Anker Nebula Capsule II gets a Star Wars R2-D2 limited edition

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Apr 27, 2021

Anker is known for its Nebula line of projectors. Among the models it offers is the Capsule II, a portable projector with a built-in battery. Anker has now announced a Star Wars R2-D2 Limited Edition of the projector.

The Nebula Capsule II Star Wars R2-D2 Limited Edition ditches the black paint job of the normal version for one akin to that of the popular R2-D2 droid from the Star Wars series. The manufacturer says that the design is inspired by the iconic scene from Star Wars: A New Hope where Princess Leia sends a holographic message to Obi-Wan Kenobi through the droid.

The paint job is not the only thing that is different. This special edition projector also makes sounds similar to the droid in the movies when booted up. Save for these additions, the limited edition has the same specs as the standard version.

The Anker Nebula Capsule II Star Wars™ R2-D2™ Limited Edition runs Android 9 TV with Google Assistant and Chromecast support. It has a brightness of 200 ANSI lumens, a 720p resolution, and can project images and videos up to 100 inches in size.

The Nebula Capsule II can also double as a Bluetooth speaker. It has an auxiliary port, a full-sized USB port, an HDMI port, and a USB-C port for charging the device. It comes with a voice remote, a USB-C cable, and a power adapter in the box. When used as a projector, the device has a battery life of 2.5 hours.

The Anker Nebula Capsule II Star Wars™ R2-D2™ Limited Edition is available on the official website for $699.99, which is $120 more than the price of the standard version. At the moment, Anker is even selling the standard version for $529.99, so unless you really really love Star Wars, you are better off getting the standard version.

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Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition has a Razer mechanical keyboard-style app

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 27, 2021

The Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition (a.k.a. Redmi K40 Gaming Edition) launched today in China. The phone does come with lots of cool features, and one that a lot of people must have missed is a custom keyboard app made in collaboration with Razer.

Razer is a household name when it comes to gaming devices and peripherals. The manufacturer even made a few gaming phones of its own before giving up and exiting the market.

The keyboard app as shown in the image has a theme that mimcs Razer’s famous mechanical keyboards and their signature Chroma RGB lighting. From the image, it appears users will be able to switch between themes too as there is a white/light theme visible too.

With the Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition, Redmi has partnered with not only Razer but also JBL.

The new gaming phone has a 6.67-inch OLED 120Hz display, a Dimensity 1200 processor, up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It also has 64MP triple rear cameras, a 16MP selfie camera, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and JBL-certified stereo speakers.

There is a 5065mAh battery under the glass back with support for 67W fast charging. It also has Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6, dual SIM support, NFC, liquid cooling, and runs MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 out of the box.

It has been reported that the phone will get a global release under the POCO brand.

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POCO M2 Reloaded vs Moto G10 Power vs Realme C25: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Apr 27, 2021

A few days ago, Xiaomi launched the POCO M2 Reloaded: the most affordable smartphone packing a Full HD+ display. But is the display enough to consider it the best deal in the entry-level segment? We think there is no better way to understand it than comparing its specifications to the devices from the concurrency. If we consider the Indian market, among the very best devices sold in the same price segment, there are Motorola Moto G10 Power and Realme C25. This is a comparison between POCO M2 Reloaded, Motorola Moto G10 Power, and Realme C25 that will hopefully let you understand which device has the highest value for money.

Xiaomi POCO M2 Reloaded vs Motorola Moto G10 Power vs Realme C25

	Xiaomi POCO M2 Reloaded	Motorola Moto G10 Power	Realme C25
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm, 198 grams	165.2 x 75.7 x 9.9 mm, 220 grams	164.5 x 75.9 x 9.6 mm, 209 grams
DISPLAY	6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), IPS LCD	6.5 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), IPS LCD	6.5 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Mediatek Helio G80, octa-core 2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 460, octa-core 1.8 GHz	Mediatek Helio G70, octa-core 2 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 10, MIUI	Android 11	Android 11, Realme UI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 13 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP, f/2.2 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 8 MP f/2.2 front camera	Triple 48/13 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	5000 mAh, fast charging 18W	6000 mAh, fast charging 20W	6000 mAh, fast charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot, reverse charging

Design

POCO M2 Reloaded, Motorola Moto G10 Power, and Realme C25 are not brilliant devices if we consider the design. They are made of polycarbonate and they have a waterdrop notch instead of a modern punch hole like higher-end phones. POCO M2 Reloaded and Motorola Moto G10 Power are slightly more interesting because they are water repellent. Further, the POCO M2 Reloaded is thinner and lighter than its rivals because it has a smaller battery.

