IFA 2021 has been canceled due to new COVID-19 strains, will return next year

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May 20, 2021

IFA Berlin is an annual trade show for consumer electronics held in Germany. This year, the organizers planned to have an in-person event, but that will no longer be happening as the event has now been canceled.

The info was shared by the official IFA Berlin Twitter account yesterday along with a link to a full statement. The organizers cite the occurrence of new strains of the virus to uncertainties about the rollout speed of vaccination programs across the globe. These reasons have led to uncertainties by not only companies that plan to attend but also the media and visitors.

We planned, hoped and tried to make the impossible possible – and yet had to cancel #IFA2021. We're #heartbroken, but full of confidence for #IFA2022!#seeyouatIFA2022 https://t.co/VzBGNTCvFA pic.twitter.com/ZvM2FCnLv1

— IFA Berlin (@IFA_Berlin) May 19, 2021

The organizers have also revealed that part of the exhibition area has been converted into a vaccination center and an emergency hospital and both will be required for longer than originally planned.

“There simply are now too many uncertainties. Therefore, right now it has become near impossible for anyone to responsibly plan their participation in any trade show.” – Kai Hillebrandt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH

Martin Ecknig, the CEO of Messe Berlin added that the roll-out of vaccination programs and the resumption of international travel didn’t happen at the pace they envisioned, thus they had to make the difficult decision of canceling the event. However, plans are already in motion as well as work with trade partners and the media to get ready for IFA 2022 “which will be held as a full-scale live event at the Berlin exhibition grounds”. The event is scheduled to hold from September 2 to September 6.

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New Samsung Galaxy Watch Active4 leak tips 5nm chip, narrow bezels, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 20, 2021

Earlier this week, Google announced a new version of Wear OS in collaboration with Samsung and Fitbit. The South Korean tech giant even confirmed that the next-gen Galaxy Watches will run the new operating system. However, we have been hearing about these wearables even before the Google I/O 2021. Now, more specs of one of these watches leak.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Featured — Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 | Source: Samsung

Popular tipster Ice Universe has revealed some features of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Active4 on Twitter. According to him, this wearable will be powered by a 5nm chipset and will sport a 2D glass instead of 2.5D.

Further, the leakster says that the smartwatch will feature narrow bezels and an ‘excellent frame structure’ (titanium alloy). Additionally, other popular leakers replied to this tweet with further more information.

As per Chun, the Galaxy Watch Acive4 will be backed by a larger battery. On the other hand, Roland Quandt tips two variants – aluminum alloy and stainless steel. Lastly, according to Yogesh, the new smartwatch will have the same design as the Galaxy Watch Active2 with narrow bezels due to improved display drivers.

According to previous reports, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active will be available in two sizes (40mm, 42mm). Last but not least, it is expected to arrive in Bluetooth as well as cellular variants and will lack support for non-invasive blood glucose (sugar) level monitoring.

OnePlus appoints former Huawei and 360 Mobile Exec as the new Vice President

By

Sean

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May 20, 2021

Earlier today (20th May 2021), the Founder and CEO of OnePlus, Pete Lau announced that Li Kaixin will be officially joining the company. The newly appointed official is also a former executive of Huawei and 360 Mobile.

In an online post on his official Weibo account, a Chinese microblogging website, the Founder stated that he has known Li Kaixin to have successfully led Huawei in China and even helped the brand achieved tens of millions of sales. Furthermore, Pete Lau also called the newly appointed official an industry “veteran”, especially in terms of smartphone sales. Pete also expressed that Li will enable him to focus more on making new products since he is confident that he could leave the sales of smartphones in his capable hands.

Li Kaixin has now officially been appointed as the Vice President of OnePlus. For those unaware, Li was also the Vice President of Huawei and Honor’s Sales and even the Executive Vice President of 360 Mobile as well. Through his work, he had also managed to be promoted to the position of President of 360 Mobile back in 2016.

