Blackview Tab 8 starts receiving Android 11 Update

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Sep 13, 2021

Blackview brings Android 11 upgrade for the popular Blackview Tab 8. Amounting to the massive sales of 700,000 Blackview Tab 8, the company is now bringing favour to the users by bringing Android 11 upgrade. There are several changes that are part of the latest update. It will be available on the all-new units of Blackview Tab 8, and the old units will get it via some other form.

Must See: Blackview AirBuds 5 Pro ANC TWS earbuds launching next month

Blackview Tab 8 features for Android 11 Update

Blackview Tab 8 comes preinstalled with Android 10, and the latest Android 11 update will push fresh features and user interface for the users. There are several advancements including enhanced privacy protection, improved notification drawer and other User Interface tweaks.

Privacy Protection

Data theft prevention and Privacy protection are two primary features of Android 11. The new version adds options such as One-Time permissions for apps. The users can grant access again if they require some particular service of the app. Moreover, there’s an ‘Auto-reset’ feature that allows the device to automatically eliminate permissions if you haven’t used the respective app for a long time.

Notification Drawer

Several functional and design changes have been made to the Notifications drawer for better productivity. It allows bringing all important notifications to a single place. It allows the user to skip the unnecessary taps and saves effort while replying to ongoing conversations. Interestingly, now the system supports the image copy/paste feature which eliminates the hassle of saving and browsing such files before sending.

Priority-based conversations are also present in the notification drawer. The user can manually assign priority to the particular notification. Moreover, notification history is another useful feature of the latest Notification Drawer. The user can head over to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications > Notification history to toggle the feature.

Bubbles

Like Facebook Messenger, the Android 11 brings native support for bubble notifications. It is an impressive feature that would gradually increase productivity while chatting across popular social media platforms. Easily accessible and movable bubbles are quite useful for the users who are working.

How to Upgrade

The new update is intact on the new Blackview Tab 8 units, but the old users need to wait for some time. Blackview is bringing systematic upgrades for all those old Blackview Tab 8 tablets. All the new Android 11 features will be available soon on your tablets.

Related: Blackview A100 advanced camera can easily capture objects in motion

Alleged Honor Play 20 Pro specs says it has an OLED display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 13, 2021

Yesterday, we reported that a new mid-range phone from Honor is coming soon. Today, alleged specifications of the device, which has been reported will launch as the Honor Play 20 Pro, have leaked.

The source of the leak is a Weibo user @旺仔百事通 who posted the specs on the social media platform earlier today. The post also includes an image of an Honor phone, the Honor Play5 5G. However, we don’t know if this is a hint that the Honor Play 20 Pro will have a similar design.

Leaked specs of the Honor Play 20 Pro are similar to those of the Honor Play5 5G pictured above

According to the post, the Honor Play 20 Pro will have a 6.53-inch OLED display with a waterdrop notch and a P3 wide color gamut. Under the hood will be MediaTek’s Helio G80 processor. We already know from yesterday’s report that the phone will come in a configuration with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

For the cameras, there will be four sensors on the back – a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP sensor which is likely an ultrawide camera, and two 2MP sensors. It will also have a 16MP front-facing camera. The post also mentions a 3800mAh battery capacity, support for 22.5W fast charging support, and a graphene-based cooling method.

If these specs sound familiar, that is because they are almost identical to those of the Honor Play5 5G, save for the processor which is the Dimensity 800U chipset, and its support for 66W fast charging. However, since these are alleged specs, we advise that they be taken with a pinch of salt.

Once Honor announces a launch date for the phone, we expect it will reveal some of its details alongside.

RELATED:

Vivo V23 Pro model spotted on IMEI database, launch may be imminent

By

Sean

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Sep 13, 2021

A new listing on IMEI database has revealed that Vivo is working on a new smartphone that could launch soon. The device in question is the V23 Pro that was spotted on the IMEI website.

vivo V23 Pro visits the IMEI database, launch imminent.#vivo #vivoV23Pro pic.twitter.com/clD3gaf6aN

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) September 13, 2021

According to tipster Mukul Sharma who spotted the upcoming smartphone on the IMEI database, which revealed the device’s name and its model number V2132. Notably, a similar model number was recently spotted on TENAA as well earlier this month. So, it seems that the TENAA listing might have revealed the specifications for the new Vivo V23 Pro. As of right now, the Chinese smartphone maker has yet to reveal any information regarding this device or its launch date.

