Amazon launches the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) in India for Rs. 11,499 (~$155)

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Aug 26, 2021

In May this year, US e-commerce giant Amazon launched the Echo Show 8 alongside the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 5 Kids. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) has now been launched for the Indian market.

The Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) packs a decent 8’-inch HD screen with adaptive color, providing an enhanced display experience. The device also packs a better 13-megapixel camera which combines with the dual stereo speakers to deliver an optimal audio-visual experience.

Just like Amazon’s previous offerings, the Echo Show 8 comes with Alexa support. The means with just a voice command, you can watch your favorite TV series or movies from Amazon Prime Video and Netflix or stream your favorite music from Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music, Hungama music, or Gaana. The Alexa voice assistant will equally now show users music playlists or recommend stations based on the song playing on Amazon Prime Music or Spotify, making it easier to discover your next favorite artist or song. It also offers on-screen lyrics while playing songs from Amazon Prime Music.

Further, the Echo Show 8 allows users to remotely monitor the home and view live video feed from either a connected smartphone or other connected Echo Show devices. The device also functions as a hub that lets users set up and control multiple Wi-Fi-connected smart home gadgets like smart bulbs, AC, smart TV, fans, and others.

Thanks to Alexa, the Echo Show 8 can be used to make hands-free video calls with other persons having an Alexa app or other Echo Show devices. You won’t have to worry about staying inside the frame while on a video call as the camera features an auto framing feature that can pan and zoom to make sure you and your family are always in frame.

The device also arrives with several layers of privacy protection such as microphone and camera controls as well as the ability to view and delete your voice recordings. You can also mechanically cover the camera.

As for the price, Amazon will retail the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) in India for Rs. 13,999 (~$188) but will get a limited-time discount of Rs. 11,499 (~$155). The device will be available in Black and White colors.

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Oppo AI assistant Breeno reveals ColorOS 12 release date

By

Abhinav

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Aug 26, 2021

The ColorOS 12 has been doing rounds of the internet for quite some time now. Earlier, it was rumoured to release in August. However, a new leak suggests that the next version of ColorOS might be released in September.

coloros 12 weibo comment — Source: Weibo

According to a post on Weibo, Oppo’s AI assistant Breeno revealed the exact date and time for ColorOS 12 reveal. The assistant gave the exact date and time of the release when asked, “When will ColorOS 12 will be released?”. According to the image shared by the tipster, the next version of ColorOS is all set to be released on September 13 at 3 PM (GMT +8). However, later the response was changed to “coming soon, please stay tuned~ “.

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The ColorOS 12 is expected to bring a similar feature to Huawei’s Multi Screen Collaboration. The feature is rumoured to be dubbed ColorOS Cross-Screen Interconnection. It is expected to be initially limited to China as a part of beta testing, but it could be released globally at a later stage with ColorOS 12 rollout. It supports instant connection, cross-device file transfer, clipboard sharing, image sync, and message sync.

Earlier, Digital Chat Station suggested that the ColorOS 12 would be bringing major UI design changes. The upcoming version of ColorOS is expected to bring some features from OnePlus’ Hydrogen OS.

Oppo recently hired the former Product Manager at Smartisan, Zhu Haizhou. Haizhou joined Oppo’s software development team and has been in charge of the product line at Oppo. Also, Oppo merged with OnePlus earlier this year, merging software teams of both companies. Further, it has been reported that Oppo hired several Smartisan and Meizu employees to boost its software development. So, the ColorOS 12 is being developed by a group of ColorOS engineers, FlymeOS, HydrogenOS, and Smartisan OS teams.

Meanwhile, ColorOS 11 has been doing pretty good lately. Oppo’s current software version has received pretty good reviews around the globe, and the company is also providing regular updates to the users.

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Renders of the Vivo X70 Pro+ show a curved display and L-shaped quad cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 26, 2021

Yesterday, we got an early look at the Vivo X70 and the Vivo X70 Pro thanks to renders posted on the web. Now, the same source has shared renders of the topmost model, the Vivo X70 Pro+.

For this leak, Steve Hemmerstoffer has partnered with the Indian blog, Price Baba. The renders show the phone from various angles, and while Vivo tries to keep the design similar to that of the Vivo X70 Pro, there are still significant differences between both phones.

The X70 Pro+ has a curved display and in the middle is a punch hole for the front-facing camera. The display will most likely be AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate like that of the Vivo X60 Pro+. However, OnLeaks says that the screen is now bigger at 6.7 inches.

