OPPO’s foldable phone tipped to launch in November

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Oct 22, 2021

OPPO is reportedly working on its first foldable phone. According to a Chinese tipster, the company will be unleashing its foldable phone in November. While the rumor mill has spilt some of its key specs, it is unclear whether the device will be called OPPO Fold or something else.

The alleged OPPO Fold is expected to feature an inward folding design like the Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Huawei Mate X2. It is said to be equipped with an 8-inch LTPO OLED panel that offers a 120W refresh rate. The device will be powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform.

It was reported earlier this month that the purported OPPO Fold will come equipped with a 4,500mAh battery, which will carry support for 65W fast charging. It is expected to come preinstalled with ColorOS 12, but it is unclear whether it will feature the latest Android 12 or last year’s Android 11.

OPPO’s first foldable phone is expected to feature a Sony IMX766 50-megapixel primary camera on the back. Again, there is no confirmation on the number of cameras that will be available on its rear shell. For selfies, it may possess a 32-megapixel front camera. For security, it may feature a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The other details of the foldable phone are under wraps. Apart from this device, OPPO is also expected to announce the Reno7 series of smartphones in China next month. The lineup is said to include Reno7, Reno7 Pro, and Reno7 Pro+. These models are likely to feature Dimensity 920, Dimensity 1200, and Snapdragon 888 chipset, respectively.

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Facebook fined $70 million for deliberate breach during Giphy acquisition probe

By

Jeet

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Oct 22, 2021

Social media giant Facebook has been fined £50 million ($70 million USD) by the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK for purposely concealing information about its Giphy acquisition. The company’s dealings with Giphy were called out by the UK regulators, leading to CMA launching an antitrust probe.

The Competition and Markets Authority had issued an initial enforcement order to Facebook in June last year as it began its investigation into the acquisition deal. The order was aimed to ensure that companies continue to compete as they would in the absence of a merger and it prevents them from integrating further.

As a part of the order, Facebook is legally required to provide regular updates to show that it is complying with the order. But, CMA says that Facebook “significantly limited the scope of those updates” despite repeated warnings.

The regulator also noted that this is the first time a company has been found to have breached an IEO by “consciously refusing” to report all the required information. Further, it added that Facebook’s failure to comply was “deliberate” as the social media company was given multiple warnings.

Joel Bamford, senior director of mergers at the CMA, said: “We warned Facebook that its refusal to provide us with important information was a breach of the order but, even after losing its appeal in two separate courts, Facebook continued to disregard its legal obligations. This should serve as a warning to any company that thinks it is above the law.”

Separately, the CMA has fined Facebook £500,000 for changing its Chief Compliance Officer on two separate occasions without seeking consent first.

A couple of months ago, the CMA said it had provisionally found Facebook’s purchase of Giphy would harm competition between social media platforms and remove a potential challenger in the display advertising market. It also said that Facebook could be required to unwind the deal, which is reportedly worth $400 million, and sell off Giphy if its concerns are ultimately confirmed.

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Vivo X60t Pro with Dimensity 1200 likely to launch soon

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 22, 2021

In May, a Vivo smartphone with V2120A received approval from the 3C authority of China. The IMEI database listing of the phone revealed that it may release in the market with the Vivo X60t Pro moniker. After announcing the Vivo X60 series of smartphones at the beginning of the year in China, Vivo also unveiled ‘t’ editions such as X60t and X60t Pro Plus models. Fresh information reveals that X60t Pro will go official soon.

According to Why Lab, the Vivo X60t Pro with Dimensity 1200-vivo chip has surfaced online in China. However, we could not find its official listing on Vivo China’s website. Also, there is no word on the pricing of the device.

The Vivo X60 Pro is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1080 chipset. The company has released the Exynos chip with the Dimensity 1200-vivo SoC on the X60t pro. The rest of its specs are identical to the X60 Pro.

The Vivo X60t Pro will come with a 6.56-inch AMOLED panel that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. It has a 32-megapixel camera for capturing selfies.

The rear shell of the device features a triple camera setup, which includes a 48-megapixel main camera and a pair of 13-megapixel snappers. It is backed by a 4,200mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. The handset measures 7.59mm in thickness and weighs 176 grams.

The X60t was introduced with a price tag of 3,498 Yuan (~$547), whereas the X60t Pro Plus is priced at 4,999 Yuan (~$703. At present, there is no word on the pricing of the X60t Pro.

