Samsung sold over 10 million units of Galaxy S20 FE since launch

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Jan 5, 2022

The Galaxy S20 FE was the second ‘Fan Edition’ smartphone from Samsung after the Galaxy Note Fan Edition from 2017. It was introduced in response to the poor sales of the regular Galaxy S series phones in the last few years. Unsurprisingly, the flagship killer from the South Korean tech giant sold very well.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE All Colors — Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

According to Samsung (via 9To5Google), it sold over 10 million units of Galaxy S20 FE since its launch in Q4 2020. Although the company hasn’t revealed it, we think that this number also includes the sales data of 4G variants powered by Exynos 990 and Snapdragon 865 respectively.

Although the sales figure sounds very low when compared to the sales of the iPhone 13 series during the holiday season alone, one needs to understand that Samsung craters to a wide variety of audiences with handsets spread across different price segments. Also, the firm has to compete with other Android OEMs.

If the 10+ million units weren’t good, then Samsun wouldn’t be releasing the Galaxy S21 FE in the first place. In fact, the successor was supposed to launch in August but due to supply chain issues, it has been delayed until now.

What are your thoughts on Samsung’s Fan Edition devices? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Sony aims to foray into EV market, shows off Vision-S 02 SUV prototype at CES 2022

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Jan 5, 2022

Nearly every major player in the tech industry seems intent on branching into the ever-growing electric vehicle market, and the latest entrant has now become Sony, which not only showed off a couple of concept EVs at CES 2022 but also announced a brand new company.

Enter Sony Mobility Inc. that, just like its name implies, is Sony’s driveway into the world of cars for the very first time. A press release shows that the new company will aim to make the best use of AI and robotics technologies in order to explore entry into the EV market.

Multiple videos have also been posted on YouTube featuring the Vision-S 01 and Vision-S 02 EVs, with some showing how integrated with an owner’s lifestyle both can become with their smart features. Others showed off the design of the upcoming EVs — the exteriors with all of their futuristic goodness and the interiors with their intelligent dashboards.

Further, Sony seems to be envisioning driverless cars as the Vision-S EVs come with sensors installed all around the vehicle that recognize and analyze the surrounding environment in real-time. These sensors include high-sensitivity, high-resolution, wide dynamic range CMOS image sensors and LiDAR sensors that accurately sense three-dimensional space.

Additionally, Sony has fitted the EVs with tech from some of its other departments to feed the entertainment needs of their future buyers. There are seat speakers that create a 3D sound field using “360 Reality Audio”, promising a highly immersive music experience.

There is no official word on when the Vision-S electric vehicles will be going commercial but Sony has revealed that it would be establishing Sony Mobility Inc. in the spring of 2022, so there’s that.

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Garmin launches Venu 2 Plus & Vivomove Sport smartwatches in CES 2022

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2022

Garmin has just announced its latest wearable products during the ongoing CES 2022 event. The company has launched new smartwatches, including the Venu 2 Plus and the Vivomove Sport.

Venu 2 Plus

During the event, the American brand unveiled the latest addition to the Venu 2 series, which have finally received two crucial features. This includes the ability to take phone calls and support for voice assistant controls. The Venu 2 Plus sports a 1.3 inch AMOLED display that has a 416 x 416 pixels resolution, Always On mode, and Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 for protection. It is available in a single 43mm case size and arrives with a 20mm replaceable silicone strap.

The new smartwatch also arrives with the usual fitness related features, allowing it to track indoor and outdoor physical activities. It even arrives with an automatic incident detection feature that alerts emergency contacts with the user’s location. Garmin states that the Venu 2 Plus can last for up to 9 days on a single full charge and up to 8 days with GPS and music mode enabled. The smartwatch supports fast charging, which adds a day worth of use in just 10 minutes of charging.

Vivomove Sport

The Vivomove Sport from the company is a hybrid watch, which joins the existing Vivomove series. It adopts a small analog design with a hidden touchscreen display in the bottom half of the case. When the user interacts with the display, the physical hands move away to offer a clear view. Furthermore, this screen displays crucial information like incoming calls, text messages, along with important health related trackers like heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep tracking, and step mapping.

