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Xiaomi reveals CyberDog: A cheaper version of Boston Dynamic’s robot dog

Xiaomi is great at keeping secrets when it wants to. For example, the first Mi MIX phone was a surprise announcement when it was unveiled five years ago. Today, Xiaomi has unveiled another surprise product, one we had no inkling of prior to its unveiling today. The CyberDog is a quadruped robot that you can call the manufacturer’s own version of Boston Dynamic’s Spot robot dog.

Xiaomi CyberDog featured

The CyberDog is described as a bio-inspired quadruped robot that is powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Xavier NX AI Supercomputer for Embedded and Edge Systems paired with 128GB of near-industrial grade SSD. The former has an AI performance of 21 TOPS.

There are a plethora of cameras, microphones, and sensors on the head of the robot that gives it spatial perception comparable to the human eye. The sensors include AI cameras, binocular ultra-wide cameras, and Intel’s RealSense D450 depth camera module that helps the robot achieve centimeter-scale obstacle avoidance and navigation. It also has SLAM mapping and auto-tracking.

CyberDog cameras

CyberDog can be controlled in three ways – via the mobile phone app, voice control, and a remote control pictured below that is sold separately. Only a handful of Xiaomi phones including the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition, Redmi K40, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi 10X Pro, Redmi 10X, and Mi MIX 2S are supported at the moment. Xiaomi says compatibility for more devices will be added in the future.

Xiaom CyberDog Remote Control

The CyberDog, with its in-house developed high-performance servo motor, has a wide range of movements including running, jumping, turning left or right. and leaning forward. It can also do a backflip, roll around, and stand on its hind legs. It has a maximum walking speed of 3.2m/s and a maximum payload of 3kg.

Xiaomi CyberDog features

Xiaomi’s XiaoAI system is built into the robot and it can be used to control compatible smart home appliances such as the TV, vacuum cleaner, air conditioner, and air purifier.

CyberDog price and availability

While Boston Dynamic’s Spot sells for $74,500, Xiaomi’s CyberDog sells for a fraction of that at ¥9999 (~$1541). Of course, there are significant differences between the two robots, but if you have always wanted a robot similar to Boston Dynamic’s Spot, Xiaomi’s CyberDog is a significantly more affordable version.

 

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Deal: Get Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal for $76 (Retail Price $120)

Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal which generally retails for $120 is now available at a discounted price of $75.91 only at AliExpress. This super deal ends tomorrow. 

WHERE TO BUY
Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal at $75.91(after discount)@AliExpress

 Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal

Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal

 Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal

Key Features:

  • Tailor-made for mobile videos
  • Three-axis stabilization: Anti-shake
  • Automatic motion tracking: Intelligent image recognition tech
  • Manual Zoom
  • Panoramic shooting
  • Multi-angle shooting
  • Auto-calibration: Portrait vs Landscape
  • One-click transition effects
  • 12-hour battery life
  • Smart control through APP

 Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal

Generally retailing for $120, you can now buy Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal at a discounted price of $75.91 only at AliExpress. This super deal ends tomorrow. So place your order asap. 

 

 Baseus Control Hand Held 3 Axis Gimbal

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.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 & Mi Pad 5 Pro Official: 11″, 120Hz refresh rate, 5G, MIUI for Pad & more!

After a three-year wait, Xiaomi has finally launched the Mi Pad 5 series in China. The new tablet series comprises the vanilla Mi Pad 5 and the high-end Mi Pad 5 Pro which equally has a 5G version. The new tablet comes with several high-end features including 5G connectivity on the Pad 5 Pro which places it on a good pedestal to take on the likes of iPad Pro. The features also give us assurances that the premium slate was worth the long wait.Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro

In terms of the specifications, the Mi Pad 5 series is equipped with a large 11-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2560X1600 pixels, a high refresh rate of 120Hz, a PPI of up to 275, and a contrast ratio of 1500:1. The slate is also said to support hardware anti-blue light and true color display functions.Mi Pad 5

In order to deliver a premium audio experience and video experience, all the models support Dolby Atmos. The Pad 5 has four built-in speakers while the Mi Pad 5 Pro is equipped with eight speakers in a dual-core arrangement. The mid-bass and treble are divided by a dedicated sound unit, which can bring better bass diving and treble extensibility.Mi Pad 5

The Mi Pad 5 Pro and the 5G version are equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor while the Mi Pad 5 is equipped with Snapdragon 860 processor. The Mi Pad 5 series is available in several memory options including a 6GB+128GB version and 6GB + 256GB version for the Mi Pad 5 and Mi Pad 5 Pro. The Mi Pad 5 Pro 5G is available in a sole 8GB RAM + 256GB storage version.

