Deal: Buy FANGTUOSI Bluetooth Selfie Stick cum Tripod with LED Light for $10 (Retail Price $18)

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Sep 7, 2021

After the launch of the OnePlus 9 series with ColorOS in China, the brand revealed its plans to update its older flagship smartphones to OPPO’s Android skin. The company even released ‘Early Access’ builds for certain models a few months back. At the beginning of this month, it also dropped the update schedule for eligible phones but did not explicitly mention the version of ColorOS. Now, one of the firm’s execs confirms that these handsets will be getting ColorOS 12.

OnePlus 7T Hands on triple cameras featured — OnePlus 7T

Earlier today, the COO of OnePlus shared the ColorOS 12 release announcement post by the official Weibo account of ColorOS. To this, netizens replied that what’s the fuss when OnePlus 7, 7T, 8, and 8T series will be only getting ColorOS 11 update next year.

To one of these comments, the brand exec indirectly confirmed that OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 7T Pro, OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and OnePlus 8T will be updated directly to ColorOS 12. For those who want to know, his actual reply was ‘why upgrade to an older version?’

We also suggested the same when OnePlus shared the update timeline last week. Because all these phones are already running Android 11-based HydrogenOS 11. Hence, It does not make sense for the company to pour in resources to port ColorOS 11 with the same Android 11 base.

So this means the following OnePlus smartphones will get Android 12-based ColorOS 12 update during the following periods next year in China.

ColorOS 12 Open Beta

Early 2022
- OnePlus 8
- OnePlus 8 Pro
- OnePlus 8T
Mid 2022

ColorOS 12 Stable

H1 2022
H2 2022
- OnePlus 7
- OnePlus 7 Pro
- OnePlus 7T
- OnePlus 7T Pro

Xiaomi working on new 5G phone with 50MP camera, 33W fast charging, & high refresh rate

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Sep 7, 2021

Xiaomi is apparently working on a new 5G enabled smartphone. The device in question carried the model number K16A and was spotted in a certification listing by a known tipster.

The news arrives from @数码闲聊站 who found this yet to be announced device. He even shared a screenshot of this listing which revealed some details regarding this upcoming smartphone. This handset will support up to 33W fast charging and will house a MediaTek Dimensity series 5G chipset. Furthermore, it will sport a display with a high refresh rate and a punch hole selfie camera on the front while the rear features a 50 megapixel primary camera.

As of right now, it is unclear as to which series this new model will belong to and might even be a new device for the company’s budget brand Redmi. Although, that is just speculation at the moment so take this report with a pinch of salt for now. Unfortunately, finer details regarding this device is also unknown for the time being, so stay tuned for more as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this new handset.

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Deal: Buy Zeblaze Stratos 2021 Smartwatch for $62

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Daily Deals

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Sep 7, 2021

Zeblaze Stratos 2021 Smartwatch is now available at a discounted price of $62.49 only at AliExpress. Please note that this deal ends in the next two days.

WHERE TO BUY

Zeblaze Stratos 2021 Smartwatch at $62.49(after discount)@AliExpress

Zeblaze Stratos 2021 Smartwatch

Key Features:

Premium multisport smartwatch
1.32 inch HD color display
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer case
Metal bezel
50M Water-resistant – perfect for swimming and pool activities
120+ goal-based exercises
24 X 7 Heart Rate Monitor
SpO2 Monitor
Precision sensor fusion technology
Sleep and Stress tracker
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU
Battery: 14 days on normal mode and 24 days on battery saver mode
Bluetooth v5.0
Colors: Black, Green, Blue

Zeblaze Stratos 2021 Smartwatch is now available at a discounted price of $62.49 only at AliExpress. Please note that this deal comes with free shipping. The price mentioned is for the smartwatch + charging cable. However, you can also buy the watch without the cable at a lower cost. So be sure to check out the variant and price options before you place the order.

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.

