Xiaomi Auto gains former Arcfox president Yu Liguo as new vice president

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Jan 17, 2022

Xiaomi on Friday appointed former BAIC executive Yu Liguo as vice president of its automobile business, an internal email revealed, signaling that the Chinese electronics giant is ramping up its efforts to make its debut in the said sector.

The new VP will be responsible for coordinating the overall management of Xiaomi Auto, which will include business promotion, organization, and talent building at the Beijing headquarters (via Pandaily). Yu had joined Xiaomi in the second half of 2021 and brings extensive experience and contacts from the automobile industry.

Yu Liguo Xiaomi auto VP — Source: Cheyun

This comes from his former position at BAIC, where he was in charge of the company’s new energy strategic planning, fixed investment, and joint venture cooperation. BAIC Group is a Chinese state-owned enterprise and holding company of several automobile and machine manufacturers located in Beijing.

During his time at BAIC, Yu led the creation of the Arcfox EV-maker brand and served as its president. The new Xiaomi Auto VP has also received a doctorate in engineering from the Beijing Institute of Technology.

Xiaomi has pledged to invest $10 billion into its EV business over the next decade, joining the already-crowded market with companies like Tesla, Xpeng, BYD, and others. It also revealed that its auto unit in Beijing will have an annual production capacity of 300,000 cars.

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Get Xiaomi 50W Wireless Car Charger Pro for $75.99 at Giztop

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Daily Deals

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Jan 17, 2022

Xiaomi 50W Wireless Car Charger Pro is now available for all global customers at Giztop. The brand new car charger from Xiaomi is retailing at $75.99 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Xiaomi 50W Wireless Car Charger Pro at $75.99 @Giztop

Xiaomi 50W Wireless Car Charger Pro is specially designed for single-hand operations. It uses the new generation microwave sensors to automatically open up its arms as you hover the phone near it. Also, you can easily remove the smartphone from the stand by simply pressing either of the two buttons present on the side of the clamp. This means you get a hassle-free and safe driving experience with this new Xiaomi charger.

This advanced wireless fast car charger is compatible with multiple devices and brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone, etc. However, please note that the charger does not support wireless charging for Mi 10 Ultra. You can also charge the phone with a case (up to 4mm thick) as the vise arms can reach up to 84mm and the charging range is 4mm.

Xiaomi 50W Wireless Car Charger Pro comes with a built-in supercapacitor and a hidden direct air duct that helps in actively cooling down the phone thereby improving efficiency and reducing the overall charging time.

Giztop is now accepting orders for Xiaomi 50W Wireless Car Charger Pro at $75.99 only.

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

OnePlus 10 Pro may launch in India & Europe by March end, enters private testing

By

Sean

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Jan 17, 2022

Just last week, the OnePlus 10 Pro had launched in China as the company’s latest flagship smartphone that succeeds last year’s OnePlus 9 Pro. The device features top notch specs and feature and may possibly launch in India and Europe by March end.

According to a 91Mobiles report, tipster Yogesh Brar has revealed the OnePlus 10 Pro has entered private testing in India and Europe. Furthermore, the Chinese smartphone maker’s flagship handset is expected to launch by the middle or end of March 2022. The tipster also revealed that the Nord CE 2 5G is out of testing phase and is expected to debut sometime in February. It is a mid range device and was recently spotted on an online listing alongside the flagship 10 Pro model, which hinted at an imminent launch. This mid range phone is also the successor to the original Nord CE.

Talking about the OnePlus 10 Pro, it sports a 6.7 inch LTPO AMOLED screen with QHD+(3216 x 1440 pixels) resolution, with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The device runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 80W wired and 50W wireless SuperVOOC fast charging technology. On the rear, it features a triple camera system with a 48MP Sony IMX789 sensor, a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor, and an 8MP telephoto lens, while the front has a 32MP selfie shooter.

