Realme 9i pricing for European markets tipped

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Jan 25, 2022

Huawei is set to make its re-entry into the flagship segment with the Mate 50 series that’s expected to launch in the first quarter of this year. While not much is known about the devices, we now have concept renders at hand thanks to well-known concept creators hereYashRaj and Nova Concept (via Equal Leaks).

Huawei-Mate-50-concept — Image: hereYashRaj & Nova Concept

The artists have imagined the Huawei Mate 50 featuring a compact form factor, with a size in the same range as the Xiaomi 12 and iPhone 12. As such, the screen has been sized between 6.28 and 6.38 inches in the renders. It also ditches the pill-shaped cutout found on the Mate 40 Pro and instead sticks to a more modern hole-punch for the selfie camera.

A large part of the rear is occupied by the ginormous circular camera module which the concept creators imagine with a primary camera, a wide-angle camera, and a periscope lens with 5X optical zoom. There’s no Leica branding anywhere which is reasonable considering Huawei’s partnership with the camera company ended with the P50 series. The flash has been placed at the center of the module.

The back panel has been imagined to be of a glossy texture, with a striped design for added character.

Of course, the concepts are unofficial, designed only for artistic purposes, and the retail version of the Mate 50 will likely look a lot different. Still, they give us an idea of what one can expect.

Moving on to actual specifications, the Huawei Mate 50 series is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Kirin 9000 processors and may come with LTPO displays. There’s also a possibility of the Huawei Mate 50 smartphone having support for satellite connectivity when a cellular network isn’t available.

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Realme GT2 Pro 8+128GB model goes on sale in China again

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Jan 25, 2022

Earlier this month, the Realme GT2 series had been launched in China. Soon after the unveiling of the premium grade lineup, the sales first began in the region soon and sold out. And now, the higher end version has gone on sale again.

For those unaware, the Realme GT2 Pro is available in four different configurations. This includes a 8GB+128GB, 8+256GB, 12+256GB, and the 12+512GB versions. Talking about the smartphone itself, it sports a 6.7 inch LPTO AMOLED screen with a 2K resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels. It is a flexible panel with support for a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1400 nits peak brightness, and a punch hole selfie camera as well.

Under the hood, the flagship model is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 5G chipset. The device runs on a 5,000mAh battery pack that supports 65W flash charge which the Chinese brand claims can deliver 100% charge in just 33 minutes. During its first launch, the entire lineup was sold out in just 3 minutes, with the brand bringing in 200 million Yuan (roughly 31.6 million US Dollars) in that short time. Now, the Realme GT2 Pro is available for purchase again in China and starts from 3,699 Yuan (roughly 584 US Dollars) for its 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage configuration.

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OPPO Watch Free may launch in India on February 4

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 25, 2022

OPPO is all set to launch the OPPO Reno7 series in India on February 4. At the same event, the company may introduce yet another product. This accessory was already tipped months ago to debut alongside the said phones. If you are wondering what this device is, then continue reading to know about it.

According to tech influencer Mukul Sharma (via 91Mobiles), OPPO will be launching the OPPO Watch Free in India alongside the OPPO Reno7 series. This appears to be true as the accessory has been listed on the company’s official website.

The OPPO Watch Free went official at the end of September 2021. It is a fitness tracker disguised as a smartwatch with a 1.64-inch rectangular AMOLED display.

The wearable connects with smartphones running Android 6.0 or above and iOS 10.0 or above via Bluetooth 5.0. It offers over 100 workout modes, in addition to sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and blood oxygen level monitoring,

Like most smart wearables, this one is also water-resistant up to 5 ATM. Hence, wearers can not only use it in rains but also take it for a swim.

Other regular features include multiple watch faces, call alerts, app notifications, alarm, weather, timer, music playback control, and find my phone to name a few. Finally, the OPPO Watch Free is rated to last for 14 days on a full charge.

Indian smartphone market sees new record: 162 million units sold in 2021

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Jan 25, 2022

The Indian smartphone market saw a 12% growth in 2021 and set a new record sales record, garnering a total of 162 million shipments during the year. While Xiaomi continued to lead the market in terms of shipments, it was realme that was the true winner, registering an annual growth of 25% even as its competitors had to deal with little to negative growth.

