US pilots deploying robot patrol dogs on its southern borders

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Feb 5, 2022

A 32-year old woman in London, the United Kingdom was shocked to receive a $1 hand soap delivery instead of an iPhone 13 Pro Max that she ordered for. The news adds to a growing list of buyers who were sent different things from the iPhone that they ordered online.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max — iPhone 13 Pro Max

The woman, named Khaoula Lafhaily purchased the iPhone 13 Pro Max from her mobile carrier Sky Mobile for £1,500 ($2,031) on a 3-year contract. She completed the transaction, but when she received her package two days later, she was shocked to find only a hand sanitizer that is probably priced at $1. Lafhaily had noted that the service delivery of the company was poor, and she is yet to get her iPhone after making a complaint to Sky Mobile.

Lafhaily purchased the iPhone 13 Pro Max on January 24 and paid for a single-day delivery for the device. So the company muddled both the single-day delivery and actual product delivered. Sky Mobile had said it will investigate the woman’s issue, but it is unclear how the investigation has panned out, as the company has not reached out to the woman as of this moment.

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Upcoming Smartphones: Galaxy S22 series, Realme C35, Vivo T1 5G, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Feb 5, 2022

Unlike this week, the upcoming week will be a busy one for smartphone launches. We have a total of five events. Out of this, two are for brand new devices. On the other hand, the remaining three conferences are for phones making their way to one of the important markets – India.

Out of all, the most important event is Galaxy Unpacked 2022 by Samsung for the Galaxy S22 series. Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Upcoming Smartphones Next Week

Prev Next

1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Series

Samsung Galaxy S22 Series | Source: Evan Blass

Samsung will officially unveil the Galaxy S22 series at the Galaxy Unpacked 2022 event on February 9. The conference will kickstart at 10 AM ET.

The South Korean tech giant is expected to announce three handsets, namely Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. They are also anticipated to be accompanied by three premium Android tablets, such as Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.

All the aforementioned devices have leaked extensively multiple times in the last few months. The most interesting of all is Galaxy S22 Ultra as it will be the first Galaxy S smartphone with an in-built stylus.

2. Realme C35

The Realme C35 is set to launch on February 10. The phone’s global debut will happen in Thailand.

It is expected to come with a dewdrop-notched display, UNISOC T616 SoC, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, 50MP primary camera, 8MP selfie camera, Android 11, and a 5,000mAh battery.

In terms of design, the handset will resemble the brand’s latest flagship lineup – the Realme GT2 series.

3. Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 11S

Redmi Note 11S

The Redmi Note 11 and the Redmi Note 11S are finally making their way to India on February 9. They will be not the only products at the event that will begin at 12 PM.

Xiaomi has also confirmed to announce the Redmi Smart TV X43 and the Redmi Smart Band Pro at this conference. The former is a new size model in the Redmi Smart TV X series, whereas the latter is the brand’s first fitness tracker with a rectangular display.

The phones are rumored to be costlier than their predecessors, however, the fitness tracker is said to carry an aggressive price tag.

4. Vivo T1 5G

Vivo T1 5G

The Vivo T1 5G will be the company’s second attempt at reviving an online-specific smartphone lineup in India. But the handset coming to the country will be different than the one sold in China with the same name.

The device for India will arrive with a 6.58-inch FHD+ 120Hz display (LCD), Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, up to 8GB LPDDR4x RAM/128GB UFS 2.2 storage, 50MP + 2MP + 2MP triple camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, 5,000mAh battery, 18W fast charging, and under ₹20,000 price tag.

As far as the launch date is concerned, the Vivo T1 5G will go official on February 9 in India.

5. Tecno Pova 5G

TECNO POVA 5G

TECNO POVA 5G is the brand’s first 5G smartphone. After making its global debut in Nigeria at the end of December, it is now heading to India on February 8 with an expected price tag of around ₹18,000-₹20,000.

The phone packs features like a 6.9-inch FHD+ 120Hz display (LCD), MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage, 50MP + 2MP + AI len triple camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, HiOS 8 based on Android 11, 6,000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging.