The new smartwatch also arrives with sports tracking as well and can pair with a smartphone for its GPS to track the distance traveled. This hybrid watch can last for up to 5 days when it is in smartwatch mode and up to 6 days in its Watch mode.

Pricing and Availability

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is available for a price of 450 US Dollars and is currently on sale, in three colors variants including Silver Stainless Steel Bezel with Powder Gray Case, Slate Stainless Steel Bezel with Black Case, and Cream Gold Stainless Steel Bezel with Ivory Case. On the other hand, the Vivomove Sport is priced at 180 US Dollars and is also on sale in multiple color options, namely Cool Mint case with Silver accent, Black case with Slate accent, an Ivory case with Peach Gold accent, and Cocoa case with Peach Gold accent.

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ASUS launches 2022 ROG Zephyrus G14, G15 with AMD Ryzen 9 & RTX 3080Ti

By

Sudhanshu

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Jan 5, 2022

The popular ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 along with the Zephyrus G15 were well-received due to their solid performance for gaming and creative work at an aggressive price point. Now, the Taiwanese PC maker has unveiled the updated 2022 versions of these laptops, so let us take a closer look at these devices and see what new they have to offer.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 2022 specs and features

The Zephyrus G14 2022 offers two display options both of which offer a 16:10 aspect ratio and 91% screen-to-body ratio. The more expensive choice is the 14-inch QHD 120Hz DCIP-3 IPS Nebula Display at 500nits with 3ms response time and Dolby Vision support. The second option is a 14-inch IPS FHD 144Hz 100% sRGB display at 400 nits with a 3ms response time. Additionally, a 720P HD IR Camera for Windows Hello is also present on the device.

The G14 features up to AMD’s new Ryzen 9 6900HS 8-core/16-thread processor, paired with a Radeon RX 6800S graphics card with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. The GPU also features a Mux switch, which lets you manually toggle between integrated and dedicated graphics options. The device supports a maximum of 32GB RAM and comes with a 16GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM soldered onto the motherboard leaving one slot free. For storage, the device comes with up to 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD.

Other features include Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual-band), two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with DisplayPort 1.4 video output and PD charging at up to 100W, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 2.0b port, a UHS-II microSD card reader, and a headphone combo jack.

ASUS Zephyrus G14 has a 76Wh battery pack and measures 31.2 x 22.7 x 1.95 cm with a weight of up to 1.72 Kg.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 2022 specs and features

The Zephyrus G15 comes with a 15.6-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, 300 nits of peak brightness, 3ms response time, and 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. The screen carries a 16:9 aspect ratio and supports Dolby Vision and adaptive sync.

The G15 features the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS 8-core/16-thread processor, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. Similar to the G14, the device also features a Mux switch, which lets you manually toggle between integrated and dedicated graphics options to save on battery life.

The laptop is cooled with the help of liquid metal, an 84-blade fan, and 4 fan outlets. In the sound department, the G15 features a 2x 2W dual-force woofer with Smart Amp Technology, 2x 2W tweeter, Dolby Atmos, and AI noise-canceling technology. Additionally, a 720P HD IR Camera for Windows Hello is also present on the device.

Other features include Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual-band), two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with DisplayPort 1.4 video output and PD charging at up to 100W, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 2.0b port, a UHS-II microSD card reader, and a headphone combo jack, a Kingston lock, and an RJ45 ethernet port.

ASUS has not provided any pricing info about these laptops yet however, they have stated that these new ROG Zephyrus G14 and G15 will not start shipping until mid to late 2022.

RELATED:

NZone S7 5G launched with Dimensity 700, 5,000mAh battery, 13MP triple cameras

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 5, 2022

The NZone S7 5G has launched in China. It has arrived as a lower variant of the NZone S7 Pro, which was announced back in June 2021 by NZone, a sub-brand of China Mobile. While the Pro model was powered by the Dimensity 720 chipset, the NZone S7 is driven by the Dimensity 700. The S7 offers other features such as an HD+ display, 13-megapixel triple cameras, and a big battery.

NZone S7 specifications and features

To begin with, the NZone S7 has a 6.5-inch LCD panel with a teardrop notch. The screen offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a 60Hz refresh rate.

