Google Pixel 6 custom chip to offer performance similar to Snapdragon 870: Tipster

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May 25, 2021

Recently, there have been a number of rumors and reports regarding the upcoming Google Pixel 6 series. One of the notable rumors is that the device will feature a custom chip that is built in collaboration with Samsung. Now, a new leak has revealed that this chip will offer performance similar to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC.

Well yes, Whitechapel is a 5nm chip with current performance on PVT units closer to SD870, they are not trying to match SD888. Google's focus is on ML & so the raw AI performance is matched to that of other leading mobile chips. Plus that Mali GPU is performing good under stress.

— 𓆩Yogesh𓆪 (@heyitsyogesh) May 24, 2021

According to tipster @heyitsyogesh, the new custom chip in the Pixel 6 series, codenamed Whitechapel, will rival the Snapdragon 870 chipset. Notably, this marks a major shift for the search engine giant that has always shipped its devices with Qualcomm processors. While we had reported on the custom chip previously, the leak brings new information regarding the Whitechapel chipset. Yogesh claims that the processor will be built on a 5nm process and its performance will be between the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 865 SoCs.

For those unaware, the Snapdragon 870 is a flagship grade processor from the chip maker and is an overclocked variant of the Snapdragon 865 Plus. The tipster further claimed that Google is not trying to match the raw performance of the Snapdragon 888 chip, rather, it is focussing on improving upon Machine Learning and AI processes. Although, as the company doesn’t have an in house mobile graphics division, Whitechapel will be paired with a Mali GPU.

Furthermore, AndroidAuthority reported that Weinbach also revealed some supposed specifications regarding the display of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. As per the report, the base model will sport a FHD+ resolution and offer a 120Hz high refresh rate as well. On the other hand, the Pro variant will offer a higher QHD+ resolution with the same high refresh rate panel. The higher end model will also reportedly be powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack. But this is still unconfirmed, so take it with a pinch of salt and stay tuned.

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Tecno Spark 7 Pro with 90Hz display, Helio G80 and 48MP triple cameras launched for Rs 9,999

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 25, 2021

The Tecno Spark 7 Pro smartphone has debuted in India. Priced at Rs 9,999, the smartphone offers a punch-hole screen with a high refresh rate, a gaming-centric chipset, and a 48-megapixel triple camera unit.

Tecno Spark 7 Pro specifications and features

The Tecno Spark 7 Pro has a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a punch-hole design. The screen delivers a 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, a 268ppi pixel density, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. The phone offers a screen space of 89.5 percent.

The MediaTek Helio G80 chipset powers the smartphone with 4 GB / 6 GB of RAM. The phone offers built-in storage of 64 GB and has a microSD card slot for additional storage.

The Spark 7 has an 8-megapixel front camera with dual flash. The rear camera setup has a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, an AI lens, and a quad-LED flash unit. The handset offers photography features like super night mode, night portrait, AI portrait, video bokeh, and 240fps slow-motion video recording.

In terms of software, the Spark 7 Pro offers an Android 11 OS experience with HiOS 7.5 UI. The handset has a 5,000mAh battery, which supports only 10W charging. The phone comes with usual features like dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 with audio sharing, GPS, USB-C, a rear-facing fingerprint scanner, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Tecno Spark 7 Pro price in India

The Tecno Spark 7 Pro is priced at Rs 9,999 (~$137) for the 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage model and Rs 10,999 (~$151) for the 6 GB RAM + 64 Gb storage variant. The first sale of the phone will be carried at 12 PM on May 28 through Amazon India. Alps Blue, Spruce Green, and Magnetic Black are three color variants of the smartphone.

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Samsung Smart Monitor M5 & M7 arrive in new 24-inch, 43-inch display models

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 25, 2021

Tech giant Samsung Electronics has announced the addition of two new smart all-in-one monitors in its growing collection of multipurpose, Tizen-powered smart monitors. The smart devices are the 43-inch 4K Smart Monitor M7 and the 24-inch 1080p Smart Monitor M5.