Google swats Pixel 6 Magic Eraser bug with recent Photos app update

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Feb 5, 2022

Yesterday, we reported on a new bug that popped up for the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices. The bug was making it impossible for users to use the Magic Eraser feature. But not anymore as Google has issued a fix.

Recently, users took to Twitter and Reddit to report on a new bug that was causing the Google Photos App to crash whenever they tried to use the magic eraser functionality. The issue seemed to be caused due to a recent update to the Photos App. Google has reacted fast to the complaints and has issued a new update to fix the issue.

In a post on the Official Google Account on Reddit, the company wrote, “Thank you for your patience and bug reports. Starting today, we are rolling out a fix, so please update to the latest version of Google Photos (5.76.0.426251772 or higher) in the Play Store.”

For those unaware, Magic Eraser is one of the key features in the Pixel 6 devices which uses the machine learning capabilities of Google’s new Tensor processor and enables users to remove unwanted objects or people from their photos.

So updating the app will now fix the issue in devices that have been plagued by this bug. The abundant bugs faced by Pixel 6 series users ever since its release have many believing that the company simply doesn’t care enough to polish and optimize before releasing a new update. However, the quick fix comes as a reassurance that maybe not all bugs in the new Tensor SoC equipped devices are caused due to neglect by the search giant.

Despite being all over the news for various bugs and issues, the Pixel 6 series still appears to be the most popular Pixel device yet as Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai recently announced that the Pixel 6 series has set an “all-time quarterly sales record.”

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Apple to keep its upcoming event on March 8: Here’s what we might see

By

Pranav Sawant

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Feb 5, 2022

Just like every year, Apple is expected to hold its March event this year. However, the launch date was yet to be revealed. Now, as per Bloomberg, Apple could keep the event on March 8. Also, it is expected to be an online event like last few years.

This time around, we are expected to see new hardware as well as the public release of the iOS 15.4 software. Right now, the iOS 15.4 is in the beta stage and it brings some interesting features like the Universal Control. In case you are unaware, this update also allows iPhones to unlock even with the mask on.

iphone se ipad air — iPhone SE (2nd Generation) and iPad Air (4th Generation)

If we talk about the hardware, the much-anticipated iPhone SE is expected to arrive at the March event. As per earlier reports, the iPhone SE 2022 will retain the old iPhone 8 design. But it will have upgraded internals, new cameras, and most importantly, the 5G connectivity.

The new iPhone SE is expected to come with a 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display and the traditional home button. It will come with 3GB of RAM and the Apple A15 Bionic chipset.

Other than the iPhone, we might also see a new iPad Air at the event. The new iPad may come with the same A15 Bionic chipset and support 5G connectivity. It is reported to have a 10.9-inch screen. The Mac Mini is also expected to get a refresh at the event.

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Infinix Zero 5G officially confirmed to launch on Valentine’s Day in India

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 5, 2022

Some rumors from a few days back had indicated a February 8 launch date for the Infinix Zero 5G, but a new official confirmation from today changes that. According to the upcoming phone’s Flipkart microsite, the launch has now been scheduled for Valentine’s Day (February 14, 12 noon).

The microsite also reveals that the Infinix Infinix Zero 5G will be powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 900 chip and feature support for 13 5G bands. Its AnTuTu benchmark score has been revealed as well, standing at 475,073. Infinix claims that this makes the device the fastest 5G smartphone in the segment.

The previous rumors were based on leaks so it could be possible that they weren’t exactly false, and that Infinix has actually delayed the launch.

Regardless, those older leaks had also revealed some other key specifications of the phone. The Infinix Zero 5G will pack LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 internal storage. Its display is expected to be an FHD+ 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

infinix zero 5g launch teaser flipkart 3

In the camera department, the triple-lens setup at the rear will be topped by a 48MP AI primary sensor. Authentication will be handled by a fingerprint sensor embedded into the power button.

