Upcoming Smartphones in December 2021: Motorola, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Redmi, & more

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Dec 2, 2021

We are heading to the last month of this year which also brings us closer to the festive season. In December, there are phone launches from top Chinese smartphone brands thanks to the vouch of the availability of the recently announced Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. That said, there will be more mid-range phones coming out than budget-centric phones. Some of the confirmed and rumoured phone launches are from brands like Motorola, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Realme, Redmi, and Micromax.

1. Motorola Edge X30(Edge 30 Ultra)

Motorola is expected to launch one of the worlds first Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 powered flagship smartphones. Reportedly, the company will launch a device dubbed Motorola Edge X30(a.k.a Edge 30 Ultra) on December 9. The company on its social media handle has confirmed its arrival. Although there are only a few days left for its release, there’s still not much to learn about its specs.

So far we know that it could feature a 6.67-inch screen with a 144Hz AMOLED display. It is expected to have great cameras with a 50MP + 50MP + 2MP triple rear camera setup and a single 60MP selfie lens.

2. Xiaomi 12

Next up we have the upcoming Xiaomi 12 which will be another Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 powered device. The smartphone is rumoured to launch on December 12 booting with the new MIUI 13 software skin.

A recent report revealed that the smartphone will come with a triple camera system at the rear and will have an AG Glass body. The phone is expected to have a 50MP primary lens. Our exclusive screen protector leak of the Pro variant confirmed that the device may have a punch-hole screen with thinner bezels.

3. OnePlus RT

OnePlus RT a.k.a the OnePlus 9RT has been in the news for a long time. The smartphone is already available in the Chinese market selling with the moniker 9RT, however, the phone will debut as the OnePlus RT in the Indian region.

Unfortunately, the Indian launch date of the device is yet to be known but since many details are known, we expect it to debut soon. What we know is that the OnePlus RT may come at a starting price of Rs. 39,999 and will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC.

4. Redmi K50 series

Xiaomi’s Redmi is expected to launch the Redmi K50 series in the Chinese market. However, the exact date is unconfirmed. But, the leaks have taken over the internet and revealed plenty of the series’ details.

The Redmi K50 is expected to come with four different chipsets like the Snapdragon 870(a mid-range model), Snapdragon 8 Gen 1(flagship model), Dimensity 7000, and Dimensity 9000(game-centric model). All the phones in the series will boot on the upcoming MIUI 13 and are expected to debut by the end of this month. Later, these models could launch globally with different monikers.

5. Realme Narzo 50A Prime, Realme C35

Realme has been quiet for the last couple of weeks and that could mean that the company was working on a few phones under wraps. Recently, the company touted that it will soon launch a premium flagship smartphone and it was later revealed to be the successor of the Realme GT, the Realme GT 2 Pro.

Anyway, this premium flagship is nowhere to be expected to launch this month as the phone is yet to pass plenty of certifications before it releases. What could arrive are two budget-centric phones – the Realme Narzo 50A Prime and Realme C35.

Both the Narzo 50A Prime and the C35 will supposedly be the extensions of the 50 series and C-series respectively. That said, expect entry-level specs with big batteries as the key feature.

6. Xiaomi 11i, Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge

Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi Note 11T 5G in India and it looks like another Note 11 series phone may land in the market but with a different moniker. Xiaomi is expected to bring the China-exclusive Redmi Note 11 Pro+ in India with the moniker Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge.

The Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge is expected to bring a whopping 120W fast charging support and a 6.67-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is expected to come powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity SoC. The Xiaomi 11i, on the other hand, is expected to be another device with some downgraded specs sheet over the HyperCharge model.

7. Moto G200

The Snapdragon 888+ powered Moto G200 5G is expected to land in India after its initial European release. The flagship phone is expected to come at an aggressive price in the region. The exact launch date is yet to be known but it is touted to debut this month itself.

The Motorola G200 comes with a 6.8-inch punch-hole LCD display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Its major highlight is the 108MP triple rear camera system which is accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP depth sensor.

8. Micromax Budget phone

Indian phone maker Micromax on its Twitter handle confirmed that it will launch a new smartphone soon. Netizens expect that the new phone may debut this month itself. This device could be the Micromax In Note 1 Pro which recently passed a few certifications.

The Micromax In Note 1 Pro is powered by the MediaTek MT6785 SoC a.k.a the Helio G90 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. The phone is expected to bring major improvements over the vanilla In Note 1. It is expected to have a big battery with fast charging support. It may come with improvement cameras.

These are some of the phones coming up this month. Which device are you most excited about? Do tell us in the comments.

