US Senator urges Biden administration to blacklist Honor similar to Huawei

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Oct 15, 2021

Earlier this week, Republican Senators led by Marco Rubia urged the Biden administration to blacklist Honor, which is a former subsidiary of the Chinese tech giant Huawei that had had previously been designated as a national security threat.

According to an SCMP report, the US Senators sent a letter to the Biden administration on 14th October 2021. In this letter, Honor was described as an entity that is an “arm” of the Chinese government. The letter further added that the Chinese smartphone maker also has access to the US technologies that is currently being denied to its former parent brand, Huawei. In other words, the Senators are seeking to blacklist the company in a similar fashion.

Rubio wrote that spinning off Honor has let Beijing “effectively dodged a critical American export control.” For those unaware, Huawei had sold off its budget sub brand back in November 2020 to ensure its survival. The letter also stated that “By failing to act in response, the Department of Commerce risks setting a dangerous precedent and communicating to adversaries that we lack the capacity or willpower to punish blatant financial engineering by an authoritarian regime.”

Unfortunately, Honor as well as the US Commerce Department and the Chinese Embassy in Washington has yet to respond to requests for a comment regarding this matter at the moment. Huawei has also declined to provide any comments, but pointed to a previous statement in which it assured that it would not hold any shares or will be involved in managing Honor in any manner.

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Microsoft might be planning on making its own Custom CPU

By

Sean

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Oct 15, 2021

A new job listing has just been spotted which hints that Microsoft is planning on making its own custom CPU. This move bears resemblance to Apple, who made a major shift away from Intel CPUs for its own custom M1 processor.

The job listing was first posted back on September 3 and was spotted by HotHardware. Looking at this listing, it appears that the American tech giant is seeking to hire someone to work for its Surface team that will “light up Microsoft experiences with the next generation of devices.” It also mentions how creating those devices involves “a close partnership between silicon, hardware and software engineers, designers, and manufacturing.” Notably, this role would have the person “defining the features and capabilities of SoC used on Surface devices.”

Interestingly, this is not the first time we’ve heard that the company is working on its own custom chipset. Back in December 2020, we had reported that Microsoft is working on its own ARM based processor for servers and Surface series PCs. Furthermore, the company could reportedly also be partnering up with AMD for this ARM based chip. Previously, it has already working with Qualcomm for the SQ1 and SQ2 chips that were found in the Surface Pro X, although, its performance was not on par with the Apple M1 chip.

As of right now, Microsoft does use its own custom chips for the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio, which allows it to offer haptic feedback for inking with the Surface Slim Pen 2. With Apple having shifted to its own custom chips, it isn’t surprising when other tech giants are also rumored to follow suit. So stay tuned for more updates.

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Apple reportedly enjoys 75% of global smartphone profits despite having only 13% market share

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Oct 15, 2021

A new report claims that devices like the iPhone 12 and others have helped Apple rake in most (75%) of the operating profits and 40% of the revenue generated via global smartphone sales in Q2 2021, despite accounting for just 13% of total shipments.

This, despite Chinese companies like Xiaomi and Realme recording record growth during the same period, with the former bagging second place in terms of the number of smartphone units sold.

counterpoint research apple global smartphone operating profits — Image: Counterpoint Research

While the report by Counterpoint Research does prove Apple as the dominator of the industry, this year’s figures are actually lower than the ones from Q4 2020 where the company recorded a staggering 50% revenue share. Its profits also touched an unprecedented 86%, up from 51% in the previous quarter.

Do keep in mind here that since Apple doesn’t share its sales and shipment figures for its iPhone, the figures are based on Counterpoint’s own calculations and not official information from Apple.

Anyway, the Q4 2020 feat can be attributed to Apple’s iPhone 12 series that sold like hotcakes thanks to the introduction of 5G support. The company saw a jump from 9% to 17% in its shipment share during the time. Other contributing factors include interoperability between Apple devices, made possible by Apple’s significant control over both hardware and software, enabling a seamless shift of work on an app between multiple devices.

