Facebook announces battery-powered Portal Go, redesigned and smaller Portal Plus unveiled too

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Sep 21, 2021

Facebook had a surprise hardware launch today, its second product launch this month. The tech giant known for its social media platforms announced new models of its Portal video calling devices. The new Portal Go is its first battery-powered Portal while the new Portal+ has a new design and a smaller display.

The Portal Go has a 10-inch display and unlike the other models, it has a built-in battery that makes it possible to carry around while making calls. Facebook says that the battery will provide up to 5 hours of talking time on a one-on-one Messenger video call and up to 14 hours of playback time with the screen turned off.

Like the previous Portal devices, this too has a 12MP wide angle camera that will automatically follow whoever is in focus. It can also double as Bluetooth speaker and it now supports Spotify and Pandora.

The new Portal Plus is smaller at 14 inches (2140 x 1440) compared to the first Portal+ that has a 15.6-inch screen. It also doesn’t have that swivel stand that allows the display to be rotated from landscape to portrait. A lot of folks may prefer this new design as it also occupies less space.

It has a 12MP camera too and just like all Portal devices, there is a privacy shutter. There are also physical buttons to disconnect the camera and microphone.

Facebook also announce some new software features for Portals such as a Household Mode that allows you to share portal with your family. Access to select apps and contacts can be configured, so your kids can use portal to call their uncles and aunts but not anyone else. Portal devices now also support Zoom and will get support for Microsoft Teams in December.

Portal Go will sell for $199 while the new Portal Plus will have a $349 price tag. The two devices are already available for pre-order and will be available for purchase starting October 19.

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US security agencies are reportedly divided over blacklisting Honor

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 21, 2021

The US blockade on Huawei was the major reason for the company selling off its Honor smartphone unit last year. As the US restriction led to a massive decline in the fortunes of the company, Huawei sought for several options to remain afloat including diversification of its core business model and shedding off some of its business units. Selling off the Honor brand seemed like a masterstroke as Huawei has begun to experience a rebound in its fortunes while Honor is also having a positive growth trajectory.

Honor however has been under scrutiny in the US, under suspicion that it remains a part of Huawei. Last week, personnel at four United States agencies were split on whether to put Honor on the US Commerce Department’s entity list, which will restrict technology transfer from US companies to Honor without express licenses from the Commerce Department. There is still a lack of consensus among the agencies on whether Honor, a former Huawei business unit posed a significant threat to U.S. national security.

Inside sources have hinted that the Pentagon and Energy Department were in support of placing Honor on the blacklist, while the Commerce and State Departments opposed the move.

This has not been the first time news of the possible blacklist of Honor has been voiced. Recently, some House Republicans had also mooted the idea of extending Huawei’s ban to Honor. There is a growing suspicion especially in the US political circuit that Honor remains an appendage of Huawei. There are thus political and economic considerations in combination with the critical national security considerations.

Huawei had continued to deny links with the Chinese government, likewise Honor. The company was on an aggressive roll in its deployment and development of 5G technology when it was suddenly hit by the US blacklisting, leading to a downward spiral of fortunes since 2019.

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Realme GT Neo2 to be priced starting at RMB 2,499(~$386) in China

By

Pranav Sawant

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Sep 21, 2021

Realme has officially scheduled to launch the all-new Realme GT Neo2 smartphone on September 22 in China. Soon after the launch, we expect the phone to land in the Indian market. Now, ahead of the arrival, the phone’s Chinese prices have been leaked.

The Realme GT Neo2 is touted to be priced at RMB 2,499(~$386) in China. It will come in three variants and the aforementioned price will be for the base variant i.e. 6GB RAM + 128GB storage. The 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant will cost RMB 2,699(~$417) and the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant will be priced at RMB 2,999(~$463).

That said, the Indian pricing is expected to be similar to the Chinese pricing. It may arrive for under ₹30,000.

Realme GT Neo2 Specifications

The Realme GT Neo2 is expected to come with a large 6.62-inch Full-HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It will be an E4 AMOLED panel with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The smartphone will boast a 16MP single camera at the front and will have a triple camera system at the rear.

It will feature a 64MP main lens, an 8MP wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. It was spotted with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC in certifications and will have up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The device is expected to pack a 5,000mAh battery with some sort of fast charging support.

