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OPPO patents two new wireless charging pads similar to Apple’s Magsafe and Realme’s MagDart

By
Jed John Ikoba
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There is an increasing pursuit by smartphone manufacturers to extend battery life and provide quick wired or wireless charging solutions. The approach has seen some innovative solutions from OEMs like Apple’s Magsafe Power Pack, which the US company has already announced. Realme is also known to have gotten a patent for a similar upcoming device called the MagDart.

A recent patent filing has shown that Chinese brand OPPO may be considering wireless charging pads for its devices. The full details and technical architecture of the product are not known fully. However, it is speculated that the Wireless Charging Pads could charge multiple devices simultaneously. This could offer challenges on its own, as we have seen with wireless chargers that do not generally pack enough bite than several ultra-fast wired charging solutions prevalent in the market.

Therefore, having a device charging multiple smartphones wirelessly at the same time could be unduly long. Apple’s MagSafe Power Pack can only offer 15W charging when operating wirelessly, much lower than Qi chargers.

On the whole, wireless charging solutions for smartphones can be suboptimal and slower than a wired charging system. The Qi wireless charging solution, already prevalent in the market, also encountered some serious problems. Qi chargers are prone to power loss during transfer due to improper or inadequate alignment.

Even though not much is known about the patents, the concept of multiple wireless charging of your devices looks exciting and could be attractive when it is eventually unveiled. Not much can be said about timelines for the actualization of the OPPO patents.

We remain in the realm of speculation on the possible release of multiple wireless charging devices. OPPO hasn’t made any statements yet concerning its plans for the wireless charging pads.

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Samsung Galaxy A80 latest update brings July 2021 security patch

By
Jed John Ikoba
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The July 2021 security update for the Samsung Galaxy A80 has begun to roll out a few days ago. The July 2021 update for the Galaxy A80 is ongoing simultaneously in several European markets and aims to provide a more robust security architecture for the device.Galaxy A80

Samsung began the July 2021 security update for its Galaxy devices (smartphones and tablets) at the beginning of the month. The Galaxy S10 series was the first to get the update, including the July 2021 security patch. The latest updates are meant to fix several privacy and security-related vulnerabilities in the Galaxy lineup of smartphones and tablets.

The Firmware version of the A80 July 2021 Security Update is A805FXXS6DUG3. The Firmware can be installed on the Samsung device via an update or manually downloaded and installed. Galaxy A80 owners should navigate to Software Update from their settings app, download and install the update on their devices.

The Firmware for the July 2021 security updates can also be directly downloaded from Samsung’s website and installed on the device.

The Samsung Galaxy A80 already has two OS upgrades since its launch in 2019. The Galaxy A80 came with Android 9 Pie, which was upgraded to Android 10 in 2020 and Android 11 this year. It is unlikely that the A80 will have any further OS upgrade, as we await the stable version of the latest Google Android 12 operating system.

While the July 2021 security update for the Galaxy A80 has been confirmed in most parts of Europe, it is expected that the process is ongoing in other markets globally. The updates and the Security Patch will further enhance the overall security of the Galaxy A80 devices.

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ZTE Buds and ZTE LiveBuds Pro to launch on July 27

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

ZTE has an event scheduled for July 27 and it is for the launch of the Axon 30 5G smartphone. It turns out the smartphone is not the only product it will unveil on that day. The Chinese manufacturer will also announce two new TWS earbuds – the ZTE Buds and LiveBuds Pro.

The ZTE Buds and ZTE LiveBuds Pro will join the LiveBuds announced last year and the LiveBuds SE announced in April, bringing the total number of ZTE’s TWS earbuds to four.

ZTE LiveBuds Pro and ZTE Buds

According to a Weibo post by ZTE, the LiveBuds Pro has six-microphone (three on each earbud) noise reduction and a small form factor, while the ZTE Buds has long battery life. The attached image also gives us a good look at the design of the two pairs of earbuds.

Both earbuds will be available in white but their designs are different. The ZTE Buds has an open-fit design with long stems. Its carrying case is also taller but narrower. The LiveBuds Pro has a closed design with silicone tips that provide passive noise cancellation. There are also LEDs on the earbuds and the carrying case.

While both earbuds will definitely cost more than the LiveBuds and LiveBuds SE, we still expect them to be affordable.

 

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OPPO Watch 2 leaked images appear before July 27 launch

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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OPPO will be announcing the OPPO Watch 2 smartwatch on July 27 in China. Ahead of the launch, reputed tipster Evan Blass has shared leaked images of the Watch 2 to reveal its design.