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Realme appoints cricketer KL Rahul as its new brand ambassador for smartphones

By

Jeet

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Oct 22, 2021

Chinese technology brand Realme has announced the appointment of Indian cricketer KL Rahul as its brand ambassador for smartphones. The company says that the partnership will further complement the brand’s attitude of setting new benchmarks, inspiring thousands of millennials across the country.

Last year, the company had appointed Bollywood star Salman Khan as the brand ambassador and the first devices endorsed by the actor were the Realme 6 and Realme 6 Pro smartphone models.

Commenting on the new partnership with KL Rahul, Chief Marketing Officer of India, Europe, and Latin America, Francis Wong, said: “We are optimistic that the partnership will add unprecedented value to the smartphone category since we will also be able to target the massive fan following Rahul enjoys. We are certain that the partnership of such stature with a seasoned celebrity like him will strengthen the brand proposition of making cutting-edge technology, fun, stylish, quality-driven products available to the audience.”

The company recently announced that it has sold devices worth ₹3,500 crores across all channels during the “Realme festive days” from October 2nd to 10th. The firm also said that it saw a 1200 percent jump in the sale of phones in the ₹20,000-₹30,000 segments on the inaugural day of the festive day sales.

Realme was first introduced in 2018 as a sub-brand of OPPO but it was later split into an independent company. Last year, it became the fastest brand to reach 50 million shipments and in less than one year of that, the brand’s total shipments reached 100 million units, making it the fastest-growing brand ever.

Last month, the company revealed that it has become the fourth-largest smartphone brand from China and has even managed to reach the sixth spot in the global rankings. Data from Counterpoint Research revealed that Realme’s smartphone shipments reached 15 million in the second quarter of this year, marking a whopping 135.1 percent increase year on year.

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Honor X30 Max, X30i launch date confirmed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 22, 2021

Honor Play5 Vitality Edition is all set to launch at 2:30 PM (local time) on Oct. 25 in China. Today, the Chinese manufacturer revealed that it will be announcing two new phones at 2:30 PM (local time) on Oct. 28. While Honor has not confirmed the names of these devices, it can be said based on recent reports that the Honor X30 Max and Honor X30i will be breaking cover along with Play5 Vitality Edition on Sunday.

In the new poster, the Honor X30 Max can be seen on the left side, whereas the X30i can be seen on the right side. The blue colored X30 Max has two cameras on the back, whereas the X30i is fitted with a triple camera unit. Both phones seem to feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Honor X30 Max specifications

The Honor X30 Max will be sporting a colossal 7.09-inch LCD screen with a teardrop notch. It will carry support for a Full HD+ resolution. For selfies, it will be featuring an 8-megapixel camera on the front, and its back panel will be housing a 64-megapixel main snapper and a 2-megapixel depth assist lens.

The X30 Max will be driven by the Dimensity 900 chip and 8 GB of RAM. It is likely to arrive in 128 GB and 256 GB storage editions. The handset will come with a 5,000mAh battery, which will be equipped with 22.5W rapid charging. It will be available in Charm Sea Blue, Titanium Silver, and Night Black colors.

Honor X30i specifications

The Honor X30i has a 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD panel that offers a 90Hz refresh rate. It has an 8-megapixel main camera, and a 48-megapixel + 2-megapixe (macro) + 2-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit.

The X30i features the Dimensity 810 chip. It will come with a 4,000mAh battery that supports 22.5W fast charging. It will come in four colors such as Charm Sea Blue, Titanium Silver, Rose Gold, and Night Black.

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iQOO Neo5 now comes in a new 512GB variant

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 22, 2021

Back in March, iQOO announced the iQOO Neo5 in China, which was later rebranded as the iQOO 7 in India. The topmost variant of the Neo5 offered 256 GB of storage. The Chinese manufacturer has now confirmed the arrival of a new 512 GB variant for Neo5 in the home market. The company has announced ahead of the upcoming Double Eleven (Nov. 11) shopping festival in China.

The 512 GB variant of the Neo5 has 12 GB of RAM. It is listed in Night Shadow Black and Cloud Shadow Blue color variants at iQOO China’s website. The new variant will go on sale from Nov. 1 with a price tag of 3,399 Yuan (~$531). On JD.com, this model will be available for as low as 3,099 Yuan (~$484) after discounts.

iQOO Neo5 specifications

The iQOO Neo5 has a 6.62-inch AMOLED FHD+ display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. The device runs on OriginOS 1.0 for iQOO, which is based on Android 11. The Snapdragon 870 is present under the hood of the device.

