We first heard of the Nokia X100 and Nokia G300 back in August when famed leaker, Evan Blass a.k.a. @evleaks, posted a list of upcoming devices from HMD Global. The list also revealed their codenames. Of the devices on the list, only the Nokia G50 has been announced while the Nokia T20 is the tablet scheduled for release on October 6.
image via: ITHome
Now the Nokia X100 and Nokia G300 have been spotted on a list of devices that have support for Netflix HDR. The list also includes the Nokia 8.3 5G, Nokia G50, Nokia XR20, Nokia X10, and Nokia X20.
Little is known about the Nokia X100 but the Nokia G300 appeared in a leak a few days ago that revealed its design and specifications. The phone will also have a Snapdragon 480 5G processor, a chipset that already powers four other Nokia phones announced this year.
The Nokia G300 will have a 6.57-inch LCD display with an HD+ resolution. It has a waterdrop notch that holds an 8MP camera. On the back is an oreo-shaped camera housing that holds a 16MP main camera, a 5MP ultrawide angle camera, and a 2MP depth camera. The phone will have 64GB of expandable storage though there should be other configurations too. It is also expected to pack a 4470mAh battery with support for fast charging and run Android 11 out of the box.
It has been a year since Apple made the decision to not ship a charger with its phones. The decision even applied to older phones that are still in production. Other manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Samsung, and even Nokia have also joined Apple in the decision to not include chargers in the box, though it is important to mention that Xiaomi provides the option for buyers to get a charger for free.
While there is still a lot of debate going on around whether the lack of a charger in the box helps reduce e-waste or is just a way for manufacturers to make more money from the sale of accessories, that decision has come to stay with some manufacturers.
For this week’s poll, we want to know if our readers ave bought a phone without a charger in the past year. We will also love to know if they eventually purchased a charger or they used one they already own. So please take the poll and also share your opinions in the comment box.
Last month, GizmoChinarevealed that Tecno is working on Camon 18 series. The lineup is expected to include two handsets namely, Camon 18, Camon 18P, and Camon 18 Premier. The official renders of all three models have now surfaced to give a look at their design. Tecno is expected to announce the Camon 18 series this month.
Camon 18
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In the above images, the Camon 18 can be seen in Dusk Gray, Ceramic White, and Iris Purple colors. It is expected to arrive with specs like a 6.8-inch FHD+ 90Hz display, Helio G88 chip, 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W charging. It may feature a front camera of 16-megapixel and a 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit.
Camon 18P
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The Camon 18P is also expected to arrive in the same three colors as the Camon 18. It is expected to offer specs like a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz display, Helio G96, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal storage, and a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W rapid charging. It may feature a 16-megapixel front camera, and its rear may feature a 48-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit with 30x zoom.
Camon 18 Premier
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The Camon 18 Premier may arrive in Polar Night and Vast Sky colors. It may come with specs like a 6.7-inch AMOLED FHD+ display, Helio G96 chipset, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a 4,750mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. It has a 32-megapixel front-facing camera and a 64-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 8-megapixel triple camera system with 60x zoom support.
iQOO is reportedly working on the iQOO Z5x smartphone, which is likely to go official this month. Last week, a product page went live on the Chinese retailer site, JD.com. The listing did not reveal anything on the specs of the device. However, an IMEI database listing of an upcoming Vivo phone with model number V2131A revealed that it may debut in the market with the iQOO Z5x moniker. Now, a Chinese tipster has revealed some information on the chipset and fast charging capabilities of the Z5x.
According to the tipster, the iQOO Z5x will be powered by the Dimensity 900 chipset and 44W fast charging. This is not really new information since that the V2131A was spotted with the Dimensity 900 SoC at the Play Console last month. The presence of the D900 suggests that the Z5x could be positioned lower than the iQOO Z5, which was recently announced in markets like China and India. While the Z5x is expected to arrive in China, it is unclear whether it will be also landing in India.
V2131A at Play Console
The V2131A has received approval from the 3C authority of China. The 3C listing shows that it is a 5G-ready device, and its retail package may include a 44W fast charger. There is no word on the battery size of the device.
The Play Console listing revealed that the iQOO Z5x’s display could be equipped with a centrally positioned punch-hole. It remains to be seen whether it houses the same 6.67-inch IPS LCD FHD+ 120Hz panel that was made available on the iQOO Z5. The rumor mill is yet to spill information on its cameras. The Z5x is expected to arrive with 8 GB of RAM and Android 11 OS.