The images show that the OPPO Watch 2 will carry support for calling like the predecessor OPPO Watch from last year. Probably, the Watch 2 will come with e-SIM support in China. There was no e-SIM support on the global version of the OPPO Watch. Hence, it is unclear whether its successor will have calling support for the global markets.

Another image shows Watch 2 displaying map directions. This indicates that the smartwatch will feature a built-in GPS like its previous generation. The images also show that the Watch 2 sports a curvy display. The Chinese manufacturer is yet to share the specifications of the Watch 2.

Past reports have revealed that the OPPO Watch 2 will be driven by the Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip and Apollo 4s. It is expected to offer other features like LTE support, stress detection, a new OPPO Relax app, ColorOS, and RTOS for extended battery life.

The Watch 2 is expected to arrive in 42mm and 46mm sizes, and it is likely to arrive in multiple colors such as Mine Shaft, Gold Sand, Water Leaf, and Matisse. The company is also rumored to be working on another smartwatch named OPPO Watch Free. Unfortunately, the rumor mill is yet to reveal any details of this device.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 series model numbers leaked

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

In January, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. It is speculated that the S22 lineup will be made official at the beginning of the coming year. A fresh leak has revealed the model numbers of the S22 series of smartphones.

According to Sammobile, the tentative names of the S22 models are Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. These devices are likely to carry model numbers such as SM-S901x, SM-906x, and SM-S908x.

To recollect, the S21 series had model numbers such as SM-G991x, SM-G996x, and SM-G998x. The South Korean company has been using SM-G900x for its S-series of flagship phones since the Galaxy S5 back in 2014. As can be seen, the South Korean company has seemingly decided to use S instead of G in the model numbers of S22 models.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra-5
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra concept render by LetsGoDigital

It was reported last month that the Galaxy S22 may feature a 6.06-inch or 6.1-inch display, the Galaxy S22 may feature a 6.55-inch or 6.66-inch screen, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra may come with a 6.8-inch or 6.81-inch display. The S22 and S22+ may feature a plastic rear, which indicates that the S22 Ultra could be coming with a glass back.

Samsung may reintroduce vapor chamber cooling for the S22 lineup. The next S-series flagships are also expected to arrive with 65W fast charging support. The S22 Ultra may come with a 200-megapixel penta-lens camera system with Olympus branding. It is speculated that the S22’s triple camera setup may include a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide snapper, and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

Samsung is reportedly testing an Exynos chip with AMD GPU. Probably, the S22 series could be the first Samsung phones to feature the new AMD-powered Exynos SoC. As far as launch is concerned, the South Korean company may unleash the S22 lineup in January 2022.

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Honor Tab V7 Pro’s Dimensity 1300T leak is fake, confirms MediaTek

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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It was reported in the previous week that Honor is gearing up to launch a new tablet called the Honor Tab V7 Pro. At the same time, a leaked image of a press release that was shared by a Chinese tipster revealed that the tablet will be powered by the upcoming MediaTek Dimensity 1300T. The title of the PR read that the Dimensity 1300T powered Honor tablet will offer a flagship experience. According to MyDrivers, the Taiwanese chip maker has confirmed that it was a fake image.

While the Honor V7 Pro tablet is expected to debut on Aug. 12, it is unclear which chipset will be present under its hood. Nothing much is known about the tablet yet. The teaser video released by Honor revealed that the Honor Tab V7 Pro an oval-shaped camera module and blue colored leather back. The design of the Tab V7 Pro suggests that it could be a high-end tablet.

Honor Tablet V6
Honor Tablet V6

Honor has already confirmed that it will be launching the Honor Magic 3 series of flagship phones on Aug. 12. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 888+ chipset. The tipster also claimed that apart from the Magic 3 and Tab V7 (Pro), the company will also announce the Honor X20.

The tipster claimed that the tablet will carry support for 1200p resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. As far as the Honor X20 is concerned, it is expected to cost 2,000 Yuan more than the Honor X20 SE, which debuted with a starting price of 1,799 Yuan. Unfortunately, there is no information on the specs of the X20.

Reports have claimed that there will be four Magic3 models such as Magic3, Magic3 Pro, Magic3 Pro+, and Magic3 SE. A reliable tipster recently claimed that the Magic3 SE will be like the Mate 40, whereas the Snapdragon 888+ SoC powered Magic3 will be like the Mate 40 Pro.