Display

The POCO M2 Reloaded wins the display comparison simply because it comes with a higher resolution. As mentioned in the intro of this comparison, the POCO M2 Reloaded offers a Full HD+ resolution in a price range where you can only find HD+ displays. That is amazing because it provides a higher level of detail. Motorola Moto G10 Power and Realme C25 have below-average IPS panels with 720p resolutions.

Hardware/Software

It is a hard fight between the Snapdragon 460 found on the Motorola Moto G10 Power and the MediaTek Helio G80 found on the POCO M2 Reloaded. The former has a better 11 nm production process, but the latter has higher performance, that is why POCO M2 Reloaded wins the hardware comparison. On the other hand, Motorola Moto G10 Power runs Android 11 out of the box (just like the Realme C25), while POCO M2 Reloaded is still based on Android 10. This means that the Motorola handset might get updated to a newer Android version at the end of its software support period. Realme C25 runs Android 11, but it has an Helio G70 chipset which is inferior to the Helio G80 found on the Moto G10 Power.

Camera

The Motorola Moto G10 Power has a definitely better camera on the rear side. We are talking about a 48 MP sensor with a bright f/1.7 focal aperture, paired with an 8 MP ultrawide sensor and a pair of 2 MP sensors for macros and depth calculation. POCO M2 Reloaded and Realme C25 offer lower-end 13 MP main cameras and the Realme C25 lacks the ultrawide sensor too.

Battery

Motorola Moto G10 Power and Realme C25 have a bigger 6000 mAh battery which allows an outstanding battery life. Both come with fast charging and the Realme C25 even supports reverse charging through a cable.

Xiaomi POCO M2 Reloaded vs Motorola Moto G10 Power vs Realme C25: Price

POCO M2 Reloaded starts from about €100/$120 in India, Motorola Moto G10 Power has a €120/$145 starting price, and Realme C25 costs €140/$170 in its base variant. At the end of the day, the Motorola Moto G10 Power is a more complete phone thanks to its huge battery, great cameras, and powerful chipset. But the POCO M2 Reloaded offers a better display. Realme C25 looks like a toned-down version of the Moto G10 Power due to its weaker chipset and slower charging, but its user interface is more interesting.

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

Xiaomi POCO M2 Reloaded vs Motorola Moto G10 Power vs Realme C25: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi POCO M2 Reloaded

PROS

Full HD+ display
Powerful chipset
Water repellent
IR blaster

CONS

Smaller battery
Ships with Android 10

Motorola Moto G10 Power

PROS

Great cameras
Big battery
Faster charging
Water repellent
11 nm chipset
Android 11

CONS

HD+ display

Realme C25

PROS

Very affordable
Huge battery
Reverse charging
Android 11

CONS

HD+ display

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Deal: Get EWA A106 Pro Bluetooth Speakers for $9.60

By

Daily Deals

-

Apr 27, 2021

EWA A106 Pro Bluetooth speakers which generally retail for $15 are now available for $9.60 only at AliExpress.

WHERE TO BUY

EWA A106 Pro Bluetooth speakers at $9.60 (after discount)@AliExpress

EWA A106 Pro is a supermini portable Bluetooth Speaker. Designed to be highly portable the speaker weighs just 6.2 ounces and is just 1.57” in size. Compatible with almost all Bluetooth devices, you can easily connect the speaker with your smartphone, tablet, computer, etc, and auto-match with your last-used device. Also being portable and IP67 waterproof you can easily carry the speakers on your outdoor adventures.

The speaker comes with a built-in rechargeable battery which gives you up to 8 hours of playtime at 50% volume on one single charge. Moreover, the device can be fully charged within 2 hours using a micro USB cable.

Generally retailing for $15, EWA A106 Pro Bluetooth Speakers is now available for $9.60 only at AliExpress. The super deal is valid only till 2 May 2021. So get your discounted speakers 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.