Although, we can expect to find more information regarding this device surface soon considering it has already made an appearance on the IMEI database. We can expect this smartphone to be released by the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year. The Vivo V21 series was launched back in Q1 2021, so this device could also have a similar launch frame.

Looking at the V2132A listing on TENAA, the device sports a Samsung Exynos 1080 chipset with a 6.58 inch FHD+ AMOLED display. Additional, the device will be powered by a 4,320mAh battery pack with support for 44W fast charging. This device measures 160.10×75.39×7.55mm and weighs 181 grams. Unfortunately, we still do not have any official information at the moment, so stay tuned for more updates.

RELATED:

Realme Band 2 to launch on September 15 with a familar design

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 13, 2021

We first learned of the Realme Band 2 back in July when renders of the fitness tracker were posted on the web. Almost two months later, and Realme is ready to announce the new wearable.

The Realme Band 2 will be announced on September 15 in Malaysia according to an official poster that has begun circulating. The event is scheduled to begin at 12 PM Malaysian time and will be done via the realme Facebook account.

Realme is going with a brand new design different from that of the model that launched last year. However, this is not a design we have not seen before. The Realme Band 2 has a design similar to the Huawei Watch Fit. This is also the same design of the Honor Watch ES and the Honor Band 6. However, the Realme Band lacks a button on the side.

The display is much bigger now as shown in the photo, and an earlier report said it is a 1.4-inch screen, a significant increase from the 0.96 inches of the Realme Band. The larger screen should allow for more information to be displayed at a time.

The Realme Band 2 is expected to come with more features and support for more sports modes. Among the expected features is support for SpO2 measurement. The Realme Band launched with support for tracking 9 activity modes, so there is a high probability the successor will pack several more modes. The battery should also be bigger since the Realme Band 2 is packing a significantly larger display.

While there is no news yet regarding when the fitness tracker will launch in other regions such as India and Europe, we believe they will eventually be announced in these regions in the near future.

RELATED:

Microsoft confirms that Windows 11 will not support Apple M1

By

Sean

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Sep 13, 2021

Microsoft has just confirmed that Windows 11 will not be supported on Apple M1 based devices. The company even released new builds of its latest version of Windows operating system.

The news arrives from a confirmation given by a spokesperson from the American tech giant to The Register as the company released an ad campaign for the Windows 11 OS, which is set to launch in less than a month. Furthermore, the report also revealed that the company is still tweaking the preview code for Windows Insiders via the Dev and Beta Channels. Notably, a Windows 11 Virtual Machine running on an M1 Mac was recently spotted, which faced hardware compatibility issues and displayed error on a Dev Channel Windows Insider build.

The Register also asked Microsoft regarding any future plans on an M1 Mac in Parallel Desktop. But unfortunately, the company stated that is an unsupported scenario as of right now. Meanwhile, even running the new OS directly on the hardware is currently not support either. Apart from this, the company is still working on the global launch of Windows 11, but a number of issues still remain, which includes a bug checks for some Surface Pro X users that cause disappearing taskbar and non functional Start Menus.

RELATED:

Doogee DG Ares smartwatch launched with 24 sports modes and 5 colors options at $31.99

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 13, 2021

Doogee introduced its maiden next-generation smartwatch – Doogee DG Ares with outstanding features and plenty of colour options. The new smartwatch offers several advancements over the predecessor with improved heart rate monitoring and better blood oxygen monitor features. It is now retailing at an affordable price of $31.99 via Lazada.

Must See: Doogee enters 5G market with Doogee V10 rugged smartphone

DG Ares Specifications

DG Ares offers an aluminium alloy chassis while having 10mm thickness. Encased inside a square dial with round corners while having two-strap materials including leather and modified silica gel. However, the smartwatch is available in five different colour options of green, black, red, grey and rose gold.