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Honor EarBuds 2 SE now supports customized sports icon engraving

By
Pranav Sawant
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Earlier this month, Honor launched the EarBuds 2 SE in China with features like ANC and up to 32 hours of battery life. Initially, the company launched two standard color variants of the earbuds, the Magic Night Black and Iceland White color. Now, Honor has launched a custom model of the Honor EarBuds 2 SE where buyers can get printed their choice of customized sports icon on the bud’s charging case.

Those who are willing to give their Honor EarBuds 2 some sporty feel can head to the Honor Mall app and can choose between 13 types of custom sports icons. These icons include popular sports games such as weightlifting, judo, table tennis, karate, fencing, shooting, beach volleyball, equestrian, and others.

Honor Earbuds 2 SE now supports customized sports icon engraving

This is quite similar to what Apple is offering with its engraving feature. For those who are unaware, Apple also offers personalization options where buyers can choose between emojis or custom text to get it printed on the bud’s charging case.

Interestingly, both Apple and Honor are offering custom personalization for free of cost. Getting back to Honor, the Honor EarBuds 2 SE is priced at CNY 469(~$73), and even after engraving the custom sports icon, it can be picked up for the same price.

Regarding its specs, the EarBuds 2 SE comes with an Apple AirPods Pro-like design with a slightly elongated stem. Its major highlight is the Active Noise Cancellation which offers an undisturbed music listening experience. It has touch controls and a battery that can last for up to 32 hours. It also supports fast charging where 10 minutes of charging can offer up to 4 hours of music listening.

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Oppo A93s 5G with Dimensity 700, 5000mAh battery launched in China

By
Pranav Sawant
-

Oppo has silently launched the all-new A93s 5G smartphone in China. The Oppo A93s 5G comes in the entry-level segment and offers specs like a 90Hz display, 48MP triple cameras, and a 5,000mAh battery.

The Oppo A93s 5G comes in the sole 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant priced at CNY 1999(~$308). It has three color variants – White peach soda, Summer Night Galaxy, and Early Summer Guanghai(Chinese translated names). The device will go on sale later this month on July 30 across China.

Oppo A93s 5G Specifications 

The smartphone features a similar design to the Oppo A93 5G which launched earlier this year. It sports a 6.5-inch punch-hole display with a Full-HD+(1080 x 2400 pixels) resolution. It has a 90Hz high refresh rate and supports the DCI-P3 color gamut. The screen has 600 nits of peak brightness.

oppo a93s 5g

As for cameras, the smartphone has an 8-megapixel single camera at the front placed at the top left corner. It has a triple camera system at the rear with a 48-megapixel primary lens, a 2-megapixel portrait camera, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor.

It comes powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. Oppo has offered a microSD card slot for additional storage. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support.

The smartphone has a five-fold three-dimensional heat dissipation system for maintaining the cool while playing heavy games. It has a side-facing fingerprint scanner and supports face unlock for added security. It runs on ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11 out of the box.

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Next Week in Tech: Huawei P50 series, Nothing ear (1), ZTE Axon 30 5G, Nokia’s rugged phone, and more

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Next week is going to be an exciting one as there are a bunch of new products scheduled to be unveiled. Among them is Huawei’s much-awaited P50 series, ZTE’s Axon 30 which will have an in-display camera, the Nothing earbuds, and Nokia’s first rugged smartphone. Here is a roundup of what is coming next week:

Xiaomi Smart Home product launch

Xiaomi Smart Home launch – July 26

Xiaomi has a global event set for Monday, July 26, and it has revealed that it will be announcing new smart home products with a focus on cooking appliances. The event begins a 20:00 (GMT+8) and should be live-streamed.

 

Nothing ear (1) launch

Nothing ear (1) – July 27

After months of waiting, Carl Pei is ready to announce to the Nothing ear (1) earbuds, the first earbuds from his new company, Nothing. The event is scheduled for July 27 and will begin at 14:00 BST.

 

ZTE Axon 30 5G launch date poster-

ZTE Axon 30 5G – July 27

After announcing the Axon 30 Ultra and the Axon 30 Pro, ZTE will announce the standard Axon 30 on July 27. Unlike its siblings which have a centered punch hole for the front-facing camera, the Axon 30 will feature ZTE’s second-generation under-display camera which has been reported to be significantly better than that of the Axon 20.