The range of smart monitors offers an array of features and functionality that prove their versatility. The launch of these two new models is coming after the unveiling last year of the smart monitors in 27-inch and 32-inch sizes. The new additions seem to be a strategic move by Samsung to fill the lower and upper end of sizes of the smart monitor. This would cater to a broader array of customer choices and preferences. Samsung said the 24-inch model focuses on customers searching for a good value multi-functional monitor.

The design philosophy of the new smart monitors remains productivity and entertainment. Both models run on Samsung’s Tizen OS, which provides a solid basis for seamless video streaming, smart connectivity to your Galaxy smartphone, and Voice Assistant support like the Google Assistant, Bixby, and Alexa. The impressive built-in speakers on the smart monitors provide a solid sound experience for users. With the Dex app, you can transform the smart monitor into a huge desktop for your smartphone.

There is the likelihood that the M7 will have HDR10 capability in addition to its solar-powered remote control module. The M7 model also features slim bezels and a USB Type C port.

There is no pricing information for the two models at this time. However, the two mid-size models unveiled last year cost between $230 and $400. We would expect the two smart monitors to have a wider price range due partly to the innovations, coupled with their being opposite ends of a spectrum.

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Xiaomi patents foldable smartphone that offers nearly 100% screen to body ratio

By

Sean

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May 25, 2021

Xiaomi has just published a new patent. This patent was for a “flexible screen module,” with its highlight feature being that it has nearly a 100 percent screen to body ratio.

The publication number for the new patent is CN112839115A and ITHome reported that the patent also includes a summary that offers us a brief description of the technology. This display technology also includes two regions or two display areas along with a hinge mechanism. In the sub area of the second display region, the device houses a camera module. The camera system moves along with the hinge mechanism. Through this movement, the second display of the device can be used as a regular front display and can even uncover the cameras for rear photography as well.

Furthermore, this also allows the foldable smartphone from the Chinese tech giant to have the same camera system face the front side. Although, when the front facing camera is not required, the device can achieve a high screen to body ratio that nears 100 percent. Unfortunately, finer details regarding this handset is currently unknown and it is unclear if the company is actually working on such a product or is just covering all bases. So stay tuned for more updates if there are any notable updates regarding this patent.

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Samsung aims to ship over 7 million units of foldable smartphones this year

By

Jeet

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May 25, 2021

Samsung is one of the leading brands when it comes to the foldable smartphone as it has already launched a few devices with such form-factor and more are in the pipeline. Now, a new report claims that the South Korean giant is aiming to ship seven million units of its two upcoming foldable smartphones this year.

The report coming from The Elec, citing people aware of the matter, claims that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Fold 3, which will come with support for the S-Pen and is aiming to ship three million units in shipments this year.

The numbers indicate that the company’s target is 2.4 times to 2.8 times more than its shipments of 2.5 million units in 2020. The increased shipment target is because the company expects more consumers are willing to buy foldable phones due to curiosity.

It remains to be seen if the company manages to achieve the shipment goal for the foldable smartphones. Although Samsung plans to ship over seven million units this year, it would be good even if manages to ship more than three million units.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is expected to arrive as the world’s first foldable phone with an under-display camera. This will allow the smartphone to offer a higher screen-to-body ratio than the predecessor. The device is expected to come with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the outside.

While the phone will have support for the S-Pen stylus, it is not yet confirmed if the product will be bundled or sold separately. With so many new features, the price tag for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is expected to arrive with an expensive price tag. Along with that, the brand will also launch the Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphone in July.

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US could build up to 10 new chip plants with $52 billion proposed funding

By

Sean

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May 25, 2021

Gina Raimondo, the US Commerce Secretary proposed a new 52 billion US Dollar funding that will boost the government’s efforts for semiconductor production and research and might even lead to seven to ten new chip factories.

According to a Reuters report, the government official proposed the funding earlier this week in an event outside of Micron Tech’s chip factory. Raimondo believes that the government could generate a “150 billion US Dollar plus” investment in chip production and research. The investment would also include contributions from state and federal governments and even private sectors as well. She further added that “We just need the federal money to unlock private capital. It could be seven, could be eight, could be nine, could be 10 new factories in America by the time we’re done.”