Not Just Pro variants, the entire Apple iPhone 14 series will get 120Hz LTPO OLED panels — Apple iPhone 12

Apple is likely to retain such a position and continues to work on improving its services while also charging premium prices for its handsets, thus keeping its operating profit margins untouched by any other.

The Cupertino-based tech behemoth is followed by South Korea’s Samsung which tops the list in another factor – annual global smartphone shipments. But despite its massive sales, Samsung has still remained number two in terms of profits for several past quarters.

Other than the relatively stable top 2 spots enjoyed by Apple and Samsung, the rest of the rankings have seen a major shift due to the US ban on Huawei. Companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo benefited from it majorly, creeping into the gaping hole left by Huawei. They were the biggest revenue generators respectively after Apple and Samsung in Q2 2021.

But while Xiaomi has seen steady growth in terms of shipments, its profit generation has not been satisfactory. This isn’t anything unexpected though considering Xiaomi has been prioritizing its number of shipments over everything else. It will likely be focusing on increasing its profits only after capturing a sizeable chunk of the market.

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OnePlus 9RT smartphone’s India pricing tipped; could launch soon

By

Jeet

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Oct 15, 2021

A couple of days back, OnePlus announced its latest smartphone in its home market — OnePlus 9RT, making it the third model in the flagship lineup for the year that already includes OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro.

Currently, the device is only limited to the Chinese market but is expected to be made available in India and Europe soon, but the launch date remains unknown. However, a new report from tipster Yogesh Brar on Twitter claims that the OnePlus 9RT could be priced between ₹40,000 to ₹44,000 ($533-587) in the Indian market.

The OnePlus 9RT features a 6.62-inch E4 AMOLED display that comes with 2400 x 1080 pixels screen resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, support for sRGB and P3 color gamut, and Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, coupled with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. It also comes with a 19067.44 mm² space cooling system to keep the temperature low while gaming.

In the camera department, there’s a 50MP f/1.8 Sony IMX766 sensor with a 6P lens and both optical and electronic image stabilization. It also comes with a 16MP f/2.2 sensor with a 123° field of view and a 2MP 4CM macro camera to complete the triple camera setup.

On the front side, the device features a 16MP Sony IMX471 camera with electronic image stabilization for taking selfies and video calling. The device comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, dual Nano-SIM support, USB-C, and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos.

The smartphone is running the Android 11 operating system with ColorOS 12 on top, however, the international version is expected to ship with OxygenOS 12 pre-installed. It is powered by a 4500mAh battery that supports Warp Charge 65T.

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Foldable smartphones from OPPO, Vivo, Huawei, and others to launch soon

By

Jeet

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Oct 15, 2021

Samsung and Huawei were among the first smartphone manufacturers to commercially launch foldable smartphones and currently, the South Korean giant is leading the category with several devices in the market.

Many other device manufacturers have been working on their own foldable smartphones for quite some time and it seems that the companies are now gearing up to officially launch their products in the market.

While Xiaomi has already launched its Mi MIX Fold earlier this year, it’s now time for OPPO and Vivo to launch their foldable smartphones. Both the brands have unveiled interesting concept phones in the recent past but are yet to officially launch their foldable phones.

vivo Foldable Smartphone Design Patent With Stylus 03 — Vivo Foldable Smartphone Design Patent With Stylus

Now, a new report coming from Digital Chat Station claims that the OPPO foldable smartphone will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset while the Vivo device will be powered by the upcoming Snapdragon 898 chipset.

Recently, it was reported that the OPPO’s foldable phone will have an inner fold design with an OLED display measuring 7.8-inch to 8-inch, offering a screen resolution of 2K+ pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is also said to have a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary camera on the rear and a 32MP front-facing camera. We expect the phone to be running the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with ColorOS 12 on top.

Huawei is also expected to launch a new foldable smartphone in the market, which will come powered by the company’s own Kirin 9000 4G chipset and will reportedly have a clamshell design similar to the Galaxy Z Flip3. It seems that the Chinese giant won’t be launching a 5G compatible model, at least initially.