The Neo5 ships with 8 GB / 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB of UFS 3.1 storage in China. It is backed by a 4,400mAh battery that supports 66W rapid charging.

The handset features a 16-megapixel camera for capturing selfies and video calls. Placed on the back is a 48-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. For security, it features an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

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Google slashes commission for subscription and content apps in Google Play Store

By

Jeet

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Oct 22, 2021

Big Tech companies are facing a lot of pressure amid scrutiny of their business practices by the antitrust regulators in various countries. Because of this, companies are making some changes to their business structure.

In line with this, Google is once again changing the way it charges fees to the app developers. The search engine giant has announced that all subscription-based app will be eligible for significantly less fess than the usual 30 percent.

As per the new changes, the company has confirmed that the subscription apps will now pay 15 percent fees instead of 30 percent. Further, the technology giant has announced that apps with services like ebooks and on-demand music streaming will be eligible for a fee as low as 10 percent.

The reason stated by Google behind cheaper fees on ebooks and music streaming apps is that “content costs account for the majority of sales” and that the rates “recognize industry economics of media content verticals.” Unlike its previous revision of fees, this new modification to the fee structure isn’t tied to overall revenue.

Earlier this year, in March, the company had cut its share of revenue on upfront or in-app purchases from 30 percent to 15 percent, but it is applicable only to the first $1 million per year that an app developer earns.

With this development, Google could be hoping to change its public image amid mounting regulatory scrutiny over how the company manages its app store and its relationship with third-party developers.

According to the estimates by analytics firm Sensor Tower, the tech giant collected around $11.6 billion in in-app purchases around the world in 2020 on $38.8 billion in spending on the Google Play store.

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Realme Pad pricing for Europe leaked

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 22, 2021

In September, Realme unveiled the Realme Pad as its first tablet in India. Rumors have it that the tablet will be soon released in Europe. Fresh information reveals that the tablet will be available in three variants in the European markets.

A new leak courtesy of a retailer listing has revealed that the Realme Pad will come in three options such as 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage, 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. These variants are likely to be priced at 239 euros (~$277), 259 euros (~$301), and 289 euros (~$336). It will be available in Real Gray color.

To recollect, the 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage (Wi-Fi only), 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage (Wi-Fi + LTE), and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage (Wi-Fi + LTE) variants are priced at Rs 13,999 (~$187), Rs 15,999 (~$212), and Rs 17,999 (~$240), respectively. The tablet is available in gray and gold in India.

Realme Pad specifications

The Realme Pad has a 10.4-inch IPS LCD panel that produces 1200 x 200 pixels. It runs on Android 11 OS and is powered by a 7,100 mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.

The Helio G80 chip fuels the tablet. It has an 8-megapixel camera on the front and an 8-megapixel camera on the back. It is fitted with quad speakers, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The device measures 6.9mm in thickness and weighs 440 grams.

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Redmi Note 11, Note 11 Pro, Note 11 Pro+ full specifications tipped before launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 22, 2021

Redmi will be launching the Redmi Note 11 series of smartphones on Oct. 28 in China. Ahead of the launch, a Chinese tipster has shared the entire specs of the Note 11, Note 11 Pro, and Note 11 Pro+.

Redmi Note 11 specifications

The Redmi Note 11 has a 6.5-inch FHD+ 120Hz LCD display, Dimensity 810 chip, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging, a 16-megapixel front camera, 50-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual rear cameras, single speaker, a 3.5mm audio jack, and IR blaster.

It may release in 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variants. These models may cost 1,199 Yuan (~$187), 1,399 Yuan (~$219), 1,599 Yuan (~$250), and 1,799 Yuan (~$281).

Redmi Note 11 Pro specifications

The Redmi Note 11 will feature a 120Hz AMOLED display, Dimensity 920 chip, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging, a 16-megapixel front camera, a Samsung HM2 108-megapixel + 8-megapixel (Sony IMX355, ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit, JBL tuned dual speakers, X-axis linear motor, NFC, and IR blaster.

The Note 11 Pro could be available in 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variants. The tipster has speculated that these could be priced at 1,599 Yuan (~$250), 1,799 Yuan (~$281), and 1,999 Yuan (~$312).