Interestingly, it has been rumored that Li Kaixin had actually been appointed as the Vice President of OnePlus back in March. However, it was also reported that he was already working with the Chinese tech giant since a year ago and that the company had kept refrained from making the decision official. But now, we have official confirmation that he has been hired by the brand.

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Huawei FreeBuds 4 TWS pre-orderes now live via Giztop

By

Simranpal Singh

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May 20, 2021

Huawei announced its new TWS earphones – FreeBuds 4 in China. It is aesthetically similar to FreeBuds 3 but houses several new advancements in terms of technical specifications. The new FreeBuds 4 True Wireless Earbuds houses Huawei’s Kirin A1 chipset which makes audio processing easier and swift. However, the new TWS earbuds are limited in China and may take some time for the global launch. But, the interested users can pre-order it via the Giztop for $189.

Must See: Huawei Router H6 running HarmonyOS now up for pre-sale in China

It is available in both Silver and White color options. You can enjoy the latest Human Ear Adaptive Noise cancellation technology on EarBuds 4 before anyone else in your country. There are several other enhancements that the new TWS earbuds have received in comparison with their predecessor.

Apart from the design, their new earbuds come with a high-sensitivity 14.3mm dynamic audio driver. It is built with a classic dynamic speaker structure featuring LCP liquid crystal composite diaphragm for better frequency response up to 40 kHz. Its highly air-tight chamber brings powerful bass performance and a more detailed high-frequency.

It even supports wireless HD recording as it comes with a high-sensitivity microphone and excellent noise-cancellation algorithm. The Bluetooth 5.2 intelligent pairing quickly pairs with the connected devices and it even supports a simultaneous dual-device connection. Moreover, it offers 90ms low gaming latency while gaming.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 supports up to 4-hour battery life with a single buds charge. However, it is extended to 22 hours if we count in the battery encased inside the charging case.

Youc an pre-order the Hauwei FreeBuds 4 via Giztop at the price of $189.

Related: Huawei Smart Body Fat Scale 3 Pro with improved accuracy launched for ¥499 (~$77)

Flying Taxis might be a reality in Europe as early as 2024: Regulator

By

Sean

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May 20, 2021

A top regulator within the aviation agency of Europe has stated that the electric flying taxis might be cleared for take off by the year 2025 or even as early as 2024.

According to a Bloomberg report, the news arrives from Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The official made the statement in an online event earlier this week. Patrick Ky further added that autonomous drones will take at least five years more, while larger aircraft are expected to follow soon after. Furthermore, EASA has just started to work with companies on how to address unmanned flights. As per the regulator, the agency is also working closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration and other international regulators as well.

Patrick Ky stated that it’s easier to start with air taxi based vehicles “because we’re looking at smaller scale aircraft. We’ve not gone too far because it requires a lot of thinking on how you want to deal with the autonomy concepts.” The regulator made the statement in regards to autonomous passenger transport in Europe. Similarly, EASA has even published results of a survey on urban air mobility that had over 4,000 respondents from the region across six different European cities.

This survey found that 83 percent of the citizens had a positive initial attitude, with highlighting uses being emergency and medical transportation getting a boost with the aerial mode of travel. Although, vehicles that traverse over crowded cities would likely be subject to strict safety standards and regulators will likely face issues regarding noise.

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nubia Z30 Pro launched as a rebranded ZTE AXON 30 Ultra with 120W fast charging

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 20, 2021

As scheduled, nubia, the associate company of ZTE has officially launched the nubia Z30 Pro in China. The latest flagship smartphone from the brand is nothing but a rebranded ZTE AXON 30 Ultra in different hues with a smaller battery, faster-charging support, and higher price tags.

nubia Z30 Pro Specifications and Features

The newly launched nubia Z30 Pro has the exact same design as the ZTE AXON 30 Ultra with different shades. The device comes in three colors, namely Vast Black, Interstellar Silver, and Black Gold Legend. The handset measures 161.83 x 73.01 x 8.5mm in dimensions and weighs 198g.