Health Features

DG Ares comes with several improvised features which enable the users to effectively check the heart rate, SPO2 level and offers sleep monitoring.

The Heart Rate Monitor offers several details such as Beats per Minute (BOM), systolic and diastolic readings and proper histogram to display all the metrics in a well-aligned way. Also, it offers blood oxygen monitoring to keep you at bay from overthinking about the Covid-19. However, the SPO2 level has varied uses while performing different physical activities. It helps to analyse the body’s response to each activity and further aids in different features and functions.

Sleep monitoring offers a comprehensive analysis of sleep patterns. It helps in maintaining a healthy lifestyle by bringing forth the benefits of good sleep and adjusts sleep patterns.

Sports Features

DG Ares smartwatch supports 24 sports modes including Hockey, American Football, Ping Pong, Hiking, Cycling, Running, Rowing, Dancing, Kumps, Spin, Yoga, Skipping, etc. It is an exceptional smartwatch to keep track of every physical activity throughout the day.

Other Features

Apart from useful health and sports features, the basic utilities on the watch enhance the overall usability. The watch offers push notifications from apps like Facebook, Twitter, QQ, WeChat, SMS and others. The user can control music, reject a call, set an alarm, etc.

Availability and Pricing

DG Ares is currently available from Lazada at the actual price of $31.99. However, it will start retailing from AliExpress on September 27. Interestingly, the company is offering 10DG Ares units free to the giveaway winners. You can know more about the Doogee DG Ares by heading to the official website.

Related: Doogee X93 smartphone and CS2 smartwatch sale debuts on AliExpress with introductory discounts

iPhone 13 rumor roundup: Specs, Price, Colors & More – What to Expect from Sep 14 Apple Event!

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Sep 13, 2021

The new iPhone 13 series launch is finally upon us. The much-awaited day has been set for tomorrow – or September 14 to be precise – with the event being set as a virtual one. Judging from the leaks and rumors we have at hand, the new lineup will not be a significant upgrade over its predecessor. Instead, the focus will be on improving on some of the existing features that fans already love and make the iPhone experience better than ever. Regardless, Apple will offer enough upgrades to ensure even an iPhone 12 user can consider getting the new model, and we have rounded up all that there’s to know about the new series below.

iPhone 13 Variants

Apple will likely go with the trusty four variant lineup that will be covering a wide demographic, just like last year’s iPhone 12 series. Thus, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 mini are expected. Of course, the Pro Max variant will be the priciest of the bunch, while the iPhone 13 mini will be the most economical.

iPhone 13 Display and Design

Judging from rumors, not much will be changed in the design department. Apple is known for changing designs once every few iPhone iterations. The last tweak only came with the iPhone 12 series, in the form of a more boxy design, and the iPhone 13 series will thus likely be keeping the same. However, the size of the notch will be noticeably reduced – by a third to be precise. So yeah, no punch holes yet.

Coming to display sizes, the iPhone 13 mini will obviously be the most pocket-friendly among the bunch and is expected to sport a 5.4-inch screen. The displays of the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro could also be sized the same as last year at a larger 6.1-inches. The largest of the lot – the iPhone 13 Pro Max – will reportedly come with a 6.7-inch screen.

At least two 2021 iPhone models will be using LTPO tech for the display panels that will allow lower power consumption, thus paving the road for 120Hz refresh rates. The refresh rate tech will be quite advanced too and will dynamically adjust all the way from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed on the screen. The two Pro models may even get an Always-On display feature. This might, however, be missing from the non-Pro variants.

Cameras on the iPhone 13 series

The rumor mill has churned out some notable improvements in the camera department. Sensor-shift stabilization will be expanded across the entire iPhone lineup, introducing improvements in low light performance and stabilization.

The more expensive iPhone models should be getting an upgraded ultrawide camera with an improved f/1.8 aperture that will help capture better night shots than the current f/2.4 aperture lens.