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ specifications

The Note 11 Pro+ is likely to be packed with the same specs as the Note 11 Pro. However, instead of the Dimensity 920 and 67W fast charging, it has Dimensity 1200 and 120W fast charging.

It may come in 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variants. These models are likely to be priced at 2,199 Yuan (~$343) and 2,499 Yuan (~$391).

As usual, readers are advised to digest the specs leak of the Note 11 series with a pinch of salt.

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DJI Mavic 3 leaks in real skin revealing the entire design

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 21, 2021

The DJI Mavic 3 prosumer drone has been the subject of several leaks ahead of its scheduled November 5 unveiling. A new leak has been added to the growing list of images of the very impressive flagship offering of drone maker, DJI. The pictures reveal a sleek drone with slimmer arms and longer props than its predecessor. The new images could indicate that preorder shipments may have started reaching dealers. Probably taken in a warehouse, the new photos, two in total, provide some closer look at the flagship DJI offering in the drone segment.

The new details add to the trove of information already available online for the DJI Mavic 3. We already know that a smart controller will be part of the package for the cine version of the Mavic 3. The drone will also offer 46 minutes flight time, which is a massive 15 minutes better than its predecessor. The enhanced flight time for the DJI Mavic 3 is due to an improved battery setup in the drone. The DJI Mavic 3 has also been spotted on the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) database indicating its certification and impending release.

The new photos further confirm the sleekness and maneuverability of the Mavic 3 drone. The propellers are now lacking any curves at their tips, all combined with other design changes for an aerodynamically solid drone. This could mean a quieter flight operation and improved efficiency for the Mavic 3.

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Segway’s Mecha Kit transforms the Ninebot S and S kids scooters to a rolling gel turret

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 21, 2021

Segway-Ninebot has launched the Mecha Kit stateside. The kit is an add-on for the Ninebot S/ S Kids self-balancing scooters is a fun feature that transforms the scooter into a mobile turret, with semi-evaporating gel bullets emanating from the Mecha Kit. The bullets are beads of gel that emanate from the nozzle of the Mecha Kit. You can shoot the bullets of gel while spinning, driving, and drifting in your Ninebot S scooter.

The Mecha Kit offers support for remotely controlling the vehicle via connection to the Segway-Ninebot mobile app. The kit’s frame is sturdy enough to carry passengers up to 100 kg. The Segway Mecha Kit has RGB under glow lighting that could be customized and offer music playback functionality via the built-in Bluetooth in the transporter.

For environmental activities, Segway insists that the gel bullets are environmentally friendly. The gel evaporates to a powder with no trace of the stuff left behind. The package comes with 60,000 gel bubbles which may be replenished when exhausted. The refill process is however yet to be specified by Segway.

The Segway Mecha Kit is priced at $599 but it is currently available for a discounted price of $499 from Segway-Ninebot’s website. It is possible to have the Mecha Kit together with the Ninebot S or S Kids scooter, and this could extend the price to around $1,000. The user manual is also included on the package and also via the product page. It however remains to be seen what will be the reception that the new Mecha Kit will get in the market.

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Huawei Nova 9 unveiled in Europe with a Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset and €499 price

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 21, 2021

Huawei has announced its new Nova 9 smartphone in Europe after its debut in China in September. Huawei says the Nova 9 with its innovative features and design is targeted at the younger generation.

The phone has a 6.57-inch OLED “120Hz Original-Color Curved Display”. It can display up to 1.07 billion colors and has a 300Hz touch sampling rate. It also has a P3 wide color gamut.

Huawei has put a Snapdragon 778G 4G processor inside the phone and paired it with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also adds that the phone uses AI technology to prioritize tasks and optimize performance when gaming.

The cameras are one of the main features of the phone. The main sensor on the back is a 50MP Ultra Vision Main Camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor with an RYYB color filter array that captures 40% more light than an RYYB sensor. This allows it to take better photos in low-light conditions. There is also an 8MP ultrawide angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The centered punch-hole on the display is home to a 32MP Hi-Res front camera that can record in 4K like the main rear camera and also has AI Image Stabilization.

There are a bunch of camera features such as the ability to switch between the front and rear camera while recording without interruption, simultaneously recording from both the front camera and rear camera, and being able to take a close-up sot and wide-angle shot at the same time. The Nova 9 also has a Remote Shutter feature that allows it to be set up on a tripod and take a photo with your friends. The phone comes with the Petal Clip app which has video templates and themes for editing videos before posting.