On the back, the Vivo X70 Pro+ has four cameras – three of them are stacked vertically on top of each other while the fourth, which has a periscope zoom lens flanks the third camera on the right. The camera housing also has a pill-shaped LED flash and the ZEISS branding.

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To further differentiate the X70 Pro+ from the X60 Pro+, Vivo has covered the back of the phone next to the camera module in a gray sheet, so it looks like the camera housing extends across the whole width of the back of the phone. This additional layer is said to have a thickness of 0.4mm. We have seen a similar design on a number of phones such as the OnePlus 8T CyberPunk 2077 Limited Edition, POCO M3, Red Magic 6R, and the Nubia Z30 Pro. You can even add the Mi 11 Ultra to the list but it makes the best use of the space by putting a small display there.

The Vivo X70 Pro+ has its volume control and power buttons on the right side of the frame while the USB-C port and SIM tray are at the bottom. The phone’s dimensions are 164.8 x 75.5 x 9 millimeters (11.3mm when you add the camera module).

The Vivo X70 Pro+ is said to have a Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1080p resolution according to a Google Play listing. It has also been reported that it will have support for 65W fast charging.

Vivo is yet to announce a release date for the phone but an earlier report revealed that it will launch in India in September.

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Xiaomi will slow down Charging on phones with Unofficial Batteries in China

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 26, 2021

Looks like Xiaomi is about getting in the news for the wrong reasons. Recall how Samsung and Apple were discovered to slow down their phones with ageing batteries and even sanctioned in Italy? Looks like Xiaomi is about taking a similar step, if the latest discovery by XDA Developers is anything to go by.

The guys at XDA discovered a set of code within the recently released Mi Security app version 5.6.0, bringing new battery care and charging settings. The settings contain clues that Xiaomi will start issuing a warning and lower the charging speed if the MIUI OS detects that the smartphone has an “unauthorized” battery installed under the hood. The warning prompt includes instructions that only authorized service providers should replace the phone’s battery. There is also another warning that using an “unauthorized” battery can result in damage to the device or harm the user.

The code also shows that this new warning will only be restricted to users in China and will be specific to the Mi 9, Mi 10, and Mi 10 Pro. Thankfully, the warning won’t be shown to users of the affected models or any other Xiaomi phone in other regions. However, it cannot be confirmed if the warning has started affecting users of the models in China.

We cannot say if Xiaomi won’t replicate this in the future in other markets but believe there may be legitimate reasons why the company would want to do this. The models in question are equipped with fast charging technology and the third-party battery, some of which may be substandard, may not be able to handle the fast charging speed. This could then result in battery swelling, overheating, or leakage which may result to fire and other hazards.

But then, issuing a warning is one thing, slowing down the charging speed of the phones is a different game entirely. Of course, replacing it with a third-party battery automatically voids whatever warranty the users may have. Thus, Xiaomi isn’t supposed to be liable for any damage that will occur, bearing in mind that there are good third-party accessories out there. Also, getting a battery replacement from an authorized service center may not be feasible, even in China where Xiaomi accessories are in high demand.

There is no clue on how Xiaomi will detect third-party batteries on the phones but Apple’s own warning is triggered by a micro-controller that can only be configured by authorized Apple technicians. It is possible Xiaomi is deploying the same mechanism.

We expect Xiaomi to issue a statement clarifying why they want to toe this path and if this feature will roll out outside China to other markets like Europe and India.

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realme DIZO tipped to launch 7 products in India in September

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Aug 26, 2021

DIZO is the first and currently the only brand under realme TechLife. Since its inception in late May, the brand has already released a bunch of products. According to the latest information, the brand will be launching 7 new products in India next month.

As per a report by 91Mobiles, DIZO will be announcing seven products in India in September. It’s not surprising as the brand has been testing new launches on social media for the past few days.

The report says that the company will be launching three truly wireless earphones, two smartwatches, and two unknown products. Two TWS earbuds were already tipped a few days back. One of them is even said to have support for ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).

Further, we don’t know anything about smartwatches. However, we believe that one of the two mysterious products could be a soundbar.

Having said that, like the previous DIZO products, the upcoming devices could also be rebranded realme products. Also, we expect to learn more about them before their official announcement via teasers, certifications, and leaks.

DIZO is yet to schedule a launch event for its forthcoming 7 products for India. Since September is just a week away, the brand might soon reveal the date for its next conference.

Samsung wants foldable phones to become mainstream in high end market

By

Sean

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Aug 26, 2021

With the recent launch of the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3, Samsung has lowered the prices for the new foldable smartphones even further. The company expects these devices to become more common in the high end segments of the smartphone market.

