Xiaomi confirms MIUI 12.5 update for Mi 8, Mi 8 Explorer Edition, Mi MIX 2S, and Mi MIX 3

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Jun 15, 2021

Xiaomi announced MIUI 12.5 at the Mi 11 launch event in late December 2020. The company has been rolling it out to eligible devices for the past few weeks. However, the handset maker did not reveal when the older devices will be receiving the update. Now, as the firm is about to finish the rollout for newer smartphones, a company executive has named an older flagship smartphone that will be receiving the MIUI 12.5 update in near future.

A netizen on Weibo inquired Zhang Guoquan (Director of Xiaomi Mobile System Software) about the availability of the Mi 8 MIUI 12.5 update. To this, the executive simply replied that the update is ready.

This means we can expect Xiaomi to start rolling out the MIUI 12.5 update for the Mi 8 in the coming days. The other models in the Mi 8 series should also receive the update at around the same time.

Back in April, the same executive revealed that all the smartphones powered by Snapdragon 845 will be getting the MIUI 12.5 update. Hence, Mi 8, Mi 8 Explorer Edition (aka Mi 8 Pro), and Mi MIX 2S will be updated to the current latest version of MIUI along with Mi MIX 3 featuring a Snapdragon 855.

Unfortunately, it’s still now sure whether the POCO F1 is eligible for the MIUI 12.5 update. But we believe it should receive the update as it has the same chipset as the Mi 8.

Samsung Galaxy F22 Bluetooth filing suggests its a rebranded Galaxy A22

By

Sean

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Jun 15, 2021

Earlier this month, Samsung announced the new Galaxy A22 5G and A22 4G in Europe. This model was rumored to be rebranded as the Galaxy F22, and now, a recent regulatory filing has strongly suggested this as well.

The news arrives from the Bluetooth SIG website, which listed two smartphone models earlier this week. These two models include the Galaxy A22 and Galaxy F22, which strongly suggest that the latter is a rebranded version of the former. The listing also reveals the model number for the Galaxy F22, SM-E225F_DS, which hints at a dual SIM variant. The model number is also in line with the Galaxy A22’s SM-225 model number.

Although, it is currently unclear that the Galaxy F22 is the 4G or 5G version of the Galaxy A22. Furthermore, both smartphones are powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack that supports 15W fast charging along with a side mounted fingerprint scanner. Unfortunately, it is unknown which processor the 4G version sports, but it features a 90H OLED panel and a quad camera module (48MP+8MP+2MP+2MP). On the other hand, the 5G variant sports a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, with a triple camera setup (48MP+5MP+2MP).

The Galaxy F22 is expected to launch in the Indian subcontinent. However, there is no official news on the pricing of the devices. The European version of the 5G model launched for 300 US Dollars, so we can expect the prices to be a bit lower. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding these devices.

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Oppo Find X3 Pro scores 131 points on DxOMark, ties with Vivo X50 Pro+

By

Sean

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Jun 15, 2021

The Oppo Find X3 Pro has just passed through DxoMark’s camera rating. The device scored 131 points in the testing tying with the Vivo X50 Pro+, with its ultra wide angle and short telephoto lens receiving praises in particular.

As per the DxOMark report, the Find X3 Pro is the Chinese tech giant’s 2021 flagship smartphone model that offers a quad camera setup on the rear. The primary lens is a 50 megapixel sensor, paired with another 50 megapixel wide angle lens, a 13 megapixel telephoto shooter, and a 3 megapixel microscope camera. Looking at the test summary, the device scored 139 points in photography, while it received 111 points in video and 71 points for zoom tests.

This translates to the device holding the number sixth DxOMark ranking with the camera rating firm praising it for its “Vivid and pleasant color in most photos and videos,” along with its good detail retention in both videos and photos. Furthermore, the depth estimation for bokeh photos was found to be accurate, with its autofocus being smooth and fast for videos, which also highlighted its effective stabilization as well.