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Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G with Snapdragon 778G launched in Singapore

By

Pranav Sawant

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Sep 21, 2021

Today, Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy A52s 5G in Singapore as a successor to the Galaxy A52 5G smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G comes with the same design as the predecessor but has a few upgrades like a bigger battery and a new chipset.

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G costs S$548 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and S$648 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. It comes in multiple colors like Awesome White, Awesome Black, Awesome Violet, and Awesome Mint.

Samsung Galaxy A52s Specifications

The smartphone comes with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full-HD+ resolution. It is a punch-hole panel with slim bezels and a 120Hz screen refresh rate. The screen also doubles up as an in-display fingerprint scanner for security.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB of onboard storage. It packs a 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast charging support. The device has a Quadruple camera system with a 64MP main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and two 5MP sensors.

The smartphone has NFC support and bags IP67 water and dust resistance rating. It boots on OneUI 3.1 based on Android 11 out of the box.

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Oppo A55 4G gets showed off in new renders ahead of launch

By

Pranav Sawant

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Sep 21, 2021

Earlier this year, Oppo unveiled the Oppo A55 5G smartphone in the Chinese market with specs like Dimensity 700 SoC, triple rear cameras, and a big battery. Now, the Chinese phone maker is planning to launch its 4G variant in a few markets as the device was spotted on Taiwan’s NCC certification. Today, 91Mobiles has exclusively revealed the renders of the device ahead of its launch.

The Oppo A55 4G seems to pack a similar shell as the 5G variant but will have some noticeable differences. Firstly, the smartphone will make use of a punch-hole panel, which wasn’t the case with the predecessor as it had a water-drop notch screen. The screen seems to have a modern aspect ratio with slim bezels on top and sides, but a raised up chin at the bottom.

The device features a triple camera setup at the rear with a slightly tweaked camera island. The camera system is placed vertically but it has the LED flash at the lower side of the camera island. It is touted to have a 50MP main camera lens.

Moving to the sides, the smartphone has a power button on the right which will double as a fingerprint scanner for security. On the left, the device has a volume rocker. The renders also reveal the color variants of the smartphone. The device will come in Black, Green, and Gradient Blue color variants.

Other than this, the Oppo A55 4G is expected to have a big battery similar to the predecessor. It might be bigger than a 5,000mAh cell. The rest of the details of the smartphone are currently unknown. But, considering the pace of its leaks, we expect Oppo to announce the device soon.

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Amazon announces a refreshed Kindle Paperwhite, Signature Edition tags along

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 21, 2021

Amazon’s Kindle readers are pretty popular and the Kindle Paperwhite is one of its most popular models. Amazon has refreshed the Paperwhite, the first time in three years, and along with the new model comes a special Signature Edition with some premium features.

The new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite starts at $139 (with ads) and it comes with a bigger 6.8-inch display. The bezels are slimmer now to make the increase in the overall size of the device minimal. The display which still has a 300 PPI pixel density has a built-in backlight and features an adjustable color-temperature feature to make it easy on the eyes when reading in the dark. Just as it is available on several models, the warm light can be set to turn on at a specific time.

Amazon says the battery life on the Kindle is much better now and a single charge should last up to 10 weeks, an upgrade from the 6 weeks of the 2018 model. It also charges via USB-C now and a full charge takes 2.5 hours. The Kindle Paperwhite has an IP68 rating, so you can read beside the pool or at the beach. If you are looking for figures, the product page says it will survive immersion in 2 meters of freshwater for up to 60 minutes and up to 0.25 meters of seawater for up to 3 minutes.

The Kindle Paperwhite still has 8GB of storage but it now has a faster chipset that Amazon claims improves page turn speed by 20%. There is a new software that makes it easier to access device settings and it also brings a new bottom navigation that makes operating the kindle easier.

For the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, you get the same display but 32GB of storage. Its warm light can also auto adjust and it supports wireless charging too. This version costs $189.

There is also a $159 Kindle Paperwhite Kids version that is the standard model with a kid-friendly cover, a 2-year worry-free guarantee, 1 year of Amazon Kids+.

You can pre-order the new Kindle Paperwhite models today but they won’t ship until October 27. Amazon is offering 4 months of Kindle Unlimited for those who purchase the new eReaders.

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HP unveils the Envy 34-inch All-In-One Desktop PC with Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 21, 2021

PC maker HP has announced a new standalone desktop PC under the Envy lineup. The device is dubbed HP Envy 34-inch All-In-One Desktop PC and as the name implies, it crams all the components inside its ultra-wide display-packing frame.

