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Reliance Jio partners with Oppo for successful SA 5G trials in India

Recently, there have been a number of 5G trials in metropolitan cities in India, including regions like Mumbai and Gurgaon. While most of these trials were for the sub 6GHz networks, Reliance Jio has partnered with Oppo to field test Jio’s SA (Standalone) 5G networks.

Reliance
OPPO Reno6 Pro 5G

Notably, the 5G trials also used the Reno6 series of smartphones from the Chinese tech giant. The devices were chosen specifically for their ability to interface with a wide variety of 5G networks, with the Reno6 Pro supporting 11 5G bands and the Reno6 being equipped with 13 5G bands. These trials also mark a notable milestone in India’s 5G roadmap as the rest of the trials in the region were only for NSA (non standalone) networks. The trial had the handset complete a WhatsApp video call over a 5G network.

For those unaware, NSA networks use the existing 4G infrastructure to boost 5G connectivity. On the other hand, SA networks utilizes 5G hardware/infrastructure exclusively. Tasleem Arif, VP, and R&D Head OPPO India stated that “As a 5G pioneer, OPPO India is working relentlessly to accelerate 5G deployment and its accessibility for all. Our 5G standalone network trial for Reno6 Series with Jio is part of our in depth research in the 5G era towards ensuring a better experience for the users.”

Reliance Jio

The official further added that “The successful validation of Reno6 Series devices on the 5G SA network of Jio is testimony to our commitment as a company to bring cutting-edge technology to our customers.” Interestingly, he smartphone maker had setup its first overseas 5G innovations lab in Hyderabad, India, back in December 2020. This lab has been crucial in the company’s 5G related patents.

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Deal: Get Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro for $468 at Giztop (Coupon)

Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro 2021 which generally retails for $498 is now available at a discounted price of $468 by using the $30 OFF coupon code: PAD30 only at Giztop. This coupon expires on 7 August.

WHERE TO BUY
Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro 2021 at $468 (after discount)@Giztop

 

Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro

Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro is a premium tablet that features an 11.5 inch, 2.5K OLED display and is powered by the Snapdragon 870 Octa-Core Processor. The tablet comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM. XiaoXin Pad Pro is fueled by a powerful 8600mAh battery that gives you 8 hours of non-stop usage on one single charge and supports 20W fast charging. The tablet features 4 JBL certified speakers and dual 8MP front and 13MP + 5MP rear cameras.

Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro

For more information check out this review from Gizmochina.

Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro

Generally retailing for around $498, Giztop is giving out a $30 coupon: PAD30 for Lenovo XiaoXin Pad Pro. So you can buy the tablet at a discounted price of $468 only. Please note that this coupon expires on 7 August. 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.

Huawei launches Freebuds 4 in new Red color option

Earlier this year, Huawei had launched its new FreeBuds 4, which was the latest true wireless earbuds from the company. Now, the brand has just released the wireless earphones in a new Red color option.

Initially, the FreeBuds 4 TWS earbuds were first launched in two color variants, namely Frost Silver and Ceramic White. And now, the Chinese tech giant has just released the new earphones in a new Red color option earlier today (29th July 2021). The new variant has been launched for an original price of 999 Yuan (roughly 155 US Dollars) although initial buyers can purchase the earbuds for a discounted price of 949 Yuan (roughly 147 US Dollars).

Huawei

At the moment, the hearables is listed on JD.com, a popular Chinese microblogging platform. Furthermore, the website is also offering a special discount on the ceramic white version of the FreeBuds 4, which is available for 899 Yuan (roughly 140 US Dollars). For those unaware, the FreeBuds 4 features a semi in ear design with active noise cancellation support as well. It also supports wireless charging and weighs just 5.4 grams per bud, making it one of the lightest ANC enabled earphones in the world.

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Alleged Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 could come with UWB and mmWave 5G

Xiaomi is expected to release more premium smartphones in the second half of the year. One of them could be the long-rumored Mi MIX 4. We have been learning more about this handset for the past few weeks. According to the latest findings, it will feature a UWB chip.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 Sapphire Blue
Xiaomi Mi MIX 3

An upcoming Xiaomi smartphone codenamed ‘odin’ is expected to go official as Mi MIX 4. As per findings by Xiaomiui as well as TENAA, the device will arrive with a UWB chip. This silicon will be used by Mi Share, a peer-to-peer file transfer service found on devices from popular Chinese smartphone brands. The company might expand the usage of UWB once it launches more devices with the chip like Apple.

