Xiaomi 12 to be Xiaomi’s First Compact Flagship in years, Xiaomi 12 Pro will be its bigger sibling

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Dec 21, 2021

Taiwan has just given TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) the green light for its plans to set up a new chip plant in Japan. The approval was given Taiwan’s Investment Commission earlier this week.

According to TaiwanNews, the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Investment Commission stated that the Taiwanese chipmaker’s plans were approved since the firm’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities is still at least a generation ahead of its Japanese counterparts. In other words, the world’s largest contract chipmaker does not face risks regarding its high end chip process technology being leaked to its rivals.

Notably, the new project has TSMC work together with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) in the form of a joint venture as Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM). The chip site will be situated in the Kumamoto Prefecture and will manufacture the less advanced 22nm and 28nm process based chips that are used in microcontrollers and image sensors. Meaning, the chips being produced will have a wide variety of applications in industries like consumer electronics to even automobiles as well.

As of right now, the initial capital expenditure for the new facility is expected to be around 195 billion New Taiwan Dollars or roughly about 7 billion US Dollars. Furthermore, the project has also garnered strong support from the Japanese government, which is also seeking to strengthen its position in semiconductors at the moment. Out of the 7 billion US Dollars, TSMC is set to invest around 2.12 billion US Dollars, while SSS will invest around 500 million US Dollars in the joint venture. The construction of the site is planned to start next year and is expected to be completed sometime in 2024.

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Huawei teases P50 Pocket folding phone’s design in a Silver variant

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Dec 21, 2021

Earlier today (21st December 2021), Huawei shared a new teaser for its upcoming foldable smartphone, the P50 Pocket. The new image poster showcases the device from the side and even reveals a new color variant as well.

The brand shared the new teaser poster on its official Weibo account (a Chinese microblogging website). In the social media post, the company mentions that today marks the “winter solstice,” which means that it is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. While this term might not seem relevant to upcoming smartphone, the Chinese tech giant could be hinting at the name of the new color variant of the P50 Pocket that it showcased in the image poster.

Looking at the teaser, we can observe the side profile of the P50 Pocket, which is in a Silver color variant. Previously, we had reported on the P50 Pocke was spotted on Harper’s Bazaar, a known fashion magazine, with Chinese actress Guan Xiaotong endorsing the smartphone in a Gold color variant. In other words, it is confirmed that the P50 Pocket will be available in at least a Silver and Gold variant, with the former possibly being called something akin to Winter (if not downright calling it the Winter Solstice). Notably, the grooves on the Silver version’s rear panel also appear to be different from the Gold version.

Talking about the specs of the highly anticipated smartphone, it features a 6.8 inch primary display that folds inward like a clamshell while the external panel is a 1 inch circular panel that is housed below the camera module on the back. Under the hood, the device is expected to be powered by a 4,100mAh battery pack that might support 66W fast charging. It will also run the Kirin 9000 chipset, which will reportedly not feature 5G support. The Huawei P50 Pocket is set to be unveiled on December 23, so stick around as we will be covering the launch event.

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Huawei integrates Bolt ride hailing service in Petal maps

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Sudhanshu

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Dec 21, 2021

Huawei, the Chinese tech giant has brought a new convenience feature for its users in Europe and Africa. The company has partnered up with Bolt, the popular ride-hailing service, which was one of the first major brands to join Huawei’s AppGallery. Now, it is about to become even easier for users to access following its integration with Huawei’s map service, Petal Maps.

Huawei customers with smartphones based on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), and customers who download Petal Maps from Google Play, have now an additional option when they search the directions and length of a journey from one location to another. As well as car, public transport, walking and cycling, they will also see ride hailing.

Once a user clicks on the Boult icon, they will automatically be taken to the Bolt app where they can book a driver, check the driver’s details and distance, and see how much the journey will cost.

The two companies have also collaborated at a software developmental level with Bolt integrating Huawei’s Map Kit allowing it to power the app with personalized displays and interactions for HMS devices.

But that’s not all, Petal Maps has recently been enhanced with new updates, including Lane Guidance which is aimed at helping drivers to enjoy enhanced route planning, and help in complex traffic situations, and Offline Maps, which allows users to take advantage of search and navigation functions, even when they have no signal.

In addition, searching for amenities is easier thanks to its new and improved ‘one-touch’ search functions which show multiple services such as petrol stations, restaurants, ATMs, and convenience stores that are nearby.

So for readers who live in Europe and Africa, do check out these new features offered by the Petal Maps on Huawei’s AppGallary or Google Play store.