On the front, the smartphone flaunts a 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), 10-bit color depth (1.07 billion colors), 144Hz refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio, and 93.45% screen-to-body ratio. This SGS Eye Care-certified panel covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, supports DC Dimming, and has a centered punch-hole as well as an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

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The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC coupled with up to 16GB dual-channel LPDDR5 RAM RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. To keep the thermals down, the handset houses a five-layer micron graphene and VC liquid-cooled soaking plate.

Further, the device sports a quad-camera setup consisting of a 64MP primary sensor with OIS, a 64MP secondary sensor with a 120° ultra-wide-angle lens, a 64MP ‘humanistic’ camera, and an 8MP sensor equipped with a 5x periscope lens as well as OIS. Whereas, for selfies and video calls, the phone uses a 16MP shooter.

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The smartphone runs nubia UI 9.0 based on Android 11. It comes with various camera features to make use of the incredible hardware. The nubia Institute of Imaging has even partnered with the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for NEOVISION 10 Astronomical Imaging System. The company claims that users can click star trails without using a tripod.

On the connectivity front, the handset supports dual-SIM, 5G, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, GNSS, and GPS. It has all the essential sensors like an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, compass, gyroscope, and proximity sensor. The device also sports dual stereo speakers with support for DTS: X Ultra but lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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Last but not least, the nubia Z30 Pro is backed by a 4,200mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging (full charge in 15 minutes). Unlike some brands, nubia ships the phone with a 120W power adapter, a USB Type-C to Type-C cable, a USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, and a protective case.

nubia Z30 Pro Price and Availability

The nubia Z30 Pro will retail for the following price tags in China.

8GB + 256GB – ¥4,999 ($776)
12GB + 256GB – ¥5,399 ($838)
12GB + 512GB – ¥5,999 ($932)

The base and mid memory variants are already up for pre-order in China. They will go on sale for the first time on May 25 at 10 AM (local time). On the other hand, the high-end storage model, which only comes in Black Gold Legend color does not have a sale date yet.

As of now, there’s no official word from nubia regarding this smartphone’s availability in global markets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite leaks once again new renders and specifications

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 20, 2021

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G and Galaxy Tab A7 Lite are the upcoming tablets from Samsung. Both tablets are expected to debut soon as multiple reports have revealed their specifications and design. A fresh report by Winfuture.de has once again leaked the specs of the Tab A7 Lite. The report also contains a few press renders of the budget tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite specifications

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite has an 8.7-inch LCD screen that offers a resolution of 1340 x 800 pixels. It has a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls and its back panel has an 8-megapixel camera, which can capture Full HD videos.

The Media MT8768x (Helio P22T) chipset that clocks at 2.3GHz powers the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite. The SoC is coupled with 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The device comes in 32 GB and 64 GB storage options. For more storage, it has a dedicated microSD card slot.

The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite has a 5,100mAh battery that can be charged through USB-C. Previous reports have claimed that it supports 15W charging. It offers other features like Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The publication claims that the Wi-Fi-only version of the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (model number SM-T220) could be priced around 150 euros in Europe. It is also expected to arrive in the LTE version, which will be slightly more expensive than the Wi-Fi variant.

RELATED:

Xiaomi Exec: Global chip shortage could optimistically ease up by H1 2021

By

Sean

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May 20, 2021

Lu Weibing, the Xiaomi President and Redmi General Manager, said that the global chip shortage that has affected various industries across the globe could optimistically end by the first half of next year.

As per the senior executive post on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, the major shortage of semiconductors is not a short term issue. He further added that it is impossible for the supply shortage for chips to be resolved within this year. Lu Weibing believes that even if one is being optimistic, the shortage will only ease up within the first half of 2021. For those unaware, the world is currently facing a major supply issue of semiconductors that has affected various industries.

