Samsung rolls out One UI 3.1.1 update for its older foldable smartphones

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Sep 1, 2021

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Galaxy Z Flip3 as its latest foldable smartphones. These devices arrive with a new version of the company’s mobile software called One UI 3.1.1 based on Android 11. The South Korean tech giant has now started rolling out this version of One UI to its older foldable smartphones.

Samsung has begun to seed One UI 3.1.1 update for its previous foldable phones. The software update is currently being rolled out in batches for Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and Galaxy Z Flip. It will be also available for the original Galaxy Fold around a week later.

The new system update brings all the new One UI features that are present on the Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Galaxy Z Flip3. Most of these features have to be enabled from Settings > Advanced Features > Labs.

One UI 3.1.1 Features

Drag & Split
Multi-Active Window and Natural Window Switching
Rotate All Apps
Set Aspect Ratio for Apps
App Split View
Flex Mode Panel
Pin Your Favourite Apps with Taskbar
Cover Screen Mirroring

All the above-listed features help users make use of the foldables’ unique display. Most of these features are targeted at the large screen on the Fold screens. Hopefully, Samsung makes them available for the Galaxy Tab series as well.

Fiido X crowdfunding crosses $1 million on Indiegogo, a first for e-bikes

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 1, 2021

The COVID 19 pandemic that has hit the world has had a varying effect on the global economy but for the electric vehicle market, especially e-bikes, it has been transformative. This is because of the need to adopt personal transport means instead of taking crowded public transport. It is also a means of exercising daily.

Fiido launched the Fiido X electric bike in July this year. The product was later made available for crowdfunding on Indiegogo in mid-August. The e-bike campaign has now achieved $10,477,049 HKD (over USD$1 million) in sales so far, 18 days into the. This is an awesome feat for an e-bike, the first in the annals of Indiegogo.

The Fiido X takes over from the D11 e-bike which itself raked in a little short of USD$1 million in backings. The new e-bike feature several upgrades and design enhancements from its predecessor, the D11 folding e-bike. The e-bike is pedal-assisted with a torque sensor that helps to push it beyond the stated range. It packs Seatpost-integrated batteries and a driving range of 130km.

The Fiido X has a top speed of 25km/h, at par with most e-bikes across different countries, except in the US, where maximum speeds of 32km/h are allowed on public roads. The magnesium frame both models have embedded folding mechanisms for transforming the bike from a bike to a compact travel companion. The 7-Speed Shimano transmission in both models offers seamless switching of speeds from high to low and vice versa as the situation demands. There are key code locks for the batteries, LED lighting, solid tires, and other safety features. The X also utilizes the hydraulic disc brake system.

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(source)

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will feature ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and lack MicroSD card slot

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 1, 2021

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is tipped to launch next week, September 8 to be exact. Ahead of that, we have already learned everything about this phone via leaks and certifications. Now, the device’s user manual confirms those previous leaks.

SamMobile has managed to obtain the user manual of the unreleased Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. The document corroborates some of the earlier leaks about this phone.

According to the documentation, the handset will sport a triple camera array and punch-hole front-facing camera. Although it does not go into detail, we know that the smartphone will have a 12MP (wide) + 12MP (ultra-wide) + 8MP (telephoto) triple camera setup and a 32MP selfie camera.

Further, the manual says that the handset will arrive with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor like the regular Galaxy S21 models and will also lack a MicroSD card slot. For those unaware, the last year’s Galaxy S21 FE has an optical fingerprint sensor and houses a microSD card slot.

Other features confirmed by the documentation include IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, Dolby Atmos, Wireless DeX, Samsung Pay, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

As per previous reports, the upcoming Galaxy S21 FE will be powered by both Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 depending on the regions where it will be sold in. It will have features like up to 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, 6.4-inch 120Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED display, 4,500mAh battery, 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W wireless charging, One UI 3.x based on Android 11.

Last but not least, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will be available in four colors and will ship without a charger.

Upcoming HONOR Pad Z3 could be a rebranded HONOR Pad 7

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 1, 2021

HONOR has already beat Xiaomi and Apple to claim third place in the Chinese smartphone market. The brand is expected to roll out its new products in select global markets in the coming weeks. One of these devices could be a tablet called HONOR Pad Z3.