Unfortunately, this is all the information that was shared as of right now. Following the Chinese launch, it isn’t surprising that the company would be planning on launching its latest flagship in India, which is one of its key markets as well as Europe soon. Although take this report with a pinch of salt and stay tuned for more updates.

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Aqara Smart Door Lock A100 Pro launched with Apple Home Key support

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Jan 17, 2022

Aqara just launched the Smart Door Lock A100 Pro and it’s actually the very first smart lock in China with support for Apple Home Key. This means that it can be unlocked using an iPhone without the need for touching it to the surface of the door.

The Aqara Smart Door Lock A100 Pro supports 7 unlocking methods including fingerprint, password, Bluetooth, NFC, emergency key, time-based passcode, and HomeKit. The fingerprint sensor is a financial-grade one with recognition rates reaching 98.6%. There is also a C-level lock cylinder, meaning you won’t have to worry about housebreaks.

In order to further improve security, the A100 Pro also features an electromagnetic protection design and a door lock anti-lock knob inside. Its main chip has been positioned such that it can’t be damaged from the front end.

Using the A100 Pro through an Apple device is simple enough—all you need to do is add the device to the “Family” app following which a card for it will be generated in the Apple Wallet app. After this, the door lock can be unlocked simply when the iPhone or Apple Watch is put in its proximity.

Do keep in mind here that there are a few requirements to be able to use the Home Key function on the A100 Pro: iPhone XS or newer model updated to iOS 15 or later; Apple Watch Series 4 or newer updated to watchOS 8 or later.

The Aqara A100 Pro is powered by 8x AA batteries and has a battery life of up to 540 days. The Smart Door Lock also supports access to the smart home platform, links to lights, curtains, etc., and automatically turns off selected electrical appliances when the door is shut. It is priced at 2,299 yuan and is currently on sale.

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ColorOS 12 beta program kickstarts for OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, 8T

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 17, 2022

As scheduled, OnePlus has finally started recruiting ColorOS 12 (Android 12) beta testers for OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and OnePlus 8T in China. The registrations were supposed to go live today. However, the program kickstarted yesterday evening itself.

Oneplus 8 Pro All Colors Featured — OnePlus 8 Pro

According to official announcement posts on OnePlus Community China, the first batch of registrations has already closed today at 3 PM (local time). The brand has not revealed when it will be recruiting more testers.

Unlike regular ColorOS beta registration, the one for the older OnePlus devices is different as they run HydrogenOS. Applicants have to fill a special questionnaire instead of going to the update section on their phones.

OnePlus says that the applications will be reviewed within 5 working days. Also, participants who get selected will receive the Android 12-based ColorOS 12 beta update via OTA within 3 working days from the selection result.

The company has also listed some of the issues persisting in this update. The brand states that ‘Face Unlock’ may fail, using non-original chargers may result in intermittent charging, the calendar widget is elongated, and the fast wireless charging icon is not displayed on the OnePlus 8 Pro.

There could be also several other bugs but it is up to testers to find and report them. Pete Lau had already talked about difficulties in migrating from HydrogenOS to ColorOS. So don’t expect a smooth ride, even for international variants, which will be updated to OxygenOS 12 based on the merged codebase of ColorOS and OxygenOS.

Rockchip flagship RK3588 AIoT chip powered products to launch soon

By

Sean

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Jan 17, 2022

Earlier this month, Rockchip announced that new products that feature its latest flagship RK3588 series AIoT chipset are set to launch soon and are about to enter mass production as well.

The company had announced the new RK3588 series chipset back in 2020, which is a flagship grade processor for AIoT products. Notably, Rockchip has released this new chip that will be featured in 8 different fields of applications. Furthermore, the exhibition area for the chipset, showcased the RK3588 in around 200 terminal products that also feature other Rockchip solutions like security, education, office, smart home, even industrial applications, and more. The company is also joining hands with 21 other partner brands as well, which include some industry veterans and other big names.