This has impacted shipments of automobiles from car makers as they need chips for their cars, while even the smartphone and home appliance vendors are facing issues with chip supply for their electronic products. The official from the Chinese tech giant is also set to discuss the global semiconductor shortage in a public speech later this month on 26th May 2021.

Lu Weibing also believes that the chip shortage is also indicative of the growth in demand for 5G processors in smartphones, along with the growing need for high performance computing and even surge in popularity of smart cars and other smart internet of thing products as well. Meaning, supply has to catch up with the explosive demand that foundries are seeing all across the world for different industries.

RELATED:

Realme Buds Wireless 2 launched in Malaysia, with ANC and low latency gaming mode

By

Sean

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May 20, 2021

Realme has just announced the new Watch 2 Pro in its AIoT launch event in Malaysia earlier today (20th May 2021). At the conference, it also unveiled other products as well, including the new Realme Buds Wireless 2 and the Buds Wireless 2 Neo.

The new Buds Wireless 2 features 13.6mm bass boost drivers along with support for Sony LDAC for high resolution audio and the company’s proprietary R2 chip. A notable addition with the Buds Wireless 2 is the ANC (active noise cancellation) feature that offers up to 25dB active noise cancellation. Furthermore, the new hearable from the Chinese tech giant also offers an 88ms low latency gaming mode as well, which is targeted smartphone gamers.

The Buds Wireless 2 adopts a neckband design and also offers magnetic controls that let users play and pause music and videos by simply joining or separating the two earbuds. Additionally, the wireless earphones support the Google fast pairing feature as well, along with a Quick Switch feature that enables the device to be connected between two paired devices. The brand claims that the Buds Wireless 2 can offer up to 22 hours of music playback on a single charge, although, turning LDAC and ANC will bring this number down to just 10 hours.

Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo — Buds Wireless 2 Neo

Notably, Realme Buds Wireless 2 also supports DART fast charging that can deliver up to 12 hours of music playback in just 10 minutes of charge and can even fully charge the device in about 50 minutes. The device is also rated with IPX5 for water resistance and supports the Realme Link app as well. The earphones are currently available in two color variants, namely Kandi Yellow, and Kandi Grey colors, and are priced at 199 Malaysian Ringgit (roughly 48 US Dollars). Along with these earphones, the company also launched the Buds Wireless 2 Neo for 99 Malaysian Ringgit (roughly 24 US Dollars) that also launched recently in Sri Lanka.

RELATED:

vivo Y52 5G launched with Dimensity 700 SoC, 48MP triple camera, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 20, 2021

A few days back, Chinese handset maker vivo announced the vivo X60 series for Europe. Alongside these flagship smartphones, the company also announced two budget devices, namely vivo Y72 5G and vivo Y52 5G. The former phone went official in Thailand in late March. On the other hand, the latter device is a newer model.

vivo Y72 Y52 5G Featured 01 — vivo Y72 5G / vivo Y52 5G

vivo Y52 5G Specifications and Features

Though vivo has officially unveiled the vivo Y52 5G for Europe, the company is yet to put up a listing for the phone on its official website. The press release is vague without proper specs. But what we know is that this smartphone is identical to the vivo Y72 5G, except for the cameras.

According to the official announcement, the vivo 52 5G sports a 6.58-inch FHD+ display on the front. The device is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC coupled with 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.

vivo Y72 Y52 5G Featured 02 — vivo Y72 5G / vivo Y52 5G

The handset houses a triple camera setup on the back consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth sensor. As for selfies and video calls, the phone uses an 8MP snapper.

Other features of the vivo Y52 5G include a MicroSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, Funtouch OS 11.x based on Android 11, 5,000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging.

vivo Y52 5G Price and Availability

Unfortunately, vivo did not reveal the pricing and availability of the vivo Y52 5G in Europe. However, the company has confirmed that the vivo Y72 5G will start from €299 and will be available in July. So we can expect the vivo Y52 5G to be priced below €300.