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Noise launches Champ Kid’s smart band in India, with 7 day battery life & IP68 rating

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Dec 21, 2021

Noise has just launched a new wearable in India. The new product in question is the new Champ smart ban, which is a wearable that is made specifically for children.

For those unaware, the India based brand is popular for its smartwatches and various audio based products like true wireless earbuds, neckbands, and more. Now, the company has just released a new smart band that is targeted towards kids and offers a battery life of up to 7 days. Other notable specifications include an IP68 waterproof rating, support for NoiseFit application, and even sleep tracking as well.

Apart from monitoring sleep cycles, the smart band even offers prompts that help children build healthy habits like reminding them to drinking water, schedule studying time, and meal times. It weighs just 18 grams and also supports physical activity tracking, with 12 sports modes being built in as well. Kids can customize the smart band with 50 cloud based watch faces, based on their preferences.

The wearables maker has just launched the new Champ kid’s smart band in India earlier today (21st December2021), and it is currently listed for sale on Amazon’s official Indian website for a price of 1,999 INR (roughly 26 US Dollars). Although, the listing suggests that this might just be an introductory offer as it might return to its original price tag of 3,999 INR (roughly 53 US Dollars). In other words, it is currently available for a 50 percent discount and can be purchased in multiple color variants. This includes Carbon Black, Peppy Blue, and Candy Pink.

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Zepp Health shipments rise in Q3 2021, as Amazfit & Zepp leads Brazil, Russia, and other markets

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Dec 21, 2021

Zepp Health has just reported that its global shipments have seen a surge in the third quarter of this year. The news arrives from IDC in its report titled “Q3 2021 Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker.”

As per the report, the brand’s two subsidiaries Amazfit and Zepp saw a notable rise in shipment in the global wearable market, with both brands seeing the highest growth among the top five market leaders in terms of sales. The Chinese wearables maker also saw great performance in various different countries and regions during this time. It ranked first in Brazil, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Indonesia, achieving a market share above 30 percent in Brazil and the Czech Republic.

On the other hand, Zepp Health had a marker share of around 20 percent in nations like Italy, Thailand, and Spain, which had it rank second in each of these regions. Similarly, the brand also ranked third in Mexico, fourth in Germany, South Korea, and Japan, and fifth in India and Saudi Arabia. Its third quarter performance saw a boost thanks to the Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday promotional events on Amazon.

During this time, the company even offered various holiday sales promotions, which helped further drive sales. Talking about some of its popular wearable products, Amazfit’s GTR 3 and GTS 3 series smartwatches saw great success in various markets, with the former being a popular seller on Amazon and even being recognized as “Amazon’s Choice.”

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Tesla owner gives birth behind the wheels of their EV on autopilot

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Dec 21, 2021

A woman in Philadelphia, US, has just given birth to the world’s first baby behind the wheels of a Tesla. The mother gave birth to her child while being in the front seat of the electric vehicle that was on autopilot.

According to The Guardian, the surprising incident took place back in September. Yiran Sherry, 33, and her husband were dropping their son to school on the Tesla when her water broke. But unfortunately, the family got stuck in traffic as the mother was going into labor. So, they realized that reaching the hospital might not be a possibility now. Thus, her husband (Keating Sherry, 34) put the vehicle on autopilot and set the destination for the hospital that was 20 minutes away.

Following this, he began attending to his wife. By the time the family reached the hospital, the mother has successfully and safely give birth to her daughter while hospital nurses cut the baby’s umbilical cord over the car’s front seat. The nurses even started calling her child the “Tesla baby.” Notably, the couple had even considered naming their child Tess, in tribute to the EV brand that possibly saved them in a crucial time, but decided on Maeve Lily.

Keating Sherry also expressed gratitude towards the brand saying “Thank you genius Tesla engineers for your brilliant design of autopilot.” While the Elon Musk owned automobile company had been facing a lot of negative PR in recent months, this arrives as a silver lining to the controversial autopilot system. Unfortunately, the EV maker has yet to respond to any queries for a comment as of right now.

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE launch date could be in second week of January 2022

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Dec 21, 2021

Several reports have claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will be launching in the first week of January 2022. However, a new tweet by reliable tipster Evan Blass suggests that it may go official in the second week of the same month. Probably, the South Korean company may not have anything new to reveal about the S21 FE as the rumor mill has already leaked all the important details from its specifications to pricing.