RELATED:

Acer unveils the Acerpure Cool C2 & Acerpure Pro P2 Air Purifiers in India

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 2, 2021

Taiwanese electronic corporation Acer has unveiled two new air purifiers in India. The two new products include Acerpure Cool C2 and Acerpure Pro P2 and both have a 4-in-1 HEPA filter that removes harmful bacteria, viruses, allergens, and pollutants from the room where the air purifier is in use. This ensures a safer and healthier home.

Acer touts the two new air purifiers as capable of handling the desire for safe inhalable air with its advanced filtration technology and smart features. The 4-in-1 HEPA filter is capable of eliminating up to 99% of airborne bacteria and 99.97% of ultrafine dust. The purifier is also active against Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 1.0 and 0.1 micrometers (PM1.0) and allergens.

Apart from being an air purifier, the Acerpure Cool also doubles as a fan for distributing the filtered fresh air as it has an advanced air circulator. The circulator is movable and can circulate air can oscillate effortlessly 90 degrees upwards/downwards and 80 degrees to the left to right. The air can reach a distance of up to 12 meters.

Further, there is an LCD screen at the front which shows the air quality data in real-time thanks to a smart sensor that detects the air quality. The speed of the fan increases or decreases automatically depending on the air quality.

The devices produce low working noises, ensuring it doesn’t disturb your sleep while working. The display can also be turned off in order to ensure your sleep isn’t disturbed.

As for the prices, the Acerpure Cool C2 is priced at Rs. 16,999 (~$227) while the Acerpure Pro P2 is priced at Rs. 21,999 (~$294). The products are already up for grabs at Amazon.in and from the company’s online store. Acer has also indicated that it will be sold on Acer Exclusive stores across several Indian cities.

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Microsoft adds new prompts to stop users from switching to Chrome

By

Sudhanshu

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Dec 2, 2021

Microsoft has been going full force in promoting its web browser, Edge, against the popular Google Chrome and has always tried subtle ways to push its proprietary browser forward. However, these subtle ways converted into somewhat of an underhanded method earlier this year, with Microsoft making it harder to switch the default Edge browser with the release of Windows 11.

Now, their latest attempt at this endeavor comes in the form of a prompt window in the Edge browser, discouraging people from downloading chrome on their PC. The prompts, first reported by Neowin, include messages like:

“Microsoft Edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with the added trust of Microsoft.”
“That browser is so 2008! Do you know what’s new? Microsoft Edge.”
“I hate saving money,’ said no one ever. Microsoft Edge is the best browser for online shopping.”

Edge prompt 3 — Microsoft Edge prompt when you visit the Chrome download page

Through multiple tries on multiple systems, we have confirmed one of these prompts, which appear different from pop-ups or prompts you’d typically find inside a website as they seem to be rendered natively by Edge. The prompt occurs when you visit the Google Chrome website while using Microsoft Edge as your browser. The prompt has no decline button, and the only way to get rid of it is by using the close prompt button marked by an “X” on the top right.

To be completely fair to Microsoft, Google also occasionally sends such pop-ups and prompts when using its search engine or other services. But at least Google allows the option to reject its advances.

As mentioned above, Microsoft has been trying to implement various methods to retain its users on the native Edge browser, but some have managed to circumvent it cleverly, like Mozilla firefox.

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve noticed any new attempts by Microsoft to prevent you from switching your default browser.

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Get OPPO Enco Free 2i Earbuds for $89.99 at Giztop

By

Daily Deals

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Dec 2, 2021

OPPO Enco Free 2i Earbuds is now available for all global customers for $89.99 only at Giztop.

WHERE TO BUY

OPPO Enco Free 2i Earbuds at $89.99 @Giztop

OPPO Enco Free 2i Earbuds

Key Features:

Elegant and minimalistic
Small and lightweight earbuds with an in-ear design
10mm audio drivers for stronger and deeper bass
42dB active noise cancellation
Special transparency mode
Bluetooth v5.2 for seamless and stable connectivity
47ms low latency
Supports remote photo capture and Vlog shoot mode
Battery: 4 hrs with ANC, 6.5 hrs without ANC, and 30 hrs with charging case

All global customers can now buy OPPO Enco Free 2i Earbuds for $89.99 only at Giztop. Also, note that Giztop is holding a special Holiday Season Flash sale wherein you can save up to $300 on various gadgets, smartphones, tablets, and smart home and gaming devices.

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

Canon CR-X300 Outdoor 4K All-in-one Camera with 20x zoom, 4-axis OIS launched

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 2, 2021

Canon has launched a new outdoor 4K camera that can function as a traditional camera as well as a surveillance camera. This all-in-one camera can be widely used in diverse outdoor shooting scenes such as weather monitoring, live broadcast of outdoor sports events, wildlife shooting, theme parks, and various event venues.

The CR-X300 all-in-one outdoor camera is equipped with a DIGIC DV6 image processor and uses the same core components as a professional camera. It supports the full HD super-sampling HD processing technology of the 4K sensor and can combine all 4K UHD pixels obtained by the 4K UHD CMOS image sensor.