Realme Watch 2 Pro launched in Malaysia, features GPS and 90 sports modes

By

Sean

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May 20, 2021

Earlier today (20th May 2021), Realme held an AIoT launch conference in Malaysia. During this event, the company announced various smartphone products, including new wireless earphones, Bluetooth speakers, and even the Realme Watch 2 Pro.

The device is the latest wearable product from the company and sports a 1.75 inch colored display that has a 320x285px resolution. This panel has a maximum brightness of 600 nits and a 30Hz refresh rate. The Chinese tech giant even offers an IP68 water rating and claims that the device can offer up to 14 days of battery life with its 390mAh in built battery pack. Similar to most smartwatches, the Watch 2 Pro also offers an optical heart rate sensor, and even blood oxygen monitoring as well.

It can even track the heart rate of the user, map their blood oxygen levels, and even track sleep cycles, steps, calories consumed, distance covered, and more. Furthermore, it also offers high precision dual satellite GPS tracking and offers 90 different sports modes as well. This includes activity modes like outdoor running, walking, football, basketball, badminton, jump rope, and various other sports as well.

The Watch 2 Pro can be connected to the users’ smartphone through the Realme Link App, which offers also offers additional functionality as well. It is currently available in Malaysia for a price of 299 Malaysian Ringgit (roughly 72 US Dollars) and is offered in two color variants, namely Space grey, and Metallic Silver. Although, the wearable is expected to hit markets in other countries as well soon.

Aliexpress is also selling the Realme Watch 2 Pro for $53.99 globally.

RELATED:

Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker with 6-hour battery life launched for RM 79 ($19)

By

Jeet

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May 20, 2021

Realme seems to be on a launching spree. The company had launched several products last month at an event named “AIoT Grand Launch Season 3” and now the company held a similar event in Malaysia today named “AIoT Sports Launch,” introducing a few new products in the market, including Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker, Realme Watch 2 Pro, and Realme Buds Wireless 2.

The Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker, as the name indicates, is designed to ensure that it easily fits into the pocket of the users, making it easy to carry around. This new light and portable speaker is ideal for good sound quality in almost any situation, says the company.

The device is made of durable material, as per the company, but it is just a clear way to avoid saying plastic. It weighs 113 grams and comes with a wrist strap attached.

It packs 3W Dynamic Bass Boost Driver combined with a passive radiator. As per Realme, it offers rich and deep bass, even when the user is in an outdoor location. It is rated IPX5, making it water sprays and splash resistant.

The product supports stereo pairing and three equalizer presets, meaning two speakers can be connected together to offer a stereo music experience. The three preset equalizers include Bass, Dynamic, and Bright.

For connectivity, there’s Bluetooth 5.0 that has a transmission range of up to 10 meters. There’s also a Game Mode for syncing audio and video while playing games or watching movies. It can be connected to the smartphone using the Realme Link application.

As for the battery life, the company claims that it can offer six hours of continuous playback on a single charge. The device can be charged with a USB Type-C cable which is included in the box.

The Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker comes in two color options — Desert Grey and Classic Black. It is priced at RM 79 which roughly converts to $19 and will soon be available for purchase in Malaysia. The product could soon be launched in other regions also.

RELATED:

Xiaomi sells 200 million units of Redmi Note series smartphones globally

By

Jeet

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May 20, 2021

Xiaomi has seen significant growth in the past years and the Chinese company has now become the third-largest smartphone vendor globally in terms of shipping volume, sitting just behind Samsung and Apple.

The company has several popular lineups and one of them is the Redmi Note series. As per the latest numbers revealed by Xiaomi, so far, the company has shipped more than 200 million units of Redmi Note series smartphones globally. It has only shared an overall number and not individual figures for each generation in the lineup.

A few months ago, in November 2020, the company had announced that the Redmi Note series managed to sell 140 million units. This means that in about half a year, it has managed to sell an additional 60 million devices.

