cable
GaN technology
30% smaller volume and size
Three port output: 2 x Type C, 1 x USB
BPS intelligent shunt
Power ON indicator light
Compatible with multiple devices: Phones, Tablet, Notebooks, Gaming consoles, Humidifiers, etc
Multiple safety protocols: Protection from over-voltage, over-current, over-power, etc
Adapt to multiple systems
Universal use over Europe (EU version) / US version

Generally retailing for $45, you can now buy Baseus 65W GaN Pro Charger at a discounted price of $27.55 only at AliExpress. Please note that this price is applicable on 3 Port, EU, and US variants only. However, you can also get single port variants at less cost. So make sure to choose the appropriate variant before you place the order.

Please note that the above price is region-specific and the final price may vary according to your shipping region, warehouse, and regional taxes.

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Realme officially teases Narzo 50 India launch, confirms Amazon availability

By

Sean

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Feb 18, 2022

Realme had recently launched the Narzo 50A and Narzo 50i in India. Following these models, the company is also planning on releasing the Narzo 50 to the country as well. While we had previously reported on the leaked launch date for the Narzo 50, now we have the official availability details for the device.

Our Young Players are ready to welcome a new Narzo with boosted performance!
This time, #FeelThePower on @amazonIN.

Stay tuned!
Know more: https://t.co/DAslF4wpKG pic.twitter.com/uAUNkrRlQB

— realme (@realmeIndia) February 17, 2022

As per our recent report, the Chinese smartphone maker will officially be launching the Narzo 50 on 24th February 2022. Although, it is confirmed that the Narzo 50 will be sold via Amazon in India. The information was shared by the company from its official Twitter handle but does not reveal any other finer details. For those unaware, Realme is marketing the Narzo 50 as a gaming smartphone.

It is expected to sport a 6.5 inch AMOLED display with a FHD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. The front will likely house a 16 megapixel punch hole selfie camera, meanwhile the rear is believed to feature a triple camera setup on the rear, with a 50 megapixel primary sensor. This shooter is paired with two 2 megapixel sensors for depth and macro. Under the hood, the smartphone is likely to pack a MediaTek Helio G96 chipset alongside up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

Recent certification filings have also revealed that the device will be powered by a large 4,800mAh battery pack that supports 33W fast charging as well. The smartphone will likely boot Android 12 OS based Realme UI 3.0 and be priced around 215 US Dollars in the region. So stick around for more updates, as we will be covering the launch event and any other rumors ahead to its release.

RELATED:

Tesla changes ad in South Korea following antitrust probe over its EV’s batteries

By

Sean

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Feb 18, 2022

Tesla has recently made changes to an advertisement in South Korea. The ad was related to the driving range of its Model 3 electric vehicle. However, South Korean antitrust regulator apparently discovered that the company made exaggerated claims in the ad, which prompted it to make the changes.

For those unaware, the American automobile manufacturer had advertised the Model 3 sedan on its official South Korean website with a range of “more than” 528 kilometers. But now, the EV maker has changed the description to show that the vehicle “maximum range” of 528 kilometers on a single full charge. Earlier this week, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) had sent a report to Tesla, in which it stated that the company had exaggerated the mileage of some of its models.

In other words, the report said that the Model 3 was in violation of the Act of Fair Labeling and Advertising. Furthermore, analysts also added that most electric vehicles would also see lose in driving range in cold weather as well. According to a commission official speaking to Reuters “The KFTC plans to give the automaker the opportunity to respond to our finding and then hold a general meeting to review and determine the extent to which the automaker has violated the law and decide the level of sanctions.”

So now, the South Korean website is in line with Tesla’s official US website, which reads “Go anywhere with “up to” 358 miles of estimated range on a single charge.” 358 miles equates to around 576 kilometers. Despite facing the antitrust probe, analysts believe that the company’s performance in the market would likely not be impacted by this.

RELATED:

Bajaj Chetak electric scooter is now available in 20 Indian cities

By

Sudhanshu

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Feb 18, 2022

Back in January 2020, Indian auto giant Bajaj launched its first electric scooter dubbed the Bajaj Chetak. Till now, the scooter has been available only for Bangalore and Pune-based customers. However, a wider customer base can now enjoy this EV as Bajaj has made it available in 20 cities across the country.