Huawei patents smartphone with rollable display and air gesture controls

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Sep 7, 2021

A new patent from Huawei has revealed yet another smartphone that sports a rollable display. However, the aspect that sets it apart from the ones we have covered previously is the support for gesture controls.

According to a LetsGoDigital report, the Chinese tech giant filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for a new method for a ‘controllable foldable display with haptic and sound effect.’ While we had reported on a recent patent that described a rollable display that wrapped around what appeared to be a futuristic Mate series device, this patent talks about a system that describes how this rollable screen can be rolled in and out.

The patent outlines a method that allows users to operate this rolling out or extending panel mechanism, through the use of touch movements (or hand gestures on the screen), which Huawei has subbed as “freehand gesture control.” To control the extendable display, a virtual slider will be displayed on the screen that lets users begin the rollout process. This system will also be paired with a haptic feedback system and a sound effect as well. Furthermore, the rollable smartphone’s support for freehand gesture control will be powered by a camera and/or a motion sensor.

Through this, the user can simply swipe right above the display to have it roll out and extend while swiping left would have the screen retract back to its original position. But this is just scratching the surface, as Huawei intends to allow users to even control the speed at which the display rolls out. So to achieve varying speeds as per user requirements, the brand plans on use a system that involves an ‘X’ number of the users’ fingers in the air. In simpler terms, the sensor recognizes two, three, four, or even five fingers and adjusts its speed accordingly.

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Chip prices expected to rise into 2022, may impact brands like Apple: Report

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Sep 7, 2021

The prices for semiconductors is expected to rise well into next year, while major chip manufacturers like TSMC are expected to hike chip rates as well. This arrives amid a global shortage of semiconductors that has affected various industries across the globe, including brands like Apple.

According to a NikkeiAsia report, the prices of semiconductors have been on the rise since the last quarter of last year. The rates began rising with a supply shortage, following which, TSMC announced its biggest price hike in a decade. As of right now, the world’s largest contract chipmaker account for over half the global foundry market and has built chips for major tech giants like NVIDIA, Apple, Qualcomm, and others. The company is also known for its advanced chip technology and generally charges a fees 20 percent higher than its rivals.

Although, due to the shortage in semiconductors and TSMC running on full capacity, smaller foundries have also ramped up their own pricing due to high demands. These higher prices are due to a number of factors like higher material, logistics costs, and even the race between brands to acquire a steady chip supply. Notably, the Taiwanese chipmaker was slower than most other foundries in raising its prices, but that can also be attributed to the premium that it already charges.

A major implication of the rising price of semiconductors is the hike in cost of consumer electronic products like smartphones. Apple is a major client for TSMC, so rising prices might affect its iPhones and iPads as well. But, the Cupertino based brand could offset some of these costs due to its relation with the chipmaker as a major client.

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A Redmi smartphone with IP68 rating, 120W fast charging could launch soon

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Sep 7, 2021

We know that Xiaomi is working on a bunch of devices for the second half of 2021. We have been learning about these products every now and then. The latest leak regarding one of these upcoming phones reveals information about the first-ever IP68-certified Redmi smartphone for China.

Redmi K40 Pro Damascus Black Featured — Redmi K40 Pro

According to Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi is working on a Redmi-branded smartphone with IP68 certification for dust and water resistance. As per the tipster, this handset will come with dual stereo speakers and will support 120W fast charging. Anyway, it will be not the first Redmi device with IP68 certification as that title belongs to the Japan-exclusive Redmi Note 10 JE.

Going by the features, this device could be a high-end smartphone. Perhaps, it will go official as Redmi K40 Ultra. Since the forthcoming Xiaomi 11T Pro is tipped to have a similar set of specs, it could be the international variant of this Redmi phone.

We also cannot rule out the possibility of this handset belonging to the Redmi K50 series. It may be also part of a new lineup. Either way, we expect to grasp more details about this upcoming phone in the coming days.