The Mi Pad 5 is equipped with a single 13-megapixel rear camera while the Pro version is upgraded to a dual-camera setup made up of a 13-megapixel main sensor and a 5-megapixel depth-of-field lens combination. The camera setup on the 5G version is even more powerful as it is equipped with a massive 50-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel depth-of-field lens. All the models feature an 8-megapixel selfie shooter that also supports Face unlock.

In terms of battery life, the vanilla Pad 5 packs an 8720mAh battery with 33W fast charging support and the Mi Pad 5 Pro crams an 8,600mAh battery under the hood and equally supports a 67W ultra-fast wired second charge. Mi Pad 5

Xiaomi is introducing a new MIUI For Pad operating system for the Mi Pad 5. This mimics what Apple does with the iOS for Pads which it christened iPadOS. The MIUI For Pad brings several customizations onboard the tablet, making it easy to use various apps, giving users a near-PC level experience. The OS is said to be adapted to more than 300 mainstream applications at present.Xiaomi Mi Pad Keyboard Case

In addition, MIUI For Pad also supports custom input methods, split screens, small windows, parallel windows, and other functions, bringing a more convenient entertainment, office, and leisure experience.Mi Pad 5

Xiaomi also introduced a stylus pen and keyboard-style double-sided protective case alongside the tablet. The Stylus uses a two-button design of which the main button supports quick notes and switching brushes while the secondary button supports long-pressing to take screenshots and switching colors. At the same time, it supports PPT page turning operation.Xiaomi Mi Pad Stylus featured

To use it, you only need to put the stylus pen on the side of the Mi Pad 5 Pro to automatically pair. The stylus can be fully charged in 18 minutes and a full charge can be used to write continuously for 8 hours.

On its part, the keyboard-style double-sided protective case has an independent ESC button that supports canceling operations and exiting the full-screen state.Mi Pad 5

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 & Mi Pad 5 Pro Pricing & Availability

Here are the pricing details of all the Mi Pad 5 series models.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pricing:

  • 6+128GB – 1999 yuan (~$308)
  • 6+256GB – 2299 yuan (~$355)

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro Pricing:

  • 6+128GB – 2499 yuan (~$385)
  • 6+256GB – 2799 yuan (~$432)
  • 6+256GB (5G) – 3499 yuan (~$540)

The Mi Pad 5 is available in three colors: Black, dazzling white, and dark green. The Mi Pad 5 Pro comes in Black and dazzling white colors, while the 5G version will be available in Deep scalloped color matching.

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Deal: Get Xiaomi Desktop Fan for $26 (Retail Price $60)

Xiaomi Desktop Fan which generally retails for $60 is now available at a discounted price of $26.53 only at AliExpress. This deal ends on 15 August.

WHERE TO BUY

 Xiaomi Desktop Fan

Xiaomi Desktop Fan

 Xiaomi Desktop Fan

Key Features:

  • Desktop shaking head fan
  • Simple and minimalist design
  • Brushless copper core motor
  • Light tone operation
  • Small body but huge energy
  • 4000mAh Battery: 12 hours continuous air supply
  • 522g: Lightweight and highly portable
  • USB Type C – charging interface
  • Compressive and fall resistant
  • Highly durable
  • Removable front net: Easy to clean
  • Colors: Black and White

 Xiaomi Desktop Fan

Generally retailing for $60, you can now buy Xiaomi Desktop Fan at a discounted price of $26.53 only at AliExpress. Please note that this deal ends on 15 August. So place your order asap. 

 Xiaomi Desktop Fan

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.

 

Xiaomi MIX 4 packs an in-display camera, Snapdragon 888+, ceramic body, and more for under $800

Xiaomi has announced a new model in its MIX series today in China. Unlike the MIX Fold, Xiaomi’s first foldable phone, this does not have a screen that folds. However, the MIX 4 is also a phone with some unique features. It is the manufacturer’s first phone with an in-display camera and Ultra Wide Band support, and also the first phone in the world to be powered by the Snapdragon 888 Plus processor.

Xiaomi MIX 4 featured

 

MIX 4 Design

The MIX 4 is positioned as a business flagship and Xiaomi has kept the design clean but classy. The display is slightly curved and the back is covered in ceramic which is now 30% lighter. There is a large square-shaped camera housing on the back that is home to three rear cameras.

Xiaomi will sell the phone in three colors – Ceramic White, Ceramic Gray, and Ceramic Black.

Xiaomi MIX 4 all colors

MIX 4 Specifications

The MIX 4 has a 6.67-inch AMOLED 3D curved display with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The screen is a 10-bit TrueColor panel with a 500,000:1 contrast ratio. Xiaomi says there is also Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the display.