Blass has shared new images of the Galaxy S21 FE. The Jan. 11 date on the display and Blass’ tweet suggests that it could be the launch date of the S21 FE. The images shows that the handset will be available with 5G support through AT&T in the U.S.

January 11th. pic.twitter.com/8uzkdzDoQd

— Ev (@evleaks) December 20, 2021

Rumors have it that the Galaxy S21 FE will come in 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage choices. The former may cost around $699 in the U.S. According to tipster Ishan Agarwal, the two variants of the S21 FE are likely to be priced at £699 and £799, respectively, in the U.K.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE specifications (Rumored)

The Galaxy S21 FE will house a 6.41-inch AMOLED FHD+ 120Hz display. It will feature a 32-megapixel selfie camera and a 12-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide) + 8-megapixel (telephoto) triple camera unit. Depending on the region, the S21 FE will ship with the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100.

The S21 FE will pack a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. It will also carry support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. Its other features include an in-screen fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, and IP68 rated dustproof and water-resistant chassis.

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE pricing for UK leaked prior to Jan 4 launch

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Dec 21, 2021

With the CES 2022 event being just around corner, a number of brands are gearing up to unveil and showcase their latest technologies and offerings. One of these brands include Samsung, which is expected to launch its Galaxy S21 FE during this major event.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G — Galaxy S21 FE 5G

But prior to the official announcement from the South Korean tech giant, a new report has revealed some interesting information regarding the device. According to 91Mobiles, the pricing for smartphone in the UK market has been revealed prior to the launch event. Previously, we had reported on the Galaxy S21 FE pricing leak on Samsung’s official Ireland website. Now, we have news regarding the UK pricing of the upcoming smartphone.

For those unaware, the handset is set to launched with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC or even an Exynos chip variant as well. This model is also expected to launch in India as well, although, availability details regarding the device is still unknown as of right now. Looking at the UK pricing, the Galaxy S21 FE will start from a 699 Pounds (roughly 924 US Dollars) for its 128GB version. The 256GB model will be available for a price of 749 Pounds (roughly 990 US Dollars).

The UK pricing details was shared by known tipster Ishan Agarwal, with the device being expected to launch on 4th January 2022. Other notable features include, 6.4 inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate with Corning Gorilla Glass panel. On the rear, it houses a triple camera setup with a 12 megapixel primary camera, paired with a 12 megapixel ultra wide angle lens and a 8 megapixel telephoto camera as well. This is still an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt and stick with us for more updates.

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OnePlus to soon launch new 32 inch and 43 inch smart TV in India: Tipster

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Dec 21, 2021

As we get closer to the new year, the launch of the OnePlus 10 series, the company’s flagship smartphone lineup for 2022, edges closer. However, it seems like the brand has more than just smartphones in store for its customers in India.

A new leak has revealed that the Chinese smartphone maker is apparently working on new smart TVs that will be launching in the Indian market soon. The news arrives from known tipster @stufflistings on Twitter, who also shared that the company is launching at least a 32 inch and 43 inch smart TV, as per the information that he has received. Unfortunately, he refrained from sharing any other finer details regarding these upcoming new OnePlus Smart TVs. Although unlikely, the company could possibly even announce these new TVs alongside the upcoming flagship 10 series of smartphones.

For those unaware, the brand has already entered the smart TV market in India with its OnePlus TVs, under its Y, U, and Q series. But now, it appears to be expanding its offering in the Southeast Asian region. As of right now, it is unclear whether these new smart TVs will be launching under the different series mentioned above or if they are a part of a new lineup entirely. Keep in mind that this is still just an unconfirmed report at the moment, so take this report with a pinch of salt for now and stay tuned for more updates regarding this matter.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro to have 48MP camera and iPhone 15 could feature periscope lens

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Dec 21, 2021

With a new year approaching, leaks and rumors related to the next-generation Apple iPhone series have started surfacing online. We already know a lot of things about the upcoming Apple iPhone 14 lineup.

Now, a new report from MacRumors, citing analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s research note from TF International Securities, claims that the Apple iPhone camera technology will be upgraded over the next two years.

It is further added that the upgraded camera will help Taiwan-based manufacturer Largan Precision boost its market share, revenue, and profit. The company is the world’s biggest supplier of smartphone camera lenses and accounts for around 30 percent of the market share across the globe.

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro models are expected to feature a 48-megapixel camera sensor which will have support for 8K video recording. The high-quality videos will be suitable for AR/VR device from Apple when it gets launched.