Xiaomi’s Redmi brand has not launched any entry-level or budget smartphone in China for a long time. The last most affordable handset to hit this market was Redmi Note 9 4G at the end of November 2020. On the other hand, the same brand is still focusing on its old segments in international markets.

Ulefone Power Armor 13 passes rigorous Quality Test with flying colors

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Simranpal Singh

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Sep 7, 2021

After going through the battery drain test and performance test, the Ulefone Armor 13 triumphed the Quality test. Ulefone is popularly known for quality rugged smartphones and the same is visible in this durability and quality test on the Ulefone Armor 13 smartphone.

Must See: Ulefone Power Armor 13 Performance Testing & Teardown [Videos]

As in the video, Ulefone Armor 13 smartphone has undergone several small tests ranging from tumbling tests to endurance tests. Apart from excelling in the waterproof, and dustproof tests, the smartphone survived 300 times tumbling test, 100,000 times dressing test. Moreover, it fared quite well in the 2000 times crushing test and 100,000 times touch screen test. The smartphone proves endurance when it was dropped 5000 times under a mini-drop endurance test. However, the USB endurance test is also performed 5000 times. Overall, the smartphone kept working throughout the testing and is in perfect condition without any damage and performance.

Ulefone Armor 13 smartphone offers some exceptional specifications with great durability. It is the best choice in the rugged smartphone market considering the features, specifications and pricing. The interested users can head over to the Ulefone official website to know more about the device.

Related: Ulefone Armor 12 5G flexes its muscles in an Official Video

Samsung seeks to take on Apple iPad Pro with new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

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Sep 7, 2021

Samsung is gearing up for the launch of its new Tab S series of tablets. The new lineup is expected to feature three models and a new report has suggested that the highest end variant, namely the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, will seek to compete with the 2021 Apple iPad Pro.

The news arrives from a tweet from FrontTron, who found a post on Clien that stated that the Galaxy S8 Ultra will be powered by the new Exynos 2200 SoC. This new chip is the South Korean tech giant’s latest mobile processor that was built with a new AMD GPU. Furthermore, benchmark results have reportedly found that the performance of this new chipset will be similar to the M1 chip from Apple, which can also be found in the new iPad Pro model as well.

As per PhoneArena, another report has also found that the new flagship tablet will sport Samsung’s best display and other top of the line specs and features. Although, this source believes that the upcoming Galaxy Tab S8 lineup will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 processor. So, it is still unclear which chip the company will use in the tablets. However, it is speculated that the brand will follow its traditional flagship handset approach with a Snapdragon chip for the North American and Chinese market, while the rest of the regions receive an Exynos variant.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE — Galaxy Tab S7 FE

As of right now, finer details regarding the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is currently unknown. But, the new tablet is expected to feature up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Meanwhile, the 2021 iPad Pro arrives with 12.9 inch mini LED display and up to 2TB of internal storage. While the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus arrived with a 12.4 inch display, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is rumored to sport a 14.6 inch 120Hz panel and a massive 11,500mAh battery pack.

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Download ColorOS 12 Official Wallpapers from here

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Sep 7, 2021

OPPO has confirmed to unveil ColorOS 12 by the end of September. Ahead of that, the company has shared the official wallpapers from the upcoming version of its mobile operating system based on Android 12. You can download them in original quality from the link provided at the end of this post.

ColorOS 12 is said to be the best iteration of OPPO’s software to date. The firm is yet to officially reveal its features. However, we know a few details about it via leaks.

The 9 wallpapers posted by the ColorOS official Weibo account hint at some of the design language suggested by Digital Chat Station. As per the tipster, the new version of ColorOS will be inspired by MIUI, Flyme, and HydrogenOS.

We can notice some of the inspirations in these wallpapers. In simpler words, they are sort of similar to those found on those Android skins.