HONOR Pad Z3 Render Leak — HONOR Pad Z3 | Source: Evan Blass

Reliable leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks) has shared a render of an HONOR tablet called HONOR Pad Z3. Unfortunately, the tipster does not say anything about this product.

The picture shows a budget tablet with huge bezels on all sides. We can see power and volume keys on the right side and a front-facing camera on the right-side bezel instead of the top.

We believe this tablet is meant for global markets. Also going by the image, we think it is a rebranded HONOR Pad 7 that went official in China earlier this year.

If that’s the case, then the upcoming HONOR Pad Z3 should have a 10.1-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and a MediaTek Helio G80 SoC. In China, the Pad 7 comes with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. In international markets, the Pad Z3 might arrive with different storage configurations depending on the regions where it will be sold.

Further, the tablet shall feature a 5MP rear camera with autofocus and a 2MP front-facing camera with fixed focus. On the connectivity front, it may support dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, GNSS, and a USB Type-C port. We can expect other features like dual stereo speakers with support for HONOR Histen 7.0, Magic UI 4.0 based on Android 10, a MicroSD card slot, and a 5,100mAh battery.

At present, it is not known when the HONOR Pad Z3 will go official. Going by the high-quality press render, the product appears to be mere days away from launch.

DIZO launches the Beard Trimmer Plus and Hair Dryer in India

By

Sean

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Sep 1, 2021

DIZO has just launched two new products in India. This includes the company’s new Hair Dryer and the Beard Trimmer Plus, which are the latest products in its consumer lifestyle electronics range.

Talking about the Hair Dryer first, the company has just launched a new lifestyle based product. As the name suggests, its a hair dryer offers 19,000rpm high speed fan with controls for precise speed and heat settings. It has a run time of 120 minutes in a single full charge. Notably, it also offers 55 degree Celsius thermal protection and 20 million negative ions for hair care as well.

Arriving at the Beard Trimmer Plus, this is the second lifestyle based product that features an impressive 40 length settings with up to 0.5mm precision setting. Similar to the Hair Dryer, it also offers 120 minutes of run time on a single full charge and is powered by an 800mAh battery pack. The trimmer sports Self Sharpening Stainless Steel Blade, so the users wouldn’t have to worry about the blades becoming dull over a period of time. The trimmer also arrives with IPX7 water resistance.

Both the Hair Dryer and the Beard Trimmer Plus will be available for purchase starting from 4th September 2021 and can be purchased from Flipkart.com. The beard trimmer features a price tag of 1,999 INR (roughly 27 US Dollars) but will be initially available for a special price of 1,699 INR (roughly 23 US Dollars) in India. On the other hand, the Dizo Hair Dryer is also priced at 1,999 INR but will be first sold with a special price tag of 1,499 INR (roughly 20 US Dollars).

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Xiaomi 12 Concept pays tribute to the rested Mi branding with its M-shaped camera module

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 1, 2021

Xiaomi recently announced dropping the Mi moniker from its products naming system which means the next-generation flagship smartphone will be the Xiaomi 12. While we don’t expect the flagship smartphone to launch until next year, we recently saw the camera specs of the Xiaomi 12 leaked. The phone has again featured in a new leak.

What is believed to be a fan-made concept render of the Xiaomi 12 was recently shared by a Weibo user. The render reveals only the back aspect of the device but it shows a spectacular camera design. The cameras are housed in a rather weird-looking module which is shaped like the letter M.

The render has already been dismissed by Xiaomi’s PR head as unattractive. However, there are fans who think the design could find its way into the 12, denoting the first letter of the “Mi” brand. That argument looks dead on arrival since Xiaomi has already announced it will be dropping the Mi branding. Also, we think the camera design isn’t something Xiaomi will consider on its flagship.

The recent Xiaomi 12 leak touts the device as featuring a 200MP primary sensor as well as an ultra-wide sensor and a macro camera in a triple camera arrangement. The render envisions a quad camera setup marshaled by a 108MP main sensor.

We expect much more details to emerge in the coming months.

