Samsung’s upcoming S-series tablet was recently spotted at the Bluetooth SIG authority. The listing revealed that it could be arriving in the market with Galaxy Tab S7 XL Lite moniker. The tablet is inching towards the launch as it has been also spotted at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC listing of the Galaxy Tab S7 XL Lite (SM-T736B) has only revealed that it supports connectivity features such as 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and Bluetooth LE (Low Energy). Apart from this 5G variant, the company is also expected to sell the tablet in 4G LTE and Wi-Fi only versions. The former has an SM-T735 model number, whereas has an SM-T730 model number.
The Bluetooth SIG certification of the tablet revealed that there is another variant with the SM-T737 model number. In the recent past, the 4G LTE and Wi-Fi only editions of the tablet were spotted at the 3C certification platform of China. The listing revealed that the tablet may come with a 15W charger. However, these tablets are expected to carry support for 44.5W rapid charging.
The Geekbench appearance of the tablet had revealed that it is powered by the Snapdragon 750G and 4 GB of RAM. The device is expected to ship with One UI 3.1 based Android 11 OS.
The tablet is likely to feature a 12.4-inch IPS LCD display, S Pen stylus support, and a dual-camera system. It may arrive in multiple colors such as black, silver, pink, and green. The tablet is expected to debut in June in various markets. At present, there is no word on its pricing.
Xiaomi Group and the US Department of Defence have issued a Joint Status Report related to the lawsuit filed by the Chinese company. In the documents, the US government has acknowledged procedural justice issues on the military list and is willing to settle the matter with the Xiaomi Group and remove the company from the military blacklist.
For those who are unaware, in January this year, the United States government had included nine Chinese companies, including Xiaomi, on the military blacklist citing close ties to the Chinese military, to prevent American investors to invest in those companies.
Soon after that, Xiaomi filed a lawsuit against the US government and District Judge Rudolph Contreras put a temporary halt to the ban, siding with Xiaomi in a lawsuit that argued that the move was “arbitrary and capricious” and deprived the company of its due process rights. The judge blocked the Defense Department from restricting U.S. investment in the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi Corp.
After the ban was announced, the company faced the prospect of being delisted from U.S. exchanges and deleted from global benchmark indexes. However, Xiaomi was likely to win a full reversal of the ban.
Xiaomi is the third-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world by shipments, just behind Samsung and Apple. The initial announcement of the ban on Xiaomi knocked $10 billion off its market share and sent the company’s shares down 9.5 percent in January.
Recently, Lenovo has been launching quite a few laptops under the Xiaoxin lineup and now the company has confirmed that it will soon be launching new Xiaoxin 14 and Xiaoxin 15 Air 2021 Core variants.
These upcoming laptops will come powered by the new Intel Core i5 Tiger Lake processor but the company has not yet confirmed the exact model number.
Intel introduced several Tiger Lake processors, starting with the 9/15W U-series in September last year and then the 28/35W H35 series in January this year. Recently, the company announced the new 45W H-series chips. So, it remains to be seen which of these will be used in the upcoming Xiaoxin laptops.
For those who are unaware, Tiger Lake is Intel‘s 11th generation chips made used the 10nm process. While the U and H35 series are limited to quad-core designs, the H-series comes with up to six and eight cores.
The Lenovo Xiaoxin Air 14/15 2021 Core Edition models were released in October last year and the design for almost all the devices remains the same. Apart from the 11th generation processor, the device pack MX450 graphics card with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.
To know for sure the features and specifications of the upcoming Lenovo Xiaoxin laptops, as well as its pricing and availability options, we will have to wait for the official launch in the coming days or weeks.
Samsung has unveiled its global expansion plans for its latest range of bespoke appliances. The news is coming on the heels of the Bespoke Home 2021 event today, hosted by Samsung. The company continues to develop custom-made home appliances like refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, and other bespoke items for the home.
Samsung has continued to explore partnerships that will establish its design appetite and yield great products. The company has also announced collaborations with artists for panel designs for its upcoming lineup of custom-made, limited edition refrigerators and other products.