Motorola has also launched two foldable smartphones in the market, taking a different approach in terms of design compared to the other models available in the market. It was the first foldable smartphone to adopt a clamshell design. However, there’s no information about the third foldable device from the brand.

Apart from these Chinese brands, Google is also working on a foldable smartphone which is currently being referred to as Pixel Fold. Recently, it was reported that the company is developing a second foldable Pixel phone codename Jumbojack. Apple is also expected to launch a foldable iPhone in a couple of years.

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Redmi Note 11, Note 11 Pro specifications emerge, launch seems imminent

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 15, 2021

A recent Weibo post Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing hinted that Redmi is gearing up to launch the Redmi Note 11 series of smartphones in China. Probably, the company may unveil the Note 11 lineup just before the Double Eleven (Nov. 11) shopping festival in China. A reliable tipster from China has shared the rumored specs of the Note 11 and Note 11 Pro.

Redmi Note 11 specifications (Rumored)

The Redmi Note 11 5G is likely to house an LCD panel that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. For photography, it may feature a 13-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel camera on the back. The Dimensity 810 chipset may fuel the device.

The handset may house a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. It may come in variants like 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. The tipster has speculated that these variants could be priced a 1,199 Yuan (~$186) and 1,599 Yuan (~$248).

Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G Featured — Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G

Redmi Note 11 Pro specifications (Rumored)

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is expected to arrive with an OLED screen that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It may feature a 16-megapixel camera on the front and a 108-megapixel snapper on the back. It could be powered by the Dimensity 920 chipset.

The Note 11 Pro could be backed by a 5,000mAh battery, which may support 67W rapid charging. It may offer other features like X-axis linear motor, JBL powered stereo speakers, and NFC. It may release in variants such as 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. The leaker speculated that these variants may cost 1,599 Yuan (~$248), 1,799 Yuan (~$279), and 1,999 Yuan (~$311).

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MSI Creator 15 A11 U powering Intel Core i7 is the company’s first 4K OLED Notebook

By

Pranav Sawant

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Oct 15, 2021

MSI has officially launched a new laptop in the Japanese market. The all-new MSI Creator 15 A11UH-003JP is the company’s first thin and light notebook that comes with a 4K OLED display. It is currently available in Japan for a hefty price of ¥350,000(~$3,071).

The MSI Creator 15 A11U comes powered by the 11th gen Intel Core i7-11800H CPU paired with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. It comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD storage. The laptop features a 15.6-inch OLED display with a 3840 x 2160 pixels resolution. It supports HDR support and has a DCI-P3 colour gamut.

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The notebook runs on Windows 10 Pro OS but is expected to have support for Windows 11. It has a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack.

It has Cooler Boost Trinity+ technology which is backed by six heat pipes and three cooling fans. The laptop also supports Duo Wave Speaker support. The laptop comes in Black colour and has the following dimensions 358.3 x 248 x 19.8 mm.

Notably, this is one of the laptops from the Creator 15 A11U series and there might be more notebooks under the same series launching later in the country.

In related news, MSI recently launched a gaming laptop dubbed MSI Delta 15 in Japan. The laptop is powered by the Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and has Radeon’s RX 6700M GPU. It has a 15.6-inch screen with a 240Hz refresh rate. It is priced at ¥218,000(~$1,942).

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Black Shark 4S Pro beats the Red Magic 6 Pro and ASUS ROG Phone 5 on AnTuTu benchmarks

By

Pranav Sawant

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Oct 15, 2021

This week Black Shark launched the Shark 4S and Shark 4S Pro in the Chinese market. It is a gaming-centric smartphone series that brings a 144Hz display, Snapdragon 888 SoC, and fast charging support. The smartphone will compete with the likes of Red Magic 6 Pro, ASUS ROG Phone 5, and Lenovo’s Legion Phone Duel 2.