Hardware and Software

As it has been with literally every iPhone ever, the processors across the entire lineup will be receiving an upgrade. This year, it will be the A15 Bionic chip that will be bringing enhancements that will improve both regular usage and gaming performance.

Bigger batteries along with faster charging are to be expected as well, along with a wider mmWave 5G support.

Apple is also expected to offer another look at the features coming in iOS 15 with the live event tomorrow. It isn’t clear if the iOS version will be making its debut with the iPhone 13 series.

Colors and Variants

First reported by 91Mobiles, a Ukrainian website had revealed that the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max will be available in Black, Silver, Gold, and Bronze.

A new report also revealed that Apple will be doing away with the 64GB storage variant on the entire series for good, thus setting the base as 128GB. The pro variants may even offer up to 1TB storage options.

Pricing and Availability

Some sources claim that the iPhone 13 series will come with an increased price due to the global semiconductor shortage that has increased costs of chip production from TSMC. However, this bit is again unconfirmed.

If rumors of a price hike are false, then the pricing will be very similar, if not exactly the same, to the iPhone 12 series. As such, the iPhone 13 mini will cost $699, iPhone 13 $799, iPhone 13 Pro $999, and finally the iPhone 13 Pro Max $1,099.

Other Expected Products at the Event

Other products to be expected include the Apple Watch Series 7 and the AirPods 3.

The Apple Watch will likely see its biggest redesign with Series 7 that will be following the design language of the latest iPads and iPhones. It will have flatter edges, a larger display, and increased resolution.

The AirPods 3 may feature an updated design as well and are rumored to be a bit pricier than their previous generation.

How to Watch Apple Event Live

If you’re wondering how to watch the event, you can tune in to Apple.com to stream it on your web browser.

Alternatively, you will also be able to stream the event on Apple’s official YouTube channel here or from the AppleTV+ app.

RELATED:

Flipkart teases a new Hisense QLED TV for India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 13, 2021

Last year, Hisense made its debut in India with the launch of multiple smart TV models and home appliances. A year later, the company is now teasing to launch its second QLED TV in the country. This television will go on sale during the Flipkart Big Billion Days sale.

According to a listing on Flipkart, the upcoming Hisense QLED TV for India will have support for full-array local dimming. The company uses the tagline ‘A Bright New World’. This suggests that the television might have a brighter panel.

Thanks to these two factors, the TV is advertised to offer ‘unlimited contrasts’. In simpler words, we can expect the contrast ratio to be higher than the regular LED-backlit LCD panels found on budget smart televisions.

Further, the teasers also confirm support for ‘billion colors’. Additionally, like most premium TVs, this model will also have support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Going by the features, the upcoming Hisense QLED TV for India could be the Hisense U6G series. If that’s the case, then we can expect this television to come with 600 nits peak brightness, Android TV, HDR10, FilmMaker Mode, and others.

Internationally, the Hisense U6G arrives in four sizes – 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch. However, in India, it will be limited to 50-inch only.

Having said that, since Flipkart is yet to officially announce the dates for the Big Billion Days sale, it’s not known when the new Hisense QLED TV will be available for purchase.

Samsung Exynos 2200 spotted on GeekBench, performance matches Snapdragon 888

By

Sean

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Sep 13, 2021

Earlier today (13th September 2021), we had reported on a Geekbench listing for the new Google Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor SoC. Now, the upcoming Samsung Exynos 2200 chipset that features AMD graphics has also been spotted on the popular benchmarking platform.

According to a NotebookCheck report, the Exynos 2200 chipset that will be featured in the Galaxy S22 series next year has been spotted on Geekbench. Although, this listing offers us quite an interesting look as it seems that the new processor might not be as impressive when it comes to performance. In the single core test, the Exynos 2200 managed to achieve a score of 1073, while its multi core test came in at 3389 points.While these are decent figures, the performance appears to not that much ahead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888.

