ASUS ROG Phone 5s & 5s Pro launched with up to 18GB RAM, Snapdragon 888+

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Aug 16, 2021

Smartphone prices are going up in India for the past few months due to the shortage of components. The latest handsets to receive price hikes are four realme devices, namely realme C21, realme C25s, realme narzo 30, and realme 8 5G.

realme 8 5G Colors Featured — realme 8 5G

According to reports by 91Mobiles and MySmartPrice, realme has increased the price of the above-mentioned phones by ₹500. The price hike is applicable to all the available storage configurations and colors. Also, it is worth noting that this is not the first price increment for these models.

The realme C21 is the cheapest of the lot. It had been selling for ₹8,499 and ₹9,499 for the 3GB + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB variants respectively. With the latest price hike, the phone now costs ₹8,999 and ₹9,999 for the same storage configurations.

The realme C25s is the second most affordable on the list. It was retailing for ₹10,499 (4GB + 64GB) and ₹11,499 (4GB + 128GB). But now, it sells for ₹10,999 and ₹11,999.

Then, the popular realme narzo 30 was being sold at ₹12,499 (4GB + 64GB), ₹13,499 (6GB + 64GB), and ₹14,499 (6GB + 128GB). The same handset now carries price tags of ₹12,999, ₹13,999, and ₹14,999.

Lastly, the realme 8 5G now retails at ₹14,999 (4GB + 64GB), ₹15,999 (4GB + 128GB), and ₹17,999 (8GB + 128GB) instead of ₹14,499, ₹15,499, and ₹17,499.

Having said that, do you think these smartphones are still worth buying at their new price tags, which are at least ₹1,000 more than what they were introduced at? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Galaxy S22 series to largely feature Snapdragon 898 over Samsung’s AMD chip: Report

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Aug 16, 2021

A new report from South Korea has suggested that the Galaxy S22 series will feature the Snapdragon 898 more prominently, over the company’s next gen Exynos SoC that has AMD graphics.

According to a Lanzuk report (Via PhoneArena), the South Korean tech giant’s next gen flagship for 2022 will feature the AMD powered Exynos 2200 processor. Although, it will only be available in few select regions across the globe. In other words, the Snapdragon variant will be more widely available to customers. Apparently, the reason for this is not due to the performance of the latest Exynos processor, rather its due to the low yield of the new chipset and other mass production related issues.

From what we have heard so far, the new Exynos chip is quite capable both in graphics, thanks to AMD’s RDNA2 architecture, and even overall processing. Some reports have even suggest performance rivaling or even beating the Apple A14 Bionic chipset found in the iPhone 12 series. For those unaware, Samsung had typically launched its flagship models in a Snapdragon and Exynos variant. Although, the former was usually considered to be slightly superior in performance.

Now, it seems that the roles might switch as the upcoming powerful Exynos chip could possibly outperform even the Snapdragon 898. Notably, the news of low yield and production rate of its own chips arrives as the company is also working with Google for its proprietary Tensor chips for the Google Pixel 6 series, which reportedly has similarities to the new Exynos processors. Unfortunately, this is still an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt for now and stay tuned for more updates.

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Redmi Note 10S Starlight Purple India launch teased officially

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Aug 16, 2021

The Redmi Note 10S is an intermediary model between the Redmi Note 10 and the Redmi Note 10 Pro. It was first announced at the Redmi Note 10 series global launch event. Recently, this smartphone got a new ‘Starlight Purple’ color variant in Malaysia. This version of the handset is now being teased to launch in India.

When the Xiaomi India Twitter account was busy teasing the upcoming Smarter Living 2022 event, the Redmi India Twitter handle quietly dropped a teaser video titled ‘Paint The Town Purple’. This video could be for nothing but the Redmi Note 10S Starlight Purple.