 

Nokia will launch a rugged phone on July 27, possibly the Nokia XR20

Nokia XR20 – July 27

Last month, the Motorola Defy launched as the first rugged smartphone borne from a partnership between Bullitt Group and Motorola. Now, we are about to get a Nokia rugged smartphone too. The device is expected to launch as the Nokia XR20 and will be announced on July 27.

 

Huawei P50

Huawei P50 and more – July 29

Huawei has a mega-launch event set for July 29 and the Huawei P50 series will be the star of the show. The P50 series should have launched in the first quarter of the year but had to be delayed as a result of Huawei’s ongoing troubles.

The new phones are not the only new products coming. Huawei will also announce a smart display for kids with a pop-up camera and a new version of its smart speaker. Both products will be powered by HarmonyOS.

 

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POCO F3 GT vs OnePlus Nord 2 5G: Specs Comparison

By
Michele Ingelido
-

Xiaomi came up with another amazing flagship killer for the global market and so did OnePlus. We are talking about POCO F3 GT and OnePlus Nord 2 5G: two amazing devices powered by the most powerful MediaTek mobile platform sold at an affordable price. If you are searching for a flagship killer suitable for your best gaming sessions, these two devices are probably among the best options for your needs. But which is the best and which you should go for? This specs comparison between POCO F3 GT and OnePlus Nord 2 5G will give you an idea.

Xiaomi POCO F3 GT vs OnePlus Nord 2 5G

Xiaomi POCO F3 GT OnePlus Nord 2 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 161.9 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm, 205 g 158.9 x 73.2 x 8.3 mm, 189 g
DISPLAY  6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), OLED  6.43 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Fluid AMOLED
PROCESSOR Mediatek Dimensity 1200, octa-core 3 GHz Mediatek Dimensity 1200, octa-core 3 GHz
MEMORY 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 11, MIUI  Android 11, OxygenOS
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA Triple 64 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
16 MP front camera		 Triple 50 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.3 + f/2.4
32 MP f/2.5 front camera
BATTERY  5065 mAh, fast charging 67W  4500 mAh, fast charging 65W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

If you are a gamer and you prefer a gaming-centric design as well as gaming-centric features, there is no doubt about the fact that you should go for the POCO F3 GT. Alongside an aggressive design, it offers the physical maglev triggers which are able to guarantee a better gaming experience at least in the most advanced games which require a lot of commands. The POCO F3 GT also comes with a wider and more comfortable display. With the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, instead, you get a more elegant design and a more compact body that fits better in a pocket. So you should go for the OnePlus Nord 2 5G if you are a more casual user. Both the phone come with a plastic frame and a glass back protected by Gorilla Glass 5, but the POCO F3 GT adds the IP53 certification which makes it dust resistant and splash resistant.

 

Display

Are you looking for a superior display? If so, choose the POCO F3 GT. Its OLED display is able to show up to one billion colors and it comes with a higher 120 Hz refresh rate, as well as the HDR10+ certification which improves the image quality on the streaming platforms. Last but not least, it has a wider diagonal of 6.67 inches. Given that OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a smaller display it is also more compact, the panel is still an AMOLED but it is inferior with its lower 90 Hz refresh rate and 16M colors. An advantage is the presence of an in-display fingerprint scanner, while it is side-mounted on its rival.

 

Specs & Software

POCO F3 GT and OnePlus Nord 2 5G are powered by the Dimensity 1200 mobile platform which is currently the best SoC by MediaTek, so it offers the same flagship-class level of performance. Note that OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a slightly more advanced variant of the Dimensity 1200 which is called Dimensity 1200-AI. This version offers higher performance with AI tasks. Further, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G has more RAM: up to 12 GB instead of the 8 gigs offered by the POCO F3 GT. Despite POCO F3 GT is a gaming-centric phone, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G wins the hardware comparison. Both the phones run Android 11 with a highly customized user interface on top.

 

Camera

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is equipped with a better camera department and it can be considered as a good camera phone. It has a 50 MP main sensor (the Sony IMX766) with OIS, an 8 MP ultrawide camera, and a 2 MP monochromatic sensor, as well as a great 32 MP front camera. Unfortunately, the POCO F3 GT is not a high-end camera phone due to its midrange 64 MP main sensor paired with an 8 MP ultrawide camera and a 2 MP macro lens.

 

 

Battery

The POCO F3 GT sports a bigger battery with a capacity of 5065 mAh and the support of 67W fast charging. It has a longer battery life, but OnePlus Nord 2 5G is not disappointing with its 4500 mAh battery and 65W fast charging.