For those unaware, Rockchip is a known Chinese fabless semiconductor based company. It has been selling its SoC for tablets, PCs, IoT based products, and more. Additionally, the new RK3588 succeeds the RK3399Pro as the flagship SoC and is also based on the ARM architecture. Although, the chipmaker also added that the semiconductor industry is still facing material shortages, which will affect the overall production capacity as well. On the other hand, the company has also announced that some of its new chips will also take on the popular Metaverse concept, with some of its products being made for VR.

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Alleged false battery life claims on Powerbeats Pro land Apple in a bit of legal trouble

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Jan 17, 2022

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple for allegedly overpromising the battery life on the Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro. According to the plaintiff—New York resident Alejandro Vivar—the earbuds don’t last for 9 hours as marketed by Apple.

The lawsuit alleges that part of the problem is the supposed badly-designed charging case, from which the earbuds can be dislodged mid-charge, preventing them from getting filled up (via Law360, Apple Insider).

Also suggested was that the “IPX4-rated sweat and water resistance” isn’t up to the mark as sweat corrodes the charging contacts. This is worsened by the fact that damage through sweat isn’t covered by warranty.

Vivar insists he used Apple’s marketing claims to mean the battery “would last for the time promised, that both earbuds would charge and maintain their charges equally, not be affected by perspiration, and that the charge capability would not be negatively impacted by design or manufacture of the product.”

Apple is also implied to have gained more profits at the “expense of consumers” because it chose not to spill problems with the Powerbeats Pro.

The lawsuit aims to represent a class of purchasers from multiple states including New York, Georgia, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Virginia.

It is worth mentioning here that this is not the first time Apple has been sued over the Powerbeats. Previously, there was a suit related to issues with the Powerbeats 2 and Powerbeats 3 that was dismissed in 2020.

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Google foldable smartphone could be called Pixel Notepad; pricing details tipped

By

Jeet

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Jan 17, 2022

Google has been working on a foldable smartphone for quite some time now and there have been a few leaks related to this upcoming device from the technology giant, which has so far been referred to as Google Pixel Fold.

Now, a new report coming from 9to5Google claims that the first foldable smartphone from Google won’t be called Pixel Fold but will be named as Google Pixel Notepad. Further, the phone’s pricing details have also been tipped.

A source aware of the development said to 9to5Google that the Google Pixel Notepad is the working name for the foldable smartphone. It is also said that the company considered Google Pixel Longbook but ultimately went ahead with the Notepad.

Do note that there’s a possibility that the name of the smartphone could get changed by the time it’s ready for the commercial launch. Google usually has a number in the name of its smartphones but given that the foldable form factor is an experiment from the brand and a totally different offering from its usual ones, it could be named without a number.

The development about the phone’s name is Google Pixel Notepad comes just days after it was revealed through the animations in the Android 12L build that the smartphone will be similar to the OPPO Find N in terms of form factor and not like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series phones because of the wider screen when unfolded.

Based on the leaks so far, the Google Pixel Notepad will come powered by the company’s own Tensor (GS101) chipset, coupled with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. It is said to have a downgraded camera setup compared to the Pixel 6 lineup.

As for the pricing, the report claims that the Google Pixel Notepad would cost less than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 which is priced at $1,799. This is quite interesting, especially for a first-generation foldable smartphone.

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TECNO POP 5 Pro India launch teased officially

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 17, 2022

Tecno has confirmed to launch a new smartphone in India this week. A device called TECNO POVA Neo will make its way to the country on January 20. Ahead of that, the brand is teasing the release of yet another handset in the region.

According to the official Twitter handle of Tecno India, the company will launch the TECNO POP 5 Pro in the country very soon. The short video teasers shared by the brand confirm that the phone will arrive with an 8MP dual camera setup and a 6,000mAh battery.

The teasers also reveal the smartphone’s design. It will be featuring a dewdrop notch and a noticeable big chin on the front. Whereas, the rear of the device will house a vertically-aligned camera module.