The Redmi Note 10S Starlight Purple recently launched in Malaysia is priced at RM 899 ($212). The handset comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. If the Indian version also arrives in the same memory configuration, it should cost more than the current top model 6GB + 128GB, which retails for ₹15,999 ($216).

Apart from color, the new variant of the Redmi Note 10S is identical to the regular version in terms of specs of features. Hence, it has a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED display, a MediaTek Helio G95 chipset, a 64MP quad-camera setup, dual stereo speakers, IP53 rating, a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support, and more.

With that being said, since Xiaomi is known for naming the colors of its products differently for India, there’s a chance that the Redmi Note 10S Starlight Purple could be called something else in the country.

POCO continues to be India’s fastest growing smartphone brand

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Aug 16, 2021

On one hand, realme is the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand ever. On the other, POCO continues to be India’s fastest-growing smartphone brand in yet another quarter. The brand announced its achievement on social media.

According to the official Twitter account of POCO India, the brand registered a whopping 865% growth in the second quarter of 2021. This data comes from research firm IDC.

Back in May, POCO India announced similar attainment. At that time, IDC data showed a 300% YoY growth. This time around the brand does not mention whether the 865% growth it achieved is either YoY or QoQ. Either way, it still continues to be the fastest-growing smartphone brand in India.

Xiaomi spun off POCO into an independent brand at the beginning of 2020. Since then, the brand has released limited products in India, unlike Redmi. None of the POCO smartphones compete with each other. Even their pricing doesn’t overlap with one another.

With a streamlined portfolio ranging from entry-level POCO C3 to upper mid-range POCO F3 GT, POCO offers a smartphone at every popular price segment in India. This could be one of the many reasons for the brand’s success in the country, in addition to its fan following and other factors.

What are your thoughts on POCO’s journey in India so far? Do you think the brand should enter more categories like realme? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Samsung announces Galaxy Z Fold3, Z Flip3 launch date and pricing for India

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Aug 16, 2021

During the Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event, Samsung had unveiled its highly anticipate third generation of foldable smartphones, namely the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. Now, the company has officially revealed the pricing and launch date for the devices in India along with special introductory offers as well.

The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G sports a 7.6 inch Infinity Flex Display and is the first device from the company to feature an under display camera technology. Its display also supports 120Hz adaptive refresh rate on both the primary and external screen. The Fold is also supports S Pen functionality as well. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip3 retains its clamshell design, with a sleek and compact form factor. Both handsets are powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC and feature other top notch specs and features.

Aditya Babbar, Director & Head, Mobile Marketing, Samsung India added that “Over the last year, our reliance on technology has grown more than ever before and now, as we reshape our lives, it is critical that we reshape the technology that we use every day. With many firsts like the first under display camera and S Pen on a foldable, as well as IP rated water resistance, the devices are the perfect combination of cutting edge technology and unmatched style.”

Pricing & Availability

Samsung is launching both the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 in two storage variants. This includes:

Galaxy Fold3 5G (12+256GB): INR 149999 or 2,022 US Dollars (Phantom Black and Phantom Green)
Galaxy Fold3 5G (12+512GB): INR 157999 or 2,130 US Dollars (Phantom Black and Phantom Green)
Galaxy Flip 3 5G (8+128GB): INR 84999 or 1,146 US Dollars (Phantom Black and Cream)
Galaxy Flip 3 5G (8+256GB): INR 88999 or 1,200 US Dollars (Phantom Black and Cream)

Both devices will be available for pre booking starting from 24th August 2021 to 9th September 2021 on the company’s official website and other leading retail stores in India. The first sale is set to begin from September 10. For introductory offers, the devices will also be offered with promotional deals like an upgrade voucher of up to 7,000 INR (roughly 95 US Dollars) or HDFC Bank cash back offer of 7,000 INR. Notably, customers who have already pre reserved the Galaxy Z Fold3 or Galaxy Z Flip3 in India will also be eligible for all pre booking offers along with a free Galaxy SmartTag.