The camera on the iPhone 14 Pro models should be able to capture both 48-megapixel and 12-megapixel images through pixel binning, a technology that is already being used on other premium flagship smartphones in the market.

It is also being reported that the Apple iPhone 15 series launching in the year 2023 will come with a periscope lens. This will further boost the photography output as it will significantly increase the optical zoom capabilities.

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Realme GT 2 series launch date likely to be confirmed tomorrow

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Dec 21, 2021

Realme held a special event yesterday to confirm the innovative technologies that will be available on the Realme GT 2 Pro. At the event, the company said that the GT 2 Pro will be launching. It appears that the company will confirm the launch date of the GT 2 series tomorrow.

A Weibo post released by the brand today states that the Realme GT 2 Pro is a high-end flagship phone customized for the youth. The ‘see you tomorrow’ text in the post suggests that the company may announce the Realme GT 2 series launch date tomorrow.

The Realme GT 2 series is likely to include two phones such as the GT 2 and GT 2 Pro. The former has seemingly appeared at TENAA with RMX3310 model number. It has a 6.62-inch AMOLED FHD+ 120Hz display, Snapdragon 888 mobile platform, a 16-megapixel selfie camera, a Sony IMX766 50-megapixel triple rear cameras, and a 5,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 powered Realme GT 2 Pro is expected to arrive with advanced specs like a 6.7-inch AMOLED QHD+ 120Hz display, a 32-megapixel front camera, a 50-megapixel (Sony IMX766 with OIS) + 50-megapixel (ultrawide) + telephoto triple camera system, up to 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, up to 1 TB of storage , 65W fast charging.

The GT 2 Pro will be equipped with some advanced features such as an eco-friendly paper-inspired design, the world’s first 150-degree ultrawide camera, and an antenna array matrix system. The company is also speculated to introduce a GT 2 Pro variant with an under-display camera.

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Vivo V23 Pro front design, key specs revealed, could be a tweaked Vivo S12 Pro

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Dec 21, 2021

Vivo V23 5G and Vivo V23 Pro 5G are expected to launch soon in multiple Asian markets. A recent leak claimed that the V23 Pro may debut in India in the first week of January 2022. Reports have revealed that the model number of the V23 Pro is V2132. The Pro model has now appeared at the Google Play Console today to reveal its key specifications.

The Vivo V23 Pro’s front image available in the Play Console listing shows that it has a wide notch on its AMOLED display. The notch serves as a home for its dual front-facing cameras. The left and right edges of the screen are curved, and it seems to be integrated with a fingerprint scanner.

VIvo V23 Pro Play Console — Vivo V23 Pro

Coming to the specs, the listing reveals that the V23 Pro carries support for a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels. It is driven by the Dimensity 1200 chipset and 8 GB of RAM. The phone runs on Android 11 OS. The other specs of the phone are not mentioned in the Play Console listing.

A recent leak revealed that the Vivo V23 Pro will be equipped with a 64-megapixel main camera on the back. In addition, it is expected to feature a color changing glass back.

The appearance and key specs of the Vivo V23 Pro are identical to the Vivo S12 Pro, which will debut in China tomorrow. The S12 Pro is expected to feature a 108-megapixel (main) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (macro) depth sensor, a 50-megapixel (main) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) dual selfie camera, a 4,300mAh battery with 44W fast charging support.

(via)

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Samsung Galaxy S22 series smartphones to reportedly come with One UI 4.1

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Dec 21, 2021

Samsung has released the One UI 4.0 custom user interface based on the Android 12 operating system and the company has rolled out the new update for its premium smartphones, including the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Fold 3, and more.

Now, as per the latest report, the South Korean giant is working on a newer version of its custom user interface — One UI 4.1 which will be released with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 series phones.

The Samsung One UI 4.1, which is expected to be a small update, will come pre-installed on the Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra/Note models. It is said that the company will also release it for the previous generation Galaxy S-series smartphones as well.

According to a moderator on the Samsung Support Forum, the update will be released for the Galaxy S21 series and the Galaxy Note 20 series smartphones soon after the official announcement or release of the new One UI version.

Currently, the status of the availability of the upcoming One UI 4.1 for the Galaxy S20 series smartphones as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 remains unknown but we expect them to receive the update soon after the Galaxy S21 lineup.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 series flagship smartphones are expected to go official in February 2022, just a month after the South Korean company debuts the long-awaited Galaxy S21 FE smartphone in the market.