According to PassionateGeekz (via MySmartPrice), the Tecno Pop 5 Pro will come with a 6.52-inch HD+ display (LCD), MediaTek Helio A22 SoC, 2GB RAM, and 32GB storage. Unfortunately, we don’t have further information on the handset, including its launch date.

The upcoming TECNO POP 5 Pro will be the second POP series smartphone in India after TECNO POP 5 LTE, which made its debut in the region last week. We expect to see more devices in the lineup in the coming months.

Realme ships over 40 million number series of smartphones

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 17, 2022

Realme has confirmed that it has shipped over 40 million number series of smartphones. The announcement has come ahead of the launch event of the Realme 9i, which will be held tomorrow (Jan. 18) in India.

Realme CEO for India, Realme VP, and President for Realme International Business Group, Madhav Sheth said, ‘The realme number series is one of the key series in our smartphone portfolio, and we are exhilarated about this new milestone of crossing 40 million shipments. Our number series is aimed at young users across the world, and we have successfully brought in numerous tech innovations that have been well received by our users. We have some exciting plans to expand on our number series this year and bring in more disruptions in the industry.’

Earlier this month, the company claimed that its sales exceeded 60 million units in 2020, which allowed it to rank in the top 5 smartphone brands in 21 countries. The year-on-year sale increased by 50 percent last year. As far as this year is concerned, it aims to achieve sales of 90 million units this year.

Realme has been one of the fastest-growing smartphone brands in multiple markets. According to a recent market survey by Counterpoint Research, Realme is ranking 6^th in global 5G Android smartphone sales.

Talking about the number series, the Realme 9i has recently launched as the first number series phone in Vietnam. It will be launching in India tomorrow. The company is also speculated to be working on the Realme 9 Pro and 9 Pro+, which is speculated to launch in February this year.

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Motorola may be the first to launch phone with new Snapdragon 8 series SoC again

By

Sean

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Jan 17, 2022

Back in December 2021, Motorola became the first smartphone brand to launch a flagship device that featured Qualcomm’s latest and greatest mobile processor. Now, a new report suggests that the company will also be the first to feature another upcoming high end Qualcomm chip later this year as well.

The news arrives from known tipster @数码闲聊站 on Weibo (a Chinese microblogging website). In the social media post, the tipster stated that the Lenovo owned brand could be the first to launch a smartphone powered by a new Snapdragon 8 series flagship processor, which has a model number of SM8475. He further added that this chipset will be mass produced sometime in the third quarter of this year. This device in question might be the Motorola Frontier that we had recently reported on, which is rumored to feature a 200 megapixel primary camera and a new Snapdragon flagship chipset.

Digital Chat Station also claimed that the SM8475 SoC has not hit commercial stages of production, so it is still uncertain regarding which brand will be the first to launch a smartphone that features this processor. Although, Motorola globally launching the Frontier model isn’t unlikely. For those unaware, Qualcomm has been reportedly working on a new Snapdragon 8 series chipset. This variant will be a slightly upgraded successor to the existing Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and will be manufactured by TSMC on its 4nm process.

We had previously reported on the chipmaker shifting some of its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 production from Samsung to TSMC. This shift arrived since Samsung‘s yields have been insufficient for Qualcomm’s demands for the processor. As mass production stages of the new Snapdragon 8 series chip begins in the third quarter, we can expect a new flagship Motorola smartphone to launch in the second half of 2022.

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Redmi K50 Pro to feature Sony IMX766 sensor, the same sensor found on the Xiaomi 12

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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Jan 17, 2022

As we inch closer to February, Xiaomi is about to lift the curtains of its Redmi K50 series. The rumour mill has started to spin faster as more specs of the Redmi K50 lineup are leaked in China.