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OnePlus gives away the only OnePlus 9 Pro White color model

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Aug 16, 2021

Earlier this month, we had reported on OnePlus working on a White color option for its flagship OnePlus 9 Pro. This White version is the only one of its kind and now the company has given away this unique model to a lucky winner.

For those unaware, the Chinese smartphone maker had revealed the special White variant of its 2021 flagship handset through a teaser video recently. While the 9 Pro was launched in a three colors, namely Morning Mist, Pine Green, and Stellar Black, the company showcased a white version as well. Although, it was stated that this model will not be mass produced or be available in the market.

So, it was unknown why the company had teased a device that it did not aim to sell. But soon after, the brand decided to hold a giveaway in which it selected a lucky winner in China, who would receive the only white 9 Pro ever made. The winner was @朱海舟 who shared the news and his excitement of winning the smartphone on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website.

While the OnePlus 9 Pro White is basically identical to any other color variant in terms of specifications, it does arrive with one key difference, which is the rear panel. The brand has stated that this model sports a double layer AG technology or diffuse reflection texture that makes the device feels warm and ensures a fingerprint free experience when using the smartphone. As of right now, it would seem that this is the rarest edition of a OnePlus device, as the company only made one unit.

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Xiaomi India schedules Smarter Living 2022 event for August 26: All the confirmed product launches

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Aug 16, 2021

Xiaomi India has scheduled its Smarter Living 2022 event for August 26 at 12 PM. For those who don’t know, ‘Smarter Living’ is the Chinese tech giant’s annual launch event in India to unveil a bunch of ecosystem products. That said, though the company has just begun to tease this year’s edition, it has already revealed some of the products that will be announced next week.

According to exclusive resorts by Moneycontrol and India Today, Xiaomi has confirmed to launch a high-end WiFi router, a security camera, Mi Band 6, and a Mi Notebook at the ‘Smarter Living 2022’ event in India on August 26.

As a whole, the company is said to announce 5-6 products across entertainment, connectivity, and security categories. Unfortunately, though the firm has revealed four products, we have very few details about them, except for the Mi Band 6, which is being sold in multiple markets for months now.

As of now, Xiaomi has only confirmed that the upcoming Mi Notebook model will not only have a backlit keyboard but also a built-in webcam. These two features are not present on the Mi Notebook 14 and Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition released last year.

Further, the official Mi TV India is also teasing a product. Hence, we can expect either new Mi TV models or a Mi TV streaming device. Other than that, Xiaomi has confirmed India Today that the firm will also launch a new pair of truly wireless earphones but at a later date.

Since we are more than a week away from Xiaomi Smarter Living 2022 event, we expect the company to tease the products leading up to the day of their launch.

Apple MacBook Pro concept replaces the Touch Bar with Pencil dock

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Aug 16, 2021

Recently, we had reported on rumors that suggested that Apple might be planning on removing the Touch Bar from its MacBook Pro lineup entirely. While the next gen MacBook is still a while away, a new concept render has just surfaced, which replaces the Touch Bar with a Pencil dock.

According to a PatentlyApple report, the US Patent and Trademark Office published a new patent from the Cupertino based giant that depicts a MacBook Pro with a Pencil dock rather than a Touch Bar. This dock is housed exactly where a Touch Bar would be placed, which is right above the keyboard. The dock is also built into the laptop so it can be closed while a Pencil is placed there. Apparently, the Pencil dock could also have the company replace the Top F key row with the functional symbols being illuminated on the Pencil itself.

Furthermore, designer Sarang Sheth (Via 9To5Mac) made 3D concept render models of this patent to showcase the design in more detail. Looking at these renders, one can observe that the new MacBook Pro would features touch gestures with the inclusion of the Pencil but it will also feature a much smaller version of the Touch Bar for Siri and quick access to certain applications as well.