While the Galaxy Z Fold2 launched for 1,999 US Dollars back in 2020, the newly released Galaxy Z Fold3 costs 1,799 US Dollars at launch. In other words, the company is clearly working on making these devices more affordable and available to the broader audience. According to DigiTimes, the South Korean tech giant even cited a Strategy Analytics report that estimated that the global demand for foldable phones will reach 6.5 million units in 2021, which is nearly three times higher than a year prior.

Furthermore, the report added that foldable phone shipments is expected to surpass 100 million units by the year 2025. Notably, the Galaxy Z Flip3 that was launched alongside the Fold model is cheaper of the two and arrives with a price tag of around 1,000 US Dollars. This puts it in a price point similar to many premium grade flagship handsets like iPhones or even Samsung Galaxy S series models. The brand added that high end handsets are becoming more ‘demassified’ and each new model series has its own target customers.

Additionally, Jacob Chen, Samsung Taiwan Vice President, stated that the brand has doubled their budget for marketing of the new foldable phones this year, compared to that for the Note series. He added that the push in promotion seeks to elevate the new foldable devices’ sales to a level seen by the Note series last year. Chen also said that the company is confident in seeing higher sales, with sales already exceeding expectations in South Korea.

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Apple denies stealing trade secrets, while Masimo CEO accuses Tim Cook

By

Sean

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Aug 26, 2021

Back in January 2020, we had reported on Apple being accused of stealing Health Monitoring technology for its smartwatch. Now, this lawsuit battle has been waging for nearly two years with no end in sight.According to a Bloomberg report, the Cupertino based giant has denied Masimo’s accusations of stealing its trade secrets for the Apple Watch. Masimo CEO, Joe Kiani, has stated that “I’ve been through three major litigations,” but he believes that the known smartphone maker is taking this battle to another level. He further added that the company is “refusing to even play by the rules set by the court.” Meanwhile, Masimo, a signal processing technology maker for health care monitors, accused the brand of stealing its trade secrets through the hiring of one of its former executives.

The legal battle has been stalled for nearly two years, as the iPhone maker challenges the validity of the patent and disputes over access to information. Kiani said that these delays had prompted him to file a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) to block the imports of the Watch Series 6 as well. For those unaware, Apple had hired Masimo’s chief technology officer, Marcelo Lamego, at Cercacor (Masimo’s subsidiary) and had allegedly filed new patents under his own name that were previously filed by Masimo.

Furthermore, Kiani also stated that Apple’s CEO Tim Cook might have been personally involved in the hiring of the Cercacor executive as well. Kiani added that “Patents began publishing with Marcelo Lamego as inventor. He had patented things, some of the things we had done 20 years ago and were in our products. This was worse than we thought. That’s when we first sued Apple.”

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Samsung may launch the next Galaxy Z Fold with a roll out display: Patent

By

Sean

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Aug 26, 2021

Samsung has just recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 foldable smartphones. Now, a new patent has revealed that the company might be working on another Galaxy Z Fold model that could feature a roll out display.

The South Korean tech giant filed the new patent for a foldable smartphone that sports an extendable display. The patent arrives with various product sketches as well, which offers us a look at what this device might look like. Looking at these images, the handset resembles the Galaxy Z Fold3 that has an inward folding design with a large primary screen. However, LetsGoDigital dubbed this device as “Galaxy Z Fold & Roll” as it also sports a roll out display.

While the design is similar to the Galaxy Z Fold3, its extendable roll out display makes it clearly distinct from any foldable phone out in the market right now. Samsung has patented two variants of this device. With Model A, the screen rolls out and extends from the right side when the device is folded, while Model B has the display extend from the left side when folded. To put it simply, this device does not have an external display, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold3, however, the extending display could fill this role by offering users the same functionality.

Although it is unknown what exact purpose this small rolled out display has, but it is likely to offer users a simple way of checking notifications and other key information like time without unfolding the smartphone completely. Keep in mind that this is still just a patent and we have knowing if the company is actually working on such a device or just covering all bases. So take this report with a pinch of salt for now.

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Purported Vivo Y15s could be Vivo’s first Helio G35 SoC phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 26, 2021

A mysterious Vivo smartphone with V2120A has emerged at the Geekbench benchmarking site (via Nashville Chatter Class). The publication claims that the V2120A was found listed with the Vivo Y15s moniker in the IMEI database. Here is all the information that has surfaced through the Geekbench listing of the purported Y15s.