Additionally, Xiaomiui says that the phone will also have support for mmWave 5G. Since Xiaomi has already hinted this in a press release from Qualcomm (via XDA Developers), it could be true.

According to previous reports, the alleged Mi MIX 4 codenamed odin will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888/888+ SoC coupled with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. It will flaunt a 6.67-inch FHD+ curved OLED display with a high refresh rate, in-screen fingerprint sensor, and an under-display camera.

It will house a triple camera setup on the back consisting of a 50MP Samsung GN1 primary sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide unit, and a 48MP telephoto shooter. Lastly, it will draw power from a 5,000mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging

 

 

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MediaTek to launch its new 4nm chip by the end of this year

During its regular earnings call with investors recently, MediaTek had revealed its plans for later this year. A highlighting announcement during this conference was the arrival of the company’s latest 5G chipset that will be based on the 4nm process from TSMC.

MediaTek Dimensity logo

The Taiwanese chip maker will be launching the next generation SoC as early as the first quarter of next year with production starting by the end of this year. The news arrives from Bryan Ma, Vice President at IDC, a known research agency. The official believes that the upcoming chipset will be shipped with smartphones that are priced over 4,000 Yuan (roughly 615 US Dollars).

As of right now, the Dimensity 1200 processor is the company’s top end chipset, which was also built by the world’s largest contract chipmaker as well. This chip was based on the 6nm EUV process technology and is found in handsets that house this chip as a more affordable alternative to the Snapdragon 888 SoC from Qualcomm. The latter is based on the 5nm process from Samsung.

mediatek

Recent rumors have suggested that the American semiconductor giant will be launching its next generation Snapdragon 895 SoC in early December 2021, with the chip also being based on the 4nm process. So, the upcoming 4nm MediaTek Dimensity processor and Snapdragon 895 could possibly compete to be the world’s first 4nm processor in the world. This is all the information we have to go on for now, so stay tuned for more updates.

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Xiaomi MIUI+ now supports window resizing & custom shortcut keys

Xiaomi introduced MIUI+ (previously known as Xiaomi Device Control) last year. It is a tool similar to HUAWEI Multi-Screen Collaboration, Samsung DeX, and Microsoft Your Phone. Since its release, the company has been improving the user experience with new features, design changes, and fixes. According to an official announcement, the service adds two new useful features.

Xiaomi MIUI Plus Logo

As per the official MIUI Weibo account, the latest beta version of MIUI+ adds two new features. These are support for window resizing and custom shortcut keys.

According to the official website, MIUI+ v2.3.1.1014 is the newest beta release. It is only compatible with a handful of Xiaomi group smartphones and laptops.

Users with the supported devices can now not only resize the windows of the apps but also use custom shortcut keys. Some of the shortcuts include Alt + B for back, Alt + H for Home, and Alt + R to switch to the most recent task.

Unfortunately, MIUI+ is yet to make its debut in the global markets. Hence, it should be only working on compatible smartphones running MIUI China ROM.

We expect the tool to hit the international markets once it exits the beta phase. Above all, Xiaomi will have to release its laptops in more regions for the wider availability of MIUI+.

Similar services from other companies are quite popular among multi-taskers around the world. Hence, Xiaomi will most likely bring this to more markets.

 

 

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Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 series specifications tipped once again before rumored August launch

Xiaomi is expected to announce multiple products in August such as Mi MIX 4, Mi CC11 Pro, and the Mi Pad 5 series of tablets. Several reports have revealed the key specs of the three variants of the Mi Pad 5. A Chinese tipster has shared the key specifications of the three models once again to reveal what to expect from the Mi Pad 5 lineup.