China to set a 3-hour online gaming per week restriction for children

By

Sean

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Sep 1, 2021

China is aiming on setting a new restriction on online gaming for children. The government is apparently aiming to set a three-hour gaming limit per week for kids under the age of 18 in the region.

According to new regulations published by China’s National Press and Publication Administration (Via CNBC), the government is seeking to further crackdown on online gaming of China’s youth. The news arrives as the latest blow to the country’s local gaming industry and its known players like Tencent and NetEase, which have been facing a number of strict regulations like anti-monopoly charges and data protection as well. Furthermore, the new rules have also caused uncertainty with the investors, with the Chinese gaming firms seeing a hit in their stock values.

As per the new regulations, individuals under the age of 18 in the country will only be allowed to play online video games one hour a day, between 8 pm and 9 pm on weekends and other legal holidays. The agency cited children’s physical and mental health safety as the reason behind these new rules. Notably, these regulations will also apply to companies that are providing online gaming services to said minors, requiring them to restrict their services to users from outside these designated hours.

Additionally, the companies will also not be allowed to provide services to users who haven’t logged in with real name registrations. This is a major impact on the local gaming industry and is the second severe blow as 2019’s rules had barred kids under 18 to play video games for more than one and a half hours a day. Niko Partners senior analyst Daniel Ahmad stated that “There are over 110 million minors that play video games in China today, and we expect the new limits to lead to a decline in the number of players and a reduction in the amount of time and money spent in game by those under 18.”

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Samsung seeks to expand production for its new foldable smartphones

By

Sean

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Sep 1, 2021

Samsung Electronics is apparently planning on expanding the production capacity for its foldable smartphones. The news arrives as the company’s newly launched Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 handsets see an unexpected demand across the globe.

As per KedGlobal, Samsung Display, the company’s display technology unit, has increased its annual production capacity of foldable panel by 47 percent, marking an increase from 17 million units to 25 million units. The South Korean tech giant is also planning on expanding its Bac Ninh plant in Vietnam in the second half of this year. This site will seek to reach full operation scale by the end of this year or early next year.

Furthermore, experts believe that after the company’s expansion plans are completed, the brand will be producing 10 million units of Galaxy Z Fold3 and and 15 million units of Galaxy Z Flip3 models a year. For those unaware, Samsung aims on raising production since the demand for its new foldable smartphones was higher than initially expected. Notably, its third generation of foldable phones saw about 920,000 pre orders in South Korea, which is around 1.8 times more than even its newly launched Galaxy S21 flagship smartphone.

Sources also added that the pre orders in the US even surpassed the brand’s second generation foldable phone sales in the country between the months January and July 2021. The source further stated that “Samsung’s factories that make foldable devices are already operating at full capacity. Samsung has no option but to expand its facilities. It will likely add three more production lines to its current seven, which will allow the company to manage the production volume more flexibly.”

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Alleged Infinix ZERO X renders reveal a sparkling design

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 1, 2021

Infinix is all set to launch a smartphone powered by MediaTek Helio G96 SoC. According to XDA Developers, this phone could be called Infinix ZERO X. The publication has even shared the renders of this handset.

Alleged Infinix ZERO X Renders Leak — Alleged Infinix ZERO X | Source: XDA Developers

As per the renders, the alleged Infinix ZERO X will feature a rear design similar to that of the LG Nexus 4. In other words, the phone’s back will have a speckled finish with the ‘Infinix’ branding at the bottom left corner. We believe this design is probably intended to mimic the dark sky with sparkling stars.

The recently launched OPPO Reno6 series also comes in a similar color option called Stellar Black. However, it has a matte texture, while the ZERO X will likely have a glossy surface.

Further, the renders show the handset with power and volume keys on the right side and a punch-hole display with a slightly larger chin compared to the forehead. The images also reveal a Xiaomi Mi 10T series-like camera island design consisting of three sensors and an LED flash.

Unfortunately, XDA Developers know nothing about the phone’s specs for now. But anyway, the publication speculates the device to arrive with a 120Hz display, better cameras than the Infinix Note 10, stereo speakers, USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, 5,000mAh battery with fast charging support, and Android 11.

Having said that, we expect to learn more about the alleged Infinix ZERO X before its official launch in the coming days.