The smartphone will be running the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with the XOS skin on top. The battery will be sized 5,000mAh and is likely to support 33W fast charging.

Based on official images, the Infinix Zero 5G will come in at least two color options — orange and black. We should be knowing more about the device in the coming days, so stay tuned.

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Galaxy Z Flip and Z Flip 5G One UI 4 rollout in North America is now nearly complete

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 5, 2022

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G first got treated to stable Android 12 last month but the release was limited to Asia and Europe. This changed last week with both models getting the same last week in the US. And now, Samsung has also started rolling out One UI 4 for the foldable duo in Canada, almost completing the rollout in the North American continent.

The update for the Galaxy Z Flip carries firmware version F700WVLU4FULA in Canada and is available across the Bell Mobile, Rogers, Telus, and Videotron carriers (via SamMobile).

Similarly, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G has gotten updated to version F707WVLU2EUL9 on almost all carriers including Bell Mobile, Fido Mobile, Koodo Mobile, Rogers, SaskTel, Telus, Videotron, and Virgin Mobile.

The only catch is that the update has given a miss to the latest February patch, coming with the one from December instead.

Regardless, if you haven’t received the OTA update yet, then you can perform a manual check by heading over to Settings > Software update.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G were launched back in 2020 with Android 10 based on One UI 2. Both devices have made it to the three-year Android upgrade support list, so they’ll also be getting Android 13 when it goes live. But let’s just leave that aside for now.

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TECNO POVA 5G India launch date set for February 8

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Feb 5, 2022

Recently, Tecno confirmed to debut the TECNO POVA 5G in India. Today, the brand has officially revealed the exact launch date. Let’s take a look at when the company’s first 5G smartphone will go official in India.

According to the official Twitter account of Tecno India, the TECNO POVA 5G will launch in India on February 8. The brand hasn’t disclosed the time. However, going by the previous releases by the company, the phone will likely go official at 12 PM IST or later.

The specifications of the device are already out as it made its global debut in Nigeria at the end of December. It is priced at $289 in the region.

The handset packs a 6.9-inch FHD+ 120Hz display (LCD), a MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM (+3GB virtual RAM), 128GB UFS 3.1 storage, HiOS 8 based on Android 11, 50MP + 2MP + AI lens triple camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 6,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.

The CEO of Transsion India, the parent company of TECNO India, hinted at the price of TECNO POVA 5G in late 2021. According to the executive, the smartphone will cost around ₹18,000-₹20,000 in the country.

Google Chrome logo gets its first paint job in 8 years

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Feb 5, 2022

Google Chrome is finally getting a new logo after 8 years with an even more simplified design to align with Google’s “more modern brand expression,” a designer for the browser revealed on Friday. The change will be reflected across all devices soon.

The color scheme has not really been switched, with red, blue, green, and yellow still being the primary colors, but the saturation has been upped a little and shadows have been ditched. All in all, the new logo looks largely unchanged but does appear more lively.

Some of you might have noticed a new icon in Chrome’s Canary update today. Yes! we’re refreshing Chrome’s brand icons for the first time in 8 years. The new icons will start to appear across your devices soon. pic.twitter.com/aaaRRzFLI1

— Elvin 🌈 (@elvin_not_11) February 4, 2022

There’s one major change this time around, however — the Chrome icon has been tweaked per the design principles of various operating systems. It gains a subtle gradient on Windows, a 3D look on macOS, and an extremely flat design on Chrome OS to match other system icons.

macOS and iOS get a couple of additional changes though. Chrome Beta on macOS now includes a new ribbon that says “BETA.” And on iOS, the beta version will use a blueprint-like design as a nod to Apple’s developer-focused apps.

The new iconography will begin showing up across devices “in the next few months” but Beta and Dev could get it sooner.