The display uses a micro-diamond pixel technology that reduces pixel sizes and increases pixel brightness. Xiaomi says that the re-designed display allows for better camera zone transparency.

Xiaomi MIX 4 AnTuTu

Xiaomi’s new phone is also the first in the world to be powered by the Snapdragon 888+ processor. The chipset is paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 CUP selfie camera

One of the highlights of the MIX 4 is its in-display camera technology which Xiaomi has dubbed CUP (camera under-panel). It is a 20MP 1.6μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel sensor.

Xiaomi MIX 4 cameras

On the rear are three cameras – a 108MP HMX f/1.9 main camera with 7P lens and OIS, an 8MP 50x periscope camera with OIS that offers 5x optical zoom, and last is a 13MP f/2.2 free-form ultra-wide-angle camera. The free-form lens on the ultrawide angle camera means that distortion is reduced to about 1% compared to the 20% on a standard lens.

There is a 4500mAh battery capacity with support for 120W fast charging and 50W wireless charging. The latter has a default mode that takes 45 minutes to charge the phone to 100% while a Boost mode takes just 28 minutes. For wired fast charging, boost mode charges the phone in just 15 minutes while normal mode takes 21 minutes. Xiaomi claims that the maximum rear temperature of the phone while charging at 120W is 37°C.

Xiaomi has equipped the Mi MIX 4 with a cooling technology that has a surface area of 11588mm². It includes a 4584mm² graphene sheet, a 1232mm² graphene heat spreader, a second 5070mm² graphite sheet, and a 702mm² graphite sheet in between the wireless charging coil and the ceramic back.

The MIX 4 has stereo speakers tuned by Harman Kardon. It also has 19 antennas, support for 42 frequency bands, and a signal optimization mode that works in 8 scenarios where there is usually high traffic such as at the airport, hospital, and subway station. Xiaomi has also added support for 500MHz Ultra Wide Band that allows for precise spatial positioning.

There is also an impressive Find-My-Phone feature that keeps the MIX 4 connected to a network even after the SIM card has been removed. Users will also be able to find the phone if it is turned off.

MIX 4 Price and Availability

The MIX 4 is available in four configurations and below are their prices:

  • 8GB RAM + 128GB = ¥4999 (~$770)
  • 8GB RAM + 256GB = ¥5299 (~$817)
  • 12GB RAM + 256GB = ¥5799 (~$894)
  • 12GB RAM + 512GB = ¥6299 (~$972)

The MIX 4 will be available for pre-order starting today and will be available for purchase starting on August 16 at Mi Home stores, Xiaomi’s online store, Youpin, and authorized partners.

 

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realme C3 bags Android 11-based realme UI 2.0 stable update

Chinese handset maker started rolling out Android 11-based realme UI 2.0 beta update for the realme C3 in early April. Four months later, the smartphone has finally begun to receive Android 11 stable update.

realme C3 realme UI 2.0 Android 11 Stable Update

The realme C3 launched in early 2020 with realme UI based on Android 10. More than a year after its release, the phone has now started receiving the realme UI 2.0 stable update with Android 11.

According to the official announcement post on realme Community, the latest system update for the realme C3 arrives with firmware version RMX2020_11.C.04. In order to receive this update, users need to be on firmware version  RMX2020_11_A.63.

Like any other OTA (Over-the-Air) software update, this one is also being rolled out in batches. In simpler words, the new build is not available for everyone at the moment, however, it should be in the coming days.

Having said that, if a user is not satisfied with the new update, they can roll back to the previous version of the software by manually installing the rollback file. But unfortunately, unlike the update process, the rollback process will wipe the internal storage of the device.

Last but not least, since realme C series phones have always received only one major update, the realme C3 will most likely not get the Android 12 update.

 

 

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Xiaomi clarifies that the crypto-accepting Mi Store in Portugal is a third-party store

A couple of days back, we brought you a report that Xiaomi‘s Mi Store in Portugal was now accepting payments using cryptocurrency including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and even Dash for the purchase of smartphones, smartwatches, as well as other smart home products and devices. The move was said to be in partnership with Utrust, a Swiss cryptocurrency payment service provider, to support payment via digital assets in the region.