The NZone S7 has an 8-megapixel camera for capturing selfies. The rear shell of the device has a square-shaped camera module, which includes a 13-megapixel primary snapper, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

The Dimensity 700 powered S7 ships with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 22.5W fast charging. The device offers other features like a rear-facing fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm audio jack, a microSD card slot, dual SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and USB-C.

NZone S7 pricing and availability

The NZone S7 5G comes in 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage version only. The handset is priced at 1,699 Yuan (~$267), and its first sale will be carried out on Jan. 7 in China. It comes in colors like Green Mountain Emerald, Moonlight Silver, and Elegant Black.

RELATED:

New Lenovo Smart Clock Essential comes with Alexa instead of Google Assistant

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 5, 2022

Lenovo is known for its smart clock range powered by Google Assistant. At CES 2022, the company has introduced yet another model in the lineup. Unlike previous models, the new one comes with Amazon Alexa. Hence, it is aptly named Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Built-in.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Built-in Specifications and Features

The newly announced Lenovo smart clock is almost similar to the older Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with a slightly tweaked design lacking the built-in nightlight. Apart from featuring Amazon Alexa instead of Google Assistant, it also arrives in two new colors, namely Clay Red and Misty Blue.

Apart from the above-mentioned differences, the new model is the same as the older one. Additionally, the company has also unveiled a new accessory called Lenovo Ambient Light Dock. The clock is also compatible with the Lenovo Wireless Charging Dock, which debuted alongside the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 last year.

Talking about specs, the device sports a 4-inch monochrome LED non-touch display with support for customizable clock faces. It features a soft-touch fabric finish and multiple buttons for volume up/down, alarm, and Alexa.

It also has a microphone mute toggle and a USB Type-A port to charge other devices. Most importantly, the clock houses a 1.5-inch 3W speaker and a far-field microphone array consisting of 2 units.

The accessory is powered by an Amlogic A113X chipset paired with 4GB RAM and 4GB storage. It has all the essential sensors like an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, and proximity sensor.

Connectivity options on the product include single-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.1. The older Essential model with Google Assistant has dual-band WiFi but Bluetooth 5.0.

Last but not least, the clock weighs 249g, which is 9g more than the older variant.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Built-in Price and Availability

The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Built-in starts at $59.99 and will hit the shelves from January 2022 itself. On the other hand, Lenovo Ambient Light Dock starts at $29.99 and it will be available sometime later in Q1 2022.

Samsung’s new 55 inch Odyssey Ark adopts a gorgeous Crescent Moon design

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2022

With CES 2022 being underway, various companies have been showcasing their latest innovations and breakthroughs in technologies. Samsung is one of these brands and has already unveiled a number of new products like TVs during the major event. Now, the company has also announced a new curved monitor as well, and it is beautiful!

The new monitor in question is the South Korean tech giant’s 55 inch Odyssey Ark. During the CES 2022 announcement, the company revealed that it sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and is designed to be used both vertically and horizontally as well, thanks to its specially designed stand. Furthermore, the curved monitor also features new multi view adaptable screen functionality, which allows users to shift the screen size to the content being displayed.

In other words, it can shift based on the movie or video game being played. Unfortunately, Samsung did not reveal any finer details regarding the monitor that resembles a crescent moon. So, we have no information regardings its panel, display resolution, refresh rate, and other such key details. But from what we can observe, it is likely targeted towards professionals and gamers alike.

The company added that the 55 inch Odyssey Ark will go on sale in the second half of this year in the US. However, it did not reveal availability for any other regions. So stick around for more, as we will provide updates if additional information regarding this unique monitor surfaces in the near future.

RELATED:

Xiaomi reportedly working on under-display camera tech with resolution higher than 20MP

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Jan 5, 2022

Xiaomi is reportedly testing a new under-display camera with a high-resolution solution that has been paired with an FHD+ display from Huaxing Optoelectronics.

Prior to this, Xiaomi had launched the Xiaomi MIX 4 as the very first commercially-selling smartphone from the company with an under-display. Its resolution was 20MP.

However, upcoming devices with the new UD camera tech will feature a much denser pixel count with resolutions higher than 20MP. The increased resolution will be further enhanced by improvements made to the clarity of selfies (via My Drivers).

It is worth noting here that while under-screen cameras have indeed come a long way, their quality is still no match for regular selfie cameras. But with Xiaomi’s strides in the field, the gap between the two is expected to close further.