The company believes that the reason behind such popularity of the Redmi Note series smartphones is the brand’s strategy of offering high-end products with better technology, richer experience, and higher quality to everyone at an affordable pricing of around 1,000 yuan, which is approximately $155.

Xiaomi first introduced the Redmi Note series in 2014. A couple of years ago, in 2019, along with announcing the Redmi Note 7 series, it revealed that Redmi has become an independent brand. It is one of the most successful product lines of the Redmi brand.

This announcement from the company just days before Xiaomi is expected to launch the new Redmi Note 10 series smartphones in the Chinese market, likely on 26th May. The phone, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, is expected to be made available in China in four color options. The Pro version of the same is expected to come packed with the MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset.

Lu Weibing, Partner at Xiaomi Group, President of Xiaomi China and International Department as well as General Manager of Redmi brand, is set to host a talk on 26th May regarding the global shortage of chips and shed light on how it affects the company.

RELATED:

Lenovo Legion 2 Pro gets two new variants: 18 GB + 256 GB and 16 GB + 256 GB

By

Jeet

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May 20, 2021

Lenovo Legion 2 Pro, the latest gaming smartphone from the Hong Kong-based company, was made official last month. Soon after that, the company started selling the device, and recently, it started selling the top-end variant with 18GB RAM and 512GB storage.

Today, the company has launched new variants of the smartphone. There’s a model with 18GB RAM and 256GB storage that costs 4,999 yuan (~$776) while the 16GB RAM and 256GB storage model is priced at 4,499 yuan (~$699).

Earlier, the company was already selling 16GB and 18GB RAM variants of the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro smartphone but both the variants packed 512GB of internal storage but these new models come with 256GB of internal storage.

As for the specifications, the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro features a 6.92-inch Samsung E4 AMOLED display that offers a 20.5:9 aspect ratio, 2460 x 1080 pixels screen resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 720Hz touch response rate, and 3.8ms response time.

It also comes with an under-display optical fingerprint sensor for added security. Under the hood, the device comes powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. The phone also comes with liquid cooling and two fans to dissipate heat more efficiently when working under load or during intense gaming sessions.

As for the camera configuration, there’s an OmniVision 64-megapixel main sensor, coupled with a 16-megapixel f/2.2 123-degree ultrawide angle camera. On the front side, there’s a 44-megapixel f/2.0 sensor that slides out from the middle of the frame. The phone can record 8K videos at 24fps and 4K videos at 60fps. It can also record slow-motion videos in 1080p at 240fps and shoot in RAW format.

The smartphone also has support for Dolby Atmos and a game mode that enhances the in-game sound experience. The device is powered by a 5,500mAh battery that supports a maximum of 90W fast charging via two USB-C ports.

RELATED:

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

By

Jeet

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May 20, 2021

As promised, Vivo has today officially launched its first noise-canceling true wireless earphones in its home market China, dubbed Vivo TWS 2. As the name indicates, it comes as a successor to the Vivo TWS launched in 2019.

The highlight of the wearable device remains the support for noise cancellation, which is the first time in Vivo’s TWS earphones. It supports up to 40dB noise reduction and can detect external noise sound waves through the microphone and emits reverse sound waves to cancel the noise.

There’s also a transparent mode that can pick up voice and other information through the mic. This mode comes in handy when users cannot clearly hear external voices when they are using the earphones. The transparent mode basically avoids complete isolation from the surrounding environment.

It comes equipped with a 12.2mm ultra-large driver and supports DEEP-HD ultra-clear audio engine. It also supports aptX adaptive codec technology and the audio transmission bandwidth has been doubled.

The company also talks about a new antenna design that improves the stability of wireless connection by 20 percent and offers a smooth listening experience even during complex environments and surroundings.

As for the battery life, the Vivo TWS 2 comes with support for up to 30 hours of battery life. When the noise cancellation feature is turned on, it can offer up to 4.5 hours of usage on a single charge. It also comes with support for fast charging, offering 4 hours of usage after charging it for just 15 minutes.