 

Price

OnePlus Nord 2 5G is priced at €399/$470 globally (EU), while POCO F3 GT starts from €310/$365 in India and is not sold in other markets (at least for now). There is not a definitive winner for this comparison: POCO F3 GT has a better display, the IP53 certification, physical trigger, and a bigger battery, so it is definitely a better phone for gaming. With the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, you can get a superior camera department, a more compact body, and slightly better hardware.

 

 

Xiaomi POCO F3 GT vs OnePlus Nord 2 5G: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi POCO F3 GT

PRO

  • Physical triggers
  • IP53 certification
  • Bigger battery
  • IR blaster
  • Great display

CONS

  • Inferior cameras

 

OnePlus Nord 2 5G

PRO

  • Better rear camera
  • Superior front camera
  • More compact
  • More RAM

CONS

  • Smaller battery

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Nothing ear (1) companion app appears on Play Store ahead of launch

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The Nothing ear (1) earbuds will be announced next week as the first product from Nothing Inc., the new electronics startup founded by former OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei. Ahead of the launch, the companion app for the earbuds has surfaced on the Google Play Store.

Nothing ear (1) app featured

Listed as the “ear (1) – Nothing earbuds”, the app comes in at 10MB in size. The description says the application is compatible with devices running Android 5.0+ and above.

With the app, users will be able to check the battery level of the earbuds and the case. It also has a menu to turn on and turn off features such as Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes, and also adjust the intensity.

There is an option to activate in-ear detection, turn on/off gesture on the earbuds, switch equalizer, and a find my device feature. Users will also be able to update the firmware of the earbuds via the app.

Nothing ear (1) app

The Nothing ear (1) earbuds will have a transparent design and a matching transparent case. The earbuds will have a price tag of $99 and will pack features such as Active Noise Cancellation, up to 32 hours of battery life (with the case), fast wired charging, and support for wireless charging.

 

RELATED:

Blackview AirBuds 5 Pro ANC TWS earbuds launching next month

By
Simranpal Singh
-

Blackview is working on to bring a high-end earbuds for the consumers after the success of AirBuds 3. Blackview is launching AirBuds 5 Pro TWS earbuds next month with some outstanding features. It will come with industry-leading hybrid noise cancellation, premium sound and a long-lasting battery features.

Must See: Blackview A90 launched Globally on AliExpress at $113.99 

The new hybrid ANC will be the company’s first earbuds to offer such a feature. The earbuds ANC feature is further divided into three ways and those are Feedforward, Feedback and Hybrid. The feedforward and feedback microphone listens external and internal sound carefully, and refines the sound by eliminating the noise. The Hybrid is a mix of both the feedforward and feedback modes to offer noise free in-depth sound while familiarizing with the environment. However, these options can be switched as per the need and use.

Blackview has further added innovative ways to decompress the sound quality after noise reduction with quality compensation algorithm. It enables to retain the actual quality of the audio and enhances the overall experience.

Blackview AirBuds 5 Pro comes with 7mm dynamic coil driver and houses a graphene-PU composite diaphragm. Apart from the sound quality, the multiple mirophones also enhances the call quality. Faciliated with the noise reduction, redesigned air ducts, the new AurBuds 5 Pro offers exceptional call quality. Such innovative features makes the earbuds to capture voice even in a crowded environment.

The new Blackview AirBuds 5 Pro will offer 20 hours of playback time with fully charged buds and charging case. However, you can extend the AirBuds battery backup time up to 24 hours by turning off the ANC feature. Interestingly, a 5-minute charge delivers 2-3 hours of listening experience.

More information about the upcoming Blackview AirBuds 5 Pro will be available in the coming few days. The pricing information is also yet unavailable at the moment.

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

Xiaomi to launch new smart home products on July 26

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Xiaomi has announced that it plans to announce new smart home products next week. The event will be a global one but some of these products should be limited to select markets.

The launch date is Monday, the 26th of July, and the event will begin at 20:00 (GMT+8). The poster hints at one or more of the new products being a smart cooking appliance but we don’t know which of its plethora of kitchen appliances it plans to launch. In its home country of China, Xiaomi sells a variety of rice cookers, induction cookers, and electric kettles.

We may also see the Chinese manufacturer announce new robot vacuum cleaners and air purifiers for the international market.