Alongside the new iPhones, Apple also renewed its lineup of iPad, including the affordable one. Despite retaining the older form factor, Apple iPad 10.2 9th gen brings a lot of optimization allowing for a better user experience. But for less money, you can now find another high-end tablet with the Android operating system and similar specifications: the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5. Is it able to replace the new iPad or you still get more by going for an Apple tablet? This is a comparison between Apple iPad 10.2 9th gen and the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 which will help you to find it out.
Apple iPad 10.2 9th gen (2021) vs Xiaomi Mi Pad 5
Apple iPad 10.2 9th gen 2021
Xiaomi Mi Pad 5
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm, 487 grams
254.7 x 166.3 x 6.9 mm, 511 g
DISPLAY
10.2 inches, 1620 x 2160p (Quad HD+), Retina IPS LCD
11 inches, 1600 x 2560p (Quad HD+), IPS LCD
PROCESSOR
Apple A13 Bionic, octa-core 2.65 GHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon 860, octa-core 2.96 GHz
MEMORY
3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB
6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE
iPadOS 15
Android 11, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA
Single 8 MP f/2.4
12 MP f/2.4 front camera
Single 13 MP f/2.0
8 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY
8557 mAh
8720 mAh, fast charging 33W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Optional LTE, stylus support, keyboard support
Pen support, keyboard support
Design
With its aluminum back and aluminum frame, the Apple iPad 9th gen provides a better build quality than Xiaomi Mi Pad 5: it is sturdier and it also comes with a scratch-resistant and oleophobic glass. But if you are looking for the most beautiful design, then go for the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 without thinking twice. It has narrower bezels around the display and a higher screen to body ratio. That is the reason why, even though it has a wider panel, the dimensions are similar to the Apple iPad 9th gen. Further, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 is thinner as it is just 6.9-mm thick instead of 7.5 mm. Both the tablets support the stylus and the magnetic physical keyboard, but if you want to use the Apple Pencil with the iPad 9th gen, you must choose the old-generation one.
Display
Despite the image quality provided by the iPad 9th gen is excellent, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 has a more interesting display. It is an IPS panel, but it is able to show up to one billion colors. It supports the Dolby Vision standard and it has the HDR10 certification. Last but not least, it comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a Quad HD+ resolution. With a diagonal of 11 inches, it is even wider than the display of the iPad 9th gen. Thanks to an active digitizer, both displays can be used with a pen. Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 does not provide any advanced authentication method, while the iPad 9th gen has the Touch ID with a fingerprint scanner placed right below the display.
Specs & Software
Both Apple iPad 9th gen and Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 are equipped with a high-end hardware department. The Apple iPad 9th gen is fueled by the Apple A13 Bionic chipset that is the processor of the iPhone 11 series, paired with 3 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of native storage. Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 is powered by the Snapdragon 860 mobile platform which sits in the middle between Snapdragon 855+ and 865, paired with up to 6 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. On the software side, the iPad 9th gen is more advanced as a tablet thanks to iPadOS supporting more productivity-oriented features. Further, the better optimization of iPadOS allows the iPad 9th gen to provide better performance. However, both tablets can be used to run the most demanding games.
Camera
The Apple iPad 9th gen comes with a great 8 MP rear camera and an even better 12 MP front camera. The photo quality is very good if we consider other tablets, but not so great if we also bring smartphones in the comparison. The camera of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 is a sensor with a 13 MP resolution which is not able to reach the quality of the iPad 9th gen, but it records videos with a higher 4K resolution and it is paired with a dual-LED flash.
The battery of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 is slightly larger than the one found on the Apple iPad 9th gen, but the iPad lasts more on a single charge. On the other hand, Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 has a faster charging tech with a power of 33W.
Price
The iPad 9th gen has a starting price of €389/$451 in Europe, while you can find the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 for €299/$347 thanks to the best deals. Overall, the iPad is a more advanced tablet due to its operating system supporting more productivity features, and it wins this comparison, but Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 can let you save money.
Apple iPad 10.2 9th gen (2021) vs Xiaomi Mi Pad 5: PRO and CONS
October is known to pack several tech announcements but this year may see the launch of fewer products judging by the large number of launches manufacturers squeezed into September. There are some highly anticipated announcements but they are not expected to happen until later in the month. Regardless, there are some exciting launches coming in the first week of October.