Furthermore, Raimondo expects that different states will compete for federal funding for chip facilities, while the Commerce Department would run a transparent process for awarding the funds. For those unaware, the proposal from the Secretary arrives as the world is facing a major shortage of semiconductors. This has led various governments to scramble for chip supplies and even invest locally to build new plants, including the like of the US and even the European regions.

The chip shortage has already caused a supply issue in various industries like automobiles, smartphones, home appliances, and others. Similarly, US Senator Mark Warner also stated that he believed the funds could help build around “seven to 10” new plants, although, “This is not going to solve this overnight. It will take years for the Commerce Department to make these investments.”

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G receives Bluetooth SIG certification, product page goes live in France

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 25, 2021

A potential unveiling of a new Samsung Galaxy Tab in several markets may be imminent, going by the raft of certifications and new developments swirling around the Galaxy Tab S7 FE. While the device has been spotted on several certification sites, Samsung France has activated its website’s Galaxy Tab S7 FE support page. In addition, the device has received Bluetooth SIG certification, which indicates that it will come with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity support.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus Featured A — This is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus

The latest listing of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G on Samsung France’s website gives the possibility of an official launch in the local market soon. The sleek tablet was quietly unveiled in Germany only recently. The unveiling gives us a clear picture of how the tablet will look like and its specifications.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE features a 12.4 inch LCD screen, S Pen capability, up to 10,000mAh of battery power, which is quite massive, and 44W fast charging support. A dual-camera module at the rear of the tablet takes care of the photography. Qualcomm’s premium mid-tier Snapdragon 750G chipset provides processor power to the device, paired with 4GB of RAM.

Apart from the German and France official website listings, no other Samsung website has mentioned the Galaxy Tab S7 FE at this time. This might likely change quickly as we expect the device to hit more markets soon, including the US market. We’ll keep you in the loop on any new development surrounding the Tab S7 FE.

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Vivo Y53, Y53s variants and color options emerge in retailer listings

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 25, 2021

Vivo is reportedly working on Vivo Y53 and Vivo Y53s smartphones for China. The arrival of these devices appears to be close at hand as models have been found listed at Chinese retailer site JD.com.

vivo Y53 & Y53s storage & color options have been revealed by some https://t.co/IQ1HHJmWIS retailers.#vivoY53
-8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB
-Starry Night, Rainbow, Haiyan, Sea Salt#vivoY53s
-8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB
-Classic Orange, Deep Ocean Blue pic.twitter.com/Th6w0miZnb

— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) May 25, 2021

The JD listing of the Vivo Y53 shows that it will come in versions such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. The handset comes in color editions such as Starry Night, Rainbow, Haiyan, and Sea Salt.

The JD listing of the Vivo Y53s shows that it will be available in three variants like 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. The handset will be available in two colors like Classic Orange and Deep Ocean Blue. The listings have no information on the other specs of the Vivo Y53 and Y53s.

The Vivo Y53s was recently approved by certification platforms such as CQC and BIS. It was also found listed in the database of the Google Play Console. These listings have revealed that the handset carries support for a Full HD+ resolution, an Helio G80 chipset, 8 GB of RAM, Android 11 OS, and 18W rapid charging. The BIS listing suggests that the phone will be also available in India in the near future.

In related news, Vivo has launched two new phones in China such as Vivo X60 Curved Screen edition and Vivo iQOO Neo5 Vitality Edition. The former is just a new screen variant of the Vivo X60 smartphone, which was announced in December last year. The Exynos 1080 powered X60 came with a flat-screen, whereas the new handset offers a curved display.

The iQOO Neo5 Vitality Edition (aka iQOO Neo5 Lite) has a 6.57-inch LCD FHD+ 144Hz display, Snapdragon 870, and a 4,500mAh battery with 44W rapid charging. It has a 16-megapixel front camera and 48-megapixel triple rear cameras.

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Redmi Note 8 2021 powered by MediaTek Helio G85 SoC and 4GB RAM announced

By

Jeet

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May 25, 2021

A few days ago, Xiaomi had teased a new mid-range smartphone and now the company has officially launched the device — Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021. This is an upgraded version of the original Redmi Note 8 that was launched in 2019 and has sold more than 25 million units globally since its launch.