Details about the upcoming devices that will be making use of the technology are scarce at the moment, but we expect to see more leaks drop soon.

Xiaomi MIX 4 Under Screen Camera Hands on 15 — Xiaomi MIX 4 under-display camera

Under-display camera tech from Xiaomi adopts a new pixel arrangement with a special circuit designed to hide more components under the RGB sub-pixels, which effectively improves light transmittance and allows clearer results.

It was recently learned that Xiaomi MIX 5 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip has commenced trial production. While finer details about the device are unavailable at the moment, it is also expected to come with an under-screen snapper at the front just like its predecessor. It’s possible that the sensor may even sport a resolution higher than 20MP.

RELATED:

Xiaomi 12 Ultra design leaked, dummy reveals circular rear camera module

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2022

The Xiaomi 12 series was just recently announced, which included the 12, 12X, and 12 Pro. But the company has also been rumored to be working on an Ultra variant as well. Now, a new leak has possibly revealed the design of the smartphone.

The leak arrives from @xleaks7 and TenTechReview who shared images of the 12 Ultra dummy. It can be observed that the live image is of an aluminum dummy model, which features an unusually large rear camera module. The camera setup features a large circular module design, which sits on top of what looks like an even larger rectangular platform. Interestingly, the rear design is in line with the renders that we had reported on previously.

In other words, the Chinese tech giant’s top end Ultra variant might feature a very tall bump on the rear panel. This design is noticeably different from the relatively minimalistic and quiet design of the other Xiaomi 12 models, which features a smaller rectangular module. Looking at this dummy from the sides, the report states that the right side will feature the power button and volume rockers. The side is also visibly thick and the large camera module might mean that it is hefty as well.

If the dummy is actually based on the Xiaomi 12 Ultra, we can expect the bottom to feature the usual speaker grills, USB Type C port, and maybe even a SIM tray slot. Keep in mind that this is still an unconfirmed report so take the dummy with a pinch of salt for now and stay tuned for more updates.

RELATED:

Redmi K50 lineup launch timeline, key details officially confirmed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 5, 2022

Redmi K50 series launch timeline has been officially confirmed. In February, the Xiaomi sub-brand will take off covers from the Redmi K50 lineup. The Weibo post that confirms the launch timeframe has also revealed some of its key features.

In February 2021, Redmi unveiled the Redmi K40, Redmi K40 Pro, and Redmi K40 Pro+ smartphones in China. Hence, it seems that next month could see the arrival of multiple K50 models. Last month, Redmi confirmed that the K50 lineup will feature the Dimensity 9000 chipset. Today, the brand released some information about one of the K50 models that carry the ‘DreamPhone’ codename.

To begin with, the K50 handset will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 series chipset. It will feature a dual VC liquid-cooled heat dissipation unit with a large surface area. The company also revealed that the device will be backed by a 4,700mAh battery. It will arrive with support for 120W fast charging. According to the company, it will take only 17 minutes to charge completely.

A Redmi smartphone with 21121210C model number was recently approved by the TENAA and 3C certification platforms of China. The details of the phone haven’t yet appeared at TENAA, but its 3C listing has revealed that it may ship with a 120W rapid charger.

According to Digital Chat Station, the 21121210C handset will debut in the market with the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition name. Like the recently unveiled Xiaomi 12 series, the K50 is expected to come preinstalled with MIUI 13 based Android 12. It may offer users features like a 120Hz or 144Hz OLED display and 108-megapixel or 64-megapixel quad cameras.

RELATED:

OnePlus 10 Pro to feature brand’s biggest & strongest ever heat management system

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2022

Earlier today (5th January 2022), the OnePlus 10 Pro was teased again prior to its launch. But rather than sharing an image poster, a company executive shared images of the internal components of the device to showcase its thermal management system.

The images of the OnePlus 10 Pro parts were shared by the brand’s Research and Development Director @刘丰硕 (Liu Fengshuo) on his official Weibo account (a Chinese microblogging website). In the social media post, the official stated that the performance of mobile processors has continued to rise, which has led to power consumption increase as well. Furthermore, more power also means more heat being generated.