Plans are afoot to roll out Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerators to Europe and the Americas and the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Three Bespoke products will be released to the North American market, while Europe will also have three refrigerator products. There are expansion plans to include some other Bespoke products like microwave ovens and dishwashers. That would match the current refrigerator lineup.
Samsung has several artists that have produced compelling designs for its Bespoke refrigerators. These include Frenchman Thirbaud Herem, Danish lifestyle brand Hay, and US-based pop artist, Andy Rementer.
Samsung has an array of concepts and designs for its Bespoke products. Today’s Bespoke event highlighted the depth of research that Samsung had plunged into as it pursues expansion in the Bespoke segment. The kitty includes hairdressers and a Bespoke Jet Bot AI, among several others.
Samsung is not the only tech company that has veered into the production of home appliances. American tech giant Apple has a few such products in limited editions.
South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics officially announced its withdrawal from the 2021 Mobile World Congress (MWC 2021) scheduled to hold in June in Barcelona, Spain. Citing safety concerns for its employees, the company says it will instead focus on a virtual presence for the duration of the event, slated from June 28 to July 1, 2021.
In a statement released to the public, Samsung stated that the health and safety of its employees, partners, and customers is the topmost priority of the company.
The Mobile World Congress is making a return after it was skipped in 2020 due to the pandemic. Some projections say up to 50,000 persons are expected to grace the event this year. However, that may be an over-optimistic assessment of the projected intakes. This year’s MWC has been hit with withdrawals from most industry leaders as companies continue to enforce protocols that would guarantee the safety of their employees.
Stringent restrictions are still in force in Spain, which was heavily hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the parent association (GSMA) got some waivers from Spanish authorities for some exemptions for participants of MWC 2021. The program organizers also require attendees to show a negative test result before entry into Spain. In addition, new tests are conducted once every three days.
Samsung will focus on showcasing its product virtually during MWC 2021. The company hopes to leverage the MWC platform to introduce its array of cutting-edge and innovative products to the global audience virtually.
Lenovo has also reportedly disclosed that it won’t be attending the tech show in person. The Verge quotes a Lenovo spokesperson to have hinted that the company will attend virtually instead of in person. The company also indicated that it had informed the GSM Association, which organizes the event, about its plans.
Samsung and Lenovo have now joined Google, Ericsson, Sony, and Nokia, who had all ruled out a physical presence in the Barcelona conference.
OPPO is reportedly working on the launch of the Reno6 series of smartphones. It is speculated that OPPO phones with model numbers such as PEQM00, PEPM00, and PENM00 are likely to release in China with monikers like Reno6, Reno6 Pro, and Reno6 Pro+. Fresh findings suggest that the vanilla model may feature the all-new Dimensity 900, while the Pro model may come with Dimensity 1200.
Yesterday, a reliable Chinese tipster revealed the existence of an upcoming chip called the Dimensity 900. Another source claims (via) that this 6nm chipset will be powering the Reno6 handset. It is believed that the Dimensity 900 is likely to offer better performance than the Snapdragon 768G.
While previous reports have claimed that the Reno6 series launch event will be held on May 22, this source claims that it will be announced on May 27. If this information is true, OPPO may confirm the launch date in the next few days.
OPPO Reno6 Pro (PEPM00) at AnTuTu
Recently, a tipster claimed that the Reno6 Pro is equipped with the more powerful Dimensity 1200 chipset. Now, the Reno6 Pro has appeared with its PEPM00 model number in AnTuTu benchmarks. While the listing does not explicitly mention the name of the chipset that powers it, the benchmarking score of 713,731 is a good hint that it could be fueled by the D1200 chip.
As far as the Reno6 Pro+ is concerned, it is speculated to feature the Snapdragon 870 chipset. Except for the PEQM00 (Reno6) model, the PEPM00 (Reno6 Pro) and PENM00 (Reno6 Pro+) have already appeared with full specifications and images at the TENAA certification platform. While the Reno6 is rumored to start at 2,500 Yuan (~$388), there is no word on the pricing of the Reno6 Pro and 6 Pro+ handsets.