The smartphone features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ LCD screen offering 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Underneath, the device is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset with a Mali-G52 2EEMC2 GPU.

It packs 4GB LPDDR4x RAM with two internal storage options — 64GB and 128GB and has a microSD card slot, allowing users to expand the storage capacity up to 256GB.

In the camera department, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back that packs a 48-megapixel Samsung GM1 sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the front side, the phone features a 13-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS + GLONASS, and USB Type-C port. The phone, which is P2i coated for splash resistance, has a fingerprint sensor and IR sensor.

The device is running the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own MIUI 12.5 custom user interface on top. It is powered by a 4,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging and comes with a 22.5W charger in the box.

The Redmi Note 8 2021 comes in three color options — Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, and Space Black. Xiaomi has not yet revealed the pricing details for the smartphone but the device has been listed on Mi.com global site and should soon be available for purchase in European and Russian markets.

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Huawei founder’s leaked internal memo reveals a shift to software to beat the US sanctions: Reuters

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 25, 2021

Chinese tech powerhouse Huawei has endured a turbulent time with several setbacks after the US imposed tough restrictions on US suppliers of the company since 2019. The sanctions were targeted at disrupting the growth trajectory of the company, with Washington pointedly accusing Huawei of carrying out espionage activities for the Chinese government.

Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, in an internal memo to the staff of the company, has thrown the gauntlet to the company by encouraging them to provide leadership to the world via software development. Huawei has continued to pursue its development and growth beyond its original hardware operations that were brought to a halt by the US sanctions.

The content of the internal memo, seen by Reuters, is a clear indication of the new direction the company plans to focus on. Ren had noted that Huawei was focusing on software development because success in the field will cut off the massive influence wielded by the US and guarantee independence and autonomy.

The recent development has already yielded the HarmonyOS operating system, which was developed in-house by the company in the wake of the US blockade. Other software solutions include the cloud AI system Mindspore and similar IT products. The new approach will be open source driven and Huawei will continue to pursue its development and deployment.

The goal obviously is to completely bypass the US and its allies in the deployment of software solutions for its operations. This would limit the influence and interference of the US government. In his view, once the company is able to dominate Europe, the Asia Pacific, and Africa, and if the US standards don’t match Huawei’s, then there will be a reciprocity of restrictions between both sides.

This looks like a good move as there is no sign of a respite in sight for the Chinese company. The current US administration is yet to make any concessions after former president Donald Trump imposed the restrictions.

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FiiO M11 Plus HiFi Music Player goes official with improved features

By

Simranpal Singh

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May 25, 2021

FiiO is once again here with a whole new and improved Mi 11 Plus HiFi Music Player. It is a major upgrade over the Mi 11 Pro which was launched a year. The primary highlights of the FiiO Plus Digital Music Player include the presence of Qualcomm octa-core Snapdragon 660 SoC, 4GB RAM, and a 5.5-inch bezel-less display. Apart from the improved performance, a lot has been added to enhance the audio experience for the users.

Must See: FiiO M15 is an Android-based DAP with lossless audio playback capabilities

FiiO M11 Plus houses a dual DAC setup while featuring two AK4497EQ DAC chips paired with a THX AA-78 amplification module. Due to production hold of DAC chips, the M11 Plus is now available in limited quantities. Precisely, there are only 6000 units of Aluminium Alloy variant and 1000 units of Stainless Steel variant. The new M11 Plus is available in two variants including Aluminium Alloy Edition and Stainless Steel Edition priced at $749 and $899, respectively.

In connectivity, the M11 Plus Digital Music Player ships with three headphone output ports including a 3.5mm, 2.5mm and a 4.4mm audio jack. If you’re interested in a high-quality product, then make sure to order before both get out of stock.

FiiO M11 Plus includes a Neutrally Pure THX-AAA 78*2 Headphone Amplifier, 6th Gen Honeycomb design, a NewGen Intelligent Volume system and a new Digital Audio Purification system to enhance the overall quality and reduce noise. Moreover, it runs on Android 10 OS and features high-res two-way Bluetooth support.