The move comes in an attempt to boost the sales of the 2020 Chetak electric scooter which received a lukewarm reception due to its relatively high price tag compared to its specs, features, and performance. The EV is now available to pre-book in Coimbatore, Madurai, Kochi, Kozhikode, Hubli, Visakhapatnam, Nashik, Vasai, Surat, Delhi, Mumbai, and Mapusa. The Chetak 2020 currently has a waiting period of four-eight weeks and can be booked online from the Bajaj chertak website or via an offline dealership.

Bajaj can even be said to expand the presence of its electric scooter in preparation for the upcoming Chetak 2022 model which is said to launch in the coming days and will have better essential features that are missing in the 2020 model like fast charging while also being positioned at a lower price point than its predecessor.

bajaj chetak electric featured — Bajaj Chetak Electric

Reports have also stated that the Bajaj Chetak electric scooter 2022 model will be completely manufactured in India and is rumored to feature an improved motor that is capable of delivering 4.2kW of peak power and a continuous output of 4.0kW.

To recall, the Bajaj Chetak 2020 features an IP67 rated electric motor capable of producing 4.08kW of peak power and continuous output of 3.8kW. This gives the EV a top speed of 60kmph and the 3kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides a real-world range of 95km in Eco mode and 85km in Sport mode. The Chetak gets a front trailing link suspension, and 12-inch alloy wheels fitted with MRF Zapper tires. The 2020 Chetak Urban comes with an Ex-showroom price of Rs. 1 lakh while the Chetak Premium costs Rs. 1.15 lakh.

RELATED:

Nubia Z40 Pro spotted on 3C certification, will launch without a Charger in the box

By

Sean

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Feb 18, 2022

ZTE is gearing up to launch the Nubia Z40 Pro in its home market of China. The smartphone is set to launch on 25th February 2022, and now, it has just been spotted on China’s 3C certification.

The handset was found on the 3C certification database by MySmartPrice. It carried the model number NX701J, with the certification revealing that the Chinese brand will not be shipping the device with a charging brick in the box. This practice is similar to brands like Samsung and Apple that also do not offer chargers in the box. Although, its unknown if the company is also touting environmentally friendly reasons for this change like the aforementioned companies.

Talking about the upcoming flagship device, the Nubia Z40 Pro will arrive in two color options, namely Silver and Gray. Furthermore, it will pack the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and Adreno 730 GPU along with 16GB of RAM. The device will be powered by a 4,200mAh battery pack that supports up to 120W fast charging. But users will likely have to buy a supported charger to avail this benefit. The smartphone will boot Android 12 OS out of the box and house a triple camera setup on the rear.

While the exact sensors are unknown, the primary shooter is expected to have an f/1.6 aperture as well as support for OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). On the front, the device will have a center aligned punch hole selfie camera. This is all the information we have as of right now, so stay tuned for more since we will be covering the launch event later this month.

RELATED:

OPPO Enco X2 launch date and real-life image officially revealed

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 18, 2022

OPPO will hold a global launch event on February 24 where a number of products like the flagship Find X5 Pro phone along with some smartwatches, headphones, and tablets will be announced. Among them will also be the OPPO Enco X2 TWS earbuds, which the company teased today.

The OPPO Enco X2 has been positioned as flagship true wireless earbuds. It has been designed in collaboration with Danish loudspeaker maker Dynaudio and features an in-ear design. The teaser poster from today shows that the earbuds adopt a second-gen coaxial dual-unit sound structure, and supports LHDC 4.0 ultra-clear sound and ultra-wideband deep noise cancellation.

Pete Lau, OPPO’s chief product officer and founder of OnePlus, also promoted the Enco X2 with a post on Weibo that also contained its real-life image. He says that after trying the earbuds out, he ditched all his other audio wearables because they bring along a “breakthrough improvement.”

The attached image shows a design that isn’t too different from the last-gen Enco X2. It appears that OPPO has focused more on the internals this time.

The OPPO Enco X was released back in October 2020 for 999 Yuan (~$158) in China and it’s likely that the Enco X2 will be launched at the same price tag as well.

RELATED:

AliExpress & WeChat added in the “Notorious Markets list” by the USTR

By

Sean

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Feb 18, 2022

The USTR (United State Trade Representative) has just added a number of companies in its “Notorious Markets list” recently. The latest additions in the list includes a number of Chinese tech firms, like AliExpress and WeChat.

Looking at the official list, the USTR has added a number of business that it considers being involved in trading counterfeit goods and promoting piracy. The official data lists 42 online sites and around 35 physical stores, which includes e-commerce based platforms as well. The trade agency believes that these businesses “engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright privacy.”