One of the main highlights of ColorOS 12 will be Cross Screen Interconnection. This feature is nothing but OPPO’s version of HUAWEI Multi Screen Collaboration. An early version of this functionality is already live on select realme devices called PC Connect. At present, it’s not known what OnePlus will call it as it is also expected to launch tablets like the other two brands.

Having said that, we expect to learn more about Android 12-based ColorOS 12 before its official announcement in the coming days. Until then, refresh your phones with these new wallpapers.

Download ColorOS 12 Official Wallpapers

Texas plans to offer Samsung large property tax breaks to build chip plant

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Sep 7, 2021

Samsung, the South Korea-based technology giant is gearing up to set up its new chip production plant in the United States and the company has shortlisted two potential locations for the same.

The city of Taylor and Austin are the two locations and now one of them, Taylor, is planning to offer extensive property tax breaks if it is chosen by the South Korean tech giant for the chip plant, reports Reuters.

The new plant by Samsung for manufacturing chips is worth around $17 billion and is set to create 1,800 new jobs. The company has also said it is looking at other potential sites in Arizona and New York but other potential sites have not yet disclosed planned tax breaks.

A proposed resolution posted on the Taylor city’s website shows that for the land Samsung will use, it is set to be offered a grant equivalent to 92.5% of assessed property tax for 10 years, 90% for the following 10 years, and then 85% in the 10 years after that.

Apart from that, a 92.5% tax waiver on new property built on the site for 10 years and the repayment of development review costs is also a part of the plan. The proposed resolution will be considered this week by Taylor City Council and Williamson County Commissioners.

For those who are unaware, Taylor is located around 25 miles away from Austin and is about 1,187.5 acres in size, much bigger than the Austin site. Samsung last year purchased more than 250 acres in Austin, which is in addition to the 350 acres it owns that includes its sole U.S. chip factory.

If the location is finalized by Samsung, then work on this new plant should start by the first quarter of next year with a production commencement target of end-2024. We’ll just have to wait and watch to know which city Samsung finally decides to set up its new plant.

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Apple A15 chip in iPhone 13 still dominates Android rivals in performance: Report

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Sep 7, 2021

A recent benchmark performance has revealed that the Apple A15 chipset on the upcoming iPhone 13 will still be capable of beating the next gen flagship Android processors in terms of performance.

Apple A15 GPU peak benchmark test
Manhattan 3.1: 198 FPS (July unit sample)
However, after second round of test, throttling kicks in and drops to 140~150FPS.
(1/2)

Source: https://t.co/Sl1xfN5ktB

— Tron ❂ (@FrontTron) September 6, 2021

The news arrives from known tipster FrontTron, who shared the benchmark on Twitter. According to him, the benchmark tests were performed on a sample of the A15 chip. These results were discussed in a Korean forum called Clien. Looking at the benchmarking results, the new A15 chip managed to achieve a peak score of 198 fps on the Manhattan 3.1 test. However, throttling caused the score to noticeably drop to around 140 to 150 fps in the second round of tests.

On the other hand, the iPhone 12 averages around 170.7 fps peak performance in this same benchmark test. As per FrontTron, the throttling did not seem like an issue since the overall peak is “way exceeding” the peak of the previous gen A14 chip. Although, the sharp drop in the second round test can’t be simply ruled out. But, this was a sample A15 that was from the July 2021 batch.

Notably, this also reveals that the iPhone 13’s A15 is around 13.7 percent faster than the A14 from last year. Furthermore, despite the drop in performance due to throttling, it is still capable of outperforming its Android counterparts by a considerable margin. As of right now, there is no way of confirming this news so take it with a pinch of salt and stay tuned, as the Cupertino based giant is expected to launch this chip with the iPhone 13 later this month.

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OPPO files 5G patent infringement lawsuits against Nokia in China and Europe

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Sep 7, 2021

A couple of months ago, in July this year, Nokia had filed a few patent-related lawsuits against OPPO. Now, as a retaliation, the Chinese company has filed several patents infringement lawsuits against Nokia in China and Europe.

