Xiaomi 11T Pro indian price tipped, will undercut OnePlus 9RT with offers

By

-

Jan 17, 2022

Xiaomi recently announced that they will be launching the Xiaomi 11T Pro on January 19th in the Indian market. The handset is expected to go head to head with other affordable flagships like the OnePlus 9RT and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Now, a new leak by noted tipster Yogesh Brar has revealed the pricing of the upcoming Xiaomi 11T Pro.

The tipster has shared an image of the Xiaomi 11T Pro 12GB + 256 GB variant packaging box, which reveals a box price of ₹54,999 ($740). He stated that the actual cost of the device will be similar to the OnePlus 9RT, which was released last week, and will undercut it with offers.

Here's the box price for Xiaomi 11T Pro 12/256GB model ₹54,999

Actual pricing will be very similar to OnePlus 9RT and will undercut it with the offers.

Interesting time for budget flagship buyers.

RTs appreciated!! pic.twitter.com/s6w85Gr2zo

— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) January 17, 2022

Going by this information, we can expect the Xiaomi 11T Pro 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant to be priced around ₹43,000 ($580). Accordingly, the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant can be expected around ₹47,000 ($634).

Additionally, the image also reveals that the Xiaomi 11T Pro box includes the mobile phone unit, charger & USB-C cable, SIM ejector tool, a protective case, a Type-C to 3.5 mm headphone adapter, and the usual paperwork.

Xiaomi 11T Pro specifications

The Xiaomi 11T Pro features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ resolution. The AMOLED panel will offer a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. For security, it is equipped with a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The device is expected to arrive in variants such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. It features the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform and a 5,000mAh battery, which carries support for 120W HyperCharge fast charging. The SoC is coupled with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

For selfies, the 11T Pro is fitted with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera setup of the device has a 108-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 5-megapixel telemacro camera. The 11T Pro is also expected to arrive with Harmon Kardon branded dual stereo speakers.

Xiaomi will officially release the 11T Pro on January 19th at 12 PM IST and it will go on sale later that day at 2 PM IST.

RELATED:

Ptron FORCE X11 smartwatch launched with premium design for Rs 2,799

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Jan 17, 2022

Ptron has launched a new budget smartwatch called the Ptron FORCE X11 with a price tag that reads Rs 2,799. It will be competing against the likes of BoAt and others in the crowded sub-Rs 5,000 space.

The smartwatch features a large 1.7-inch touch-enabled color display with a 240×280 resolution. 2.5D curved glass paired with an alloy frame give a premium feel. There’s even a built-in microphone and support for Bluetooth calling, meaning you will be able to make and receive calls from the watch itself.

Also present is an Apple Watch-style side-mounted crown using which you can navigate the watch interface. Multiple watch faces mean you can customize the default look of the watch to your heart’s content.

In terms of health-related features, you get an Sp02 sensor, BP monitor, sleep monitor, heart rate monitor, and support for 7 sport modes. The battery of the watch should last for about 7 days.

Lastly, the Ptron FORCE X11 is protected against water and dust through an IP68 rating. It comes in Black and Pink color options and is available for purchase through Amazon already.

RELATED:

Safari bug lets nefarious sites scoop your browsing history and Google account info

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Jan 17, 2022

A bug in Safari found by security company FingerprintJS (via 9to5Mac) can let any website track your browsing history and even some information pertaining to the logged-in Google account.

It is present in Safari’s IndexedDB implementation on Mac and iOS and lets websites see names of databases for any domain and not just its own. IndexedDB is a Javascript API that according to the report holds “a significant amount of data.”

These database names can then be used to extract identifying information from a lookup table. Google services, for example, store an IndexedDB instance for each of your logged-in accounts. This can be accessed by malicious sites to unearth other information about you, such as your Google account profile picture.

While the proof-of-concept demo by FingerprintJS only keeps an index of about 30 sites, there’s quite a chance of the exploit being applied to a much larger set. Almost every site that uses the IndexedDB JavaScript API could be vulnerable to such data scraping.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done from the user’s end to fix the Safari bug other than blocking Javascript completely on untrusted sites, which isn’t too feasible as doing so will likely be breaking stuff on web pages.

The only proper fix can obviously be applied by Apple alone. Browsers like Chrome only let websites access databases on IndexedDB created by the same domain name as their own, and it’s time Apple heads the same way with Safari.

FingerprintJS says that it has already reported the bug to Apple on November 28 but a fix still remains to be seen.

RELATED:

Sony PlayStation 5 may soon be able to run older PlayStation 3 games

By

Sean

-

Jan 17, 2022

Recently, there have been PlayStation 3 games that have surfaced on the PlayStation 5‘s store. This has raised rumors of Sony possibly planning on rolling out backwards compatibility for older games for the current gen consoles.