The new Envy 34-inch All-In-One Desktop PC packs a mammoth 34-inch ultrawide IPS display with a resolution of 5120 x 2160 pixels. The PC is powered by an Intel 11th Gen Core i9 processor while the graphics are fired up by Nvidia’s RTX 3080 GPU. The PC also supports RAM upgrade and has four RAM slots as well as two M.2 SSD slots.

The PC also comes with a number of unique features such as a 16-megapixel webcam that is magnetically attached making it easy to change the position as the user deem fit. The base of the PC also has a built-in 15W Qi wireless charger that can charge your phones and other compatible devices.

At the rear of the panel, you’ll find two Thunderbolt 4 ports and four USB-A ports. There is also a pair of USB-A ports on the side together with a USB-C port. You also get an HDMI and 3.5mm audio ports.

The HP Envy All-In-One PC carries a hefty starting price tag of $1,999 and will start shipping from next month. The specifications and features are quite decent for an all-in-one PC but the price isn’t in any way cheap.

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TCL says the FFALCON Thunderbird FF1 isn’t made in partnership with Huawei but it runs EMUI 12

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 21, 2021

Last month, TCL launched a phone in China under its FFALCON brand. The device which is sold as the FFALCON Thunderbird FF1 was thought to be a joint product between TCL and Huawei, but FFALCON reached out to us to inform us that isn’t the case. New info has surfaced that confirms Huawei’s input in the development of the phone.

The FFALCON Thunderbird FF1 became available for purchase last week and users who have gotten their hands on it have begun to post details about it. One such post is from the popular Weibo account @WHYLAB and it shared live images of the phone taken at an offline store. In one of the photos, it is shown that the device is running Huawei’s own software, EMUI 12, and not TCL’s custom Android fork!

When FFALCON contacted us, they told us the FF1 is solely developed by FFALCON and not in collaboration with any smartphone brand. It thus comes as a surprise that the FFALCON FF1 is running Huawei’s own software. The contact also informed us that the phone is manufactured by an independent ODM partner.

Seeing as the FFALCON Thunderbird FF1 is running Huawei’s own software, it means that Huawei did have an input in the production of this device. However, it is understandable why Huawei doesn’t want to be associated with it.

Huawei phones powered by Qualcomm chips can’t have 5G support as the U.S. only granted the chip manufacturer license to supply 4G chips to Huawei. However, the Thunderbird FF1 is a 5G phone powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 690 processor. Huawei definitely doesn’t want to be associated (as a co-manufacturer) with the phone as that could spell trouble. Considering there doesn’t seem to be a law that says Huawei can’t license its software to other manufacturers for use, it appears Huawei may be in the clear.

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Samsung reveals the key features of its 200MP ISOCELL HP1 sensor

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 21, 2021

The 200MP ISOCELL HP1 sensor is Samsung’s latest innovation in mobile image sensors. It is a reflection of the company’s design policy of pushing the boundaries of existing technologies. The sensor is still under development but the signals are indeed encouraging that this hardware could make its way into mobile devices in the nearest future.

Samsung has released a short illuminating video of what we could expect when this impressive hardware makes its way into mobile phones. The video also went with a little explanation of the device. The ISOCELL HP1 sensor has multiple functionalities based on its deep learning remosaicing algorithm. As per the video and official explanation from Samsung, it can do 2×2 pixel binning, thereby enabling the sensor to shoot 8K videos, with the adequate shrinking of the field of view. In addition, 4×4 binning is also possible with the HP1 sensor, which results in 12.5MP resolution, better than most sensors.

The Samsung ISOCELL HP1 offers an excellent light-gathering ability further accentuated by a raft of clever systems and features. These include Staggered HDR, Smart-ISO, multisampling, and Double Super PD. These features pit the HP1 at the top of the pecking order among similar sensors. It could outshine the 50MP ISOCELL GN2 and JN1 with its massive 200MP offering.

Samsung will hope to make the HP1 to be available to many OEMs and Xiaomi has been mentioned as part of the first brands to deploy the 200MP ISOCELL HP1. There could be some flesh in the rumor as Xiaomi has established a track record of debuting some of Samsung’s cutting-edge sensors. We are also not ruling out Samsung itself for obvious reasons. While no company has made any definitive statement on the issue, the teaser by Samsung could indicate progress in the development of the product.