Inside the phone is a 4300mAh battery with support for 66W Huawei SuperCharge fast charging, and when the processor is running heavy tasks, a combination of VC Liquid Cooling and graphene helps dissipate the heat faster.

It runs EMUI 12 and among the software features of the Nova 9 is Device+, a tab in the control panel that allows users to control and easily set up multi-device collaboration with other devices such as the Huawei Vision, FreeBuds, MatePad, and MateBook. By tapping the MatePad or MateBook icons, you can easily activate multi-screen collaboration with these devices, and tapping the FreeBuds icon will route your audio to the earbuds. There is also the Distributed File System which allows the Nova 9 to serve as a wireless connected external storage for the PC. This feature requires the PC and the phone to be logged into the same Huawei account and is compatible with select models.

Huawei Nova 9 Price and Availability

The Huawei Nova 9 has a starting price of €499 and is available for pre-order starting today. It will go on sale on November 2 and can be picked up in Starry Blue and Black. If you pre-order the phone, you get a free gift which might vary depending on the region. Those in Germany get a free HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Oct 21, 2021

Google has finally launched a new top-tier flagship phone. We are talking about the Pixel 6 Pro, a device that has nothing to envy in regards to the most expensive phones in the market, including the iPhone 13 Pro Max. But does it offers something more interesting if compared to the latest Apple flagship? Does it have the features making it a better phone? It is not easy for anyone to answer these questions, but a comparison between the specifications of the Google Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max is the best way to understand the differences, the pro, and the cons of each handset right after the launch of the new Google’s best phone.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

	Google Pixel 6 Pro	Apple iPhone 13 Max
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm, 210 g	160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm, 240 g
DISPLAY	6.71 inches, 1440 x 3120 pixels (Quad HD+), AMOLED	6.7 inches, 1284 x 2778p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED
PROCESSOR	Google Tensor, octa-core 2.8 GHz	Apple A15 Bionic hexa-core 3.22 GHz
MEMORY	12 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB	6 GB RAM, 512 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 1 TB
SOFTWARE	Android 12	iOS 15
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 50 + 48 + 12 MP, f/1.9 + f/3.5 + f/2.2 11.1 MP f/2.2 front camera	Quad 12 + 12 + 12 MP + TOF 3D LiDAR scanner, f/1.5 + f/2.8 + f/1.8 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2
BATTERY	5003 mAh, fast charging 30W and Qi fast wireless charging 23W	4373 mAh, Fast Charging 20W, Qi wireless charging 7.5W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	5G, optional eSIM, IP68 waterproof, reverse wireless charging	5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe 15W, IP68 waterproof

Design

Apple always sets the design trends and the iPhone 13 Pro Max has the trending design, but Google decided not to follow it and release a phone with a unique design. You just need to look at its aesthetics and its color options to understand it. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is definitely one of the most original phones of the year, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers a better build quality with its frame made of stainless steel and water resistance up to 6 meters deep. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 6 Pro’s front panel is more attractive due to the presence of a punch-hole design, a 3D curved glass, and a very high screen to body ratio.

Display

The Google Pixel 6 Pro has an LTPO display enabling an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz and this is a big added value. But the iPhone 13 Pro Max with its Super Retina XDR OLED display provides a better image quality. The display has the HDR10 certification (just like the Pixel 6 Pro) and Dolby Vision support, as well as a 1000 nit typical brightness. It is also the first iPhone with a 120 Hz refresh rate alongside the iPhone 13 Pro. Coming to the authentication, the Google Pixel 6 Pro has an in-display fingerprint reader, while iPhone 13 Pro Max relies on 3D facial recognition thanks to the SL 3D sensor placed in the notch.

Specs & Software

Both the phones are equipped with flagship-class hardware components. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is fueled by the new Google Tensor chipset (the first SoC made by Google) paired with a whopping 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of internal storage. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic chipset paired with 6 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of native storage. The iPhone 13 Pro Max can provide better performance not only thanks to its great hardware department but also because it runs iOS 15 (it has a better optimization than Android 12. Apple will support the iPhone 13 Pro Max for seven years, while the software support for the Google Pixel 6 Pro will stop after five years.

Camera

The camera hardware of the Google Pixel 6 Pro is superior if compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The handset has a 50 MP main camera with omnidirectional autofocus and OIS, a 48 MP telephoto sensor with 4x optical zoom, and a 12 MP ultrawide camera. But Apple always proved that its software enhances its cameras much more than any Android phone is able to do. This is the reason why you will have to wait for the in-depth camera tests of the Google Pixel 6 Pro in order to compare the two handsets.