Thus, the executive showcased the cooling components of the OnePlus 10 Pro, which houses Qualcomm’s latest and greatest, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The overall area the cooling plate takes up is around 34119.052mm², which is the largest ever on any OnePlus device. It even arrives with VC cooling plate alongside copper graphite sheet, and heat dissipation silica gel as well. The company also stacks these various cooling components to efficiently dissipate heat from the smartphone.

Notably, in the live images shared by Liu Fengshuo, we can see the smartphone’s thermal management parts being compared to an A4 sized sheet of paper as well. Stacking them against each other, the official said that the cooling components take up around 55 percent of the size of the sheet. The official stated that the OnePlus 10 Pro cooling mechanism is the strongest ever from the brand and will help keep the device cool even during intensive tasks.

RELATED:

Anker shows off the tiniest 100W charger we’ve ever seen and more at CES 2022

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Jan 5, 2022

Anker just announced the new $79 736 Nano II Charger at CES 2022 and the company claims that it is “the world’s smallest 100W gallium nitride wall charger.”

The 100W power unit is a far cry from regular fast chargers that ship with almost every fast-charge-supporting device in terms of size, and is even smaller than most 65W bricks. A single USB-A port and a pair of USB-C ports are offered to charge multiple devices at once. The charger also uses Anker’s second-generation GaN II technology that the company debuted earlier this year on its other Nano II chargers.

The plug also features the third generation of the Anker’s PowerIQ tech, making it compatible with various proprietary standards such as Qualcomm Quick Charge, Power Delivery, Apple Fast Charging, and Samsung Fast Charging, with no compromise on safety.

Do note here that 100W is outputted only when a single device is fed from the Anker Nano II, as more than one device causes the charger to split the wattage.

Other products

Along with the charger, Anker has also lifted the curtains on a number of other products spanning the projector, webcam, and even smart home categories (via Android Police).

The most eye-catching among these is arguably the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K projector with a built-in handle and 30W speakers. It runs Android TV 10 and outputs a decent 2,400 lumens of brightness at 4K resolution. Anker intends to crowdfund the device on Kickstarter ahead of its March release when it would cost around $2,200.

There’s also the Anker 535 Portable Power Station, which is basically a power bank with 512Wh capacity and support for 60W USB-PD output. A total of four AC ports are present and it even comes with a light bar. The unit is already up for grabs at $500.

The AnkerWork B600 Video Bar is a 2K 30 FPS webcam with a beam-forming microphone, adjustable LED light bar, and more. It will be going on sale sometime later this month at around $220.

Finally, we have eufy, Anker’s own smart home products brand, that has launched a couple of CCTV cameras. One of these is the battery-powered $260 eufy Security Video Doorbell Dual that comes with a dual-camera setup — one that faces forward and the other pointing downwards. 6 months of battery life is offered along with AI-based object recognition and Google Assistant support. US sales begin in a month.

RELATED:

Galaxy Note10 Lite, Galaxy A72 receive Android 12 (One UI 4.0) stable update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 5, 2022

Samsung kickstarted the Android 12-based One UI 4.0 stable update rollout for most ofl the eligible Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy Z series of premium smartphones before New Year’s Day. Now, the company has started delivering the latest software update for mid-rangers, starting with Galaxy Note10 Lite and Galaxy A72.

Samsung Galaxy A72 Awesome White Violet Blue Black Featured — Samsung Galaxy A72

According to Sam Mobile, the stable release of One UI 4.0 based on Android 12 is now available for the Galaxy Note10 Lite and Galaxy A72. As of now, the fresh system update for these handsets is only available in a single region.

Galaxy Note10 Lite
- Firmware Version: N770FXXU8FUL7
- Security Patch: January 2022
- Region: France
Galaxy A72
- Firmware Version: A725FXXU4BULA
- Security Patch: December 2021
- Region: Russia

If you own any of these two devices and reside in the mentioned region, then head over to Settings > Software update > Download and install to check whether your unit has received the OTA update. Even if it is not available at the moment, it should be out in the coming days.

At the same, the update shall be also rolled out to other regional variants of the aforementioned smartphones very soon. Additionally, we think that the Galaxy A52 could be the next in line for the One UI 4.0 stable upgrade. That’s because it shares so much with the Galaxy A72.