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Amazon to hold a launch event on September 28, new Echo products expected

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 21, 2021

Even with less than two weeks to go before the end of September, there are still several products scheduled to launch this month. Now Amazon is trying to squeeze a last-minute launch into the calendar.

The e-commerce giant has announced that it will hold an event on September 28. The event is slated to begin at 12 PM Eastern Time and Amazon is expected to announce a handful of new hardware products, some of which should launch under its Echo line. The Verge reports that the invite says there will be “news about our latest Amazon devices, features, and services.”

Among the new Echo device expected to launch is a new Echo Show that can be wall-mounted. The device was first revealed in a Bloomberg report in February, and it mentioned a likely release by the end of this year or next year. The new Echo Show is reported to be between 10 – 13 inches in size and will serve as a sort of command center for the home. It is expected to have a price tag between $200 and $250.

Amazon may also launch its first Ring Car Dashcam which leaked back in June of this year. Ring is an Amazon-owned company that deals in home security. It already sells several home security products such as doorbells, alarms, and smart cameras, but last year, Amazon, announced a new line of products targeted at car security.

Unlike other manufacturers, Amazon’s events are not usually live-streamed, so there is no way for the public to watch the September 28 event.

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Deal: Buy Baseus 20000mAh Power Bank for $26 (Retail Price $40)

By

Daily Deals

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Sep 21, 2021

Baseus 20000mAh Power Bank (PD 20W fast charging) which generally retails for $40 is now available at a discounted price of $26.15 only at AliExpress. This super deal ends in 16 hours.

WHERE TO BUY

Baseus 20000mAh Power Bank at $26.15 (after discount)@AliExpress

Baseus 20000mAh Power Bank

Key Features:

Two-way fast charging
PD 20W fast charging
LED display for battery level
Dual inputs – Micro USB and Type – C
Triple Outputs – USB x 2 and Type -C
Charging Time – 6 to 7 hours for full charge
Lightweight and portable
Supports Huawei and Samsung fast charging protocols
Simultaneous multiple device charging
High-quality polymer lithium battery
Multiple safety features
NTC temperature protection
Smart current distribution – according to the requirements of the device

You can now buy Baseus 20000mAh Power Bank for $26.15 only at AliExpress.Please note that this price is region-specific and may change according to the shipping region and warehouse. This deal ends in 16 hours. So grab your discounted power bank asap.

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Deal: Get ILife H70 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner for $117 (Retail Price $150)

By

Daily Deals

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Sep 21, 2021

EASINE by ILife H70 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner which generally retails at $150 is now available at a discounted price of $117.59 only at AliExpress.

WHERE TO BUY

ILife H70 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner at $117.59 @AliExpress

EASINE by ILife H70 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner comes with a 21kpa powerful suction and a brushless motor that easily picks up fine and large particles like dust, crumbs, pet hair, and debris from different surfaces like cement, tile, carpet, wood, etc.

The vacuum cleaner can be used to clean your floors and carpets as well as sofas and upholsteries. It comes with two different cleaning modes viz: Normal mode and Max mode. On normal mode, you get a 10kpa powerful suction and work time of up to 40 mins. You can switch to Max mode for extra deep cleaning, which gives you the powerful 21kpa suction for deep and thorough cleaning.

EASINE by ILife H70 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner comes with a 1.2L dust cup and high-efficiency washable filters. The cleaner also comes with various attachments and accessories that help you clean high walls, hard-to-reach corners, shutters, car interiors, etc. Also with built-in LED lights, you can illuminate dark corners and hard-to-reach areas like below the bed or sofa for thorough cleaning. The highly portable vacuum cleaner can be stored either hanging or folded.

Generally retailing for $150 you can now buy EASINE by ILife H70 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner for a discounted price of $117.59 only at AliExpress. Please note that this is a limited-time offer. So place your order asap.

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Google Pixel 6 series get FCC certification featuring Wi-Fi 6E & UWB functionality

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 21, 2021

There are indications that the Google Pixel 6 series could be close to being launched following the FCC certification of the six models. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are slated for release in October 2021.

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification of the six Pixel 6 series was done under four filings and little details are available on the models. The six models, as per the FCC certification, have a mixture of features in relation to their connectivity. The Google Pixel 6 series will therefore come with a combination of Wi-Fi 6E, mmWave 5G, and the Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology.