Amazon announces new Fire tablets with a modern design and more RAM

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 27, 2021

Amazon has announced a refresh for its Fire tablets. The new 11th Generation Fire tablets feature a new design and include models with more RAM.

Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus

There are two new Fire HD 10 tablets. Both have slimmer bezels on all sides and a display that is 10% brighter than the last generation but still a 1080p panel. While Amazon doesn’t specify which chipset powers the tablet, it says both have a “powerful octa-core processor”.

The standard version gets an extra gigabyte of RAM when compared to its predecessor, so you get 3GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of expandable storage. It also has a 2MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear camera. Amazon says it will last up to 12 hours on a single charger (depends on usage) and charging, which is via a USB-C port, takes 4 hours.

The tablet is priced at $139.99 (with ads) and will be available in Black, Denim, Lavender, and Olive.

For the Fire HD 10 Plus you get even more RAM at 4GB, 32GB or 64GB of expandable storage, a soft-touch finish, and support for wireless charging. The battery life is also 12 hours and you get the same cameras. It is priced at $179.99 (with ads) and comes in a single color – Slate. There is an Amazon Wireless Charging Dock designed for the device and when you place the tablet on it, it goes into Show Mode. The price jumps to $219.99 when you add the dock.

Fire HD 10 Productivity Bundle

The Fire HD 10 Productivity Bundle adds a Bluetooth keyboard with a detachable case, a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal for up to 5 compatible devices, and 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage.

The keyboard is said to have up to 400 hours of use per charge and can stay charged in standby for up to 365 days. However, it charges via a USB-C. The rest of the specs and features are the same as that of the standard Fire HD 10. It is priced at $219.99 and comes in Black, Denim, Lavender, and Olive.

Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet which is designed for kids aged 6 to 12 years, has a 10.1-inch FHD screen, 3GB of RAM, an octa-core processor, and 32GB of expandable storage. It has a 2MP front-facing camera, a 5MP rear camera, a 12-hour battery that charges via USB-C, a 9W charger, and dual-band Wi-Fi.

The $199.99 tablet is available in Black, Sky Blue, Doodle, and Intergalactic, each with a kid-friendly slim case with a handle that doubles as an adjustable stand. Of course, this is an Amazon kids’ tablet, so you get parental controls, a 2-year worry free guarantee, and a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ that provides access to more than 20,000 apps, games, books, and content from National Geographic, Rabbids Coding, LEGO, and more. The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is priced at $199.99.

Amazon also released the standard Fire HD 10 Kids for kids aged 3 to 7. It comes in Aquamarine, Lavender, and Sky Blue. It also has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 2MP front-facing camera, and a 5MP rear camera.

It comes with a bumper case (slim for the pro model) and also has a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. However, there is no Digital Store where kids can request apps that are then approved by the parents. Its browser also provides access to hand-picked sites compared to the pro model which has an open but filtered browser. The Fire HD 10 Kids is also priced at $199.99.

All of the new models begin shipping on May 26.

RELATED:

Google Lens can now automatically translate texts in screenshots

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 27, 2021

You can now take a screenshot of a foreign language and let Google Lens do the translation without any intermediate step, a recent post by 9to5Google has revealed. The exciting new feature is available on the Google Lens Screenshot UI for devices running Android 11+. The translate button will become visible on the screenshot, and a click on it will detect and translate the required text quickly.

Google continues to release innovations that are bound to help it maintain its edge among its competitors. In addition to translating the text, you can also copy the text on the screenshot, which can then be downloaded for offline access or shared on the Google Translate app or social networks like Twitter or Instagram. Users can also download the current language for offline access and can also swiftly send the screenshot to the full Google Translate app.

There is no indication whether the new Google Lens Screenshot translate feature would also be available in Android 10 or lower, but we expect it to be present in Android 12 devices. The feature has been integrated with the web version for greater functionality.

Google Lens was first unveiled at Google I/O 2017. It is an image recognition tool that was first integrated with Google Assistant on Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. It was later in 2018 integrated with Google Photos for both Pixels and other Android devices. The app was released as a standalone app on the Play Store in June 2018 and as of January this year, the app had recorded over 500 million downloads.