FiiO M11 Plus Features

Improved Performance

The new Digital Music PLayer comes with snapdragon 660 SOC for flawless performance. It is a major upgrade over the Exynos chipset which was present in the M11 Pro.

Enhanced Memory and Storage

It consists of 4GB RAM rather than 3GB RAM which was present on the M11 Pro. The increased room will obviously improve multitasking and aid smoother usage.

Better Volume Controls

FiiO has added multiple ways to control the volume of the digital music player. The user can now use physical buttons and a touch-sensitive sliding panel for comfortable operation.

Big Display

M1 Plus houses a 5.5-inch bezel-less display for a wider viewing experience. Moreover, the display offers a crisp and bezel-less design that makes the device look rich and premium. Overall, it is a much-needed upgrade over the M11 Pro which was launched with a 5-inch display.

Improved Connectivity

FiiO comes with a USB 3.0 connectivity for high-speed data transfer of up to 90MB/s. Moreover, it supports 27W fast charging technology which was limited to 18W in M11 Pro.

The device ships with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for a more stable and efficient connection.

Big Battery

There’s a large battery encased inside M11 Plus which offers up to 11.5 hours of battery backup. Whereas the M11 Pro supports up to 9.5 hours.

Unlike M11 Pro, the FiiO M11 Plus supports the Apple Music service. It is a worthy upgrade over the M11 Pro with exciting improvements. You can grab it for $799 via HiFiGo.

Related: FiiO M11 Pro high-end portable audio player launched with Android-based OS

New MacBook Pro models to reportedly launch at WWDC 2021

By

Jeet

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May 25, 2021

Apple has started transitioning from Intel chips to its own ARM-based Apple Silicon platform with the M1 chipset. It has already launched MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and recently the new iMac, all powered by the M1 chipset.

The company is also working on new MacBook Pro models with a revamped design and probably in two different sizes — 14-inch and 16-inch. Now, Jon Prosser claims that the devices could go official at the upcoming WWDC, which kicks off on 7th June.

Apple MacBook Pro 2021 Render — Image Credit: Renders By Ian

It remains to be seen if the upcoming models come powered by the M1 chipset or the new M2 or M1X chipset which has already entered mass production. The company already has MacBook Pro models powered by the M1 chipset so the new models will likely come with a new chipset that is yet to be launched by Apple.

A report from Bloomberg claims that the device will come packed with a 10-core Apple silicon chip with eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, along with 16 or 32-core GPU options and support for up to 64GB RAM.

Earlier, it was reported that the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch models of the MacBook Pro will feature a Mini-LED backlight display. It was also said that Ruiyi Optoelectronics will be the exclusive supplier of these new Mini-LED panels.

It was revealed that Quanta Computer will be responsible for the final assembly of the upcoming MacBook devices. There are also reports that indicate that the company is bringing back the MagSafe magnetic charging to the MacBook. It is also said that Apple is getting rid of the TouchBar and replacing it with the physical function keys.

Apple is reportedly planning to reintroduce the MagSafe port, and the 2021 MacBook Pro models could feature an HDMI port and an SD card reader in addition to a trio of Thunderbolt/USB-C ports.

Similar to the newly launched iMac, there’s a possibility that the device could be made available in multiple color options. Based on the models launched so far, it’s likely that the pricing for these new models will mostly remain the same as the current models.

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset launched for entry-level laptops

By

Jeet

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May 25, 2021

Qualcomm has announced a refresh version of its Snapdragon 7c compute platform for laptops — Snapdragon 7c Gen 2. This new chipset from Qualcomm is aimed at entry-level Windows PCs and Chromebooks.

The targeted market of the 7c family chips for the company remains the same — “Always On” devices that are priced under $400. In this new chip, Qualcomm has offered a slight boost in clock speed and increased frequency for the two Kryo 468 cores up to 2.55GHz.

The package remains the same as its predecessor, including a dual-channel LPDDR4X memory bus, a Hexagon 692 DSP, a Spectra 255 ISP, and a Snapdragon X15 modem. The feature set is kept low to make it price-competitive in the market.

