FiiO M11 Plus HiFi Music Player goes official with improved features

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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.

RELATED:

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.

RELATED:

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.

RELATED:

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.

RELATED:

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.

RELATED:

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).

RELATED:

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

By

Habeeb Onawole

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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.

RELATED:

POCO M3 Pro vs Vivo Y52 5G vs Moto G50: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 24, 2021

5G phones are becoming incredibly affordable in the last period, not only in China but even in the European market. The latest challenge of the main smartphone manufacturers is releasing a 5G phone with the lowest price tag possible, and there are already several entry-level 5G phones even in the €200 price range. Among the latest ones launched in the global market, you get the POCO M3 Pro, the Vivo Y52 5G, and the Motorola Moto G50. Here is a comparison between their specifications.

Xiaomi POCO M3 Pro vs Vivo Y52 5G vs Motorola Moto G50

	Xiaomi POCO M3 Pro 5G	Vivo Y52 5G	Motorola Moto G50 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm, 190 grams	163.9 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm	164.9 x 74.9 x 9 mm, 192 grams
DISPLAY	6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD	6.58 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD	6.5 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), 270 ppi, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Mediatek Dimensity 700, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Mediatek Dimensity 700, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 480, octa-core 2 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 11, MIUI	Android 11, Funtouch OS	Android 11
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 48 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 48 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 48 + 5 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 13 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY	5000 mAh, 18W fast charging	5000 mAh, fast charging 18W	5000 mAh, fast charging 15W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot, 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G, water repellent

Design

If you look at the camera module, you can immediately realize that the POCO M3 Pro 5G has the most original design of the trio. The handset looks very attractive and youth to be just an entry-level, especially if you look at the POCO Yellow color variant. The Vivo Y52 5G is a bit more elegant and sober, but with bigger dimensions. With the Motorola Moto G50, you get a water-repellent design which is very useful if you want to use your phone in the rain. While POCO M3 Pro 5G and Vivo Y52 5G have a side-mounted fingerprint reader, while the Motorola Moto G50 has a rear-mounted one.

Display

The most advanced display belongs to the POCO M3 Pro 5G. It is a 6.5-inch panel with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It also offers the Gorilla Glass 3 protection by Corning. With the Vivo Y52 5G, you get a display with a Full HD+ resolution as well, but it lacks a high refresh rate. The Motorola Moto G50 has an inferior HD+ display, but it has a 90 Hz refresh rate. You should have understood the reason why POCO M3 Pro 5G is the best.

Hardware/Software

POCO M3 Pro 5G and Vivo Y52 5G are more powerful than the Motorola Moto G50 because they pack a Dimensity 700 processor built at 7 nm with better performance than Snapdragon 480 and even lower energy consumption. Between POCO M3 Pro 5G and Vivo Y52 5G, the former is the winner because it offers up to 6 GB of RAM and UFS 2.2 internal storage. Each of these phones runs Android 11 out of the box despite they are entry-level devices.

Camera

The best cameras are found on the Motorola Moto G50. It has a triple camera including a 48 MP main sensor with a brighter f/1.7 focal aperture, a 2 MP depth sensor, and a superior macro camera with a 5 MP resolution. The Motorola Moto G50 even provides a better front camera with a 13 MP resolution. Both POCO M3 Pro 5G and Vivo Y52 5G pack a triple camera with a 48 MP main sensor, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor, as well as an 8 MP front camera.

Battery

POCO M3 Pro 5G, Vivo Y52 5G, and Motorola Moto G50 have a similar battery life because they come with the same battery capacity: 5000 mAh. But the Motorola Moto G50 should last a bit more because its display has a lower resolution.

Xiaomi POCO M3 Pro vs Vivo Y52 5G vs Motorola Moto G50: Price

POCO M3 Pro 5G hitten the European market with a starting price of €159/$194, Motorola Moto G50 starts from €279/$340, we still do not know the price of the Vivo Y52 5G. Despite Motorola Moto G50 has better cameras, the POCO M3 Pro 5G wins the overall comparison because of its better display and higher value for money.