The development and production of smartphones with under-display technology have continued at what some industry watchers see as a frenetic pace. The ZTE Axon 20 was the first smartphone with an under-display selfie camera produced in commercial quantities. While the Axon 20 reflected a leap in under-display technology, it also highlighted areas that still need development.
Nubia Z30 Pro leaked image
The Nubia Z30 Pro smartphone is expected to be launched on May 20, will have an under-display camera that would be a great improvement from the Axon 20. ZTE published an official teaser poster on the Chinese social networking site Weibo showing the full-screen notch-less front design of the Z30 Pro. The render shows the device will indeed not have a cut-out for the selfie camera, paving the way for an under-screen selfie camera.
The evolving under-display technology was showcased at a Shanghai event back in February. Ni Fei, a top executive at ZTE, showed that the camera’s position is practically invisible during the event. This seems to have taken care of one of the flaws of the Axon 20, which had a conspicuous square.
Not much is known yet about the Nubia Z30 Pro. Still, the Weibo teaser showed an elegant and seemingly invisible front camera setup, an AMOLED display, and a quad-camera system with 100x hybrid zoom (a combination of optical and digital effects).
The teaser did not indicate the nature of the chipset that will power the device or the memory capabilities. Nubia was also silent on the device’s price when it eventually goes on sale. However, there are indications that more teasers are expected from the company as the buildup to the May 20 launch date gathers steam. We’ll keep you posted on any new development before the launch date.
A few days back, documents from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) revealed that Xiaomi had gotten a patent for a device with an under-display flip camera that could be rotated internally to serve as a selfie camera. However, we believe a Xiaomi smartphone with a rotatable under-display flip camera may be a long way from launching.
Yesterday, two upcoming OPPO phones with model numbers PEPM00 and PENM00 were spotted at TENAA with preliminary specs and images. A reliable tipster claimed these devices will be releasing in the Chinese markets as the Reno6 Pro and Reno6 Pro+. Today, the TENAA listings of both phones got updated with their remaining specifications.
OPPO Reno6 Pro specifications (Rumored)
The TENAA listing states that the alleged OPPO Reno6 (PEPM00) has 160.0 x 73.1 x 7.6mm dimensions and weighs 177 grams. The phone is likely to come in three colors like blue, green, and black.
OPPO Reno6 Pro’s TENAA images
The handset features a 6.55-inch punch-hole AMOLED screen with curved edges, which offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. It is powered by a 3.0GHz octa-core processor, which seems to be the Dimensity 1200 chip. The phone is expected to release in 8 GB / 12 GB RAM editions and storage options like 128 GB / 256 GB.
The Reno6 Pro has a dual-cell battery and the rated size of one of the cells is 2,200mAh.It is expected to offer a combined capacity of 4,500mAh battery. It has a front camera of 32-megapixel and a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad-camera system.
OPPO Reno6 Pro+ specifications (Rumored)
The TENAA listing of the purported Reno6 Pro+ (PENM00) states that it measures 160.8 x 72.5 x 7.99mm and weighs 188 grams. It will come in colors like blue, silver, and gray. The PENM00 handset has a 6.55-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with curved edges and a punch-hole design.
TENAA images of OPPO Reno6 Pro+
The PENM00 handset is driven by a 3.2-octa-core processor, which could be the Snapdragon 870 chipset. The handset will come with 8 GB / 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB / 256 GB of native storage.
The alleged Reno6 Pro+ has a 4,500mAh dual-cell battery. For photography, it features a 32-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel + 16-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad-camera system.
Both handsets are equipped with other features like Android 11 OS, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, and 65W fast charging support. Rumors have it that OPPO may launch the Reno6 series of smartphones on May 22 in China.
There are several smart home platforms these days, which is not surprising considering every manufacturer getting into the space is creating its own. While there are devices that work with multiple platforms, an alliance called Project Connected Home over IP (Project CHIP) was formed in 2019 to create an open-source standard. That alliance has now been renamed Matter, and its logo and branding, which will appear on products, have been unveiled.
Matter is a unified system that will allow you to use your smart home devices with any assistant of your choice. Unlike most products that work with only one of either the Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Homekit, Matter-branded products can be configured to work with any one of them.