Unfortunately, this is still just a patent as of right now and we have no way of knowing if Apple is actually planning on having a Pencil dock on its next gen MacBook Pro models. Although, it does confirm that the iPhone maker has considered the idea of removing the Touch Bar in favor of another system. So stay tuned for more updates.

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MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition will reach the first batch of 12 devices by August 27

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Aug 16, 2021

MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition is currently the latest version of Xiaomi’s mobile operating system based on Android. It was unveiled alongside MIUI for Pad last week. A few days back, the tech giant started rolling out this software to the first batch of eligible devices. At the same time, the company had also revealed when the update will reach the entire first batch. We happen to come across this information only today.

According to an official announcement post on Mi Community China, MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition is being rolled out to the first batch of eligible smartphones from August 13. For those unaware, the company mentioned the same date at the launch conference.

We know that as of Saturday (August 14), the update is being gradually pushed to 6 of the 12 phones in the first batch. Now, as per the Mi Community post, which was also published on the same day, all the devices in this batch will receive the update by August 27.

In simpler words, the entire first batch (12 models) of eligible devices for MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition will get the update by August 27. However, it is worth noting that this timeline is only meant for the handsets running MIUI China ROM.

Xiaomi is yet to unveil MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition for global markets. Hence, it’s not known when the international variants of eligible phones will be blessed with the latest version of MIUI.

Realme Book pricing leaked in China, starts from 4699 Yuan ($725)

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Aug 16, 2021

Realme is gearing up for the launch of its first laptop in China on August 18, which is also when it would be launching the Slim variant of its Realme Books in India. Now, a new pricing leak has revealed the starting price of the upcoming notebook in China.

According to a 163 report, the pricing of the laptop has just been spotted in an offline store earlier today (16th August 2021). The store was promoting the arrival of the laptop on a banner, which also revealed the starting price of the new laptops from the Chinese smartphone maker. As per this promotional banner, the Realme Book will have a starting price of 4,699 Yuan or roughly 725 US Dollars. While it isn’t exactly a budget notebook, the pricing is still quite notable considering the specifications houses.

Realme China recently confirmed that the laptop will sport a 14 inch 3:2 aspect ratio display that offers a 2K resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels. Under the hood, the laptop will be powered by Intel 11th Gen Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with Intel’s Xe integrated graphics and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The device will likely also offer PCIe SSD storage as well and could support up to 65W fast charging as well. The Realme Book is a thin and light laptop and arrives with a thickness of just 14.9mm. So stay tuned for more, as we will be covering the launch of the new notebooks.

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Ola S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters launched in India; pricing starts at ₹99,999 ($1348)

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Aug 16, 2021

Ola Electric has launched its much-awaited electric two-wheeler scooter on the Indian market. The Ola S1 has a starting price of ₹99,999 (~$1,348) while the pricing of the upgraded Ola S1 Pro starts at ₹1,29,999 (~$1,753).

The firm says that the e-scooters are designed and engineered in India for the world and will deliver the best scooter experience to the consumer. The deliveries of the newly launched scooter will begin in October.

As for the features, there’s a 7-inch touchscreen shatter-proof display. It comes powered by an octa-Core processor with 3GB of RAM. Features on the device include geo-fencing, anti-theft alert, Bluetooth connectivity, GPS and Wi-Fi, four ‘moods’ for the sound, a reverse mode, and in-built speakers. The S1 Pro additionally comes with cruise control, hill hold assist, and onboard navigation.

There’s a mono-shock absorber on the front, disk brakes on the front as well as the back, and extra-wide 110/70-R12 MRF tires. The scooter is keyless and uses proximity unlock that senses when you move near it and locks when you move away. It can also be locked or unlocked using the screen on the scooter or through the mobile application.

The Ola Electric app also offers battery and health alerts, and book an appointment from the app for in-home service. The company has also built a new operating system for the vehicle named Ola MoveOS. It is powered by a ‘Hyperdrive motor’, which produces a peak power output of 8.5kW. The S1 is said to have a top speed of 90 Km/hr while the Ola S1 Pro will have a top speed of 115 Km/hr and can go from 0 to 40km/hr speed in 3.6 sec and 3 sec respectively.