The patents involved in the lawsuit are all 5G standard essential patents. With the commercialization of 5G technology, the essential patent licensing rates between patent owners and smartphone makers have been rising.

Nokia, the Finnish company that just settled the patent dispute with Daimler, is pushing ahead to enter the 5G field. It intends to take advantage of the patent war with OPPO to lay the groundwork for 5G standard-essential patent fees.

Over the last ten years, Nokia has sued several different companies but this is likely the first time in the last decade to file a counter sued for patent infringement. This is due to a lack of high-quality assets or the lack of courage to confront Nokia head-on.

In July this year, Nokia filed dozens of patent infringement lawsuits against OPPO in about nine countries, including India, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. While the reason behind this move hasn’t been announced, it’s likely that the companies failed to reach an agreement for the 5G patent license.

Ever since Nokia stopped making mobile phones (HMD Global has licensed Nokia brand for smartphones), the patent license fees play an important role for the Finland-based company. It is trying to find a foothold in the telecom equipment market and with Huawei facing several issues, there’s a greater chance for Nokia to get a majority of contracts.

Nokia has adopted the strategy of aggressive litigation to collect the licensing fees. Before OPPO, the company had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Lenovo in the US, Brazil, India, Germany, and others. It lasted for more than a year and was settled by the companies earlier this year in April.

It will be interesting to see how this legal dispute ends. While there’s a high possibility of both the companies reached an agreement, the battle between the patent holder and license holder for using it could form new rules for the companies.

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OPPO tablet leaks via ColorOS 12 promotional image

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Sep 7, 2021

Earlier today, OPPO announced that ColorOS 12 based on Android 12 will be debuting in September. The company even shared official wallpapers for the public to download and use. At around the same time, a popular leaker posted a promotional image of ColorOS 12 revealing a tablet running the new software.

OPPO ColorOS 12 Smartphone Tablet Smartwatch — Source: Digital Chat Station | Via: ITHome

A little while ago, Digital Chat Station shared a picture showcasing a smartphone and a tablet running ColorOS 12 along with a smartwatch. The tipster soon took down the post but we were able to get the image via ITHome.

This promo image for ColorOS 12 confirms that OPPO will be indeed releasing a tablet. Also, we get to see the first glimpse of ColorOS for tablets. Unsurprisingly, the UI is heavily inspired by iPadOS.

As far as the tablet’s design is concerned, it appears to have volume buttons on the right side. Since we don’t see any key on the bottom and the left sides, the power button will most likely reside on the top. Apart from this, we can notice that the tablet has rounded corners,

Additionally, Digital Chat Station says that OPPO is working on software for foldables and tablets together. He adds that a tablet will be released first alongside the OPPO Reno7 series. Ahead of that, the firm will be launching a new smartwatch called OPPO Watch Free at the end of this month.

Having said that, we don’t have to wait until the launch of any OPPO-branded tablet to experience ColorOS for tablets. That’s because the upcoming realme Pad runs realme UI, which is nothing but ColorOS with some tweaks.

We expect to learn more about ColorOS 12 in the coming days ahead of the official announcement via promotional teasers and maybe even through leaks as well.

Realme GT Neo2 Mercedes-AMG special edition’s leaked image spotted

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 7, 2021

The Realme GT Neo2 is expected to go official this month. The design and specifications of the smartphone have already appeared in recent reports. It is speculated that the handset will be available in black, blue, and orange colors. A fresh leak that has appeared on Weibo reveals that the GT Neo2 may also come in a special green edition.

The above image suggests that Realme may have collaborated with Mercedes-Benz AMG for the special green variant of the GT Neo2. A large-sized AMG branding can be seen on the back panel of the device. Share with us your thoughts on this green variant in the comments section below.

The appearance of the special model seems to be inspired by the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R. Readers are recommended to wait for further reports to confirm the existence of the green variant.