The alliance which was formed in 2019 has Google, Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Ikea, and Philips Hue as board members and will cover light bulbs, smart plugs, door locks, sensors, detectors, TVs, window blinds, thermostats, air conditioners, and a whole lot more. The unified platform will work with Bluetooth Low Energy, Ethernet Wi-Fi, and Thread.
Image source: Connectivity Standards Alliance Via: The Verge
While buyers will do well to look out for the logo when purchasing smart home devices in the future, it has been reported that some manufacturers such as Philips Hue will release an update that makes all of its past and present products compatible with Matter once it is official. This means you will also be able to purchase devices that don’t have the Matter logo but that support it. The first Matter-branded devices are expected to ship by the end of the year.
The Zigbee Alliance which owns the Zigbee protocol used by several IoT devices has also announced that it is changing its name to the Connectivity Standards Alliance as its focus expands to projects similar to Matter.
Besides the Find X3 Series, OPPO also brought a new trio of affordable phones to the global market this year. We are talking about the new models from the A series: OPPO A54 5G, OPPO A74 5G, and OPPO A94 5G. Until now, these are the only devices from the A series launched by OPPO in the European market this year. In order to clear your ideas about their specifications, we decided to write a comparison between these devices. Here you will learn all the main specifications and what changes between each model.
OPPO A54 5G vs OPPO A74 5G vs OPPO A94 5G
OPPO A54 5G
OPPO A74 5G
OPPO A94 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
162.9 x 74.7 x 8.4 mm, 190 grams
162.9 x 74.7 x 8.4 mm, 190 grams
160.1 x 73.4 x 7.8 mm, 173 grams
DISPLAY
6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), LTPS IPS LCD
6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), LTPS IPS LCD
6.43 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
If we exclude the color variants, OPPO A54 5G and OPPO A74 5G have the same design, the same weight and the same dimensions. They come with a punch-hole display and a polycarbonate body, as well as a rectangular camera module and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The OPPO A94 5G is slightly different and definitely better than its internal rivals. With the OPPO A94 5G, you still get a polycarbonate body and a punch-hole display, but it is a thinner and lighter phone with a thickness of 7.8 mm and a weight of 173 grams.
Display
The OPPO A54 5G and the OPPO A74 5G share the same display: an LTPS IPS panel with a diagonal of 6.5 inches, a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate. It is a pretty nice display, but an average panel. If you need something better in terms of image quality, you should go for the OPPO A94 5G. You get a standard refresh rate with this handset, but on the other hand, it has an AMOLED display with brighter colors and deeper blacks. The diagonal is 6.43 inches, so the phone is more compact, while the resolution remains Full HD+. The OPPO A94 5G has an important additional feature: an in-display fingerprint scanner which makes authentication more comfortable.
Hardware/Software
The OPPO A54 and the OPPO A74 5G are powered by the Snapdragon 480 mobile platform that is the most entry-level 5G chipset by Qualcomm. They differ when it comes to the memory configurations: the OPPO A54 5G has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage, while OPPO A74 5G packs 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. With the OPPO A94 5G, you get a more powerful chipset: the upper-midrange SoC Dimensity 800U by Mediatek, paired with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of native storage. All the phones feature an expansion slot and run Android 11 customized by ColorOS 11.1.
Camera
OPPO A54 5G, OPPO A74 5G, and OPPO A94 5G feature the same rear cameras: a 48 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide camera, and a pair of 2 MP sensors for macros and depth. Nothing special, but nothing disappointing.
Battery
OPPO A54 5G and OPPO A74 5G are superior when it comes to battery life, thanks to a 5000 mAh battery. Unfortunately, the OPPO A54 5G does not support fast charging, while the A74 has 18W fast charging. But the OPPO A94 5G wins the fast charging comparison with a power of 30W.
OPPO A54 5G vs OPPO A74 5G vs OPPO A94 5G: Price
OPPO A54 5G costs €269 in Europe, OPPO A74 5G is priced at €299, and OPPO A94 5G costs €369. The OPPO A94 5G is definitely a more interesting handset due to its AMOLED display, better design, and faster charging, but it has a smaller battery. OPPO A54 5G and A74 5G only differ in the color variants and memory configuration.