In addition, the CR-X300 is not only equipped with a standard anti-shake function, which can realize 4-axis image stabilization with vertical/horizontal rotation correction but also equipped with a more powerful anti-shake function with a stronger correction effect, suitable for telephoto shooting.

The CR-X300 also features a 1/2.3 CMOS image sensor and a 20x zoom lens with 4K optics. It supports 29.3mm wide-angle end to 601mm telephoto end and can shoot and output 4K 30P / 4:2:2 10-bit high-quality video images, suitable for various video shooting scenes from wide-angle to ultra-telephoto range.

The camera comes with an IP65 level waterproof and dustproof rating. It is also equipped with an electric wiper while the body is made of corrosion-resistant materials. It can be used in strong winds and heavy rain outdoor environments without the need for a protective casing.

The CR-X300 also comes with a portable handheld gimbal that can be safely and easily carried with one hand when it needs to be used for shooting in different scenes. In addition, the CR-X300 supports “PoE++”, which can use a LAN cable to supply power and control the camera, thus saving wiring and installation costs.

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SERES AITO to launch first Huawei HarmonyOS cockpit powered EV in December

By

Sean

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Dec 2, 2021

Earlier today (2nd December 2021), Seres announced its new high end energy vehicle brand called AITO alongside its latest SERES Pure Electric Drive Extended Range Platform (DE-i). With the EV market booming, the brand would seek to compete with various established giants like Tesla in the Chinese market and will be powered by technologies from Huawei.

One of the most notable aspect regarding the new car is that it will be the first to be powered by Huawei’s proprietary operating system, the HarmonyOS. The upcoming EV will feature HarmonyOS Smart Cockpit that will aim to offer users a high end smart car experience in China. According to Yu Chengdong, CEO of Consumer BG of the Chinese tech giant, Huawei’s core technology that was built with over 30 years of experience in the industry will help power the medium sized luxury SUV from AITO.

The model in question SERES AITO M5 electric SUV, which will be launching in China on 23rd December 2021. This pure electric SUV is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometers an hour in just 4 seconds while also being capable of a total range exceeding 1000 kilometers as well through its extended range “endurance” mode offered by new the DE-i platform. Unfortunately, finer details regarding this vehicle likes its specifications and pricing is still unknown. While the announcement is arriving later this month, the official release for the medium sized SUV will be sometime next year.

RELATED:

Ulefone Power Armor 13 – A detailed look into the specially designed outdoor toolbox

By

Daily Deals

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Dec 2, 2021

Ulefone as a company has made a name in the rugged outdoor smartphone market. They design and build smartphones made for adventurers and globe trotters who love to spend their time outdoors in harsh and unforgiving terrains. Ulefone Power Armor 13 is one such rugged smartphone built for the outdoors.

With a 13200mAh battery, Ulefone Power armor 13 has won the honor of being the world’s first ultra-large battery rugged phone. With this massive battery, you can run the phone for almost 5 days on a single charge. Featuring a 6.81” FHD+ Screen, this phone is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. Powered by the MTK Helio G95 Octa-core processor, it comes with an 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM expandable up to 1TB.

Other features include Rear Quad Cameras: 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP, Max 4K video recording, 16MP front camera, 33W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse charging ,USB Type-C interface, 4 navigation viz:GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo, NFC, Fingerprint ID, Face unlocking, etc .

However, the highlight of this rugged smartphone lies in its specially designed outdoor toolbox. This fancy toolbox comes with one of the best, most interesting, and useful tools and functions that you can get in a smartphone in this segment. So let’s check out in detail the components of the Ulefone Power Armor 13 Outdoor Toolbox.

Outdoor Tool Box Components

Compass – To navigate the route and direction when going through unknown territory. Especially useful for adventure campers and trekkers.

2. Gradienter – To check whether the surface is horizontal or vertical. Especially useful when you are trekking in uneven terrain and want to calculate the horizontal distance.

3. Flashlight – Turns your smartphone into a bright torch, so that you can access the outdoors at night or trek through caves and dense forests without any worries.

4. Hanging Painting – Often when we try to mount a painting, mirror, or art on the wall, we worry about finding the perfect horizontal angle. Many times the picture is tilted and not perfectly horizontal. However, with this tool, you can check your mounted picture for accurate horizontal and vertical measurements.

5. Height Meter – This tool allows you to accurately estimate the height of an object. It can be helpful in treks and uneven terrains to gauge the height of a small hill or mound that you plan to climb. It gives you detailed information like the height, angle of elevation, angle of depression, target distance, target height, etc.