The news came as a surprise since Xiaomi is a Chinese company and the Chinese government had placed a ban on cryptocurrency. In a bid to avoid creating confusion, a Xiaomi spokesperson a few days back issued a statement on Weibo which clarified that the Mi Store in Portugal which announced the acceptance of cryptocurrency, is an authorized third-party partner which operates independently locally and “is not related to the operation of Xiaomi”.Bitcoin Featured

The clarification could be a move to absolve the Chinese tech giant of any legal liability considering the stance of the Chinese government about cryptocurrency. However, a different rule applies in Portugal where the government is friendly towards cryptocurrency with favorable tax laws. Thus, it is no surprise the brand’s Portugal franchise is adopting crypto using the brand name without issuing a disclaimer in the local market. Moreso, Xiaomi’s founder Lei Jun had long been linked with the world’s largest bitcoin mining company – Bitmain.

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Deal: Get BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds for $31 (Retail Price $60)

BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds which generally retails for $60 is now available at a discounted price of $30.87 only at AliExpress. This deal ends tomorrow.

WHERE TO BUY
BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds at $30.87 (after discount)@AliExpress

BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds

BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds

BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds

Key Features:

  • Oblique angle design – ergonomic comfort and perfect fit in your ear canal
  • Dual 6mm Dynamic driver – delivers powerful bass and  high definition music
  • Universal compatibility
  • Bluetooth v5.0: 10m obstacle-free connection
  • Low dealy, stable signal, and fast pairing
  • Low power consumption
  • Battery: 6 hours playback time and 16 hours with the case
  • Charging time: 1 to 2 hours
  • IPX4 – waterproof and sweatproof
  • Supports Siri Voice assistant

BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds

Generally retailing for $60, you can now buy BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds at a discounted price of $30.87 only at AliExpress. Please note that this deal ends tomorrow. So place your order asap. 

BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 TWS Earbuds

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.

 

Vivo teases the iQOO 8 Pro powerful camera specs & samples

BBK subsidiary Vivo is expected to launch the iQOO 8 series soon, with the launch date confirmed as August 17. We have been thrilled to retinue of features the flagship smartphone will pack. We have also seen the models make an appearance on benchmarking platforms. iQOO 8

A new interesting detail has now emerged about the photographic prowess of the iQOO 8 Pro. Vivo shared a fresh teaser revealing some features of the camera setup. The poster shows the iQOO 8 Pro will pack a 50-megapixel main shooter paired with a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera sensor which happened to be the main sensor on the iQOO Pro launched in 2019. The main camera is expected to have Vivo’s VIS five-axis stabilization, covering all the possible movementsiQOO 8 Pro camera

The iQOO 8 will come with a triple camera setup but details of the third camera weren’t teased. However, it could possibly be a mid-zoom option that can go up to 60mm or about 2.5x.

iQOO 8 Pro
iQOO 8 Pro camera sample

Apart from the poster, Vivo also shared a couple of samples shot using the iQOO 8 Pro. The pictures are not in their original sizes as they have been reduced in size so they can be uploaded on the web. The pictures were also captured under controlled lighting. However, the samples shows the iQOO 8 Pro camera holds some promises.

iQOO 8 Pro
iQOO 8 Pro camera sample

Earlier leaks and teasers already confirmed the iQOO 8 Pro will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ chipset. The device will also utilize Samsung’s E5 OLED with an LTPO controller capable of 1-120Hz variable frame rate adjustment.

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(source)

 

OnePlus 6, 6T start receiving OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 3 update

OnePlus rolled out the OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 1 update for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T ahead of schedule at the beginning of July. The handset also got the second beta update at the end of the same month. Now, a few days later, the phones have started receiving OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 3 update.

OnePlus 6

According to the official announcement post on OnePlus Community, the Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 3 update for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T arrives with optimizations, improvements, and fixes. In other words, it does not come with any few features.

As per the changelog, the new beta update optimizes background process management to improve battery life. Further, it brings improvements for smoother YouTube video playback and system stability.

Last but not least, it fixes VoWiFi not enabling issue, Work-Life Balance not working when the screen is locked, and other known issues.

The latest Android 11 public beta update for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T is being rolled out via OTA for users who are on the previous beta release. Users running the stable build will have to download the appropriate fled and install it manually.

OnePlus 6, 6T OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 3 Official Changelog

  • System
    • Optimized background process management mechanism to improve battery life
    • Improved the smoothness of YouTube playing videos
    • Improved system stability and fixed known issues
  • Network
    • Fixed the failed issue of enabling VoWiFi
  • Work-Life Balance
    • Fixed the issue that the feature doesn’t work when the screen is locked

 

 

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Here’s the list of devices that support MIUI ‘Memory extension’ feature

At the end of April, Kacper Skrzypek, a well-known MIUI tipster revealed that Xiaomi is working on a RAM extension feature. This feature is officially known as ‘Memory extension’. In the following weeks, the feature made its way to multiple Mi, Redmi, and POCO-branded smartphones. Let’s take a look at the list of devices that support the new MIUI ‘Memory extension’ feature.