PUBG: New State officially confirmed for India, Pre-Registrations now live

By

Sean

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Sep 1, 2021

Earlier today (1st September 2021), Krafton Inc officially announced the arrival of PUBG: New State in India. The studio has started the pre-registration of the mobile game in the region that has already been available in various other countries across the globe.

Krafton unveiled the game for India on the official PUBG: New State website. For those interested, you can register for the game on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The inclusion of iOS support right from the start is a welcomed change over BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) which had first launched only in Android, with support for Apple devices arriving a few after the initial release.

For those unaware, New State is a different title from the company’s massively popular vanilla PUBG Mobile game. This version of the game arrives with new maps, which have a more urban setting over its classic battle royale variant that seen great success. One of the new maps include Troi that comes with a number of new weapons and vehicles that are different from the known cars and bikes you’ve seen in PUBG Mobile.

Furthermore, another notable inclusion is the new weapon customization feature that allows players to modify their weapons inside a match with various attachments. With New State, Krafton is bringing back its franchise in India, after PUBG Mobile got banned in the country back in September 2020. While the company has already launched an exclusive Indian version of the game (BGMI), the new game will carry the official ‘PUBG’ moniker.

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Deal: Get KUULAA 15W Qi Wireless Charger for $10 (Retail Price $15)

By

Daily Deals

-

Sep 1, 2021

KUULAA 15W Qi Wireless Charger which generally retails for $15 is now available at a discounted price of $9.79 only at AliExpress. This deal ends in 21 hours.

WHERE TO BUY

KUULAA 15W Qi Wireless Charger at $9.79 (after discount)@AliExpress

KUULAA 15W Qi Wireless Charger

Key Features:

Simple design with mirror finish
Small, lightweight, and highly portable
15W peak output
Supports Qi charging standards
Fully compatible with fast charging
Fully compatible with IOS and Android phones
7.5W fast charging for iPhone
Supports iPhone 8/8plus/XS/XS MAX/XR/11/11 PRO/11PRO MAX
Support Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.
Can charge even with the phone case (up to 8mm)
Bulti-in smart chip for multiple protection
Foreign Body Detection
Colors: Balck and White

Generally retailing for $15, you can now buy KUULAA 15W Qi Wireless Charger at a discounted price of $9.79 only at AliExpress. Please note that this super deal ends in the next 21 hours. 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.

Deal: Get Baseus 7 in 1 Phone Holder Docking Station for $34 (Retail Price $40)

By

Daily Deals

-

Sep 1, 2021

Baseus 7 in 1 Phone Holder Docking Station which usually retails for $40 is now available at a discounted price of $34.47 only at AliExpress.

WHERE TO BUY

Baseus 7 in 1 Phone Holder Docking Station at $34.47 (after discount)@AliExpress

The docking station is a multi-functional device that converts your regular smartphone into a professional computer or TV that can be used in your office as well as home. Fitted with three USB ports, the device helps you to connect a mouse, keyboard, USB flash drive, etc to your smartphone, thereby converting it into a mini laptop. You can also connect your gamepad to the hub and enhance your gaming experience. With a projector connection and additional SD/ Micro SD slots, the hub solves your storage issues. All you have to do is plug in your smartphone and start reading from your SD/Micro SD card.

Designed with a Type C power jack, the device gives you an endless supply of 15W high energy, and the aesthetic and smart design lets you put down your smartphone for expansion and simply go hands-free. With a Computer and TV mode, you can either split your screen for operations or simply synchronize the display of your phone and TV.

Designed exclusively for TYPE C phones the hub is customized to use with Huawei (Mate 20/Pro, Mate 10/Pro, P20/Pro) and Samsung (S10/10 plus, S9/S9 plus, Note9).

This lightweight and highly portable multi-functional docking station is now available for $34.47 only at AliExpress. 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.

DIZO GoPods, GoPods Neo launched in India as rebadged realme Buds Air 2, Buds Q2

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 1, 2021

Last week, DIZO was tipped to launch 7 new products in India in September. On the first day of the new month, the realme TechLife brand has announced four products already. Two of them are audio products, while the remaining two are personal care products. Let’s take a look at the audio products in this article, which are DIZO GoPods and DIZO GoPods Neo respectively.