Redmi-k50-imx766-weibo — Redmi K50 Pro to use IMX766 sensor Source: Panda is Bald Weibo

One leak comes from the popular Chinese leakster, Panda is Bald. The leakster recently took to Weibo to leak and share his excitement on the upcoming Redmi K50 series using the Sony IMX766 imaging sensor as the flagship’s main camera sensor. The Sony IMX766 is the same sensor featured on many well-known flagships such as the Xiaomi 12, Realme GT 2 Pro and Oppo Find X3 Pro.

However, the Weibo post does not specify which Redmi K50 model is getting the sensor, but previous leaks indicate that the sensor will be featured on either the Redmi K50 Pro, the Redmi K50 Pro Plus, or both.

As per previous leaks, the Redmi K50 Pro is also rumored to feature a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 4700mAh battery, and 120W charging.

In addition, a few days ago, leaked renders and the casing of the Redmi K50 Pro had surfaced online. The leaked render of the Redmi K50 Pro reveals that the smartphone will come with a single punch-hole cutout in the top-center position and the display will have rounded corners, similar to the phone’s body.

On the back, the device will have a camera module placed in the top-left corner. The black-colored square section will hold the three camera sensors in a triangular format, and a silver-colored rectangular section will house the LED flash.

As for case renders, we have exclusive images of the transparent silicone case for the Redmi K50 Pro smartphone which, as mentioned above, is in line with the leaked render. This pretty much confirms this to be the phone’s final design.

Xiaomi also has officially confirmed that it will debut the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 on one of its Redmi K50 series models. The Dimensity 9000 is MediaTek’s flagship SoC for 2022, and it is built on TSMC’s industry-leading 4nm process. From Geekbench 5 scores, the Dimensity 9000 is on par and can outperform the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in many demanding scenarios.

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OPPO Find X5 Pro live shots emerge, key specifications revealed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 17, 2022

OPPO Find X5 Pro is expected to go official by March in global markets. Other models such as the Find X5 and Find X5 Lite are also likely to go official with the Pro model. A new leak that has surfaced on Coolapk (via) has the live shots of the Find X5 Pro. The leak has also revealed the key specifications of the device.

OPPO Find X5 Pro live shots

The images that have surfaced on the Chinese site showcases the front and rear sides of the device. However, the images do not show the top and bottom areas of the phone. The CPH2305 model number mentioned on the device suggests the images belong to its global variant. This model number has been previously spotted at the Indonesian telecom certification and TKDN in December 2021.

As far as the design, the Find X5 Pro has a curved edge display on the front, which seemingly features a punch-hole at the top-centre position. The rear side of the device has an irregular-shaped camera module with “powered by MariSilicion” text inside it. The right corner of the phone’s back has the OPPO and Hasselblad branding.

Last year, OnePlus teamed up with Hasselblad to provide optimized photography experience on the OnePlus 9 series. OnePlus was merged with OPPO by mid-2021. Hence, it appears that forthcoming OPPO flagships may also carry Hasselblad branding.

OPPO Find X5 Pro specifications (rumored)

The leak reveals that the OPPO Find X5 Pro has an AMOLED LTPO 2.0 display that offers a 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 front-facing camera. Its rear-facing camera setup has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary camera with OIS support. It is coupled with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 secondary lens and a 13-megapixel Samsung S5K3M5 tertiary camera.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and a 5,000mAh battery are present under the hood of the Find X5 Pro. It carries support for 80W fast charging and 50W wireless charging. The device will ship with 12 GB of RAM, 3 GB of virtual RAM, 256 GB of built-in storage, and ColorOS 12.1.

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Vivo X80 series specifications leaked online; could soon get launched

By

Jeet

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Jan 17, 2022

A few months ago, Vivo officially launched the Vivo X70 series smartphones globally and now it seems that the China-based manufacturer is ready with its successor devices, dubbed as the Vivo X80 series.

Just about four months after the global launch of Vivo’s X70 series phones, its successor, the Vivo X80 lineup is set to launch. Ahead of the launch, some key features and specifications of the devices have leaked.