Vivo Y01 renders, specifications, and pricing leaked

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 5, 2022

Vivo Y01 could be the next entry-level phone heading towards different markets in the coming days. Publication MySmartPrice has teamed up with tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore to share the renders, specifications, and pricing of the upcoming Y01. The handset may go official first in Europe.

Vivo Y01 design and specifications

The Vivo Y01 has a 6.51-inch IPS LCD display with a waterdrop notch. It offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 60Hz refresh rate, and an 89 percent screen space. The display notch houses a 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture.

The back panel of the Vivo Y01 has a square-shaped camera module. It houses a 13-megapixel camera primary camera, a 2-megapixel secondary snapper, and an LED flash. The entry-level handset will come preinstalled with the Android 11 Go edition and FunTouchOS 11.1.

The leak has no information on the processor that powers the Vivo Y01. The device will ship with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of native storage. It will be backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging. It lacks a fingerprint scanner but carries support for face unlock. The Y01 will come with usual connectivity features such as dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, a microUSB port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The device measures 163.96 x 75.2 x 8.28mm and weighs 178 grams.

Vivo Y01 pricing (rumored)

The leak has further revealed that the Vivo Y01 will be priced around 100 euros to 200 euros. As can be seen in the leaked renders, the Y01 will be available in black and blue colors.

RELATED:

realme smartphone sales exceeded 60 million units in 2021, company entered top 5 in 21 markets

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Jan 5, 2022

realme on January 4th held a product launch event announcing its new GT2 series. Along with details about the flagship phones, realme VP Xu Qi also quoted a few figures pertaining to the company’s performance in 2021.

According to official figures, global sales last year exceeded 60 million units and realme entered the top 5 smartphone brands in 21 countries, ranking 6th worldwide. The number of units sold in 2021 showed a rise of 50% YoY growth and realme hopes to keep the growth rate stable this year, with a goal of touching the 90 million units mark.

Also revealed was that the company is now the fastest-growing 5G Android phone brand and was the fastest phone company to cross 100 million units in terms of sales, further proving its prowess.

In addition, realme highlighted an updated global layout goal, with China obviously being the main focus but also supported by the European market. The company has indeed recorded a triple-digit YoY growth in the continent and it hopes to keep it up.

In terms of technological innovation, realme stated that the company will be spending 70% of its R&D expenses on high-end technology research and development, strengthening the company’s software and hardware capabilities, and enhancing the overall product experience.

At the same time, realme will also continue to keep up with the latest trends in the global market to continue to polish product design and make an impression as the “most fashionable brand in the technology industry.”

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Indian pricing tipped, Pre-Bookings now live

By

Sean

-

Jan 5, 2022

Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy S21 FE in India soon. But prior to its release, the pricing of the upcoming smartphone has been tipped. The news also arrives as the device’s pre-bookings start in the region.

The pricing for the Indian market was revealed by known tipster Yogesh Brar on Twitter. Reportedly, the South Korean tech giant will be launching the Galaxy S21 FE in India for a price tag of 52,000 INR (roughly 700 US Dollars). He further added that the price tag might fall to 48,000 INR or 49,000 INR (roughly 645 or 660 US Dollars) through discounts. Notably, a listing page on Amazon India has also recently gone live, which showcases the design and specs of the device and hints at its imminent launch.

The listing arrives just a day after the handset was launched in the UK. For those unaware, the Galaxy S21 FE sports a 6.4 inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the Indian variant of the device is expected to feature the Exynos 2100 SoC. On the rear, it features a triple camera module consisting of a 12 megapixel primary camera, a 12 megapixe ultra wide angle lens, and an 8 megapixel telephoto sensor.

A large 4,500mAh battery runs the device, which supports 25W fast charging, with the device also arriving with IP68 water and dust resistance. As of right now, the pre-bookings for the Galaxy S21 FE have begun. So for those interested, you can check out the official Samsung India website. Those reserving the smartphone prior to its launch will also be receiving a Galaxy SmartTag Bluetooth tracker for free.