The second wave of the pandemic gave a tough start to the year but it was followed by a strong recovery in the second half (via Canalys). In the fourth quarter of 2021 alone, smartphone OEMs shipped 44.5 million devices, defying supply chain constraints.

canalys indian smartphone market analysis — Image: Canalys

“India smartphone market dynamics shifted every quarter in 2021,” said Canalys Analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. “COVID-19 crises, volatile consumer demand and supply chain disruptions plagued the market this year. Vendors adapted to the changing environment by focusing on omnichannel, diversifying their supply chains, and expanding their product mix. For example, vendors like realme and Samsung diversified chipset configurations to effectively manage supply.”

The competition also heated up in the low-end segment due to the emergence of new players like Jio. The JioPhone Next with its highly competitive financing options managed to sell several million units. Companies like Infinix and Tecno also saw success in the segment.

But the overall market continued to be gripped by Xiaomi which managed to sell an impressive 40.5 million units, out of which 9.3 million were sold in Q4 2021 alone. The Chinese tech giant was seconded by Samsung that sold 30.1 million units last year, recording a YoY growth of 5%. vivo stood third on the podium with 25.7 million units in 2021, followed by realme with its 24.2 million figure.

Chaurasia expects 5G to go live following spectrum auctions for it this year. And when that happens, 5G smartphones prices are expected to fall significantly amid fierce vendor rivalry.

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Tesla has officially entered the Automobile market in Turkey

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Jan 25, 2022

The known electric vehicle maker, Tesla, has officially entered a new market. Now, the company’s popular EV models will be available in Turkey’s automobile market to further expand its global presence.

Just last year, the American automobile maker shipped over 900,000 units of its EVs across the globe. This marked a rise of 87 percent over the 2020 sales. As of right now, the US and China are the company’s largest market, although now, a new market has just opened up for the brand. Tesla has appointed Kemal Geçer as its general manager, officially entering the new car market in Turkey. Furthermore, the company’s operations in Turkey was previously believed to arrive with a capital increase of 50,000,000 Turkish liras (roughly 3.6 million US Dollars).

The EV maker is also working on setting up a Supercharger network in the nation, which will span most of the Balkans along with numerous fast charging points in Bulgaria. Other regions include, Serbia, Romania, and other countries from the region as well. At the moment, there is no information regarding the company’s sales target in Turkey (Via Motor1).

Emir Tunçyürek, a former consultant of InsideEVs Turkey and co-founder of E-Garaj, will be managing Tesla Turkey’s operations. Back in 2021, around 4,000 electric vehicles were sold in Turkey. While this figure isn’t significant, it was a sizeable growth compared to just 1,600 electric cars being sold back in 2020. As of right now, there are around 7,000 to 8,000 units of electric vehicles that are registered for public use within the nation. However, with Tesla’s entry in the market, we can expect this figure to grow as demand inflates.

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POCO X4 5G moniker revealed through certification, may launch in February

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Jan 25, 2022

A POCO smartphone with model number 2201116PG was spotted at the FCC certification earlier this month. The listing revealed key specs such as MIUI 13, NFC, and support for n5, n8, n38, n41, n77, and n78 5G bands. A freshly spotted Malaysian certification reveals that the handset will be debuting in the market with the POCO X4 5G moniker.

Tipster Mukul Sharma’s tweet shows that the 2201116PG Xiaomi device will be launching in global markets with POCO X4 5G moniker. The same device with model number 2201116PI was spotted at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) earlier this month. In India too, the device is likely to carry the same moniker.

POCO X4 5G moniker confirmed. The device has been BIS certified as well, so Indian launch is imminent.
Feel free to retweet.#POCO #POCOX4 #POCOX45G pic.twitter.com/nv1gYgtkcQ

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) January 25, 2022

It can be said based on recent reports that the specifications of the POCO X4 5G could be similar to the upcoming Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. It was recently revealed by tipster Yogesh Brar that the Redmi model will be equipped with a 6.6-inch AMOLED Full HD+ display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It is likely to come equipped with an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

The device is expected to feature a 16-megapixel camera on the front and a 108-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit on the back. It is likely to run on MUI 13 based Android 12 OS. The handset may draw power from a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G global edition is likely to be fueled by Snapdragon 690 chipset. It may come with 6 GB / 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The handset is scheduled to launch on Jan. 26 in global markets. The POCO X4 5G could be a tweaked version of the Note 11 Pro 5G. Probably, the POCO phone may debut at some point in February.

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Apple is working on an 8K VR Headset: Former Meizu Exec

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Jan 25, 2022

Earlier today (25th January 2022), Li Nan, the co-founder and former Vice President of Meizu, shared interesting news regarding an upcoming Apple product. Nan stated that the iPhone maker is working on a new pair of “8K glasses.”