Android 12 – October 4
Google is expected to announce the stable release of Android 12 on Monday, October 4. Android 12 was first announced a few months ago but it has been in beta. The stable release for the general public is reported to be scheduled for release on October 4 and as expected it will be available first for Google’s own Pixel phones but we should see a few manufacturers also release the stable update for a few of their devices on the same day.
Windows 11 and Office 2021 – October 5
Microsoft will officially release the latest version of its operating system called Windows 11 on October 5. The OS was first unveiled a few months ago with a promise for a release to the general public on October 5. The new operating system will bring a visual overhaul, redesigned apps, improvement in performance, and Android app support to millions of Windows users across the globe.
Come October 6, HMD Global will announce the first Nokia Android tablet since it got the license to manufacture Nokia-branded phones. The tablet is expected to launch as the Nokia T20 and according to the manufacturer, it will come with all of the features we have come to love on the current Nokia smartphones.
Back in July, Nokia launched the C30 smartphone with specs like a 6.8-inch display and a 6,000mAh battery. Now, the Nokia C30 is finally available for purchase in Nigeria at a starting price of N62,000(~$151).
The Nokia Nigeria comes in two configurations – a 2GB RAM + 32GB storage variant and a 3GB RAM + 32GB storage variant. As said above, the phone is priced at N62,000(~$151) for the former variant and N65,700(~$160) for the latter. It is available in White, Dark Grey, and Green colour variants.
Nokia C30 Specifications
The Nokia C30 is a successor to the Nokia C20. It brings a large 6.8-inch water-drop notch display with an HD+ resolution. The has a modern aspect ratio with a slightly thicker bottom chin. Just like every Nokia phone, it has the Nokia branding on the bottom bezel.
It boasts a dual-camera system at the rear placed in the circular camera module. It has a 13MP main sensor and a 5MP secondary lens. At the front, it has a 5MP single camera for selfie snaps. It is powered by the UNISOC SC9863A octa-core chipset paired with up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. It has a microSD card slot for additional storage. It packs a 6,000mAh non-removable battery.
It has a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio and a micro-USB port for charging and data transfer. The smartphone has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for security and it runs on Android 11 Go Edition out of the box.
Last month, Apple had a mega launch of one of the most anticipated phones of the year, evidently the iPhone 13. Just before its release, the predecessor iPhone 12 received a major price drop in the Chinese market. Now, the Indian market has received a limited time sale discount on the iPhone 12 that will make you go bonkers.
The Flipkart Big Billion Days sale is live and in the sale, the iPhone 12 Mini is available for ₹38,999(~$526). This is a massive discount considering that the phone was launched for a starting price of ₹69,990(~$944). On the other hand, the iPhone 12 is on sale for an attractive price of ₹49,999(~$675). Again, it is worth noting that the launch price of the phone was ₹79,990(~$1,079).
Additionally, the phones have a 10% discount(up to ₹1500) on ICICI and Axis Bank credit cards. Effectively, the phones can be purchased for a starting pricing of₹37,499(~$505) and ₹48,499(~$655).
The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini are currently the most powerful iPhones for the aforementioned price. The iPhone 12 Mini has a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR panel, whereas, the iPhone 12 features a 6.1-inch Retina XDR screen. The duo equips great cameras with 12MP + 12MP rear camera system. The phones come powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic chipset and have 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage.
Alcatel has officially launched the Alcatel 3X Plus smartphone in Argentine. It is an entry-level offering that comes with a dew-drop notch display and a triple camera system.
The Alcatel 3X Plus is priced at ARS 23,999(~$243) for the sole 4GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. It comes in Dark Grey and Blue colour and is available for purchase via authorised distributors in the region.
Alcatel 3X Plus Specifications
The Alcatel 3X Plus comes with a 6.22-inch dew-drop notch display with an HD+ resolution. It is an IPS panel with a 19:9 aspect ratio and 2.5D curved glass. It has a 5MP camera at the front and boasts a triple camera array at the rear.
The rear camera system has a 13MP main camera sensor, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth-sensing unit. Under the hood, it is powered by the UNISOC SC9863A chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It has a microSD card slot for additional storage.
It packs a 4,000mAh battery which can be charged via the USB port at the bottom. It is a dual-SIM handset with support for two Nano SIMs or a Nano-SIM + SD card. Unfortunately, it runs on the older Android 10 out of the box.
In related news, the company launched a budget phone called Alcatel 1L Pro 2021 in June. It featured a similar camera setup with a 13MP + 5MP + 2MP setup and an IPS LCD screen. The smartphone featured an unspecified octa-core SoC and boots on the Android 11 Go Edition.