VIVO X70 Pro Plus 5G — Vivo X70 Pro Plus

The company is expected to launch three models in the lineup — Vivo X80, X80 Pro, and X80 Pro+. All three smartphones will feature an AMOLED display and the screen will have 120Hz refresh rate support.

The X80 will come with a 6.56-inch LTPO display with Full HD+ screen resolution while the X80 Pro and Pro+ models will have a 6.78-inch LTPO display with Full HD+ and Quad HD+ screen resolutions, respectively.

It is being claimed that the Vivo X80 will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8000 SoC while the X80 Pro will pack MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor. On the other hand, the X80 Pro+ will come powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, the same processor that’s powering most of the flagship smartphones.

As for the memory configuration, the X80 will have LPDDR4X RAM while the Pro models will have up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM. In terms of storage, all three models are expected to come packed with UFS 3.1 internal storage.

Coming to the camera configuration, the standard model will have a triple-camera setup that includes a 50MP Samsung GN5 sensor, a 13MP secondary sensor, and a 12MP Sony IMX663 sensor with 2X optical zoom.

The Vivo X80 Pro is expected to come with a quad-camera setup of a 50MP primary sensor, a 50 MP Samsung JN1 sensor, a 12MP Sony IMX663 lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 50MP sensor with 5x optical zoom support.

On the other hand, the Pro+ model will have a 50MP primary lens, a 49MP Sony IMX598 sensor, a 50MP sensor with 2x optical zoom, and another 50MP lens with 5x optical zoom. The X80 and X80 Pro are said to have a 44MP snapper on the front side for taking selfies and video calling while the X80 Pro+ will pack a 50MP sensor.

All three smartphones will come pre-installed with the Android 12 operating system and will likely run the latest OriginOS Ocean on top. The X80 will have 55W fast charging support while the Pro models will have support for 66W fast charging and 50W wireless charging.

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Realme Buds Air 3 design and key features leak ahead of launch

By

Jeet

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Jan 17, 2022

It’s been about a year since Realme launched its Realme Buds Air 2 true wireless earphones in the market. Now, the company seems to be all set to launch a successor in the Indian market.

According to the latest report, the Realme Buds Air 3 could get launched in India very soon but the exact launch date is not confirmed. Along with this, some of the key features and specifications of the upcoming TWS earbuds have leaked online.

Realme Buds Air 3 Leak (Image: MySmartPrice)

In terms of design, they will have an in-ear design similar to the Buds Air 2. For the Active Noise Cancellation feature, the earbuds will have a triple-microphone array, which will also support Transparency Mode. The size of the charging case for the earbuds also seems to have been significantly reduced.

It is also claimed that the users will have to go through app-based testing which will generate a customized user experience. The users will also be able to further customize the overall experience as per their preferences.

There will also be a Dual Device Connection, which as the name itself indicates, allows users to connect the product to two different devices simultaneously and allow users to switch between those devices with just a simple tap.

Along with the Low-Latency Game Mode, the Realme Buds Air 3 will also come with support for the Bass Boost+ mode. It will also have in-ear detection which can pause the audio playback when the earbuds are taken out or not worn by the user.

It is going to offer around 30 hours of usage with the charging case and the Active Noise Cancellation feature turned off. There will be a USB Type-C port for charging the project.

While the exact launch date of the Realme Buds Air 3 is not yet revealed, the device is expected to get launched in the Indian market pretty soon, maybe in the coming weeks. As for the pricing, it is likely to be priced under ₹4,000 (~$54).

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Huawei 9um Smart Positioning Children’s Schoolbag features an LCD display, IP67, GPS

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 17, 2022

Huawei has ubnveiled a new school bag for children that it would soon be launching. The product dubbed Huawei 9µm Smart Positioning Children’s Schoolbag will be launched in no distant time. This is no ordinary bag as it presents with some exceptional features that you may likely not find in any other bag.