The former Chinese smartphone maker’s executive shared the information on his official Weibo account (a Chinese microblogging website). In the social media post, Li Nan shared this news to address those who still “had doubts” regarding the Metaverse. In other words, this product from the Cupertino based giant will be a a VR/AR headset that will allow users to enter the metaverse. Unfortunately, he refrained from revealing any other finer details regarding this matter.

However, this is in line with our previous reports that also stated that Apple is working on its first ever VR headset that is set to launch soon. Initially, it was believed that the headset will launch later this year, but recent rumors hint at a delayed release in 2023. Apparently, the VR headset from Apple will feature performance that matches M1 Macs and will also use the same 96W USB Type C as the 14 inch MacBook Pro. Now, the ex-Meizu official also hints at its native 8K resolution support.

Known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that the brand’s headset will house two processors, one of which is a 5nm based chip while the other is a smaller 4nm based chipset. Both of these processors will be manufactured by the world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC. The higher end chipset will offer computing power that rivals M1 chips in the new Macs, while the lower end processor would be dedicated towards the various sensors and related components of the headset. It is expected to launch in the first quarter of next year, so stick around for more updates regarding this matter.

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OnePlus 10 Ultra? Rumor has it that OnePlus’s first ‘superphone’ is in the works

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Jan 25, 2022

The OnePlus 10 Pro was launched only a couple of weeks back, and although it has all the likeness of a ‘superphone’ in terms of appearance, with its ginormous camera module and everything, it isn’t exactly one. Its price is still quite lower than the top-of-the-line Xiaomi 11 Ultra and reviewers opine its camera performance isn’t the very best.

OnePlus 10 Pro hands-on featured 3 — OnePlus 10 Pro

There are obviously some shoes remaining to be filled here, and according to a new report, OnePlus is now working on a new flagship model. Our guess is that it could be called OnePlus 10 Ultra, which would be a first for a company whose top offering has always been a Pro model.

Tipster Yogesh Brar through a tweet today revealed that an “ultra flagship” from OnePlus is rumored to be in the EVT phase right now, meaning a launch could be expected in the coming months. EVT stands for Engineering Verification Testing and is a test performed on prototype products during their early alpha stages. It is followed by Design Verification Testing and then Product Verification Testing, after which the product is declared ready for release.

Technology sharing between OnePlus & Oppo is in Full swing, Find X5 series gets Hasselblad treatment and I'm hearing that MariSilicon will be seen on a OnePlus Flagship in the 2nd Half of this year.

There are rumours of an Ultra flagship from OnePlus in the EVT phase right now.

— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) January 25, 2022

The tweet further talks about the growing OnePlus x OPPO integration, saying that technology sharing between the duo is currently in full swing. The OPPO Find X5 series has already gotten the Hasselblad treatment — something that has mostly remained a OnePlus exclusive thing to date. And in return, OPPO’s self-developed imaging MariSilicon NPU might be seen on a OnePlus flagship in the second half of 2022.

The cutting-edge, dedicated NPU allows much faster image processing on devices equipped with it, along with bringing about significant quality improvements in both photos and videos.

It is unclear at the moment if the rumored OnePlus 10 Ultra will be sporting the MariSilicon, although it isn’t unlikely. Regardless, we should be seeing more leaks and rumors about the alleged upcoming device if the tip indeed holds true, so stay tuned.

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Apple’s new Mac Mini powered by M1 Pro and M1 Max chips could launch during spring event

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Jeet

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Jan 25, 2022

Apple had launched an updated version of the Mac Mini towards the end of 2020, making it one of the first devices to come powered by Apple Silicon’s new M1 chipset.

Ever since the launch of the M1-powered Mac Mini, there have been rumors about a more powerful Mac Mini being under work. Now, a new report hints that the more powerful model could go official later this year.

According to the report from @dylandkt, the first event of Apple in 2022 could have an upgraded Mac Mini powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. It is also being said that the product will have a new design.

If the previous reports are to be believed, then it will have a thinner body with a polycarbonate top, an increase in the ports at the back, and a magnetic power connection.

The new Mac Mini isn’t the only device that Apple is expected to launch at the spring event in the coming months. It is also expected to launch a new iPhone SE with 5G connectivity support, an updated iPad Air, and a bunch of other products.

However, the highlight could be the highly-anticipated iMac Pro which is said to be still on track to get launched during the spring event. It is also expected to be powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, but we’ll have to wait for the official launch as the production delay or issues may affect the devices set to go official during the spring launch event.