Chrome also hit its 100th version in the Canary channel last month and what better way to celebrate the milestone than a fresh paint job? We would go as far as assuming that the touch-up is indeed a part of it, even though the Google designer didn’t hint so.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 1TB version exists, but there’s a catch

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Feb 5, 2022

An infographic leak of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra had a lot of people disappointed due to it somewhat debunking the ongoing rumors about a 1TB storage variant of the device. However, there is still hope as a reliable tipster states otherwise.

In a recent tweet, Roland Quandt reassured that there will be a 1TB variant of the Galaxy S22 Ultra however, the model will be limited to select markets only. This means that the 1TB storage option will most likely be available in the US and major European markets.

Can confirm 1TB Galaxy S22 Ultra is a thing.
Though not for all markets.

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) February 4, 2022

This won’t be the first time that Samsung will be offering a flagship device with a 1TB storage option, as back in 2019, the brand launched the Galaxy S10 Plus with a 1TB internal storage and 12GB RAM. However, the Galaxy S22 Ultra with 1TB storage will likely come paired with 16GB of RAM this time around.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra specs (rumored)

So far, we know that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will come with a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, with support for HDR10+, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and 1,750nits peak brightness. It will measure 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm.

For photography, the phone will offer a quad-camera setup with a 108MP (f/1.8) primary camera, a 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide camera, and a couple of 10MP telephoto cameras with f/2.4 and f/4.9 apertures. 8K Super HDR video recording will be supported.

The device will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset or the Exynos 2200 SoC depending on the region. But this time around, the devices are rumored to be equipped with a Snapdragon chipset for most of the regions.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra will come with a 5000mAh battery size and support 45W fast charging which is will be the highest yet for a Samsung smartphone. This new 45W fast charging will reportedly fill the battery of the device from 0% to 70% in 30 minutes.

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OnePlus 10 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 4, 2022

OnePlus 10 Pro recently debuted as the first OnePlus’ top-tier flagship released after the integration with OPPO. It is an amazing handset without compromises for the most demanding users, but it is not the first-ever top-tier flagship released by the brand. Last year, the Chinese giant came up with the OnePlus 9 Pro, another amazing high-end phone which registered a lot of sales thanks to its stunning specifications. What changed with the new OnePlus 10 Pro? Is it worth upgrading from the previous model or it still does not make any sense with the actual prices? This comparison between the specifications of the OnePlus 10 Pro and the 9 Pro will hopefully answer these questions in the best possible way.

OnePlus 10 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro

	OnePlus 10 Pro	OnePlus 9 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	163 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm, 200.5 g	163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm, 197 g
DISPLAY	6.7 inches, 1440 x 3216 pixels (Quad HD+), AMOLED	6.7 inches, 1440 x 3216 pixels (Quad HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, octa-core 3 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, octa-core 2.84 GHz
MEMORY	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 12, ColorOS	Android 11, OxygenOS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 48 + 8 + 50 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 32 MP f/2.2 front camera	Quad 48 + 8 + 50 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY	5000 mAh, fast charging 80W, fast wireless charging 50W	4500 mAh, Fast Charging 65W, fast wireless charging 50W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	5G, dual SIM, reverse wireless charging	5G, dual SIM, IP68 waterproof

Design

The design of the OnePlus 10 Pro is completely different from the one of its predecessor, at least on the rear side. The 9 Pro has a smaller camera module and a more common design, while the OnePlus 10 Pro comes with a huge camera module that you can either love or hate. Both the phones are made with a glass back protected by Gorilla Glass Victus and an aluminum frame, but the OnePlus 9 Pro adds the IP68 certification making it waterproof and dustproof. Unfortunately, the most recent flagship does not offer certification against water and dust and this is the most important disadvantage if we compare it to the predecessor.

Display

The display of the OnePlus 10 Pro is slightly better than the one found on the 9 Pro. It comes with the LTPO 2.0 technology improving the energy consumption with the adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz. But for the rest, the specifications on the paper remain the same. You should not notice big differences between these panels in terms of image quality. They are 6.7-inch AMOLED displays with a Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3216 pixels, one billion colors, and the HDR10+ certification. The panel of the OnePlus 10 Pro is rumored to be the same as the upcoming OPPO Find X5 Pro, just like the 9 Pro has the same display as the OPPO Find X3 Pro.