Redmi K40 Pro

The MIUI ‘Memory extension’ feature made its debut on the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G. It later made its way to multiple other Xiaomi group smartphones via MIUI 12.5 beta as well as builds.

According to Kacper Skrzypek, following Xiaomi group smartphones currently support the MIUI ‘Memory extension’ feature either in beta and stable channels.

MIUI Memory Extension Supported Devices

  • All Snapdragon 888, 870, & 865 Phones (except Mi MIX Fold as it is yet to get MIUI 12.5)
  • POCO X3 GT
  • Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G
  • Redmi Note 9 5G
  • Redmi Note 9T 5G
  • Redmi 9T
  • Redmi Note 8

Devices that may get MIUI Memory Extension in Future

  • Xiaomi Mi MIX 4
  • Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite NE
  • Redmi Note 10
  • Redmi Note 10S
  • Redmi Note 10 5G
  • Redmi Note 10 JE
  • Redmi 10
  • Redmi 9i
  • Redmi 9C
  • Redmi 9A
  • Redmi Note 8T
  • Redmi Note 8 2021
  • Other Unreleased Phones

More devices could get support for MIUI ‘Memory extension’ in the future. As per Kacper, devices with more than 128GB storage can extend RAM by 3GB. Whereas, the devices with 128GB and 64GB storage can extend RAM by 2GB and 1GB respectively.

 

 

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OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition tipped to launch in India soon

OnePlus teased a Harry Potter Limited Edition of the OnePlus Watch at the end of the OnePlus 9 series launch event. An APK teardown of the OnePlus Health app also confirmed the existence of this smartwatch. Almost three months later, a reliable tipster says that this wearable will be soon launching in India.

OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition Watch Faces

According to Ishan Agarwal (via 91Mobiles), OnePlus will be launching the OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition in India in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, the leaker does not reveal the exact launch date. Anyway, since OnePlus will be releasing this watch soon, we can expect the brand to start teasing it on social media.

The upcoming OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition is expected to be identical to the regular OnePlus Watch in terms of features and specifications. It might only differ in terms of appearance and UI.

As per the APK teardown, the smartwatch will come with six exclusive watch faces themed after Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Two of the watch faces will showcase Hogwarts and its seal. Whereas, the remaining four will flaunt the seals of the four houses of Hogwarts, namely Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw.

The OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition will be the third special edition OnePlus Watch after OnePlus Watch Cobalt Limited Edition and OnePlus Watch Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition.

 

 

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Pete Lau reaffirms that OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, 8T will get ColorOS stable update in 2022

OnePlus switched to ColorOS for its smartphones in China with the launch of the OnePlus 9 series. The brand has also confirmed to update its older handsets to ColorOS from HydrogenOS. In fact, the company has already released early access builds for select models. That’s not all, recently, the brand even revealed when these handsets will be getting stable builds next year. A month later, the company’s CEO reaffirms the same schedule.

OnePlus 8T Aquamarine featured
OnePlus 8T

As of now, OnePlus has released ColorOS 11 Early Access update for the OnePlus 8, the OnePlus 8 Pro, and the OnePlus 8T. These smartphones received the builds in May.

Two months later in July, Jia Lan Shuai (加蓝帅), the Community Manager of OnePlus Community China, revealed that the trio will get the ColorOS stable update in 2022. Interestingly, he did not mention the version of ColorOS.

This suggests that these devices will be directly updated to the upcoming ColorOS 12 next year. Additionally, this could be the reason why the brand did not release ColorOS 11 Early Access builds for OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 7T Pro. These remaining four devices will also likely receive a direct upgrade to ColorOS 12 from HydrogenOS 11 sometime later in 2022.

Users of the eligible OnePlus phones have been enquiring about the ColorOS stable update on social media since the release of early access builds. 

Yesterday, Pete Lau, the CEO of OnePlus promoted the OnePlus 9 series on Weibo by sharing some camera samples. One of the netizens commented on this post asking when the OnPus 8T will receive ColorOS stable update. In a reply to this comment, the brand’s top exec re-iterated that it will be getting the update as per the previously shared schedule, which is in 2022.

Unsurprisingly, we also see multiple critical comments regarding the slower rollout of ColorOS. Even, we also consider OnePlus to be slower in this regard just like how it messed up OxygenOS update delivery lately.

 

 

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Xiaomi 2021 Mi Mix 4, Mi Pad 5 Launch Event: What to Expect & Where to Watch

Xiaomi’s big launch event is all set to kick off later today. At the event, the company’s CEO, Lei Jun, will talk about his struggles as an entrepreneur as well as reveal new updates across multiple product categories in the Mi family. This includes its first commercial under-screen camera smartphone — the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4, a new Mi Pad 5 tablet, a bunch of OLED TVs, as well, as a high-end smart speaker. We can also expect other smart home products at the events.

So let’s take a quick look at what to expect from each of the products at the event today.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 rumor roundup

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 will be the star of today’s event. Not only because it’ll feature high-end hardware like the Snapdragon 888+ chipset, but also because it will be Xiaomi’s first commercial under-screen camera smartphone. While we have seen in-screen cameras on phones from ZTE, the implementation on the Mix 4 is expected to be much better and could start a new wave of in-screen camera phones in the market. Other expected features of the phone include a 6.67-inch OLED display with super-thin bezels, a 100MP camera setup at the back, and 120W ultra-fast wired charging.

We have a dedicated article on what to expect from the Mi Mix 4 flagship here.

 

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5

Tablets are the new craze in town, and it’s actually surprising Xiaomi has taken more than 3 years to update this product lineup. The Mi Pad 5 will be Xiaomi’s first tablet in quite some time and will focus on high-end productivity and entertainment.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Teaser A

The tablet is expected to feature Snapdragon 870 underneath with a dual 20MP + 13MP camera setup at the rear. A leak from last month had revealed that there will be two variants in the new Mi Pad lineup. The Mi Pad 5 and Mi Pad 5 Pro will differ with respect to processors and charging technology. The Pro model will likely have a Snapdragon 870 processor and 67W fast wired charging while the standard version should have a Snapdragon 860 processor and a slower charging speed.

The display should be of 10.95-inches with a 120Hz refresh rate. The tablet is expected to support a keyboard accessory along with a stylus. Other features should include an 8720mAh battery with 65W wired charging, Android 11 OS, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and a side fingerprint sensor.

 

Mi OLED TV 2021

Xiaomi tried its luck with high-end OLED TVs last year and now, it’s back with the second-generation model, offering more advanced features. The company has confirmed that the OLED panels used in the 2021 models will be of better quality than last year. Further, the TVs are confirmed to support Harmon Kardon sound as well as NVIDIA’s G-SYNC certification for stutter-free and stable gaming performance.

Xiaomi OLED TV Launch Teaser

The Mi OLED TV 2021 lineup is expected to come in three sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, and 77-inch. We can expect a hefty price tag for these OLED models as last year’s Mi Master OLED TV was launched at 12,999 yuan (~$2,011).

 

High-end Mi Smart Speaker

Xiaomi has a bunch of smart speakers in the Chinese market, but the company has confirmed that it will announce its most premium speaker today.

Xiaomi-Smart-Speaker-Teaser

Not much is known about this device, but the company teased that it will offer a concert hall-like sound experience at your home. Given the tall claims, we can expect a high-end speaker setup inside. Further, there are rumors about the speaker being a smart hub that can also work with the new Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 to control other smart devices via UWB.

Apart from these four products, we can also expect other smaller products at the big Xiaomi launch event today. The event starts at 7.30 PM CST and is expected to continue for nearly 3 hours.

 

Where to Watch the Aug 10 Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 Launch event?

Unfortunately, Xiaomi has not revealed whether the event will be live-streamed on YouTube. However, if you still wish to watch the event, you can watch the live stream on Xiaomi’s Chinese event page here. But note that this event will be streamed in Chinese.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4

You can also stay tuned to Gizmochina for updates, as we’ll be covering all the launches today.

 

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Xiaomi leads 5G Android smartphone market in Q2 2021 with almost 26% market share

Xiaomi has been on a roll this year and has been reaching new heights in terms of business and growth. The company recently became the world’s leading smartphone brand for the month of June 2021, marking the first time Xiaomi is leading charts globally.

Now, a new report from Strategy Analytics claims that Xiaomi was the world’s leading 5G Android smartphone manufacturer in the second quarter of this year, i.e. Q2 2021, capturing almost 26 percent of the market share.

Xiaomi Logo

The report adds that a total of 95 million 5G Android smartphones were shipped globally in Q2 2021 and among those, about 24 million units were shipped by Xiaomi, making in the leader of the market in this segment for the said time duration.

Over the past nine quarters, Xiaomi cumulatively shipped 70 million 5G smartphones, placing it close behind the South Korean giant Samsung which managed to ship 77 million units in the same timeframe.

Huawei, the Chinese technology giant remains cumulative 5G Android smartphone leader with shipments of 95 million units globally over the past nine quarters. However, the company is quickly losing its grip because of the US-imposed sanctions. This is opened doors for other manufacturers, including OPPO, Vivo, Honor, Realme, and more.