6. Magnifier – This tool is useful for not only adventure enthusiasts who may have to figure out shabby old and minuscule signboards but also for the elderly and visually challenged who may find it difficult to read small letters and words. Basically, it’s always good to have a magnifier in your pocket.

Ulefone Power Armor 13 Outdoor Toolbox

7. Alarm Bell – One of the most interesting and necessary tools for one and all. Whether you are a female traveling solo, a trekker lost in the trail, or a victim running from a criminal, the alarm function will work as a savior by alerting people nearby of your presence and danger. In this tool, you get a flashlight, alarm, and screen flash option.

8. Plumb Bob – Used to gauge a vertical line or plumb line this tool can be useful for builders, engineers as well as designers. It can also help a layman to gauge the vertical alignment of his plumb line.

9. Barometer – Used to measure air pressure at different altitudes. This tool is helpful for campers and trekkers and anyone who wants to go for a mountain resort vacation.

10. Protractor – Helps you to measure the angle and slope of an object.

11. Sound Meter – Shows decibel values by measuring the environmental noise. So next time instead of trying to convince your neighbor that his partying at midnight is exceeding the noise levels, simply show him or her the decibel values by using your Ulefone Power Armor 13.

12. Pedometer – This tool counts your steps accurately while walking, jogging, trekking, hiking, and running. All you have to do is enjoy your outdoors, as your Ulefone Power Armor 13 will measure your distance and steps.

For more details check out this video on the outdoor toolbox released by Ulefone.

As you can see every tool/function available in this specially designed outdoor toolbox is extremely useful and handy. If by profession, you are a designer, engineer, plumber, carpenter, or builder, then this toolbox is a must for you. However, if you are simply a traveler who enjoys being outdoors, even then the Ulefone Power Armor 13 with these practical and useful tools will come in handy.

Apple’s 2021 list of most downloaded apps is here and it’s got TikTok, Procreate, and Among Us!

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Dec 2, 2021

Apple today announced its much-anticipated list of the most downloaded apps across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. Unsurprisingly, the most popular free iPhone app in the United States was TikTok in 2021, while Procreate was the most popular paid app. As for free games on iPhone, Among Us secured the top rank, while Minecraft dominated the paid games realm.

The Cupertino-based tech giant also announced App Store Award winners, with children’s app maker Toca Boca winning iPhone App of the Year for “Toca Life World,” and Riot Games’ “League of Legends: Wild Rift” being declared the iPhone Game of the Year.

Typically, award winners are relative newcomers and are lauded for having taken advantage of Apple’s tech in innovative ways. However, with “Toca Life World,” the strategy seems to be a bit different this year. Its developer – Toca Boca – celebrated its ten-year anniversary this March, having released over 40 kids’ apps. Apple has accordingly praised the app maker for “masterfully iterating on the art of play and self-expression for kids.”

The past year has been rather tough for the Apple App Store owing to increased regulatory scrutiny and various lawsuits concerning its commission-based business model. The Epic Games case, for example, is still ongoing. As a result, Apple was forced to reduce commission in some cases and even adjust its policies. But despite this, its overall quality of apps remains high, especially when compared to that of Android.

Anyway, following are the lists of the most downloaded apps of the year in the US:

Top Free iPhone Apps

TikTok
YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
Instagram
Snapchat
Facebook
Messenger
Google Maps
Gmail – Email by Google
ZOOM Cloud Meetings
Amazon Shopping

Top Paid iPhone Apps

Procreate Pocket
HotSchedules
The Wonder Weeks
TouchRetouch
Facetune
Shadowrocket
75 Hard
Dark Sky Weather
Autosleep Track Sleep on Watch
SkyView®

Top Free iPhone Games

Among Us!
Roblox
Project Makeover
Call of Duty®: Mobile
Subway Surfers
High Heels!
Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
Water Sort Puzzle
Shortcut Run
Bridge Race

Top Paid iPhone Games

Minecraft
Heads Up!
Bloons TD 6
Monopoly
Geometry Dash
My Child Lebensborn
Plague Inc.
True Skate
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Incredibox

Top Free iPad Apps

YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
ZOOM Cloud Meetings
Disney+
Netflix
TikTok
Google Chrome
HBO Max: Stream TV & Movies
Hulu: Watch TV series & movies
Amazon Prime Video
Gmail — Email by Google

Top Paid iPad Apps

Procreate
GoodNotes 5
Notability
Duet Display
Toca Kitchen 2
Toca Life: Hospital
LumaFusion
Shadowrocket
Affinity Designer
Toca Life: Vacation

Top Free iPad Games

Among Us!
Roblox
Project Makeover
Phone Case DIY
Subway Surfers
Hair Challenge
Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
Tiles Hop – EDM Rush
Blob Runner 3D
Bridge Race

Top Paid iPad Games

Minecraft
Bloons TD 6
Geometry Dash
Monopoly
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Stardew Valley
Plague Inc.
Human: Fall Flat
Ultimate Custom Night
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Top Apple Arcade Games

The Oregon Trail
NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition
Sneaky Sasquatch
Sonic Racing
SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit
Skate City
PAC-MAN Party Royale
Cut the Rope Remastered
Hot Lava
Angry Birds Reloaded

RELATED:

Tesla launches Cyberquad for Kids, an all-electric ATV for $1,900

By

Sudhanshu

-

Dec 2, 2021

Earlier today, Tesla quietly made its move to capitalize on the holiday season hype with the release of an electric-powered ATV, the Cyberquad for kids.