The new leak states that the first variant will be a 5G-ready model featuring Snapdragon 870 chip, a 10.95-inch LCD panel that offers 2K resolution (probably, 120Hz refresh rate), an 8,720mAh battery with 67W fast charging support, a 48-megapixel camera, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. It measures 8.1mm in thickness and weighs 510 grams.

Xiaomi mi pad 5 real life image leak
Alleged image of the Mi Pad 5

The second variant will also feature the Snapdragon 870 chip, but it will be a Wi-Fi-only device. The leak mentions that it has a 12-megapixel camera instead of a 48-megapixel, 67W fast charging. Its other specs are said to be almost the same as the first variant. The first and the second variants could be the M210581AC and M210581C models that were certified by China’s 3C regulatory body earlier this month.

The third model will be featuring an LCD panel that supports a 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It will be a Snapdragon 860 SoC-powered device that will offer specs like 33W fast charging and a 12-megapixel camera. This could be the 21051182C Xiaomi device that was recent approved by the 3C authority.

The tipster has also hinted about a Snapdragon 768G variant but has not shared any more details on its specs. There is a possibility that it could be debuting as a Redmi device. He added that the company may launch a 12.9-inch tablet powered by the Snapdragon 888 chip (wi-fi only version) next year.

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OnePlus lead the Indian premium smartphone market in Q2 2021

OnePlus has seen great growth in the second quarter of this year. While the company saw explosive growth during this period, it even lead the premium smartphone market in India.

OnePlus 9R Qingyu Greeen Featured 01

The news arrives from Counterpoint Research that reported that the Chinese smartphone maker saw a whopping 200 percent growth year on year in Q2 2021. While it saw an explosive growth in the June quarter of this year, it even managed to secure a dominating 34 percent market share in the premium handset segment in India. During this time, the company also emerged as the 5G leader in the premium 5G smartphone segment in India, with a sizeable 48 percent market share.

The report added that OnePlus’ success in the region can be attributed to its consistent efforts to ‘raise the bar’ with each new flagship lineup. The company launched its latest OnePlus 9 series back in March 2021. The lineup included a top end Pro model along with a base, and a more affordable flagship variant, which has seen great success in the region. The lineup has seen a highly positive reception in India, which also contributed to its more than 200 percent YoY growth in Q2 2021.

OnePlus 9 Pro featured 02

Notably, the OnePlus 9R was the best selling device in India’s premium smartphone segment, accounting for 25 percent of the market. This was followed by the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro. In other words, the brand’s entire 2021 lineup captured the top three spots in the segment and the higher end models were even among the top three best selling smartphones in the ultra premium segment as well.

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Huami invests $2.4 million for development of MRI and robotics

Zepp Health Corp, formerly Huami, announced earlier this week that it is investing 2.4 million US Dollars to lead the 6.5 million US Dollars Series A round of funding for the development of MRI and robotics technology, which would help improve medical diagnosis.

According to a report, the investment will enable physicians to diagnose brain injury better and even help treat neurological diseases under live imaging. The Chinese consumer electronics maker will be investing in neuro42, who has an exclusive worldwide license of the low field MR imaging technology. Abhita Batra, Co-Founder and CSO of neuro42, stated that “We are pleased to have Zepp Health’s support as we revolutionize the way physicians identify and treat neurological diseases and injuries. We believe this partnership will create a compelling and sustainable value for our shareholders.”

Huami Zepp Health

Notably, neuro42 is Zepp Health’s third investment in new companies to develop disruptive medical imaging technologies. Recently, Zepp Health had invested in Promaxo as well, which focuses on developing office based MRI technology. Zepp Health’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Yeung also added that “Zepp Health is focused on connecting health with technology, and neuro42 is disrupting the location, applications and costs of medical imaging, which will generate tremendous benefits to healthcare systems worldwide.”

As per another executive, the company has become a global leader in consumer health technology and that these partnerships with diagnostic healthcare technologies would open up new financial and market opportunities as well to expand its business into industrial medical technology.

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Motorola Edge 20 Lite, Edge 20 Pro, Edge 20 spotted in fresh renders

The Motorola Edge 20 and Edge 20 Pro are expected to go official on Aug. 5 in China. The two other Edge 20 series phones called the Edge 20 Lite and Edge 20 Fusion are also expected to debut in the coming month. Reputed tipster recently shared the leaked press renders of the Edge 20 Pro, now he is back with fresh renders of the Edge 20 lineup.