According to a VideoGamesChronicles report, certain PS3 games have been spotted on the PS5’s store. Usually, searching up PlayStation 3 games on the PlayStation’s 5 store would direct users to their listings towards the PlayStation Now. However, looking up Dead or Alive 5 brings users to a 7.99 Pound listing. Similarly, users have taken to social media after spotting other similar listings.

This includes the PS3’s Bejeweled and Prince of Persia series’ The Forgotten Sands and The Two Thrones. All of these games are listed with their respective price tag. However, users are not able to purchase these PS3 titles from the PS5 store at the moment. In other words, there is still a possibility that the listings might be an error. But, Dead or Alive 5 for PS3 isn’t available on PlayStation Now in Europe.

Notably, the listings also arrive after a Sony patent had recently surfaced which is titled “backward compatibility through the use of spoof clock and fine grain frequency control.” This means that the Japanese tech giant is basically working on a solution to allow users to play older games on the latest PS5 game console. Keep in mind that this is still just an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt for now.

RELATED:

Xiaomi 11T Pro (Indian) roundup: Specs, Price, Colors & More – What to Expect!

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jan 17, 2022

Xiaomi recently announced that they would be releasing the Xiaomi 11T Pro in the Indian market on January 19th. The device will compete against affordable flagships like the OnePlus 9RT and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G that have recently gone official in India. So let’s take a look at what we can expect from the upcoming Xiaomi device.

Launch Date

The Xiaomi 11T Pro is set to launch in India on January 19th, 2022. The event will kickstart at 12 PM IST. Shortly after the event, the device will be available for purchase at 2 PM IST.

Xiaomi 11T Pro Design

The design of the Xiaomi 11T Pro is inspired by vintage film camcorders. This can be seen from the placement of the triple rear camera array on the back.

Similar to the European variant released back in September 2021, the phone is expected to feature a plastic frame and a glass back with an anti-glare finish. On the front, it sports a punch-hole display with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

The volume rockers and power key with embedded fingerprint sensor reside on the right side of the device. The device is expected to come with an IP53-rating, measuring 164.1mm x 76.9mm x 8.8mm in dimensions and weighing 204g.

The Xiaomi 11T Pro will likely come in three colors, such as Meteorite Gray, Moonlight White, and Celestial Blue.

Display

The Xiaomi 11T Pro flaunts a 6.67-inch flat AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), over 1 billion colors, 120Hz AdaptiveSync refresh rate, and 480Hz touch sampling.

This DisplayMate A+ rated panel has a 20:9 aspect ratio, 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1000 nits peak brightness. The screen supports HDR10+, Dolby Vision, TrueColor, Sunlight Mode 3.0, and Reading Mode 3.0.

Camera

The Xiaomi 11T Pro will come with a triple camera setup on the rear consisting of a 108MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide unit (120° FOV), and a 5MP telemacro shooter with autofocus. Whereas for selfies and video calls, it will use a 16MP snapper.

The primary camera will likely support video recording in 8K 30 fps, 4K 60fps, and HDR10+ while the front camera is expected to offer up to 1080p 60fps.

Performance

The Xiaomi 11T Pro will house a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset coupled with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The thermals on the device are controlled by a liquid cooling system. The device will feature a 5,000mAh battery with 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge support, which is capable of charging the handset from 2% to 100% in just 17 minutes.

The smartphones will run MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition based on Android 11 which allows users to uninstall most of the system apps. The device is also rumored to be the first Xiaomi smartphone to get the Android 12 based MIUI 13 update in India.

On the connectivity front, the 11T pro will support 5G, dual SIM, dual-band WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GNSS (GPS, A-GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BeiDou), and USB Type-C. It has all the essential sensors like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, 360° ambient light sensor, gyroscope, compass, and IR blaster, and even a barometer and a color temperature sensor.

The Xiaomi 11T Pro will have an X-axis linear vibration motor, Hi-Res Audio certification, and dedicated dual stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos. Additionally, the speakers on the 11T Pro will be tuned by Harmon Kardon.

Xiaomi 11T Pro price in India (expected)

The Xiaomi 11T Pro is likely to be priced around Rs 40,000 (~$537) in India. The device has already been listed on Amazon India and is expected to arrive in variants such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage.

RELATED:

Galaxy A52 5G also gets Android 12 update after Galaxy A52, A52s 5G

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jan 17, 2022

Samsung started rolling out the Android 12-based One UI 4.0 update for its mid-range Galaxy A series a few days back starting with Galaxy A72. The update was later made available for Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52s 5G, and Galaxy A42 5G. Now, the latest version of One UI is also live for Galaxy A52 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A52 Awesome Violet Featured — Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

According to SamMobile, Samsung has started pushing One UI 4.0 stable update for Galaxy A52 5G. The new system update for the handset is currently live in Europe.