DIZO GoPods / GoPods Neo Specifications

DIZO GoPods and DIZO GoPods Neo are rebadged variants of realme Buds Air 2 and realme Buds Q2 respectively. Although they are exact same products, they are slightly cheaper than the original models for a limited time.

realme DIZO GoPods Featured A — DIZO GoPods

The two TWS products from DIZO come with 10mm drivers, realme R2 chip, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) with Transparency mode, and 88ms low latency gaming mode.

Further, the Neo has a Samsung Galaxy Buds-like design, whereas the design of the regular GoPods mimics that of Apple AirPods. However, both have IPX5 certification for splash resistance.

Talking about battery life, with the USB Type-C equipped charging case and ANC disabled, the GoPods can last about 25 hours. On the other hand, the GoPods Neo offers 28 hours of playback time.

realme DIZO GoPods Neo Featured A — DIZO GoPods Neo

As far as additional features are concerned, the duo supports Google Fast Pair (available via OTA update), realme Link app, and touch gesture controls.

DIZO GoPods / GoPods Neo Price and Availability in India

The new DIZO truly wireless earphones will retail for the following price tags in India.

DIZO GoPods

Retail Price – ₹3,299
Limited Time Price – ₹2,999 (₹300 off)
Colors – Smoky Grey, Creme White

DIZO GoPods Neo

Retail Price – ₹2,499
Limited Time Price – ₹2,299 (₹200 off)
Colors – Deep Blue, Aurora

Both of them will be exclusively sold on Flipkart. The sales will kickstart from September 6 and September 10 for DIZO GoPods and DIZO GoPods Neo respectively.

Vivo X70 series global launch date revealed, will arrive with Origin OS: Tipster

By

Sean

-

Sep 1, 2021

Vivo is gearing up for the launch of its latest X70 series of smartphones. We have already covered some notable leaks and official teasers from the company, but now, a new report suggests that the upcoming lineup global launch is set for September 10.

Earlier today (1st September 2021), we had reported on the Chinese smartphone maker teasing its X70 series camera’s stabilization capabilities. Now, a new tweet from known tipster Abhishek Yadav suggests a global launch, which is set one day after its first announcement in the company’s home country of China. Notably, the tweet from Yadav also added that the new X70 series will be launching with Origin OS kinetic wallpapers as well.

Breaking

Vivo X70 5G Series launching on September 10, 2021 globally with Origin OS kinetic wallpapers.

Vivo X70 series with Origin OS globally?#Vivo #VivoX70 #VivoX70Pro #VivoX70ProPlus
.@Vivo_India .@vivo_europe .@Vivo_Phil pic.twitter.com/Kb9CV1QuOC

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) September 1, 2021

In the social media post, the tipster also shared multiple images that appear to be promotional posters. While the first image highlights the rear camera module of the Vivo X70 Pro+, the second offers us a look at Origin OS Kinetic Wallpaper. Lastly, the final image just says “COMING SOON” along with a countdown that is for nearly nine days for now. In other words, the countdown will hit zero on the 10th of September 2021. Keep in mind that this is still an unconfirmed report so take this news with a pinch of salt for now and stay tuned for more updates regarding this matter.

RELATED:

Vivo X70 series teased, highlights camera’s stabilization capabilities

By

Sean

-

Sep 1, 2021

Earlier this week, Vivo confirmed the launch date for its upcoming X70 series of smartphones. Now, the company has shared a new teaser, which highlights the X70 camera’s image stabilization.

The Chinese smartphone maker shared the teaser earlier today (1st September 2021) on its official Weibo account. Interestingly, we had just covered a new leak yesterday that arrived from a known Chinese tipster who revealed the Vivo X70 Pro+’s camera specification. The device will feature a quad camera setup with the primary lens being a 50 megapixel sensor with OIS support, paired with a 48 megapixel Sony IMX598 ultra wide angle lens with micro gimbal stabilization and a 12 megapixel telephoto and 8 megapixel periscopic zoom lens which also support OIS as well.