Motorola Edge 20 series

The Edge 20 Lite, Edge 20, and Edge 20 Pro smartphones can be seen from the left to the right in the above-shown image. In the images below, the Edge 20 Lite can be seen in colors like Lagoon Green and Electric Graphite, the Edge 20 can be seen in Frosted Gray and Frosted White colors, and the Edge 20 Pro in Midnight Blue and Vegan Leather Blue.

The renders of the Edge 20 Fusion have not appeared yet. As it is known, the Edge 20 will come in two different versions for North America and global markets. It is being speculated that the North American may arrive in other markets with the Edge 20 Fusion moniker.

Motorola Edge 20 series specifications (Rumored)

The Edge 20 Lite is expected to arrive with a 6.7-inch FHD+ 90Hz display, a 32-megapixel front camera, a 108-megapixel (main) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit. It will be powered by a Dimensity 720 chip, 8 GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery with 30W charging support. It may offer built-in storage of 128 GB.

The Edge 20 for global markets will have a 6.67-inch FHD+ 144Hz OLED display, a 32-megapixel front camera, a 108-megapixel (main) + 16-megapixel (ultrawide) + 8-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit, Snapdragon 778G chip, 6 GB / 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB / 256 GB of storage, and a 4,000mAh battery. The North American model will have a 6.78-inch FHD OLED 120Hz display, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 108-megapixel (main) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit. The rest of its specs will be identical to its global version.

The Edge 20 Pro will come with a 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED 144Hz display, a 32-megapixel selfie camera, a 108-megapixel (main) + 16-megapixel (ultrawide) + 8-megapixel (depth) triple camera unit, Snapdragon 870, up to 12 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, and a 4,500mAh battery with 30W fast charging.

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Facebook-owned WhatsApp to soon bring new features to the platform

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging platforms in the market and with increased competition, the Facebook-owned company keeps on releasing new features to improve the user experience, in a bid to remain the market leader.

The company has been actively releasing new features and most of them are what the users have been demanding. After adding Dark Mode last year, the application has also received support for disappearing messages.

WhatsApp

Now, WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will enable using the platform on multiple devices with the same account. The multi-device feature supports using a single account on up to four devices. The company has already started testing this feature.

Talking about the multi-device support, a WhatsApp spokesperson said to TechRadar that “users will have the same functionality that is available on the current public versions of WhatsApp Web, Desktop and Portal, just without the need to have your phone connected. “ Further, the spokesperson adds that “Our multi-device capability immediately makes the experience better for people who use Desktop/Web and Portal. And it also will make it possible to add support for more kinds of devices over time.”

WhatsApp Multi-Device Support Beta
WhatsApp Multi-Device Support

It is also working on a feature that will keep the archived chats archived even after a new message is received. There are reports claiming that the firm could rename the Archive Chat feature to Read Later and bring some new features as well.

The company is also working on a new feature that will allow private conversations between two users by offering an option to send a message or media that automatically gets deleted or disappears once viewed.

WhatsApp is also reportedly working on a feature that will allow designated participants to join the group call after they have missed it. Currently, the phone call needs to be restarted or the user needs to be added manually in the middle of the call.

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OnePlus 7/7T series receive OxygenOS 11.0.2.1 update with fixes & July 2021 security patches

OnePlus is rolling out a new system update for the OnePlus 7 series and the OnePlus 7T series worldwide. The new update arrives as OxygenOS 11.0.2.1. It brings along updated security patches and some fixes.

OnePlus 7 Pro

The latest software update for OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, and OnePlus 7T Pro bumps up the security patch level to July 2021. It reduces power consumption, optimizes dial pad UI display effect, and improves overheating control management as well as the stability of the camera app.

Other than the above-mentioned factors, the new update also brings fixes for HD video playback on some video platforms, crashing of the stock file manager app, and blur issue when shooting in fullscreen mode in the camera app.