On the other hand, the device lost points for exposure instabilities in high contrast scenes. Similarly, exposure adaptation in videos was also unstable at times. During low light scenes, the videos were underexposed and auto focus was slow. Night scenes also revealed strong noise in the video captures, while luminance noise and white balance plagued both photos and videos at times. Overall, the Oppo Find X3 Pro still offered a strong camera performance and was said to be one of the best devices that DxOMark has ever tested.

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Xiaomi J18s foldable smartphone tipped to launch in Q4 2021

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jun 15, 2021

Xiaomi unveiled the Mi MIX Fold as its first-ever foldable smartphone in late March. A little over a month after this device’s announcement, details about the company’s second foldable codenamed J18s started emerging. Now, weeks later, more information about this handset appears on the web.

Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold Ceramic Special Edition

All the details about the upcoming Xiaomi J18s foldable smartphone, including the latest ones, come from Digital Chat Station. According to the tipster’s latest Weibo post on this phone, it will make its debut in Q4 2021.

The handset will have an inward folding display, and both internal, as well as external panels, will support a high refresh rate. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and will be backed by a 5,000mAh battery.

As per previous posts by Digital Chat Station, the Xiaomi J18s’ internal screen supplied by Samsung Display will feature a 120Hz refresh rate. Whereas, the external panel provided by Visionox with an under-display camera solution will have a 90Hz refresh rate.

As for optics, the device is said to house a 10M8P primary sensor, an unknown sensor with a 3x liquid lens, and an ultra-wide unit. All in all, Xiaomi’s second foldable smartphone will be similar to the first model with minor differences.

That said, we expect to learn more about the J18s before its expected launch in the last quarter of this year.

DOOGEE S86 Pro Launching Globally on 15 June under $200

By

Daily Deals

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Jun 15, 2021

DOOGEE S86 Pro is launching globally on 15 June 2021. The smartphone which has a retail price of $250 is now available at a heavily discounted price of $169.99 at AliExpress and Banggood. Please note that this special offer given to celebrate the world premiere of DOOGEE S86 Pro starts on 15 June 2021 and ends on 20 June 2021.

WHERE TO BUY

DOOGEE S86 Pro at $169.99 @AliExpress / Banggood

DOOGEE S86 Pro, the latest addition to the rugged smartphone series by DOOGEE features a 6.1” HD+ Waterdrop display with 720 x 1560P resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The highlight of this smartphone lies in its built-in infrared thermometer. The infrared temperature sensor has an accuracy range of 0.2-degree Celsius and can be used for checking body temperature and temperatures of liquids like coffee, milk, water, etc. The smartphone can also be used to check surface and food temperature.

The rugged smartphone features a textured rubber body reinforced with aluminum padding making it drop and shock-proof. With IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD 810G certifications, the smartphone is waterproof, dirt, dust, and drop-proof. It is waterproof up to 1.5m depth for around 30 mins and can survive a drop from 1.5m height on a concrete surface. Designed for adventure enthusiasts and globe trotters the smartphone comes with a Rear Quad LED flashlight that is powerful enough to light up your way in pitch-black surroundings.

The smartphone comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM expandable up to 256GB and is powered by an Helio P60 Octa-Core processor. It features a rear triple camera setup with a 16MP main camera and 8MP and 2MP secondary cameras. For the selfie camera, you have an 8MP sensor in the front. Fueled by a massive 8500mAh battery the smartphone gives you 2 to 4 days of usage on one single charge and supports fast charging. Other interesting features include glove mode, wet screen mode, NFC, tri-navigational satellite support, custom key, toolbox, etc.

DEAL:

DOOGEE S86 Pro is launching globally on 15 June 2021. The smartphone which has a retail price of $250 will be available at a heavily discounted price of $169.99 only. You can buy DOOGEE S86 Pro either from AliExpress or from Banggood. Please note that this super deal ends on 20 June 2021.