Apple refreshed the iMac this year. The new desktop computer not only comes with a design but comes in very attractive colors. Now, a new report says that the next-gen MacBook Air will also be getting a similar color scheme.
Jon Prosser, leaker and host of the YouTube channel, Front Page Tech, revealed renders of the upcoming MacBook Air in the latest episode on the channel. The renders were created based on designs and images he saw, so the final product may be slightly different.
As seen in the images above, the new MacBook Air will drop the tapered design for a straight flat one. The notebook will also feature white bezels and white keys for the keyboard. The keyboard has also been redesigned with the function keys now squares rather than elongated rectangles. For ports, there is a USB-C port on each side.
1 of 7
The leaker revealed that he saw the image of a blue unit and his source confirmed to him there is also a green unit. However, all of the color variants will be similar or identical to those of the new iMac.
When will the new MacBook Air arrive? The source says it will be towards the end of the year which is not surprising considering the M1-powered model launched last November.
Chinese phone maker Realme has continued to serve its growing customer base in the low-end segment of the smartphone market. Its increasing portfolio has been further boosted by the release recently of the Realme C20 and C21. The company is also pursuing expansion to previously untapped areas as it has now launched the Realme C20A in Bangladesh.
The Realme C20A features a 6.5-inch HD+ display, a 5MP selfie camera inside a waterdrop notch, and a square-shaped camera island with an 8MP primary camera. The square camera island also houses an LED flash for the device. The design concept for the C20A follows a Geometric Art design that gives the back of the phone a beautiful veneer.
The device is powered by the Helio G35 chipset, paired with 2GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The dedicated microSD slot on the phone enables the expansion of the storage by up to 256GB.
The C20A will come in two color variants and runs on the Android 10 operating system. It has a 5000mAh battery with wired reverse charging capability. Although charging speed was not mentioned, 10W charging is most likely.
The Realme C20A is now available in Bangladesh for BDT8,990 (~$105). The price is quite reasonable and so, we would expect it to have a massive reception in the country. However, there will be stiff competition among the brands on the low end of the spectrum. The price and durability of the model may be essential parameters that determine a product’s acceptance. A visible drawback of the C20A is its RAM size (2GB) and internal storage (32GB). This could mean that only a few applications may be installed on the device for optimal performance.
Triple Fan Dual Heat Sinks- Low noise and fast heat dissipation
Enclosed Optical Path
Four-Way electronic Ladder correction
Built-in Android System
3W*2 Dual Speakers
AI Intelligent voice
All Glass Lens
1.35:1 Projection Ratio
Sync Phone Screen
The highly portable mini projector can be bought for around $200 across the globe. But for the next few days, AliExpress is giving out a massive discount on Wanbo T2 Max Mini Projector, Global Version which will be available for $143.58 only. Please note that this flash deal will end on 16 May 2021, 11:59 PM PT. So place your order asap.
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Chinese handset maker realme launched the realme X7 in India in early February alongside the realme X7 Pro. Unlike the original model sold in China, the one that’s available in India is a rebranded realme V15 5G. Despite releasing in 2021, this device debuted with realme UI based on Android 10. Now, three months after its release, limited users of this smartphone can finally taste Android 11.
In March, realme revealed that both realme X7 and realme X7 Pro will receive realme UI 2.0 Early Access update in Q2 2021. As promised, the brand delivered the update to the latter handset last month and now the company has opened registrations for the former phone as well.
According to the official announcement post on realme Community, realme X7 users should be running either of these software builds to enroll themselves for the Early Acess Program.
RMX3092PU_11.A.14
RMX3092PU_11.A.16
RMX3092PU_11.A.17
If interested users are on any of the above firmware, they can head over to Settings > Software Update > Gear Icon > Trial Version > Apply Now and submit details to register themselves for the Android 11-based realme UI 2.0 Early Access initiative.
Once get selected, the company will be rolling out the beta software build via OTA. If users are not satisfied with the experience, they can roll back to Android 10 but that process will wipe their device’s internal storage.