Read More: iPhone 13 series battery capacities detailed in Apple product information sheet

Battery

The Google Pixel 6 Pro has a bigger 5003 mAh, but not bigger enough to provide a longer battery life than the 4352 mAh unit found on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Both the phones support fast wired charging and wireless charging, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max adds MagSafe which allows the connection of special external accessories.

Price

The starting price of the Google Pixel 6 Pro is $899/€899, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max carries a starting price of about $1100/€1200. While the Google Pixel 6 Pro comes with more interesting hardware, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a better build quality and software which will fill the gaps between the two handsets. Do you think Google will be able to compete with Apple in the smartphone market?

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: PRO and CONS

Google Pixel 6 Pro

PRO

Original design
Amazing telephoto camera
LTPO display
More affordable

CONS

Nothing particular

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

PRO

Great performance
Awesome build quality
MagSafe
Better water resistance

CONS

Price

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 with Snapdragon 860 SoC launched in Japan for ¥43,780(~$384)

By

Pranav Sawant

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Oct 21, 2021

A few weeks back, Xiaomi unveiled the Mi Pad 5 in China, Europe, and Indonesia. Now, Xiaomi Japan has officially launched the Mi Pad 5 in the Japanese market. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 comes with a large 120Hz screen and has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC.

The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 is priced at ¥43,780(~$384) and ¥54,700(~$480) for the 6GB/128GB variant and 6GB/256GB variant respectively. This is slightly higher than the Indonesian pricing of Rp. 4,999,000(~$353).

It comes with support for Xiaomi Smart Pen which is priced at ¥11,800(~$104). The device has two colour options – Cosmic Purple and Pearl White. The tablet is already up for sale on mi.com and all Xiaomi authorised stores in Japan.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Specifications

The Xiaomi Mi Pad sports an 11-inch with an FHD+ resolution. It has a 120Hz refresh rate and a pixel density of 275 PPI. It also has anti-blue light and a 1500:1 contrast ratio. It has a 13MP single camera at the rear and boasts an 8MP selfie camera.

Under the hood, it is powered by other Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC paired with 6GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It houses an 8,720mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging technology. It is touted to offer 5 days of music playback, 16 hours of video playback, and 10 hours of gaming. The device runs on MIUI 12.5 Pad OS software skin based on Android 11.

POCO F2 Pro starts receiving MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Oct 21, 2021

The POCO F2 Pro was updated to MIUI 12.5 in June. Four months later, the smartphone has now started receiving MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edtion update. This version of MIUI was introduced in August.

POCO F2 Pro All Colors Featured — POCO F2 Pro

The MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition update for POCO F2 Pro is currently live in Indonesia. It arrives with build number V12.5.2.0.RJKIDXM. Apart from bringing new under the hood changes, the latest system update also bumps up the security patch level to October 2021.

As always, the OTA software update is being rolled out in batches. Therefore, it will take days to reach every user. At the same time, the update should be also available for other regional variants like Global, EEA, Russia, and Turkey.

The POCO F2 Pro is known as Redmi K30 Pro. This version of the handset got access to MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition in August itself.

Both POCO F2 Pro and Redmi K30 are just one and a half years old. These phones have only received a single major MIUI as well as a sole Android update. Hence, they will likely get Android 12 and MIUI 13 in the near future.

How is your experience with this smartphone so far? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Huawei Watch GT 3 launched in the U.K. for £229, Watch Fit New available too

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 21, 2021

Huawei has taken the wraps off the new Watch GT 3 smartwatch in the U.K. The new watch packs lots of features, some of which have been carried over from the Huawei Watch GT 2 released in 2019.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes and four variants: Active, Classic, Elite, and Elegant. The 46mm version has a 1.43-inch 466 x 466 AMOLED display and a case that’s 11mm thick while the 42mm version has a 1.32-inch display with the same resolution and a 10.2mm case. Due to the smaller size, the 42mm version uses 20mm straps while the 46mm version uses a 22mm strap. For those who want to know, the case is stainless steel but the underside is plastic on both watches.