Well, we are already in the first week of October and that said, we’re expecting multiple smartphone launches from brands across the world. This month, we’ll see phones launching from brands like OnePlus, Google, Honor, Realme, Motorola, iQOO, and others. Let’s have a look at all the confirmed and expected phone releases in October 2021.
OnePlus 9RT
OnePlus is expected to launch a new smartphone especially for markets like India, Malaysia, and other Asian regions. The device will be called OnePlus 9RT and it is expected to release this month. There’s isn’t an official launch date but rumours have it that it may debut on October 15.
OnePlus 9RT is said to be an entry-level flagship and it may come with a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is expected to have a 16MP single camera system at the front and a 50MP quad-camera setup. As of now, the internal chipset isn’t confirmed but we can expect a mid-range SoC paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. According to its 3C certification, the phone has a 65W fast charging support.
2. Google Pixel 6
[Update: Google Pixel 6 series is officially scheduled to launch on October 19 at 10 AM PT.]
The Google Pixel 6 series is easily one of the most anticipated phone launches. Although the company had already teased it, there’s still no official launch confirmation. However, it is said that the phone may debut in the mid or end of October this year.
The Pixel 6 is expected to have a 6.4-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Whereas, the Pixel 6 Pro will have a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz panel. The vanilla model will have a dual-camera system and the Pro will hold a triple rear camera setup. The phones are expected to come powered by an unreleased Exynos 9855 SoC.
3. Realme GT Neo 2
Realme announced the GT Neo 2 smartphone in China in September this year. And, the company is expected to bring it to the Indian market in October. In a recent AskMadhav session on Twitter, the CEO Madhav Sheth confirmed the availability for India.
The Realme GT Neo 2 sports a 6.62-inch AMOLED display with a Full-HD+ resolution. It has a 64MP triple camera system at the rear and a 16MP selfie camera lens. The handset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 onboard storage. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging support.
4. Asus 8Z
Back in May Asus unveiled the Asus Zenfone 8 in the global market for a starting price of EUR 599(~$694). The device is now expected to launch in the Indian market. Earlier, Asus officially confirmed that it will arrive soon with a different moniker, it will be called the Asus 8Z.
The Asus 8Z is expected to have a 5.9-inch compact display with a Full-HD+ resolution. It will feature a dual-camera system with a 64MP primary lens and a 12MP secondary sensor. Under the hood, it is touted to come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.
5. Tecno Camon 18
Chinese phone maker Tecno is expected to launch the Tecno Camon 18 series in select markets. However, the exact launch date is yet to be known but we can expect it to arrive this month.
The Camon 18 series’ major highlight is touted to be the cameras. The Tecno Camon 18 was teased to have a Gimbal-like stabilization that will offer smooth video. The phones are also expected to have the impressive zooming capability. It will feature a 60x Zoom backed by AI TAIVOS technology. The device is expected to be powered by MediaTek Helio G96 chipset and may run on Android 12.
iQOO is purported to launch the iQOO Z5x soon in the Chinese market. The company hasn’t revealed any details but, the phone is already up on JD.com. Notably, is yet to open for registrations and it is touted to be available this month.
V2131A at Play Console
Recently, the smartphone with model number V2131A appeared on Google’s Play Console listing. It sports a punch-hole display with a Full-HD+ resolution. It was spotted with MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM.
7. Honor 50
Honor launched the Honor 50 series in June this year, however, it wasn’t available outside the Chinese market. Now, Honor is gearing for its global release, and the company has officially revealed its launch date. The Honor 50 will launch on October 26 in the European markets.
The Honor 50 has a 6.57-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It features a quad camera setup with a 108MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and two 2MP lenses for macro and depth shots. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 778G SoC paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.
8. Moto G31
Recently, Motorola’s Moto G31 was spotted in multiple leaks. The device has received NBTC, Wifi Alliance,NCC, and other certifications hinting at an October launch. The smartphone will feature a punch-hole display and a triple camera system.
The device will feature a triple camera system with a 50MP primary lens. The smartphone may house a 4,850mAh battery with 10W charging speed. The Moto G31 will be a mid-range phone and it may launch soon in major markets.
9. JioPhone Next
JioPhone Next was scheduled to launch in September in the Indian market. But, it wasn’t the case as the company clarified that it has postponed the launch till Diwali. Now, as Diwali starts in the first week of November, rumours suggest an October end launch.