MediaTek has a new processor coming soon that has the part number MT6877. The chipset, which is currently referred to as the Dimensity 900 has been benchmarked on AnTuTu and it gives us an idea of what to expect with respect to its performance.
According to Digital Chat Station, a test device powered by the chipset scored about 480,000 points in the benchmark test. That score puts it high above the Dimensity 820 and Snapdragon 768G which both have a score of about 440,000 on the same benchmark platform.
The Dimensity 900 is expected to make its debut inside an OPPO phone with the model number OPPO PEQMOO. It has been reported that the phone has a 6.43-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a punch hole at the top left corner. The device also has a 32MP selfie camera, a 64MP main camera on the back, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 4400mAh battery capacity with support for 65W fast charging.
The leaker also mentioned that the phone will have a launch price of about ¥2500 (~$389) which is pretty expensive considering there are phones powered by the more powerful Dimensity 1200 similarly priced. For example, the 12GB RAM + 128GB version of the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition has a price tag of ¥2399 (~$373).
At the Xiaomi Mega Launch event in late March, the company announced a number of products over the two days. One of those was Mi Multi-coil Fast Wireless Charging Pad. This accessory is finally on sale in China.
The Xiaomi Mi Multi-coil Fast Wireless Charging Pad can be termed as the Apple AirPower that never got released. This charger is capable of charging three devices at a time. Above all, users can place their devices anywhere on the pad.
According to Xiaomi, this wireless charging pad features 19 coils to detect and charge devices anywhere on its surface. Further, since it uses Qi wireless charging standard, it is compatible with almost every wireless charging product available in the market.
That’s not all, as the name suggests, this accessory also supports fast wireless charging, In fact, it can charge three devices at 20W each. That’s because the maximum input supported by this pad is 120W.
Customers need not worry about buying a compatible power adapter for this wireless charging pad. Because the product ships with a Mi 120W charger.
For safety, this accessory has protections against over-current, over-temperature, over-voltage, under-voltage, status, and foreign objects. Further, the product measures 232.4 x 100 x 15.1mm in dimensions and is made of silicone, aluminum alloy, as well as polycarbonate.
Last but not least, the Xiaomi Mi Multi-coil Fast Wireless Charging Pad with model number MDY-13-EJ is priced at ¥599 ($93) in China.
As for our readers, you can buy this product from GizTop with international shipping for $129.
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150 hours battery life and 35 hours of playback (with case)
1.5 hours charging time.
360 degree close and comfortable in-ear fit.
Magnetic Vertical charging case
Colors: Black, White, Red, Green
Charging Interface: Type-C
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Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Lumi Technologies which sells smart home products under the Aqara brand has launched the Aqara Cube T1 Pro and a set of smart wall switches dubbed Aqara E1 Smart Wall Switch.
The Aqara Cube is an existing product that brings automation to the control of lighting and other smart home gadgets. The T1 Pro comes with several upgrades over its predecessor. With the Aqara Cube, you can easily control the lights by pairing the wall switch with the Cube or your smartphone. For instance, pushing the Cube turns on and off the lights while rotating the Cube could trigger the brightening or dimming of the lights.
The new Aqara Cube T1 Pro brings along different motions such as push, rotate, shake, tap, flip 90º, and flip 180º. It has different markings on each side just like dice and this will make for easy identification of the various sides and their preset functions. Just like its predecessor, the T1 Pro utilizes gyroscope technology to sense which of the six sides of the Cube is up. This will then determine the automation or scene that will be triggered.
Further, the company has promised to push a firmware update that will deliver HomeKit compatibility to the Cube T1 Pro. The device is presently compatible with the Mi Home app and Aqara Home app only. It also uses Zigbee 3.0 protocol which means it may only work with Zigbee 3.0 hubs.
There is no word yet on when the product will be available but it carries a price tag of 179 yuan (~$28). Aqara also unveiled a set of smart switches. The switches are dubbed Aqara E1 Smart Wall Switches and come in both wired and wireless versions. The two versions equally come in single and double rocker options while the wired switches are offered in both neutral and no-neutral options.