RELATED:

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13, ThinkPad Z16 laptops with latest AMD Ryzen CPUs launched, will hit the markets in May 2022

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jan 5, 2022

Ahead of CES 2022, the Chinese laptop manufacturer Lenovo launched their new notebook models dubbed the ThinkPad Z13 and ThinkPad Z16. These new ThinkPad models come packing the latest AMD Ryzen PRO 6000 series processors with the ThinkPad Z13 getting an optional exclusive AMD CPU, so let’s take a closer look at their specs and features.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 specifications

The ThinkPad Z13 comes with a 13.5-inch IPS OLED 2K+ (2,880 x 1,620pixels) display with 400 nits of peak brightness, a 91.6 percent screen-to-body ratio, and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The device also has a low blue light emission mode and supports Dolby vision. The speaker system present on the device comes with Dolby Atmos support.

The hardware on this machine consists of an AMD Ryzen Pro U-Series processor or an exclusive AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6860Z processor, coupled with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has integrated Lenovo’s match-on-chip fingerprint reader into the keyboard and uses a Microsoft Pluton security processor. The device comes with a full-HD infrared webcam integrated into the device with an aperture of f/2.0 and eShutter functionality. It also has dual-array microphones for audio input.

Other features of the laptop include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, LTE 4G, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It sports a backlit keyboard and two USB 4.0 Type-C ports. Double-tapping the TrackPoint icon gives quick access to Communication QuickMenu for access to common camera and microphone settings.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 contains a 50Wh battery with Rapid Charge fast charging support. In terms of dimensions, it measures 294.4×199.6×13.99mm and weighs 1.25kg.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 specifications

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 features a 16-inch IPS OLED 4K (3,840×2,160 pixels) display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 92.3 percent screen-to-body ratio, and 400 nits of peak brightness. Similar to the ThinkPad Z13 model, the ThinkPad Z16 also features Dolby Vision support and a low blue light emission mode.

The ThinkPad Z16 features an AMD Ryzen Pro H-series processor with integrated AMD radion graphics or an optional discrete AMD Radeon RX 6500M GPU. The device comes with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 2TB of PCIe SSD. For security, the device includes a Microsoft Pluton security processor and comes with a match-on-chip fingerprint reader integrated into the keyboard.

Other features of the ThinkPad Z16 include a Dolby Atmos speaker system with Dolby Voice AI noise cancellation technology, a backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6E, LTE 4G, Bluetooth 5.2, three USB 4.0 Type-C ports, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 comes with a 70Wh battery pack and measures 354.4×237.4x 15.8mm with a weight of 1.97kg.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13, ThinkPad Z16 price, and availability

The ThinkPad Z13 will have a starting price of $1,549 while the ThinkPad Z16 will begin at $2,099. Lenovo has announced that both of these models will go on sale starting May 2022 and will be available in two color variants, namely Arctic Grey and Bronze.

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OPPO Enco M32 launched in India, costs only ₹1,499 ($20) for a limited time

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 5, 2022

OPPO has officially launched the OPPO Enco M32 neckband-style wireless earphones in India as scheduled. The latest audio accessory from the company is the success of the popular OPPO Enco M31 from 2021. This product originally debuted at the end of November alongside the OPPO Reno7 series in China.

OPPO Enco M32 Price and Availability in India

The OPPO Enco M32 wireless earphones are priced at ₹1,799 ($24) in India. However, for a limited time, from January 10 to 12, buyers will be able to purchase them at an introductory price tag of ₹1,499 ($20).

The product comes in a single black color option in the country. It will be sold via Amazon India and OPPO Store.

OPPO Enco M32 Specifications and Features

As mentioned in the beginning, the OPPO Enco M32 is a pair of neckband-style wireless earphones. It connects with devices via Bluetooth 5.0 and has support for dual-connection feature. In simpler words, it can be switched between two devices seamlessly.

Further, the buds house 10mm drivers, an independent bass chamber, and they also have magnets for automatic on/off and play/pause functions. The earphones sport an inline remote control, an omnidirectional MEMC microphone and offer ENC (Environmental Noice Cancellation) during calls.

The accessory weighs around 33g and it is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. Most importantly, it is rated to last for a whopping 28 hours on a full charge with its 220mAh battery that supports fast charging (20-hour playback with 10 minutes of charging).

Last but not least, unlike OPPO Enco M31, the OPPO Enco M32 lacks support for LDAC.