In the new promotional image poster, the company showcased the rear of the X70 Pro+, with the large camera module being in clear view along with the Zeiss lens branding and four image sensors. Notably, the new device from the brand is also its first to feature its self developed V1 ISP to enhance the photography experience. In other words, the company is clearing placing an emphasis on the photography aspect of its upcoming smartphone.

Another known Chinese tipster @数码闲聊站 also shared information that was in line with the leak we had covered recently. The leakster added that the device will feature Zeiss G+P glass-plastic hybrid lens 1 micro gimbal stabilization and 3 full OIS modules, along with the V1 chipset. So stay tuned for more, as we will be covering the launch event later this month.

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Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G launched in India, starts at ₹35,999

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 1, 2021

A few days back, Samsung announced the Galaxy A52s 5G in Europe. The new A-series phone is a slightly upgraded version of the already available Galaxy A52 5G. This smartphone has now made its way to India as well. Let’s take a look at what it offers and how much it costs in the country.

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G Specifications and Features

The new Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is a Galaxy A52 5G inside out, except for the chipset. The latest model comes powered by a much powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC instead of a Snapdragon 750G SoC.

The handset sports a plastic build with a matte rear finish. It is IP67-certified for dust and water resistance, measures 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm in dimensions, and weighs 189g. It comes in three colors, namely Awesome Black, Awesome White, and Awesome Violet. Unfortunately, India does not get the Awesome Mint color option.

The device flaunts a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+), a 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The panel has a centered punch-hole (Infinity-O) and 800 nits peak brightness level in high brightness mode (HBM).

Further, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back consisting of a 64MP primary sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide unit, a 5MP macro snapper, and a 5MP depth sensor. Whereas, on the front, there’s a 32MP shooter for selfies and video calls.

On the connectivity front, the phone supports dual-SIM, 5G (12 5G bands), dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2, GNSS, NFC, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Other features include dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, an in-display fingerprint sensor, a microSD card slot, Samsung Pay, Samsung Knox, and One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 with 3 years of guaranteed OS updates.

Last but not least, the smartphone is backed by a 4,500mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. However, it ships with a 15W charger.

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G Price and Availability in India

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G retails for the following price tags in India.

6GB + 128GB – ₹35,999 ($493)
8GB + 128GB – ₹37,499 ($514)

The device is available for purchase starting today (September 1) across Samsung.com and online as well as offline retail stores.

For a limited time, customers buying the handset can avail ₹3000 cashback on HDFC Bank credit/debit cards and EMI transactions. They can also avail ₹3000 exchange bonus when they trade in their old smartphone.

Xiaomi CyberDog will be showcased in over 100 Mi Home Stores in China

By

Sean

-

Sep 1, 2021

Xiaomi had unveiled the new CyberDog robot a couple of weeks ago during a product launch event. Now, the company has officially announced earlier today (1st September 2021) that it will be showcasing the four legged robot in over 100 Mi Home Stores across its home country of China.

The Chinese tech giant shared the news regarding the CyberDog on the Mi Home Weibo account, with image posters. Looking at these promotional posters, it is clear that the company aims on unveiling its latest product in areas like provincial capitals, capitals, and municipalities in China first. For those unaware, the CyberDog is a bio inspired quadruped robot is powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Xavier NX AI Supercomputer for Embedded and Edge Systems paired with 128GB of SSD storage.

Furthermore, the new robot also houses a number of cameras, microphones, and sensors on the head of the robot that gives it spatial perception capabilities that is comparable to the human eye. This includes AI cameras, binocular ultra wide cameras and Intel’s RealSense D450 depth camera module that enables it to avoid obstacles as it navigates its way around. It even sports SLAM mapping and auto tracking.

While a similar quadruped robot called Spot from Boston Dynamic sells for a whopping 74,500 US Dollars, Xiaomi is offering its robot for just 9,999 Yuan (roughly 1,540 US Dollars). In other words, it makes this product significantly more affordable than the US made robot.

RELATED:

Samsung reportedly working on Galaxy Book Fold 17, a foldable screen laptop

By

Jeet

-

Sep 1, 2021

Samsung has been pushing the foldable smartphones in the market and the strategy might be working for the South Korean giant as it is witnessing record bookings for the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 phones.