Notable brands in this list include AliExpress, which is owned by the Alibaba group, along with the Tencent operated WeChat. The USTR stated that the AliExpress platform offered a number of anti-counterfeiting tools and systems, however, despite its efforts there were a significant rise in counterfeit goods being offered for sale on AliExpress. Similarly, it also flagged WeChat’s e-commerce ecosystem for facilitating the “distribution and sale of counterfeit products.”

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a statement that “The global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods undermines critical US innovation and creativity and harms American workers.” On the other hand, Tencent said that “We strongly disagree with the decision made by the United States Trade Representative and are committed to working collaboratively to resolve this matter.” It also added that it has invested significant resources into protecting intellectual property rights as well. Notably, the news arrives amid the ongoing frictions between the US and China. So it remains to be seen how the situation impacts the two major China based online markets.

RELATED:

Skullcandy partners with Budweiser to deliver four eye-catching headphones

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 18, 2022

Skullcandy’s latest headphones reflect a combination of class, beauty, and functionality that captures the youthful spirit. The workout buds and wireless headphones are the culmination of the collaboration between Skullcandy and Budweiser with a target at the youths.

This limited-edition collection is a standalone project by Skullcandy and Budweiser and includes the Skullcandy Crusher Evo, the Skullcandy Indy Evo, the Sesh Evo, and cheap-and-cheerful Skullcandy Dime, redesigned with a refreshing aesthetic appeal reflecting the unique partnership between the two companies.

The Crusher Evo True Wireless Headphones offer up to 40 hours of playback and rapid charging is available. The Crusher Evo has adjustable sensory bass and can also personalize the audio to your hearing using the Skullcandy app. The Tile tracking function helps users to find the device when misplaced.

The Indy Evo True Wireless Earbuds is IP55-rated for sweat, water, and dust resistance. It has a total battery life of 30 hours and has a built-in Tile. Its customizable EQ modes via the Skullcandy App offer a decent audio output. The Indy Evo can also be controlled via touch gestures.

The Sesh Evo True Wireless Earbuds is very similar in specs to the Indy Evo but it has a smaller size. It is IP55-rated and offers up to 24 hours of activity on a single charge plus the charging case.

The Dime True Wireless Earbuds are cheap, compact, and come with up to 12 hours of battery life. The Dime has a noise-isolating fit, it is IPX4-rated and has a micro-USB charging case with a snap lid and integrated lanyard.

Each of the models features an eye-popping black and red colorway with the signature Skullcandy Skull adorned with the Budweiser crown. The Skullcandy x Budweiser limited-edition audio accessories have global availability. The products are exclusively available on Skullcandy’s website.

Lenovo Legion Y90 teased again, features RAID 0 storage for 50% faster memory speeds

By

Sean

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Feb 18, 2022

Over the last couple of weeks, Lenovo had teased the arrival of its highly anticipated Legion Y90 gaming smartphone. Recently, we got the official launch date for the device, and now, we have some additional information regarding its specifications.

For those unaware, the Chinese brand is gearing up to launch the Legion Y90 for a while now. It was initially believed that the company would launch this gaming smartphone last month in January, but just recently, Lenovo announced the February 28 release date for the Legion Y90 and Y700 tablet; and in the latest teaser, the company shared a new video in which it showcased some of its key specifications, which revealed that it even features SSD (Solid State Drive) storage as well.

The video showcases the design of the smartphone and also highlights the internal specs. This includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. However, the UFS 3.1 storage wasn’t alone, as we can also observe an SSD storage as well. The video was shared on Weibo (a Chinese microblogging website) with a caption that said that the device features “UFS+SSD” in a RAID 0 storage. Through this, the Y90 will see a boost of 50 percent in terms of memory write speeds.

Talking about the device’s other features, it will sport a 6.92 inch Samsung E4 AMOLED display with a 2460 x 1080 pixels resolution. Since it is a gaming handset, the display will offer 144Hz refresh rate and a 720Hz touch sampling rate. It has a unique design with the iconic RGB “Y” branding on the rear, which is also where the middle camera module and fan is housed for cooling. So stick around, as we will be covering the launch event later this month.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy S22 series pre-booking will get you Watch4 or Buds2 at giveaway prices

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 18, 2022

Samsung just announced that pre-booking for the Galaxy S22 series will start on February 23 in India. And along with that, the company has also revealed multiple exciting offers for pre-booking customers.