That said, one of the major performance indicators on paper has always been the AnTuTu benchmarks. Well, even before the launch, the Black Shark 4S Pro made it to the AnTuTu listing and it scored an impressive 887,734 points. It scored a CPU score of 216,996 points, a GPU score of 219,912 points, a MEM score of 189,260 points, and a UX score of 161,566 points.

With these scores, the Black Shark 4S Pro is 7.5% faster than the Nubia Red Magic 6 Pro and is nearly 8% faster than the ASUS ROG Phone 5. To compare, as per the AnTuTu September leaderboard, the Red Magic 6 Pro had a lower score of 825,145 and the ROG Phone 5 scored 822,290.

Now, in October’s list of top-performing flagships, we expect the Black Shark 4S Pro to take a lead. Do note that the aforementioned phones power the vanilla Snapdragon 888 SoC. AnTuTu is yet to reveal the leaderboard of the Snapdragon 888 Plus phones.

Black Shark 4S Specifications

The Black Shark 4S series features a 6.67-inch Samsung E4 AMOLED display. It has an FHD+ resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and 720Hz touch sampling rate. It sports a 20MP front-facing camera and a triple rear camera system. It has an 8MP sensor with a 120-degree FoV, 5MP macro lens, and a 48MP main lens on the Black Shark 4S and a 64MP sensor on the Black Shark 4S Pro.

Under the hood, the smartphone series is powered by Snapdragon processors. The vanilla model has Snapdragon 870 SoC, whereas, the Pro model is powered by the Snapdragon 888 plus chipset. The duo packs a 4,500mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging technology. It boots on JoyUI 12.8 based on Android 11.

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Intel’s 12th Gen Core i5-12600K processor leaked in Ashes of the Singularity benchmark

By

Jeet

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Oct 15, 2021

After launching several processors in its 11th generation lineup, Intel has now reportedly started testing the next-generation (12th generation) processors. Benchleaks have spotted the upcoming Intel Core i5-12600K “Adler Lake” processor with the Ashes of the Singularity benchmark, reports Tom’s Hardware.

So far, it has been revealed that the Intel Core i5-12600K processor will come with a 10-core configuration, having six Golden Cove cores and four Gracemount cores. Among them, on the Golden Cove features Hyper-Threading, which brings an unorthodox setup with 10 cores and 16 threads.

It will reportedly come with 20MB of L3 cache and is said to feature a 4.9GHz dual-core core boost on the Golden Cove cores while the all-core boost is allegedly fixed at 4.6GHz. On the other hand, it seems that the Gracemont cores may check in with a 3.6 GHz dual-core boost and a 3.4GHz all-core boost.

Coming to the graphics performance, the Core i5-12600K, when coupled with Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU, managed to score 10,800 points on the Crazy 1080p preset, which apparently represents a 10.2 percent improvement over Core i5-11600K. It easily manages to surpass the 8,100 points of its rival AMD Ryzen 5 5600X.

Given that this is a leaked benchmark of an unreleased product, we would advise you to take this information related to the Intel Core i5-12600K with a pinch of salt. If the reports about the November announcement of Alder Lake are true, then we won’t have to wait longer to know more about this processor.

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Redmi K40s to be rebranded Xiaomi 11T with 120W fast charging

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 15, 2021

Xiaomi announced the Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro smartphones in global markets in September. Recent reports have revealed that the 11T will be rebranded as the Redmi K40s in China. The purported K40s has received approval from the 3C authority of China, which indicates that its launch date could be near.

It is speculated that the Xiaomi phone with 20191116C model number will be debuting in China with the Redmi K40s moniker. Its 3C certification has revealed that it may ship with up to a 120W fast charger.

The Xiaomi 11T carries support for 67W fast charging, whereas the 11T Pro supports 120W rapid charging. Considering that the K40s could be a rebranded version of the 11T, it was speculated to carry support for 67W fast charging. However, its 3C certification suggests that it will come with a faster 120W charger.