Also, DOOGEE is hosting a GIVEAWAY contest for its global customers. 10 lucky winners who will be selected through the contest will either get an S86 PRO Smartphone or other exciting wearables. To enter the contest click here. Please note that the discount offer is live now. So place your orders asap.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

Honor Magic 3 to launch in August with Snapdragon 888 Pro SoC: Leak

By

Sean

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Jun 15, 2021

A new leak has revealed that the Honor Magic 3 smartphone will arrive with Snapdragon 888 Pro SoC. The device will apparently launch in August 2021 and will feature the new top end processor from Qualcomm.

The news arrives from a Weibo post, a Chinese microblogging website, from known tipster @数码闲聊站. As per the social media post, the upcoming Magic 3 smartphone will sport the Snapdragon 888 Pro SoC, which is expected to feature the new X1 super core that offers a frequency of 3.0GHz. In other words, it is an overclocked variant of the base Snapdragon 888 processor. Notably, we had previously reported on Honor working on a new smartphones with this chipset, so this handset might be the model in question.

Furthermore, the company’s CEO had also announced recently that its Magic series of smartphones will include high end flagship grade devices. These handsets will also offer iconic physical design, advanced imaging capabilities, and quality assurance as well, among other things. The tipster also added that the company’s first foldable smartphone will also be launching soon, marking the brand’s entry into the foldable smartphone segment.

Keep in mind that this is still an unconfirmed report, so take this news with a pinch of salt for now and stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this matter.

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Realme Buds Q2 budget TWS earbuds might launch in India soon with ANC

By

Sean

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Jun 15, 2021

The Realme Buds Q2 truly wireless earbuds were launched a couple of months prior in Pakistan and have also been made available in certain other markets like Malaysia and more. But, a recent leak revealed that the company will be launching the new budget TWS earbuds in India soon.

Realme Buds Q2 Launching Soon in India.

Thanks: @ERDeepGill5 pic.twitter.com/Sqd0tpU3Mj

— Ankit (@TechnoAnkit1) June 15, 2021

According to a tipster on Twitter, the Buds Q2 earbuds from the Chinese smartphone maker will be launching in the region soon. The tweet also shared screenshots, which revealed that the wireless earphones will arrive with Active Noise Cancellation as well. The company recently confirmed that it will be launched the Narzo 30 and Narzo 30 5Gin the country later this month, with the Buds Q2 expected to launch along with these smartphones.

Furthermore, the brand even confirmed that the launch of a 32 inch smart TV in the nation as well. For those unaware, the Buds Q2 features 10mm drivers with Bass Boost+ enhancement technology. It will even offer a low latency Game Mode with 88ms latency. The hearables offer up to 20 hours of music, including its charging case, on a single full charge. The case itself takes about 2.5 hours to full charge while the buds take about an hour and 40 minutes to reach full charge.

Notably, the Realme Buds Q2 also supports fast charging and provides 2 hours of music playback on a 10 minute charge. The earbuds also feature touch controls that let you play and pause music or even answer and end calls on the go. These earbuds are also IPX4 certified and are expected to arrive at a price of around 2,499 INR (roughly 34 US Dollars). So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this device.

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Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ rumored to feature a plastic back panel

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jun 15, 2021

Earlier this year, Samsung switched to a polycarbonate (plastic) rear panel on the Galaxy S series with the Galaxy S21. As per a new rumor, the same material could also make its way to the Plus model (Galaxy S22+) next year. However, the Ultra variant (Galaxy S22 Ultra) will retain the glass back panel.

samsung galaxy s21 vs s21 ultra featured — Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung has been experimenting with plastic back on its smartphones for years. The company introduced the so-called glasstic panel on the Galaxy A series. This glossy polycarbonate back feels cheap as it not only attracts smudges but also scratches.

Then, the firm debuted the Galaxy Note20 with a matte polycarbonate rear finish. The same material later made its way to the Galaxy S20 FE and the Galaxy S21. Even the mid-range Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 use a similar finish but of lower quality.