Now, it seems that the company is now looking to expand the foldable technology to the laptop segment as well, starting with the Samsung Galaxy Book Fold 17. The device was showcased as a concept at SID 2021 but it’s reportedly being developed by Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Book Fold 17 Concept Showcased at SID 2021

The report, coming from @UniverseIce, confirms the Galaxy Book Fold 17 moniker for the upcoming device but nothing much is currently known about this product. It is likely to come with a 17-inch foldable display.

We expect the actual product to look a bit different compared to what the company showcased at SID 2021 earlier this year. The concept device showcased had very thin bezels around the screen, and an Under-Display Camera (UDC).

As noted, currently there’s not much known about the Samsung Galaxy Book Fold 17 but if the device is indeed real and set to launch soon, we expect to know more about its features and specifications, as well as pricing and availability details in the coming weeks.

Last year, Lenovo had launched the ThinkPad X1 Fold laptop, featuring a 13.3-inch foldable OLED display with a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. It was first showcased at CES 2019 as “the world’s first foldable PC.”

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Samsung confirms Android 12-based One UI 4 Beta testing for Galaxy S21 smartphones this month

By

Jeet

-

Sep 1, 2021

Google has announced the latest Android 12 mobile operating system and is expected to release the stable build later this month. The first device to come running this new OS is expected to be the Pixel 6 series, set to launch in October this year.

Many smartphone manufacturers are working on releasing the Android 12 updates for their smartphones and it seems that Samsung could be among the first despite the South Korean giant being the only major Android phone manufacturer not participating in the official Android 12 Beta program.

Samsung has confirmed that the company will start testing One UI 4 Beta for three of its flagship smartphones — Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra this month, i.e. September in its home market.

The company is expected to add more devices for testing the One UI 4 based on the Android 12 operating system. As per the reports, the Samsung Galaxy S20 series smartphones may get the opportunity to enroll in beta testing in October.

Samsung has officially teased the arrival of One UI 4.0 beta based on Android 12 for the Galaxy S21 series. It’ll come with several major user interface changes, including updated icons and colors, and the Material You element of Android 12. It may also bring optimizations to Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100, as well as improvements to Samsung Knox and Samsung Notes App.

The company has been making user-friendly changes to its custom user interface and has confirmed that it will remove the advertisements from its stock applications that come pre-installed with Samsung phones. Although the company has already removed ads from the Weather app, major changes are expected to be available with One UI 4.

RELATED:

OPPO Reno6 series set to launch in Europe, Middle East, and Africa in the coming days

By

Jeet

-

Sep 1, 2021

A couple of months ago, OPPO launched its latest flagship smartphone lineup — the OPPO Reno6 series in its home country China. Later, in the month of July, the devices were made available in the Indian market.

Now, the Chinese firm is expanding the footprints of the Reno6 series smartphones by launching the devices in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The phones are set to launch in the coming days in these regions and the company has already started promotions on their respective social media accounts.

The OPPO Reno6 4G and 5G models are up for pre-orders in Egypt which will end on 4th September. The phone will be launched in Kenya on 6th September and the teaser shared by the company talks about the Bokeh Flare Portrait mode.

On 9th September, the next-generation Reno6 series 5G smartphones will be officially launched in Germany and France. The landing page for the upcoming device talks about the MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset. Earlier, it was reported that the Reno6 Pro+ is expected to be rebranded as Reno6 Pro in the European market.

It’s not yet known if these regions will be getting the OPPO Reno6 Pro smartphones and to know for sure, we’ll have to wait for the official launch event, set to take place in the coming days in different regions.

As for the specifications, the OPPO Reno6 5G features a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, 410 PPI pixel density, and 93.28% DCI-P3 color gamut. The display also offers a 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, 600 nits peak brightness (typical), and 91.7% screen-to-body ratio.

The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, paired with 8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. In the camera department, there’s a triple camera setup consisting of a 64-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide unit (119° FOV), and a 2-megapixel macro snapper.

On the front side, the phone features a 32-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling. The device running the Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own ColorOS, is powered by a 4,300mAh battery and comes with support for 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging technology.

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