Specs & Software

The OnePlus 10 Pro comes with an upgraded processor if compared to the previous generation. It packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform by Qualcomm built at 4 nm and running at a max frequency of 3 GHz. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a significant upgrade if compared to the Snapdragon 888 because it has better CPU and GPU performance, as well as lower energy consumption. The memory configurations of these two phones are the same: they are equipped with 8 or 12 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB UFS 3.1 internal storage depending on the chosen configuration. The most recent flagship runs Android 12 and ColorOS 12 out of the box in China, while the 9 Pro ships with Android 11 but it has already been upgraded to Android 12.

Camera

Despite the big Hasselblad branding near the camera module, there are no big changes in the camera departments of these two models. They have the same 48 MP main camera with OIS and laser autofocus, the same 8 MP telephoto sensor with 3.3x optical zoom, and the same 50 MP ultrawide camera. The OnePlus 9 Pro adds a 2 MP monochromatic camera but it is pretty useless. On the other hand, the 10 Pro sports a better 32 MP front camera.

Read More: OnePlus 10 Pro tipped to run OxygenOS 12 outside China

Battery

An important advantage of the OnePlus 10 Pro over its predecessor is the battery: with a capacity of 5000 mAh, it is 500 mAh bigger and the phone provides a longer battery life. Further, it features faster charging thanks to the 80W fast charging technology. The wireless charging tech remains the same with a power of 50W.

Price

The OnePlus 9 Pro is currently available for less than €900/$1030 globally, while the global price of the 10 Pro is still unknown because the phone is yet to launch globally. Overall, the 10 Pro brings a stronger processor and a bigger battery, as well as a slightly better display and faster charging; but it loses the water resistance.

OnePlus 10 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: PRO and CONS

OnePlus 10 Pro

PRO

Better display
Superior hardware
Better front camera
Bigger battery

CONS

Not waterproof

OnePlus 9 Pro

PRO

Good price
Waterproof
Same rear cameras as the 10 Pro
Wider availability

CONS

Inferior hardware

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OPPO Find X5 Pro renders and spec leaked: Hasselblad camera, pricing and more

By

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Feb 4, 2022

The OPPO Find X5 Pro has been rumored to come with an impressive camera system accompanied by the brand’s Marisilicon NPU, however, a new render and specs leak has revealed that the device is also packing a Hasselblad flavored surprise.

German publication WinFuture has leaked new render images of the upcoming OPPO Find X5 Pro which showcases the design of the upcoming smartphone in detail.

OPPO Find X5 Pro black

1 of 6

The design is in line with previous renders of the Find X5 Pro and appears to house a triple camera setup on a somewhat unorthodox-shaped camera island. The screen has curved edges and it appears to feature the volume rocker on the left side and the power button on the right. the USB-C port, speaker grill, and SIM slot are all present on the bottom.

OPPO Find X5 Pro Display

Now coming to the specs leak, the publication has revealed that the Find X5 Pro will rock a 6.7-inch LTPO 2.0 AMOLED 2K display with 10-bit HDR support and a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. The display will feature an in-screen fingerprint sensor and offer Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

OPPO Find X5 Pro SoC and memory variants

The Find X5 Pro will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC which comes with an integrated 5G modem and offers support for WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. In Europe, the device is said to debut in only one memory configuration being 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage with no support for a memory card.

OPPO Find X5 Pro cameras

The camera offering on this device is where things start to get really interesting. As mentioned above, the camera system of the Find X5 Pro is apparently being developed in collaboration with Hasselblad who have till now only worked on OnePlus Flagship devices, which is a sub-brand of OPPO.

The Find X5 Pro uses two 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensors to work as its primary and ultrawide camera. The primary camera has an 80-degree FOV and an F/1.7 aperture, while the ultrawide comes with an F/2.2 aperture. Both primary and ultrawide cameras will come with optical image stabilization.