Now that the K40s has bagged 3C approval, it is likely to receive TENAA certification in the next few days. Probably, the smartphone will break cover just before the upcoming Double Eleven (Nov. 11) shopping festival in China.

The Redmi K40s is expected to arrive with a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 108-megapixel (main) + 8-mgeapixel (ultrawide) + 5-megapixel (telemacro) triple camera unit.

The Dimensity 1200 chipset may power the device with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage. It is expected to come with other specs like a 5,000mAh battery and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. It is rumored to come with Harmon Kardon tuned speakers.

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ZMI TWS Headphone Team’s product sale exceeds 1 million units

By

Jeet

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Oct 15, 2021

ZMI, a Xiaomi-backed company known for making charging products, also has a lineup of true wireless earphones. Now, the company has announced that its TWS Earbuds series has crossed the benchmark of selling over 1 million units.

Making the announcement, the Research & Development team of ZMI TWS Earphones expressed gratitude to the users for their support and trust. The team added that they will continue to move forward with persistent efforts to provide more good choices.

ZMI had launched its first true wireless earbuds in its home market last year — ZMI Purpods and Purpods Pro, priced at 199 yuan and 399 yuan respectively. As the name indicates, the Pro is a high-end variant that comes with support for Active Noise Cancellation and offers up to 35dB noise reduction.

Earlier this year, the company starting selling the PurPods true wireless earbuds for 199 yuan but it currently retails for 179 yuan. It comes with EQsmart adaptive technology that adjusts the volume according to the sound levels in the users’ surroundings.

Interestingly, the ZMI TWS Headset Team also developed the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro earphones that were launched for 349 yuan. It features Active Noise Cancellation up to 35dB and offers ultra-low latency of 69ms.

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OPPO K9s launch date revealed, here’s what to expect

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 15, 2021

Various smartphone manufacturers are gearing up to launch before the upcoming Double Eleven (Nov. 11) shopping festival in China. Today, OPPO confirmed that it will be unleashing the OPPO K9s on Oct. 20 in the home market. As the below-shown poster reveals the K9s will be available with other OPPO devices during the forthcoming 11.11 sale.

The OPPO K9s is already up for reservations on JD.com and Suning.com. These retailer listings have revealed that the smartphone will be available in two options such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. It will be sold in colors like Magic Purple Quicksand, Neon Silver Sea, and Obsidian Warrior.

OPPO K9s specifications (expected)

The OPPO K9s will be sporting a 6.59-inch LTPS screen that will produce a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Snapdragon 778G chipset will be driving the device with up to 12 GB of RAM.

The K9s will offer users up to 256 GB of internal storage, and it will run on Android 11. For additional storage, it features a microSD card slot. The device will draw power from a 5,000mAh battery. It is likely to carry support for 30W fast charging. For an enhanced gaming experience, it will be fitted with an X-axis linear motor.

The rear-facing camera module of the K9s will include a 64-megapixel primary camera. It will be accompanied by 8-megapixel and 2-megapixel auxiliary cameras. For security, it features a side-facing fingerprint scanner. The device measures 164.43 x 75.88 x 8.52mm and weighs 199 grams.

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Realme Q3s confirmed to arrive a 144Hz LCD screen

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 15, 2021

Realme Q3s is all set to make its debut along with the Realme GT Neo2T smartphone on Oct. 19 in China. Yesterday, the company released a poster to reveal the rear design and color variants of the Q3s. Today, it released a poster on Weibo to reveal its front design. The image confirms that it will support an adaptive refresh rate of up to 144Hz.

Realme has confirmed that the Realme Q3s has a 6.6-inch LCD screen. It will support 7 levels of refresh rate such as 30Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz. The display offers other features like DCI-P3 wide color gamut, HDR10, and support for 4096-level fine dimming. The image also reveals the presence of a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

Reports have revealed that the Realme smartphone with RMX3461 model number that emerged at Geekbench, TENAA, and 3C recently will be debuting soon in China with the Realme Q3s moniker. The Geekbench revealed that it is equipped with the Snapdragon 778G, whereas the 3C certification showed that it may ship with a 30W charger.