The Huawei 9um Smart Positioning Children’s Schoolbag comes with support for smart positioning function which ensures parents can keep track of their kid’s location even in situations where they are not allowed to bring smartphones and GPS-packing smartwatches to school. The comes with Beidou and GPS with an outdoor accuracy of up to 5CEP.

The schoolbag also comes with support for app control and HarmonyOS Connect. After the schoolbag is successfully connected to the “Smart Life” app on the mobile phone, three guard areas can be set: home/school/other. Parents can receive a message alert when the child’s backpack enters and exits the set area, such as when the child enters the school.

At the same time, parents can check the location of their children’s schoolbags on their mobile phones. The high-frequency mode will check in at a fixed point every 2 minutes to know the child’s location information in real-time, and the historical track can be retained for up to three months.

In terms of ergonomics, the 9um Smart Positioning Children’s Schoolbag has a five-dimensional load-reducing design. There is also a U-shaped shoulder strap design that makes the shoulder strap of the schoolbag fit the child’s shoulder and neck more. The bag is breathable and cushioned, making it more comfortable to carry.

In addition, the structural design of the horizontal schoolbag is about 6-7 cm shorter than the height of the general schoolbag. The strap design will ensure that the bottom of the schoolbag can not be dragged below the waist to avoid damage to the waist due to force. Thus, it is more suitable for children under 135cm.

Perhaps, the most outstanding feature onboard the new bag is the 1.54-inch IP67 dustproof and waterproof fun screen display which can set class schedules, electronic signatures, theme clocks, etc. Parents can all the class schedules from the mobile app. The schedule for the next day can also be automatically updated every day. This will make it easy for the child or parent to select the books the child will be needing the following day.

Although the product won’t be available soon, Huawei is currently recruiting public testers on Vmall who will get the chance to snap up the smart schoolbag for just 699 yuan (~$110). Of course, when it goes on sale, the price will be way higher but there is no word yet on when it will be launched.

RELATED:

Samsung could increase Galaxy S22 series pricing due to global chip shortage

By

Jeet

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Jan 17, 2022

In a few weeks, Samsung is expected to launch its next-generation Galaxy S-series flagship smartphones. Ahead of the official launch expected on 8th February, several details about the Galaxy S22 series have leaked online.

Now, the latest report coming from Korea hints about the increasing price for the lineup. It claims that because of the global shortage of chipsets, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 series phones could see a price hike.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Render Leak via Evan Blass

The pricing of several important components for smartphones has increased by 30-40 percent while pricing for the power management chips and image sensor chips has increased by 10-15 percent.

The report hints that the Samsung Galaxy S22 could carry a starting price of $899, which is about $100 more compared to its predecessor. However, some reports also indicate that the company will stick to the same pricing as the Galaxy S21 series because of the increasing competition from Apple and Chinese brands.

Samsung will be launching three smartphones — Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra. The phones will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset or the company’s own Exynos 2200 processor, depending on the region of availability.

The standard Galaxy S22 is expected to be a compact flagship from the South Korean giant, offering a 6.06-inch display that will have a peak brightness of 1000nits. On the other hand, the S22 Plus and Ultra models will have the highest brightness on phones, offering 1750nits brightness and contrast ratios of 3,000,000:1.

The Galaxy S22 Plus will reportedly have a 6.55-inch display while the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s display measures 6.81-inches. The Ultra model will come with a slot for holding an S-Pen stylus. For charging, the phones are said to come with a new 45W fast charging support.

RELATED:

Nubia New Sound C1 TWS Earbuds arrive with Bluetooth 5.3, up to 32 hours battery life

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 16, 2022

Nubia’s RedMagic gaming headsets are quite popular but the company also has a non-gaming lineup of accessories. The company has now unveiled the Nubia New Sound C1 Truly Wireless earbuds in China with a semi-in-ear design and price tag of 158 yuan (~$25).

The new Nubia New Sound C1 TWS Earbuds supports the latest Bluetooth 5.3 protocol, which is more energy-efficient and has a wider range. The earbud also supports a two-way communication rate that is 50% higher latency than that of Bluetooth 5.0. In addition, you can manually switch to low-latency mode when playing games, with latency as low as 60ms.