The chip is built using an 8nm process and has a fan-less design. It contains a Kryo 468 CPU and supports the firm’s own Aqstic audio technologies. The Spectra 255 ISP supports up to 32MP and 4K HDR video playback. Connectivity-wise, it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 along with 4G LTE.

As per the claims from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 will deliver up to 10 percent higher system performance than competitive platforms. Battery life has always been improved and can last up to 19 hours on a single charge.

Qualcomm is targeting students, first-line workers, and everyday consumers for the laptops powered by the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chip. The company has also announced Lenovo as its first partner for this new chip but details about the product remain under wraps.

ARM-powered laptops have been available in the market that offers great battery life and connectivity but they are not able to match the performance offered by devices powered by the Intel and AMD chips. With Apple transitioning from Intel to its ARM-based Apple Silicon, it seems like development for Windows devices with ARM-based chips will see a boost.

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Coolpad Cool 20 with 6.5-inch HD+ display, Helio G80, and 48MP dual cameras launched for 699 Yuan (~$109)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 25, 2021

The Coolpad Cool 20 smartphone has launched in China. Priced at 699 Yuan (~$108), the Cool20 offers some exciting features such as an HD+ display, a gaming-centric processor, a big battery, and a decent camera.

Coolpad Cool 20 specifications and features

The Coolpad Cool 20 has a 6.52-inch LCD display with a teardrop notch, which offers a 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, a 269ppi pixel density, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The smartphone has a splash-proof build with a glass panel on the back. The device measures 164.3 x 75.66 x 8.65mm and weighs 199.6 grams.

The Helio G80 chipset by MediaTek powers the smartphone. It comes with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. The device is backed by a 4,500mAh battery.

On the front side of the Coolpad Cool 20 is a 5-megapixel camera for shooting selfies, which supports screen flash and 1080p video recording. The rear camera unit of the phone looks has a 48-megapixel main camera and an AI portrait camera. The Cool20 supports photography features like EIS, time-lapse, slow-motion video shooting, panorama, professional mode, and more.

The Cool 20 runs on CoolOS based on Android 11 OS. It offers other functions such as dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Coolpad Cool 20 pricing and availability

Here is the pricing of the different variant of the Coolpad Cool20:

4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – 699 Yuan (~$109)
4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 899 Yuan (~$140)
6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 1,099 Yuan (~$171)
Color variants: Earl Black, Secret Sea Blue, and Cocoa White

The Cool 20 comes with a 2-year warranty and 90 days of replacement guarantee. The device will be up for purchase from June 1 in the home market.

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Redmi AirDots 3 Pro with Active Noise Cancellation support to launch tomorrow

By

Jeet

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May 25, 2021

Xiaomi-backed Redmi is all set to launch its new Redmi Note 10 series smartphones in the Chinese market tomorrow, i.e. on 26th May. Now, just a day ahead of the launch event, the company has confirmed another product for the launch — Redmi AirDots 3 Pro.

As the name indicates, The Redmi AirDots 3 Pro is the next-generation true wireless earphones from the brand. It is also the first true wireless earphones from the Redmi brand to come with support for Active Noise Cancellation.

Redmi says that the wearable device offers Pro-level flagship-grade noise reduction performance and supports deep noise reduction. Similar to other such offerings from Xiaomi, this one too comes with support for Active Noise Cancellation.

There’s also an Ultra-low latency mode which may be the “lowest latency noise reduction headset in the industry,” says the company. Further, it is touted to offer pro-level appearance, sound quality, and cost-effectiveness.

The company is offering different modes for noise reduction, including Office, Daily, Air Tours, etc. along with support for the Transparent mode that avoids complete isolation from the surrounding environment.

The Redmi AirDots 3, the non-pro variant, was launched in China a few months ago for a price of 199 yuan. The earphones, which come with the same design as its predecessor, is available for purchase in three color options — White, Black, and Pink.

The Redmi AirDots 3 Pro comes just days after Xiaomi launched its latest FlipBuds Pro TWS earphones in the market with support for 40dB Active Noise Cancellation. It remains to be seen how this new headset from Redmi differs from the FlipBuds Pro. We will get to know more about this, including specs, features, pricing, and availability details when it gets officially launched tomorrow, i.e. on 26th May.

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Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 4G likely to launch soon in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 25, 2021

At the end of March, Xiaomi announced the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 4G and Mi 11 Lite 5G in global markets. The Telegram channel that goes by the name “MIUI Updates Tracker,” which automatically tracks MIUI ROM releases has spotted a ROM for the Indian version of Mi 11 Lite 4G. This indicates that the Chinese brand may soon announce the smartphone in India.

The V12.0.4.0.RKQINXM, which is a stable version of MIUI based on Android 11 OS designed for the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 4G has been spotted by the MIUI update tracker. In addition, Xiaomi India Marketing Lead Sumit Sonal’s latest tweet appears to be teasing the arrival of the Mi 11 Lite. The missing letters in his tweet seem to show that the Mi 11 Lite is a “Lite & Loaded” smartphone. As it is known, the handset weighs only 157 grams and measures only 6.81mm in thickness, and it is packed with impressive specs.

_IT_ & L_AD_D pic.twitter.com/oCXEH5924p

— Sumit Sonal (@sumitsonal) May 24, 2021

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite specifications and features

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite is an IP53 rated dustproof and splash-resistant device. It has a 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display that offers a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a front-facing camera of 16-megapixel and its rear shell has a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro camera.

XIaomi Mi 11 Lite render — Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

The Snapdragon 732G chipset is present under the hood of the Mi 11 Lite. It ships with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. It has a 4,250mAh battery that supports 33W rapid charging. For security, it features a side-facing fingerprint scanner. The device comes in colors like black, pink, and blue.

In Europe, the Mi 11 Lite 4G is priced at 299 euros (~Rs 25,600; ~$365). Probably, the smartphone may go official by early June in India.

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HarmonyOS to debut on June 2 for smartphones

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 25, 2021

Today, Huawei took to Weibo to confirm that it will be announcing the HarmonyOS 2.0 at 20:00 PM (local time) on June 2 in China. While the HarmonyOS is already available for IoT devices and TVs, the HarmonyOS (aka Hongmeng OS in China) debuting in the coming week will be aimed towards devices like smartphones and tablets as a rival for Android OS developed by Google.

At the beginning of 2019, Huawei claimed that it aims to become the largest smartphone manufacturer by the end of the year. However, in May 2019, the U.S. government added Huawei along with other Chinese companies to the Entity List, which prevented these firms from working with U.S.-based companies including Google. Hence, Huawei had to launch devices without Google Mobile Services (GMS), which severely impacted its business and plans to become the no. 1 smartphone brand.

In August 2019, Huawei announced the HarmonyOS 1.0 as an alternative to Android OS at the Huawei Developer Conference. Like Android, the Harmony OS is an open-source project based on Linux. Earlier this year, Ars Technica reported that the beta version of the HarmonyOS is similar to Android 10 OS. Hence, there is a possibility that the public version of HarmonyOS 2.0 may offer an experience similar to the current version of Android.

At the recently held Huawei China Ecological Conference 2021, Huawei’s rotating chairman said, “HarmonyOS is Huawei’s fully owned distributed operating system, which is mainly designed to reduce its dependency on Android and provide more capabilities and platform support than the existing mobile operating system.” He added that Huawei aims to install HarmonyOS on 200 million Huawei devices and 100 million devices from third-party manufactures this year.

As far as the June 2 launch event is concerned, Huawei is speculated to announce a couple of other devices such as Huawei MatePad Pro 2 and the Watch 3 series.

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DxOMark: Redmi Note 10 Pro’s 108MP camera puts it ahead of the iPhone SE

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 25, 2021

The Redmi Note 10 Pro is currently the top model in the Redmi Note line. The mid-range phone is among the handful of devices with a 108MP camera, and according to DxOMark’s review, it performs well for a budget phone. It even ranks above more expensive devices such as the iPhone SE (2020), the Zenfone 6, and the Galaxy Z Flip.