 

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More details of MediaTek’s Dimensity 1300T surfaces

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Yesterday, it was reported that MediaTek has a new flagship Dimensity processor coming soon and it will make its first appearance in an Honor tablet. The chipset is expected to launch as the Dimensity 1300T and it will power the Honor V7 Pro which we got a glimpse of yesterday too. More details of the processor have surfaced ahead of its launch.

According to Digital Chat Station, the processor will be made by TSMC and built on its 6nm node. While it will most likely have 8 cores, its CPU core arrangement is unknown. However, the source says that it will feature Cortex-A78 cores, have a 9-core GPU, and the APU 3.0 NPU.

Dimensity 1300T specs

With respect to performance upgrades when compared to the previous generation (Dimensity 1000+), CPU performance is said to have increased by 30% while GPU performance has increased by 40%. Its AI performance is reported to have improved by 82% when compared to the Snapdragon 865.

It has been reported that the Dimensity 1300T will be exclusive to Honor for a while before appearing in devices from other brands. There are also speculations that the reason it is appearing first in a tablet instead of a smartphone is because of its high power consumption. Since tablets have significantly bigger battery capacities than phones, battery life shouldn’t be a problem.

 

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OnePlus 9, 9 Pro, 8T get OnePlus Store app and more via latest system update

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

OnePlus is rolling out a system update for three of its premium smartphones, namely the OnePlus 9,  the OnePlus 9 Pro, and the OnePlus 8T. The newer models are receiving the update in all the regions, whereas the older phone is getting it only in limited regions.

OnePlus 9 Pro All Colors Featured
OnePlus 9 Pro

The OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro are receiving a new software update known as OxygeOS 11.2.8.8. This update is being seeded with the following build numbers in different regions.

  • Oneplus 9

    • IN: 11.2.8.8.LE25DA
    • EU: 11.2.8.8.LE25BA
    • NA: 11.2.8.8.LE25AA

  • OnePlus 9 Pro

    • IN: 11.2.8.8.LE15DA
    • EU: 11.2.8.8.LE15BA
    • NA: 11.2.8.8.LE15AA

According to the official changelog, the latest update bumps up the security patches to July 2021, adds the Bitmoji AOD option, brings the OnePlus Store app (uninstallable), fixes some known issues, and improves stability.

On the other hand, the new update for OnePlus 8T arrives as OxygenOS 11.0.9.9. It is being seeded out in North American and Europe with the following build numbers.

  • OnePlus 8T

    • EU: 11.0.9.9.KB05BA
    • NA: 11.0.9.9.KB05AA

As per the official changelog, this incremental update brings fixes for Nightscape mode and some known issues. It also improves system stability and adds the uninstallable OnePlus Store app.

The latest software builds for these three smartphones are being rolled out in batches. Hence, they might take some time to reach every unit.

OnePlus 9, 9 Pro OxygenOS 11.2.8.8 Official Changelog

  • System
    • Updated Android security patch to 2021.07
    • Fixed known issues and improved stability
  • Ambient Display
    • Newly added Bitmoji AOD, co-designed by Snapchat & Bitmoji, which will liven up the ambient display with your personal Bitmoji avatar. Your avatar will update throughout the day based on your activity and things happening around you ( Path: Settings – Customization – Clock on ambient display – Bitmoji )
  • OnePlus Store
    • An intuitive and convenient way to manage your OnePlus account, get easy-to-access support, discover exciting members-only benefits, and shop for OnePlus products. (Please note that it can be uninstalled)

OnePlus 8T OxygenOS 11.0.9.9 Official Changelog

  • System
    • Improve stability and fixed known issues
  • Camera
    • Fixed the issue that the screen may flash when shooting in NIGHTSCAPE mode
  • OnePlus Store
    • An intuitive and convenient way to manage your OnePlus account, get easy-to-access support, discover exciting members-only benefits, and shop for OnePlus products. (Please note that it can be uninstalled)

 

 

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE won’t make it to the August 11 Unpacked event

By
Pranav Sawant
-

Earlier this month, a full specs sheet of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE surfaced online. Later, the phone’s color variants were leaked in the form of renders. Consequently, rumors had it that the phone is launching earlier than expected and could debut at the August 11 Unpacked event. Now, a new leak suggests that the phone won’t go on floors anytime soon.

According to Lets Go Digital, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE won’t make it to the Unpacked event scheduled for August 11. The publication claims that it has seen official documents from Samsung and out of the many devices launching, the S21 FE isn’t the one on the list.