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The new Nubia TWS earbuds equally feature a battery life of up to 8 hours. The carrying case crams a 400mAh charging compartment which can provide an additional 32 hours of battery life. The product equally supports IPX4 waterproof and dustproof making them suitable for use during workouts.

The Nubia TWS earbuds will officially go on sale at 10:00 am on January 18. The headset is available in blue, white, and green colors.

Eleksa launches the affordable CityBug EV with up to 200km range in South Africa

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 16, 2022

Chinese EV maker Eleksa has introduced the CityBug electric vehicle in South Africa. The Eleksa CityBug is the most affordable EV yet to hit the South African market at a price of 230k Rand (($14,945). It is a two-door compact car which can seat four persons and it weighs about 450kg. The CityBug offers some decent features within its compact cabin to justify its price tag.

The Eleksa CityBug has already berthed in Europe, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the world, although it is arriving in Africa for the first time. Eleksa says the CityBug is an ideal urban runabout with minimal charging costs around 15 cents per kilometer.

It has a 9kWh battery and a 4kW electric motor which gives the electric vehicle a range of 100km on a single charge and a top speed of about 60km/h. The CityBug can carry loads up to 300kg, and its range can be doubled to 200km via an upgrade. The range is heavily dependent on the cargo carried by the CityBug.

The Eleksa CityBug could be used as a small delivery vehicle within the city radius. Eleksa is also lining up a couple of electric vehicles for unveiling in due course. This includes a bakkie delivery van and a family compact SUV.

The CityBug offers some standard features like electric windows, an air conditioning system, a digital instrument cluster, and an infotainment hub with an Android operating system. The Eleksa CityBug also provides an integrated navigation system.

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Xiaomi invests more into UWB technology in China, here’s what you need to know

By

Leo Wong De Quan

-

Jan 16, 2022

The Chinese governmental business registration agency, QCC, has recently updated its database in January 2022, and a reporter from ITHome has noticed that Xiaomi recently invested in a small tech startup called Ultraception that focuses on UWB technology.

From the database, it is known that Ultraception was established in 2019, registered under its CEO Dong Zongyu, and the company is currently worth 6.5 million in shares after Xiaomi had purchased shares of the company. From its company description, the company also dabbles in the data server business, the semiconductor business and in the telecommunications business as well.

Ultra-Wide Band technology, also commonly referred to as UWB in the industry, is a radio-based communication technology for short-range use and fast and stable transmission of data. It is set to replace the infrared light sensors found inside of our technology today because UWB technology consumes less energy compared to infrared technology.

Although UWB technology has been with humanity since the early 1990s, it was until the 2020s when the technology was readily available to the general public with the technology incorporated into our smartphones, smart home and trackers. Most notably, the Samsung SmartTag Plus and Apple Airtags were launched in 2021 with UWB technology on board to enable more accurate tracking in a more power-efficient manner, since these devices are not meant to be plugged into a power outlet daily.

Ultraception Company Shareholders List QCC — Ultraception Company Shareholders List Source: QCC

As for details of how Xiaomi may use this UWB technology for its products in the future, Xiaomi demonstrated that it will use UWB technology for controlling its smart home devices. With help from software calculation algorithms, Xiaomi had achieved centimeter-level positioning and ±3° angle measurement accuracy using UWB technology.

Xiaomi says that this Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology gives smartphone and smart devices spatial perception capabilities, similar to something like Indoor GPS. With this technology, the user can just point the smartphone to any device and a control card for the same will automatically pop up on the screen.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 featured- — Xiaomi MIX 4 has UWB technology

As of now, only the Xiaomi Mix 4 supports the UWB technology but hopefully, with the latest update on Xiaomi investing more into UWB technology, we hope Xiaomi brings this technology to more of its devices in the future.

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