Huawei says the Watch GT 3 has a new PPG 5.0 module for heart rate and blood oxygen level detection includes 8 photodiodes and two sets of light sources. There is also a curved glass lens that makes the watch more comfortable to wear and prevents external light interference. It also says that the AI algorithm has been upgraded to filter out noisy signals and record more accurate data even in fast-changing cases such as when swimming, sprinting, or skipping.

There is TrueSleep 5.0 for sleep tracking and TruSeen 5.0+ for health and fitness monitoring. The watch has support for 100+ workout modes including 18 professional modes and 12 outdoor workouts such as golf and skiing. There is an AI Running Coach that helps create a professional running plan based on your running data. It will also use a feature called Running Ability Index (RAI) to analyze the running performance after each training to help owners understand their progress and improvements.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 has 4GB of ROM and 32MB of RAM. It has an accelerometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, barometer, dual-band 5-system GNSS, and a temperature sensor. Other features are a built-in assistant, a microphone and speaker for Bluetooth calling, and the ability to sync with compatible sports machines. It is also the first GT watch to run HarmonyOS (2.1) out of the box.

The 46mm version has a 14-day battery life while the 42mm version has a 7-day battery life.

Huawei Watch GT 3 Price and Availability

The prices for the different versions of the Huawei Watch GT 3 are listed below. It is already available for pre-order starting today up until the 9th of November. Those who pre-order will get a free pair of Huawei FreeBuds 4i headphones.

HUAWEI Watch GT 3 46mm Active – £229.99
HUAWEI Watch GT 3 46mm Classic (Leather Strap) – £249.99
HUAWEI Watch GT 3 46mm Elite – £299.99
HUAWEI Watch GT 3 42mm Active – £209.99
HUAWEI Watch GT 3 42mm Elegant (Leather Strap)- £229.99
HUAWEI Watch GT 3 42mm Elegant (Milanese Strap) – £279.99

Huawei Watch Fit New

The Huawei Watch Fit New that launched in China last month is also available in the U.K. It is priced at £79.99 and is available in Isle Blue, Sakura Pink, Graphite Black, and Pomelo Red. If you purchase the fitness tracker, you get a free Huawei Smart Scale 3 worth £59.99.

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Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold gets a new update with longest changelog in MIUI history

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Oct 21, 2021

The Mi MIX Fold is Xiaomi’s first and the only foldable smartphone to date. It was unveiled at the end of March has been exclusive to the Chinese market. Back in May, the company rolled out a useful feature called ‘Pocket PC’ to this device. Now, months later, the firm has announced yet another software update that claims to further improve the user experience.

According to the official MIUI Weibo account, the Mi MIX Fold will soon start receiving a new system. This software build brings improvements and features based on the feedback from users.

Xiaomi says that its engineers have worked hard for months to bring this new software build to the public. The latest system update focuses on improving tablet experience, fixing app compatibility issues and dual-screen problems, optimizing Pocket PC mode, integrating MIUI+, and more.

The smartphone maker has also released the full changelog for this update, which arrives with build number V12.0.25.0.RJTCNXM. The list of changes is too long. You can see for yourself by downloading the image shared by Xiaomi.

Thankfully, Chang Cheng, Vice President of Xiaomi Group, has also summarised the important features in a Weibo post.

As per him, applications can now automatically adapt to inner and external screens when folded and unfolded. Further, WeChat now uses tablet UI and even many other apps are optimized for the foldable form factor. He adds that over 4,000 popular apps are now fully compatible with Mi MIX Fold.

Finally, the update also brings MIUI 12.5 improvements and MIUI+. He signs off his post saying that the new system update for Mi MIX Fold has the longest changelog in MIUI history.

The MIUI V12.0.25.0.RJTCNXM update for Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold will be soon rolled out in batches.

The TCL Tab Pro 5G is a Snapdragon 480-powered tablet priced at $399

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 21, 2021

With no shortage of 5G smartphones, manufacturers are now turning to tablets as the next set of devices to stick a 5G modem into. The TCL TAB Pro 5G is one of such 5G tablets and it is powered by the Snapdragon 480 chipset.

The Snapdragon 480 is Qualcomm’s cheapest 5G processor and we have seen it appear in a lot of budget, mid-range, and frankly expensive devices too such as the Nokia XR20 which is priced at ₹46,999 ($638) in India. Thankfully, the TCL Tab Pro 5G isn’t as expensive.

The tablet packs a 10.36-inch NXTVISION display with a 1200 x 2000 resolution and HDR. The bezels are not slim but they are fine for a tablet this size. The corners are rounded and should make it comfortable to hold, although a tablet this size is not one you want to be holding in your hands for long.