The JioPhone Next was spotted with an HD+ display running on the Android 11 Go edition. The smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm 215 Mobile Platinum processor with 3GB of RAM. The smartphone is expected to have 13MP OmniVision rear camera and an 8MP selfie camera.
Well, these are some of the upcoming smartphones launching this month. Which device are you most excited about? Do tell us in the comments.
The iQOO Z5 is the latest smartphone from the Vivo sub-brand, iQOO. After launching in China last week, the phone was announced in India a few days ago. New info has revealed that the manufacturer will launch a pro version of the phone.
A pro model of the iQOO Z5 is reported to be in development
This is a bit of a surprise as the iQOO Z series hasn’t had a pro model since its debut in May 2020. Even the iQOO Z3 didn’t get an x-model like its predecessor, the iQOO Z1. Although, it has been reported that there will be an iQOO Z5x. As a matter of fact, a listing for the phone has appeared on the Chinese retail website, Jingdong.
The news about the iQOO Z5 Pro comes from the Chinese leaker that goes by @Arsenal on Weibo. Save for mentioning that the iQOO Z5 will have a pro version, the leaker didn’t reveal any more details about the smartphone. Nevertheless, we have a few speculations.
The iQOO Z5 Pro will surely pack significant upgrades when compared to the iQOO Z5, so we should see a more powerful chipset inside it such as the Snapdragon 870 chipset or the Dimensity 1100 or Dimensity 1200. We can also expect upgrades in the camera department and maybe even an AMOLED display and support for a much faster charging technology than the 44W the iQOO Z5 offers.
The iQOO Z5 has a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Snapdragon 778G and is available with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There is a 64MP main sensor on the back of the phone along with an 8MP ultrawide angle camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies and video calls, it has a 16MP camera in front. The phone has its fingerprint scanner on the side and packs a 5000mAh battery.
The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS is a new smartwatch from Mobvoi that is expected to launch soon. The smartwatch first surfaced in a YouTube video last week, and now more details have surfaced thanks to a photo of the retail box that lists its key features.
Mobvoi’s new smartwatch will have similar features to the TicWatch Pro 3 GPS. As seen in the photo below which was posted on Reddit, the smartwatch is powered by the Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform and not the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ as reported earlier. It also has the same 72-hour battery life in Smart Mode and 45-day battery life in Essential Mode. Other similar features are GPS, dual display, Google Assistant, IP68 rating, and support for Google Pay (NFC).
Another new feature is the support for more workout modes than the standard version. As shown in the photo, the smartwatch will have support for 20+ professional workout modes which is more than the TicWatch Pro 3 GPS offers. Mobvoi has also gotten a MIL Standard 810G certification for the new smartwatch and has included a compass too. There is no mention of LTE support, which means there is a possibility of an LTE version arriving later.
Mobvoi is yet to announce a launch date for the smartwatch yet but there is a strong chance it will arrive this month.
As of yesterday, Samsung has stopped filling their stock One UI apps with ads after years of serving them. The apps include Samsung Pay, Weather, and Samsung Health.
Users had earlier shared their observations on the Samsung Community forums about the disappeared ads. And an investigation from TizenHelp (via: 9to5Google) led to a statement from a Samsung employee confirming that the ads were indeed gone for good.
“This is the Samsung Health Operation Manager. Please note that the banner at the top of the Samsung Health app will not be provided from October 1,” they said.
Samsung seems to have acknowledged the change only for South Korea, but reports confirm that the ads have gone from locations like the United States as well. The company had earlier this year announced that it will be removing ads.
Prior to this move, Samsung Pay had a large banner ad on its Pay tab which has now vanished. There is still a “Featured” section on the “Home” tab that may contain offers but it isn’t as intrusive as the ads shown before.
Samsung Health has also been updated, seemingly server-side, to remove a banner ad that appeared at the top of the app. While this section often highlighted workout tips, it also promoted products including Samsung’s smartwatches.
A banner ad positioned atop in Samsung Health has also been removed, presumably due to a server-side upgrade. While this section frequently featured workout tips, it also advertised Samsung’s smartwatches.
Finally, it appears that Samsung Weather has ceased serving ads in its top banner, with the app now simply displaying the temperature and forecast at the top. The Galaxy Themes app also seems to have removed its ad banner, as promised.
In case the aforementioned Samsung apps are still showing ads for you, a force stop or cache clear of the concerned should fix it.