Furthermore, the Geekbench listing also revealed some details about this chips. This includes the Cortex-X2 core, although, this is clocked at 2.59Ghz, which is a drop from 2.91GHz clock speeds from the previously launched Exynos 2100’s X1 core. Additionally, the X2 core is paired with three Cortex-A78 that is clocked at 2.5Ghz and four Cortex-A55 cores that are clocked at 1.73GHz. Notably, both of these cores are also clocked lower than the Exynos 2100. So, while the Exynos 2200 is set to deliver impressive GPU performance, its current CPU performance isn’t based on the recent listing.

RELATED:

OPPO Enco Buds sale in India begins tomorrow (Sept. 14)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 13, 2021

Last week, OPPO announced the OPPO Enco Buds in India. This new pair of truly wireless earphones is scheduled to go on sale from September 14 (tomorrow). They will be sold exclusively on Flipkart.

The OPPO Enco Buds are the successor to last year’s OPPO Enco W11. The new entry-level TWS product from the company is priced at ₹1,999 in India.

However, for a limited time, the earbuds will be available at a discounted price tag of ₹1,799. This offer will last from September 14 to September 16. As mentioned in the beginning, the audio accessory will be only available on Flipkart.

The OPPO Enco Buds are almost identical to the older OPPO Enco W11 in terms of design. That’s where their similarity ends since the new model brings upgrades in most other categories.

The new truly wireless earphones from the smartphone maker feature 8mm dynamic drivers and connect via Bluetooth 5.2. They can pair instantly with devices running ColorOS and have support for AAC audio codec as well as Dolby Atmos.

These buds are IP54-rated for dust and water resistance. They support ENC (Environmental Noice Cancellation) for calls and touch gesture controls. The buds are also compatible with the HeyMelody app for configurations and firmware updates.

Despite weighing 4g each, the buds can last up to 6 hours on a single charge and up to 24 hours with the charging case. Last but not least, the case charges via a USB Type-C port.

Apple iPhone 13 to drop 64GB option, Pro variants to offer up to 1TB: Kuo

By

Sean

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Sep 13, 2021

A new report has revealed that the Apple will be dropping the 64GB storage variant on its upcoming iPhone 13 series, while the higher end Pro variant of the lineup will offer up to 1TB storage options.

The news arrives from known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via 9to5Mac) who shared it in a new investor report. Kuo added that the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will start from the 128GB storage variant and will also be available in 256GB and 512GB options as well. In other words, the 64GB version will no longer be an option with the new iPhone 13 this year. The 64GB option was available in the iPhone 12 series that launched back last year.

Talking about the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, Kuo stated that these models will be available in a 128GB, 126GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage configurations. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max were available in just the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. However, while the higher storage versions offers good options to consumers, Kuo believes that the upcoming iPhone lineup will face challenges due to component shortages.

He stated that “Due to the component shortage, the legacy models had been cut by about 5 to 10 percent in 3Q21. The iPhone 13 shipment in 4Q21 may have a potential downside risk due to component shortage. However, this downside has a limited impact on iPhone 13 shipments. We believe that iPhone 13 shipments in 2021 can grow by more than 10 percent YoY (vs. iPhone 12 shipments in 2020).”

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Lifeme is a new lifestyle brand of Meizu Mblu (aka Blue Charm)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 13, 2021

A few days back, Meizu announced the return of its ‘mblu’ brand, which is commonly known as ‘Blue Charm’. Yesterday, Mblu debuted its own sub-brand called ‘lifeme’. Let’s take a look at what’s this new brand is all about.

During the earlier days of Meizu, the Mblu brand was all about smartphones and related accessories. But this time, the company is taking a different approach.

As per the official announcement on Weibo, the resurrected Mblu brand will focus on creating high-quality lifestyle products for the youth. These products will be sold under a new brand called Lifeme.

Meizu’s sub-brand has even revealed the first batch of Lifeme products. They are as listed below.

Lifeme BTS30 Bluetooth Speaker
Lifeme BTS10 Bluetooth Speaker
Lifeme Hand Warmer + Power Bank
Lifeme Pearwood Umbrella
Lifeme Leather Power Bank
Lifeme Backpack

We think that Mblu will be introducing more products as Lifeme brand grows gradually. That’s because, in July, Meizu created Mblu Weibo accounts for tablets, smartwatches, TVs, and routers. The new Mblu might operate like realme TechLife, which also has a sub-brand called DIZO.