The Snapdragon 480 5G is paired with 4GB of RAM and there is 64GB of storage that can be expanded via a MicroSD card slot (1TB max). There is a 13MP camera on the back along with an LED flash while the front-facing camera is an 8MP sensor. TCL has added a fingerprint scanner to the tablet and it is buried under the power button. There is also Face Unlock.

The TCL TAB Pro 5G has Hi-Res dual speakers but no audio jack which is disappointing. The tablet runs Android 11 out of the box. It also has support for mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5G networks. There a five pogo pins at the bottom of the device which may be for attaching to a keyboard accessory.

The tablet packs an 8000mAh battery that should last up to 17 hours based on usage. It charges via USB-C and has support for 18W fast charging. It also supports reverse charging

The tablet will be sold exclusively by Verizon for $399 and it is already available for purchase.

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Apple AirPods Pro now has a MagSafe charging case

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 21, 2021

MagSafe is not a new feature but this proprietary magnetic charging technology that first appeared on a MacBook Pro back in 2006 is now making its way to more Apple products.

Earlier this week, Apple announced the AirPods 3rd generation and among the features it brings is a MagSafe-compatible case that allows it to be charged using a MagSafe wireless charger. It turns out the 2019 AirPods Pro has also gotten a MagSafe Charging Case.

New orders of the AirPods Pro will ship with a MagSafe Charging Case instead of the regular wireless charging case that shipped with it when it launched in 2019. Apple has also updated its website to reflect the change. At the moment, there is no listing of the MagSafe Charging Case as a separate purchase for those who want.

The AirPods Pro is Apple’s top-of-the-line wireless earbuds. They have Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive EQ, and Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. There is an H1 chip with 10 audio cores for real-time noise cancellation and the force sensor on the stem of the earbud will allow users to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparent Mode.

The AirPods Pro is sweat and water-resistant, has a 4.5-hour battery life on a single charge but with the charging case, users can get more than 24 hours. With the new MagSafe case, owners can charge the AirPods using a MagSafe wireless charger. They can also use a regular Qi wireless charger or a lightning charger.

You can order the AirPods Pro with the MagSafe Charging Case on Apple’s website for $249.

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Hisense launches 3 new Full Array QLED Android Smart TVs in India starting at Rs. 59,990

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Oct 21, 2021

Hisense today released three new QLED TVs in India with full array local dimming plus with Quantum Dot technology. The tech aims to deliver brighter whites and deeper blacks while enhancing the contrast ratio by spreading backlight evenly across the screen. The models are Hisense 55U6G, Hisense 65U6G, and Hisense 75U80G with 55″, 65″, and 75″ display sizes respectively. Android TV 10, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision are standard across the lineup.

Hisense 55U6G QLED TV specifications

The Hisense 55U6G has a 55-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) LED-backlit QLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 700 nits of peak brightness. It has Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG HDR, and HEVC (H.265) decoder support. Its 24W audio output is enhanced by Dolby Audio and Dolby Atmos.

The TV is powered by a quad-core CPU, Mali 470MP GPU, and has 2GB of RAM. It comes with an upscaling technology that ups regular 2K content to 4K while also reducing noise and enhancing details.

The Hisense 55U6G features Google Assistant and Google Play Store support. On the wireless connectivity front, the TV has dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Ethernet, HDMI, and USB interfaces are also included.

The TV has been given an inaugural special price of Rs. 59,990 and will be going on sale through all leading e-commerce platforms and retail stores starting this week.

Hisense 65U6G specifications

The Hisense 65U6G offers all of the technologies that the 55U6G packs. It comes with a similar 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) LED-backlit QLED display panel but it is a bit larger at 65-inches.

The TV has been priced at Rs. 84,990 and will be made available from early November.

Hisense 75U80G specifications

The Hisense 75U80G though sports a majorly upgraded display in terms of size, refresh rate, and pixel count. It has a 75-inch 8K UHD (7680 x 4320) QLED display with a 120Hz of refresh rate.

The chipset has been upgraded as well with a quad-core processor paired with Mali G52 MC2 GPU and 5GB of RAM. The audio output is more powerful as well at 36W. Apart from this, the TV’s software and ports are the same as the other two models.

The Hisense 75U80G will be going on sale along with the Hisense 55U6G at a price of Rs. 3,99,990.

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