Read More: Redmi Note 10 vs Note 10 Pro vs Note 10 Pro Max: Specs Comparison

Xiaomi POCO M3 Pro vs Vivo Y52 5G vs Motorola Moto G50: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi POCO M3 Pro 5G

PROS

Powerful hardware
Full HD+ display
90 Hz refresh rate
UFS 2.2 internal storage
IR blaster

CONS

8 MP front camera

Vivo Y52 5G

PROS

Full HD+ display
4K video recording
Wider display

CONS

8 MP front camera

Motorola Moto G50

PROS

Better macro camera
Better front camera
90 Hz refresh rate
Water repellent

CONS

HD+ display

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Vivo TWS 2 pre-orders commence via Giztop

By

Simranpal Singh

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May 24, 2021

Vivo unveiled two new true wireless stereo earphones in China with some exciting features. The new earphones with active noise cancellation, large drivers along other advanced enhancements. Among both, the Vivo TWS 2 is now up for pre-orders via Giztop for $99. The global shipping will start next month. It is available in White and Blue color options.

Must See: Vivo TWS 2 with Noise Cancellation support launched in China; now on pre-order for 449 yuan ($70)

Apart from improved sound, the device holds 4.7 grams compact structure design which enhanced the comfortability of the device. It comes with 12.2MM large audio units with ultra-large driver and supports Deep-HD ultra-clear audio engine. Thanks to the apt adaptive codex technology which enhances the quality by improving the transmission bandwith.

It offers up to 40dB noise reduction which soothes the audio listening experience by eliminating the noise. Vivo TWS 2 offers low latency of up to 88ms for smooth gaming and video calling experience. Moreover, the Vivo TWS 2 houses Deepx 2.0 stereo mode for a customized listening experience.

Vivo TWS 2 supports up to 30 hours of battery lie upon a single full case charge. However, a single earpiece charge can withstand for 8 hours without noise cancellation and 4.5 hours if the noise cancellation is turned on. Thanks to the fast charging as with 15 minutes of charge, it can withstand 4 hours of playback.

It is a great opportunity for interested users to grab the Vivo TWS 2 before anyone in their country. You can pre-order it for $99 from Giztop.

Related: Vivo X60 Pro 5G launched in Europe, goes on sale in June

iQOO Z series could launch in India in mid-June

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 24, 2021

Last year, iQOO, the sub-brand of vivo made its debut in India with the iQOO 3 series. A year later, the company launched its next devices in the form of iQOO 7 and iQOO 7 Legend in late April. Now, according to a tip, the brand will be soon introducing its first budget smartphone in the country.

iQOO started as a sub-brand of vivo for affordable flagship smartphones. However, with growing competition, the company ventured into the mid-range and the budget categories. But these phones still remain exclusive to China.

Thankfully, that’s going to change, as per Mukul Sharma, a popular Indian tech influencer on Twitter. According to him, iQOO will be launching its Z series (mid-range smartphone lineup) in India in mid-June. He also mentions that this series will be exclusive to Amazon India, just like the iQOO 7 series.

Unfortunately, Sharma does not say the name of the phone. Neither he reveals the number of devices launching since he uses the word ‘series’.

Going by a recent report, one of these handsets could be iQOO Z3. This device has been registered on the Indian IMEI database.

The iQOO Z3 has features like Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G, LPDDR4X RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, 6.58-inch FHD+ 120Hz display (LCD), 64MP (wide) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (macro) triple camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, Android 11, 4,400mAh battery, and 55W fast charging.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G gets a quiet launch in Germany: Snapdragon 750G, LCD , and 5G for €649

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

May 24, 2021

After weeks of waiting and multiple name changes, the device known as the Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite has now been quietly unveiled in Germany as the Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G. Yes, Samsung is adopting the FE name for devices other than smartphones. The new tablet cuts some corners when compared to the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus and Galaxy Tab S7 but ends up being pricier than the vanilla Tab S7.

The display is 12.4-inches in size with a 2560 x 1600 resolution but it is an LCD panel. Powering the Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a Snapdragon 750G processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. It has been reported that there should be a 6GB RAM + 128GB version too.

There is an 8MP autofocus camera on the back of the device that slightly protrudes` while there is a 5MP front-facing camera in front for video calls. There are three built-in microphones to make sure your voice is picked up clearly during calls. Inside the tablet is a 10090mAh battery inside with support for 45W fast charging but you will have to purchase a 45W adapter separately. Samsung claims up to 13 hours of battery life for video playback.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes with an S Pen included in the box. The low-latency pen has a soft tip and is said to feel like a real pen when writing with it. It converts your handwriting into text in real-time and charges automatically when placed on the magnetic part on the back panel.