The Q3s has a 16-megapixel selfie camera. Its back panel has a triple camera unit, which is composed of a 48-megapixel main camera, and a pair of 2-megapixel snappers. It is likely to house a 5,000mAh battery. It is expected to come with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage in China.

Realme is also rumored to announce the Realme Watch T1 smartwatch on Oct. 19. Probably, the company will release an official confirmation on its arrival in the next few days.

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Honor Tab V7 Pro 5G version goes on sale in China for 3,699 yuan ($575)

By

Jeet

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Oct 15, 2021

A couple of months ago, Honor had launched its Tab V7 Pro in the Chinese market, along with a few other products from the company, including Honor Magic 3 series flagship phones, Honor X20 5G, and Honor Watch GS smartwatch.

Soon after the official launch, the tablet was made available for purchase in China and now the Honor Tab V7 Pro 5G version will go on sale in the company’s home market from today for a price of 3,699 yuan, which is around $575.

The 5G variant of the tablet comes packed with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The Wi-Fi-only variants come in three memory options — 6GB RAM with 128 GB storage, 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, and 8GB RAM with 256GB storage, costing 2,599 yuan (~$400), 2,799 yuan (~$431), and 3,299 yuan (~$508) respectively.

Coming to the specifications, the Honor Tab V7 Pro features an 11-inch LCD screen that offers a 2K screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, a 16:10 aspect ratio, 276ppi pixel density, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a DCI-P3 color gamut.

Under the hood, it is powered by MediaTek Kompanio 1300T chipset, making it the world’s first device to feature this newly announced SoC. It is equipped with a 7-layer cooling system for heat dissipation. It also carries support for RAM extension technology.

As for the camera department, there’s a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The tablet runs the Android 11 operating system with Magic UI 5.0 on top that has been optimized for multi-tasking and offers features like multi-window function, split-screen, drag and drop, and more.

The device is powered by a 7,250mAh battery that carries support for 22.5W rapid charging. Other features on the device include quad speakers, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 6, 5G, Bluetooth 5.1, and a USB-C port. This newly launched Honor tablet also carries support for the Magic Pencil 2 stylus and a keyboard case for a desktop-like experience.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy A21 gets Android 11 and One UI 3.1 update in the United States

By

Jeet

-

Oct 15, 2021

Samsung has already opened registrations for the beta testing of One UI 4.0 custom user interface based on the latest Android 12 operating system and the company has even revealed details about the rollout of the stable version.

Amid this, the budget smartphone from the brand — Samsung Galaxy A21, is now getting the Android 11 update, bringing the One UI 3.1 to the device in the United States. The firmware version is codenamed A215USQU5BUI4, and along with the updated UI, it also comes with a new security patch.

The update brings a new user interface with improved quick settings and notifications sections with better reachability. The first-party apps, including Calendar, Samsung Keyboard, Gallery, and Samsung Internet also receive an update to their design and feel.

It also comes with major improvements for features in the camera department, including Director’s view, Vlogger’s view, Single Take 2.0 and Focus enhancer. The update is currently being rolled out and it may take some time to be available for everyone.

As for the Android 12 and One UI 4.0, the Samsung Galaxy A21 is likely to receive the latest version of the Android operating system but there’s no confirmation of this from the company. Even if Samsung offers the update, it’ll happen much later, in about a year or so, and not anytime soon.

The Samsung Galaxy A21 features a 6.4-inch HD+ Super AMOLED display that offers 274ppi pixel density. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 processor, coupled with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

In the camera department, there’s a 13MP + 5 MP + 2 MP + 2MP quad-camera setup on the back and an 8MP front-facing snapper. The phone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery and comes with support for 15W charging.