That said, like any other OTA system update, the OxygenOS 11.0.2.1 update for the OnePlus 7 and the OnePlus 7T series is being pushed out in batches all around the world. This means the update may take some time to reach every unit.

OnePlus 7, 7 Pro, 7T, 7T Pro OxygenOS 11.0.2.1 Official Changelog

  • System
    • Reduced Power consumption
    • Improved overheating control management
    • Fixed the issue of not being able to play high-definition videos on some video platforms
    • Upgraded Android Security Patch to 2021.06
  • File Manager
    • Fixed the crash issue of the application
  • Camera
    • Fixed the issue that the camera is blurred when shooting on fullscreen size
    • Improved the stability
  • Phone
    • Optimized the dialpad UI display effect

 

 

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Google delists Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a ahead of the Pixel 6 series launch

Google might be making way for a new launch as it has recently delisted certain older models on the Google Fi store. The stock for the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G had been running low for the last couple of weeks, and now, the company has officially delisted both models from its store.

According to a 9To5Google report, the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 were initially listed as “out of stock” at the beginning of this month. But now, both smartphone models from the search engine giant have been officially delisted. In other words, the company has removed the description and specifications for both devices, with the Pixel 4a being the only 2020 model being available for purchase as of right now on the official store.

Google Pixel 4a 5G Clearly White

The brand’s official US Google Store also marks the Pixel 4a 5G as out of stock, similar to the unlocked and Verizon variant of the Pixel 5. Back in 2020, the Pixel 4 series had also sold out prior to the launch of its newer models. So, the company might be following a same pattern again this time around. The Pixel 6 is expected to launch sometime in October later this year. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates if any notable rumors or reports surfaces regarding this device.

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OPPO Reno6 Pro+ Detective Conan Limited Edition launched for 4,499 yuan ($696)

Last week, we reported about OPPO gearing up to launch a new model of the Reno6 Pro+ smartphone. The Reno6 Pro+ is the top-end variant in the Reno6 lineup that was officially launched a couple of months ago.

Today, the company has officially launched the OPPO Reno6 Pro+ Detective Conan Limited Edition, which comes in two colors — Red and Grey. The phone has a Silver-colored body but features design elements in Red and Grey hue at the back of the device.

OPPO Reno6 Pro+ Conan Limited Edition

The smartphone comes in a single variant that packs 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Priced at 4,499 yuan, which is approximately $696, the device will be available for purchase in China from tomorrow, i.e. 30th July.

Apart from the physical appearance of the phone, the company has also customized the user interface with the custom Conan theme. The customization of the theme includes more than 70 icons, dial pad, text messages interface, status bar, etc. Further, OPPO is offering 11 more Detective Conan series of themes for the users to choose from.

Not just that, the company has also added a unique lock and unlock mechanism where users get to play a puzzle game. Along with the smartphone, OPPO has also launched other devices featuring Detective Conan, including OPPO Watch 2 watch, OPPO Band, Enco Free2 TWS earphones, and a flash charging power bank.

OPPO Watch 2 Detective Conan Edition OPPO Enco Free2 and OPPO VOOC Power Bank Detective Conan Edition

The company is also bundling a custom-made car pin of Detective Conan, as well as customized earphones with Xinlan silhouette. OPPO is also including a custom-made charging kit in the retail box of this new smartphone variant. It adds that the hand-made customized packaging boxes are inspired by Maori detective firms.

In terms of specifications, the Detective Conan Limited Edition model packs the same set of specs as the original Reno6 Pro+. It features a 6.55-inch curved-edge flexible AMOLED display and comes with support for a 90Hz refresh rate. Underneath, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset.

OPPO Reno6 Pro+ Conan Limited Edition Specs

In the camera department, there’s a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary sensor, coupled with a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 13-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front side, there’s a 32-megapixel snapper for taking selfies.

The smartphone runs the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own ColorOS 11.1 custom user interface on top. It is powered by a 4,500mAh battery and has support for 65W super flash charging.

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LG confirmed to start selling Apple products in its stores in South Korea

A few months ago, South Korea-based LG officially shut down its mobile phone business. Now, confirming the rumors (via ZDNet), the company has revealed that it will start selling Apple iPhones as well as other Apple products in its own stores in South Korea.