Reports have revealed that the Realme RMX3370 that was certified by China’s TENAA authority will be debuting as the Realme GT Neo2 in the home market. The RMX3370 has now received approval from China’s 3C regulatory body. The listing reveals that the 5G-ready may ship with a 65W fast charger.

The Realme GT Neo2 is expected to arrive with a 6.62-inch AMOLED FHD+ punch-hole display with a 120Hz refresh rate support, a 16-megapixel front camera, and a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit. The Snapdragon 870 SoC powered may come with up to 12 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of internal storage, a 4,500mAh battery, Realme UI 2.0 UI based Android 11 OS, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. At present, there is no information available on the pricing of the GT Neo2. A recent leak claimed that the smartphone may debut with the Realme GT Neo Gaming moniker in the global markets.

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DIZO Watch 2, Watch Pro to launch on September 15 in India

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 7, 2021

Last month, DIZO announced the DIZO Watch as its first smartwatch in India. Fresh information reveals that the company will be announcing new smartwatches such as DIZO Watch 2 and Watch Pro on Sept. 15 in India.

Flipkart has a landing page for the upcoming DIZO smartwatches. It reveals that the DIZO Watch 2 will feature a bright touchscreen display of 1.69 inches. DIZO claims that it offers the biggest display in its pricing segment.

The square-shaped smartwatch offers 100+ watch faces for customization. It will feature a metallic frame that will offer 5ATM water resistance. It will be packed with health and fitness monitoring features such as a heart rate tracker, SpO2 sensor, and more.

Interestingly, a product listing of the DIZO Watch 2 is also available on Flipkart. The listing further reveals that it offers 600nits brightness, a 260mAh battery that can last for up to 10 days, sleep tracking, menstrual cycle tracking, and support for 15 outdoor and indoor sports modes. It appears that the DIZO Watch 2 lacks a GPS chip.

The DIZO Watch 2 is listed with a price tag of Rs 3,999. The pricing may not be correct since the company is yet to launch it. It will be available in multiple colors such as Classic Black, Golden Pink, Ivory White, and Silver Grey.

As far as the DIZO Watch Pro, the Flipkart microsite only reveals that it has a square-shaped display and built-in GPS + GLONASS for location tracking. Its other specs are under the wraps. The DIZO Watch 2 listing reveals that the company will be soon announcing the DIZO app for tracking health and fitness data.

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Google Pixel 3 series phones are getting bricked with “EDL” message

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Sep 7, 2021

Google has unveiled the Pixel 6 series flagship smartphones and is expected to officially launch the lineup next month. Ahead of the latest Pixel series phones are available for purchase, the older Pixel 3 and 3 XL users are facing major issues with their unit.

As per the latest report coming from Ars Technica, users of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are complaining about their phones suddenly stop working and become completely unresponsive. It adds that the phones can’t boot into Android and only shows Qualcomm recovery mode called “Emergency Download (EDL) mode.”

Google Pixel 3 2018 — Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

The usual method for flashing a new version of Android on the device isn’t working given that users cannot get out of the Emergency Download (EDL) mode and into the normal bootloader to use tools like fastboot or Google’s slick.

It is speculated that the problem is not released to a software update rolled out by the company but is likely related to hardware because of a lack of recoverability options. Also, the fact that users have been reporting this issue over the course of several months, indicating an end of life for a batch of hardware components.

Folks at TrustedReviews reached out to Google and the tech giant’s spokesperson confirmed that the company is aware of the problem, but had nothing else to say related to this matter. We expect more information from the company in the coming days.

Google Pixel 3 series was released at the end of 2018 and was available for purchase for about 18 months and comes with a two-year warranty. For the Pixel 4 XL, the company extended the warranty to three years because of some hardware issues. So, Google could do the same and extend the warranty for Pixel 3 series owners.

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OPPO ColorOS 12 based on Android 12 confirmed to launch in September

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