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Apple reportedly starts trial production of the iPhone 13 model in India

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Dec 21, 2021

Apple launched the iPhone 13 series smartphones in September this year and now within just a few months, the Cupertino-based technology giant is all set to start production of the iPhone 13 model in the Indian market.

As per the latest report, Apple’s contract manufacturer Foxconn has started the trial production for the iPhone 13 in its plant near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India.

Interestingly, Apple has no plans of manufacturing the iPhone 13 Pro and the 13 Pro Max models in the Indian market. It will only manufacture the standard iPhone 13 model in India, which is also the largest selling phone from the company in India.

If everything goes according to the company’s plans, then the commercial production of the iPhone 13 in India for both the domestic market and the international markets could start from February 2023.

To expand the production of the latest iPhone to the Indian market, the company has already secured the required semiconductor components, which are currently in short supply due to global shortage.

About 20 percent to 30 percent of the iPhone production from the Indian market is usually exported to other regions. If that holds true for this new model as well, then it will help the technology giant with the supply boost.

For those who are unaware, Apple is already producing the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 in the Foxconn plant in Tamil Nadu while the iPhone SE is being produced in the Wistron plant in Bengaluru. Based on the estimates, around 70 percent of the Apple smartphones sold in India are manufactured locally.

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Realme 9 Pro+ 5G bags NBTC confirmation, launch seems imminent

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Dec 21, 2021

The Realme 9 Pro+ was spotted at the IMEI database with the RMX3393 model number. Later it appeared at India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification platform. Now, the RMX3393 has bagged approval from Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) certification site.

At NBTC, the RMX3393 has appeared with the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G moniker. While the listing has no information on the specs of the phone, it does confirm that it will carry support for 5G connectivity. The RMX3392 variant of the phone has been spotted at other certification sites such as the Eurasian Economic Commission and Indonesia’s TKDN.

Realme 9 Pro+ ( RMX3393 & RMX3392 ) is 5G device 😍 confirms NBTC certification.
Realme 9 Pro+ 5G gets NBTC, TKDN, Indian 🇮🇳 BIS & EEC certification.#realme #realme9ProPlus pic.twitter.com/R6vqA1gakK

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) December 21, 2021

While the RMX3393 is confirmed to carry support for 5G connectivity, it is unclear whether the RMX3392 model number will be its 4G LTE variant. Coming back to the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G (RMX3393), it recently appeared at the Camera FV-5 platform with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, whereas its back panel will be equipped with a 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture. At present, there is no word on the specifications and launch date of the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G.

Reports suggest that the Realme 9i could be the first Realme 9 series phone to go official. However, there is some confusion surrounding its moniker. A recent report claimed that the device may debut with the Realme Narzo 9i moniker.

The smartphone is expected to come with a 6.6-inch FHD+ 90Hz display, a 16-megapixel front camera, and a 50-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit. It is expected to come with the Snapdragon 680 chipset, 4 GB / 6 GB of RAM, 64 GB / 128 GB of storage, a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. It may come in colors like Prism Blue and Prism Black.

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OnePlus CEO Pete Lau confirms OnePlus 10 Pro launch in January

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Dec 21, 2021

OnePlus, the smartphone manufacturer which recently merged its operations with OPPO and now acts as its sub-brand is gearing up to launch its next-generation flagship lineup in the form of the OnePlus 10 series.

Today, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed through his official Weibo account that the OnePlus 10 Pro flagship smartphone will be announced in January. Although he has not yet revealed the date, reports indicate that it could take place on 5th January.

OnePlus 10 Pro Render Leak — OnePlus 10 Pro Render by @OnLeak

The company has already confirmed that the OnePlus 10 series smartphones will come powered by the newly announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.

Based on the previous leaks, the OnePlus 10 Pro will feature a 6.7-inch curved LTPO AMOLED display with a 2K resolution and a 120Hz high refresh rate. The punch-hole cutout in the top-left corner of the screen will house a 32-megapixel camera sensor for taking selfies and video calling.

Under the hood, along with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, the device will come packed with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It is also expected to come with IP ratings for water and dust resistance.

In the camera department, the smartphone will have a triple-camera setup on the back which will consist of a 48-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and an 8-megapixel lens with 3x optical zoom support.

The phone will be running the ColorOS 12 custom skin on top of the Android 12 operating system. It is said to be powered by a 5,000mAh battery and come with support for 80W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging.

If the reports are to be believed, then the OnePlus 10 series will go official in January for the Chinese market but will be available in other regions sometime in March or April.

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TSMC introduces N4X process technology for High-Performance Computing

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