A pre-booking for the Galaxy S22 Ultra will land you the Galaxy Watch4 for just Rs 2,999, which is a massive discount compared to the smartwatch’s original price of Rs 26,999. The Galaxy Watch4 comes with powerful health and wellness tracking features that allow users to keep track of sleep patterns, body composition, SpO2 levels, and much more.

Customers pre-booking the Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22, on the other hand, will be able to avail Galaxy Buds2 worth Rs 11,999 for just Rs 999. The Galaxy Buds2 are Samsung’s lightest-ever earbuds and are built for an immersive audio experience. They come with ANC support and promise up to 20 hours of battery life.

Existing Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series owners will get an upgrade bonus of Rs 8,000 while other device holders will get an upgrade bonus of Rs 5,000. A purchase via Samsung Finance+ will fetch you a cashback of INR 5000.

If interested, Indian consumers can pre-book the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy S22+, or Galaxy S22 through Amazon.in, Samsung online store, Samsung Exclusive stores, or select retail outlets. Pre-booking starts from February 23 and will last until March 10. Sales will commence on March 11.

RELATED:

Urtopia Carbon Electric Bike is a super-smart two-wheeler that weighs only 14kg

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 18, 2022

Urtopia has kickstarted an Indigogo campaign for its new Carbon E-Bike and the thing comes with a plethora of impressive features.

The bike’s body, which Urtopia says aims to redefine what e-bikes can be, is sporty, intelligent, and futuristic. It uses premium-quality materials and weighs just 14kg, thanks to it being made fully of carbon fiber.

But the focus isn’t on aesthetics alone as the e-bike is also packed with technology, for which Urtopia claims you’d have to “pay hundreds of dollars more if you buy other e-bikes.”

Firstly, there is the Smooth Transmission system that makes use of a belt from Gates Carbon Drive, allowing a highly responsive but quiet riding experience. The transmission also comes with a torque sensor and five power modes (Pedal, Eco, Comfort, Sport, Turbo).

Then there’s the highly innovative handlebar that Urtopia calls Smartbar, which actually interacts with the rider. It comes with AI voice control support, real-time GPS, eSIM integration, dot-matrix display, OTA update support. For connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 4G modules are also present.

For safety, you get a built-in radar and gyroscope. The radar alerts the rider of incoming vehicles while the gyroscope constantly monitors activity when in standby mode, sending alerts in case of any unwanted movement. Fingerprint unlock is present too for additional security.

Moving on to the most important part, the electric motor has been claimed to provide an assisted top speed of 20mph for the US version and 16mph for the Europe version. The 250W unit is powered by a 360Wh battery that takes 2.5hrs to charge and provides a range of 80 miles.

Last but not least, the Urtopia Carbon E-Bike comes with lights on both the front and rear, joined by a pair of turn-indicating projection lights.

Most of the smart features can be controlled through the dedicated Urtopia app that consists of many functions such as anti-theft tracking, navigation, trip records, social networking, etc.

The EU/UK version of the Urtopia Carbon E-Bike can be availed for EUR 3,000 while a US/CA will set you back by USD 3,000. If interested in a purchase, head over to this link.

RELATED:

realme X7 Pro 5G users can now apply for realme UI 3.0 early access

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 18, 2022

realme UI 3.0 early access program for the realme X7 Pro 5G is now open and eager users are free to apply. The latest version of the Android skin is based on Android 12 and comes with all of the OS version’s features including a brand new Smart Theming Engine.

Build(s) rolled out to selected applicants will be betas and realme warns they may come with bugs and app compatibility issues. As such, users looking for a rock-stable experience are not recommended to apply and are advised to wait for a final release, which shouldn’t take much longer now.

The application channel already opened yesterday and applications will be accepted in batches. If interested, you’d want to hurry since slots are limited.

The application process is simple: Simply navigate to Settings > Software Update > Settings icon on the top right corner > Trial Version > Apply Now. You will then be asked to enter some details and submit a mini quiz. Just make sure you’re on firmware RMX2121_11.C.07 or RMX2121_11.C.06 beforehand, though.

If selected, you will receive an OTA update that will teleport you straight from Android 11 to realme UI 3.0-based Android 12 on your realme X7 Pro 5G. Godspeed, potential beta tester!