Vivo V23 5G series with color changing rear panel launched in India

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2022

The Vivo V23 5G series has just been announced in India. The newly unveiled lineup includes the V23 and V23 Pro that arrive with a unique rear panel that changes color when exposed to UV light and sunlight.

Vivo V23

Talking about the base variant first, the V23 sports a 6.44 inch FHD+ AMOLED display that has a 90Hz high refresh rate. This panel is also certified for HDR10+ and includes an in display fingerprint scanner as well. For selfies, the device houses a dual front camera setup (44 megapixel primary + 8 megapixel ultra wide angle) along with a dual tone spotlight flash. On the other hand, the rear features a 64 megapixel triple camera module with an 8 megapixel ultra wide angle lens and a 2 megapixel macro sensor.

Under the hood, the V23 runs MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC, which is a 6nm process based chip that is paired with the Mali G68 GPU. The device is powered by a 4,200mAh battery pack that supports 44W fast charging from its USB Type C port. It measures just 7.39mm at its thickest and weighs about 179 grams.

Vivo V23 Pro

Arriving at the top end version, the V23 Pro sports a 6.56 inch FHD+ Curved AMOLED panel that also has a 90Hz refresh rate. The Chinese smartphone maker claims that the panel is India’s slimmest 3D curved display. This screen also arrives with HDR10+ certification along with an in display fingerprint reader. Similar to the base variant, the Pro model also features a dual camera system on the front, but with a 50 megapixel sensor and another 8 megapixel ultra wide angle lens with dual tone flash as well.

On the rear, it features a 108 megapixel primary camera coupled with an 8 megapixel ultra wide angle lens and a 2 megapixel depth sensor. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC, which is a 6nm process based chip with Mali G77 GPU. It houses a 4,300mAh battery pack that supports 44W fast charging from its USB Type C port. The device measures just 7.36mm and weighs 171 grams.

Color, Pricing, and Availability

Both devices arrive in two color variants, namely the Sunshine Gold and Stardust Black. Although, the Gold version is the variant that features color changing AG glass rear panel that can change its color depending on the angle at which VU light or sunlight rays fall. Notably, the Vivo V23 series runs FunTouch OS 12 based on Android 12 OS. So, let’s take a look at the pricing:

Vivo V23 5G

8GB + 128GB – Rs. 29,990 (roughly 403 US Dollars)
12GB + 256GB – Rs. 34,990 (roughly 470 US Dollars)

Vivo V23 Pro 5G

8GB + 128GB – Rs. 38,990 (roughly 524 US Dollars)
12GB + 256GB – Rs. 43,990 (roughly 590 US Dollars)

The pre-orders for the lineup have already begun, with the Pro model sales starting from 13th January 2022. Meanwhile, the base model will go on sale via Flipkart in India starting from 19th January 2022.

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Microsoft and Qualcomm partners to develop chips for AR glasses

By

Jeet

-

Jan 5, 2022

Technology giant Microsoft and chipset leader Qualcomm have worked together for custom chips for Windows PC and now, during Qualcomm’s keynote at CES 2022, it has been announced that both the companies will be collaborating again for AR chips.

Qualcomm and Microsoft together will develop a new, customized version of Snapdragon chipset for augmented reality and the same will be powering the future AR glasses coming from Microsoft.

Cristiano Amon, Chief Executive Officer at Qualcomm, said: “We’re announcing that we’re developing a custom augmented reality Snapdragon chip for next-generation, power-efficient, very lightweight AR glasses for the Microsoft ecosystem.”

He further added that the company is integrating into the chip platform software from both companies: the Microsoft Mesh platform, and the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon Spaces XR development platform. The Snapdragon Spaces will be fully integrated into Microsoft Mesh and will be available for next-generation glasses.

Earlier, Microsoft partnered with Qualcomm to develop custom SQ1 and SQ2 chips for its ARM-based Surface Pro X devices. The Microsoft HoloLens 2 is also powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips. So, the development of both these brands partnering for new chips isn’t surprising.

For those who are unaware, Microsoft Mesh is the company’s mixed-reality platform powered by Azure and is meant to create a sense of shared presence on a variety of devices. Recently, the company announced its plans to bring Mesh to its Teams group collaboration platform.

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