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The six Pixel 6 models spotted on the FCC listing are GLU0G, G9S9B, G8V0U, GF5KQ, GB7N6, and GR1YH. It is expected that the mmWave 5G connectivity will be carrier-dependent, but all the models do have Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. Only three models have the UWB functionality namely: GLU0G, G8V0U, GF5KQ.

The Pixel 6 series has previously been rumored to come with UWB support, hence the FCC details have confirmed the authenticity of the rumors. The FCC filing could indicate an imminent launch of these devices although this cannot be definitive.

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It is also a possibility that these models may not be released at the same time. Some of the models could also be intermediate models in the development of some additional functionality into the current Android OS.

Google has not made any public statement concerning these Pixel 6 series.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 scores way too low for a Snapdragon 895 phone on Geekbench

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 21, 2021

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is reportedly the worst-selling Galaxy S lineup in recent years. Hence, Samsung is said to bring huge improvements with the Galaxy S22 series to lure in buyers. But unfortunately, the initial reports about these upcoming phones say otherwise.

Just like the previous models, the Galaxy S22 series will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon and Samsung Exynos chipsets. The tentative names of these SoCs are Snapdragon 895 and Exynos 2200.

Usually, the Snapdragon version is more powerful than the Exynos variant. But a preliminary Geekbech listing of the vanilla Galaxy S22 with a Snapdragon 895 suggests a different story.

As per the listing, the Qualcomm variant of the Galaxy S22 (SM-S901) with 8GB RAM and Android 12 scores only 475 points and 1393 points in single-core and multi-core tests respectively. For those unaware, these scores are way too low for the next-gen Snapdragon 800 series silicon. This year’s Snapdragon 888 itself can easily attain over 900 points in the single-core test and above 3000 points in the multi-core test.

As SamMobile points out, this particular listing could be either fake or the unit used was still not optimized. There’s also a chance that the device used for benchmark had ‘Power saving mode’ turned on.

We also have a similar feeling towards these benchmark scores. Anyway, we are still months away from the launch of this handset, which might take place in January. Hence, we expect to come across even more benchmark listings and whatnot in the coming days.

Having said that, what’s your take on this Geekbench listing of Galaxy S22? Also, what are your expectations of Exynos 2200, which is said to arrive with AMD mRDNA GPU? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Top 5 Earphones under $50 from AliExpress in September 2021

By

Daily Deals

-

Sep 21, 2021

If you are in the market for a cheap but good quality earphone, then check out these 5 interesting earphones under $50 from AliExpress. They may not be perfect, but they are definitely the best picks for their price.

1. Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3

Price: $35.71

If you are brand conscious and trust only in the best then check out these compact earbuds from Xiaomi. The earbuds come with Bluetooth v5.2 that assures better performance and a strong and stable connection. Available in three different colors, it gives you 30 hours of playtime with the case.

Key Features:

Bluetooth v5.2
QCC3040 chipset
Deep bass and high-quality stereo audio
Multi-functional touch control
XiaoAI voice assistant
600mAh battery: 7 hours on a single charge and 30 hours with the charging case
3 colors: white, blue, pink

BUY NOW

2. Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 2

Price: $24.04

A cheaper version of AirDots 3, these earbuds are almost similar in design and performance. The difference lies in the Bluetooth v5.0 instead of v5.2 and battery life of only 12 hours, instead of 30 hours available in AirDots 3. However, the almost $10 price difference justifies the difference in features.

Key Features:

Bluetooth 5.0
Deep bass and high-quality stereo audio
Multi-functional touch control
XiaoAI voice assistant
4 hours on a single charge and 12 hours with the charging case
Color: Black

BUY NOW

3. Anker Soundcore Life P2 Mini

Price: $47.98

One of the best earphones under $50, Soundcore Life P2 Mini comes with features like boosted bass and AI-enhanced calls, that are not easily available in this segment. With dedicated sound modes like bass booster and podcast, you can choose to enhance your musical experience or focus on clarity while listening to a motivational speech. The earphone comes with 32 hours of playtime, IPX5 water-resistant certification, and 10 mins fast charging function.