RELATED:

Vivo T1 Pro 5G to launch in India between April and May 2022: Report

By

Sean

-

Feb 18, 2022

The Vivo T1 5G had recently been released in India. And now, a new report has suggested that the company is planning on launching another T series model in the region. Apparently, the Vivo T1 Pro 5G will be the next release and would be the higher end variant in the T1 series.

According to a MySmartPrice report, the Chinese smartphone maker is planning on launching a new Pro model soon. At the moment, the company sells the Vivo T1 and T1X (in China), but is following the two models with a higher end variant. The report says that sources close to the matter have also revealed the launch timeline for the T1 Pro 5G in India. This model will be arriving in the country sometime between April and May of 2022.

In other words, we can also expect this device to first be unveiled in the brand’s home market of China. However, the sources further added that the Chinese variant of the T1 Pro might be different from the version arriving in India. As of right now, there are no finer details regarding this Pro version. But, we can expect it to feature beefed up specifications compared to the base T1, which featured a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 in India, while the Chinese variant had the Snapdragon 778G.

Other features include a 6.58 inch FHD+ IPS LCD screen that offers 120Hz refresh rate. Furthermore, it also offers 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack and supports 18W fast charging as well. So, the Pro model may finally bring the Snapdragon 778G in India, or possibly even a more powerful SoC. Keep in mind that this is still an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt for now.

RELATED:

Motorola Frontier leaked render shows its ginormous 194MP camera in all its glory

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 18, 2022

Motorola looks to be making its debut in the ultra-premium smartphone space with a new device codenamed ‘Frontier.’ We pushed a story last month on the Frontier’s first-ever but not-so-clear renders. But fast forward to now, and we have gotten an actual HD look at the phone, courtesy of leakster Evan Blass.

The leaked image shows the Motorola Frontier from all angles in a lustrous, metallic grey color — although we are pretty sure that the material is actually glass, as with literally every premium smartphone in the market today.

motorola frontier 194mp evleaks — Via @evleaks on Twitter

Upfront, there is a curved display with extremely narrow bezels all around and a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. Previous leaks had indicated that the panel would be sized 6.7-inches.

But it’s the rear of the phone that’s the true attention-puller, thanks to its extremely large primary camera. The unit has been revealed to sport a resolution of 194-megapixels, which is easily the highest in the industry. Said sensor is expected to be the ‘S5KHP1,’ manufactured by Samsung.

The primary snapper is joined by a couple of additional lenses, taking the total rear camera count to three. These supporting units were leaked to be 50-megapixel Samsung SKJN1SQ03 ultrawide and 12-megapixel Sony IMX663 telephoto cameras.

Moving on to the Frontier’s processor, the older report claims that the Motorola Frontier will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1’s successor of sorts, which has a model number of SM8475. The same chip will allegedly also be powering a “derivative” model of the Xiaomi 12 Pro.

As for release, the Motorola Frontier may still be a couple of months or so away considering it’s yet to make an appearance on certification websites.

RELATED:

Realme 9 Pro Plus to arrive in a Free Fire Special Edition

By

Sean

-

Feb 18, 2022

Realme had just launched the 9 Pro series in India. The higher end 9 Pro Plus model is available in three different color options and two storage configurations as well. But, it seems like there is another upcoming variant of the device, and it is a special Free Fire edition.

For those unaware, Free Fire from Garena is a popular battle royale title that has been quite popular in the Southeast Asian market. And now, the Chinese smartphone maker is partnering up with the studio behind the title for a new limited edition model. As of right now, the brand has only teased the smartphone so no finer details regarding this variant is available.

Although, we can expect the Realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Edition to feature a unique design, with a different color scheme on the back and possibly even an exclusive theme as well. While the limited edition might target fans of the game, Free Fire is currently not available for download in India. The game was apparently banned by the Indian government, along with more than 50 other applications from China. This even included clones of applications that were previously banned in India.

In other words, the collaboration comes at an awkward time for Realme. However, there is one silver lining. Singaporean developer Garena still offers the Free Fire MAX appliction Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This title is a more graphically intensive version of Free Fire and is better suited for gaming smartphones, or other models with capable SoCs. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates regarding its launch and pricing.

RELATED:

China’s tablet market records highest growth in 7 years even as global demand shrinks

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Feb 18, 2022

China’s tablet market shipped around 7.42 million units in Q4 2021, which is a YoY increase of 20.9%, shows a report from IDC. And for the entire year, shipments totaled 28.46 million units — a YoY increase of 21.8%, which is the highest growth rate in the past seven years. This comes even as global tablet shipments fell 11.9% YoY due to slowing demand.