The third camera present on the camera island is a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with an F/2.4 aperture which is capable of 5x hybrid zoom and 20x digital zoom.

The device omits laser assist and ToF systems for autofocus and is instead going with a so-called omnidirectional “All Pixel PDAF” to take care of autofocus tasks. The device will also feature the newly developed MariSilicon X Imaging NPU for image processing and AI-based applications and enhancements. The additional sensor present on the camera island appears to be a color sensor.

The front camera of the device uses a Sony IMX709 sensor, which comes with 32 megapixels, an F/2.4 aperture, a 90-degree field of view.

Battery and other features

The battery on the Find X5 Pro appears to have 5000mAh capacity and support for 80W fast charging. The device is also said to provide IP68 protection against water and dist. The device is apparently made out of aluminum and glass and weighs 218 grams while measuring 8.5mm in thickness. It is also touted to come with a pair of stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

The tipster has also stated that the device will not be cheap and will most likely be launched at or beyond 1200 Euros in Germany. So we are probably looking at similar pricing across Europe. So far, the tipster knows of two color variants of the OPPO Find X5 Pro namely ceramic black and ceramic white.

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Lenovo unveils the IdeaCentre Gaming Console with 12th-gen Core i5/i7 SoC

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Feb 4, 2022

Lenovo is presently the leading name when it comes to the PC market. The company has an array of products ranging from the gaming laptops such as the Legion series to the business-focused Yoga series. The brand also has a range of gaming towers that fall under the IdeaCentre gaming tower series. The Chinese tech giant has now reportedly launched the IdeaCentre 5 17IAB7 gaming console.

The IdeaCentre gaming console is equipped with a new 12th-generation Core processor, and you can choose different models such as Core i5-12400 and i7-12700. Users also get the liberty to make further choices in terms of graphics cards between AMD’s RX 6500XT, RX 6400, and other new graphics cards such as NVIDIA’s RTX 3060, RTX 3060 Ti, GTX 1660 SUPER, and GTX 1650.

In addition, it can support DDR4 memory, as well as one M.2 SSD and two 3.5-inch mechanical hard drives. Generally speaking, there are not many choices. Thus, if it is needed for a high-intensity work requirement, the tower should not be considered.

As for the appearance, it adopts a relatively cool design, and a light strip seems to be prepared on the front part emitting dazzling blue light when in use. The front panel also has two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a relatively conventional configuration.

The new Lenovo’s IdeaCentre Gaming console is set expected to enter the market soon, but the official date has not been revealed yet.

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Twitter globally testing the Downvote replies feature, Android & iOS support coming soon

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Feb 4, 2022

Last year, Twitter introduced a new downvote feature to test on some iOS devices and now, the microblogging platform is bringing the test feature to its users on a global scale.

We learned a lot about the types of replies you don't find relevant and we're expanding this test –– more of you on web and soon iOS and Android will have the option to use reply downvoting.

Downvotes aren’t public, but they'll help inform us of the content people want to see. https://t.co/g8LcTpQqDv pic.twitter.com/wm5MmdR4Xh

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 3, 2022

The new feature will currently appear on the web version of Twitter and is said to soon be available on Android and iOS apps. Unlike Reddit where you users can freely see the number of upvotes and downvotes, a comment has, the feature on Twitter will work differently. The number of downvotes won’t be visible to the users however, it will help the Twitter algorithm better understand what kind of replies are relevant to its users and help make them more visible.

Twitter said that the initial testing helped understand that a majority of its users clicked the down arrow in their replies “either because the reply was perceived as offensive, or because they perceived it as not relevant, or both.” The microblogging network also said that downvoting was the most frequently used way for people to flag content they didn’t want to see.

“People who have tested downvoting agree it improves the quality of conversations on Twitter. We’re excited to see how others think of it as it becomes available to more of you,” the company said.