Key Features:

10mm drivers: Boosted bass
3 EQ modes: Soundcore signature, Bass booster, Podcast
Compact and lightweight
AI-enhanced calls
8 hours playtime: 32 hours with the case
IPX5 water-resistant
One-step pairing
Single earbud mode
10 minutes fast charging – 1-hour playtime
Color: Black

BUY NOW

4. Mpow X3 Headphone

Price: $24.66

Durable, good-looking, great features but affordable cost. These are some of the highlighting features of Mpow X3. It comes with Active Noise Cancellation and Environmental Noise Cancellation and gives you 30 hours of battery life with the case. With IPX8 water-resistant certification and smart touch control, these earbuds give you full value for your money.

Key Features:

Active Noise cancellation
4 mics for Environmental Noise cancellation
Immersive sound with punchy bass
7 hours on a single charge and 30 hours with a case
One-step pairing
Smart touch control
IPX8 water-resistant

BUY NOW

5. SoundPEATS TrueAir2 Earbuds

Price: $34.51

If you are looking for a unique design and great features then checkout SoundPEATS TrueAir2. The case features a box design with soft edges and comes with the latest Bluetooth v5.2. It comes with cVc 8.0 Noise cancellation technology making it perfect for noisy work from home or travel scenarios. Available in 4 different colors, you can make a signature statement by going for the vibrant pink or green color earphones.

Key Features:

Bluetooth 5.2
Qualcomm3040 chipset
Dual mic in each earbud
cVc 8.0 Noise cancellation technology
True wireless mirroring and seamless connection
14.2mm bio-compound diaphragm driver and aptX codec
5 hours on single charge 25 hours with the case
Colors: white, black, pink, green

BUY NOW

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

realme narzo 50i design exposed by a render ahead of launch

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Sep 21, 2021

Chinese tech giant realme has scheduled a launch event in India on September 24. The company has confirmed to unveil a bunch of products and one of them will be realme narzo 50i. Ahead of this device’s official announcement, its rear design has been revealed by a render.

A rear side render of the upcoming realme narzo 50i has been shared by 91Mobiles. This image exposes the entire back design of the phone.

The render showcases the handset in a green color option with a black-colored camera island and silver-colored text. Although the device appears to have multiple cameras, it actually has a single snapper accompanied by an LED flash.

Further, more than half of the smartphone’s rear panel has stripes, while the remaining part appears to be plain. Unlike most phones, the speaker on this one is located on the back, and therefore, there’s a grille for it.

We also get to see the volume keys and the power key on the right side. Lastly, if we look closely, there’s also a hint of a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom.

Unfortunately, the publication did not share the specs of the handset. However, it does say that the realme narzo 50i will be the most affordable realme narzo smartphone to date.

Since September 24 is not far away, we don’t have to wait too long to learn everything about the realme narzo 50i.

Honda seeks to sell 70,000 Prologue electric vehicles in the US from 2024

By

Sean

-

Sep 21, 2021

Honda Motors‘ US unit has just revealed that it is targeting initial annual sales of 70,000 units for its Prologue series of electric utility vehicle that is set to launch in the American market in 2024.

According to a Reuters report, the Japanese automobile giant is planning on adding an additional electric vehicle model as it seeks to sell a total of 500,000 electric vehicles in the United States by the year 2030. Furthermore, it also aims on reaching 100 percent zero emission vehicles sales in North America by 2040. The news arrives as US President Joe Biden signed an executive order last month that set a target to make half of all new passenger vehicles sold in 2030 to be zero emission vehicles.

Notably, Honda Prologue series is being co developed with General Motors Co and is based on the Ultium platform, which is a modular platform and battery system. Additionally, both companies are also joining hands to develop an electric Acura brand SUV. GM will be responsible for assembling the new Prologue and Acura SUV, both of which are set to launch in 2024. However, Honda has yet to reveal which plant will build the new electric vehicles.

Dave Gardner, executive vice president of national operations at American Honda Motor Co stated that the company will initially aim on Prologue sales in California and other states like Texas and Florida. He further added that “Our strategy is focused on introducing a higher percentage of hybrids in core models in the near term, making a committed effort to achieve higher volume leading to the introduction of our Honda Prologue.”

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Samsung working on ‘Galaxy Flex Note’, sports folding wrap around screen with in-display camera

By

Sean

-

Sep 21, 2021

Samsung had recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3, which were its latest foldable smartphones. With the arrival of the new foldable phones, it seemed that the company is moving away from its popular Galaxy Note series of high end smartphones. But a new trademark and patent hints that the Note lineup will be seeing a major update in terms of design.