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Samsung Galaxy M42 5G Google Console listing confirms it is a rebadged Galaxy A42 5G

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 27, 2021

Samsung Galaxy M42 5G has in recent times featured in several rumors, benchmark appearance, and leaks giving us an idea of the expected specs. The Galaxy M42 5G has now been listed on Google Play Console and the listing confirms earlier speculations that the expected mid-range model will be a rebranded Galaxy A42 5G.

Samsung first announced the Galaxy A42 5G in September 2020. The A42 5G features an HD+ display and a quad-camera system comprised of a 48MP main camera. A 5000mAh battery provides excellent battery life, and the device is also capable of 15W fast charging.

The Galaxy A42 5G runs on a Snapdragon 750G processor paired with 6GB of RAM. This matches the details contained in the Geekbench’s listing for the M42 5G which was spotted recently. The Geekbench listing also showed that the forthcoming premium Samsung device scored 650 and 1779 points, respectively, in the single- and multi-core performance tests. The M42 5G will also run on the latest Android 11 operating system.

The Galaxy M42 5G is expected to go official in India tomorrow and will likely adopt an INR 25,000 (~$336) price tag. A sneak peek has been provided on Amazon India where a landing page for the M42 5G went live recently. It is projected as a monster-fast device in terms of performance, safety, and payments. The Galaxy M42 5G’s launch will put all the speculations to rest as all details will be made bare We’ll keep you updated on the launch event here on Gizmochina.

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Deal: Get Xiaomi Redmi 9 for $119.49 (Original Price $150)

By

Daily Deals

-

Apr 27, 2021

AliExpress under its Les Happy Days deal is giving a fantastic discount on Xiaomi Redmi 9. The smartphone which generally retails for $150 will be available for $119.49 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Xiaomi Redmi 9 at $119.49 (after discount)@AliExpress

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is powered by an Octa-core MediaTek Helio G80 processor and features a 6.53” IPS LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The smartphone sports a rear quad camera setup with a 13MP main camera and 8MP + 5MP + 2MP secondary cameras. For the selfie camera, it has an 8MP camera in the front.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 comes in different memory and storage varaints viz: 3GB + 32GB, 4GB + 64GB, 4GB + 128GB and 6GB + 128GB. Fueled by a 5020mAh battery the smartphone supports 18W fast charging.

Generally retailing for $150, you can now buy Xiaomi Redmi 9 for as low as $119.49. Please note that this discounted price is applicable under the Les Happy Days offer which starts in the next 16 hours. The above-mentioned price is for the 32GB, Gray color variant ordered from the Spain warehouse only. The price may change according to the variant. So make sure to order your Redmi 9 under the Les Happy Days Deal to avail of the maximum discount.

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.

Vivo V21, V21 5G with Dimensity 800U launched in Malaysia, Vivo V21e tags along

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Apr 27, 2021

Vivo has unveiled its mid-range V21 series smartphones in Malaysia, each signposted with an excellent camera setup and other nice features. The models include the Vivo V21, V21 5G, and V21e and they are touted to have among the best selfie cameras found on mid-rangers in the market.

The three models feature an exact triple rear camera system highlighted by a 64MP main OIS-enabled camera. They each have an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2 MP macro setup. The front and the rear cameras are capable of split-screen shots.

The V21 and the V21 5G are powered by Dimensity 800U chipset, but the V21 5G has 5G capability and a few connectivity differences. You can get up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage for the devices. The V21e, on the other hand, runs on a Snapdragon 720G chipset, a bit different from the first two models in the series.

The V21 and V21 5G offer a 44MP selfie camera with autofocus capabilities and a few added features like OIS and EIS, providing high-quality output while watching videos via the device. With a decent refresh rate, the display is capable of showing 4K videos and a 90Hz refresh rate. The dual-LED flash on both devices works together with the OIS selfie camera for excellent output. The LED also helps produce excellent photo and video content in the dark, combined with the AI Night portrait mode. The autofocus mode present in the models is also an innovation that is not even present in some high-end models.

The Vivo V21e comes with a 44MP front camera with autofocus capability and OIS absent. The dual-LED flash is absent from the V21e, but Night Portrait and Super Night Selfie modes present. The three Vivo smartphones each come with a 4,000 mAh battery and 33W fast charging support.