Seems like customers don’t mind the shift from glass to plastic, as much as the tech community. Hence, Samsung is rumored (via @FrontTron) to use polycarbonate back on both the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22+ in 2022.

Anyway, this is still not confirmed. Hence, we will have to wait a little further for more information. If it happens to be true, then the Galaxy S22 Ultra will be the only device in the Galaxy S22 series with a rear glass panel.

Global Smartphone shipments to rise by 12% in 2021, despite supply issues: Report

By

Sean

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Jun 15, 2021

A new report has revealed that the global smartphone market is expected to see a growth in shipments this year. The projected growth is around 12 percent, with total shipment figures reaching 1.4 bllion units.

According to a Canalys report, the growth in smartphone shipments is indicative of the strong recovery of the market from last year. During 2020, the shipments of handset fell by 7 percent due to the severe market constraints caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. But with the world recovering from the pandemic and vaccines being rolled out, the issue with supply of components will emerge as the new bottleneck for the smartphone industry.

As per Canalys Research Manager Ben Stanton, “The smartphone industry’s resilience is quite incredible.” He further added that “There is strong momentum behind 5G handsets, which accounted for 37% of global shipments in Q1, and are expected to account for 43% for the full year (610 million units). This will be driven by intense price competition between vendors, with many sacrificing other features, such as display or power, to accommodate 5G in the cheapest device possible. By the end of the year, 32% of all 5G devices shipped will have cost less than US$300. It is time for mass adoption.”

Although, the supply constraints for components wil limit the grwoth potential of smartphone shipments this year. For those unaware, the world is suffering from a major shortage of semiconductors and certain component materials at the moment. This has led to a build of backorders and “The industry is fighting for semiconductors, and every brand will feel the pinch,” Stanton added.

Canalys VP of Mobility Nicole Peng stated that “The other angle to this is pricing. As key components, such as chipsets and memory, increase in price, smartphone vendors must decide whether to absorb that cost or pass it on to consumers.” Furthermore, the report added that the pandemic even caused permanent changes in the market, with channels transforming having to adapt or die during the pandemic.

RELATED:

Honor 50 SE spotted with Dimensity 900 before launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jun 15, 2021

The Honor 50 SE that has a model number of JLH-AN00 has appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking site today. Moreover, another unknown Honor phone with model number NTH-AN00 has also appeared on Geekbench (via). Both phones have were spotted at China’s 3C and TENAA certification sites in the recent past.

The TENAA listings of phones have not revealed any information on their specs. However, their 3C listings have revealed that they carry support for 5G connectivity, and they may debut a 66W charger. The Geekbench listing of both phones has revealed that they are equipped with 8 GB of RAM and Android 11 OS.

1 of 2

MediaTek’s MT6877V/ZA chip that fuels the JLH-AN00 phone is the Dimensity 900 chip, but there is no word on the chip that powers the NTH-AN00. A recent leak by tipster Ishan Agarwal revealed that the Honor 50 SE is driven by the Dimensity 900 chipset. Hence, it can be said that the NTH-AN00 smartphone is the Honor 50 SE. It is unclear whether JLH-AN00 is the Honor 50 phone or the rumored Honor X20, which is expected to debut a few weeks after the Honor 50 series.

The Honor 50 SE is speculated to arrive with a 6.78-inch FHD+ LCD screen, a 4,000mAh battery, a 16-megapixel front camera, and 100-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple rear cameras. The Honor 50 series that includes the Honor 50, 50 SE, and 50 Pro will be made official tomorrow through a launch event in China.

RELATED:

Xiaomi establishes ‘MIUI Pioneer Group’ to fix problems faced by users

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jun 15, 2021

Xiaomi started as a software company in 2010. MIUI is the company’s first product. It was introduced as a revolutionary Android skin. Even a decade later, Xiaomi is known for MIUI, but unfortunately for wrong reasons. The firm’s once-popular mobile software is now notorious for bugs and performance issues. Thankfully, Xiaomi finally appears to have begun to repair its reputation ahead of MIUI 13 release.