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Microsoft Surface Duo finally receives Android 11 update

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Jan 25, 2022

Microsoft has finally rolled out the Android 11 update for its first Android smartphone, the Surface Duo. This device featured a unique dual display design, but suffered from a number of issues.

For those unaware, the device was quite expensive at launch and faced a number of bugs and issues despite being marketed as a dual display based multitasking platform. A number of buyers were also left disappointment as the Surface Duo did not receive the Android 11 update last year. Now, despite Android 12 already being available in the market, the American tech giant has finally rolled out the Android 11 build for the device.

In other words, the Microsoft Surface Duo is a whole update cycle behind, but its better late than never. Talking about the update, the device now runs on version number 2021.1027.156, which is currently being rolled out to unlocked Surface Duo users in North America and Europe. On the other hand, carried variants will receive an update later on. The latest update brings Android 11 alongside the latest January 2022 security patch, improvements and customization as well for the multitasking, folding actions, and other built in apps.

Other certain notable updates include:

Enabled in Surface Duo features, in Settings, to choose specific apps to automatically span across both screens when you open them.
Xbox Game Pass: Discovery and play games from the cloud with an on-screen controller. Some devices, accessories, and software sold separately. Additional fees and/or subscriptions required for some apps and features.
Photos by OneDrive: New dual-screen enhanced experience for viewing and editing photos in the OneDrive app.

You can check out the full list of features by clicking here.

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Xiaomi 12 Pro “derivative” model in the works with newer version of Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

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Jan 25, 2022

A ‘derivative’ of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is under development with model number ‘L2S’ and it will feature the upcoming SM8475 chip, prominent industry insider Digital Chat Station has revealed with a post on Weibo.

L2S is obviously not the final name of the device and the mysterious model is currently undergoing testing, meaning a launch could be expected in the coming months. The phone has been declared a derivative because of its model number — L2S only got an ‘S’ on top of Xiaomi 12 Pro’s L2 official nickname. Some netizens have thus already given the upcoming device an unofficial ‘Xiaomi 12S’ moniker.

While other details about the L2S are still in the dark, we do know that it will be packing a slightly upgraded version of the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that the Xiaomi 12 Pro comes with. The already released 8 Gen 1, codenamed SM8450, uses Samsung’s 4nm manufacturing process and many feel it’s inferior to TMSC’s 4nm process.

On the other hand, the upgraded 8 Gen 1 (SM8475) will likely be built using the TMSC process, meaning it could bring about better performance.

The present version of the chip has already come under fire for alleged overheating and throttling issues, which have even resulted in some really lackluster Geekbench 5 scores — something that the SM8475 will hopefully be improving on.

If the Xiaomi L2S indeed becomes a reality, then it will take the tally up for the Xiaomi 12 series to a total of four models. The series is currently comprised of the Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 12 Pro, and Xiaomi 12X, and there’s even an Ultra model in the works.

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Redmi Note 11 Nepal launch date, 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, and more officially confirmed

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 25, 2022

Xiaomi is all set to unveil the Redmi Note 11 series tomorrow (January 26) for the international markets. We know that one of the models in the lineup, the Redmi Note 11S, will be heading to India on February 9. Today, we have learned that the Redmi Note 11 will be launching in Nepal on January 27. At the same time, the company has also confirmed certain features of the vanilla model.

Redmi Note 11 Global — Redmi Note 11 | Source: Shopee

The global wing of Xiaomi hasn’t revealed any specs of the upcoming Redmi Note 11 series. On the other hand, the Indian division has not only disclosed the design of the Redmi Note 11S but also has set up a dedicated page to tease the features.

The Nepalese division has gone ahead and confirmed some of the specs that have already leaked. But unfortunately, that tweet has been taken down now.

According to that tweet, the Redmi Note 11 will indeed arrive with a 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED display. For the unaware, the Redmi Note 10 has a regular 60Hz FHD+ AMOLED screen. Further, the same deleted tweet also said that the phone will feature dual speakers.

Talking about other features, a retailer listing had recently revealed that the smartphone will come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, a 50MP quad-camera setup comprising of an ultra-wide as well as a macro shooter, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.

Since the device will go official tomorrow, we expect to learn everything about it, except for the price in Nepal, which we think will be disclosed a day later.

Realme 9 Pro, Pro+ 5G renders emerge to reveal color variants

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Jan 25, 2022

Realme is reportedly working on Realme 9 Pro and Realme 9 Pro+ 5G smartphones. Both models are expected to launch in February in multiple markets. SmartPrix has been leaking key details of the Realme 9 Pro series for the past few days. Now, it has shared the renders of the Realme 9 Pro and 9 Pro+ 5G to showcase its color variants and design.