That said, although Mblu confirmed the products that it will be launching first, it is yet to reveal when they will be hitting the markets.

OnePlus to reveal rollout plans for ColorOS 12 at Oppo Conference on Sept. 16

By

Sean

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Sep 13, 2021

Oppo had recently confirmed that its latest ColorOS 12 custom skin will be unveiled on the September 16. Now, a OnePlus official has stated that the company’s plans on adopting the upcoming ColorOS version will also be revealed during this event.

For those unaware, the Chinese smartphone maker had merged with Oppo earlier this year. The merger also brought in efforts of streamlining in various areas, which includes the custom skin. Now, the company’s smartphones in China will sport ColorOS over HydrogenOS. Back in August, company’s CEO had even stated that the OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and 8T will receive ColorOS stable update in next year. Talking about the new ColorOS 12, the new version of the software has a codename “Da Vinci.”

Furthermore, the new custom skin will be supported for smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches along with features like Cross Screen Interconnection, which is similar to the Huawei Multi Screen Collaboration. Notably, the new update is based on Android 12 operating system. Oppo is also tipped to adopt several new features from Chinese Android skins, including the likes of MIUI from Xiaomi, Flyme from Meizu, Smartisan OS, and HydrogenOS. While OnePlus devices in China will feature ColorOS 12, the global models sold overseas will continue running OxygenOS. So stay tuned for more, as we will be covering the September 16 Oppo conference.

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Tecno Spark 8 launched with 6.5-inch display, 16MP dual cameras, and a 5,000mAh battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 13, 2021

Tecno announced the Spark 8 smartphone by the end of August in Nigeria. Today, the company unveiled the Spark 8 in India. As compared to predecessor Spark 7, the newly announced Spark 8 offers a better rear camera and improved design.

Tecno Spark 8 specifications and features

The Tecno Spark 8 has a 6.52-inch IPS panel with a teardrop notch design and a slightly thick chin. It offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The MediaTek Helio A25 chipset is present under the hood of the device.

The Spark 8 has 2 GB of RAM and big internal storage of 64 GB. The device runs on Android 11 (Go edition) OS and HiOS 7.6 UI, which tags along with Super Boost system optimization. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging.

It has a front camera of 8-megapixel with an f/2.0 aperture, which is coupled with a dual-LED flash. A uniquely designed square-shaped module can be seen on the back panel of the device. Apart from housing a 16-megapixel primary camera, an AI lens, and a quad-LED flash unit, it also packs in a fingerprint scanner. The handset offers other features such as dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a microUSB port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Tecno Spark 8 price in India

The Tecno Spark 8 has arrived with a price tag of Rs 7,999 (~$109) in India. It comes in three colors such as Iris Purple, Atlantic Blue, and Turquoise Cyan. It will be available for purchase through retail stores from Sept. 15 in the country.

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Xiaomi Founder visits FAW over talks for a carmaking deal

By

Sean

-

Sep 13, 2021

Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi, has just recently paid a visit to the headquarters of FAW Group in China. The visit from the CEO was apparently for talks related to a new car manufacturing partnership deal for the former’s first car.

According to a Pandaily report (Source), the senior executive of the Chinese tech giant visited the HQ of the known automobile maker in China’s Jilin Province. During his visit to Jilin, Lei Jun event met with the province’s top government officials as well, which includes Jing Junhai, secretary of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China. The reason for this visit, as Lei Jun said, was to strengthen the cooperation with Jilin automotive enterprises and to better solidify an automobile production foundation.

Secretary Jing stated that “Xiaomi has strong R&D and production capacity in the fields of consumer electronics and intelligent manufacturing. Jilin has a good industrial foundation, strong scientific research strength and sufficient talent reserve. Therefore, the cooperation between the two sides in the fields of automobile manufacturing has broad prospects. I hope Xiaomi can strengthen cooperation with FAW as well as Jilin’s auto industry chain.”