Earlier today, a Xiaomi Product Director, who is also the MIUI Experience General Manager, officially announced that they have established a committee called ‘MIUI Pioneer Group’ more than a week ago.

The members of this council will be responsible for solving all kinds of problems faced by MIUI users. The committee will post their progress in form of a report on Mi Community.

Although this move does not sound like anything extraordinary, it is a welcoming development nevertheless. We hope Xiaomi fixes all the issues with MIUI in the coming months. Because it has been the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of the company’s smartphones for quite some time.

Competitors like OPPO and vivo overhauled their mobile software recently as they started entering new markets. In fact, ColorOS has now become one of the best Android skins in the market. Whereas, Funtouch OS is much better than the previous iterations.

On the other hand, Samsung has set the bar high for Android updates with One UI. The company offers three Android updates and at least four years of security updates for most of its devices.

Realme X9 India launch nearing as moniker appears on official website

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jun 15, 2021

Realme is reportedly working on the Realme X9 series of smartphones for the Chinese market. It is believed that the Realme RMX3366 that has been certified by the TENAA and 3C authorities of China could be debuting in the market as the Realme X9 Pro. There is no word on the model number of the Realme X9 handset. Apart from China, the X9 series could be coming soon to India as popular tipster Mukul Sharma shared a screenshot, which reveals that the Realme X9 moniker has appeared on Realme India’s website.

It is not the first time that an unannounced phone’s name has appeared on Realme India’s website. Earlier this month, monikers like Realme 9, Realme XT 3, and Realme GT 2 had also cropped up on the site. The listings only hint the arrival of these phones to the Indian market and have no information on their specs. While the X9 is mentioned in the screengrab, we could not find it on the website at the time of writing this post.

Rumors have it that the Realme X9 will be equipped with the Snapdragon 778G chipset, and it may cost between 2,000 Yuan (~$312) and 2,500 Yuan (~$390). On the other side, the Realme X9 Pro could be equipped with Snapdragon 870 chipset, a 120Hz display, and it could be priced between 2,500 Yuan (~$390) and 3,000 Yuan (~$468).

The Realme X9 Pro’s TENAA listing revealed that it has a 6.55-inch OLED FHD+ display, a 32-megapixel front camera, and a 50-megapixel (Sony IMX766) +16-megapixel (Sony IMX481) + 2-megapixel triple camera system. It is likely to arrive with up to 12 GB of RAM, up to 512 GB of storage, a 4,500mAh battery with 65W charging, and an in-display fingerprint scanner.

RELATED:

Japan and Finland to join hands for the development of 6G network

By

Sean

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Jun 15, 2021

Known telecom groups from Japan and Finland are teaming up for the development of 6G networking. This would have the joint effort focus on research and development of the sixth generation of telecommunications technology to help in setting up standards in a race with China.

According to a NikkeiAsia report, Finland’s telecom equipment maker Nokia, a major player in the industry, will join this effort. Furthermore, Japan’s Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium will also be signing the agreement soon with Finnish group 6G Flagship. Notably, this cooperation was set to be announced earlier today (15th June 2021) at the Global Digital Summit 2021, which is an event organized by Nikkei and Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The joint effort arrives after the 4.5 billion US Dollars commitment from Japan and the US for the development of the next generation communication technology. This partnership was announced back in April 2021. The combined effort, which is also set to include “third countries” to promote secure connectivity, will help in the competition against China to set global standards.

The beyond 5G Promotion Consortium aims to commercialize 6G technology within the 2030s and will include notable Japanese telecom players like Nippon Telegraph & Telephone, NTT Docomo, KDDI, SoftBank Corp, and Rakuten Mobile. Additionally, the members of the Japanese consortium will engage in joint research projects and personnel exchange as well. This group is also in talks for future collaboration with American telecom suppliers like Cisco and even chipmaker Intel.