The purported Vivo Y15s’ Geekbench appearance shows that it is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 chip, which is mentioned as MT6765V/CB in the listing. The SoC is coupled with 2 GB of RAM. Vivo has never launched a phone with this chipset before. Hence, it seems that the Y15s will debut as Vivo’s first phone with Helio G35 chip.

The smartphone is preinstalled with Android 11 OS. It scored 150 in the single-core test and 549 in the multi-core test. The other specifications of the smartphone are not known yet. Also, it is unclear which markets will be receiving the handset.

Vivo has recently launched the Vivo Y21 and Vivo Y33s smartphones in India. Recent reports have revealed that Vivo is working on a couple of new phones for different markets. The Helio P35 powered Vivo Y21s has recently received FCC certification, which indicates it may debut soon.

The Vivo X70, X70 Pro, and X70 Pro+ smartphones are expected to launch in India, China, and some other markets in September. The mysterious Vivo V2130A and V2131A smartphones with Dimensity 900 chipset are also expected to debut soon since they have been spotted at the Google Play Console.

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Xiaomi 11T, 11T Pro to feature side-facing fingerprint scanner

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 26, 2021

The Xiaomi 11T series of flagship smartphones are expected to launch in the coming month. While our exclusive report claimed that it will go official on Sept. 23, Xiaomi has already teased a launch event that is scheduled to take place on Sept. 15. Reliable tipster Digital Chat Station took to Weibo to share the key specifications of the 11T models once again.

The new Weibo post just reiterates what he and other tipsters have revealed before. The Mi 11T duo will support Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The predecessor Mi 10T models came with LCD panels that offered a 144Hz refresh rate. The reduced refresh rate on Mi 11T lineup will be compensated by including an OLED panel on both models.

The Dimensity 1200 chipset is expected to power the 11T and 11T Pro smartphones. The vanilla model will feature a 64-megapixel triple camera system, whereas the Pro model will sport a 108-megapixel triple camera unit. The tipster claims that both models will feature vertically arranged triple cameras. A slender flash and an unknown sensor will be available on the right side of the cameras. The camera layout will be similar to the Vivo X70.

The tipster also revealed the 11T models will feature a side-facing fingerprint scanner. Earlier this week, a schematic of the 11T was found in its FCC certification documents. The image did suggest that its right edge could be featuring a power key integrated with a fingerprint sensor. To recollect, the predecessor models sported a side-facing fingerprint sensor.

A premature retailer listing of the Mi 11T series revealed that both devices will be available in 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variants in Europe. It may arrive in colors like Celestial Blue, Moonlight White, and Meteor Grey. The two variants of the 11T were listed for r £633.96 (~$871) and £660.95 (~$908), whereas the two variants of the Mi 11T Pro were listed for £758.69 (~$1,042) and £785.42 (~$1,079).

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Xiaomi launches Mi 360° Home Security Camera, Running Shoes, and Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition in India

By

Sean

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Aug 26, 2021

Xiaomi has just announced a number of new products (1,2) in India. Through its Mi India brand, the company has released new IoT (Internet of Things) products in the region, which includes a new home security camera, WiFi router, and even running shoes as well.

Mi 360° Home Security Camera 2K Pro

The company has just launched a series of new electronic products in India and one of the new electronic gadget includes the Mi 360° Home Security Camera 2K Pro. This product is an upgraded security solution that the Chinese tech giant has designed to ensure the users’ safety. The security camera arrives equipped with a F1.4 aperture and 6P Lens that records at 2K resolution for better details and sharper videos. It features a high sensitivity image sensor that displays color video even in low light conditions as well.

Furthermore, the low light recordings are also enhanced by the 940nm infrared light sensor. The device supports dual band WiFi connectivity and supports 2.4Ghz and 5GHz frequencies. The Mi 360° Home Security Camera 2K Pro also offers physical privacy shield that blocks its lens once it is switched off from the Mi Hope app. It even offers 2 way voice calling along with active noise reduction technology while offering a full 360° horizontal coverage with a 118° FOV. The device supports microSD local storage, along with free 7 days of rolling cloud storage and NAS storage as well.

Xiaomi Running Shoes

Interestingly, the brand has also launched new running shoes as well. These running shoes are designed to power the users’ run by offering a “perfect balance of comfort and functionality.” It is made by 4D fly woven upper and herringbone locking system, which allows one’s feet to breathe easily. The shoes are crafted with a 5 in 1 uni molding technology that combines 4 different components in a single mold to offer lasting durability.

The new running shoes is ergonomically designed with dynamic energy absorption with anti twist feature that help in smooth landing without it slipping from the user’s foot, which could cause twists and injuries. Additionally, the shoes also offers a 3M reflective Xiaomi logo at the back and the laces for added night visibility and Microban protection against odor causing microbes and bacteria. The shoes will be available in three colors, namely Blue, Gray, and Black.

Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition

One of the new products includes the Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition. The new router arrives with a minimalist design that is made to blend into any part of the house. It is a fibre optic full Gigabit router that has an overall bandwidth of 1167 Mbs speed for faster and smoother internet connection. The router’s signals can also pass through walls thanks to its 4 High Gain omni directional Antennas and Integrated signal amplifiers that improve transmission performance.

Impressively, the device is capable of being connected to up to 128 smart home devices at the same time. Since the router supports dual band frequencies, it can offer 300Mbps over its 2.4Ghz band and 867Mbps from its 5GHz band. This makes it an ideal router for streaming, gaming, and video calling among various other workloads. The new WiFi router can be set up with the Mi WiFi App that enables the user to control it from anywhere.

Price and Availability

The Xiaomi Running Shoe will be available for crowdfunding on the official Mi website in India starting from August 26, while the Mi Router and Mi 360° Home Security Camera will be available on Amazon India, Flipkart, and authorized retail stores starting from September 15. So, here’s the pricing of these new products:

Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition – 2,199 INR (roughly 30 US Dollars)
Mi 360° Home Security Camera 2K Pro – 4,499 INR (roughly 60 US Dollars)
Xiaomi Running Shoe – 2,699 INR (roughly 36 US Dollars)

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Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro, Mi Notebook Ultra launched in India with up to 3.2K 90Hz display, 11th Gen Intel CPUs, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Aug 26, 2021

Xiaomi has finally launched the Mi Notebook Pro and the Mi Notebook Ultra in India at the Smarter Living 2022 event. These laptops sound similar to the RedmiBook Pro 14 and RedmiBook Pro 15 released in China earlier this year. Let’s take a look at what these new computers have to offer and how much they cost.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro / Ultra Specifications and Features

The latest Xiaomi laptops for India feature an aluminum alloy body and come in a grey color finish. The Pro model weighs 1.46kg and measures 17.3mm in thickness. The numbers for the Ultra model are 1.79kg and 17.9mm respectively.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro Featured A — Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro

Both the notebooks arrive in three variants. The base version is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11300H processor paired with 8GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD. The mid version has the same configuration but comes with 16GB RAM. Whereas, the top variant gets a more powerful 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11370H processor with the same amount of RAM and storage as the mid variant.

The primary differences between the two laptops are display and battery. The Pro model sports a 14-inch 2.5K LCD panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixel, 215 PPI, 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% sRGB color gamut, 300 nits brightness, DC dimming, and TÜV Rheinland low blue light emission certification. On the other hand, the display on the Ultra model is larger at 15.6-inch and has a higher resolution of 3.2K (3200 x 2000 pixels) with 242 PPI and 90Hz refresh while retaining all other features of the screen on the lower model.

Talking about ports, the laptops arrive with 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, and 1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack. On the connectivity front, the two computers support WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Further, they feature a 3-level backlit keyboard with a scissor mechanism, 1.3mm key travel, and a dedicated macro key. For audio, they use 2 x 2W stereo speakers with support for DTS Audio. Other features include a 720p HD webcam and a fingerprint sensor with support for Windows Hello.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Ultra Featured B — Xiaomi Mi Notebook Ultra

As for software, they run Microsoft Windows 10 and ship with Microsoft Office 2019 and Mi SmartShare pre-installed. They are upgradable to Windows 11 when the update will be ready.

Last but not least, though the two computers support 65W fast charging, the Pro model is backed by a 56Whr battery as opposed to a 70Whr battery inside the Ultra model.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro / Ultra Price and Availability

The new Xiaomi laptops will retail for the following price tags in India.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro

i5-11300H, 8GB + 512GB – ₹56,999 ($769)
i5-11300H, 16GB + 512GB – ₹59,999 ($809)
i7-11370H, 16GB + 512GB – ₹72,999 ($984)

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Ultra

i5-11300H, 8GB + 512GB – ₹59,999 ($809)
i5-11300H, 16GB + 512GB – ₹63,999 ($863)
i7-11370H, 16GB + 512GB – ₹76,999 ($1,038)

Both the computers will be available for purchase starting August 31. They can be bought from either Mi.com, Mi Home stores, Amazon India, or partner retail stores. Customers can avail a discount of up to ₹4,500 on HDFC Bank cards.

Xiaomi sees record high 64% growth in revenue in Q2 2021

By

Sean

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Aug 26, 2021

Xiaomi has just shared a new financial report that shows the results for the second quarter of this year. During this period, the company saw a record high growth in revenue, which grew by a sizeable 64 percent year on year.

The Chinese tech giant shared the news on its blog on the official website while the company’s Founder and CEO Lei Jun also shared some key figures on his Twitter handle. In the quarter than ended on June 2021, Xiaomi saw a 64 percent growth over the same period back in 2020. Furthermore, even its net income rose by a significant 80 percent year on year as well. The brand also stated that its smartphone business’ revenue reached 9.1 billion US Dollars.

The company saw this notable jump thanks to its 52.9 million smartphone sales unit in the second quarter, which even had it overtake the Cupertino based giant Apple to become the second largest smartphone maker. During Q2 2021, Xiaomi generated 87.8 billion Yuan in total revenue (roughly 13.5 billion US Dollars) along with 6.3 billion Yuan in net profit (roughly 971 million US Dollars). Furthermore, it even managed to ship over 12 million premium grade flagship smartphones out of its total 52.9 million units sold in Q2.

The brand’s lead the IoT product and services markets in 22 countries and ranked 1st in Europe and Southeast Asia for the first time. Its overseas IoT and Lifestyle products also saw a revenue growth of 93.8 percent year on year, while its overseas internet services revenue also grew by 96.8 percent as well. Notably, the company even invested heavily in this quarter, which rose by 56.5 percent from the previous year.

In June 2021, the company also recorded 454 million active monthly users for its MIUI platform, which was up by 32.1 percent over last year. Additionally, in the first half of this year, the retail prices at or above 3,000 Yuan (roughly 462 US Dollars) were the most common in mainland China, while around the 350 US Dollars mark was the most common price bracket for its overseas market.

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Deal: Buy UGREEN 65W 4 Port GaN Charger for $29 (Retail Price $45)

By

Daily Deals

-

Aug 26, 2021

UGREEN 65W 4 Port GaN Charger which generally retails for $45 is now available at a heavily discounted price of $29.09 only at AliExpress EOS Sale. This deal ends in two days.

WHERE TO BUY

UGREEN 65W 4 Port GaN Charger at $29.09 (after discount)@AliExpress

UGREEN 65W 4 Port GaN Charger

Key Features:

3C1A GaN 65W PD Charger
30% smaller in size
65% higher power
Strong insertion and stable connection
4 Ports: 3 x USB-C , 1 x USB-A
Power multiple devices simultaneously
65W Power Delivery: Fully charge MacBook Pro 13” in 1.5 hours only
Charges iPhone 11 Pro and others to 50% in just 30 mins
GaN Technology: Smaller Size, Higher Efficiency and Power, Less Heat
Supports full Quick charge protocols
Compatible with PD/QC/FCP/SCP/PPS/AFC
Universal compatibility: Huawei, Xiaomi, iPhone, Samsung, Google, LG, Apple MacBook, Huawei MateBook, Honor MagicBook, Samsung NoteBook, Lenovo ThinkPad, etc.
Compatible with iPad and Nintendo Switch
Intelligent Protection functions for Temperature, Short Circuit, Over Voltage, Electro Static, Over Power, Over Current, etc.

Generally retailing for $45, you can now buy UGREEN 65W 4 Port GaN Charger at a discounted price of $29.09 only at AliExpress. Please note that this price is applicable to the EU Variant without 100W PD cable. You can also buy the same with the PD cable but at a higher cost. So make sure to check the variant and bundle before you place your order. This deal ends in two days. 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.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 launched with 1.56-inch AMOLED display, 14-day battery life, health sensors

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 26, 2021

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 has finally arrived in India. It was announced first in China back in April. Since then, Mi fans in India have been eagerly waiting for the arrival of the smart band in India. The company announced the Mi Band 6 in India today through the Mi Smarter Living 2022 event. Here is all the information on the specifications, features, and pricing of the Mi Band 6.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 specifications and features

The Mi Smart Band 6 features a 1.56-inch AMOLED display that delivers a resolution of 152 x 486 pixels, 450 nits brightness, and 326 ppi pixel density. It has a 125mAh battery that supports magnetic charging. The company claims that it can deliver up o 14 days of battery life and it takes around 2 hours to charge it completely.

Coming to the health features, the Mi Band 6 offers features like 30 fitness modes, PPG heart rate sensor, sleep tracking menstrual cycle tracking, SpO2 tracking, PAI vitality index assessment, idle alerts, step counter, goal setting, breathing exercises, and auto-detection for 6 common fitness activities. It offers other features such as 80 watch faces, app alerts, notifications for calls/messages, music control, find my phone, and a camera remote shutter.

The Mi Smart Band 6 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and it is compatible with Android 5.0 or above and iOS 10.0 or higher devices. Lastly, the Mi Smart Band 6 comes with a plastic case, tempered glass with anti-fingerprint coating, an aluminium alloy buckle, 50ATM water resistance, and 5 different colour straps.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 price in India

The Mi Smart Band 6 has arrived in India with a pricing of Rs 3,499 (~$47). Its firs sale will be carried out on Aug. 30 through Mi.com, Amazon India, and Mi Home. It will be also available through retail stores. Owners of existing Mi Bands (Mi Band 1 to Band 5) can take advantage of Rs 500 while purchasing the Mi Band 6.

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realme GT Master Explorer Edition may not launch in India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Aug 26, 2021

Chinese handset maker realme launched the realme GT Master Edition series in its home country in late July. The lineup includes two models, namely realme GT Master Edition and realme GT Master Explorer Edition. The former device made its way to India a few days back. However, the latter may not release in the region.

The realme GT Master Explorer Edition was recently spotted on Google Play Console and Google Supported Devices list. Hence, the device could launch in global markets.

But it looks like the smartphone may not release in India. This piece of information comes directly from a deleted tweet (via MySmartPrice) of Francis Wong, CMO of Realme India. Anyway, the phone might release in other international markets.

Talking about features, the realme GT Master Explorer Edition is better than the vanilla Master Edition in many aspects. It has a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset and a larger 6.55-inch curved AMOLED display. This Samsung panel supports 120Hz refresh rate, 480Hz touch sampling rate, 6,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 92.1% screen-to-body ratio, 1,100 nits peak brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

The handset also has an updated triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor with OIS, a 16MP ultra-wide unit, and 2MP macro snapper. For selfies and video calls, the phone uses a 32MP shooter. Last but not least, it is backed by a slightly larger 4,500mAh battery.

It would have been nice if this smartphone made its way to India. Anyway, customers can consider buying the OnePlus 9 RT, which is said to come with a similar set of features.

Vivo leads in 5G smartphone shipments in the Asia Pacific market: Report

By

Sean

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Aug 26, 2021

Vivo has become the leading 5G smartphone brand in the Asia Pacific market for the first time ever in the second quarter of this year. Interestingly, three of the top five 5G smartphone brands in the region were also from China.

According to a Strategy Analytics report, the Chinese smartphone maker lead the Asia Pacific market, with an annual shipment growth of a whopping 215 percent year on year. Furthermore, the Asia Pacific 5G handset shipments have also more than doubled since the same period from last year, marking a 110 percent growth annually. Meanwhile, Xiaomi arrives second in 5G smartphone shipments in the region.

Yiwen Wu, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics stated that “Vivo has grown past Xiaomi, OPPO and Apple over the course of the past year to take the top spot in 5G smartphones. Vivo has capitalized on the decline of Huawei, which in the year-ago quarter sold more than half of all 5G smartphones in the Asia Pacific region, but has virtually disappeared from the market. The combination of leading technology and affordable prices have made Vivo’s smartphones, such as its iQOO U3 5G and iQOO 7 5G, the most popular 5G devices in the region.”

Notably, other Chinese brands also saw great growth in the region during this time. Similar to Vivo and Xiaomi, Oppo arrived third in 5G smartphone shipments in Asia Pacific market. In other words, the top three brands were Chinese while their recent handset offerings were quite successful in the market. This also marks an explosive rise in demand for 5G phones and an intensifying competition in the region.

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Xiaomi Mi TV 5X in 43-inch, 50-inch, and 55-inch models launched in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 26, 2021

Xiaomi has announced the Mi TV 5X series in India today through Mi Smarter Living 2022 mega launch event. Through the same platform, the company announced other products like Mi Band 6 fitness tracker, Mi Notebook Pro, Mi Notebook Ultra, a new 360-degree home security camera, Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition, and Mi Shoes. The new Mi TV 5X series has arrived in the country in three sizes such as 43-inch 50-inch, and 55-inch. It rivals the likes of the Samsung Crystal 4K Pro UHD series and the OnePlus U1S TV series.

Xiaomi Mi TV 5X specifications and features

The 43-inch, 50-inch, and 55-inch Mi TV 5X models have identical specs, and they mainly differ in screen sizes and audio output. The new smart TVs from Xiaomi offer 3840 x 2160 pixels resolution, 10-bit colors, 94 percent DCI P3 color gamut, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR, HLG, and Vivid Picture Engine 2. The 43-inch model has a pair of speakers that offer 30W output, whereas the 50-inch and 55-inch variants have 40W stereo speakers. The speakers are powered by Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD.

The Mi TV 5X boasts premium appeal as it features slim bezels with a metallic finish. On the connectivity front, it offers three HDMI 2.1 ports, 2 USB ports, an Ethernet port, an optical port, an AV input, H.265, a 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth 5.0, and dual-band Wi-Fi.

It is powered by a 64-bit quad-core A55 processor and Mali-G52 MP2 graphics. It ships with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. It offers a refreshed version of PatchWall UI, which comes with features like smart recommendations, kids mode and parental lock, universal search, 55+ free live channels, all-new IMDb integration, and more. The intuitive remote control not only offers users buttons for accessing some of the popular OTT platforms, but also it offers easy access to features like Quick Mute, Quick Settings, and Quick Wake.

Xiaomi Mi TV 5X price in India

The 43-inch, 50-inch, and 55-inch Mi TV 5X are priced at Rs 31,999 (~$431), Rs 41,999 (~$566), and Rs 47,999 (~$647), respectively. Its sale will begin at 12 pm (local time) on Sept. 7, and it will be available through Mi.com, Flipkart, Mi Home, and retail stores. Buyers can get up to Rs 3,000 Instant Discount through HDFC Bank Credit Cards & EasyEMI. In addition, users can take advantage of up to 9 months no-cost-EMI offers from leading Banks and NBFCs.

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Xiaomi is acquiring an autonomous driving based startup called Deepmotion

By

Sean

-

Aug 26, 2021

Xiaomi Corp is planning on buying an autonomous driving technology based startup called Deepmotion. The acquisition deal will amount to 77.4 million US Dollars and arrives as the company gears up to enter the electric vehicle market.

The Chinese tech giant made the announcement for this acquisition after it recorded a better than expected second quarter results. This was especially true in India, where its market recovery enabled it to overtake the Cupertino based giant Apple to become the world’s second largest smartphone maker in terms of shipments. While the company has become a major player in the smartphone market, it aims to further diversify in emerging markets, with EV being one of them.

Lei Jun, Founder and CEO of the company, is currently leading the brand’s electric vehicle project, with Xiaomi previously announcing a sizeable 10 billion US Dollars investment plan over the next decade in the new category. Furthermore, the company is also set to invest heavily into the EV market through its own research and development and manufacturing to produce its first self branded electric car. Now, the acquisition of Deepmotion could help it get further ahead with its goals.

For those unaware, Deepmotion develops driver assistance software and is the latest move from Xiaomi to broaded its presence in the EV industry. Similar to the company, other Chinese tech brands like Huawei and Baidu are also developing their own autonomous driving technology as well. Company’s president Wang Xiang even stated that “Through this acquisition, we hope to shorten the time to market for our product. We want to speed up our autonomous driving R&D.”

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Vivo V1 image leak reveals the company’s first self-developed chip; could soon get launched

By

Jeet

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Aug 26, 2021

Vivo is currently gearing up to launch its first self-developing chip which is reportedly an Image Signal Processor (ISP). The chip, which has been codenamed “Yueying,” has now appeared in the leaked image.

The leaked image has been shared by reliable tipster Digital Chat Station and it reveals that the first chip from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer will be called Vivo V1 as the branding appears on the chip.

The image shows the physical map of the Vivo V1 chip, indicating that the mass production may have been completed or is still undergoing. In any case, it is expected to be officially announced soon. While the launch date is not yet known, reports indicate that Vivo’s first in-house chip could be announced along with the Vivo X70 series smartphones next month.

So far, we are aware of two chip-related trademarks from the company — Vivo SoC and Vivo Chip. The product categories covered by these two trademarks include central processing units, modems, computer chips, printed circuits, and computer storage.

It’s noteworthy that Vivo partnered with Samsung for the Research & Development of chipset and the Chinese brand was closely associated with the development, providing in-depth inputs during the process.

Vivo is quite focused on developing chips as the company is planning to have a team of around 500-600 members in this department. It is currently looking to hire several new team members to the chip division for Research & Development. The company has also planned to invest a huge amount in the Research & Development of 5G, Artificial Intelligence, and other emerging technologies.

OPPO, the sister company of Vivo, is also developing its own chip which is expected to be officially released with the Find X4 smartphone early next year. Both these companies are following the footsteps of Xioami which has already launched an ISP chip named Surge C1.

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