With an overall score of 106 points, the Redmi Note 10 Pro takes the 72nd spot on DxOMark’s Global Ranking. However, on its Advanced Ranking ($200 – $399), it takes the 3rd spot.

The score is broken down into 111 points for photo, 52 points for zoom, and 95 points for video. That low zoom score should not be surprising since the phone doesn’t have a proper telephoto camera. DxOMark praises the phone’s details in close-up outdoor portraits, its accurate video exposure, accurate depth estimation and blur gradient in portraits, and its control of noise in videos.

For its cons, the quad-camera phone suffers from clipping in high dynamic range stills, ghosting in stills with motion, limited video dynamic range, low detail in zoom shots, and a green color cast in outdoor photos.

DxOMark says that the 108MP main camera captures good images so far the lighting is good and there isn’t too much dynamic range. For videos, the Redmi Note 10 Pro is said to even surpass the Exynos version of the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus.

You can read the full review for picture and video samples along with a comparison to mid-range devices such as the Galaxy A51 5G and the Nokia 8.3 5G.

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OTA update will add support for lossless audio on HomePod and HomePod Mini

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 25, 2021

Following Apple’s announcement that lossless audio is coming to Apple Music, there was an uproar about how Apple’s audio devices don’t support the new feature. Now Apple has announced that an OTA update will bring support for lossless audio to its smart speakers.

The info which was revealed in a FAQ about Lossless audio in Apple Music says that the HomePod and the HomePod Mini which currently uses the AAC codec will get support for lossless audio in a future software update. There is no info on when the update will be released but it will most likely be after lossless audio is available next month.

The support page also confirmed that lossless audio will work on Macs, iPhones, and iPad via their built-in speakers and connected wired headphones, receivers, and speakers. If you have an Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, then you can connect it to your iPhone or iPad’s lightning connector as it has a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

However, Bluetooth audio devices such as the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max don’t support lossless audio as Bluetooth connections don’t support the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC).

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More details of the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 5a, and Pixel Watch revealed

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

May 24, 2021

Ever since the first renders of the Pixel 6 series surfaced, the interest in Google’s next-gen phones has increased. More details of the phones have now surfaced along with those of other Pixel devices expected to launch this year and there sure is a lot to be excited about.

The source of these details is Max Weinbach of Android Police who revealed them in the latest episode of Mobile Tech Podcast hosted by Myriam Joire. The new info covers the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, the Pixel 5A, and the Pixel Watch.

Google Pixel 6 Pro CAD renders 3 — Google Pixel 6 Pro render by Steve Hemmerstoffer (OnLeaks)

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

According to the source, the Pixel 6 will have an FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate while the Pixel 6 Pro will have a sharper QHD+ display but the same 120Hz refresh rate. The Pro model will have custom high-end cameras; a 5000mAh battery – the biggest in a Pixel phone; support for mmWave; and be available in green and silver+black.

It has also been reported that the custom Whitechapel chipset will be a 5nm chipset manufactured by Samsung and with a flagship performance that puts it in between Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 and Snapdragon 888 chipsets. The chipset will also have custom NPUs (Neural Processing Units) and a custom ISP (Image Signal Processor). The latter will make better use of Google’s machine learning technology.

The new Pixel phones are expected to launch in October but the ongoing chipset scarcity issue might cause Google to push the launch to November.

Pixel 5a

Max Weinbach shared some details of the Pixel 5A too. Google already confirmed that the phone has not been canceled and now it has been revealed that the phone is expected to launch in August. However, the device is likely to cost more than the Pixel 4a. Considering that the phone has the same chipset as the Pixel 4a 5G and even looks a lot like it, an increase in price isn’t good news. Just like the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4a, and Pixel 4a 5G, this too won’t have support for wireless charging.

Pixel Watch

There was also a brief mention of the Pixel Watch which will be the first Pixel-branded smartwatch and should feature the new Wear operating system borne from the merger of Google’s own Wear OS and Samsung’s Tizen OS. According to Max, the smartwatch will be powered by a custom 5nm chipset.

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