The Ola S1 is based on the Etergo Appscooter and thus features the same banana-shaped batteries and the only difference is that the battery on Ola’s vehicles is fixed and is non-removable. The S1 packs a 2.98 kWh battery while the Pro model packs a 3.97 kWh battery – the biggest battery yet on a production electric two-wheeler in India.

The company has claimed that the Ola S1 can offer a range of 121 kilometers while the Pro model’s range is rated at 181 kilometers. This is higher than other electric two-wheelers currently on sale in India. Ola will provide a portable 750W charger and the company is also setting up its ‘Hypercharger’ network across India, allowing users to regain about 75 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes.

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Xiaomi becomes the leading smartphone brand in Thailand with 21% market share in Q2 2021

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Aug 16, 2021

Continuing its bull run, Xiaomi has now become the leading smartphone in Thailand. As per the report from Canalys, China-based Xiaomi captured 21 percent of the market share in the second quarter of this year, surpassing Samsung for the first time.

OPPO managed to take the second position with a 19 percent market share while Samsung slipped to the third spot. Vivo and Realme are ranked fourth and fifth, completing the list of the top five smartphone brands in Thailand.

Xiaomi managed to take the pole position in Thailand as the company’s shipments in the second quarter increased by 200 percent year-on-year. Interestingly, Xiaomi was the only brand to have positive shipment growth as OPPO, Samsung, Vivo, and Realme registered a decline of 2%, 15%, 31%, and 28% respectively.

The smartphone shipments for Xiaomi are also growing tremendously in Latin America, Africa, and Western Europe, witnessing 300%, 150%, and 50% respectively. Now, the company is facing tough competition from OPPO and Vivo as they are set to start an extensive campaign to increase their market share.

Globally, Xiaomi has become the second-largest smartphone brand, overtaking the technology giant Apple with a massive 83 percent jump in shipments. It also emerged as a leading brand in Europe with 12.7 million units shipped in Q2 2021, registering a 14 percent year-on-year growth. Not just that, for the month of June 2021, the company dethroned Samsung to become the world’s leading smartphone brand.

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iQOO 8 teaser hints at ultrasonic fingerprint sensor; launching tomorrow in China

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Aug 16, 2021

iQOO, the sub-brand of Vivo for premium smartphones, is all set to launch its new smartphone — iQOO 8 tomorrow, i.e. 17th August. Ahead of the official debut, the brand has shared a teaser poster shedding some light on its features.

In the recent teaser, the company has revealed that the fingerprint sensor on the smartphone will work even when users are trying to unlock the smartphone with wet hands. While not revealed by iQOO, it’s likely that the phone will come with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor for this feature.

As per earlier leaks, the iQOO 8 will feature an optical fingerprint sensor while the Pro variant will pack an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. To know for sure, we’ll have to wait a few more hours for the official launch event.

If the reports are to be believed, then the upcoming iQOO 8 Pro will feature a 6.78-inch Samsung E5 LTPO AMOLED display panel with curved edges that offer a 2K+ screen resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Under the hood, the phone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 88 SoC or the newer Snapdragon 888+ chipset. It could come with 8GB and 12GB RAM models with 256GB internal storage.

The smartphone is likely to feature a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 16-megapixel telephoto snapper. Currently, details about the front-facing snapper remain unknown. It will be powered by a 4,500mAh battery with 120W fast charging support, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

While the company has not revealed anything about the iQOO 8 series’ availability in markets other than China, it seems that the lineup could soon get launched in India as the Indian variant was recently spotted in the IMEI database.

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Xiaomi sold 200,000 units of Mi Pad 5 series within 5 minutes in its first sale

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Aug 16, 2021

A few days ago, Xiaomi officially launched its Mi MIX 4 smartphone as well as the Mi Pad 5 series in its home market China, along with a few other products. Today, the devices officially went on sale for the first time in the Chinese market.