The Vivo TWS 2 comes in two color options — Blue and White. It is priced at 499 yuan (~$78) but for the initial sales, it will be available for a price of 449 yuan (~$70). It is up for pre-order on major eCommerce platforms such as Vivo Official Mall, JD.com, Tmall, etc., and will start shipping from 1st June.

RELATED:

Meizu Smartwatch confirmed to launch on May 31st

By

Jeet

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May 20, 2021

Meizu, the China-based smartphone maker is gearing up to launch a smartwatch that was recently leaked. Now, the company has confirmed that the upcoming wearable device from the brand, named Meizu Smartwatch, will be made official in China on 31st May.

The poster of the upcoming Meizu Smartwatch reveals a square-shaped dial for the device, which is in line with the previous leaks. This gives it a look similar to the Apple Watch but details about the screen parameters haven’t been revealed.

From the leaks so far, it has been revealed that the Meizu Smartwatch will come running the Flyme operating system and will also allow users to download and install third-party applications on the device.

It will offer several different types of functions, including playing music, offering activity tracking, mobile payment services, and support for eSIM connectivity, allowing users to make and receive phone calls.

While not yet confirmed, we expect the device to come with support for current-generation features like blood oxygen level monitoring (SpO2), heartbeat tracking, and more. So far, the device’s specifications are not yet known but we expect the company to share more details in the coming days through teasers.

To know more about this upcoming Meizu Smartwatch, including the specifications, features, variants, pricing, and availability details, we will have to wait for the official launch in China in the coming days.

RELATED:

OPPO Reno6, Reno6 Pro, Reno6 Pro+ official renders and variants emerge

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 20, 2021

Yesterday, OPPO confirmed that it will be announcing the Reno6 series of smartphones on May 27 in China. Chinese retailer sites such as Suning and JD.com have listed the Reno6 5G, Reno6 Pro 5G, and Reno6 Pro+ 5G for reservations. These listings carry the official renders and key specifications of the Reno6 trio.

The official renders show that the Reno6 and Reno6 Pro will come in three colors such as Summer Harumi, Galaxy Dream, and Night Sea. The Reno6 and Reno6 Pro have an identical rear design as they feature a rectangle-shaped camera module with three large-sized lenses, a smaller camera, and an LED flash. The Reno6 has a flat display, while the Reno6 Pro’s screen has curved edges.

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On the other side, the Reno6 Pro+ 5G also features a curved edge display. Its quad-camera setup has a slightly different arrangement. It is likely to arrive in Summer Harumi and Moon Sea color editions. All three handsets are expected to arrive with 8 GB of RAM + 128 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage editions in China.

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OPPO Reno6 series specifications (expected)

Reports have revealed that the Reno6 has a 6.43-inch AMOLED display, whereas the Reno6 Pro and Reno6 Pro+ have a 6.55-inch AMOLED screen. These phones are likely to support a 90Hz refresh rate and a Full HD+ resolution. The Reno6, Reno6 Pro, and Reno6 Pro+ could be powered by Dimensity 900, Dimensity 1200, and Snapdragon 870 chipsets. These phones may house a 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast charging support.

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The Reno6 trio is expected to feature a 32-megapixel front camera. The Reno6 and Reno6 Pro are likely to feature a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad-camera system, whereas the Pro Plus edition may come with a Sony IMX766 50-megapixel + 16-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad-camera system.

RELATED:

Redmi Note 10 5G series to launch on May 26, design teased

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 20, 2021

In March, Xiaomi announced the Redmi Note 10 series of smartphones in India and global markets. Today, the Chinese brand released an official poster through its Weibo handle to confirm that it will be announcing the Note 10 5G series at 14:00 PM (local time) on May 26 in China. The official poster gives a glimpse of one of the Note 10 series smartphones.