This is not the first time the Cyberquad has made an appearance as many of you might remember it from the epic launch event for the Tesla Cybertruck. The ATV was loaded in the bed of the pickup truck and was initially announced to be sold as an accessory for the Cybertruck. Now, the kid’s version of the Cyberquad is listed on Tesla’s website with a price tag of $1,900.

A tweet made earlier today by Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer, features a video of him and his kids hitting the outdoors on their Cyberquads.

Out riding with the kids on the Cyberquads! So much fun for kids and adults! @tesla pic.twitter.com/gq23GWsiDk

— Franz von Holzhausen (@woodhaus2) December 2, 2021

Tesla Cyberquad for kids: specs, features, and availability

Tesla has listed the Cyberquad for kids as suitable for kids eight years old and up with a maximum weight capacity of 150 lbs (68kg). The design is inspired by the iconic Cybertruck and features a full steel frame, features a full steel frame, cushioned seat, and adjustable suspension with rear disk braking, and LED light bars. The Cyberquad for kids is powered by a lithium-ion battery with up to 15 miles (24 km) of range and a top speed of 10 mph. The speed can be configured into three settings, namely, 5 mph, 10 mph, and 5 mph reverse only. Tesla says it will take up to 5 hours to charge completely, and the battery range can be affected by a user’s weight, the riding terrain, and the speed setting.

The EV company has also put out a disclaimer stating that the Cyberquad for Kids will only ship in the US right now, and Tesla isn’t guaranteeing that the ATV will arrive prior to the holidays. The Cyberquad for kids is priced at $1,900 at Tesla’s websites and is said to begin shipping in 2-4 weeks.

RELATED:

Samsung hopes to capture 22% of the global smartphone market in 2022

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Dec 2, 2021

Samsung is aiming to hold a share of at least 21.9% in the global smartphone market for the entire year of 2022, a new report shows. The company expects that there will be a revenge spending trend in 2022 on smartphones due to prolonged COVID-19, which should boost smartphone sales.

Global smartphone shipments are expected to hit 1.52 billion next year – a 7.6% year-on-year increase – and Samsung hopes to sell at least 390 million units out of that, if its goal of 21.9% share is realized. But out of that figure, only 33 million units are expected to be that of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series. From this, 14 million S22 units are expected to be sold while the S22+ and the S22 Ultra will bring 8 and 11 million units, respectively.

Samsung is also planning an aggressive marketing campaign to help it fill the void left by Huawei, which it believes has still not been fully capitalized on.

Further, the South Korean tech giant expects Chinese smartphone OEMs to control a total of 45.5% market share in 2021. It also estimates that Apple‘s market share will rise from 15.8% in 2020 to 17.2% by the end of 2021.

Samsung has a rather jam-packed early 2022, starting with the launch of the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition at CES 2022, which will start on January 5. This will be followed by an Unpacked event in February where the Galaxy S22 series will be unveiled. In March, Samsung will lift the curtains on the Galaxy A33 and A53; in April the Galaxy A23; and in May Galaxy A73. The company expects to ship 267 million units for the entire year of 2022 of the Galaxy A20 and A30 series. And as for the Galaxy A50 and A70 series, sales of 92 million units are expected.

RELATED:

Nvidia re-releases RTX 2060 with 12GB VRAM to help ease GPU shortage

By

Sean

-

Dec 2, 2021

Earlier this year, Nvidia had announced that it will be relaunching some of its older graphics cards to help offer more low cost options in the market. And staying true to its word, the company has just rereleased the GeForce RTX 2060, which now features 12GB of VRAM.

For those unaware, the world is suffering from a global shortage of chipsets/semiconductors. During this time, Team Green had launched its highly anticipated RTX 3000 series. However, lack of supply paired with scalpers and crypto miners buying these GPUs in bulk meant that regular gamers and other customers couldn’t get their hands on the new cards. This even drove up the market prices for older cards and the second hand market as well. But now, these older cards could help ease this issue since scalpers and crypto miners are likely steer clear away from these low cost graphics card.

The new RTX 2060 will be available starting from 7th December 2021 and features slightly bumped up specs as well. This includes a higher base clock speed and a slight higher count of CUDA cores, with the newer model featuring 2,176 over the original’s 1,920. In certain ways, the specs are more in line with the refreshed RTX 2060 SUPER rather than the base 2060 from the last generation. Another notable difference is the VRAM that is now a sizeable 12GB, which is even higher than the high end RTX 3070 and RTX 3080.

Meaning, this could be a “premium” refresh of the RTX 2060. But unfortunately, Nvidia has yet to official reveal the pricing details for this GPU. Although, the RTX 2060 that launched back in 2019 retailed for 349 US Dollars. So, we can expect a price tag that is similar to this. While the effort to help ease the GPU shortage and scalping issue is a welcomed one, a single GPU in front of an overall chip shortage might not be quite effective as of right now.

RELATED:

Apple is having to deal with both iPhone 13 supply and demand shortfalls now

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Dec 2, 2021

Apple, already suffering from a supply crunch due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage, is now simultaneously also facing slowing demand. The company told its component suppliers that it may not order as many units as previously indicated.

Apple has already cut its iPhone 13 production goal by as many as 10 million units this year, down from a target of 90 million due to the shortage in parts availability (via Bloomberg). However, the company was hoping to make up for the decline next year, which does not seem that likely anymore.

The holiday season will be supplying the company with a much-needed boost though, with analysts predicting a sales increase of 6% to $117.9 billion in the final three months of the calendar year. This still won’t be what Apple and Wall Street had envisioned though. Shortages and delivery delays have already frustrated many and several consumers have finally called it quits trying to acquire the hard-to-get iPhone 13, leading to a decline in demand.

Such consumers will likely be skipping the iPhone 13 altogether and will instead be setting their crosshairs on next year’s iPhone 14 when it goes live. After all, the iPhone 13 is only a minor upgrade over the iPhone 12, both in terms of specifications and design. The succeeding iPhone 14, on the other hand, is expected to bring along some major improvements, which has incentivized buyers to wait for it.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, declined to comment on it all.

RELATED:

Honor 50 series’ user experience with Snapdragon 778G rivals Snapdragon 888 phones: Exec

By

Sean

-

Dec 2, 2021

The Honor 60 series had just been launched in the Chinese market. After the launch event ended, the company’s CEO, Zhao Ming, accepted an interview in which he talked about the brand’s emphasis on good optimization.

According to MyDrivers report, the senior official said in the interview that only a few smartphone brands have been able to utilize the full potential of existing mobile chipsets. He further added that back in June, the company had launched its Honor 50 series, which was quite successful in the company’s home market of China. The executive stated that the company had even tested various on the smartphone that featured the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC and found that the phone managed to rival and even beat some devices that featured the high end flagship Snapdragon 888 chip.

For those unaware, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 700 series of chips are aimed towards mid range handsets while the Snapdragon 800 series are targeted towards top end premium phones. So, these results did not imply that the 778G was faster than the 888, rather that the company’s optimizations were better than the competition. Zhao Ming said that the overall performance offered from the chipset and its energy efficiency optimizations was poor in some Snapdragon 888 phones from other brands.

In other words, the official said Honor will work with mobile chipmakers to offer various solutions to further improve their SoC offerings. He stated that Honor will jointly work with chipmakers to offer better optimizations that is geared as per the consumer’s needs. This includes any issue in design or the inability to solve customer’s problems that are based around application scenarios. Ming believes that the Honor 50 series’ in depth optimization that offers a great user experience is the reason why the device saw success in China.

RELATED:

OnePlus 9R receives the November 2021 security patch with OxygenOS 11.2.6.6 Update

By

Sudhanshu

-

Dec 2, 2021

OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone maker has started rolling out a new update for the OnePlus 9R. This update brings the November 2021 Android security patch to the device. In November, the update was released for other 9 series devices like the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro, but the 9R was left out of this update cycle, making many device owners concerned.

The November patch for the 9R comes with OxygenOS 11.2.6.6. OnePlus announced the deployment of the update on the OnePlus Community forums. Let us take a detailed look at what the update has in store for device users.

OnePlus 9R OxygenOS 11.2.6.6 update changelog

System
- Improved system stability and fixed known issues
- Updated Android security patch to 2021.11

The update comes with firmware version 11.2.6.6.LE28DA and is pretty lightweight at 372MBs. The company stated that the OTA update would come as an incremental rollout, meaning the update would arrive in waves to its customers. Hence, device owners should expect the OTA notification in the upcoming days. You can also manually check for the update by navigating to Settings > System > System Update.

With rumors of the imminent OnePlus 9RT launch in India, which is currently exclusive to the Chinese market, Customers can expect a price cut on the 9R model, making it even more affordable.

OnePlus 9R 5G specs and features

The OnePlus 9R 5G features a 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED screen that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an in-screen fingerprint reader. The device boots Android 11 based OxygenOS 11 out of the box.

The OnePlus 9R draws power from the Snapdragon 870 chipset and LPDDR4x RAM. The handset offers users UFS 3.1 storage and it is backed by a 4,500mAh battery, which supports Warp Charge 65. For audiophiles, the OnePlus 9R has Dolby Atmos-powered dual stereo speakers.

On the front side of the OnePlus 9R 5G is a Sony IMX471 16-megapixel selfie camera. The rear-facing camera island has a Sony IMX586 48-megapixel primary camera with OIS and EIS support, a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens with a 123-degree FOV, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The handset is packed with connectivity features like dual SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, dual-frequency GPS, and a USB-C port.

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HUAWEI Mate9 series, P10 series, and more get HarmonyOS 2 stable update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Dec 2, 2021

Huawei has been rolling out HarmonyOS 2 for eligible devices for the past few months. Almost all the devices released in recent years have been updated to the stable channel. Hence, the company has now started pushing the latest software to even older devices.

According to the official Weibo account of HarmonyOS, Huawei has now begun to seed HarmonyOS 2 stable update for smartphones like the HUAWEI Mate9 series, HUAWEI P10 series, HUAWEI nova 3 series, HONOR Play, and more. The update is also being rolled out to select older tablets.

Here’s the list of 19 devices that have now started receiving HarmonyOS 2 stable update in China.

HUAWEI P10 Plus
HUAWEI P10
PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate9
HUAWEI Mate9 Pro
HUAWEI Mate9
HUAWEI nova 3
HUAWEI nova 3i
HUAWEI nova 2s
HUAWEI Enjoy 9 Plus
HONOR 9
HONOR V9
HONOR Play
HONOR Note10
HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Pro 10.8-inch
HUAWEI MediaPad M5 10.8-inch
HUAWEI MediaPad M5 8.4-inch
HUAWEI Enjoy Tablet 2
HONOR Pad 6 10.6-inch
HONOR Pad X6

Similarly, the following 6 devices will get access to HarmonyOS 2 stable update in early December in China

HUAWEI nova 8 SE Vitality Edition
HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Youth Edition 10.1-inch
HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Youth Edition 8-inch
HUAWEI Enjoy Tablet 10.1-inch
HONOR Pad 5 10.1-inch
HONOR Pad 5 8-inch

Like any other OTA software update, the HarmonyOS 2 stable update for the above-listed HUAWEI and HONOR-branded phones and tablets is also being seeded out in batches.

Samsung Galaxy S22 series tempered film leak confirms rear camera design for all three models

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Dec 2, 2021

The Samsung Galaxy S22 series is set to diverge plenty from its preceding lineup, with the vanilla Galaxy S22 even becoming a Mini model of sorts with its ‘tiny’ screen of 6.06-inches. The largest model on the other hand – the S22 Ultra – will likely be a true replacement for the now decommissioned Galaxy Note series and will thus be nothing like the S21 Ultra. However, new evidence shows that the S22 and S22+ models will be looking very much like their predecessors, even as their sizes will be very different.

Tipster 8090 Digital Beauty on Weibo (via Notebookcheck) claims to have snapped “S22 tempered films” in the wild. Pictures show what appears to be regular tempered glass but with a twist – they’re actually for the camera lenses and not the display.

The tempered glass for the Galaxy S22 and S22+ appear to be for a design almost identical to this year’s S21 and S21+ models. As such, the camera modules of both the devices are in a traffic-light configuration, with 2 opposite corners being pointy while the other 2 are curved.

The tempered glass for the Galaxy S22 Ultra, however, seems to be for a unique camera module design that sits well with former design leaks. There is one odd difference though. The tempered film is designed to fit on a unified camera module, as shown in the first picture below, and not separated camera lenses as shown in picture two.

1 of 2

Apart from this, the tipster has shared another image showcasing screen protectors for the entire Galaxy S22 lineup. The glass for the vanilla S22 proves that it’s indeed much smaller when compared to the other two. The image also reveals that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will be sporting a very rectangular, boxy design with little to no rounded corners, very much reminiscent of the Note series.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 series is expected to be launched in February and will be featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Exynos 2200 chipsets for the first time on a Samsung device.

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Vivo Y55s key specs revealed on TENAA prior to launch in China

By

Sean

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Dec 2, 2021

The upcoming Vivo Y55s have just been spotted on another Chinese database. The smartphone was listed on the Chinese TENAA database, which revealed some of its key specs just prior to its official launch.