It arrives with firmware version A526BXXU1BUL7. Apart from bringing Android 12, the update also bumps up the security patch level to January 2022.

Like any other OTA software update, this one is also being pushed in batches. In simpler words, some users will receive it earlier, while others may have to wait longer. Anyway, every unit should get access to the release in all the regions in the coming days.

The Galaxy A52 5G and its siblings (Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52s 5G) are eligible for three generations of Android updates and at least four years of security updates. Hence, these smartphones will be not only receiving Android 13 but also Android 14.

Though these phones will be getting longer software support, that does not mean they will not get an upgrade in terms of hardware. Samsung is expected to release their successor called Galaxy A53 very soon.

Apple iPad Air 5 may launch later this year, with A15 chip & Center Stage selfie tech

By

Sean

-

Jan 17, 2022

A new report has suggested that Apple might be planning on launching the new iPad Air 5 later this year. The tablet will feature the latest A15 Bionic chipset and will even feature an enhanced selfie camera with Center Stage technology.

According to Mac Otakara’s sources (Via NotebookCheck), the Cupertino based giant is gearing up for an iPad Air 5 launch later this year. While its chipset and other features are in line with current gen standards, its display and design will reportedly remain the same as the 2020 iPad Air. Furthermore, this information is also similar to earlier reports that hinted at Apple hosting a virtual event sometime between March and April 2022.

During this conference, the brand is expected to announce its latest lineup of products, which would likely include the highly anticipated iPhone SE 3, which unlike the iPad Air, is expected to arrive with a major overhaul. The model is now expected to feature a notched LCD screen, similar to the one found on the iPhone XR.

On the other hand, the iPad Air 5 won’t feature any notable changes in design. However, the addition of the A15 Bionic chipset means that the upcoming mid range iPad will feature 5G support. In other words, it might be a worthy upgrade for those looking for an iPad upgrade. With the current gen iPad Air models retailing for around 600 US Dollars, we can expect the new iPad Air 5 to also arrive with a similar price tag as well.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE gets January security patch as its first-ever update

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Jan 17, 2022

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE was finally announced earlier this month at CES 2022 after months of delays, defying various rumors of its cancelation. As customary for Samsung, the device quickly received the January security patch not long after in some Asian markets. And now, it has begun to get the same in the US too, as its very first update.

The update is for the unlocked variant of the Galaxy S21 FE and carries firmware version G990U1UEU2BUL8 (via SamMobile). It doesn’t bring anything new to the table other than the January security patch, but that’s unsurprising considering the device already runs the latest from Samsung out of the box—One UI 4 based on Android 12.

Among the various vulnerabilities and security holes patched by the January patch is the bug that allowed Microsoft Teams to break emergency calling. It also fixes a loophole in Android 12 that allowed third-party applications with shell access to change the colors and dimensions of certain system elements.

The update is rolling out to almost all carrier networks including AT&T, Bluegrass Cellular, Comcast, C-Spire, Tracfone, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Xfinity Mobile.

It is one of the dozens that the device will be getting, thanks to the promised three years of Android OS upgrades and four years of security patch updates.

If you reside in the US and wish to update your Galaxy S21 FE to the latest build, then you can do so by heading over to Settings > Software update and tapping on “Download and install” if anything shows up.

RELATED:

Xiaomi may launch a clamshell folding phone, with an aggressive price tag

By

Sean

-

Jan 17, 2022

Earlier today (17th January 2022), a known tipster on Weibo (a Chinese microblogging website) revealed interesting information regarding the next generation of foldable smartphone from Xiaomi. Apparently, the company has already started work on this device, which will feature a clamshell folding design.

Back in 2021, the Chinese tech giant had released its first ever foldable handset, which was the MIX Fold. It featured a vertical hinge, which meant that it folded horizontally similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3. Furthermore, it launched with a price tag of 9,999 Yuan (roughly 1,575 US Dollars), which almost as expensive as its Samsung counterpart. Although, the device was still one of the more affordable foldable devices in the market.

Now, known tipster Digital Chat Station has revealed that the company is working on a new foldable phone, which features a vertically folding horizontal display. However, its most notable aspect would be its price, as the tipster claims that the company might launch it closer to a mainstream flagship price. This would be a big deal considering, the cheapest foldable phone still costs over 1,000 US Dollars. We had previously even reported on a Xiaomi patent that showcased such a vertically folding phone.

In the social media post, the tipster also revealed one key details regarding the upcoming Xiaomi foldable phone. Reportedly, this device will feature a FHD+ resolution and 120Hz high refresh rate. Under the hood, the phone will apparently houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen series processor. Keep in mind that this is still just an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt for now and stay tuned for more updates.