This year’s iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models may have seen a doubling of their max storage capacity from 512GB to 1TB when compared to last year’s models, but that apparently hasn’t been enough for Apple. In an attempt to push the very boundaries of the amount of storage a phone can offer, the Cupertino-based company may be planning to ship the iPhone 14 will up to 2TB of storage, effectively doubling the max storage for two years in a row.
According to My Drivers, a trusted Chinese website, the 2022 iPhone series, which we assume will be called the iPhone 14, could have up to 2TB of storage. This report follows another from DigiTimes about Apple working with NAND flash chipmakers to make cost-effective QLC (quad-level cell) NAND flash solutions for the iPhone 14.
The QLC flash has an improved memory density by 33 percent over the possible TLC storage used on the iPhone 13 series. This is due to the fact that TLC has four bits per cell, which should translate to more data within the same form factor. It also means lower costs per unit of capacity.
However, TLC has a few tricks of its own. It can go through a higher number of write and erase cycles, meaning better longevity. In addition, it is also faster than QLC. Thus, the decision to replace existing TLC solutions with QLC does not come without setbacks.
Further, 1TB is more than sufficient even for power users, so it’s unclear if Apple will actually be opting for 2TB. The whole thing does seem a bit extra even by Apple’s standards, honestly.
Still, the iPhone 14 series is expected to bring along some much-needed design tweaks including the doing away of the obnoxious notch in favor of a punch-hole selfie shooter. The rear might also get updated and finally come with a camera module that sits flush within the body. The Pro models might feature titanium builds which should help reduce weight, and will likely boast 48MP primary cameras.
Lastly, Apple might do away with the mini model in 2022 and instead introduce another variant with a 6.7-inch display. The entire range will reportedly be powered by 4nm processors.
AMD may have delayed the plan of releasing the Ryzen 5000 series earlier slated for November 2021. There are rumors from a renowned leaker who claims that the release of AMD’s Zen3 Threadripper CPU for consumer desktops has been delayed out of 2021.
The leaked information mentions “Chagall” being delayed to next year which is nothing but a codename attached to AMD’s 5000 series Threadripper processors. Here’s the tweet that talks about it.
AMD, Intel, nVidia consumer roadmap 2021-2023, based on latest rumors (without HPC projects)
Some of Gigabyte‘s information was leaked when a ransomware gang hit the manufacturer. The leaks included information about future hardware, the highlight of which was the Threadripper 5990X SoC. And according to that, it is supposed to have 64 cores and 128 threads along with 256 MB of L3 cache, 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes, and 4-channel DDR-3200 memory. These cores are similar to the ones found on Threadripper 3990X and at the same time, don’t mention anything about 5000 series Threadrippers’ clock speeds.
We also got to learn about two Pro-model 5000 Threadrippers from AMD which were listed as a Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5995WX and a Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5945WX. The former was a 64-core, 128-thread processor, while the latter had 12 cores and 24 threads. These are workstation models and are likely to launch in 2022.
MediaTek‘s growth trajectory has been on a rise for the past couple of years as the brand has been able to capture a big chunk of the market with its powerful SoCs. Well, add one more to the list as MediaTek has introduced the Filogic connectivity family with Filogic 830 Wi-Fi 6/6E system-on-chip (SoC) and Filogic 630 Wi-Fi 6E network interface card (NIC) solutions. These highly integrated, power-efficient chips offer high computation ability, reliable connectivity, and a plethora of features altogether.
Source: MediaTek
These new chipsets provide best-in-class features with highly integrated designs for the next generation of premium broadband, enterprise, and retail Wi-Fi solutions.”, said Alan Hsu, Corporate Vice President & General Manager, Intelligent Connectivity at MediaTek. He goes on to add, “The MediaTek Filogic series ushers in a new era of smart Wi-Fi solutions with extreme speeds, low latency, and superb power efficiency for seamless, always-connected experiences,” said
MediaTek Filogic 830
Filogic 830 is based on 12nm architecture and bags a bunch of features into a compact, ultra-low power chipset that allows users to design differentiated solutions for routers, access points, and mesh systems. The SoC houses four Arm Cortex-A53 processors clocked at up to 2GHz per core for up to +18,000 DMIPs processing power, dual 4×4 Wi-Fi 6/6E for up to 6Gbps connectivity, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, and a host of peripheral interfaces. Filogic 830’s built-in hardware acceleration engines for Wi-Fi offloading and networking enable faster and more reliable connectivity. There’s also a provision for low latency applications including gaming and AR/VR with the presence of MediaTek FastPath™.