The wider rollout of the test feature is indicative that it can soon become a permanent feature offered on the platform to fine-tune its algorithms in making the site more appealing to users. However, people have also shown concerns that this feature might be used negatively to mute dissenting views or might end up creating echo chambers.

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Hot Take: Redmi Note 10 Pro can still take on Redmi Note 11 Pro

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Feb 4, 2022

Recently, Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Note 11 series for international markets. The lineup includes two Pro models, namely Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. The duo shares almost everything, except for the chip which determines their support for 5G connectivity.

On the other hand, the last year’s international Redmi Note 10 series consists of a single Pro model in just about all markets, except for India. The Redmi Note 10 Pro is known as Redmi Note 10 Pro Max in India. Because the country has an exclusive Redmi Note 10 Pro with a 64MP primary camera instead of a 108MP sensor.

With that out of the way, are the latest Redmi Note 11 Pro smartphones better than the Redmi Note 10 Pro models? We find out the answer to the question in this article.

Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G Global — Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

New design but sidegraded features

The Redmi Note 11 Pro arrives with a different design. The device features a flat frame, however, the material still remains plastic. It retains the rear glass panel and they now flaunt new colors like Atlantic Blue, Polar White, and Graphite Gray. The first hue, in particular, is unique as it mimics water waves.

Whereas, the Redmi Note 10 Pro flaunts the regular curved rear glass design. It comes in classy colors, such as Onyx Gray, Glacier Blue, and Gradient Bronze.

Coming to specs, the two handsets primarily differ only in terms of chipset, camera system, and charging speed. The last-gen model has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G SoC, a 5MP telemacro camera with autofocus, and 33W fast charging support. While the latest-gen phone houses a Mediatek Helio G96 (4G variant)/Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (5G variant) chipset, a 2MP macro camera, and supports 67W fast charging.

Apart from the aforementioned dissimilarities, the Redmi Note 10 Pro and the Redmi Note 11 Pro are basically similar. They sport a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, 108MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide shooter, 16MP selfie snapper, dual stereo speakers, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, MicroSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and USB Type-C port.

Both run Android 11, however, the newer smartphone comes with MIUI 13. Finally, the battery capacity is nearly identical – 5,000mAh (new) vs 5,020mAh (old).

Is 5G worth it?

The only big upgrade in the Redmi Note 11 Pro is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip. The silicon not only enables 5G connectivity but also offers better performance.

The latter is useful for any user. Whereas, 5G is not meant for everyone. Most people still don’t have access to the latest cell network.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is only recommended for those who are in the vicinity where 5G is the norm. You may wonder what about performance? We have an answer for that too.

The device starts at $329 for 6GB + 64GB. The base variant’s storage is low for today’s standard. So most people would buy the 128GB version, which arrives with either 6GB ($349) or 8GB RAM($379). At this price, if one really cares about performance, then they may be better off with the POCO F3, which costs around the same and also offers 5G.

Old is gold

Considering the above-listed factors, the year-old Redmi Note 10 Pro still sounds like a good deal. It can still take on the Redmi Note 11 Pro. You get the almost same experience for way less price.

Redmi Note 10 Pro (Max) Featured 01 — Redmi Note 10 Pro

Usually, new phones are better than their older counterparts. However, once in a while, due to minute upgrades, the older handsets offer better value for the price tag on them.

Xiaomi set the bar very high with the Redmi Note 10 series. It was expected for the company to face difficulties in upping its game in the next generation. Perhaps, the Redmi Note 12 Pro may arrive as a better successor than the Redmi Note 11 Pro.

iQOO 9 SE confirmed, iQOO 9 series Amazon page goes live in India

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Feb 4, 2022

Yesterday (February 3, 2022), news broke that iQOO will be launching its iQOO 9 series smartphones in India this month. The report also stated that the brand will be launching a new device in the iQOO 9 series with the Indian launch dubbed the iQOO 9 SE. And now, it has officially been confirmed by the brand.