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The tablet supports Samsung DeX which when turned on provides users with a desktop-like environment with a start menu and a taskbar. With an optional keyboard cover, you can transform the Galaxy Tab into a small notebook. In normal tablet mode, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE supports up to 3 apps split-screen multitasking.

Samsung has put a price tag of €649 on this version of the tablet which is pretty expensive considering the Galaxy Tab S7 with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and a more powerful processor is priced at €619. It is already available for purchase in Mystic Black and Mystic Silver with more colors to come later.

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Poll of the week: What do you think of the Redmi Note 8 2021?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 24, 2021

Xiaomi (read Redmi) has announced that it will launch a 2021 version of the Redmi Note 8. It has already confirmed a few details such as the processor as well as the design which has remained unchanged.

The Redmi Note 8 was a success according to Xiaomi’s stats. Last week, it reported it has sold over 25 million units globally which is an impressive figure for a mid-range device and a significant part of the 200 million units of the entire Redmi Note series sold.

For this week’s poll, we want to know what our readers think of the Redmi Note 8 2021. Do you think it is necessary and worth looking forward to or do you think Xiaomi should have channeled its resources to other devices? So please take the poll and also share your opinion in the comment box below.

[yop_poll id=”85″]

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OnePlus Watch Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition launched, ships with a Johnny Silverhand holder-cum-charger

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 24, 2021

Last week, OnePlus announced that it will be releasing the OnePlus Watch Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition in China today (May 24). As scheduled, the company has officially launched this special edition of its first smartwatch in its home country.

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The OnePlus Watch Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition is identical to the original OnePlus Watch in terms of specifications. It only differs with regard to looks and price.

The special edition watch is themed after the popular video game – Cyberpunk 2077. This wearable was supposed to launch alongside the similarly themed OnePlus 8T. However, the release of the smartwatch got delayed for unknown reasons.

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The watch comes with a yellow-accented bezel and strap. The latter even has the ‘Cyberpunk’ branding. Further, the wearable features Cyberpunk 2077-based UI, watch faces, and bootanimation. Weirdly, the bootanimation mentions ‘Android’. For those aware, the OnePlus Watch runs a customized RTOS (Real-time Operating System).

Most importantly, this special version smartwatch ships with a holder-cum-charger, which is designed after the hand of ‘Johnny Silverhand’, a popular character played by actor Keanu Reeves in the Cyberpunk 2077 video game.

Last but not least, the OnePlus Watch Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition is priced at ¥1,299 (202). For comparison, the regular OnePlus Watch and the OnePlus Watch Cobalt Limited Edition retail for ¥999 ($156) and ¥1,599 ($249) respectively.

The smartwatch is already up for pre-order and it will be available for purchase on June 1 at 12 AM (local time). As of now, there’s no official word on this wearable’s availability outside mainland China.

Deal: Get $10 OFF on Huawei Band 6 (Coupon)

By

Daily Deals

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May 24, 2021

Giztop is giving a $10 coupon for Huawei Band 6. You can now get the Huawei Smart Band 6 which generally retails for $59.99 at a discounted price of $49.99 by using the coupon code: HWB6.

WHERE TO BUY

Huawei Band 6 at $49.99 (after discount)@Giztop

The smart band comes with a 1.47-inch rectangular AMOLED display and multiple watch faces via the Watch Face Store app. With a 14-day battery life on a full charge and 10-day life on heavy usage, the band is powerful enough for your daily needs.

Huawei Band 6 comes with a variety of health management functions like All-Day SpO2 Monitor, sleep and stress monitor, heart-rate monitor, etc, and features 96 sports mode and a special menstrual cycle tracking for women.

Available in Black and Green color, the band comes in two different variants viz: Standard and NFC. The 5ATM waterproof smart band which retails for $59.99 is now available at a discounted price of $49.99 by using the coupon code: HWB6. Please note that this is a limited-time coupon. So place your orders asap.

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

Deal: Get Realme Buds Air 2 for $39 (Original Price $60)

By

Daily Deals

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May 24, 2021

Realme Buds Air 2 Global Version which generally retails for $60 is now available at a heavily discounted price of $38.99 only at AliExpress.

