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

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Jul 24, 2021

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)

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

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Jul 24, 2021

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

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Simranpal Singh

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Jul 24, 2021

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

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Simranpal Singh

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Jul 24, 2021

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

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Jul 24, 2021

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.

POCO X2 bags MIUI 12.5 update in India

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Jul 24, 2021

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.

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.

New Huawei Sound X Smart Speaker powered by HarmonyOS to launch on July 29

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Jul 24, 2021

Earlier, Huawei announced its Sound X speaker with deep bass in collaboration with Devialet. This year, Huawei will launch its upgraded model with HarmonyOS and a transparent shell. A teaser reveals that the new Huawei Sound X smart speaker will launch on July 29 alongside the Huawei P50 series.

The new Huawei Sound X smart speaker’s major highlight will be its design and the firmware it will run. According to the teaser video, the smart speaker has a transparent shell but does retain the old design. It seems to have RGB LED lights that reflect well, thanks to the transparent housing.

Moreover, the speaker still has the Devialet branding confirming the collaboration between Huawei and the french audio giant Devialet. Although it is not confirmed, the speaker is expected to boast a bass-boosted sound, just like the current Sound X speaker.

As said earlier, the new Huawei Sound X smart speaker will be powered by HarmonyOS. While the perks of having HarmonyOS on a speaker are yet to be known, we can at least expect convenient pairing with other Huawei phones that run on HarmonyOS.

Also, it is expected that the speaker will bring sound improvements over the predecessor.

In related news, Huawei this year, launched the Platinum Edition of the Sound X speaker with EMUI and features like dual woofers, 60W peak power and vibration amplitude of up to 20mm.

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Xiaomi beat Samsung to lead Russia Smartphone Market in June 2021

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Jul 24, 2021

Xiaomi has been growing its presence outside China for the past few years. Maintaining its position in India, the company is also aiming for first place in other markets. According to the latest information, the firm sold the most number of smartphones in Russia in the month of June.

As per the MTS Store chain in Russia, Xiaomi ranked first in terms of sales in the country in June. The company’s market share stood at 31.2%, closely followed by Samsung at 29.8%.

Whereas, Apple and realme came third (14.5%) and fourth (4.6%) respectively. That’s not all, the fifth place was acquired by Xiaomi’s sub-brand POCO with a 3.8% market share. Unsurprisingly, the Cupertino-based tech giant led the market in terms of monetary.

Additionally, an official from M.Video-Eldorado (retail chain) also reiterates that Xiaomi (including POCO) was the leader as per volume of sales in Russia in June. However, Samsung dominated the market in the first half of 2021 as well as the second quarter.

According to the official, Xiaomi not only has a well-balanced product range and good bargains but it has also become quite popular in Russia. That said, the remaining top five players other than Xiaomi and Samsung were Apple, realme, and HONOR.

M.Video-Eldorado estimates the Russia Smartphone Market around 300 billion rubles from January to June, which is 30% more than last year during the same period.

Nokia 110 4G feature phone makes its debut in India for Rs. 2799 (~$38)

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Jul 24, 2021

HMD Global continues to consolidate its grip in the feature phone market with the launch of the Nokia 110 4G in India. The phone was first launched alongside the Nokia 105 4G in Europe. It is an upgrade of the Nokia 110 which was launched in 2019 bringing only 2G support.

In an era where 2G is gradually being phased out, the Nokia 110 4G boasts 4G LTE connectivity as its standout feature. It isn’t the only feature phone in this segment. The Nokia 105 4G also has LTE capabilities as well as Transsion Holding’s itel Magic 2 4G that was launched recently.

The device sports a 1.8-inch LCD display with a resolution of 120 x 160 pixels. At the back, the device uses a polycarbonate body and sports a single 0.8MP QVGA camera. The device features 128MB RAM and a 48MB storage that can be expanded up to 32GB with a microSD card. The Nokia 110 4G also comes with a 3.5mm audio jack as well as an FM radio that doesn’t need a headphone jack to work. The phone also comes with a LED flashlight located at the top edge.Keeping the lights on is a decent 1,020mAh battery that supports up to 14 days of standby use in 4G while for voice calls, it can last up to 5 hours. This can be extended if the phone is used in 3G and when 2G is in use, the battery life can even last up to 16 hours of talk time and 18 days of standby.

The Nokia 110 4G is available in Black, Yellow, and Aqua colours. It carries an affordable price tag of Rs. 2799 (~$38). The feature phone will be on sale in India from today (July 24th) via Amazon.in and Nokia India’s website.

Fresh Motorola Edge 20 renders reveal a triple camera setup and punch hole design

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Jul 23, 2021

The upcoming Motorola Edge 20 series has been the subject of several leaks and teasers. With their launch still weeks away, a lot is already known about the devices. But this hasn’t prevented further leaks from popping up online. The latest leak by tipster OnLeaks has revealed some compelling renders of the Edge 20, showing some of its features.

The renders are similar to the image of the Edge 20 and Edge 20 Pro which appeared on China’s TENAA database earlier this month. Only that we get to see the front camera clearly and how the device looks in a different pain job. It is speculated that the renders are for the global edition of the Edge 20. They reveal a triple camera setup at the rear and a 32MP front camera embedded under a centrally located punch hole. The triple rear camera setup is signposted by a 108MP primary camera, a 16MP ultra-wide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto lens. There is a LED flash behind the third lens.