Xiaomi announces that in this first sale, it managed to sell products worth 300 million within just one minute. The company also revealed that 200,000 units of the Mi Pad 5 series were sold in five minutes.

While Mi Pad 5 managed to sell 200,000 units in the first sale, people complained about the shortage of stock for the tablet’s accessories, including the keyboard and stylus. The company has taken note of it and has promised to try to resolve the issue.

The 6GB + 128GB model of Mi Pad 5 costs 1,999 yuan (~$308) while the 6GB + 256GB model is priced at 2,299 yuan (~$335). On the other hand, the Pro model is priced at 2,499 yuan (~$385) for the 6GB + 128GB model whereas the 6GB + 256GB model is available for 2,799 yuan (~$432). The 5G variant of the Pro model with 6GB RAM and 256GB storage costs 3,499 yuan (~$540).

In terms of specifications, the Mi Pad 5 features an 11-inch 120Hz display, Snapdragon 860 processor, 6GB RAM, 256GB storage, 13MP primary camera, an 8MP selfie snapper, MIUI for Pad, a 8,720mAh battery, and 33W fast charging support.

On the other hand, the Mi Pad 5 Pro comes with the same display as the standard model but packs a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, coupled with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage. It features a 13MP primary camera (50MP for the 5G model), a 5MP secondary sensor, and an 8MP selfie snapper. It is powered by an 8,600mAh battery with 67W fast charging support.

As for the Mi MIX 4 smartphone, the device was almost instantly sold out in the pre-sale of its first batch. Lu Weibing, President of Xiaomi China had said that the stock of the company’s new Mi MIX series smartphone will be limited during the first sale but added that the company is in the process of increasing the stock.

The reason behind the limited stock of the Mi MIX 4 smartphone is the global chip shortage and the low yield rate for the ceramic material. Apart from its top-of-the-line specifications and premium build material, another reason for the popularity of the device is its innovative front camera, making it the first Xiaomi device to have an in-display camera.

When the company debuted Mi Pad 5 series a few days back in China, it didn’t reveal details about its global availability. However, we exclusively reported that the latest tablets will be launched in Europe next month.

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Upcoming OnePlus smartphone appears in IMEI database

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Aug 16, 2021

OnePlus has been going through a lot of changes recently. The company recently merged its business with OPPO and has shifted from its “flagship killer” smartphones to launching flagship phones. It now also has a lineup for budget smartphones under its Nord series.

The Chinese company now seems to be working on a new smartphone that could get launched in the coming months in its home market. An upcoming OnePlus smartphone has appeared in the IMEI database, reports @stufflistings.

The phone carries model number NE2210 where ‘NE’ is the first two letters of the phone’s codename while ’22’ indicates that the phone will be released in the year 2022. The ’10’ in the model number refers to it being a standard model or the China variant.

Currently, there’s no information available about this upcoming smartphone from OnePlus but we expect to know more about this in the coming days. While not yet known, the device is speculated to be the OnePlus 10 smartphone. There’s also a possibility that the phone is a part of the Nord lineup.

If it indeed is the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone, then the device is likely to come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G SoC or the unannounced SM8450 chipset which could be named Qualcomm Snapdragon 898.

OnePlus recently teased the OnePlus 9T smartphone through social media but added a caption “Don’t read too much into it.” While the teaser hints at the possibility of the OnePlus 9T launch pretty soon, the caption casts doubt about it, especially when there are reports claiming that the OnePlus 9T won’t get launched this year.

The OnePlus 9 Pro is the company’s current flagship smartphone that features a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display, Snapdragon 888 SoC, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, Android 11-based OxygenOS, 4,500mAh battery, and 65W Warp Charge support.

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Xiaomi discontinues Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max 6GB + 64GB variant in India

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