Realme 9 Pro, 9 Pro+ 5G renders, color variants

The publication has teamed up with reliable tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka. OnLeaks) to share the renders of the Realme 9 Pro series of smartphones. The leaked images show that both phones will be sporting an almost identical design.

Realme-9-Pro-Blue — Realme 9 Pro render by OnLeaks and SmartPrix

These phones have a punch-hole display, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, and a triple camera unit. Both smartphones will come in colors like Midnight Black, Aurora Green, and Sunrise Blue.

Realme 9 Pro, 9 Pro+ 5G specifications (rumored)

The Realme 9 Pro is expected to come with a 6.59-inch AMOLED FHD+ display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 695 chip, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. It has a 16-megapixel front camera and a 64-megapixel (main) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel triple camera unit.

1 of 3

The Realme 9 Pro+ 5G will house a 6.43-inch sAMOLED FHD+ display that delivers a 90Hz refresh rate. The Dimensity 920 chipset powers the device with 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a 4,500mAh battery that offers 65W fast charging. It has a 16-megapixel front camera and an OIS-enabled 50-megapixel (main custom-made Sony sensor) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel triple rear cameras.

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Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz smartwatch price, specifications, launch date for India revealed

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Jan 25, 2022

The Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz budget smartwatch will be launched in India next week, according to the official product listing microsite for the same on Amazon.

Noise’s own website now also shows the watch but does not mention its launch date, instead only showing a “Coming soon” button (via Gadgets360). However, on Amazon, the microsite actually displays a February 2, 2022, 2 PM IST launch date. The entirety of the spec sheet as well as the available color options and pricing have been revealed too, and we have discussed these below.

The Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz features a 1.69-inch (240×280 pixels) TFT LCD display with thick bezels and a thicker chin. The default screen can be customized with over 100 watch faces and the smartwatch comes with Google Assistant and Siri support. Bluetooth calling is also featured, meaning you can simply leave your phone untouched in your pocket for calls.

Health-related features include monitoring systems like sleep monitor, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, and heart rate monitoring. A total of nine sports modes are supported including running, walking, cycling, yoga, and others.

But perhaps the most interesting bit is the ability to play mini-games, a couple of which are pre-installed on the watch. The promo images show a Flappy Bird-like game so you already know how to pass time if stuck in a long queue.

For connectivity, the Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz supports Bluetooth 5.1 and can be paired with smartphones running at least Android 4 or iOS 8. There’s also an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Lastly, the battery is sized 230mAh battery and is claimed to last for 7 days on a single complete charge. A full charge takes about two hours.

As for pricing, the Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz will be selling at a discounted price of Rs 2,999, down 40% from Rs 4,999. Color options are Jet Black, Midnight Gold, Olive Green, and Silver Grey.

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Infinix 5G phone with Dimensity 900 tipped to launch soon, live shots emerge

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Jan 25, 2022

Infinix is reportedly working on its 5G smartphone. A fresh report by XDA Developers has revealed key details of the smartphone along with its live shots. It is speculated to debut as a Zero series smartphone.

The leaked images shared by the publication shows that Infinix’s first 5G phone will feature a punch-hole display with a noticeable chin. The rear shell of the device has a glossy look, and it houses a triple camera unit.

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The publication claims that Infinix’s upcoming 5G phone is likely to be equipped with an LCD panel, which seem to support a 120Hz refresh rate. While the display is flat, the handset has curved edges. The handset is said to be powered by the Dimensity 900 chipset. The rear camera setup of the phone is speculated to feature a 48-megapixel main camera with 30x zoom. The publication did not share any other information on the specs of the device.

Infinix Zero 5G specifications (rumored)

It can be said based on recent reports that the above-shown handset may break cover with the Infinix Zero 5G moniker. YouTube channel Tech Arena24 had shared some details of the smartphone last month. The leak claimed that the device has a 6.67-inch AMOLED FHD+ 120Hz display and a 16-megapixel camera on the front.

Under the hood, the Dimensity 900 chip is coupled with 8 GB of RAM and a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. The device is likely to run on Android 11 OS and offer 128 GB of internal storage. The handset is expected to launch soon in different markets including India. At present, there is no word on the pricing of the device.

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Upcoming Lenovo Legion “Halo” phone with new Snapdragon flagship chip in works, specifications revealed

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