US Customs seize 360,000 counterfeit AirPods valued at ~$62 million in nine months

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Jul 18, 2021

In a clear indication of the depth of counterfeiting of wireless earbuds targeting the United States market, the US Customs confiscated about 360,000 fake AirPods at the country’s entry points in the first half of 2021. The totality of the cache has a valuation of approximately $62.2 million, well above the previous haul of 295,000 units in 2020.

The details were part of the information released by a recent report on the level of fake products that aim to defraud unsuspecting consumers of their money while offering a counterfeit and substandard product, in this case, earbuds. The Apple AirPods has been a very successful model and is the principal object of the counterfeiters. The report also hinted that up to 80% of the US seizures originate from China, indicating a possible source of the syndicate. It has to be stated also that Chinese company OnePlus also suffered an embarrassing seizure of its authentic earbuds, as Customs officials claimed it was a fake version of the Apple AirPods. However, OnePlus insists that there are significant differences between its product and the Apple AirPods.

The wireless earbuds market is a rapidly expanding one globally and counterfeiters have sought to reap from the success of established brands like Apple and Samsung by faking their products. Apple, on its own, is taking steps to ensure that it safeguards its customers and limits the counterfeiting of its products. It has collaborated with security agencies and e-commerce websites and taken other relevant measures to stop the thieves from tracking and protecting its customers. Other leading brands also continue to pursue processes that would make counterfeiters’ jobs more difficult.

If the current half-year volume of seizures is to be countenanced, it is possible that by the year’s end, up to 600,000 seizures would have been accomplished by the US Border Customs. However, this depends largely on the response of the counterfeiters.

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Honor 50 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jul 18, 2021

Honor is coming back to the global market with the Honor 50 series: a lineup of devices ranging from the budget segment to the upper-midange one which includes three variants. The Honor 50 Pro is the most advanced one but, despite it is a Pro variant, it is not a flagship. As mentioned above it is an upper-midrange phone with 5G support, and that is exactly the reason why we decided to compare it to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G. While waiting for the global launch of the new premium phone, you can now discover the differences between Honor 50 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G.

Honor 50 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G

	Honor 50 Pro	Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	163.5 x 74.7 x 8 mm, 187 grams	160.5 x 75.7 x 6.8 mm, 159 grams
DISPLAY	6.72 inches, 1236 x 2676p (Full HD+), OLED	6.55 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, octa-core 2.4 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 780G, octa-core 2.4 GHz
MEMORY	8 GB RAM, 256 GB	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 11, Magic UI	Android 11, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 108 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 Dual 12 + 32 MP f/2.4 and f/2.2 front camera	Triple 64 + 8 + 5 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 20 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY	4000 mAh, fast charging 100W	4250 mAh, fast charging 33W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot, 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

The design is one of the strongest points of the Honor 50 Pro. It is a very elegant and original phone. It is pretty thin and lightweight, and it comes with a great curved display at the sides and two round camera modules, as well as an amazing finish for the rear cover. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is one of the thinnest and most lightweight phones of 2021: it weighs less than 160 grams and it is just 6.8 mm thick! It is even more compact, but the Honor 50 Pro remains a more beautiful device due to its curved screen and great finish. The Honor 50 Pro wins the design comparison, but if you want a more compact device which fits better in a pocket, choose the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G.

Display

With Honor 50 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, you can get two of the best displays you can find in the midrange segment. Both are able to show up to one billino colors, and currently it is almost impossible to find such a feature on midrange phones. Further, they are both OLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution. I personally prefer the Honor 50 Pro because it has a higher refresh rate (120 Hz) and an in-display fingerprint reader, as well as a wider diagonal. Unfortunately, despite having an OLED panel, Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Specs & Software

The Snapdragon 780G mobile platform found on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G and the Snapdragon 778G found on the Honor 50 Pro are quite similar processors, but as you probably understood by reading the processor names, the Snapdragon 780G is slightly better. Further, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G has a faster UFS 2.2 internal storage. It runs MIUI 12 out of the box, while Honor 50 Pro runs Magic UI 4.2. In the global market, the Honor handset will come with Google Mobile Services since Honor is not a Huawei company anymore.

Camera

The rear camera of the Honor 50 Pro is way better than the one found of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G because it has a superior main sensor: we are talking about a 108 MP camera which is able to record 4K videos at 30 fps. Even the front camera department is a lot better of the Honor 50 Pro as it is one of the best selfie phones out there. It has a dual front camera with a 32 MP main sensor and a 12 MP ultrawide lens.

Read More: OnePlus Nord CE 5G is receiving its third system update within a month from launch

Battery

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G wins the battery life comparison simply because it has a bigger battery with a capacity of 4250 mAh. With the Honor mid-ranger you get a smaller unit despite the bigger dimensions, but it has one of the fastest charging technologies out there with a power of 100W (Mi 11 Lite has just 33W).

Price

You can currently find the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G for less than €350/$413 globally, while we still do not know the global price of the Honor 50 Pro as it is yet to be launched (it costs about €350 in China). Overall, the latest Honor premium phone offers more value due to its better cameras, faster charging, and amazing design, but Xiaomi Mi 11 LIte 5G has a bigger battery, a more compact body… and a micro SD slot.

Honor 50 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G: PRO and CONS

Honor 50 Pro

PRO

Faster charging
Better design
Superior rear cameras
Better front cameras

CONS

Smaller battery

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G

PRO

Great chipset
Dual speaker
Bigger battery
Thinner and lighter
Micro SD slot

CONS

Inferior cameras

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The Honor Magic3 is practically a Mate 40 Pro with a Snapdragon 888 Plus SoC

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 18, 2021

A few days ago, a leaker revealed that the Honor Magic3 series will have four models. Alongside the name of these devices, the leaker mentioned the similarities between the upcoming phones and Huawei’s Mate 40 series. Now, the specifications of the Honor Magic3 have surfaced and it sure is a lot like the Mate 40 Pro.

The specs of the phone which were posted on Twitter by Yash Raj (@hereYashRaj), reveal the Magic3 will have a 6.76-inch QHD+ (2772 x 1344) AMOLED display. The screen will be supplied by BOE and will have a pill-shaped camera at the top left corner for two front-facing cameras. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.

As already known, the Magic3 will be powered by the Snapdragon 888 Plus and will be available in four configurations – 8GB RAM + 128GB, 8GB RAM + 256GB, 12GB RAM + 256GB, and 12GB RAM + 512GB. Unfortunately, no camera specs were revealed but from the attached images, we can see that there are four sensors on the back of the phone.

Exclusive – Honor Magic 3 5G specifications

– 6.76" BOE QHD+ AMOLED display
– Curved display
– Dual Hole Punch
– 2772×1344 resolution
– 120Hz refresh rate
– HDR10+
– Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
– Snapdragon 888+
– Android 11
– Magic UI 5.0
– Support GMS#Honor #Honormagic3 pic.twitter.com/0JrrUwT4Gq

— Yash Raj Chaudhary #HuaweiP50Series (@hereYashRaj) July 18, 2021

Honor will ship the phone with a 4500mAh battery that supports 66W fast wired charging and 50W fast wireless charging. It will run Android 11 out of the box with the new Magic UI 5.0 and Google Mobile Services.

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Leaked Honor Magic3 Pro+ specs mention an under-display camera, 100x zoom, and 100W charging

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 18, 2021

The Honor Magic3 series is coming next month and while we still have a few weeks of waiting to do, details of the phones have started to surface. Today, key specifications of the top model, the Magic3 Pro+ have been revealed and they are top tier.

The Magic3 Pro+ will be the highest model of the series which has four phones and Honor has packed really impressive specs into the device as revealed in a tweet by @RODENT950.

According to the leaker’s tweet, the Magic3 Pro+ will have a 6.76-inch waterfall display. The panel which is supplied by Visionox will not have a notch or holes for a front-facing camera. Instead, Honor will give it an under-display camera like the upcoming ZTE Axon 30 and Samsung Galaxy Fold 3. There is no mention of the refresh rate but we don’t expect it to be less than 120Hz.

Magic 3 Pro(+)
6.76" 1228p visionox waterfall display with UDC
4400mAh battery with 100w charging (wired) and 50w wireless charging
New Honor SuperZoom with 100x digital zoom #HONORMagic3Series pic.twitter.com/s8cSrzMWxg

— Teme (特米)😷 (@RODENT950) July 18, 2021

Still talking about cameras, the Honor Magic3 Pro+ will be capable of up to 100x digital zoom, a feature that is dubbed SuperZoom.

Honor will include a 4400mAh battery in the device. While this is smaller than the 5000mAh battery inside the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Mi 11 Ultra, the Magic3 Pro+ has the upper hand when it comes to charging. The phone will have support for 100W fast wired charging which blows away the measly 25W Samsung’s flagship offers as well as the 67W of Xiaomi’s 2021 flagship. It will also have support for 50W wireless charging.

No doubt these are impressive specs but we can’t wait to find out what Honor will be charging for the phone when it launches.

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Nothing Ear (1) case render reveals a transparent case design, short stem

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 18, 2021

Accessories manufacturer Nothing has continued to reflect its mission statement to exemplify its product offerings with innovation and technology ahead of the pack while maintaining affordability.

A new image of the Nothing Ear (1) true wireless earbuds reveals transparent components and a refreshingly aesthetic appeal. The render was released via a tweet by Ayush Verma and showed the Nothing Ear 1 earbuds’ case. The leaker claims that the picture was gotten from a Nothing partner website, although the authenticity has not been verified. The concept of the Nothing Ear 1 however aligns closely with earlier leaks and teasers of the device.

The render reflects a minimalist and bent in-ear design with ear tips. It shows a white layer shielding the circuit and the battery of the case. The picture also indicates the likelihood of a square case, a transparent bottom layer, and a short transparent stem for the buds.

The red (left) and black (right) buds possibly contain microphones that will pick surrounding noise using active noise cancellation to give a compelling listening experience.

The Nothing Ear 1 is billed for unveiling on July 27. A special edition with serial number engraving for the first 100 buyers will be available exclusive to StockX. The Nothing Ear 1 earbuds are priced at $99, which is the cheapest it can get for truly wireless earbuds. Apple’s corresponding TWS earbuds are priced at $249.

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Ford’s Mach-Eau perfume is targeted at EV owners who can’t get over the smell of gasoline

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 18, 2021

US carmaker Ford is known for power and speed from its lineup of heavy-hitting and gasoline-guzzling monsters on wheels. The company has started replicating its powerful traditional models in the Electric Vehicle (EV) space.

As Ford continues to expand its EV lineup, it seems the company hopes to carry along a segment of its clientele attached to gasoline engines. A survey recently showed that 20% of drivers would miss the smell of gasoline in their electric vehicles. In a seeming response to this feedback, Ford has produced its gasoline-themed fragrance to at least satisfy the yearning of a segment of its customers.

The new Ford gasoline-themed perfume is called Mach-Eau and was produced in collaboration with perfumer Olfiction. The Mach-Eau targets a reenactment of the feel and smell of the interior of a vehicle, combined with a raft of other scents, including smoke, rubber, gasoline, and animal smells (horse).

Obviously, Ford does not intend to sell the Mach-Eau fragrance, at least for the present. It debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. A few whiffs of the gasoline-themed fragrance were taken during the festival.

A gasoline-themed fragrance for drivers to reenact the feel of Ford’s heavy-hitting gasoline engines could appeal to some drivers. However, it remains to be seen how this fragrance will sit as a part of the refreshing feel of Ford’s EV offerings. If the company relied on feedback from the specified survey, only a tiny fraction of users would fancy such moves. Whether the sample used for the survey was statistically representative is another issue that determines the degree of inference that can be drawn from its outcome.

Finally, even though one in five drivers missed the gasoline smell, there is no data that specify what proportion of the drivers will fancy a gasoline-themed fragrance on their EVs.

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Poco F3 GT spotted on Flipkart’s microsite ahead of July 23 launch

By

Pranav Sawant

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Jul 18, 2021

The Poco F3 GT smartphone is all set to launch on July 23 in India. Ahead of its launch, Flipkart – an Indian shopping portal, created a microsite of the gaming smartphone revealing key specs and design.

It is already known that the Poco F3 GT is nothing but a rebranded Redmi K40 Gaming Edition. Adding to it, the phone’s landing page on Flipkart confirmed some more details.

Starting with the design, the Poco F3 GT seems to come with a 120Hz punch-hole display with thin bezels. Apart from the volume rocker and the power button, the phone has shoulder trigger buttons on the sides.

The smartphone will come with 3 levels of bevels and a series 7000 Aluminium Alloy frame. Similar to the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition, the F3 GT has stripes on the back(Slipstream design) which aggressively utters the gaming look of the phone. The landing page suggests that the device has a 22-Step engraved back panel and a fairly thin form factor of 8.3mm.

Surprisingly, the Flipkart landing page reveals only one color variant of the phone, Gunmetal Silver. But, it is expected to launch in more colors including Lunar Silver, Carbon Black, Predator Black, and Greyish Silver. As for the audio, the device has Dolby Atmos support with Hi-Res sound.

Other than this, the Poco F3 GT is expected to come powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC. It will house a 5,000mAh battery and support 67W fast charging technology.

In terms of pricing, the smartphone was recently touted to come at around ₹30,000(~$402) and will compete with the likes of OnePlus’ Nord 2 which is slated to launch a day before the Poco F3 GT’s launch.

Read our Redmi K40 Gaming Edition review here.

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Realme GT Explorer Master Edition key specs revealed by the phone’s settings page

By

Pranav Sawant

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Jul 18, 2021

A few weeks back, leaks came up for the Realme GT Master Edition smartphone. Later, the phone got a launch date i.e. July 21st, and only recently, rumors revealed that there would also be another higher-end sibling dubbed Realme GT Explorer Master Edition. Although some of its specs have been already revealed, a fresh screenshot of the phone’s settings page shows some more details.

According to the picture, the Realme GT Explorer Master Edition runs on Android 11 out of the box. It seems to boot Realme v2.0 UI on top of it. The device is confirmed to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, and it will have 12GB of RAM. The smartphone also seems to have a virtual RAM feature of up to 3GB.

As learned earlier, the phone’s model number is RMX3366, and it supports DC dimming feature. While the screenshot from the Weibo leaker reveals the specs, a render leak from OnLeaks showcase the phone in all its glory and further confirms the GT Master series’ monikers.

Because there seems to be some confusion ahead of the #RealmeGTMasterEdition launch, the variant pictured below (RMX3366) will be marketed as the "Explorer Master Edition", along with the "Master Edition" (RMX3361) I've leaked few days ago… You're welcome…😏 pic.twitter.com/CxxbcouYSw

— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) July 15, 2021

The device looks identical to the Realme GT Master Edition but has pill-shaped LED lights. It is worth noting that the GT Master edition has the RMX3361 model number. Regarding its specs, the device would be a mid-range phone with Snapdragon 778G and 8GB of RAM. The phone will feature a 120Hz screen similar to the Explorer Master Edition. It is expected to boast 64MP triple rear cameras and a battery capacity of 4,300mAh.

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Redmi 9 Power, Redmi 9A receive price hike in online and offline stores across India

By

Pranav Sawant

-

Jul 18, 2021

Earlier this year, Redmi launched the Redmi 9 Power and Redmi 9A smartphones in India at affordable prices. Today, these phones have got a price hike in both online and offline Xiaomi stores across India.

The Redmi 9 Power has received a ₹500(~$7) price hike, now retailing at ₹13,499(~$181) from its original ₹12,999(~$174) pricing. On the other hand, the Redmi 9A, which used to retail for ₹7,499(~$101)is now available for ₹7,799(~$107).

Redmi 9 Power and Redmi 9A Specifications

The Redmi 9 Power and 9A are budget smartphones featuring a 6.5-inch screen. The display on the Power is Full-HD+, whereas, the 9A has an HD+ resolution screen. The phones have a single selfie camera on the front. The 9 Power has a quad-rear camera system – 48MP main, an 8MP ultra-wide, and two 2MP sensors for macro and depth shots.

Under the hood, the Power has a Snapdragon 662 SoC, whereas, the 9A has a MediaTek Helio G25 chipset. The phones have a base configuration of 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage.

As for the batteries, the 9 Power has a whopping 6,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. The Redmi 9A packs a 5,000mAh battery with standard charging speeds.

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Next week in Tech: OnePlus Nord and Buds Pro, Redmi Note 10T, Realme GT Master Edition, and more

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jul 18, 2021

There is a lot to look forward to next week. OnePlus will be unveiling a few products including the highly anticipated Nord 2. We will also get to see new products from Redmi and Realme. Here is a roundup of what is coming next week:

Redmi Note 10T 5G – July 20

The Redmi Note 10T 5G is scheduled for a July 20 launch in India. The smartphone will be the first Redmi-branded 5G phone to launch in the country. If you want to know what it packs, just take a look at the POCO M3 Pro 5G which is already sold in India. It is the same phone in a slightly different body and with a different name.

Realme GT Explorer Edition – July 21

The Realme GT family is about to get bigger with the launch of the Realme GT Master Edition and the Realme GT Explorer Master Edition on July 21 in China. The two phones will not only boast a special design but also pack specs different from the current Realme GT models.

Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 Edition – July 21

Samsung has a new Galaxy M series phone coming on Wednesday. The device is the Galaxy M21 2021 Edition and Amazon has revealed that it will have an AMOLED display, 48MP triple rear cameras, and a 6000mAh battery capacity. It will also have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

OnePlus Nord 2 and OnePlus Buds Pro – July 22

The OnePlus Nord was one of the best-selling mid-range phones launched last year and we will be getting a successor on Thursday, July 22. The Nord 2 will be powered by a MediaTek processor, a first for the company. This is no ordinary MediaTek chip but a custom Dimensity 1200 with tuned-up AI features.

Alongside the OnePlus Nord2, the manufacturer will also announce the OnePlus Buds Pro. It has been confirmed that the earbuds will have adaptive noise cancellation.

Realme Watch 2 Pro, Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo, and Realme Buds Q2 Neo – July 23

Realme will be bringing its Realme Watch 2 Pro smartwatch to India on Friday, the 23rd of July. The square-faced smartwatch launched earlier this year in other markets. It won’t be coming alone as the Realme Buds Q2 Neo and Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo a new pair of earbuds and Bluetooth neckband-style earphones respectively will also tag along.

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First look at Realme Band 2 shows a totally revamped design

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jul 17, 2021

Last year, Realme announced its first fitness tracker – the Realme Band. Now, it is set to announce a successor, and renders of the wearable called the Realme Band 2 show the manufacturer is going with a new look but one that is familiar.

The Realme Band 2 adopts the full-screen design we have seen on fitness trackers like the Honor Band 6 as seen in these renders courtesy of OnLeaks and Digit. The display is bigger but it is still surrounded by thick bezels, and a line below the screen seems to be a marker for a capacitive button. The tracker has a curved frame that appears to be made of metal but it might be plastic.

Another visible change is the design of the straps which do not have a seamless fuse with the body like that of the Realme Band. On the underside, the upcoming band features more sensors which might mean it will have support for blood oxygen level detection.

1 of 2

We want to believe the Realme Band 2 will come with a magnetic charger that attaches to the underside but the two circles at the top appear to be sensors and not contact pins. We do not know if this is an error from the creator of the renders or if the band changes in a different way.

The Realme Band 2 is said to have a 1.4-inch display, a big upgrade from the 0.96-inch display of last year’s model. Its dimensions are given as 45.9 x 24.6 x 12.1 millimeters. The device will have Bluetooth 5.1 according to a listing on Bluetooth SIG when it launches later this year. We can also expect support for more sports modes.

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Renders show the Realme Pad will come with a built-in stylus

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jul 17, 2021

Realme will launch its first tablet this year and it will arrive as the Realme Pad. The manufacturer already gave us an idea of what the tablet looks like via an official render but a new set of CAD-based renders have surfaced that provide us with even more details.

The Realme Pad will have a dual-tone finish as shown in the renders from Steve Hemmerstoffer (OnLeaks) in collaboration with 91 Mobiles. The display is bordered by equal-sized bezels and the edges of the frame are flat just like the iPad Pro 11 though they are not as curved at the corners.

There is a single protuding camera on the back and a magenta line runs through it from the top. This line separates the two-tone finish of the back of the realme Pad. The manufacturer’s name is also written in the same magenta color at the bottom right corner.

1 of 5

The Realme Pad has its power button at the top (when in portrait mode) and on the right side is the volume rocker, two microphones, and what appears to be a tray for a MicroSD card. This tray may also house a SIM if there is a version with 5G. The right bezel (in this portrait position) is also where you have the front-facing camera.

There are four speaker grilles – two each at the top and bottom (in portrait mode). Alongside the grilles at the bottom is a USB-C port and a hole at the far left which has been reported to be a slot for a stylus.

The source reports that the display is about 10.4-inches in size. The device itself measures 246.1 x 155.8 x 6.8 millimeters (8.4mm thick with the camera). We reported earlier that the tablet will have a 7100mAh battery capacity. It is also expected to come with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage when it arrives later this year.

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Counterpoint report shows a 4% growth in global refurbished smartphone sales in 2020

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jul 17, 2021

Research firm Counterpoint Research has released its outlook of the global refurbished smartphone sales for 2020 and 2021. The research covered global sales of refurbished smartphones in 2020, with some solid projections for 2021.

The Counterpoint research showed a jump of 4% in global sales of refurbished phones in the second half of 2020, compared to the first half of the year. The overall performance in 2020 was also better than the previous year, 2019, which globally saw a decline in the market volume.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many countries worldwide experienced substantial dips in their economies, with significant job losses reported in all the regions. This could have contributed to the rise in the patronage of refurbished phones, as shown by the Counterpoint research. Counterpoint also notes a sharp rise in demand and supply of refurbished smartphones in 2020, mainly in the second half of the year. Resell volumes and trade-ins were observed to have gone up in all the regions covered by the survey.

The regions covered by the Counterpoint research are the US, Latin America, Europe, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. With the average selling price of Apple refurbished phones up to three times higher than the average of other brands, greater preference was observed for the brand ahead of other brands in the secondary market. The more extensive rollout of 5G technology across 150 mobile operators in 70 countries did not affect the increased appetite for Apple phones, as shown by the numbers released by the Counterpoint Research.

The outlook for 2021, according to the research, remains bright within the secondary phone market globally. The sometimes significantly lower average selling prices of products in the secondary market could be fuelling the demand for products from the market. At the same time, supply may have been driven by several possible factors, including a dip in the global economy that has limited the purchasing power of some segments of consumers.

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Zepp OS: Facts about Huami’s new ultralightweight smartwatch OS

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jul 17, 2021

Earlier this week, Huami (now Zepp Health) announced a new operating system for its smartwatch called Zepp OS. This operating system will replace Amazfit OS on Amazfit and Zepp-branded watches from the manufacturer.

We have put together this article to tell you all you need to know about Zepp OS, and it contains details from the launch as well as exclusive information provided to us by Zepp Health.

What led to the decision to create Zepp OS?

Zepp Health revealed to us that their plan was to build an OS that has thousands of developers with tens of thousands of mini smartwatch apps that form a fitness ecosystem that helps users better manage their health.

As of the end of 2020, Zepp Health had 40 million users and also had the technology to enable its version. Thus it created Zepp OS to replace the previous OS, Amazfit OS.

What are the top features of Zepp OS?

Zepp OS is one of the lightest smartwatch operating systems. Based on the FreeRTOS microkernel open source code, Zepp OS is only 55MB in size, which is 1/10 the size of Amazfit OS and 1/28 the size of Apple’s WatchOS 8.

The operating system is compatible with both low-power and high-performance chips as well as devices with just a few KB of RAM to those with dozens of MB of RAM.

The OS also has better power consumption. According to Zepp Health, its power consumption is 65% lower than that of the Amazfit OS and results in a 190% increase in battery life.

Zepp OS has an improved interface compared to its predecessor. The animations are smoother and the UI runs at more than 60FPS. It also features 150 dials, of which 15 are dynamic dials.

Zepp OS also supports 4G/5G modules, Wi-Fi, and integrated TCP/IP network protocol.

Does Zepp OS support apps?

You won’t be able to install apps from the Play Store like on the WearOS but “Zepp OS supports internet cloud service applications for music, voice commands, and fitness such as NetEase Music, Spotify, Alexa, Joyrun or Strava.”

Internet cloud service applications are practically web apps, so watches will have to support connection to the internet on their own like in the case of the Amazfit GTR 2 eSIM, or via a tethered phone.

What are the plans to get developers to create more cloud service apps for Zepp OS?

Zepp Health says it has 40 million active users which is a sizeable share of the smartwatch market and should be enticing to developers of cloud service apps from various countries.

The manufacturer revealed to us that it will open its Zeus Mini Program framework for developers to create new cloud service apps that leverage the high-quality data and intelligence from its proprietary biosensor array and AI chip. There is also a graphical development environment that allows developers to create custom dials.

Will more features be added to Zepp OS via updates?

Yes, Zepp OS will be regularly optimized to improve the user experience. These updates will include refinements that improve communications, processing for apps, enhanced security, etc.

When will the first Zepp OS watch arrive?

Huami says Zepp OS will be released in the fourth quarter of this year. The company also revealed to us that the first Zepp OS watch will launch in the fourth quarter of the year.

Will older Amazfit and Zepp smartwatches get updated to Zepp OS?

Zepp Health hasn’t revealed if this will happen but informed us that we should stay tuned on this. Notwithstanding, we want to believe that we should see some older watches get the new OS.

An official press statement revealed that Zepp OS was tested on one of its current smartwatches. The testing was for power efficiency and the result showed an increase of 190% in battery life compared to the Amazfit OS. This is proof that the OS is compatible with at least one model in its current lineup.

What does seem plausible is that only select models will be upgraded if Huami does plan on updating its current smartwatches to the new OS.

Will Zepp Health launch a Wear OS-powered watch in the future?

No, this won’t be happening. In the company’s own words “If we have invented a better and more efficient smartwatch OS, why would we put someone else’s on our devices?”

Conclusion

Zepp OS does sound really promising especially with its top features one of which is improved battery life. This is an important factor for buyers picking up a watch. The manufacturer already boasts smartwatches that can go up to 3 weeks on a single charge and an increase of 190% in battery life will translate to up to 9 weeks on a single charge!

One of the complaints users had about Amazfit OS is the lack of app support but that changes with Zepp OS. It already showed us cloud apps from Spotify and Strava, and we can expect more popular apps will be available for the platform.

With the new operating system, we can only expect Zepp Health to grow its share of the market and see it become one of the top three wearable companies in the world.

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Boult Audio ProBass Anchor Wireless Headphone with ANC support launched in India

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 17, 2021

Two highlight features that have defined the trajectory of headphones and earbuds are active noise cancellation (ANC) and wireless connectivity. These two features seem to impact the pricing of headphones and earbuds generally. Boult Audio, a fast-rising audio company, has announced a new offering to its Indian customers. The Boult Audio ProBass Anchor Wireless Headphone comes with active noise cancellation, wireless connectivity, and several other features that guarantee consumer satisfaction for its starting price of Rs. 3999 (~$53).

The Boult Audio ProBass Anchor Wireless Headphone is an all-black headphone with a strong bass output courtesy of its large 40mm drivers. The new Boult Audio ProBass Anchor Wireless Headphones support multiple Voice Assistants like Google Assistant and Siri and boast up to 30 hours of entertainment courtesy of its strong lithium battery. The lightweight headphones have a net weight of 150 grams, and the device is ergonomically designed to give extended comfort to the user. The ear cups and ear bands also contribute to a nice listening experience, as they are made of soft protein leather padding that guarantees comfort.

The active noise cancellation feature of the Boult Audio ProBass Anchor Wireless Headphones ensures a smooth and interference-free listening of audio content without the disruption of noise around the user. It provides crisp sounds, making it possible for the user to enjoy the lowest notes from the input source.

Interested buyers can get the Boult Audio ProBass Anchor Wireless Headphones from Amazon India at the stated price of Rs. 3999 (~$53). There is no indication at this time on rollout plans for the product in the global market.

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There will be four Honor Magic3 models including the Magic3 SE

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 17, 2021

There have been multiple reports that there will be three models in the Honor Magic3 series based on the fact that three models were submitted for certification. It turns out there will actually be four models according to a new leak from a reliable source.

The info comes from @RODENT950, one of the sources that originally reported there will be three models. In a tweet posted earlier today, he disclosed the name of all four models in the Magic3 series.

According to the tweet, the models are the Magic3 SE which is similar to the Huawei Mate 40, the Magic3 which is like the Mate 40 Pro, the Magic3 Pro, and the Magic3 Pro+.

3SE (mate 40 like)
3 (mate 40 pro like)
3 Pro
3 Pro+ pic.twitter.com/LdN7bA9oRY

— Teme (特米)😷 (@RODENT950) July 17, 2021

At the moment, we do not know the specs of these four devices but there is a possibility the Honor Magic3 SE won’t feature a Snapdragon 888 Plus processor but either a less-powerful Snapdragon chipset or one from MediaTek.

Honor has confirmed that it will announce the Magic3 series at a global event on August 12. We do not know if all four models will be announced at the global event. We also can’t rule out the possibility of some models being exclusive to select markets.

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Over a million Redmi Power Banks sold in India since launch

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jul 17, 2021

Redmi, the sub-brand of Xiaomi, launched the Redmi Power Bank in China in June 2019. Eight months later, this power accessory finally made its way to the Indian shores in February 2020. Almost one and a half years since its debut in the country, the product has achieved a major milestone in the region.

According to the official Redmi India Twitter account, the brand has managed to sell over a million units of Redmi Power Banks in India since its launch. For those unaware, this battery pack comes in two variants (10,000mAh, 20,000mAh) and they are slightly cheaper than the Mi Power Banks.

The Redmi Power Bank 10,000mAh and Redmi Power Bank 20,000mAh currently retail for ₹799 and ₹1,499 respectively. Interestingly, they are still selling at their launch price even more than a year later. They can be bought in either White or Black color options.

The Redmi Power Banks are assembled in India, just like the Mi Power Banks. In November 2020, Xiaomi revealed that it had sold more than 10 million ‘Made in India’ Mi Power Banks to date.

Usually, whenever Xiaomi announces any achievement of a product, it releases a successor to that product. Hence, there’s a chance that the firm could announce new Redmi Power Bank models in the coming days.

Redmi has not launched any new Power Bank other than the original models in China. Hence, if Xiaomi is set to debut a new one in India, it could be a rebadged version of one of the many Mi Power Banks sold in China.

Samsung Galaxy A22 5G pricing for India leaked

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 17, 2021

A recent leak by 91mobiles claimed that the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G will be debuting in India in August. The publication has now learned the pricing of the Galaxy A22 5G through its retail sources. To recollect, the smartphone had debuted in European markets in June and now it is all set to debut in India.

The publication revealed that the Galaxy A22 5G will be available in two options in India. The 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variants of the A22 5G will be priced at Rs 19,999 (~$268) and Rs 21,999 (~$285), respectively. Probably, the handset could be heading to the offline markets with these prices.

Samsung Galaxy A22 5G specifications

The Galaxy A22 5G has a 6.6-inch LCD FHD+ display that offers a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a front camera of 8-megapixel, and its rear-facing triple camera unit has a 48-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

The Dimensity 700 chip is present under the hood of the device. As mentioned above, it has 6 GB / 8 GB of RAM, and it comes with built-in storage of 128 GB. For more storage, it has a dedicated microSD card slot.

The A22 5G has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W rapid charging. The power button available on the right spine of the device doubles up with a fingerprint scanner.

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Maimang 10 SE launch date confirmed, likely to drop Huawei branding

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 17, 2021

In November 2020, Huawei announced that Honor is no longer its sub-brand as it will continue to function independently. Fresh information reveals that Huawei may have given away its Maimang line of smartphones to China Telecom. The reason behind it is that China Telecom has recently confirmed that it will be launching the Maimang 10 SE at 2:30 PM on July 19 in China. The launch date poster has no Huawei branding, which suggests that Huawei will not be manufacturing or marketing the device.

Last year, Huawei announced the Maimang 9 smartphone in July. At that time, the R&D, manufacturing, and marketing of the device was done by Huawei. The Maimang 9 handset had carried Huawei’s logo. Since Huawei is not mentioned in the launch poster, it is unclear whether the device is involved in the manufacturing of the device. Since China Telecom does not have a mobile phone manufacturing plant, probably it has worked with an ODM to build the Maimang 10 SE.

Maimang 10 SE specifications (Rumored)

Fresh leaks have revealed that the Maimang 10 SE has a 6.5-inch LCD 60Hz display with a teardrop notch. For security, it has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The display notch houses a selfie snapper of 8-megapixel.

The squarish camera on the backside of the device has a 13-megapixel main camera, and a pair of 2-megapixel sensors. The Snapdragon 480 5G chipset is present under the hood of the device.

The handset is expected to arrive with a 5,000mAh battery that carries support for 22.5W fast charging. At present, there is no information on the pricing of the device. Shown above are the live shots of the Maimang 10 SE. As can be seen, the device does not feature a Huawei logo.

(via 1, 2)

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