RELATED:

Vivo Y55 launched with Dimensity 700, 500MP triple cameras, and 5,000mAh battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 17, 2022

Vivo Y55 has gone official silently in Taiwan. It is a new variant of the Vivo Y55 5G, which debuted recently as Vivo’s largest battery smartphone in China. The newly unveiled Y55 resembles a lot with its Y55s sibling in terms of design and specs. Here is all the information on the specifications, features, and pricing of the Vivo Y55s 5G.

Vivo Y55s 5G specifications and features

The Vivo Y55s has an IPS LCD panel with a waterdrop notch design. The 6.58-inch display offers an FHD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The power button available on the right edge of the device is integrated with a fingerprint scanner.

For selfies, the Vivo Y55s 5G possesses an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera system of the device has a 50-megapixel primary camera, which is coupled with a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The comes preinstalled with Android 12 OS, which is overlaid with FunTouch OS 12 UI.

Sitting under the hood of the Vivo Y55s 5G is the Dimensity 700 chipset. The handset offers 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. While the Y55 5G featured a 6,000mAh battery, the Y55s has arrived at a smaller 5,000mAh battery. Like the Y55, its ‘s’ variant carries support for 18W charging through USB-C. Apart from the difference in the battery department, the newly unveiled Y55s is identical to the Y55 5G.

Vivo Y55s 5G pricing and availability

In Taiwan, the Vivo Y55s 5G carries a price tag of NTD 7,990 (~$290). As can be seen in the official renders, it comes in black and gradient blue colors. Vivo is yet to confirm the names of the other markets that will be receiving the Y55s 5G.

RELATED:

MIUI 13 update for Mi 11X, Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G should be out soon

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jan 17, 2022

A number of Xiaomi and Redmi devices have started receiving stable MUI 13 update based on Android 12 in China. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for international markets. However, the company is set to release the update in global markets soon as the software builds are being prepared for more handsets.

Xiaomi Mi 11X Lunar White Featured — Xiaomi Mi 11X

A few days back, we reported that MIUI 13 update is ready for the Redmi Note 10 and the Redmi Note 10 Pro. Now, the same source, Xiaomiui, says that the latest version of MIUI is also ready for the Mi 11X and Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G.

For the unaware, Mi 11X and Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G are nothing but Indian variants of Redmi K40 and Mi 11 Lite Vitality Edition. The former has already bagged the Android 12-based MIUI 13 stale update in China. Whereas, the latter is yet to receive the update.

According to Xiaomiui, the first-ever MIUI 13 release for Mi 11X and Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G will arrive with the following build numbers.

Xiaomi Mi 11X

Codename: Alioth
MIUI 13: V13.0.1.0.SKHINXM
Android: Android 12

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G

Codename: Lisa
MIUI 13: V13.0.1.0.SKOINXM
Android: Android 12

The aforementioned software builds will most likely reach ‘Pilot Testers’ initially, followed by ‘Stable Beta’ and ‘Stable’ channels. In simplers, though the update is ready, it will take some time to reach end-users.

OPPO Reno6 Lite launched with Snapdragon 662, 5,000mAh battery, 48MP triple cameras

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 17, 2022

OPPO has silently announced the Reno6 Lite smartphone in Mexico. While the handset has arrived with a Reno6 branding, it is just a rebranded version of the OPPO F19. Here is all the information on the specs, features, and pricing of the Reno6 Lite.

OPPO Reno6 Lite specifications

The Reno6 Lite has a 6.43-inch AMOLED display that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen sports a punch-hole design, and it is integrated with a fingerprint scanner. The handset also carries support for face unlock security feature.

The Snapdragon 662 mid-range chipset that includes Adreno 610 graphics is at the helm of the Reno6 Lite. The device ships with 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. For additional storage, the handset offers users a dedicated microSD card slot. It runs on Android 11 OS, which is overlaid with ColorOS 11 UI.

Coming to the photography department, the Reno6 Lite offers a 16-megapixel camera for capturing selfies and its rear shell has a 48-megapixel triple camera unit. The main camera on the back is assisted by a 2-megapixel depth helper and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

The Reno6 Lite is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that carries support for 33W rapid charging. The handset offers usual connectivity features such as dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

OPPO Reno6 Lite pricing and availability

The Reno6 Lite has arrived with a price tag of MXN 8,799 (~$433) in Mexico. The device comes in two colors such as Glowing Rainbow Silver and Glowing Starry Black. It is unclear which other markets will be receiving the Reno6 Lite.

RELATED:

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

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

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.

RELATED:

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

By

Daily Deals

-

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

-

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.

RELATED:

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

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

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.

RELATED:

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

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

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

-

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.

RELATED:

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

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

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.

RELATED:

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

By

Jeet

-

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.

RELATED: