Global smartphone shipments decline 6.7% YoY in Q3 2021, reports IDC

By

-

Oct 29, 2021

International Data Corporation (IDC) has today released a new research report revealing mobile phone market shipments for the third quarter of this year, i.e. Q3 2021. The report reveals that 331.2 million units were shipped in the third quarter, representing a 6.7 percent decline year-on-year.

The numbers are worse than the analysts’ expectations of a 2.9 percent decline for Q3 2021. The report is citing the global supply chain issues, shortage of components, and seasonal factors as the primary reasons for the decline.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus Display Featured — Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

The report further adds that the regions like Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan and China) saw the largest year-on-year decline of -23.2 percent and -11.6 percent.

However, markets like the United States, Western Europe, and China saw an overall decline of -0.2 percent, -4.6 percent, and -4.4 percent respectively. This is because these regions are valued more by the suppliers.

South Korean giant Samsung remains the market leader with shipments of 69 million units, covering 20.8 percent of the market share in the third quarter of this year. The company witnessed a decline of 14.2 percent year-on-year in Q3 2021.

Apple takes the second spot with 50.4 million shipments and a 15.2 percent market share, registering a 20.8 percent year-on-year increase. Xiaomi, the Chinese brand, shipped 44.3 million units, capturing a 13.4 percent market share and registering a 4.6 percent drop.

Vivo and OPPO tied for the fourth position, with shipments of 33.3 million units and 33.2 million units, respectively, with market shares of 10.1% and 10.0%. The shipments for Vivo grew by 5.8% year-on-year, while OPPO‘s shipments increased by 8.6% year-on-year at the end of the third quarter.

Counterpoint Research recently released a report for the smartphone shipments in the Chinese market, which witnessed 76.5 million shipments in Q3 2021, a 9 percent year-on-year decline, and a 3 percent month-on-month increase.

In the Chinese market, Vivo leads with a 23 percent market share, while OPPO grabs the second spot with a 20 percent market share. Honor and Xiaomi are in the third and fourth position with 15 percent and 14 percent market share, respectively.

RELATED:

iQOO Neo6 SE could be coming with Snapdragon 778G Plus

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Oct 29, 2021

iQOO announced the iQOO Z5 in September in China and India. Last week, it unveiled the iQOO Z5x handset in China. There have been reports that the iQOO Z5 series has a Pro version waiting in line to go official. A Chinese tipster has now claimed that the device that was expected to launch as the iQOO Z5 Pro has been rebadged as the iQOO Neo6 SE.+

The tipster further claimed that that the Neo6 SE could be powered by the Snapdragon 778G+ mobile platform, which was recently announced by Qualcomm. She did not share any information on the other specs of the Neo6 SE but claimed that it will be available in three colors.

iQOO is also speculated to announce another model called the iQOO Neo5s by mid-November. The device is expected to arrive with a 6.56-inch curved edge screen powered by an independent display engine. It is expected to carry support for a 120Hz refresh rate. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. The device is expected to come with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of built-in storage.

The Neo5s will feature a 16-megapixel front camera, and its rear shell will house an OIS-enabled 48-megapixel Sony IMX598 main camera. It will come with other features like a heat dissipation system, a big battery, and it will carry support for 66W fast charging.

Recently, a Vivo phone with a V2154A model number was certified by the 3C authority. It was spotted with a 66W fast charger. Probably, this phone will be released in the Chinese market with the iQOO Neo5s moniker.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G gets ₹5,000 ($67) discount in India ahead of Diwali

By

Jeet

-

Oct 29, 2021

Last month, Samsung had launched its latest smartphone under the Galaxy M-lineup in Poland, which was followed by the phone’s launch in the Indian market as the successor to the Galaxy M51 but falls short of the Galaxy A52s 5G.

When launched in India, the device had a starting price of ₹29,999 (~$401) for the 6GB RAM model while the 8GB RAM model costs ₹31,999 (~$428). But now, the smartphone has received a price cut of ₹5,000 in the offline market ahead of the Diwali festival.

After the price cut, the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model will be available for ₹24,999 while the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model will cost ₹26,999. However, the offer is applicable from 28th October to 31st October.

Do note that this new discount is for offline stores only. If purchased through Amazon, the 6GB RAM model is available at ₹25,999, and the 8GB RAM option costs ₹27,999.

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G features a 6.7-inch sAMOLED+ Infinity-O Full HD+ display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, 16 million colors, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a centered punch-hole, with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top.

Under the hood, the device comes powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. There’s also a microSD card slot for expanding the storage capacity.

The handset features a triple camera setup on the back consisting of a 64-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide unit, and a 5-megapixel macro snapper. On the front side, the device has a 32-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

As for the connectivity, it supports dual-SIM, 5G (11 bands), dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GNSS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. The device also comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security.

In the software department, the phone runs the Android 11 operating system with One UI 3.1 custom interface. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery which comes with support for 25W fast charging technology but it comes with a 15W charger in the box.

RELATED:

Nokia T20 tablet goes on sale in the United States earlier than its planned release date

By

Jeet

-

Oct 29, 2021

Recently, just a couple of weeks back, Nokia launched its latest tablet in the market, dubbed as Nokia T20. Now, the company has started selling the product in the United States that too ahead of its planned shipping date.

HMD Global, the company behind new Nokia devices, had revealed that it will start selling the Nokia T20 tablet in the market from 17th November. But now, the tablet is in stock and ready to be shipped to the customers.

Currently, the device is priced at $249.99 in the United States and comes in just one color option — Ocean Blue. It is also available in just a single memory version that packs 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

The Nokia T20 features a 10.4-inch display with 1200 x 2000 pixels (2K) screen resolution and a 5:3 aspect ratio. The company says that the display is protected by toughened glass but it has not revealed which one.

Under the hood, the device comes powered by the Unisoc T610 processor which is an octa-core offering that includes two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 1.8GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.8GHz. As noted, the device comes packed with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There’s also a microSD card slot for expanding the storage capacity up to 512GB.

In the camera department, the device features an 8-megapixel snapper on the back of the phone with an LED flash. On the front side, the device has a 5-megapixel snapper that sits at the top of the display in landscape mode.

There’s no fingerprint scanner on the device but the tablet supports Face Unlock. It runs the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with Google Kids Space and Google Entertainment Space. The company has promised two years of OS upgrades which means it should get upgraded to Android 12 and Android 13. It will also receive 3 years of monthly security updates while the enterprise edition will get 4 years of security updates.

The Nokia T20 is powered by an 8,200mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. This should be enough for up to 10 hours of movies or 15 hours of web surfing. However, the charger bundled with the device supports only 10W charging.

RELATED:

Facebook is now Meta, kills Oculus name too

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 28, 2021

There have been reports that Facebook is planning to change its name, a move that will help people separate the parent company from the social media platform. Today, the tech giant revealed its new name is Meta.

The name was revealed by Mark Zuckerberg during the company’s Connect event. Meta will be the name of the parent company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Quest (Oculus is being retired). Think of it as the way Alphabet is the parent company of Google, Google Ventures, Waymo, Fitbit, Wing, etc.

Following the announcement, folks have renamed the acronym FAANG which stands for Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google to MANGA – Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Google, and Apple.

The change in name doesn’t come with a change in the company’s corporate structure according to Mark Zuckerberg in a blog post. However, financial reports will be different starting with Q4 2021. The company’s financial reports will be split into two – Family of Apps and Reality Labs. It will also trade under “MVRS” on the stock exchange.

In an interview with The Verge, Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that he has been thinking of rebranding the company since he acquired Instagram and WhatsApp. The change in name is also one of the steps the company is taking towards building the metaverse – “an internet platform that will be more immersive” and “with a feeling of presence like you are right there with another person or in another place.”

VR is the future of Meta(verse)

VR will be the backbone of the metaverse as Meta plans to bring 1 billion people into VR. To achieve this goal, the company has revealed it plans to sell its devices at cost or subsidized to make them reach more people. It will also continue to support side-loading and streaming from PCs to provide users with options rather than forcing them to use the Quest Store.

RELATED:

Huawei Enjoy 20e featuring Helio P35 and Kirin 710A versions launched in China

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 28, 2021

Huawei has finally launched the entry-level Enjoy 20e smartphone in China. The device arrives at a time the Chinese tech giant is still grappling with the US ban coupled with the global chip shortage. Notwithstanding, the device arrives in two versions powered by two different chipsets.

The higher Huawei Enjoy 20e model is powered by an in-house Kirin 70A chipset paired with 6GB of RAM while the second variant packs a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset with 4GB of RAM. The two models come with 64GB/128GB storage options.

In terms of the design, the two Enjoy 20e versions adopt a similar design. The device sports a 6.3-inch LCD screen with an HD+ resolution. The display uses a waterdrop notch that houses an 8MP camera sensor for selfies. At the rear, there is a dual-camera setup hooked up inside a vertically aligned module. The rear camera consists of a 13MP main shooter as well as a 2MP depth sensor.

The device packs a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner on the back something that was missing on the Enjoy 10e. Under the hood, there is also a massive 5000mAh battery that is guaranteed to keep the lights on for a long time. The device also supports reverse charging.

As for the pricing and availability, the Huawei Enjoy 20e Helio P35 version is presently on sale in China via Huawei’s mall- Vmall. It carries a decent price tag of 999 yuan (~$155) for the 4GB+64GB version while the 4GB+128GB version comes in at 1,199 yuan (~$185). Huawei is yet to release the pricing and availability details for the Kirin 710A variant.

RELATED:

Redmi Note 11 vs Note 11 Pro vs Note 11 Pro+: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Oct 28, 2021

Xiaomi just launched the Redmi Note 11 series, and a lot of people are already wondering whether flagship phones still make sense. The newly-announced lineup contains three phones: Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11 Pro, and Redmi Note 11 Pro+. All of these phones belong to the mid-range segment, but in what do they differ?

This comparison between their specifications will let you find out.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus

	Xiaomi Redmi Note 11	Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro	Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus
THICKNESS AND WEIGHT	8.8 mm and 195 grams	8.3 mm and 207 grams	8.3 mm and 204 grams
DISPLAY	6.6 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Mediatek Dimensity 810, octa-core 2.4 GHz	Mediatek Dimensity 920, octa-core 2.5 GHz	Mediatek Dimensity 920, octa-core 2.5 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 11, MIUI	Android 11, MIUI	Android 11, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 108 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.9 + f/2.4 16 MP front camera	Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 13 MP f/2.5 front camera	Triple 108 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.4 16 MP front camera
BATTERY	5160 mAh, fast charging 67W	5000 mAh, fast charging 67W	4500 mAh, fast charging 120W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot, splash resistant (IP53), 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

The vanilla Redmi Note 11 has exactly the same design as the Pro and the Pro Plus variants. The Pro variants are built with a glass back, while the vanilla version is made of plastic, but it is dust resistant and splash resistant with the IP53 certifications. The handsets come with a punch-hole display and a rectangular camera module on the rear side, which reminds me of the one found on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra. They all sport a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for authentication.

Display

If you need a display with higher image quality, then choose either the Redmi Note 10 Pro or the Pro Plus. They are equipped with the same AMOLED display, showing the images with a Full HD+ resolution and supporting a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The AMOLED display provides more vibrant colors and deeper black if compared to the IPS LCD display found on the vanilla Redmi Note 11 with a 90 Hz refresh rate. The handsets have stereo speakers and a 3.5 mm audio jack supporting 24-bit / 192 kHz audio.

Hardware/Software

Just like the display, the Redmi Note 11 Pro and the Pro+ also come with the same and better hardware than the vanilla Redmi Note 11. They are powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 920 5G processor, paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 2.2 native storage. However, the Redmi Note 11 still comes with a good midrange chipset: the Dimensity 810, and the highest-end memory configuration is the same as the Pro variants. All the new phones run Android 11 customized by MIUI 12.5.

Camera

The Redmi Note 11 Pro and the 11 Pro+ sport better cameras: on the rear side, they have a triple camera including a 108 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide camera, and a 2 MP telephoto macro camera. You get just a 50 MP main sensor and a 2 MP macro camera with the Redmi Note 11. All the phones feature the same 16 MP front camera for selfies.

Battery

If you need the longest battery life, then you should go for the Redmi Note 11 Pro without thinking twice. Its battery has a capacity of 5160 mAh and, alongside the AMOLED display, it should achieve an outstanding battery life. The Redmi Note 11 comes right after with its 5000 mAh battery. The Pro Plus has the smallest battery with a capacity of 4500 mAh, but it supports the fastest charging technology with a power of 120W.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus: Price

The Redmi Note series was launched in China with price tags starting from €160/$187 for the vanilla version, €220/$257 for the Pro, and €260/$304 for the Pro+. In my opinion, the best one in terms of value for money is the Redmi Note 11 Pro because it has the biggest battery, AMOLED display, and the same hardware and cameras as the Pro+.

If we exclude the faster 120W charging technology, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ is a Note 11 Pro with a smaller battery.

WHERE TO BUY

REDMI NOTE 11 Pro @ GIZTOP

REDMI NOTE 11 Pro Plus @ GIZTOP

Read More: Redmi Note 11 trio announced with a mix of OLED/LCD screens, MediaTek SoCs & more!

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

PROS

IP53 splash resistant
More affordable
Big battery

CONS

IPS display

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro

PROS

Great chipset
Very good camera
Biggest battery
Good quality price ratio
AMOLED display

CONS

Nothing particular

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus

PROS

Great cameras
Good hardware
Fastest charging
AMOLED display

CONS

Higher price

Buy Redmi Note 11 series from $229 at Giztop: Redmi Note 11 / Redmi Note 11 Pro / Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus

RELATED

Check the latest videos from our YouTube channel and subscribe:

AGM Glory rugged smartphone goes official with 48MP Sony camera, 8GB RAM and 6200mAh battery

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Oct 28, 2021

AGM is evolving its product catalog with the launch of new smartphones and products. After excelling in the feature-rugged smartphone market, the company finally introduced a rugged smartphone – AGM Glory featuring Snapdragon 480 SoC, 8GB RAM, and 128/256GB internal storage. The smartphone runs on Android 11 and offers an excellent photography experience with its 48MP primary Sony sensor.

Must See: Chinese rugged phone maker AGM teases a brick phone, resembles vintage Motorola Dynatac

AGM Glory Specs

AGM Glory is a fully rugged smartphone and is IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H military-grade certified for protection against water, dust, and drop. It features a large 6200 mAh battery which can withstand for a couple of days upon a single full charge. Surprisingly, AGM Glory can endure extreme weather conditions as it can offer a day of power standby under -27° Celcius, 3 hours under -30° Celcius, and an hour under -40° Celcius. The Heat Protection system allows the smartphone to work under such low temperatures.

The smartphone comes with a Reinforced frame which is designed to sustain the toughest situations. Its display is 0.3mm beneath the frame and, the gap is bound with AGM ball-grid array. However, the Bite pattern helps reduce the chances of slipping, while fiberglass protects the smartphone.

AGM Glory features a 6.53-inch LCD Full HD+ display with 2340 x 1080 pixels resolution. The design technology prevents damage to display by 78% as it is present 0.3mm beneath the body.

The smartphone supports 5G connectivity, thanks to the Snapdragon 480 SoC. Built on 8nm process, the SoC also supports SA and NSA 5G modes. In the camera department, the user will get a decent photography experience with its Sony IMX582 48MP primary camera. It also bundles a thermal imaging camera, a 20MP infrared night vision sensor, and a macro sensor to capture the tiny world in detail. A 16MP camera sits on the front for selfies.

The new smartphone offers one of the loudest smartphone speakers with a 110dB level. It runs on Android 11 with all its luxuries and privacy features. AGM Glory offers touchless payments via NFC and supports dual-SIM. It also carries a custom side-key for extending the overall functionality. There’s a Type-C port and 3.5mm earphone plug for flawless entertainment.

AGM Glory is available in three models, Standard Glory, Glory SE, and GLory Pro. Below is the image showing the comparison of all three models.

It is an interesting smartphone series, that is available at competitive pricing. You can know more about the device by heading to the official website.

Related: AGM G1 and AGM G1 Pro rugged phones pack a Snapdragon 480 chip, thermal imaging, and a 3.5W speaker

iPad Air vs iPad Mini 6: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Oct 28, 2021

Apple officially launched the 6th generation of the iPad Mini and it is definitely the most attractive compact tablet out there. Despite it being one of the smallest and most affordable tablets by Apple, it comes with some flagship-class specifications that a lot of people would never expect, as well as a top-notch design. Is this powerful advanced enough to compete with the latest Apple iPad Air? Through this comparison, we will try to answer by highlighting the main differences between the Apple iPad Air 2020 and the 6th generation of the iPad Mini released in 2021. If you do not know the iPad Mini 6, we believe you will be surprised after reading this comparison.

Apple iPad Air vs Apple iPad Mini 6th gen

	Apple iPad Air	Apple iPad Mini 6th gen
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm, 458 grams	195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm, 293 g
DISPLAY	10.9 inches, 1640 x 2360p (Full HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD	8.3 inches, 1488 x 2266p (Quad HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core 3 GHz	Apple A15 Bionic, hexa-core 2.93GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	iPadOS 14	iPadOS 15
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA	Single 12 MP f/1.8 7 MP f/2.0 front camera	Single 12 MP f/1.8 12 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY	7606 mAh	19.3 Wh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Optional LTE, pen support, eSIM	Pen support, Optional LTE, optional 5G, eSIM

Design

The Apple iPad Air 2020 and the iPad Mini 6th gen have similar aesthetics. They come with a full metal unibody design and a display with very narrow bezels, as well as a very thin profile and a lightweight body. The iPad Air 2020 has bigger dimensions and it weighs more but it is thinner, while the iPad Mini 6 is more compact and thicker, but it has a lower weight. If you do not mind about the dimensions, then iPad Air 2020 is more attractive because it has a higher screen to body ratio and the bezels around the display are narrower. You can attach a Magic Keyboard to the iPad Air 2020 but not to the iPad Mini 6th gen.

Display

The displays of the iPad Air 2020 and the iPad Mini 6th are more or less at the same level. They feature similar resolutions, the same brightness, and the same advanced technology to improve visibility and image quality. The real difference between these two displays is the size: the Apple iPad Air 2020 has a wide diagonal of 10.9 inches, while the iPad Mini 6th gen has just 8.3 inches and it is one of the most compact tablets in the market. If you want to bring your tablet everywhere easily, then you should go for the iPad Mini 6th gen. But if you want a more comfortable device for productivity and advanced usage scenarios, then it is better to go for the iPad Air 2020.

Specs & Software

The iPad Mini 6th gen is equipped with a more advanced hardware department. It has a stronger chipset: an Apple A15 Bionic, the same chipset as the iPhone 13 lineup but downclocked. The max frequency is 2.93 GHz, but it is still more powerful than the Apple A14 Bionic found on the Apple iPad Air 2020. Both the tablets come with 4 GB of RAM and either 64 GB or 256 GB of internal storage depending on the chosen configuration. The iPad Mini 6th gen ships with iOS 15 out of the box, while the iPad Air 2020 is based on iPadOS 14: this means that the Mini will most likely get one more year of updates.

Camera

With the Apple iPad Air 2020, you can get better photo quality thanks to a better rear camera. Its 12 MP sensor has a brighter f/1.8 focal aperture allowing it to capture more detail with less digital noise in low light conditions. The iPad Mini 6th gen has a 12 MP rear camera as well, but with an f/2.4 focal aperture. On the other hand, the iPad Mini 6th gen features a better 12 MP front camera, so it is a better device for video calls and conferences.

Read More: Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 & Mi Pad 5 Pro Official: 11″, 120Hz refresh rate, 5G, MIUI for Pad & more!

Battery

The Apple iPad Air 2020 has bigger dimensions and it houses a bigger battery with a capacity of 7606 mAh. That is the reason why it lasts more on a single charge in a lot of scenarios, but the iPad Mini 6th gen has a lower energy consumption due to more efficient components, so it reaches similar results.

Price

You can find the iPad Air for about €600 or $550, while the iPad Mini 6th gen is priced at $500 or €550. Note that we listed the European and American prices, but they vary depending on the specific region. The iPad Mini 6th gen offers a better hardware setup and a better front camera, while iPad Air has a better rear camera, a bigger battery, and a bigger display. Which one would you pick?

Apple iPad Air vs Apple iPad Mini 6th gen: PRO and CONS

Apple iPad Air

PRO

Better prices
Bigger display
Keyboard support
Bigger battery

CONS

Inferior hardware

Apple iPad Mini 6th gen

PRO

iOS 15 out of the box
More compact
Best chipset
Better front camera

CONS

Smaller display

RELATED

Up to 70% OFF, Free Gifts and Giveaways from UMIDIGI at the Singles Day Sale at AliExpress

By

Daily Deals

-

Oct 28, 2021

UMIDIGI has come out with various deals and offers as a part of the 11.11 Singles Day Global Shopping Festival only at AliExpress. Under the singles day festival, UMIDIGI will have its biggest sale of the year, with up to 70% OFF on its various products.

The technology brand has come up with various activities like giveaways, snap-ups, discount coupons, free coupons, free orders, etc to celebrate Singles Day. The offers and activities start gradually from 28 October 2021 and will last up to 12 November 2021. So let’s check out some of the interesting deals available under this sale.

SNAP UP at $0.99 (Retail Price $117)

Date: 1 November to 12 November 2021

Time: 0.00 hours

Product: UMIDIGI Airbuds and Uwatch 5

Deal: Every day at 0.00 hours, from 1 Nov to 12 Nov, buy Airbuds and Uwatch5 for $0.99 only from the UMIDIGI Official store at AliExpress. This snap-up is limited to a total of 10 pcs per day and works on a first-come-first-serve basis.

GIVEAWAY and Discount Coupons:

Date: 28 October to 10 November 2021

Deal: UMIDIGI will release 1111 pcs of $11 Coupons at UMIDIGI official store, AliExpress
Giveaway Task: Collect an $11 coupon, add to cart any products from UMIDIGI official store at AliExpress, comment #UMIDIGI1111, and share this post with your friends and family. From amongst the people who complete this task, UMIDIGI will choose 11 winners who will get their latest smartphones, 11 winners for Airbuds, and 11 winners who will receive Uwatch5, absolutely FREE.

UMIDIGI will announce the giveaway winners on social media accounts, like UMIDIGI global Facebook page, Twitter, Mexican page, Japanese Twitter, and so on.

$111 Coupons / Free Orders for 11 lucky winners:

Date: 10 and 11 November 2021

Time: 3.00 PM, PST

Task: Watch UMIDIGI Live show. During the show on 10 November, 11 lucky winners will be selected randomly to win a $111 Coupon and on 11 November, 11 lucky winners will be selected to win Free Orders.

Free Gifts:

Date: 11 and 12 November 2021

For orders above $500 – Get free Uwatch5

For orders above $1500 – Get free Bison X10

For orders above $3000 – Get free A11 Tab

For further information and terms and conditions of the deals, you can visit the UMIDIGI official store at AliExpress, their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. Please note that these super deals and offers are available only for two days. So start adding your favorite UMIDIGI products to your shopping cart asap.

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

Bluetti Halloween special deals on AC300 and EB55 portable power stations unveiled

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Oct 28, 2021

Bluetti is globally known for its smart off-grid power solution provider which has plenty of portable power station devices. The most powerful and advanced portable power station – AC300 is now available along with the B300 external battery. Due to high demand, the newly launched AC300 power station was out of stock for the past month as the stock was sold out within a couple of weeks. Both the station and battery are now back for the Halloween sale where users can save up to $3900 with bundles.

Must See: Bluetti launches 6000W AC300 solar power station with smart assistance and 3000W SIne Wave Inverter

Bluetti is progressing every month due to its innovative products. After the success of EP500 and EB70, Bluetti announced the AC300 to meet the power demand in case of emergency or while touring outside in the far-fetched areas. Massive discounts are available this Halloween on several Bluetti products. Here’s the list:

Bluetti AC300 and B300

The Bluetti AC300 highly efficient portable power station with a total output of up to 12288Wh. It can be coupled with up to four B300 battery modules to increase the power output on the basis of demand. It is a purely modular power station and is highly portable. The users can transport easily and can get an uninterrupted power supply anywhere.

The whole Bluetti AC300 unit and B300 battery are bundled with innovative technologies to offer a continuous power supply. The LFP – lithium iron phosphate cells in the battery offer 3500+ full life cycles with up to 80% of battery capacity. It is sufficient for 10 years if we drain each cycle on daily basis.

To enable an uninterrupted power supply, it can be attached with up to 2400 watts of solar charging input. Its sine wave inverter will easily adjust the AC charging rate.

Surprisingly, the Bluetti AC300 can easily charge from both the AC charging and solar at the same time. It doubles the charging input to 5400 watts which can charge a 6kwh battery within just 60 minutes.

Buetti also offers Bluetti fusion Box Pro as a separate accessory to double the voltage, power, and capacity to 240v, 6000W, and 24576Wh, respectively. To facilitate the users, Bluetti offers polished apps for controlling the power station via WiFi and Bluetooth.

Deal Details

Bluetti is offering combo bundles to maximize the customer’s savings, and also saves time to choose the best out of the lot.

Combo of 3,000W | 6,144Wh | 600W Solar Panel

It is a perfect combination for users who want to use it in the off-grid environment. It usually retails for the price of $7444, but following the festive discount, it is available for $5699. This bundle will carry an AC300 unit, 2x B300 batteries, and 3X PV200 solar panels.

Buy Now – ~~$7444~~ $5699

Combo of 6000W | 12,288Wh | 240V

It is a powerful bundle that can be used in the home as well as the industrial environments. Bluetti bundle ships with 2X AC300 power stations, 4x B300 batteries, and P030A Bluetti Fusion Box Pro to double the voltage. It enables the connection of two AC300 units in serial connection.

It can be your 24/7 UPS Home backup to get rid of power outages.

Buy Now – ~~$11733~~ $8899

Combo of 6000W | 12288Wh | 1200W Solar

It is a massive Home backup solution with size PV200 solar panels. It houses a 2x AC300 power system, 4x B300 batteries, P030A Fusion Box, and 6x PV200 solar panels.

Buy Now – $15027 $11099

EB55 – Small Power Station

It is a perfect fit for users having low power consumption. Bluetti EB55 power station offers a power capacity of up to 537Wh. It bundles a built-in LiFePO4 battery and battery management system with multiple protection layers.

The battery offers up to 2500+ discharge cycles with 80% of working capacity. However, it can also charge itself from 200W of solar input and 200W of AC input. It can be fully charged within a couple of hours if we connect both the input sources.

EB55’s 700W sine wave inverter can easily host surges up to 1400W.

It is available at the all-time low price of $449. It also bundles special discounts for solar panels.

Buy Now

Bluetti AC200 MAX and B230

Bluetti AC200 MAX is a major upgrade over its predecessor – Bluetti AC200P with the inclusion of smart features, a pure sine inverter, and a built-in standard battery pack. It can be charged 3500+ times and is compatible with both the B230 and B300 battery modules. It can host a capacity of up to 8192Wh having two B300 battery modules.

You can even control the whole setup using App or onboard touchscreen easily and effectively. It even supports solar input. At the Halloween sale, the Bluetti AC200MAX, and B230 bundle is available for $1899.

Buy Now

The sale is live now from 28 October and will continue till 4 November 2021. Bluetti power stations are globally available, and interested users can order via the official Bluetti Power website.

Related: Bluetti introduced AC200 Max off-grid power station with B230 and B300 battery modules

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G with Snapdragon 778G SoC launched in Brazil for R$3,499(~$625)

By

Pranav Sawant

-

Oct 28, 2021

Just Yesterday, we spotted the Galaxy M52 5G on the Samsung Brazil portal. Today, the phone has officially arrived in the market and Brazil is the third market to get the phone after Poland and India. The major highlights of the smartphone are 5G connectivity, punch-hole AMOLED panel, and triple rear camera system.

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is priced at R$3,499(~$625) but it can be purchased for R$2,159(~$386) by using a Samsung itaucard. It has Black and White colour variants. Interestingly, if buyers buy the phone before November 21, they’ll get a free pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel with a Full-HD+(2400 x 1080p) resolution. It has a 120Hz refresh rate panel and features a thin-bezel design. It has a 32MP single camera at the front for selfie shots.

Moving to the rear, the phone equips a 64MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro shooter. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G octa-core SoC clocked at up to 2.4GHz. It has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The phone houses a 5,000mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging technology. The 5G phone comes with a dual-SIM slot and also has a microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 1TB.

The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and supports facial unlock. It boots on Android 11 out of the box and has Samsung’s OneUI on top of it. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB Type-C port for charging. The device has the following dimensions 76.4 x 164.2 x 7.4mm.

RELATED:

(source)

Redmi’s GM hints global sales of the Redmi Note series have exceeded 240 million units

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 28, 2021

In November last year, Xiaomi had announced with enthuisasm that it had sold over 140 million units of the Redmi Note series globally. The Note series was first introduced in 2014 meaning it took the company 6 years to sell 140 million units. If you think that is awesome, think again. The Chinese tech giant has now announced that the sales of the Redmi Note series smartphones have exceeded 240 million units.

This was disclosed today (28 November) by Lu Weibing, Redmi’s General Manager during the launch of the latest Note series – the Redmi Note 11 series. For the first time, the company is unveiling two Note series in a single year. The brand disclosed that this will be a annual occurrence.

Going by the latest figures, the company has sold up to 100 million units of the Redmi Note series smartphones within a year. Only in May of this year, Xiaomi announced that the global sales of the Redmi Note series had exceeded 200 million unit. Thus, it means roughly 40 million units were sold in 5 months, an average of 8 million units per month.

For a company that sells an average of 23.3 million units annually, the massive jump in sales is an indication of the rising profile of the Redmi Note series. The sales figure may have been responsible for the decision to bump the number of Note series launching each year from one to two.

Xiaomi has continued to up its ante in terms of the design and hardware of the Note series. The latest Note 11 series included a shift to OLED displays for the Note 11 Pro and Note 11 Pro+ while still selling for around $250. We expect the new Note 11 series to further extend the sales figure in a short while.

Sony has sold over 13 million PlayStation 5 consoles

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 28, 2021

The PlayStation 5 is Sony’s latest gaming console. Announced about a year ago, Sony revealed in July when it had crossed the 10 million sales mark that the PS5 as it is also known as is its fastest-selling console in the history of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

A new report via Winfuture has revealed the console has now sold over 13 million units. According to a second-quarter report of Sony’s internal fiscal year which ended on September 30, the Japanese manufacturer sold 3.3 million units. That figure is more than the sum of TVs and PlayStation 4 consoles it sold within the same period.

The report revealed an increase of 1 million units from the last quarter. The last-generation console, the PS4 saw its sales drop from 500,000 units in the first quarter to 200,000 units in the second quarter.

Sony is still dealing with supply issues as the console is not readily available to buy. So there is a high chance the total units sold would be higher if there were no supply constraints.

The report also revealed that Sony sold 76.4 million PS5 and PS4 games last quarter an increase from the 63.6 million sold in Q1 of its fiscal year. It also saw its PlayStation Plus subscribers grow from 46.3 million to 47.2 million while the number of monthly active users on the PlayStation Network drop from 105 million to 104 million.

RELATED:

Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition launched at ¥99 ($16)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Oct 28, 2021

Back in September, Redmi launched the Redmi Buds 3 in China as its first semi-in-ear truly wireless earphones. This product is yet to make its way to international markets. Ahead of that, the company has now released a lite version of this TWS called Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition in its home country.

Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition Specifications and Features

Unlike the original Redmi Buds 3, the Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition (M2110E1) do not feature a semi-in-ear design. Instead, these earbuds come with an in-ear design. In fact, they even look different.

These earbuds resemble Galaxy Buds+ with wings, while the original Redmi Buds 3 have an AirPods-like design with a stem. However, the case of new ones looks identical to AirPods Pro. In a nutshell, the design of Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition is inspired by both Samsung and Apple.

The buds feature 6mm drivers and connect via Bluetooth 5.2. They are IP54-rated for dust and water resistance and support touch gesture controls, low latency mode for gaming, as well as ENC (Electronic Noise Cancellation) for calls.

The earbuds weigh 4.2g each and are rated to last 5 hours on a full charge. On the other hand, the entire product along with the USB Type-C-equipped charging case weighs 36g and can offer up to 18 hours of music playback.

Last but not least, the Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition ship with three pairs of ear tips and two pairs of wings.

Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition Price and Availability

The Redmi Buds 3 Youth Edition are priced at ¥99 ($16) in China and they come in a single black color option. They are already up for sale in the country.

At the moment, it’s not known whether this product will be made available in international markets.

Early Pixel 6 series owners are reporting a screen flickering issue among other complaints

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 28, 2021

Google’s new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have been getting all the attention lately. The new Pixel smartphones which launched last week have begun to ship to some owners. And while there is a lot to love about them, it appears they are not without issues as complaints have begun to surface.

There are a handful of complaints but all of them are related to the display which appears to be a recurring issue with Pixel phones. For those who don’t remember, there were complaints about the Pixel 5’s display.

The reports about the Pixel 6 series display include a flickering issue on the Pixel 6 Pro. According to a Reddit post, the display of the Pixel 6 Pro flickers when pressing the power button while the phone is off. This is not a one-off issue as the comments under the post confirm many other users are experiencing the same issue. While it doesn’t seem to be a big deal, there are concerns that it might be a precursor to a bigger issue.

Display flickering when pressing start button while phone is off from Pixel6

Another user has complained about a green tint on the display of the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro both use an OLED panel and this is not an uncommon issue associated with that type of display. Nevertheless, this issue can vary across the board, and depending on the severity, a replacement may be necessary.

Of all the complaints, the weirdest of them all is a second punch hole that has appeared on the Pixel 6 Pro, right below the first one. According to the user who shared a video on Twitter, this is not a damaged display but that the screen was punched twice. In the thread narrating the issue, he revealed he has had the phone swapped.

My pixel 6 pro has a broken screen #Pixel6Pro
The camera cutout has another cutout on it. It's everywhere and not part of the UI. Video follows pic.twitter.com/MH6sT9HOZx

— Mark Schramm 🕹️ #VR #AR (@MarkSchrammVR) October 28, 2021

Google is yet to respond to these claims. The phones are just beginning to ship out today, so these are from those who have gotten their device early. Nevertheless, it is disappointing to see that Google still suffers from quality control issues.

RELATED:

Redmi Note 11 Pro is Available for Pre-order at Giztop for $329

By

Daily Deals

-

Oct 28, 2021

Redmi Note 11 Pro is now available for pre-order at $329 only at Giztop.

WHERE TO BUY

Redmi Note 11 Pro at $329 (pre-order)@Giztop

Redmi Note 11 Pro features a 6.67″ Samsung AMOLED display with front and rear dual ambient light sensors and is powered by the TSMC 6nm Dimensity 920 chipset. The phone comes in three memory variants viz: 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB. Weighing just 207g, Redmi Note 11 Pro is fueled by a 5160mAh battery and supports 67W fast charging. This means you can charge your phone to 100% in just 43 mins.

Redmi Note 11 Pro comes with professionally tuned dual JBL speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack and supports Dolby Atmos. It features a triple rear camera setup with a 108MP main camera and 8MP + 2MP secondary cameras. For the selfie camera, you have a 16MP sensor in the front.

Giztop is now accepting pre-orders for Redmi Note 11 Pro, Black color varaint. The 6GB + 128GB variant is available for $329 while the 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB variants can be bought for $379 and $439 respectively.

Please note that Giztop is accepting only pre-orders and the actual shipment of the product will start after the first week of November. So place your pre-order asap.

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

Redmi Watch 2 launched with AMOLED display, GPS, 117 sports modes, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Oct 28, 2021

At the Redmi Note 11 series launch event in China, Redmi also unveiled Redmi Watch 2. The latest smartwatch from the brand is the successor to the Redmi Watch from last year. Ahead of the official announcement, the company only teased the display of the product. Now, as the firm has taken the wraps off the wearable, let’s take a look at what it has to offer.

Redmi Watch 2 Specifications and Features

The Redmi watch 2 (M2102W1) features a polycarbonate (plastic) build like its predecessor. However, it sports a larger and better 1.6-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 320 x 360 pixels.

The wearable uses a 125 ~ 205m interchangeable TPU strap. The product measures 39.1 x 34.4 x 9.98mm in dimensions without the strap and weighs only 31g with the strap. It is 5 ATM water-resistant and can also track swims. In fact, it offers 117 sports modes with automatic detection for some.

Further, the device runs a customized RTOS like any other budget smartwatches in the market. This means it is merely a fitness tracker disguised as a smartwatch.

It connects with smartphones (Android 5.0+, iOS 10.0+) via Bluetooth 5.0. It has all the essential sensors like an optical heart rate sensor, an SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen level monitoring, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, and an ambient light sensor for auto-brightness.

Unlike most affordable wearables, it also comes with GNSS (BeiDou, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO) for accurate activity tracking. It also features NFC for travel passes and access control.

Other features include 100+ watch faces, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, menstrual cycle tracking, breathing exercise, Xiao AI device controls, and more.

1 of 2

Last but not least, the Redmi Watch 2 is backed by a 225mAh battery that charges via an included magnetic charger. The brand claims 12 days of endurance on normal usage, 7 days on heavy usage, and 18 hours on GNSS activity tracking.

Redmi Watch 2 Price and Availability

The Redmi Watch 2 is priced at ¥399 ($62) in China. However, it will be sold at ¥349 ($55) during the first sale at 12 AM on November 1. It is already up for pre-order.

The smartwatch comes in three colors, namely Elegant Black, Space Blue, and Ivory White. Customers can also opt for three more colors (Pine Needle Green, Light Brown Tea, Cherry Blossom Powder) of straps separately.

Like the original Redmi Watch, the Redmi Watch 2 will likely launch in international markets in the near future.

AGM G1 and AGM G1 Pro rugged phones pack a Snapdragon 480 chip, thermal imaging, and a 3.5W speaker

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 28, 2021

AGM, the Chinese rugged smartphone manufacturer, has announced two new rugged smartphones today. The AGM G1 and AGM G1 Pro not only have 5G but pack lots of features you won’t find on your regular smartphone.

AGM G1 and AGM G1 Pro Design

The two phones share a similar design but there are subtle differences that distinguish them apart. AGM says it has designed a new modular chassis for the phones which allows them to be moded.

The two phones have a waterdrop notch for the front-facing camera and a thick bottom bezel. On the back is a big round protrusion for the gigantic speaker it packs. The cameras and LED flash are arranged around this protrusion while a fingerprint scanner sits below.

The AGM G1 differs from the AGM G1 Pro with respect to the orange accent on the latter. This accent can be seen around the display, on the back, and on the corners of the phone.

It is important to mention that these are rugged phones with big batteries, so they are not lightweight. The AGM G1 weighs 360 grams while the pro model is 10 grams heavier.

AGM G1 and AGM G1 Pro specifications

The AGM G1 and AGM G1 Pro both have a 6.53-inch FHD+ LCD display. While it doesn’t say the type of protection available on the screens, AGM claims that it offers diamond-grade resistance. There is also glove support and the phone will continue to work at a temperature range between -30°C and 60°C. It can even operate for about half an hour when the temperature drops to -40°C.

Powering both phones is the Snapdragon 480 5G processor paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage. There is support for storage expansion for users that need more space for apps and files.

1 of 4

The cameras on the phones are a 48MP main sensor, a 20MP Night Vision camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The phone can take clear and sharp photos in the dark thanks to the infrared night vision camera. This camera is also useful for detecting hidden cameras. However, only the pro model has support for thermal imaging. Both devices have a 16MP front-facing camera.

The AGM G1 series has a 3.5W speaker with an amplitude of 112dB. There is also a Smart PA that ensures the sound output is clear and not distorted. Another feature both phones have is a one-key rangefinder positioned at the top for measuring the distance between two positions.

AGM says both phones not only have an IP68 MAX rating but also an IP69K rating which is for protection against high temperature and high-pressure water. They are also MIL-STD-810H certified.

There is a massive 6200mAh battery inside each phone and they ship with an 18W power adapter. Both the AGM G1 and AGM G1 Pro run X OS 6 based on Android 11 out of the box.

AGM G1 Series Price and Availability

The AGM G1 has a price tag of ¥3699 (~$578) while the AGM G1 Pro is priced at ¥4999 (~$782). The two phones are available for pre-order on JD.com starting today and will be available for purchase on October 31.

RELATED:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4p0wrCBmV8

Apple 2021 MacBook Pro finally brings ‘DIY-friendly’ battery replacement design: iFixit

By

Sean

-

Oct 28, 2021

Apple has just recently launched its 2021 MacBook Pro laptops. And now, iFixit has just released its teardown of the company’s latest laptops. One of the highlighting aspect found during this teardown was the redesigned internals, which allowed for a “DIY-friendly” batter replacement process.

In a recent report iFixit noted that the new MacBook Pro models offers the “first reasonably DIY-friendly battery replacement procedure since 2012.” Furthermore, iFixit added that the Cupertino based giant had traditionally glued the battery of the MacBook Pro to the top case of the notebook. This practice had started with the first Retina MacBook Pro that was launched back in 2012. But in major shift in design, the iPhone maker has now included a battery pull tabs to make the process of replacing batteries easier.

The report stated that usually one would have to get to the battery last as it was difficult to remove. However, this has changed with the latest 14 inch and 16 inch MacBook Pro models. The changes in design doesn’t just stop there as now, the battery pack isn’t stuck under the logic board either. In other words, disassembling the MacBook Pro and having to replace its battery won’t have one go through the process of tearing down the laptop’s primary components. According to iFixit, this is by far one the more “reasonable and do-it-yourself friendly as well internal design that Apple has offered with its MacBook Pro.

RELATED: