POCO X3 GT launch date nears as it bags multiple certifications

By

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Jun 11, 2021

Since the beginning of this month, the rumor mill has been teasing the arrival of a new phone called the POCO X3 GT. The moniker had first surface in the code of the MIUI Camera app. Now the handset has surfaced at a couple of certification platforms, which indicates that its launch may not be far away.

A new handset with model number 21061110AG has appeared in the database of Indonesian TKDN and SDPII certification platforms. The latter has revealed that this model will be debuting in the market with the POCO X3 GT moniker. This model has also received SGS Fimko certification.

😍😍😍
Poco X3 GT AKA Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G grabs SDPII, TKDN & SGS Fimko certification.
Full specifications, images & price. https://t.co/bbDfkYJ1vE #Poco #POCOX3GT pic.twitter.com/P06X0vlXus

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) June 10, 2021

The POCO F3 GT, which is said to be a rebranded version of the Redmi K40 Gaming edition is expected to debut in Q3 this year. It is unclear whether the company will be using the same platform to unleash the POCO X3 GT. Speculations are rife that the X3 GT will be a rebadged version of the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G, which was recently announced in China.

POCO X3 GT specifications (Rumored)

The POCO X3 GT could be sporting a 6.6-inch FHD+ IPS LCD panel that delivers a 120Hz refresh rate and it could be powered by the Dimensity 1100 chip. It may arrive with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage. The handset could be housing a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W rapid charging.

Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G Featured A — Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G

The X3 GT may come with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera and its rear shell could be featuring a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter. It may feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and it may come preinstalled with MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11.

RELATED:

Aqara Smart Hub M2, Hub M1S arrive with Zigbee 3.0: Can pair with up to 128 devices

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 11, 2021

Xiaomi ecological chain company Aqara has launched a pair of new HomeKit-enabled smart home hubs, the Aqara Hub M1S and the Aqara Hub M2 in the US. They are both available now, with the ability to pair additional accessories, and having support for the latest Zigbee wireless standard. When compared with the previous generation, the Hub M2 and M1S bring support for Zigbee 3.0 protocol, which ensures a faster, energy-efficient, and more stable connectivity.

The Aqara Hub M2 features a sleeker, complete all-black design with an ethernet port identical to other smart hubs available on the market, which is unlike the original hub you’ll see in the Aqara Smart Home System. In addition, the hub has support for Zigbee 3.0 connectivity to ensure faster response time with tremendous reliability, and it can presently accommodate up to 128 paired accessories.

Included on the M2 hub is an integrated IR blaster for smart controls on older devices like TVs, air conditioners, fireplaces, and many more. IR commands can be programmed by users through the Aqara Home app and incorporated in scenes or automation with different Aqara accessories. Note that the M2 hub now has support for all four HomeKit security alarm mode settings (Away, Home, Night, and Off), which allows it to act as a do-it-yourself (DIY) security system.

Meanwhile, the Aqara Hub M1S launched alongside the M2, is an upgraded version of the original Aqara Hub. It comes with Zigbee 3.0 connectivity and has support for up to 128 accessories, and still retains the original plug-in design together with the HomeKit security alarm functionality. In addition to the HomeKit, both the Aqara Hub M1S and M2 have compatibility with Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa, IFTTT, and many others.

The Aqara Hub M2 is priced at $57.99 but the price of the Hub M1S is not known at this time. Both products are listed on Amazon US but there is no indication of when they will be available.

RELATED:

Realme to expand its IoT line with a robot vacuum cleaner

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jun 10, 2021

Realme has diversified its product lineup to include smart home products. The Chinese manufacturer has already announced three smart TVs, a smart bulb, a smart home camera, and a smart plug. Now it is ready to add a robot vacuum cleaner to the list.

It has been reported that its first vacuum cleaner, the Realme Robot Vacuum Cleaner, will be announced on June 15 alongside the Realme GT 5G flagship phone. The info was shared on Twitter by a user that goes by @TechnoAnkit1 along with images that give us the first look.

Realme Robot Vacuum Cleaner also Launching on 15th June along with Realme GT 5G. pic.twitter.com/ZIOKglc7IY

— Ankit (@TechnoAnkit1) June 10, 2021

The Realme Robot Vacuum doesn’t look different from the plethora of robot vacuum cleaners available on the market. It is round and has a black matte finish with a yellow accent for the laser navigation system.

Save for what it looks like, there is a lot we don’t know about the vacuum cleaner such as its suction power, battery capacity, and if it has a mop function. However, we believe it will be priced competitively.

RELATED:

Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 vs iPad Pro 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jun 10, 2021

A few days ago, we compared the most advanced last-generation tablets out there: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+, iPad Pro M1 12.9, and Huawei MatePad Pro 12 2021. But these tablets also come in smaller variants with more affordable price tags. We are talking about the Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8, the vanilla Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, and the iPad Pro M1 11. Besides the dimensions, there are also other differences in the specs sheets of these tablets. Through this specs comparison, you can discover which differences we are talking about and also the difference between each of these three models.

Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 vs Apple iPad Pro 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

	Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 2021	Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 5G	Apple iPad Pro M1 11 2021
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	246 x 159 x 7.2 mm, 460 g	253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3 mm, 498 grams	247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm, 466 g
DISPLAY	10.8 inches, 2560 x 1600p (Quad HD+), IPS LCD	11 inches, 1600 x 2560p (Quad HD+), LTPS TFT	11 inches, 1668 x 2388p (Quad HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, octa-core 3.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 3.09 GHz	Apple M1, octa-core
MEMORY	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – nano memory card slot	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 512 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 512 GB – 16 GB RAM, 1 TB – 16 GB RAM, 2 TB
SOFTWARE	HarmonyOS 2.0	Android 10, One UI	iPadOS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Single 13 MP f/1.8 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 13 + 5 MP, f/2.0 and f/2.2 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 12 + 10 MP + LiDAR f/1.8 and f/2.4 12 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY	7250 mAh, fast charging 40W, wireless charging 27W	8000 mAh, fast charging 45W	7538 mAh, fast charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	LTE, 5G, pen support, keyboard support, reverse wireless charging	5G, pen support, keyboard support	LTE, 5G, Pen support, stylus support, eSIM

Design

These tablets are all amazing in terms of design. They come with very narrow bezels around the displays, they are thin and lightweight. I love the iPad Pro M1 11 2021 because it has a thinner profile and it is more square-shaped thanks to the 3:2 aspect ratio. It is just 5.9 mm thin and it is entirely built of aluminum. It supports a physical keyboard and the Apple Pencil for handwriting and drawing.

Display

Unfortunately, none of these tablets comes with an AMOLED display. However, the iPad Pro M1 11 2021 has a stunning screen. It is an 11-inch panel with a 2K resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, the HDR10 certification, and Dolby Vision support. One of the best IPS panels you can find in the market. The silver medal goes to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 offering an 11-inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and the HDR10+ certification: it has an inferior color accuracy but still provides a great viewing experience.

Hardware/Software

The tablet with the best hardware is the iPad Pro which is powered by the new Apple M1 platform: the first proprietary processor by Apple. The chipset is paired with up to 16 GB of RAM and a whopping 2 TB of internal storage in the most expensive variant. Right after, we got the Huawei MatePad Pro 11 with a Snapdragon 870 mobile platform, up to 8 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 native storage. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 runs Android 10 customized by One UI, Huawei MatePad Pro runs HarmonyOS 2.0, and iPad Pro M1 runs iPadOS 14.

Camera

If you need the most advanced tablet in terms of the camera department, you must go for the iPad Pro M1. It has a 12 MP main camera with a bright f/1.8 aperture paired with a 10 MP ultrawide camera and a TOF 3D LiDAR scanner for AR appliances. It is able to record 4K videos at 60 fps and it supports dual pixel PDAF. It also comes with an amazing 12 MP front camera. The second place goes to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 packing a dual rear camera including a 13 MP main sensor and a 5 MP ultrawide sensor.

Battery

These tablets offer a pretty nice battery life but the iPad Pro M1 wins due to better software optimization. However, it has slower charging: with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, you can get 45W fast charging instead of just 18W provided by the iPad. The Huawei MatePad Pro supports 40W fast charging and even reverse wireless charging.

Price

The starting price of the Huawei MatePad Pro in Asia is about €500/$609, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 starts from €700/$852, and the iPad Pro 11 begins at €870/$1059. The iPad Pro 11 is definitely a superior tablet due to its hardware, cameras, and advanced iPadOS features.

Read More: Huawei MatePad Pro 5G with Kirin 990 launched for the global market

Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 vs Apple iPad Pro 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7: PRO and CONS

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 5G

PROS

120 Hz refresh rate
S Pen
45W fast charging
Micro SD slot

CONS

TFT display

Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 2021

PROS

40W fast charging
Wireless charging and reverse charging
Compact
Good price

CONS

Inferior cameras

Apple iPad Pro M1 11

PROS

Awesome performance
Awesome cameras
LiDAR scanner
Best display
eSIM

CONS

Price

Xbox confirms it is developing game streaming devices, Game Pass also coming to smart TVs

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jun 10, 2021

Today, Microsoft revealed key details about Xbox and its gaming service as a whole. Top among the info is that it is working on game streaming devices and on bringing Xbox Game Pass to smart TVs.

In the press release, Xbox (read Microsoft) announced that Game Pass is coming to more screens in a number of ways. It confirmed it is working with global TV manufacturers to put the Xbox experience on smart TVs. This way, all users need is a controller.

Xbox also confirmed it is building its own streaming devices for cloud gaming so as to reach more users on any TV or monitor without needing a console. From the phrasing, we can deduce this means that these devices will provide the Xbox experience by connecting to the video input port of the display. Another thing to note is the word “devices” which means there will be more than one, possibly with different form factors.

The gaming service will also be launching in more countries such as Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan later this year and Xbox also plans to introduce new subscription plans so more people can experience the service. Game Pass users will also notice improvements in load times and frame rates as Xbox is almost done updating its data centers across the globe with the Xbox Series X.

Later this year, Xbox will will also add cloud gaming to the Xbox app on PC which will bring new experiences including the ability to try a game before downloading it. However, in a few weeks cloud gaming on the browser will be available to all game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Users will be able to play games on Chrome, Edge, and Safari.

Game Pass will also get new games frequently. Xbox says that its goal is to release at least one new first party game into Game Pass every quarter. These games will include shooters, strategy, adventures, and more. Xbox will announce some of these new titles on Sunday, June 13 during the Xbox and Bethesda Games showcase.

RELATED:

Giztop offering Realme GT 5G smartphone at a discounted price of $459

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jun 10, 2021

In an outstanding discount offer, Giztop is offering a massive discount on Realme GT 5G smartphone. The smartphone is up for grabs at a discount price of $459 which usually retails for $599. The interested users can grab the smartphone with support for international shipping without any extra costs. Realme GT 5G is available in both the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and 12GB RAM + 256 GB storage variant.

Must See: Realme GT 5G configurations, pricing, and color variants emerge before the global launch

It is available in three color options of Silver, yellow, and Blue. The offer is applicable without any coupon code, and any user can avail of the exciting discount.

Realme GT 5G smartphone houses a 6.43-inch S-AMOLED E4 display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It comes powered with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC coupled with an octa-core processor and Adreno 660 GPU. A triple-rear camera can be found with a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. On the front, there’s a 16MP selfie camera.

Realme GT 5G offers a decent battery standby time with its 4500 mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

The smartphone is available at the best price of $459 via Giztop at the moment.

Related: Realme GT Performance and Camera Flagships get June and July global launch dates respectively

OnePlus 7/7 Pro and OnePlus 7T/7T Pro receive their final OxygenOS 11 Open Beta update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jun 10, 2021

OnePlus is rolling out the OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 5 for the OnePlus 7 series and the OnePlus 7T series worldwide. According to the official announcement, this is the final public beta release based on Android 11 for these four smartphones. Let’s take a look at what it brings to the table.

First and foremost, the OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 5 for Oneplus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, and OnePlus 7T Pro increments the security patch level to May 2021. Further, like most OxygenOS releases, this one also comes with a number of improvements and fixes.

As per the official changelog, the last-ever Android 11 public beta update for the 2019 OnePlus flagship smartphones arrives with improvements for compatibility issues with certain third-party apps on Android 11, overall phone app stability, WiFi connection stability, overall loading speed of the Gallery app, and animation performance as well as frame rate of Shelf.

Last but not least, this update also fixes call issue on Google Fi app and other know issues, in addition to reducing battery consumption under specific scenarios.

This update is being seeded out via OTA for the units that are currently running the previous beta build. Users can stable build can download and install the beta release manually.

OnePlus 7, 7 Pro, 7T, 7T Pro OxygenOS Open Beta 5 Official Changelog

System
- Reduced battery consumption under specific scenarios
- Improved the compatibility of specific third-party apps on Android 11
- Fixed known issues and improved system stability
- Upgrade Android Security Patch level to May 2021
Phone
- Improved the overall application stability
- Fixed the probability issue about can not answer the calls via Google Fi app
Network
- Improved the Wi-Fi connection stability
Gallery
- Improved the overall loading speed
Shelf
- Improved the animation performance and frame rate

Ulefone Armor 11T 5G video shows Thermal Imaging Camera use cases in real life

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jun 10, 2021

Ulefone is a famous rugged smartphone maker that always tends to provide innovative tech at an affordable prices. Ulefone Armor 11T 5G is the latest offering from the smartphone maker carrying a thermal imaging camera. It is the second attempt from the professional phone manufacturer to offer the thermal imaging camera after the Armor 9. The Thermal Imaging Camera majorly remains quite useful in electric power, construction, and law enforcement works. However, there are severe other user cases that Ulefone has showcased via a video below.

Must See: Ulefone Power series smartphone coming soon with a monstrous 13200mAh battery

As per the video, the Ulefone Armor 11T 5G thermal imaging camera can be used to check seepage and leakage in pipes, to check misture in your kitchen, to detect temperature of heat source while repairing the car, etc. Moreover, it also enables the users to check the body temperature of people in bulk without any touch. There are various other applications of the sensor in naval, industrial, electricity, firefighting fields. It is quite helpful in observing obects and things from distance.

The Thermal Imaging Camera in Ulefone Armor 5G packs a thermal camera of FLIX encasing MSX technology. The images created are plotted by measuring the temperature difference. It has vast use cases including the ability to find the pet in a corner, and even helps in emergency rescure.

Ulefone Armor 11T 5G specifications

Moreover, the Ulefone Armor 11T 5G smartphone houses a large 6.1-inch waterdrop display having a waterdrop notch for the front camera. The smartphone comes powered with Dmensity 800 5G SoC carrying an 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. There’s a 48MP triple rear camera module for detailed photography. Ulefone Armor 11T 5G runs on Android 11 OS housing features like improved notification, enhanced permissions and privacy features, etc.

The smartphone offers a good battery backup with its 5200 mAh battery. It comes with a 10W fast charging technology. In connectivity, the smartphone is features GPS, GLonass, Beidou and Galileo navigations system. The presence of NFC chips facilitates in wireless pay,ents via Googel Pay.

Ulefone Armor 11T 5G is now up for grabs at a special price of $499.99 via Ulefone’s official website and Banggood.com.However, the smartphone usually retails for the standard price of $649.99, but you can get it for a discounted price if you buy the smartphone in a sale from June 7 to June 16. Moreover, the first 200 buyers can get a free wireless charger wrth $494.88. Meanwhile, the 201-500 orders will get a $29.99 worth multifunctional outdoor protective case. TO get more ifnraomtion about the device, the users can head over to the official website.

Related: Ulefone Armor 11T 5G smartphone launched with thermal imaging camera and Dimensity 800 SoC

Sony unveils the Airpeak S1 Professional drone designed for Alpha Cameras

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 10, 2021

Sony has officially unveiled the Airpeak S1 which was first teased a few months ago at the CES 2021. This is the company’s first-ever professional drone and the smallest in the world to have support for a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens alpha camera. The drone uses a proprietary motor, propeller, sensing, and control system technology, which according to the company, allows it to fly at an incredibly high speed of up to 55mph. It also features propulsion technology which allows for wind resistance of up to 44.7mph (20m/s) in strong winds.

The Airpeak S1 features an advanced remote controller, increased safety via cloud management of the aircraft and flight information, there’s also obstacle detection. Its maximum speed is 55mph (25m/s) / 90km/h, the angular velocity of 180°/s maximum, and tilt angle of 55° maximum. The drone has a flight time of 22 minutes on a full charge and it’s not carrying anything.

The Electric Speed Controller (ESC) for optimal control, is a unique and high-performance flight control system that integrates all sensor information and the propulsion device. This will guarantee the drone has a stable flight and the ability to maneuver very well.

The Sony Airpeak S1 is made in Japan and is expected to be available for pre-order in September of this year, at a retail price of $9,000. Two pairs of propellers, one remote controller, two batteries, and a battery charger are bundled along with it. There is also a third-party gimbal that was specifically made for this drone but it will be sold separately.

RELATED:

OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, 8T receive May 2021 security patches and a fix for 48MP mode

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jun 10, 2021

The OnePlus 8 series and the OenPlus 8T are receiving a new OxygenOS stable update. Although the update comes with different build numbers for the three devices, they have a common changelog. The brand is seeding this update two weeks after the last OxygenOS Open Beta release, which brought Bitmoji AOD and a ton of fixes.

The latest system update for the OnePlus 8, the OnePlus 8 Pro, and the OnePlus 8T bumps up the security patch level to May 2021, just like the OxygenOS Open Beta update from a couple of weeks back.

Further, the update arrives with optimizations for performance. Lastly, it also fixes an issue with the shutter button in the camera app when clicking 48MP pictures.

That said, the update bears the following build numbers.

OnePlus 8
- IN: 11.0.7.7.IN21DA
- EU: 11.0.7.7.IN21BA
- NA: 11.0.7.7.IN21AA
OnePlus 8 Pro
- IN: 11.0.7.7.IN11DA
- EU: 11.0.7.7.IN11BA
- NA: 11.0.7.7.IN11AA
OnePlus 8T
- IN: 11.0.8.14.KB05DA
- EU: 11.0.8.14.KB05BA
- NA: 11.0.8.13.KB05AA

Like any other OTA system update, this one is also being rolled out in batches. Hence, some units may receive it later than others.

OnePlus 8/ 8 Pro / 8T OxygenOS 11.0.7.7 / 11.0.8.13 / 11.0.8.14 Official Changelog

System
- Optimized mobile phone performance
- Updated Android security patch to 2021.06

Camera
- Fixed the issue that shooting button fails when taking pictures at 48M picture format

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OnePlus TV U1S packing a bezel-less 4K Cinematic display launched alongside the OnePlus TV Camera

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 10, 2021

Chinese tech giant OnePlus today held a launch event in India where the affordable Nord CE smartphone was announced. As scheduled, the company has also launched the OnePlus TV U1S smart TV. The smart TV packs a top-notch 4K cinematic display blended with immersive audio as well as a rich array of curated content.

The OnePlus TV U1S is available in three screen sizes- 50-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch. All three models utilize cinematic display panels with slim bezels, 95% screen-to-body ratio, and support for 60Hz refresh rate as well as 300 nit brightness. The displays also come with Ultra-HD (4K) resolution as well as support for HDR10+ content. While the 50-inch and 55-inch versions come with dual speakers of 30W output, the topmost 65-inch version features a quad-audio speaker setup consisting of two tweeters and two 30W speakers co-tuned by Dynaudio.

The OnePlus smart TV run on Android TV 10-based Oxygen Play 2.0 which brings several improvements over Oxygen Play 1.0. The OS brings support for Google Assistant, Kids Mode, Chromecast, and live channel.

Oneplus also unveiled a new plug-in camera for the smart TV dubbed OnePlus TV Camera. The camera is detachable and can be held in place thanks to the magnetic holder. The camera is connected to the TV via a USB cable and can be used for video calling. This suggests the camera can also be used with other smart TVs and electronic displays. The camera can connect easily to Google Duo and outputs wide-angle photos and videos, thanks to its 1080P camera with full HD resolution. The camera is equipped with dual microphones and noise cancellation algorithms, which ensures audio clarity and reduced background noise. The OnePlus TV Camera is sold separately, though, and is priced at Rs 2,499 (~$34).

Furthermore, the OnePlus TV U1S features a remote that looks like that of the Amazon Fire TV. The remote has shortcut keys for Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. The TV can also be controlled using the OnePlus Watch and via voice prompt with Google Voice Assistant. You also get Bluetooth connectivity, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, three HDMI ports, two USB Type-A ports onboard the TV.

The OnePlus TV U1S comes in a sole black finish and for the prices, the 5-inch model is priced at Rs 39,999 (~$547), while the 55-inch is priced at Rs. 47,999 (~$567). Finally, the 65-inch variant is priced at Rs 62,999 (~$862). The TV will be available on open sale starting tomorrow, 11 June 2021 at 12 PM on Amazon.in, OnePlus.in, Flipkart.com, as well as partner retail stores.

RELATED:

OnePlus Nord CE is a more affordable Nord with a bigger battery and faster charging

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jun 10, 2021

OnePlus has expanded its Nord line of smartphones with a new model dubbed the Nord CE. The new smartphone is a stripped-down version of the first Nord smartphone but also comes with a few upgrades and a more affordable price tag.

OnePlus Nord CE Design

The Nord CE doesn’t deviate so much from the OnePlus Nord in terms of its look but it does have some key differences. To start with, the punch hole is smaller as it is home to only one camera, and the rear camera housing is also shorter due to having fewer sensors. The Alert Slider is gone but the headphone jack is back, flanking the USB-C port on the left. OnePlus has managed to make the device slimmer at 7.9mm even with a bigger battery capacity and brags that it is its slimmest phone since the OnePlus 6T.

The design is finished with three different colorways – Blue Void which has a matte finish, a beautiful accenting, and is fingerprint resistant; Charcoal Ink which is practically black and has a glossy finish; and Silver Ray which boasts reflective properties that allow it to switch colors depending on the angle light rays hit it.

You can get a good look at the device in AR via this special webpage created by OnePlus.

OnePlus Nord CE Specs

The OnePlus Nord CE has a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a hole at the top left corner for the front-facing camera. The screen has a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 90Hz refresh rate but there is no mention of HDR10. Under the hood is the Snapdragon 750G processor and it is paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.1 storage.

There are three cameras on the rear – a 64MP main sensor with an f/1.79 aperture and a 0.7 µm pixel size. There is also an 8MP f/2.25 ultrawide angle camera with a 119° field of view and electronic image stabilization. Last is a 2MP f/2.4 mono camera which OnePlus conveniently omits in the launch. There are a number of features built into the camera app such as AI Scene Detection, Night Mode, UltraShot HDR, and Portrait Mode.

The Nord CE has a 16MP front-facing camera with Face Unlock, an in-display fingerprint scanner, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, and dual nano-SIM support

There is a 4500mAh battery inside the device, and with the new OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Plus, it charges from empty to 70% in 30 minutes. OnePlus ships the phone with OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 and it has features such as Dark Mode, AOD, and Zen Mode.

OnePlus is promising 3 years of security updates and 2 years of software updates which means it should get Android 12 and Android 13.

OnePlus Nord CE Price and Availability

The OnePlus Nord CE will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow before going on sale on June 16. Below are the prices for India and Europe:

6GB RAM + 128GB = ₹22,999
8GB RAM + 128GB = ₹24,999/€329/£299
12GB RAM + 256GB = ₹27,999/€399/£369

Do note that not all of the colors are available in the configuration above. The Silver Ray colorway is limited to the 12GB version (available starting June 23) and you can’t pick up the Blue Void color in the 6+128GB configuration. Charcoal Ink is available for all three configurations.

Those who pre-order the phone will get free gifts worth ₹2,699 which includes a Fanny Pack and product discount vouchers.

RELATED:

vivo V15 starts receiving Android 11 (Funtouch OS 11) update in India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jun 10, 2021

In January of this year, vivo shared the Android 11-based Funtouch OS 11 update timeline for its smartphones in India. The company has been following this schedule since it was made official. Additionally, certain phones, which are not mentioned in the list are also being updated to the new software. That said, the latest device to get the update is vivo V15.

The vivo V15 launched in India in March 2019. The handset debuted with Funtouch OS 9 based on Android 9.0 Pie. The device was later updated to Android 10-based Funtouch OS 10.

Now, according to a report by PiunikaWeb, the vivo V15 has started receiving Funtouch OS 11 (Android 11) update in India. The update is currently said to be in greyscale testing.

In other words, the second major system update for the smartphone is only available for a select few users in the country. It is being rolled out in batches and should reach every unit in the coming days.

As per the timeline, the vivo V15 is supposed to get the Android 11 update by the end of June. But for unknown reasons, the brand has released the update ahead of schedule.

Last but least, the Funtouch OS 11 should be the last major update for the vivo V15, as per vivo’s software update track record. However, the handset will likely receive maintenance updates for a while.

Xiaomi India celebrates selling Mi 11X units worth $41 million in 45 days of launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 10, 2021

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi launched the Mi 11X in India on April 23. That makes it 48 days today since the premium flagship smartphone was released. Apparently, the smartphone has been a major hit among fans as the company has come out to celebrate raking sales worth over Rs. 300 crores (about $41 million) since the series went on sale.

The Mi 11 series is made up of the Mi 11 and the Mi 11 Pro. The company didn’t reveal the number of units that were sold but since the Mi 11 is cheaper, we expect the company has sold more units of the 11 than the 11 Pro. The sales record is reminiscent of the record sales of the Mi 10i 5G. Earlier this year, the company announced that it sold Mi 10i 5G units valued at an estimated Rs. 400 crore ($54 million) in three weeks of launch.

The two models are 5G phones but utilize different camera sensors. While the Mi 11X is powered by a Snapdragon 870 processor, the Mi 11X Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset. Both models feature a 6.67-inch E4 AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution. The phone also comes with support for a 120Hz refresh rate, MEMC, Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, and Audio Zoom for video.

The Mi 11X and Mi 11X Pro with a starting price of Rs. 29,999 (~$410) for the vanilla model are still up for grabs in India via Amazon.in, Mi.com, and Mi home stores. The decent price point and top-notch specs lineup may have contributed to the huge sales.

RELATED:

(via)

US Homeowners bought way more smart devices during the pandemic – Survey

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 10, 2021

As with some other parts of the world, there has been a steep rise in the use of smart home appliances and devices in the fallout of the COVID 19 pandemic that forced a global lockdown in 2020. A recent survey on US households by multinational professional services firm Deloitte has shown that households had an average of 25 smart home devices being deployed during the pandemic. These connected devices provided a raft of services, including entertainment, health and fitness, security, education, and work, among others.

As governments and health authorities battled to stem the rising cases of the novel coronavirus in 2020, many people were forced to work from home for extended periods of 2020, even up till this year. This transformed most homes into an amalgam of several activities, including work and leisure. This led to the seeming explosion in smart and connected devices like laptops, TVs, gaming consoles, headphones, and an array of other gadgets. These smart gadgets helped to spice up the boredom of being locked indoors for several months for many people.

In his comments on the survey, Deloitte’s Vice Chairman Paul Silvergate said that the onset of the pandemic had propelled the tech industry tens of years into the future. It has changed how we interact with the fast-expanding collection of connected devices, ultimately helping consumers, healthcare providers, tech innovators, education professionals, and others to adapt, innovate and thrive in daily activities.

The Deloitte survey revealed that about 58% of the respondents were having a smart wearable device, 14% of which purchased the device during the pandemic. This indicates a rise in the use of fitness features in these smartwatches to gauge daily exercise and other fitness activities.

Although the optics of the survey shows a growing acceptance of smart devices, there is still a fraction of the respondents (more than 30%) who feel overwhelmed by these devices and their subscription regime. This could cause a marginal decline in the use of smart devices, although the decline could be swamped by the growing number of new users of smart gadgets.

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Realme GT Neo sales cross 500,000 units in China

By

Sean

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Jun 10, 2021

Earlier today (10th June 2021), Realme officially announced that its latest GT Neo model of smartphone cross 500,000 units in sales. The device was first made available for sale back in April 2021.

The smartphone maker made the announcement on its official Weibo account, a Chinese microblogging website. For those unaware, the smartphone was launched on March 31, with its first sale beginning in April. Notably, the first sale of the Realme GT Neo had the device cross the 100 million Yuan mark (15 million US Dollars) in just 10 seconds of its release. In other words, the handset clearly saw great success in the brand’s home market.

Talking about the device itself, the GT Neo sports a 6.43 inch FHD+ AMOLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, a 360Hz touch sampling rate, DCI-P3 color gamut, and an under screen fingerprint scanner. On the front, it offers a screen to body ratio of 91.7 percent. It has a 16 megapixel punch hole selfie shooter while the rear camera module offers a Sony IMX682 64 megapixel main snapper, a 119 degree 8 megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2 megapixel macro sensor with a 4cm focal length.

Notably, this smartphone was the first to offer a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC, which is paired with LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The device is powered by a large 4,500mAh battery pack that supports up to 50W fast charging as well, and runs the latest Android 11 OS based Realme UI 2.0. Lastly, the pricing starts from 1,799 Yuan or roughly about 275 US Dollars and is available in multiple color variants, including black, silver, and aurora.

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Xiaomi granted a patent for an AR device with product evaluation capabilities

By

Sean

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Jun 10, 2021

Xiaomi has just been granted a new patent earlier this week. This new patent is related to AR (augmented reality) application, with the technology having product evaluation based capabilities.

As per an official listing on CNIPA, the Chinese tech giant was just granted a patent with the publication number being CN110264320B. The patent description can also be seen, which is for an “Information Display Method, Device and Storage Medium Based on Augmented Reality Equipment.” In simpler terms, the patent is for a new technology that is capable of displaying information based on augmented reality devices.

According to the patent, Xiaomi describes an AR device that displays evaluation based information of the targeted item in its field of view. This would let the device inform users of the supposed “pros and cons” of the items. If Xiaomi is actually working on such a system, it would expand the possible applications of augmented reality. While finer details aren’t specified, the patent does mention the basics of how this system will work.

The AR device will capture a targeted item through its camera module, after which, it will begin mapping the product and offer the users information based on the appearance of the item. So, we can expect this technology to be supplemented by object mapping systems that offer item identification capabilities to the device. Unfortunately, it is currently unknown if the company is actually working on such a system or covering all bases.

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Realme C25s hits Cambodia packing a 48MP main camera – better than the Indian model

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 10, 2021

Chinese tech giant Realme went official with the Realme C25s for the Indian market a few days back. The smartphone has now been unveiled in Cambodia, as it begins its global journey. It had earlier been launched in Malaysia and will go on sale there for the first time on June 12.

One would ordinarily expect that the Realme C25s will feature the same specs in all regions but that is not the case. There is a slight difference in the camera setup on the version announced in India and the model rolling out in other countries. Earlier on, when it was announced in Malaysia, a 48MP main camera was listed while the India launch saw a 13MP sensor onboard. The version that would be sold in Cambodia also features a 48MP sensor. This invariably means that only the India version will get the 13MP AI camera specification.

While this may leave some fans of the brand in India disappointed, it is not new. The Realme C25 which was announced in March followed the same pattern, packing a 13MP camera in India and the variant sold in other regions features a 48MP sensor.

Apart from this variation, both the Indian model and the C25s sold elsewhere are entirely similar. The models are powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. There are 64GB and 128GB storage options. The phone also packs a massive 6,000mAh battery that brings support for 18W fast charging through USB-C. Other features on board include Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, dual 4G VoLTE, a 3.5mm audio jack, and Wi-Fi 802.11ac.

Talking of the prices, the Realme C25s carries a starting price tag of $190 USD in Cambodia while in Malaysia, it will retail for MYR700 (~$170). The inferior main camera sensor on the Indian version is reflected in the price as it carries a cheaper Rs. 9,999 (~$137) price tag for the base variant.

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Facebook’s first smartwatch to launch next summer with Dual Cameras

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 10, 2021

A report back in February this year first carried by the Information alleged that social media giant Facebook was working on its first smartwatch with a focus on messaging and fitness. Further details of the Facebook smartwatch have now emerged showing the watch will feature a detachable display with two cameras for video recording, as well as a heart rate monitor.

Facebook smartwatch Source: TheVerge — Facebook smartwatch (Artist’s impression) Source: TheVerge

The detachable display will enable users to take photos and record videos that could be assessed or shared with different apps. The design philosophy of the new watch is to enable users to carry out activities like recording videos and several other tasks that their smartphones can do. The Facebook smartwatch project is uncharted territory for the social media giant and could offer several opportunities and setbacks. The company seeks to leverage the expanding market of smart wearables by throwing its hat into the fray.

Privacy concerns are a critical component of the development of smart wearable devices. These smartwatches generate tons of data relating to the user’s daily activities across a broad spectrum. Hence Facebook will have to firm up its processes to assure potential users of the device, of utmost respect for their privacy.

Facebook seems interested in building more consumer-focused hardware to challenge the dominant mobile phone platform creators, Apple and Google. However, it is known that Facebook is collaborating with various companies on further expanding the scope of the revolutionary camera system. If it could be attached to other things like a backpack, then the versatility of this device will be further established.

Inside sources also indicated that the device could be made to function independently of a smartphone, as talks have continued with wireless carriers in the US. The device has also been mentioned as a possible connected device for a VR headset.

Although Facebook has not provided official information on the possible release of its first smartwatch, it could be out by the summer of 2022, according to the source. The price and the expected quantity to be produced for the Facebook smartwatch are still under wraps.

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Upcoming Apple Beats Studio Buds surfaces in Taiwan’s Regulatory Database

By

Sean

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Jun 10, 2021

We already know that Apple is working on a new Beats Studio Buds that is set to launch soon. The truly wireless earbuds had surfaced on the FCC database back in May 2021, and now, new images of the hearables have been spotted on a regulatory database in Taiwan.

The upcoming earphones were spotted on Taiwan’s NCC (National Communications Commission) by MacRumors. While images of the earbuds have already surfaced online, the images on the regulatory database offers a closer look at the device. The earphones feature a stemless in ear TWS design. This makes it distinct from other wireless hearables offering from Beats, and even the Apple AirPods.

Furthermore, the Studio Buds arrives with silicone tips, which the company is likely expected to ship with multiple size options to ensure a better fit for its customers. The earbuds are paired with a charging case as well that sports the company’s brand logo. Looking at the images on the Taiwanese website, we can see an individual bud being placed next to a scale to measure its size.

Notably, the images also reveal that the new Beats Studio Buds supports a USB Type C port for charging, as a charging cable can also be seen in the database. This marks a shift in design, since the Powerbeats Pro that launched previously supported Apple’s Lightning port similar to the AirPods. In other words, future products from the company might also be making this shift. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding these earbuds.

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