In the past, the founder of the company had even reportedly visited the Great Wall Motor’s Research and Development Center in China. Furthermore, the recent move is in line with its plans on setting up a supply chain and relation with various car brands before the production of its own car. Media reports have also stated that Xiaomi Auto aims on releasing a new car each year for the next three years after the first model is launched in 2024. The company also expects to sell 900,000 vehicles in the first three years after its initial release.

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realme 4K Google TV Stick appears on Flipkart ahead of launch

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 13, 2021

Yesterday, in an interview with GSMArena, the CEO of realme India confirmed that the brand will be soon launching a TV stick in the country. Within hours, the promo page for the 2021 edition of Flipkart’s ‘The Big Billion Days’ sale reveals the design and software of this upcoming streaming device from realme.

The world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand entered the smart TV category last year. The brand currently sells four television models in India, and two of them come in two different sizes.

These TVs will be soon accompanied by a streaming device called realme 4K Google TV Stick. As the name suggests, this product will likely run Google TV launcher on top of the Android TV operating system.

The realme TV stick will be the first-ever streaming device in India with Google TV. For those unaware, even the brand’s televisions don’t have access to this new software, just like TV models from most other companies.

Further, as per the render on Flipkart, the product will look like a candy bar with an HMDI port and a possible USB Type-A port. Other than that, going by the name, we can expect it to support 4K streaming. It might be also capable to run HDR content.

Having said that, realme is yet to officially start teasing its first streaming device for India. At the same time, Flipkart hasn’t announced the dates for the Big Billion Days sale.

iQOO Z5 Pro, V2129 spotted at Geekbench with key specs

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Sep 13, 2021

Two new Vivo phones with model numbers such as V2148A and V2129A have appeared at Geekbench. The IMEI database appearance of the V2148A revealed that it could be launching with the iQOO Z5 Pro moniker. The V2129 is an unknown device that has been spotted for the first time. Its Geekbench listing reveals that it is a forthcoming mid-range smartphone from the brand.

The source code of the iQOO Z5 Pro’s Geekbench listing reveals that its chipset offers maximum processing speeds of 2.40GHz. It also reveals that the SoC is equipped with the Adreno 642L. These clues are enough to come to a conclusion that it is powered by the Snapdragon 778G mobile platform.

The Geekbench listing further mentions that it has 8 GB of RAM and Android 11 OS. In the single-core test of Geekbench 4, the handset 3642 points and it recorded a score of 11532 in its multi-core test. The handset was recently spotted at the 3C certification site of China. It reveals that it is a 5G-enabled device, and its retail package may include a 44W charger.

The Z5 Pro is also speculated that this device will feature a 120Hz refresh rate display, a 64-megapixel main camera, a 5,000mAh battery, dual speakers, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Reports have revealed that the iQOO Z5 series includes two other devices such as the iQOO Z5 and iQOO Z5x. The Z5x is believed to be a rebranded version of the upcoming Vivo S10e. There is no information available on the specs of the Z5.

As far as the Vivo V2129 phone is concerned, its Geekbench revealed that it could be powered by the Snapdragon 460. The listing also revealed the presence of 6 GB of RAM and Android 11 OS.

(via 1, 2)

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Not only JioPhone Next but many other smartphones face issue due to chip shortage: Counterpoint

By

Jeet

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Sep 13, 2021

Recently, Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio announced that its upcoming smartphone, named JioPhone Next, will be officially launched by the Diwali festival in the country, which means that it will be available by 4th November.

The entry-level smartphone made in collaboration with Google was earlier set to get launched in the Indian market last week but the phone’s release has been delayed and the company has claimed global chip shortage as the reason.

Now, a report from Counterpoint Research claims that the JioPhone Next isn’t the only device being affected by the severe shortage of components and shipping delays. It says that many top smartphone makers are delaying or limited the launch of their products to certain markets due to production issues.

The delays in smartphone launches are linked to shortages in components like power management integrated circuits. The rising cost for key components such as memory, processors, and logistics is also a key factor.

At the same time, companies are also increasing the pricing of smartphones. The prime example of this would be Xiaomi-backed Redmi which increased the price of the Redmi Note 10 series four times in the Indian market.