RELATED:

OnePlus Nord N200 5G’s new renders and Geekbench listing emerge ahead of launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jun 15, 2021

OnePlus is speculated to launch the OnePlus Nord N200 5G today (June 15). Ahead of the alleged launch, reliable tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore has shared new renders of the smartphone. In addition, the handset has also appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking site.

OnePlus Nord N200 5G press render from all angles.#OnePlusNordN2005G pic.twitter.com/Bq96JlNeel

— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) June 15, 2021

The OnePlus Nord N200 5G’s new renders show the phone in silver and black colors. The phone features a punch-hole screen, a side-facing fingerprint scanner, and a rectangle-shaped camera module on the back.

The N200 has appeared with its DE2117 model number on the benchmarking site. The Geekbench listing of the phone shows that it is equipped with Snapdragon 480 chipset (mentioned with “holi” codename), 4 GB of RAM, and Android 11 OS. It scored 511 in the single-core test of Geekbench, and it scored 1615 in its multi-core test.

OnePlus Nord N200 5G specifications

The OnePlus Nord N200 5G’s recent leak by reputed tipster Evan Blass revealed that it has a 6.49-inch IPS LCD FHD+ display that supports a 90Hz refresh rate, SD480 chip, 4 GB LPDDR4x RAM, 64 GB of UFS 2.1 storage, a microSD card slot, and a 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging.

OnePlus Nord N200 5G renders — Leaked render of the OnePlus Nord N200 5G by Sudhanshu Ambhore

The N200’s rear camera setup has a 13-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. For selfies, it has a 16-megapixel front camera. The other features that sum up of the phone are dual SIM support with 5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, dual-frequency GPS, NFC, USB-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The OnePlus Nord N200 5G is expected to remain exclusive to markets like the U.S. and Canada. It could be the cheapest 5G phone from the brand as it is expected to arrive with a sub-$250 price tag.

RELATED:

Xiaomi is expanding team for its Electric Vehicles business

By

Jeet

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Jun 15, 2021

A couple of months ago, in March this year, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi officially announced the commencement of its smart electric vehicle business. Now, a new report coming from China says that the firm is looking to expand its team.

Xiaomi has opened up several new positions in the company which include categories like Data Platforms, Vehicle-Mounted Infrastructure, Decision & Planning, Millimeterwave Algorithms, Development Tools, Front-End Development, Embedded Software, High-Precision Maps, Simulation, etc.

Further, the job listing for all the positions shows that the work address is based in Haidian, Beijing. Earlier, the company had said that the Xiaomi Research & Development Headquarters will be located in Beijing but this hasn’t been confirmed by the firm.

The company has set up a new wholly-owned subsidiary to work on electric vehicles and related business. Initially, it plans to invest around 10 billion yuan (~$1.5 billion) but over a period of 10 years, Xiaomi would have invested more than $10 billion for this new category of business.

Lei Jun, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Xiaomi Group, will also serve as the Chief Executive Officer for this new smart electric vehicles entity. It’s likely that the smart car from Xiaomi will be a consumer product and will be targeted at mass market.

The company was earlier rumored to partner with China’s Great Wall Motor Co Ltd and use its factory for building its own electric car. But after the company rejected to partner with Xiaomi, Lei Jun recently visited the Great Wall Motor’s Research and Development Center in China but the outcome of the recent visit has not been revealed yet.

RELATED:

DJI Mini SE leak reveals it could be the company’s cheapest drone at $299

By

Jeet

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Jun 15, 2021

DJI, the world’s leading company when it comes to drones, is reportedly gearing up to launch a new product, dubbed DJI Mini SE. Based on the new leaks, it appears that the device could be the company’s cheapest drone yet.