Although not in August, the phone is still expected to launch this year. Earlier, the primary reason for delaying the launch was said to be chip shortages, but, it was later denied which gave us hope of its arrival. Now, yet again the phone’s launch is postponed and is now expected to launch by October this year.

Samsung fans need not worry as a bunch of other devices are slated to launch at the August 11 launch event. The devices expected to debut are Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy buds, the Watch 4 series.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Specifications 

Rumors are rife that the Galaxy S21 FE will feature a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution. It will be a 120Hz high refresh rate flat-screen panel with a higher-touch sampling rate.

It is expected to feature a triple rear camera setup with a 12MP primary lens, a 12MP secondary unit, and lastly an 8MP sensor. Upfront, it will boast a 32MP selfie camera system.

Under the hood, the smartphone is touted to come powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It will pack a 4,370mAh battery with support for quick charging speeds.

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Haylou RS3 smartwatch with GPS, heart rate sensor and 1.2-inch AMOLED display goes on sale for $69.99

By
Simranpal Singh
-

Haylou RS3 is the latest premium offering from Haylou which is a premium smartwatch maker. The new smartwatch is coupled with GPS, SPO2 monitor, 14 sports modes, and is 5ATM waterproof. The classy circular design smartwatch offers a premium look with its unique style and texture. It is now on sale via Youpin for the price of $69.99.

Must See: Haylou RT LS05S Smartwatch launched globally at $39.99 with a Revamped Design ($5 coupon inside)

Haylou RS3’s business design is carved out of metal while coupling an aluminium alloy frame and silicone strap. A 1.2-inch AMOLED display is present on board with 2.5D curved glass having a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels.

The GPS powered smartwatch is 5ATM proof which means it provides protection from water up to a depth of 50 meters. There’s a heart rate sensor on the board to collect 24 x 7 heart rate, and SPO2 monitor to measure the blood oxygen level. Moreover, other primary features include sleep tracking, step tracking and calories count.

Haylou RS3 smartwatch supports up to 14 sports activities including hiking, spinning, fast walking, running, free training, basketball, football, pool swimming, etc. It is a perfect smartwatch to count on all the utilities like call or message reminder feature, stopwatch, weather information, etc. However, the smartphone features a 230mAh battery which can last for 7 days with normal usage, 15 days with basic use mode and 25 hours with GPS mode.

It can effectively work in temperatures between 0-degree to 40-degree celsius. the smartwatch easily pairs with Android 4.4 and above, and iOS 8.0 and above versions.

Haylou RS3 smartwatch competes against the Amazfit Smart Sports Watch 2 and Amazfit GTR smartwatches.

The interested users can grab the smartwatch from the Youpin at a special price of $69.99.

Related: Deal: Buy Haylou LS05 Solar Smart Watch Global Version for $30 (Retail Price $50)

Blackview BL5000 rugged gaming smartphone launched with MediaTek 700 SoC and 6.39-inch display

By
Simranpal Singh
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Blackview always keeps stunning its fans with the launch of new innovative rugged smartphones. This time, the company has introduced Blackview BL5000 rugged gaming smartphone offering a flagship performance while exceeding the expectations at a reasonable price. The smartphone can smoothly run several high-end games without any performance lag.

Blackview is set to take over the rugged smartphone market once again with the launch of the BL5000 smartphone. It is an exceptional device carrying outstanding specifications including a dual 5G standby and 125-degree ultra-wide-angle camera.Let’s talk about the features one-by-one:

Must See: Blackview A100 fares well against the Redmi 10X 4G in the value for money race

Gaming Performance

Blackview BL5000 comes with powerful gaming hardware that allows you to enjoy it up to the fullest. The lag-free gameplay brings in a different level of comfort while playing Genshin Impact. It is an absolute delight for gamers.

Flawless Performance

Blackview BL5000 smartphone houses well-performing hardware that offers seamless 5G connectivity and performance. The network reliability and unrivalled download and upload speeds are ensured by the presence of 7nm octa-core MediaTek 700 SoC.

The smartphone comes with an 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. The presence of a 60Hz refresh rate and 120Hz touch sampling display improves the gaming experience. The whole setup is meant to offer flawless performance for graphics-intensive games which will load quicker and faster.

6.36-inch Immersive Display, Super Sound and Responsive Touch

Blackview BL5000 comes with a 6.36-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 1080 x 2300 pixels and an 84% screen-to-body ratio. The display support 400ppi density for crisp and clear depiction. The smartphone features a 1217 ultra-linear speaker with a 0.9cc large physical cavity for a punchy sound.