Android 5G Shipments Q2 2021

Lenovo (including Motorola) is the leader when it comes to 5G smartphone growth as the company’s shipments witnessed a growth of 3480% annually in Q2 2021, with shipments of 1.8 million units for the quarter.

Realme ranked second in annual growth, up 1773% year-to-year in Q2 2021 on volumes of 5.6 million, while OnePlus was placed third in growth with shipment volumes improving 877% annually in the quarter. Honor has also posted impressive numbers of 6.5 million 5G smartphone shipments that too within just two quarters given that it began selling 5G smartphones mid-way through the first quarter of this year.

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India considers slashing import duty on EVs days after Tesla’s appeal

The Indian government is considering slashing the import duty on electric cars to as low as 40 percent, reports Reuters citing two government officials. The development comes just days after Tesla appealed this to the Indian government.

The report adds that for electric vehicles (EVs) with a valuation of less than $40,000, the tax rate can be slashed to 40 percent compared to 60 percent currently. For EVs valued at over $40,000, the rate could be slashed from 100 percent to 60 percent.

Tesla Logo

India’s finance and commerce ministries, as well as Niti Aayog, are discussing the proposal and all stakeholders will be consulted.

According to industry estimates, India is currently the fifth largest car market with an annual sale of about 3 million vehicles. However, the majority of cars sold in the country are priced under $20,000.

Last month, Tesla had pitched the Indian government to reduce the import duty on electric vehicles by arguing that lowering duties would make EVs more affordable and boost sales.  However, the appeal from Tesla received mixed reactions from industry leaders in India and pushed the ‘Make In India’ initiative, India’s drive to boost local manufacturing.

But one of the officials said that the government is in favor of cutting import duties to see companies like Tesla providing benefits to the domestic economy by manufacturing locally later on, or give a firm timeline on when it would be able to.

A government official told Reuters: “Reducing import duties is not a problem as not many EVs are imported in the country. But we need some economic gain out of that. We also have to balance the concerns of the domestic players.”

Since the duty cut is being considered only for EVs and not other categories of imported cars, it should not be a concern for domestic automakers as they mainly manufacture affordable gasoline-powered cars.

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ASUS ROG Phone 5S key specifications revealed, likely to launch soon

ASUS announced the ROG Phone 3 in the first half of 2020. In the second half of the year, it unveiled the ROG Phone 3S with an enhanced chip. Earlier this year, the Taiwanese manufacturer announced the ROG Phone 5 series of gaming smartphones. Fresh information reveals that the company may soon unleash the ROG Phone 5S with updated specs.

Tipster Mukul Sharma shared an image of what appears to be a snapshot from a retailer listing. The image has revealed the key specs of the unannounced ROG Phone 5S. It states that the next ROG phone will come equipped with an OLED panel that offers a 144Hz refresh rate.

The Snapdragon 888 Plus, which is an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 888 will be present under the hood of the ROG Phone 5S. It will be backed by a 6,000mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging. It is expected to arrive in variants like 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage and 18 GB RAM + 512 GB storage. The other details of the smartphone are yet to be confirmed.

The Taiwanese company had announced the ROG Phone 3S in July. Hence, the ROG Phone 5S is expected to launch soon in certain markets. It is speculated that the company may unveil it on Aug. 16.

The ASUS ROG Phone 5 has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display that offers a 1080 x 2448 pixels resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. It comes with Gorilla Glass Victus protection for the screen. The Snapdragon 888 SoC powered ships with up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It has a 24-megapixel front camera and a 64-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel triple camera unit, and a 6,000mAh battery that offers 65W rapid charging.

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Upcoming OPPO PEYM00’s full specifications revealed, likely to debut this month

An upcoming OPPO smartphone with a model number PEYM00 has been approved by China’s TENAA telecom authority. The TENAA listing of the OPPO PEYM00 has revealed its entire specifications, but its images have not appeared yet. Also, the final marketing name of the device is under wraps.

OPPO PEYM00 specifications

The OPPO PEYM00 is a 5G-ready handset that measures 158.7 x 73.5 x 8.5mm and weighs 180 grams. The device is equipped with a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Probably, it carries support for a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate.

The smartphone houses a 4,400mAh battery. It supports rapid charging, but the exact charging rates are yet to be confirmed. An unspecified 3GHz octa-core processor is present under the hood of the device. Probably, it could be equipped with the Dimensity 1200 or Snapdragon 888+ SoC.