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iQOO V2136GA, Vivo V2115A key specifications emerge at Google Play Console

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 15, 2021

Recently, upcoming phones such as iQOO V2136A and Vivo V2115A were spotted at the TENAA and 3C certifications sites of China. The TENAA certifications have revealed the specifications and images of both models. Fresh information courtesy of tipster Mukul Sharma reveals that both models have appeared at the Google Play Console with their front render and few specifications.

iQOO V2136GA

The Vivo V2136GA’s Play Console listing reveals specs like Snapdragon 888 or 888+, 8 GB of RAM, and Android 11 OS. It has a curved edge display that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels.

It is known through TENAA and 3C appearances that it has a 6.56-inch AMOLED panel, in-screen fingerprint scanner, up to 12 GB of RAM, up to 512 GB of storage, Android 11 OS, a 4,500mAh battery with 120W fast charging, a 16-megapixel front camera, and a 48-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 13-megapixel triple camera unit. There is no word on the final moniker of the device.

Vivo V2115A

The Vivo V2115A has appeared with specs like Snapdragon 778G, 8 GB of RAM, and Android 11 OS at Play Console. It also seems to feature a curved edge screen. Probably, it features a flat display, and the image at Play Console could only be a placeholder.

Its TENAA and 3C listings have revealed that it has a 6.67-inch TFT FHD+ screen, a side-facing fingerprint scanner, up to 12 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, a 4,900mAh rated battery with 44W rapid charging support, a 16-megapixel selfie camera, and a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit. While the final name of this device is not known, it appears to be a rebadged edition of the iQOO Z5.

RELATED:

Honor 50 Lite specifications, pricing leaked before launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Oct 15, 2021

In June, Honor announced the Honor 50 SE, Honor 50, and Honor 50 Pro smartphones in China. Among these, the Honor 50 is scheduled to break cover in Europe on Oct. 26. Fresh information shared by Winfuture.de reveals that the company is also gearing up t launch another phone called the Honor 50 Lite in Europe. The publication shared the specifications, renders, and pricing of the Lite model. It is likely to go official alongside the Honor 50. Both models will come with Google Mobile Services.

Honor 50 Lite specifications

The Honor 50 Lite will feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD panel with a pill-shaped cutout at the upper-left corner. It will be equipped with a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The round-shaped camera module on the back will house a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

The Snapdragon 662 mobile platform will power the device. It will come with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage. The handset will come preinstalled with Magic UI 5.0 based Android 11 OS with GMS support.

The Honor 50 Lite will house a 4,300mAh battery with SuperCharge fast charge support. It is equipped with other features such as dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The Honor 50 Lite is identical to the Huawei Nova 8i in terms of specifications and design. It is expected to arrive with a pricing of 300 euros (~$348) in Europe. The Nova 8i is available in Europe with a price tag of 349 euros (~$405).

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The Amazfit GTR 3 Pro actually has built-in storage

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 14, 2021

The Amazfit GTR 3 Pro is one of the new smartwatches announced by Zepp Health a few days ago. The watch costs $50 more than the Amazfit GTR 3, and it tries to justify that difference with additional features such as a bigger screen.

One feature we missed and didn’t state in our launch posts is that it has built-in storage for locally storing MP3 files. It turns out that there is actually built-in storage for users to download their favorite audio files including podcasts and audiobooks.

On-board storage was one of the features of the Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2, unfortunately, Zepp Health decided not to include it on their successors, the Amazfit GTR 3 and Amazfit GTS 3. It turns out the manufacturer decided to make it an exclusive feature for the pro model.

The Amazfit GTR 3 Pro has 2.3GB of available storage for users. According to the manufacturer, that is enough to store between 270-470 MP3 files if each file is between 5-10MB in size. The Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 have 3GB of storage and can store between 300-600 MP3 files with each file size between 5-10MB.

Built-in storage is not the only feature Zepp Health has removed from the previous generation and made exclusive to the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro. The pro model is also the only one with support for 2.4GHz Wi-Fi which is understandable since that is the only way to transfer your MP3 files to the watch.