The presence of a cooling system coupled with 3D cooling pipes helps to dissipate heat and enable flawless performance.

Upgraded Doke OS 2.1

Blackview has added several new improvements and emphasised gaming with the Doke OS 2.1. The BL5000 smartphone houses a dedicated gaming mode that improves performance by limiting other tasks. It also blocks calls and notifications. Overall, there are several other improvements and optimizations that are part and parcel with Doke OS 2.1.

Large Battery with 30W fast charging

Blackview BL5000 smartphone houses a massive 5000 mAh battery coupled with 30W fast charging. It comes with an L-shaped charging cable to protect from the usual wear and tear. The battery supports up to 8 hours of gaming upon a single full charge. However, the battery can be fully charged within 80 minutes using its 30W fast charging technology.

Alternate to PS4 for the Trip

The smartphone could be the potential PS4 alternative if you planning to go on the trip. In the protection department, the Blackview BL5000 comes with a Corning Gorilla Glass 5, IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810G to protect against usual falls, water, and dust. It confirms the durability of the smartphone.

Detailed Photography even in Low Light

Blackview is continuously improving on the camera segment with some innovative features. The company always provide unmatched performance and quality at such competitive prices. Similarly, the Blackview BL5000 offers an accent over its previous cameras with an uncompromising photography quality.

The smartphone comes with a 16MP 125-degree ultra-wide sensor and 12MP Sony IMX362 for prompt and detailed images. There’s also a 16MP Samsung S5K3P9SP camera for low light selfies on the front. Its 16MP 125-degree ultra-wide camera sensor brings in better quality photos within a single frame.

Blackview BL5000 primary rear camera can record 2K videos. Other camera features include 2nd-gen HDR, Smart AI beauty, Super Night Mode, Portrait Color and Monochrome Mode.

Blackview BL5000 rugged gaming smartphone could be a perfect choice for gamers who often travel a lot. However, the pricing details are not yet live. For more information, you can head over to the official Blackview Website.

Related: Blackview AceBook1 laptop launches with metallic build, and 13-hours battery backup for $389.99

Nokia 1.3 starts receiving Android 11 Go Edition update

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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HMD Global announced the Nokia 1.3 in March 2020. It is an entry-level smartphone with modest specs. The handset debuted with Android 10 Go Edition. Now, nearly one and a half years after its release, the phone has started receiving Android 11 Go Edition update.

Nokia 1.3 Cyan Sand Featured
Nokia 1.3

According to the official announcement post (via GSMArena) on Nokia Phones Community, the Android 11 Go Edition update for the Nokia 1.3 is currently only available for users in Australia. The post states that the software build should be rolled out to 100% of the units by July 24, which happens to be today.

Unfortunately, HMD Global does not state when the remaining regions will be getting the update. However, it does say that the second wave will include all the regions. This means whenever the next wave rollout begins, the update should be available in all other markets.

As mentioned in the beginning, the Nokia 1.3 is an entry-level smartphone from the Finnish company. It features a 5.71-inch HD+ display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 chipset, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, single/dual-SIM, 4G, single-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, MicroUSB port, and a 3,000mAh removable battery.

Android 11 Go Edition is likely the first and the last major software update for this handset. But it should receive security updates for some time.

 

 

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POCO X2 bags MIUI 12.5 update in India

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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POCO X2 is the first smartphone from the company after it was spun off as an independent brand under Xiaomi Corporation. It is nothing but a rebranded Redmi K30 4G. Hence, it is also the first rebadged handset from POCO. Nearly one and a half years from its release, the device is now receiving MIUI 12.5 update.

Poco X2 Review 40
POCO X2

MIUI 12.5 is the latest version of Xiaomi’s mobile software. It was unveiled at the Mi 11 launch event at the end of December 2020. However, the company started rolling out stable builds only in late March 2021.

The Redmi K30 4G got this update in June. A month later, the update is now being seeded to POCO X2 in India. It arrives with build number V12.5.1.0.RGHINXM.

At the moment, the MIUI 12.5 update for POCO X2 is only available for a select few users. Because the software build is labeled as ‘Stable Beta’. In simpler words, it is being rolled out in batches and should reach all users in the coming days.

The POCO X2 debuted with MIUI 11 based on Android 10. The device was updated to MIUI 12 last year. It even received the Android 11 update earlier this year. Since the handset is less than two years old, it should also get the MIUI 13 update in the future.

 

 

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