The leak, coming from Walmart, is expected to have a starting price of $299. Apart from the upcoming product listing on the Walmart website, the device has already shipped to at least one set of Walmart Store shelves.

It seems that the upcoming drone isn’t the low-cost model of the DJI Mini 2 but appears to be the less-expensive model of the first-generation DJI Mavic Mini which was launched in the year 2019.

pic.twitter.com/agxlPAF1Pb

— Güçlü Atamer (@GAtamer) June 11, 2021

As for the specifications, the product is likely to come with support for the 2.7K-resolution camera (as opposed to the 4K) and 2.5-mile wireless range. This points to the Mini SE not having support for Ocusync.

From what some of the users on Reddit suggest, the primary differences between the upcoming model and the original models seem to be a $100 lower price and a slightly improved plastic chassis.

The pricing is expected to be $299, which appears to be pretty good for a new drone from the company. With its shape, size, and weight, the device can easily be stuffed in a bag to be carried around and won’t need to be registered with the FAA.

RELATED:

Samsung’s LPDDR5 uMCP offers flagship experience to low-cost smartphones

By

Jeet

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Jun 15, 2021

Samsung Electronics has announced that it has begun mass producing the latest memory solution, LPDDR5 UFS-based multichip package (uMCP). It integrates the fastest LPDDR5 DRAM with the latest UFS 3.1 NAND flash, delivering flagship-level performance to a much broader range of smartphone users.

The South Korean giant reveals that this new uMCP can deliver lightning-fast speed and high storage capacity at very low power. This would allow more consumers to immerse themselves in numerous 5G applications that were previously only available on premium flagship models. Such features include advanced photography, graphics-intensive gaming and augmented reality (AR).

The flagship-level capabilities are made possible by a nearly 50 percent improvement in DRAM performance, from 17 gigabytes per second (GB/s) to 25GB/s, and a doubling of NAND flash performance, from 1.5GB/s to 3GB/s, over the previous LPDDR4X-based UFS 2.2 solution.

It also helps in maximizing space-efficiency within a smartphone by integrating DRAM and NAND storage into a single compact package that measures only 11.5mm x 13mm, allowing more space for other features.

With DRAM capacities ranging from 6GB to 12GB and storage options from 128GB to 512GB, the Samsung uMCP can be easily customized to accommodate the diverse needs of 5G smartphones throughout the mid- and high-end segments.

So far, Samsung has successfully completed compatibility testing of the LPDDR5 uMCP with several global smartphone manufacturers and expects the uMCP-equipped devices to hit mainstream markets starting this month.

RELATED:

OPPO Reno6 Z key specifications leaked, hints at global launch of Reno6 series

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jun 15, 2021

OPPO reportedly gearing up to bring the Reno6 series of smartphones in global markets. Fresh information reveals that the company could be planning to launch a phone named Reno6 Z in some markets. This handset is expected to arrive as the successor to the Reno5 Z that debuted in April this year. A fresh leak has revealed the key specifications of the Reno6 Z handset.

According to tipster Abhishek Yadav, the Reno6 Z has a regular 60Hz refresh rate supporting display and it is powered by the Dimensity 800U chipset. There is no word on the battery capacity of the Reno6 Z, but the leak claims that it will carry support for 30W charging.

[ Exclusive ]Oppo Reno 6Z specifications
– Mediatek Dimensity 800u
– 30 Watt charging
– 60hz refresh rate#OppoReno6Z #Reno6Z #Oppo

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) June 14, 2021

These specifications are also available on the predecessor model. There is a possibility that the Reno6 Z could be coming with improvements in other departments like cameras or battery capacity. It is advisable to digest the leak with a grain of salt until the rumor mill churns out new information on the Reno6 Z.

The OPPO Reno5 Z has a 6.43-inch S-AMOLED display that supports an FHD+ resolution. The Dimensity 800U chipset powers the smartphone with 8 GB of RAM. It has a built-in storage of 128 GB, but it lacks support for a microSD card.