OPPO Logo Featured

The PEYM00 smartphone will arrive in 8 GB / 12 GB RAM variants. It may come in storage choices such as 128 GB and 256 GB. There is no microSD card slot on the device.  It will come preloaded with Android 11 OS and ColorOS UI.

For selfies, the OPPO PEYM00 offers a 16-megapixel selfie camera. Its rear camera system has a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit. For security, the PEYM00 features an in-screen fingerprint sensor. It is expected to arrive in colors like black, silver, and blue in China.

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Realme Book launch date finally revealed

Realme has been teasing the arrival of its first laptop for the past few months. Today, the company took to Weibo handle to reveal that it will be unleashing the much-awaited Realme Book laptop at 3 PM (local time) on Aug. 18 in China.

Realme Book launch date

The Realme Book will be announced during the Realme 828 fan festival in China. The company is also prepping up a tablet called the Realme Pad. However, it is unclear whether the Realme Pad will go official alongside the Realme Book on Aug. 18.

The official poster and the image shared by Digital Chat Station give a good look at the Realme Book. The laptop is equipped with a metallic chassis and slim bezels. It has a backlit keyboard and a large-sized touchpad. A dedicated fingerprint scanner is also available on the device. It is unclear how many Realme Book models will be announced in the coming week in China.

Realme Book image
Realme Book

Madhav Sheth who is Realme’s CEO for Europe and India teased a Realme laptop model called the Realme Book Slim. At the same time, a leak revealed that the Realme Book Slim will be a lightweight model weighing only 1.3 kgs.

The Intel 11th gen. Core i5-1135G7 processor powered laptop is expected to offer users a 14-inch 2K display, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, 512GB of PCIe storage, Intel Xe graphics, and a 54Wh battery that supports 65W fast charging. The notebook is expected to offer other features like Windows 10 Home, a pair of Harman Kardon speakers, a triple microphone array, two USB-C 3.1 slots, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This model is likely to be priced at around Rs 55,000 (~$739) in India.

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 rumor roundup: Specs, Price, Colors, & More – What to Expect!

Xiaomi’s forthcoming Mi Mix 4 is presently a hot take in the smartphone market, and as more leaks have come to light, the enthusiasm for the phone has grown ever since. Xiaomi recently confirmed the launch date of the Mi Mix 4 to be August 10(7:30 PM CST) and since then there have been multiple teasers and leaks of the device. Today, we’re rounding up all the details learned so far about the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 Rumor Roundup: What to Expect?

Design and Display

After multiple leaks and certifications, the Mi Mix 4 was finally found posing in an offline store in China. The promo poster of the smartphone was displayed in the country, leaving us with its design.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 rumor roundup

According to the poster, the smartphone has a full-screen display without any bezel or notch. The smartphone is touted to feature an in-screen camera and curved edges. Leaks suggest that it has a 6.67-inch OLED display panel with Full-HD+(1800 x 2400 pixels) resolution and 120Hz screen refresh rate.

MI MIX 4 poster

It is expected to have a 10bit color depth and will be protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

Cameras on the Mi Mix 4

Moving to the back, the smartphone has a huge camera island with a triple rear camera setup. Past leaks had claimed that it will boast multiple cameras with a 50MP Samsung GN1, 48MP ultra-wide, and 48MP telephoto periscope camera system.

But, recent leaks deny these sensors and claim that the phone may come with a whopping 108MP triple camera system.

Hardware and Software

Recently, the smartphone appeared on Geekbench with model number 2106118C. The listing confirmed that the phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset clocked at up to 3.00 GHz. It was spotted with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It is expected to come with a base configuration of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 onboard storage. It will also come in a higher 512GB storage configuration.

According to the 3C certifications, the smartphone will pack a 4,500mAh battery with support for 120W wired fast charging. It may also come with a 50W wireless charging support.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4

As for the software, a tipster revealed that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 will boot on MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11. On top of it, Xiaomi’s PR department said that the upcoming MIUI 13 still has a long way to go as it is currently in the works. This inexplicitly reveals that the current MIUI 12.5 will run on the Mi Mix 4 smartphone.

The smartphone is expected to come with an in-display fingerprint scanner and will have a stereo speaker setup. The phone will have mmWave 5G and UWB support.

Pricing, Color variants, and Availability 

Unfortunately, there weren’t any massive price leaks of the smartphone but, it is expected to come at a premium price range. The flagship Mi 11 Ultra, which was released in March this year, was priced in the ~$1,000 range in China, and we should expect the Mi Mix 4 to cost way more than that.

As per the poster leak, the phone may launch in a Green-gray color variant along with other standard colors like Ceramic Black and Ceramic White. It will launch on August 10 at 7:30 PM CST and is expected to go up for sales in the mid of this month.

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