The selling of Apple’s products at LG Stores in South Korea is expected to being next month as the company’s exit from the smartphone business will be completed by the end of this month. LG currently has around 400 stores across the country.

LG Logo

LG was reportedly facing an issue with the smartphone reseller trade organization. In 2018, Samsung and LG had agreed to only sell their own smartphones at their respective stores in South Korea. Since LG has now stopped manufacturing its own phones, the trade organization has signed a new contract allowing LG to sell phones from other brands.

The company won’t be selling Mac devices or any of Apple’s PC-related products as LG is still making products in this category. Also, there will be no after-sales support, and buyers of Apple devices from the LG Best shops will have to seek customer support elsewhere.

This latest move by LG will increase competition for Samsung which practically had the entire South Korean smartphone market to itself after the exit of LG. In order to get the customers of LG, both Apple and Samsung started offering a new trade-in discount for purchasing their own smartphones.

A report from the market research from Counterpoint claims that Samsung had around 65 percent of the South Korean smartphone market share last year, while Apple held around 20 percent. LG, which is no longer in the business, had a 13 percent market share.

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OnePlus Buds Pro TWS earphones launched in China for 799 yuan ($123)

OnePlus had announced the OnePlus Buds Pro, the company’s latest true wireless earphones and the Pro variant of the OnePlus Buds launched last year. Now, the company has launched the same in its home country, China.

The TWS earphones are priced at 799 yuan, which roughly converts to $123. They are now up for pre-sale in China and will be available for purchase from 3rd August.

OnePlus Buds Pro Matte Black Featured A

The newly launched earphones are shaped similar to the Apple AirPods Pro and to differentiate from Apple’s, there’s a shiny chrome stem. It also comes with Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation that automatically adjusts how much noise cancellation is applied based on the user’s surrounding environment.

Taking care of the Active Noise Cancellation is a three-mic setup that is claimed to filter out noise up to 40dB. Further, the company has also added support for the Dolby Atmos audio. It comes with features like and OnePlus Fast Pair as well as OnePlus Audio ID that allows users to customize the audio experience as per their preference.

The OnePlus Buds Pro packs a pair of 11mm dynamic drivers and comes with support for Bluetooth 5.2 as a connectivity feature. Additionally, there’s also support for Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec (LHDC).

Now, coming to the battery life, the OnePlus Buds Pro is touted to offer up to 38 hours of battery with the charging case. However, without the charging case and with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, the battery life reduces to five hours and seven hours without ANC.

The charging case also comes with support for Warp Charge and is claimed to offer up to 10 hours of playback time with just 10 minutes of charging. Further, it also supports Qi Wireless Charging.

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Apple sees record shipments in Q2 2021, while Xiaomi becomes 2nd largest smartphone brand

A new report has revealed that Apple has seen record shipments in the second quarter of this year. The news arrives as the global smartphone market saw a slight decline quarter on quarter.

Apple

According to a Coutnerpoint Research report, the market saw a 7 percent decline over last quarter but saw a 19 percent growth year on year over 2020. While the decline was due to the ongoing component shortages that vendors are facing at the moment, the YoY growth arrives as consumer demand grew since the Coronavirus outbreak last year. During this quarter, Xiaomi managed to become the second largest smartphone brand in the world, although, the Cupertino based giant fell to the third sport.

However, the brand still managed to register record second quarter shipments primarily due to the consistent demand and supply for its iPhone 12 series. Meanwhile, Samsung still held the top spot while Oppo and Vivo retainted their rankings in the top 5 smartphone vendor list. Research Analyst, Aman Chaudhary added that “Global smartphone wholesale shipment revenues eclipsed $96 billion, up 25 percent YoY but declined 16 percent sequentially. This comes at a time when the industry was facing supply constraints. Apple captured a record second-quarter revenue share of 41 percent driven by continuing demand for the iPhone 12 Series followed by Samsung, OPPO, Xiaomi and vivo.”

Apple

Notably, Apple’s shipments fell by 18 percent quarter on quarter but grew by a significant 30 percent year on year to reach 48.9 million units in Q2 2021. Unlike certain other brands, the iPhone maker was not as severely affected by the ongoing semiconductor shortages due to its strong industry relationships. The company’s revenue also grew by a sizeable 52 percent in the same period over last year.