Earlier today, the Vivo sub-brand confirmed that the iQOO 9 SE will be joining the iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro when it launches in India later this year. The statement does not specify if the SE device will debut alongside the iQOO 9 and 9 Pro or will be launched later down the line. The company has also revealed that the iQOO 9 series will debut exclusively on the Amazon India website, which has now created a dedicated webpage for the upcoming launch.

As per previous leaks, we know that the iQOO 9 SE will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC. While similar to the Chinese variants the iQOO 9 and 9 Pro will rock the Snapdragon 888+ and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipsets respectively. The trio will run on Android 12 out of the box and have Funtouch 12 OS on the top.

The iQOO 9 SE will feature a 6.62-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel, while the iQOO 9 will sport a 6.56-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with a 10-bit color depth. The iQOO 9 Pro, on the other hand, will have a 6.78-inch QHD+ curved E5 AMOLED display. The trio has a 120Hz refresh rate and gets an in-display fingerprint scanner.

As for the cameras, the iQOO 9 Pro has a 50MP Samsung GN5 + 50MP UW + 16MP triple camera system. The primary sensor will have gimbal stabilization support and the tertiary lens will have a 2.5x optical zoom support. Talking about iQOO 9, it will have a 48MP triple camera system with again, gimbal stabilization support. Unfortunately, we do not learn the camera details of the iQOO 9 SE.

Apart from the specs, the iQOO 9 SE could start at around. 35,000(~$468) in India. For now, the iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro are expected to debut in India sometime this month (February).

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Ford F-150 Lightning EV could power up homes for several days

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Feb 4, 2022

A silent revolution is going on in the electric vehicle manufacturing segment, as a few carmakers are looking at expanding access to clean and sustainable power to homes through an EV. The Ford F-150 Lightning is the latest EV that will provide the option of extending power to homes through its bi-directional power system. The company says the F-150 Lightning can light up homes for up to 72 hours.

Ford claims that the F-150 Lightning was the first electric pickup truck that can offer power backup to homes. Although the company says it is the first to offer this functionality in vehicles to consumers, it is noted that BYD recently announced a Type A all-electric school bus that provides such a bi-directional power solution to schools in the US.

Ford has announced a working partnership with US solar power company, Sunrun to offer the backup power feature to F-150 Lightning customers. The electric pickup truck’s onboard battery capability will be utilized in this regard. The F-150 Lightning extended-range battery system can store up to 131 kWh power and deliver up to 9.6 kW for several days. It is also a cleaner option than gasoline or diesel generators.

The F-150 Lightning home charging solutions include an 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System, which enables the F-150 Lightning to store and innovatively supply power to homes. It automatically starts to power homes when the power goes out using the Ford Intelligent Backup Power and the Home Integration System. It also reverts once power is restored to the home. US consumers are expectant of the new power solutions offered by the Ford F-150 Lightning and await further details from Ford.

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Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1ch with 430W output, wireless subwoofer launched for €279

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Feb 4, 2022

Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1ch has finally been launched for the global market and is priced in Europe for €279. However, the product is currently available only in Spain but is expected to be available in other European countries soon. It is already listed on Amazon’s website in Germany bu tis yet to be stocked.

The Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1ch was first announced in November 2021 as part of the Xiaomi Smart Living ecosystem. The new soundbar is the company’s first of its kind for the global market. It supports one-touch NFC pairing, comes with a smart LED panel that shows the status of the device. There are connection toggles at the top, and a power button at the top, as well as volume controls.

On the sound components, the new Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1ch has Dolby audio and DTS Virtual X sound, with a wireless subwoofer for enhanced versatility of the soundbar. You can place the subwoofer anywhere that you desire to have a more powerful sound output. The Soundbar 3.1ch can produce a maximum output of 430W distributed between the subwoofer and the soundbar itself.

The Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1ch comes with a USB port, as well as Coaxial, Optical and HDMI input/output ports. It also features support for Bluetooth 5.0. There is a Dot-matrix OLED display integrated with the speaker grill at the front. It also comes with wall-mount brackets and a remote control. The soundbar and subwoofer are available in black colour only.

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