MediaTek Filogic 630
Filogic 630 is a Wi-Fi 6/6E NIC solution with dual-band, dual-concurrent 2×2 2.4GHz and 3×3 5GHz or 6GHz for up to 3Gbps support. The chipset packs a unique 3T3R 5/6GHz system with internal front-end modules (FEMs). There’s an added superiority in diversity gains and transmit beamforming capabilities with the help of Filogic’s 630’s third antenna. Filogic 630 can be coupled with Filogic 830 for tri-band connectivity solutions for broadband gateways, enterprise access points, and in fact, for higher speeds and bandwidths, it can be combined with retail routers as well.
Being the biggest supplier of Wi-Fi portfolios, MediaTek enjoys its No. 1 position in the Wi-Fi domain. It has deliveries across broadband, retail routers, consumer electronics devices, and gaming. And it is the result of consistent developments and improvements over the past few years with industry-leading experts and technology.
Lower latency and additional capacity and speed are the USP of Wi-Fi 6E. Devices drawing connectivity from Wi-Fi 6 connections in 6GHz are designed to make use of wide 160 MHz channels and uncongested bandwidth in 6GHz to deliver multi-gigabit, low latency Wi-Fi.
OnePlus is all set to be launching the all-new OnePlus Buds Z2 as successor to last year’s Buds Z. They will be released in October, just like their predecessors. Ahead of the official launch, we now have images of the buds along with the complete specifications.
While the design of the new buds is near identical to the ones from last year, there is a slight tweak (via: Giznext). Based on the leaked images, we can establish that the OnePlus Buds Z2 will be having slightly more angled ear tips, which should result in a more comfortable fit. Other than that, the buds come with the same minimal yet elegant in-ear style design with silicone ear tips.
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The most notable upgrades with the Buds Z2 are with its internals. They will be coming with three microphones for active noise cancellation (ANC). Moreover, they now have IP55 certification against sweat and water. The charging box gets a similar IPX4 protection rating.
The buds won’t sport any fancy high definition audio codecs like LDAC and aptX, and instead stick to the trusty AAC and SBC formats, which should be enough for most users. 11mm drivers will be outputting the sound.
Previous leaked renders
Each bud comes with a 40mAh battery while the case carries an extra 520mAh. The latter can be filled up in 90 minutes from 0% to 100% using which the playtime can be extended to a total of 27 hours. Turn ANC off and the figure further increases to an impressive 38 hours. Without the case, the buds should last for 5 hours with ANC and 7 hours without ANC. That’s a significant bump over last year’s Buds Z that capped at 5 hours.
The OnePlus Buds Z2 will be available in two color options: Day White and Night Black.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A02 at the end of January. Despite launching in 2021, the device debuted with One UI Core 2.x based on Android 10. Now, months after its release, the handset has finally started receiving the Android 11 update with One UI Core 3.x.
Samsung Galaxy A02
According to a report by SamMobile, Samsung has begun to roll out the Android 11 update for the Galaxy A02. The latest system update for the smartphone arrives with One UI Core 3.x skin.
The update is currently live in Russia with firmware version A022GDXU2BUI3. Apart from bringing Android 11 features, it also comes with new One UI features supported on low-end Galaxy phones.
Like any other OTA system update, this one is also being rolled out in batches. Hence, it is only available for a select few users in Russia. Anyway, the new software update should reach other regions in the coming days.
Going by Samsung’s update track record, the Galaxy A02 might receive yet another major system update. That should be none other than One UI Core 4.x based on Android 12. This version of the software will probably arrive later next year.
Last but not least, the smartphone will most likely continue to receive security patches after its second major software update.
The two popular eCommerce giants in India, namely Flipkart and Amazon India are offering heavy discounts on Apple products as part of their Big Billion Days and Great Indian Festival sales respectively. If you do not find them interesting, then there’s an interesting deal directly from Apple.
Apple iPhone 12
Last year, Apple finally debut its official online store in India. Since its launch, the company has been not only offering education discounts but also other offers from time to time.
Hence, ahead of Diwali festive season, the Cupertino-based tech giant has now announced a sweet deal on iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. Customers buying either of these two smartphones will get a free pair of AirPods from October 7.