Recent reports have claimed that the Redmi Note 10 5G lineup for China includes three handsets such as the vanilla Note 10 5G, Note 10 Pro, and Note 10 Pro+ 5G. The handset shown in the poster seems to be showcasing the vanilla edition and it appears to match with the TENAA image of the Xiaomi phone with the M2103K19C model number, which was certified by China’s TENAA authority back in March.

The M2103K19C handset has a 6.5-inch IPS LCD FHD+ display, an 8-megapixel front camera, and 48-megapixel triple rear cameras. It is powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core processor, 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB of RAM, and a 4,900mAh battery, which is expected to arrive with 22.5W fast charging support.

For security, it features a side-facing fingerprint scanner, and it runs on Android 11 OS. These specs exactly match with the global version of the Note 10 5G, which features the Dimensity 700v chip. Hence, it appears that the company could be planning to launch the same device in China.

A recent leak claimed that the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G will be featuring the Dimensity 900 SoC, which was announced last week. On the other side, the Redmi Note 10 Pro+ 5G could be coming with the Dimensity 1100 chipset.

RELATED:

Google reveals the number of active Android devices has surpassed 3 billion

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 20, 2021

Google I/O 2021 is presently ongoing, this year on a virtual basis due to the prevailing COVID 19 pandemic. One of the fallouts from the ongoing event is the announcement that active devices running the Android operating system have gone beyond 3 billion.

Google’s Vice President of product management, Sameer Samat, broke the news of the milestone during the virtual event. The estimates were obtained via Google Play Store records which means it could even be higher than the current estimates considering that there are millions of Android devices not preinstalled with Google Play Store. For instance, Huawei smartphones, Amazon Fire devices, etc. These Android devices could account for a considerable quantum of active Android devices.

This new disclosure means 500 million Android users were added since the 2019 Google I/O Developers Conference. However, 1 billion active users have been added since 2017 when the estimates crossed the 2 billion mark.

The hugely conservative estimate of active Android devices shows the prevalence and growth of Android applications globally. The numbers far eclipsed that of active iOS devices, which Apple put at just above a billion. Android will maintain its leading position in years to come as Google continues to reinvent the wheel of the Android ecosystem.

During the event, Google announced the next-generation Android 12 operating system and rolled out a list of eligible models that will get the beta update. In addition, the versatility of the Android OS continues to be seen with its application to an ever-growing array of solutions from TVs, smartphones, and a bevy of smart home appliances.

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Sony’s Xperia Ace 2 is a Budget smartphone with IP68 Waterproofing

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 20, 2021

Japanese tech giant Sony has officially unveiled the much-touted Xperia Ace 2 smartphone in its home market. The Xperia Ace 2 has been in the news for quite some time, the most recent was an appearance in Google Play Console.

The Sony Xperia Ace 2 can at best be regarded as a budget smartphone and was finally officially listed on the Japanese market. Sony has over the year garnered a reputation for launching compact phones under the Xperia brand but that has not panned out well in recent times. Thus, the company has shifted to a larger, albeit awkward 21:9 aspect ratio which ensures the models stay slim while offering a large display. The Xperia Ace 2 deviates as it packs a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display which is small compared to most phones in the market presently. The display has an HD+ resolution and is covered by a layer of Gorilla Glass 6.

The budget phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset, knocking off earlier rumors that the Xperia Ace 2 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 chip. Thus, the phone supports 4G LTE connectivity. The processor pairs with 4GB of RAM while there is 64GB of internal storage. There is an option of storage expansion via a MicroSD card.

For photography, the smartphone houses an 8MP selfie shooter under the waterdrop notch. It also features a dual-camera setup at the rear which includes a 13MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The phone which weighs 159g packs a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated with the power button.

Despite its budget outlook, the Xperia Ace 2 comes with an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating. It also retains the 3.5mm headphone jack and crams a 4500mAh battery under the hood.

The Xperia Ace 2 is billed to go on sale in Japan on May 28 and will be available in black, white, and blue. The phone is priced at 22,000 yen (about $201).

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