According to Counterpoint Research, the year is expected to end with about 190 launches, which is less than over 207 launches last year. So far, companies have conducted around 103 smartphone launches this year.

It remains to be seen how many devices get launched in the fourth quarter of this year which is the prime sale period for both online and offline sales because of the festive season and it accounts for around one-third of annual sales.

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Vivo X70 Pro+ Blue colored model to be available by the end of this month

By

Jeet

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Sep 13, 2021

A few days ago, Vivo announced its new X-series smartphones in China — Vivo X70. The lineup includes three devices — X70, X70 Pro, and X70 Pro+ and as the name points out, the Vivo X70 Pro+ is the top-end model in the series.

Vivo’s Product Manager has now confirmed through his account on Weibo that the Blue colored model of the Vivo X70 Pro+ smartphone will be available for purchase in the country by the end of this month, i.e. September 2021.

For those who are unaware, the smartphone was announced in three color options — Black, Blue, and Orange. While the Black colored variant has a glass back, the back panel in the Blue-colored and Orange-colored models has a leather finish.

As for the specifications, the Vivo X70 Pro+ features a 6.78-inch 2K display with 3200 x 1440 pixels screen resolution. The 10-bit panel is Samsung’s E5 AMOLED and it has a 120Hz variable refresh rate, a maximum brightness of 1500 nits, 300Hz touch sampling rate (1000Hz max). The display has received an A+ certification rating from DisplayMate.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ processor along with LPDDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The top-end configuration of the device includes 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

In the camera department, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back which includes a 48MP micro-pan-tilt ultrawide angle camera with 360° Horizontal Levelling Stabilization. It ensures that even if you rotate the phone while recording, you still get a stable video.

There’s also a 50MP Samsung GN1 main camera, a 12MP Sony IMX663 portrait camera, and an 8MP telescope camera that brings 5x optical zoom and 60x super-zoom. It is also the first smartphone to come packed with the Vivo V1 ISP chip.

The smartphone runs OriginOS based on Andriod 11 operating system. It is powered by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 55W flash wired charging, 50W wireless fast charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

It comes in three variants — 8GB RAM with 256GB internal storage, 12GB RAM with 256GB storage, and 12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage, costing 5,499 yuan (~$852), 5,999 yuan (~$929), and 6,999 yuan (~$1,084) respectively.

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Huawei MateStation S desktop computer launched in China; pricing starts at 3,899 yuan ($640)

By

Jeet

-

Sep 13, 2021

Huawei, which is having a quiet year in terms of smartphones launches, is trying to be in the news by launching other products in the market. In the latest move, the Chinese tech giant has launched a new desktop computer named Huawei MateStation S.

The Huawei MateStation S CPU has a small cabinet measuring 293mm x 93mm x 315.5mm and features a Star Trek design. In terms of specifications configuration, it comes powered by AMD Ryzen 5 4600G or AMD Ryzen 7 4700G processor and supports up to two DDR4 dual-channel memory and packs 512GB solid-state drive (SSD).

It features support for collaboration with smartphones but for that, it needs to be used with Huawei K150 Wired Keyboard. With this feature, it can be used with dual-screen linkage, file transfer, and cross-device editing.

On the front, the cabinet has a power button, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-A 3.0 port, and a USB Type-C port. There are two USB-A 2.0 ports and two USB-A 3.0 ports at a back along with a VGA port, an RJ45 port, and a few others.

While the company has not clearly mentioned that, it’s likely that the computer is running the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system out of the box. As it is not aimed at professionals, it likely has Windows 10 Home Edition pre-installed.

The Huawei MateStation S comes in two models and is already up for pre-sale in its home market China. The model powered by AMD Ryzen 5 4600G packing 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD is priced at 3,899 yuan (~$604) while the other model that features AMD Ryzen 7 4700G along with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD costs 5,099 yuan (~$790).

In related news, the company has scheduled a global launch event on 21st October and while it has not revealed what products are coming, the Chinese brand is likely to launch its Huawei P50 series flagship smartphones.

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