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Realme Book 3C certified, likely to launch in August

In June, Realme confirmed that it will be releasing the Realme Pad tablet and Realme Book laptop this year. The company is expected to launch both devices in multiple markets. While there is no fresh information on the Realme Pad, it seems the Realme Book launch date could be close at hand. The reason behind it is that the company’s first notebook has received approval from the 3C authority of China. This indicates that the Realme Book may go official as early as next month in China.

Realme Book 3c certified

As can be seen in the screenshot, the 3C authority has approved Realme’s upcoming portable computer laptop. The listing further reveals that the retail package of the device may include a VCA7JECH charger that supports up to 65W fast charging.

Realme Book specifications (Rumored)

Past reports have revealed that the aluminum-bodied Realme Book will look a lot like the Apple MacBook Air. The device is expected to arrive in colors like Real Blue, Real Red, and Real Apricot. It will be sporting a 14-inch display that will offer a 3:2 aspect ratio. The device is likely to be powered by Intel’s 11 generation Core i3 and Core i5 processors.

Realme Book
Realme Book

The Realme Book will run on Windows 10 and will be eligible to receive the Windows 11 upgrade. It will come with a chiclet keyboard featuring a power button that doubles up as a fingerprint scanner. On the connectivity front, the Realme Book is expected to offer users a USB-A port, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a charging port. In India, the device is likely to be priced at around Rs 40,000 (~$538).

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Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 variants spotted at TENAA

Xiaomi is expected to announce the Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 flagship phone in August. Recent reports have revealed that the M2106118C model number belongs to the upcoming MIX series phone. This model was recently certified by Chinese certification sites like TENAA and 3C. The updated TENAA listing now shows the two variants of the Mi MIX 4.

The listing states that the M2106118C Xiaomi phone will be available in two variants such as 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. While it is not mentioned in the TENAA listing, the Mi MIX 4 is also expected to arrive in a higher version with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.

XIaomi Mi MIX 4 TENAA

Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 specifications (rumored)

Rumors surrounding the Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 have revealed that it will be sporting a 6.6-inch OLED display with curved edges. It will debut as the company’s first phone with an in-display camera. The Mi MIX 4’s screen will offer a Full HD+ resolution and an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

It may draw power from the Snapdragon 888 or the faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset. It will be accompanied by Micron’s LPDDR5 uMCP. The 3C listing of the phone revealed that it may arrive with support for 120W wired charging. It is speculated to carry support for 70W or 80W wireless charging.

For photography, it may feature a triple camera unit led pioneered by a 50-megapixel Samsung GN1s lens. It is likely to weigh around 226 grams. Xiaomi is also speculated to announce the Mi CC11 series smartphone along with the Mi MIX 4 in the coming month.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3’s Phantom Black variant appears in leaked press renders

 

Samsung will be unleashing its next foldables such as the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Z Fold3 on Aug. 11. Earlier this week, Winfuture.de shared the leaked renders of the Z Flip3. Now, it is back with fresh renders of the Phantom Black color variant of the Z Fold3.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 specifications (Rumored)

The Galaxy Z Fold3 has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole design. It features a front camera of 10-megapixel. It is equipped with an inner foldable screen of 7.6 inches that houses a 4-megapixel in-display camera. The back panel of the phone is equipped with a 12-megapixel triple camera unit. Both displays are expected to carry support for a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Snapdragon 888 chipset will be powering the Galaxy Z Fold3 with 12 GB of RAM. The device may come with up to 512 G of storage. It could be backed by a 4,400mAh battery, which is likely to carry support for fast charging.

Past reports have claimed that the Z Fold3 will arrive with support for S Pen stylus. A recent leak claimed that the South Korean company will sell two different S Pen such as the S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition for the Z Fold 3 buyers. It is also expected to arrive with a IPX8 rated waterproof chassis. The other details of the Z Fold3 are under wraps.

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event will also see the arrival of the Galaxy Watch4 models and Galaxy Buds 2.

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