The tablet market in China is similar to the global market in that the demand for tablets for learning, office, and entertainment will exist for a long time due to the pandemic. However, unlike the global tablet market where demand eventually dipped after reaching its peak, China will see continued growth. This is because even as new players pop up in the tablet market, existing companies will carry on with increasing investment.

However, there are some challenges in the commercial market. Tight budgets and the reelection of local governments at all levels have caused government and education procurement to shrink significantly. The limited budget has limited education procurement to equipment such as electronic blackboards and electronic class cards. Resultantly, tablet sales seem set to be inclined more towards the consumer market.

china tablet os share Q4 2021 — Q4 2021 tablet OS distribution in China (via IDC)

In terms of OS market share, Apple’s iPad stock shortage led to a decline in iOS in Q4 2021. Domestic manufacturers, on the other hand, saw relief in supply problems, consequently increasing Android’s share slightly. Windows saw a similar rise in its share with the launch of new products from Huawei and Microsoft.

china tablet processor share 2021 — 2021 tablet processor distribution in China (via IDC)

In terms of processor market share, Apple’s self-developed chips continued their domination. But it was Qualcomm that was the real winner here, seeing a significant increase in global share and coming in second by the end of 2021. Huawei’s Hisilicon chips maintained their hold over a sizeable chunk of the market, defying heavy pressure from the outside world.

All in all, IDC expects the Chinese tablet market to continue its upward trend for the next few years, thanks to improvements in displays and ecosystem technologies.

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Nubia Z40 Pro official images released; reveals curved edge display, color variants

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 18, 2022

Nubia Z40 Pro will be launching in China on Feb. 25. Ahead of the launch, the company has released official images to reveal the design of the Z40 Pro. The new images also confirm its color variants.

The Nubia Z40 Pro images show that it has a punch-hole OLED display with curved edges on the front. A large-sized module is available on the top portion of the phone’s back panel. It features a triple camera unit on the left and the Nubia branding on the right.

The 35mm primary camera available on the Nubia Z40 Pro offers features like an f/1.6 aperture, OIS support, and 7P lens. Reports have claimed that the Z40 Pro will be the first-ever phone to feature the Sony IMX787 image sensor. Another first from the Z40 Pro will be that it may debut as the first-ever Android phone with support magnetic wireless charging. Nubia has confirmed that the Z40 Pro will be driven by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform.

The ZTE phone with model number NX701J was recently spotted at the CMIIT certification site. The 3C certification of the device revealed that it will be sold without a power adapter. Probably, it will carry support for 120W fast charging like its predecessor, the Nubia Z30 Pro. The handset is yet to appear in the database of the TENAA certification site.

The Geekbench appearance of the Nubia Z40 Pro revealed that it will come with 16 GB of RAM and Android 11 OS. The handset is expected to arrive with an aerospace-grade heat dissipation system. At present, it is unclear whether the company will be launching the vanilla Nubia Z40 alongside the Pro model.

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Redmi K50 Gaming Edition sold units worth 280 million yuan within just 1 minute in first sale

By

Jeet

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Feb 18, 2022

Today, the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition smartphone went on sale in the Chinese market for the first time after the device was officially unveiled in the country a couple of days back.

Now, the company has officially revealed that just within 1 minute of the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition smartphone going on sale, it managed to sell units worth more than 280 million yuan which is approximately $44.2 million.

The 8GB RAM with 128GB storage model is priced at 3,299 yuan (~$521) while the 12GB RAM with 128GB storage model costs 3,599 yuan (~$568). The 12GB RAM with 256GB internal storage which is priced at 3,899 yuan (~$615). The Champion Edition with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, which is limited to 10,000 units, is priced at 4,199 yuan (~$663).

The Redmi K50 Gaming Edition features a 6.67″ OLED FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 480Hz touch sampling rate. It offers a DCI-P3 color gamut, supports HDR10+, MEMC, and is also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, coupled with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 internal storage.

In the camera department, there’s a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 primary sensor, an 8-megapixel 120-degree ultrawide camera, and a 2-megapixel telemacro lens. On the front side, there’s a 20-megapixel Sony IMX596 snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The smartphone runs the MIUI 13 custom UI based on the Android 12 operating system out-of-the-box. It is powered by a 4,700 mAh battery that supports 120W wired charging claimed to be capable of charging the device to 100% in 17 minutes.

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