According to a LetsGoDigital report, the South Korean tech giant’s display unit had filed a trademark for the name ‘Flex Note’ and also a design patent with the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration). The patent describes a smartphone with a large display that can fold outward and wrap around the device. In its compact form, the device would resemble a regular smartphone from the front, with its large display folding and wrapping around to the back from the right side. Looking at the compact form from the back, the wrap around display covers around half of the rear panel.

Users can unfold this display, which would make the total screen size of the smartphone larger. This would make it resemble a tablet from the front. Another unique aspect about its design is the inclusion of a recess for the S Pen stylus. In other words, the device will arrive with S Pen support and a special magnetic housing as well. Notably, the device is equal in terms of thickness when in its compact form. However, when the display is unfolded, there is a noticeable difference between one half of the rear panel and the other side which houses the folding wrap around display.

Although, this difference in thickness also serves a purpose as the magnetic housing for the S Pen is in the region behind the folding screen. So when the display folds the S Pen can be housed securely and can be removed when needed in its tablet form. Another interesting aspect is that the rear camera module is not detailed in the patent sketches, but the company does include dual cameras underneath the display that is on the top right corner, which makes it capable of taking both selfies in tablet form and serve as a primary sensor in its compact form. At the moment, it is unknown if the company is actually working on such a product or covering all bases. So stay tuned for more updates.

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Alleged Microsoft Surface Duo 2 appears on FCC a few hours ahead of launch

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 21, 2021

Microsoft has scheduled a Surface event for tomorrow (September 22). The firm is expected to announce a bunch of devices and one of them could be Microsoft Surface Duo 2. This product will be the successor of the original Microsoft Surface Duo from last year. Ahead of the release, it appears to have been certified by FCC.

According to a report by Windows Central, a Microsoft ‘portable handset’ has been certified by FCC. The documentation mentions that this device supports two configurations – ‘one is with screen open and one is with screen closed’.

The above-mentioned description suggests that this device could be Microsoft Surface Duo 2. The certification also confirms the connectivity options on this upcoming dual-screen smartphone, which includes multi-band 5G, dual-band WiFi 6, NFC, and UWB (Ultra-wideband).

Further, the FCC also mentions support for ‘Wireless Power Transfer’. Windows Central speculates it to be some sort of wireless charging other than Qi. Perhaps, the second-gen Surface Duo could arrive with inductive charging for Surface Pen.

According to previous reports, the Microsoft Surface Duo will come with dual 5.8-inch displays with a resolution of 2754 x 1896 pixels (when opened) and a high refresh rate. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB storage.

Microsoft Surface Duo Featured — Microsoft Surface Duo

It will house a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 12MP primary sensor, a 12MP telephoto shooter, and a 16MP ultra-wide unit. Whereas, on the front (inside), it will feature a 12MP snapper.

Further, it will have Bluetooth 5.1, fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, USB Type-C port, and a 4,400mAh battery (approximately). Last but not least, it will run Android 11 and will be available in two colors (White, Black).

As mentioned in the beginning, the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 will be officially revealed tomorrow (September 22).

iQOO Z5 specifications leaked, here’s what to expect

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 21, 2021

iQOO Z5 will be breaking cover on Sept. 23 in China. Its Indian division will be announcing the Z5 on Sept. 27. Ahead of the launch in China, iQOO has been gradually revealing the key features of the smartphone. Today, a Chinese tipster who is known for reliable leaks shared the expected specifications of the Z5.

iQOO Z5 specifications (Rumored)

According to the tipster, the IQOO Z5 will be sporting an LCD panel that delivers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixel, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. One of the official teasers had revealed that the device will be sporting a centrally positioned punch-hole.

iQOO has already confirmed that the device will come equipped with the Snapdragon 778G chipset, LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 storage. The tipster claims that the smartphone may come in 8 GB / 12 GB RAM editions and 128 GB / 256 GB storage choices.

The iQOO Z5 could be backed by a 5,000mAh battery, which may carry support for 44W rapid charging. For selfies, it may feature a 16-megapixel front camera, and its rear panel could be equipped with a 64-megapixel (Samsung GW3 main lens) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (ultra-macro) triple camera unit.

The tipster further claimed that the iQOO Z5 may come with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front, AG frost polycarbonate rear, and an aluminum alloy middle frame. The handset will offer other features like a side-facing fingerprint scanner, iQOO UI-based Android 11 OS, Hi-Res Audio, Hi-Res Audio Wireless, rotor motor, and VC cooling for heat dissipation.

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