It has a front camera of 16-megapixel, and its rear camera system has a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel superwide lens, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. It is backed by a 4,310mAh battery that supports 30W rapid charging. For security, it has an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

In related news, an OPPO phone with a CPH2247 model number has bagged FCC certification. Initial reports claimed that it is the global version of the Reno6 Pro. However, the FCC listing suggests that China’s Reno6 Pro+ 5G may get rebadged as the Reno6 Pro in global markets. So far, the Reno6 series phones are only available in China. The FCC certification of Reno6 Pro and the new leak of Reno6 Z suggests that the company could be soon bringing the Reno6 lineup to global markets.

RELATED:

Apple Watch Series 7 tipped to feature blood glucose and body temperature sensors

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 15, 2021

Apple has continued to provide innovation in its Apple Watch series, including the soon-to-be-released model this year. However, subsequent versions of Apple watches could have additional features like blood glucose and body temperature sensors to provide improved health surveillance data for its users. Bloomberg reports that the 2021 Apple Watch model could come with an improved screen setup and thinner display bezels. In addition, there would be an improved ultra-wideband support and less distance between the display and front cover because of the use of an improved lamination technique.

Smart wearables are increasingly becoming health and fitness gadgets, providing data on diverse aspects of our body mechanism and reactions 24 hours a day. Last year, several studies were carried out in the United States and elsewhere, which showed that Apple Watches could identify potential Covid-19 patients several days before symptoms began to manifest. This was accomplished by collecting and real-time analysis of diverse data on body functions that identified some departure from the normal processes. The blood glucose sensor will help to monitor blood sugar levels for diabetic patients in a more effective and less intrusive manner. The temperature sensor is believed to be several years away and could gain the attention of thousands of users in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apple could also be gearing up for the release of sports-centric models for extreme sports enthusiasts from 2022. There is even talk that a durable sports model that could be called the Explorer, could debut in 2022.

As expected, Apple has neither refuted nor confirmed the rumors surrounding its incoming lineup of Apple Watches. This further feeds into the speculations, although further information will become available from different sources as we move forward.

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OPPO Reno6 Pro FCC certified, may debut as a rebranded phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jun 15, 2021

OPPO announced the OPPO Reno6 5G, Reno6 Pro 5G, and Reno6 Pro+ 5G smartphones in China last month. Speculations are rife that these phones will be hitting the global markets in July. Fresh information reveals that the Reno6 Pro+ has received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. The FCC listing is a good hint that the global launch of the Reno6 series could be approaching near.

In the recent past, an OPPO phone with model number CPH2247 was spotted at certification platforms such as EEC (Europe), TKDN (Indonesia), SIRM (Malaysia), and NBTC (Thailand). The latter revealed that this device may launch with the OPPO Reno6 Pro 5G moniker. Now, the CPH2247 model has received approval from the FCC authority (via).

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The FCC listing reveals that the OPPO CPH2247 measures 160.8 x 72.5 x 7.99mm and weighs 188 grams. The phone runs on ColorOS v11.3 and it has a 4,400mAh rated battery (4,500mAh typical value). The listing also reveals that the device carries support for 65W rapid charging.

It can be said based on the NBTC listing that the CPH2247 could be launching as the Reno6 Pro. However, the dimensions of the Reno6 Pro do not match CPH2247’s dimensions.

The Reno6 Pro that debuted in China measures 160 x 73.1 x 7.6mm and weighs 177 grams. On the other side, the Chinese Reno6 Pro+ has 160.8 x 72.5 x 8mm dimensions and weighs 188 grams. Hence, there is a possibility that the Snapdragon 870 powered Reno6 Pro+ could be rebranded as the Reno6 Pro in global markets. Hopefully, newer reports will reveal further details of the CPH2247 handset through which it can be ascertained whether the company really rebadge the Chinese Reno6 Pro+ as Reno6 Pro in global markets.

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