The Amazzfit GTR 3 Pro has a 1.45-inch AMOLED display with a maximum brightness level of 1000 nits. It has support for more than 150 watch faces including 23 editable ones and 15 animated ones. There is a BioTracker PPG 3.0 sensor that can track multiple health metrics at the same time. It has a heart rate monitor, blood oxygen level sensor, stress level monitor, and a female cycle tracker. The smartwatch also has support for over 150 sports modes and can auto-detect 8 different sports.

There is a speaker for taking calls on the watch over a Bluetooth connection. Like the Amazfit GTR 3 and Amazfit GTS 3, it also runs Zepp OS with support for mini-apps and has Alexa built-in. Its battery life is stated to be up to 12 days in typical usage mode. The Amazfit GTR 3 Pro is already available for purchase and will set you back $229.99.

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Nokia XR20 pre-booking in India starts on October 20, Nokia C30 also tagging along

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 14, 2021

Nokia announced the Nokia XR20, C30, C20 Plus, G10, and C01 Plus in India back in August. While the Nokia C20 Plus went on sale immediately, the other models were not made available. The Finnish company has now officially announced the rugged Nokia XR20 will be opened for pre-booking in India on October 20. That means the device will go on sale in no distant time.

The Nokia XR20 will be the first 5G Nokia smartphone sold in India when it eventually goes on sale. According to the teaser poster shared by the company but which was later removed, the pre-booking will come with the added perk of a Nokia Power Earbuds Lite and 1-year screen damage protection plan at no extra cost.

The now-ousted product page also reveals that India will only get the higher memory model packing 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. The device will be available in both Granite and Ultra Blue colors. The pricing is still not known.

Also, the Nokia C30 product page also went live briefly, suggesting that the device will go on sale in India soon. The listing shows that the Indian version will run on Android 11 OS instead of the Android 11 Go which the global variant features. The product will also come in 3GB and 4GB of RAM with 32GB or 64 GB of internal storage onboard. It will be available in Green and White colors.

We’ll have to wait for the company to officially reveal when both models will go on sale in India.

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HTC Vive Flow is a $499 VR headset that looks like oversized goggles

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 14, 2021

HTC has announced a new VR headset today, The Vive Flow is its first VR headset this year that is targeted at consumers and not enterprise users. The new headset also has a unique design that makes it look like oversized goggles.

The Vive Flow is priced at $499 which is pretty steep when compared to standalone VR headsets such as the Oculus Quest 2 which has a $300 price tag.

HTC focused on comfort when designing the Vive Flow. It is designed to be worn like a pair of glasses rather than strapped on like a lot of other headsets. It has also made it light, weighs 189 grams, by not putting a battery inside it. Actually, there is a battery but a very mall one to keep it powered for a few minutes while switching power sources. The headset has a USB-C connector that allows users to plug it into an external power source such as a portable battery pack or a phone with support for reverse charging.

The Vive Flow has two 2.1-inch LCD displays with a resolution of 1600 x 1600 per eye. It has a refresh rate of 75Hz and a 100° field of view. It is also fitted with 2 cameras for inside-out headset six degrees of freedom tracking and has support for video pass-through so the user can be aware of their environment. It has two diopter dials for adjusting the focus for each lens.

There is a Qualcomm XR1 chip powering it along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of non-expandable storage. It also has stereo speakers with spatial audio support and dual microphones with echo and noise cancellation. HTC says users can connect their Bluetooth headphones to the Vive Flow too.

The headset doesn’t have its own controllers but owners can use their connected phone as a controller. To use the Vive Flow, owners have to sign into or create an account on the Vive platform on their phones. Then connect their headset to their phone via Bluetooth and then connect to a 5GHz Wi-Fi network. HTC has revealed that the device will launch with 100 apps and support 150 by the end of the year. Owners will also be able to cast their phone to the headset via Miracast and even watch content from their favorite streaming apps.

At the moment, the Vive Flow is only compatible with Android devices running Android 9.0 Pie and above. There is a tool on the Vive website to see if your device is compatible. It is already available for pre-order on the manufacturer’s website.

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