With the launch of the iPhone 13 series, Apple dropped the price of the iPhone 12 series in India. The iPhone 12 currently retails at ₹65,990 (64GB), ₹70,990 (128GB), and ₹80,990 (256GB). Whereas, the iPhone 12 mini costs ₹59,990 (64GB), ₹64,990 (128GB), and ₹74,990 (256GB).
Lastly, the AirPods, the AirPods with wireless charging case, and the AirPods Pro are listed at ₹14,900, ₹64,990, and ₹24,900 respectively on Apple Store right now.
Realme GT Neo2 was recently announced in China and it already made a huge success with 100,000 units sold in just one day. Now, the handset is going to make its debut in the global market as it will soon hit the Indian peninsula. But it won’t be alone as there is another flagship killer which is going to hit the Indian market very soon: the iQOO 8. If you are waiting for these handsets, you may be confused if you do not know their specifications very well, and you might find difficulties while deciding which one to buy. This comparison between their specifications will help you make things clear.
Realme GT Neo2 vs Vivo iQOO 8
Realme GT Neo2
Vivo iQOO 8
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
162.9 x 75.8 x 9 mm, 199.8 grams
159 x 75.1 x 8.6 mm, 200 g
DISPLAY
6.62 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
Triple 64 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.3 + f/2.4
16 MP f/2.5 front camera
Triple 50 + 13 + 13 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.2
16 MP f/2.5 front camera
BATTERY
5000 mAh, fast charging 65W
4350 mAh, fast charging 120W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Design
The Black Mint color variant of the Realme GT Neo2 makes it very attractive. Original phones are a trend and when a manufacturer chooses the right design, the phone often becomes viral. The Black Mint color variant of the Relame GT Neo2 is the proof of it, as 40% of people who placed the first orders chose this variant instead of other colors. The iQOO 8 has an original color variant as well, but in my opinion, the Realme GT Neo2 is more attractive. On the other hand, the iQOO 8 has a more compact design thanks to a smaller display and higher screen to body ratio, as well as a smaller battery.
Display
Realme GT Neo2 and iQOO 8 are very close if we talk about the image quality of their displays. On the paper, it looks like the Realme GT Neo2 is slightly better because it has the HDR10+ certification and a very high 1300 nit peak brightness. But you should not notice big differences between their displays: both are AMOLED panels with Full HD+ resolutions of 1080 x 2400 pixels, in-display fingerprint readers, and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Note that the display of the Realme GT Neo2 is slightly wider with its 6.62-inch diagonal.
Specs & Software
If you need the most powerful flagship, then you should go for the iQOO 8 without thinking twice: it is powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform which is stronger than the Snapdragon 870 found on the Realme GT Neo2. The maxed out memory configurations are the same, with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 native storage, so the processor is what makes the difference. The phones run Android 11 out of the box, customized by Origin OS and Realme UI, respectively. Both are very advanced user interfaces with several features and deep customization.
Camera
The iQOO 8 is undoubtedly a better camera phone. First of all, the 50 MP main sensor is superior to the 64 MP main camera of the Realme GT Neo2. We can tell the same about the secondary cameras of the iQOO 8: a 13 MP telephoto sensor and a 13 MP ultrawide camera. With the Realme GT Neo2, you get an 8 MP ultrawide sensor and a 2 MP macro camera instead of the telephoto sensor: there is no way for it to compete with the iQOO 8. The front cameras are exactly the same: 16 MP sensors with f/2.5 focal aperture.
The biggest advantage of the Realme GT Neo2 over the iQOO 8 is the battery life: with a capacity of 5000 mAh, it has a longer battery life in every scenario. The iQOO 8 has just 4350 mAh and its battery life is surely inferior, but it has a faster charging tech with a power of 120W. However, the Realme GT Neo2 is still pretty fast to charge with its 65W power.
Price
In China, the Realme GT Neo2 has a starting price of €320/$371, while the starting price of the iQOO 8 roughly translates into €500/$580. Overall, the iQOO 8 has a higher value because it features a superior chipset and better cameras. But if you do not mind about camera performance, you should prefer the Realme GT Neo2 because it offers a longer battery life and its price is way inferior. The battery life will be very important if you are a gamer, even more than the difference between the Snapdragon 870 and the Snapdragon 888. However, the 120W fast charging is an added value of the iQOO 8: despite its battery is much smaller, having so 120W fast charging technology allows remaining out of battery only for a very short time. Which device would you choose as your next flagship killer?
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The Honor 50 has a 6.57-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It features a quad camera setup with a 108MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and two 2MP lenses for macro and depth shots. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 778G SoC paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.