WHERE TO BUY

Realme Buds Air 2 Global Version at $38.99 (after discount)@AliExpress

Realme Buds Air 2 Global Version features an Active Noise Cancellation function that can filter out most low-frequency sounds including the rumble of airplanes, subways, and other vehicles. It can also cancel noise from home appliances and machinery, thereby giving you a peaceful and quiet environment to work or listen to your music.

The earbuds come with different modes like transparency mode for communication and a games mode which enhances your gaming experience. Fitted with a Realme R2 Intelligent ANC chip, the earbuds give out a powerful performance and strong and steady wireless connection over low power consumption. The earbuds feature dual microphones for crystal clear calls and give you 25 hours of audio playback on a single charge. Moreover, you can get 120 minutes of continuous playback with just 10 mins of quick charge.

Other interesting features include Intelligent Touch control, Google fast pair, Two-tone color splicing design, Studio Sound Quality, etc. Generally retailing for $60 you can now buy Realme Buds Air 2 Global Version for $38.99 only at AliExpress. Please note that this is a limited-time offer. So place your order asap.

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.

Realme Smart TV 4K confirmed to launch in India on May 31

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 24, 2021

Realme last month released a teaser pointing to the launch of the Realme Smart TV 4K 43″ in India in May. Just when the month is about to come to an end, the Chinese tech giant has released another teaser poster showing that the smart TV will be launched on May 31.

The Realme smart 4K TV comes well kitted as a truly smart home appliance that guarantees a true 4K cinematic experience for viewers. Both models come with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technology to give an excellent viewing experience. The company has also announced two sizes of the smart TV 4K (50-inch and 43-inch versions).

Some of the early visuals show that the smart TV 4K will have Voice Assistant compatibility as well as a slim and beautiful exterior. The Realme smart TV 4K packs lots of power and performance. We expect a strong processor and memory (both system and internal memory) and innovative graphics and audio outputs. The sound output of the new gadget is bound to be several notches above the earlier models. The 50-inch model is a new entrant, while the 43-inch version is an improvement of last year’s model.

More specific details about the two models will become available as we inch towards the launch date next week. We will also get to know the pricing details of the Realme smart 4K TVs as we move closer to the release date next week. Realme will also be unveiling the Realme X7 Max 5G smartphone on the same day.

The Realme Smart TV 32-inch and 43-inch models were launched in India last year along with the Smart TV SLED 4K 55″ TV. These new models are likely to have several improvements, one of which is the teased 4K resolution.

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Chinese startup Pony.ai gets the nod to start testing its driverless vehicles in California

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 24, 2021

The US state of California has granted permission to Chinese firm Pony.ai to carry out a pilot run of its driverless vehicles in three cities in the state. Six Pony’s autonomous vehicles will be allowed without a safety driver at the wheels in Fremont, Milpitas, and Irvine, within designated roads in these cities.

The permit was issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is the statutory regulator for issues relating to autonomous vehicle testing on public roads. The new permit is an extension of the earlier permit already granted to Pony.ai since 2017 when it started testing autonomous vehicles with a safety driver behind the wheel in California. The vehicles will operate on roads with speed limits below 45 miles per hour, and testing will commence first in Fremont and Milpitas on weekdays between 10 am and 3 pm, while the city of Irvine will follow suit later.

Some stringent conditions must be met before companies are granted these permits, and any collisions or crashes involving these driverless vehicles must be reported to the regulator within 10 days. In addition, the company will submit an annual report of disengagements to the Department of Motor Vehicles before re-issuance of the permit. There is also the tiny requirement to provide evidence of insurance or a bond of $5 million.

Currently, more than 50 companies have active permits to test autonomous vehicles with a safety driver in different cities in California. Pony.ai joins a growing list of companies that have active permits to test driverless vehicles in California without a safety driver. There are currently eight companies with such permits, including Baidu, AutoX, WeRide, Cruise, Nuro, and Zoox, although only one of these companies (Nuro) has a permit to operate commercial services.

Since 2016 when Pony.ai began operations, it has continued to expand in its scope of operations, attracting investments from important quarters. This has seen the company come out stronger this year as it continues to evolve new partnerships and collaborations with automakers and suppliers. Pony.ai’s agnostic virtual driver system could be applied to vehicles of all sizes and purposes and could provide a revolutionary approach to driverless technology.

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