The Lenovo-owned Motorola Edge 20 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G chipset. The base model of the Edge 20 will come with 6GB-rated RAM and 128GB of storage. The 8GB RAM version could come with up to 256GB of internal storage.

The renders show a punch-hole that is about 1.7mm thick to add to the 8.9mm thickness of the device on the whole. The 6.7-inch screen is an FHD+ display with a 120Hz display refresh rate. Slim bezels adorn the device, and there is a fingerprint scanner on the right side of the device, which also is the power button for the device.

The Motorola Edge 20 does not have a 3.5mm audio jack. Hence you can only listen to music via a wireless connection. In addition, it sports a 4,000mAh battery, but we are not clear what juice the study packs on a full charge.

The exact launch date for the Motorola Edge 20 is still under wraps but there are speculations that it will be launched by the end of July. We expect to know the pricing and global availability details when the models are launched.

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Apple AirPods 3 expected at the brand’s annual iPhone September launch

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Jul 23, 2021

As we move to H2 of this year, Apple rumors have started getting some pace. Just like every year, Apple is expected to hold a launch event for its smartphones sometime in September. Apart from smartphones, the Californian tech giant is also expected to launch the third generation of the AirPods dubbed the Apple AirPods 3. Last time we heard that suppliers have already started shipping components of the AirPods 3 moving us closer to its release.

The report from Digitimes states that the new Airpods 3 model will meet us at the same time as the iPhone 13 launch later this year. It further states that the Airpods 3 will not see major price hike and its demand is expected to be high given that the iPhone 13 series won’t come with a set of headphones inside the box.

An image reveals also the Apple AirPods 3 in all its glory. Surprisingly, the earbuds have a universal design. Instead of the rubber tips seen in the AirPods Pro, the AirPods 3 will flaunt an original AirPod-like design. It will come with a short stem and a sensor, microphone on the front. The image showcases the earbuds in the standard White color shade.

The AirPods 3 is expected to come powered by a new chipset and is said to support Apple Music Lossless Audio. Additionally, the earbuds are expected to come with good battery life as compared to the AirPods 2.

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MIUI 13’s Memory Expansion feature will allow for 3GB of additional RAM

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Jul 23, 2021

A few days back, a leak about the upcoming MIUI 13 surfaced online. It revealed some key features and improvements of the software over the current MIUI 12. The new MIUI 13 feature list also included memory expansion, but the feature wasn’t detailed before. Today, a fresh leak has shed some light on its usability and suggested how it will work in real scenarios.

According to the leak, the memory expansion feature will be similar to the virtual RAM feature seen in Oppo and Vivo smartphones. It will allow any Xiaomi device to get an additional 3GB of RAM apart from the standard RAM on the phone. Basically, it will use the phone’s storage as RAM when the feature is turned on.

As per a screenshot from the settings page of a Xiaomi phone, there will just be a toggle to turn the feature on or off. The feature is said to help old Xiaomi phones having a limited amount of RAM.

Apart from this, the upcoming MIUI 13 is expected to come with some visual changes. Rumors have it that the upcoming UI will bring new animations, new app icons, and a game floating window.

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Mercedes-Benz plans to go all-electric by 2030: teases the VISION EQXX EV with ~1,000km range

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Jul 23, 2021

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has carved a niche for itself as a traditional luxury car maker with power and speed mixed with elegance. The automaker has already extended its impeccable record to the EV market, and it is fast asserting its presence.

Mercedes-Benz today provided a teaser for its well-kitted upcoming all-electric car, the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX, showing a range of well above 1,000km (620 miles) as well as other ultra-efficient features. However, the current range of the vehicle falls below what Mercedes-Benz stated last year when it announced the model (1,2000km).

Mercedes-Benz plans to produce all-electric vehicles before 2030, and the German automaker is vigorously pursuing the set milestones and timelines to accomplish the plan. In a tweet today, the company stated that the Vision EQXX reflects the company’s ambition to create the most efficient car. The development plans for the EQXX targets a single-digit figure for Kwh per 100km at typical highway driving speeds. This translates to about 6 miles/Kwh, which is impressive.

Mercedes-Benz also stated that the project involves a multidisciplinary team of experts from the company’s Formula 1 High-Performance Powertrain (HPP) division in bringing the Vision EQXX to the roads by 2022. It is, however, unclear whether a commercial version of the Vision EQXX is being considered. Mercedes-Benz has stated that the model will serve as a guide in developing its overall EV production architecture.

Efficiency in EV is one area that will continue to evolve as the leading EV makers continue to tinker their models for greater mileage per Kwh and a greater range of vehicles. Concept vehicles like the EQXX provide benchmarks for the development of commercially efficient models.

As stated earlier, Mercedes-Benz has put in solid plans to go all-electric by 2030. The company announced new electrification plans today. The detailed plan includes milestones and timelines like a launch of three new all-electric architectures by 2025, installation of more than 200 Gigawatt hours, and 8 Gigafactories. The company plans to begin production post-2025 when the EV manufacturing infrastructure would have been in place.

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Panasonic’s latest Toughbook G2 2-in-1 PC features an 18.5h battery life & a modular design

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