According to a 91Mobiles report, the smartphone was spotted on the China’s TENAA website that revealed quite a lot of details about the upcoming device. According to the online database, the Y55s will sport a 6.58 inch LCD display that has a FHD+ resolution, although, its unsure if the refresh rate will be higher than the standard 60Hz. Furthermore, the smartphone will feature up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

The device from the Chinese smartphone maker also features a fingerprint sensor as well, but its unknown if its either housed on the side or under the display. On the rear, the smartphone will sport a dual camera setup on the rear, with a 50 megapixel primary sensor and another 2 megapixel shooter, which is likely a depth sensor. For selfie, the device features an 8 megapixel camera. Notably, the TENAA listing also revealed that the device will be powered by a large 4,910mAh battery pack, although, China Telecom’s database suggested an even larger 6,000mAh battery.

The Vivo Y55s will likely support fast charging and run Android 11 OS with a custom skin and support dual SIM as well. As per the China Telecom listing, the device is reportedly set to launch with a price tag of 1,899 Yuan (roughly 300 US Dollars) for its 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration. Unfortunately, the TENAA listing did not reveal the CPU details, but China Telecom listed the device with a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC.

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Xiaomi 12 to sport triple camera setup on upper left corner of its AG glass rear panel: Tipster

By

Sean

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Dec 2, 2021

With the Xiaomi 12 series launch being just around the corner, new rumors and leaks are expected to surface. Now, a latest report has revealed that the upcoming flagship series will sport a triple camera setup on the rear, which features an AG glass body.

The latest information arrives from known tipster @数码闲聊站 who shared the news on Weibo (a Chinese microblogging website). As per the post on social media, the Xiaomi 12 base and Pro variants will feature a triple camera module on the rear, which will be positioned on the upper left corner. Furthermore, the rear panel of the smartphones will feature an AG glass body as well, similar to the previously released Xiaomi Civi.

Unfortunately, the tipster did not reveal any notable information apart from this minor details. Although, the leak is in line with previous reports and renders that showcased the device with a similar camera setup and positioning. Talking about the specs of the device, the premium grade handset is expected to feature a 50 megapixel triple camera setup along with support for 100W fast charging.

Furthermore, it is also set to be one of the first smartphone to feature Qualcomm’s newly released Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC as well. Keep in mind that the news shared by the tipster is not official, so take it with a pinch of salt for now, and stay tuned for more updates.

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Here’s why Nokia 9 PureView Android 11 update got canceled

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Dec 2, 2021

HMD Global resurrected Nokia-branded smartphones with Android as the operating system. During its earlier days, the company was well-known for delivering software updates in a timely manner. With passing years and a growing portfolio, the firm began to fail in the only regard it was famous for. The Finnish company has now reached a situation that it had to cancel a promised update for its last premium phone.

Nokia 9 PureView Featured A — Nokia 9 PureView

Yesterday, HMD Global revealed that the Nokia 9 PureView will not receive the long-awaited Android 11 update. This device is part of the Android One program. Hence, it is supposed to get two Android updates and three years of security updates.

But unfortunately, the company has only managed to deliver a single Android update (Android 10) in late 2019 soon after the handset’s release. The phone was first scheduled to receive the Android 11 update in Q2 2021. However, it was later delayed to Q3 2021 and was never materialized.

Interestingly, HMD Global decided to announce the cancellation of the update on its 5th anniversary. The company cites ‘incompatibilities between the camera and the software’ as the primary reason to scrap the update.

In case you have forgotten, Nokia 9 PureView sports a penta-camera setup developed by Light. Since Light has exited the smartphone industry, there’s no way HMD Global could optimize for the camera for a newer version of Android.

Anyway, the handset will continue to receive security updates and users can avail a 50% discount on the Nokia XR20 to experience Android 11.

Realme 9i official design revealed through concept renders

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Dec 2, 2021

Realme 9i is expected to launch in global markets in January 2022. Well ahead of the launch, publication, ThePixel.vn shared the renders of the Realme 9i. The new images are not the official images of the phone, but they are based on the actual device.

The Realme 9i renders show that its appearance will be similar to the Realme GT Neo2 flagship phone, which debuted first in China back in September. The Realme 9i images show that its screen has a round-shaped camera cutout at the top-left corner. The bottom bezel of the 9i is a bit compared to its other bezels.

Realme 9i concept renders by ThePixel.vn

The design of the Realme 9i’s rear camera setup seems to be inspired by the GT Neo2. It has three cameras and an LED flash. Like other Realme phones, the 9i has a power key on the right and volume buttons on the right.

An absence of a physical fingerprint scanner suggests that it could be equipped with an in-screen fingerprint scanner. This indicates that the phone may feature an OLED panel. It is advisable to wait for concrete details to appear to confirm whether it has an OLED panel. As far as specs, there is no clear information on its hardware.

Realme is speculated to hold two launch events in India to announce the Realme 9 series of smartphones. The first is likely to be organized by the end of January 2022 and the second one could be held in February.

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