The Aqara E1 Smart Wall Switch comes with a voice prompt via XiaoAI and Siri voice assistants. That means it is compatible with both Apple HomeKit and Xiaomi’s Mi Home app. The portable design makes it easy to install and you won’t need a new line different from the existing one for the wired version. The smart switch can be connected to other smart home gadgets after pairing with the app in other to control all paired devices when it is turned on or off.
Just like the Aqara Cube T1 Pro, the E1 Smart Wall Switch uses Zigbee 3.0 protocol, making it compatible with only Zigbee 3.0 hubs.
The Aqara E1 Smart Wall Switch is presently available in China for 89 yuan (~$14) via Jingdong (JD.com).
OnePlus‘ co-founder Carl Pei earlier this year took the industry by surprise when he announced that he was leaving OnePlus. The tech guru later revealed his next project, a company weirdly named “Nothing“. In February, the startup hinted that its first product will be a pair of wireless earbuds that would be unveiled in the summer. Nothing has now announced that the much-anticipated wireless earbuds will be launching in June and will be called Ear 1.
This was disclosed today in an official press release posted on the company’s website and signed by Carl Pei. Even though the company didn’t indicate that the Ear 1 is a pair of wireless earbuds, the earlier disclosure that its first product will be a pair of wireless earbuds already told us that.
In addition, the press release contains images of a pair of True wireless earbuds with a unique design that won’t struggle to carve an identity for itself. The earbud utilizes a long stem which will make it easy for the earbuds to clearly pick up voices during calls. Since the images are just silhouettes of what the final product will look like, we expect some amazing aesthetics.
Carl Pei
Nothing notes that the Ear 1 is basically the beginning of what promises to be an eventful journey. Going by Carl Pei’s antecedents, we anticipate a retinue of innovative products with spectacular designs tailored to meet the needs of users. The Ear 1 is confirmed to fuse an iconic form with notes of transparency and refined functionality.
Carl Pei also disclosed why the company chose an earphone as its first product. He noted the team loves music, podcasts, and audiobooks. He also noted that the earphones market provides a fertile ground for the company to strengthen its capabilities due to the astronomic rate at which the industry is growing. Nothing also sees the market as begging for differentiation and this is an opportunity to showcase a top-notch design while delivering value from the go. We expect the company to announce a specific launch date for the June event soon.
OnePlus recently launched the OnePlus 9 series worldwide. In India, the lineup includes three devices – OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro, and OnePlus 9R. Though all three support 5G connectivity, there’s a caveat. More than a month after the announcement of these handsets, the brand officially explains why the Indian variants of these phones only have limited 5G bands.
OnePlus 9 Pro
Yesterday, OnePlus published a post on the OnePlus Community titled ‘OnePlus 9 Series FAQs, answered by OnePlus staff’. In this post, the company reveals why its latest flagship smartphones feature limited 5G bands in India.
For those unaware, the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro sold in India only come with two 5G bands, and they are n41 and n78 respectively. Whereas, the OnePlus 9R only has a single 5G band – n78.
OnePlus in its FAQ post explains that the carriers in India are prioritizing n78. Therefore, it has decided to have this band in its new devices, in addition to n41. Also, the company notes that it is not possible to add additional 5G bands via future OTA software updates.
Hence, if the carriers in India don’t adopt either of these bands, then OnePlus 9 series users won’t be able to use 5G in the country even though the handsets are marketed as 5G ready. But anyway, we don’t think such a situation will ever occur because phone companies work closely with telecom operators and local regulatory bodies for deciding certain specs.
OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9
Additionally, it is worth noting that the OnePlus 9 series is not the only smartphone lineup with limited 5G bands in India. There are multiple others, however, all of them have one thing in common, and that’s support for the n78 band.
But what we cannot fathom is that OnePlus says that it is not possible to add extra 5G bands via software updates due to hardware limitations. In case you do not know, the same brand added additional 5G bands to the T-Mobile OnePlus 8T in the US, as per MySmartPrice.
Anyway, it is worth mentioning that enabling extra bands requires companies to pay extra fees for licensing. Perhaps, OnePlus is trying to avoid those charges as Indian carriers are certain to adopt the n78 band.
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