As for the price, the Vivo V21 will cost around MYR 1,600 (~$390), and the V21e costs about MYR 1,200 (~$293). The 5G V21 will not be released in Malaysia. The models will become available in a few days in select parts of the world as the global rollout unfolds. India is expected to see the models on April 29.

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Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Bruce Lee Special Edition is insanely cool!

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 27, 2021

It has become a trend in the mobile industry for manufacturers to announce a special edition of a phone. These special edition phones are sometimes inspired by pop culture (movies, anime, or comic book characters) or partnerships with other brands. Redmi has decided to take things to another level with the Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Bruce Lee Special Edition!

Yes, we know that is a mouthful but this one is a stunner. The Bruce Lee Special Edition of the gaming smartphone was actually teased a few days ago when Redmi sent out invites for the launch event. The invite included a nunchaku a.k.a. nunchucks which are the late martial artist’s favorite fighting weapon.

Coming to the phone itself, the Redmi Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Bruce Lee Special Edition drops the dull colors of the standard version for a bright yellow + black dual-color finish. Bruce Lee fans will recognize these colors are not random but favorites of the actor.

There is a long strip of black in the middle with the inscription “Bruce Lee King of Kung Fu”. The frame is also black and so are the shoulder buttons. You get a yellow power button and the accent inside the switches for the shoulder buttons is yellow.

The Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Bruce Lee Special Edition not only comes in a special box but also has customized accessories. There is a yellow bumper case, a yellow power brick, and a yellow charging cable included.

The Bruce Lee Special Edition is priced at ¥2799 (~$432) and comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It will be available for purchase on April 30.

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Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition launched; comes with key upgrades for a better gaming experience

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 27, 2021

While you can pick up any regular smartphone with a capable processor and play the latest mobile game on it, gaming smartphones make that experience better with the extra features that they have such as a better display, bigger battery capacity, faster-charging technology, and more. That is what the Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition brings to the table – a better way to play games compared to its siblings.

Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Design

The latest entry in the Redmi K40 series builds upon the design of its siblings. While it keeps the centered punch-hole display design, it adds a customizable RGB light to the rear camera module, drops the boring round/pill-shaped LED flash for a lightning bolt-shaped one, adds retractable shoulder buttons to the frame, and also changes the speaker grille design. It also manages to squeeze a significantly bigger battery capacity in a body that is just a bit thicker (8.3mm).

All these design changes help the Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition stand out from its siblings.

Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Specifications

The Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition has a flexible OLED screen that measures 6.67 inches. The display has a 120Hz refresh rate, a three-finger 480Hz touch sampling rate, a DCI-P3 color gamut, and HDR10+ certification. The bezels on three of the sides measure 1.8mm while the chin is 2.7mm thick. There is Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides of the phone.

For the gaming edition, Redmi has gone with MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200 processor. The 6nm chipset also has a GPU whose drivers can be independently upgraded as we have seen with some Qualcomm chipsets. The chipset is paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

For its cameras, the Redmi K40 Gaming Enhanced Edition has a 64MP triple camera setup on the back. The phone is the first in the industry to use an ultra-low dispersion optical glass lens. The 64MP f/1.65 sensor is paired with an 8MP 120° ultrawide angle camera, and a 2MP 40mm macro camera. The front-facing camera is a 16MP sensor and the camera app is packed with lots of software features.

Redmi has partnered with JBL for the stereo speakers of the Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition. The phone also has Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio (wired and wireless), a 3-mic design (top, side, and bottom), and an x-axis linear motor. It has Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6, GPS (including NavIC), and support for AAC, LDAC, and LHDC codecs.

The Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition packs a 5065mAh battery capacity, a 12% increase over that of the other K40 models. It then pairs it with 67W fast wired charging, the fastest in a Redmi-branded smartphone. The phone also supports Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery 3.0.

There is liquid cooling and specially designed Wi-Fi and 5G antennas to make sure that you remain connected while gaming. As expected, there is a Game Mode that you can turn on to customize your gaming experience. The phone runs MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 out of the box.

Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Price and Availability

The Redmi K40 is available in five configurations. It is already available for pre-order and the first sale is scheduled for April 30 at 10 AM. Below are their prices:

6GB RAM + 128GB = ¥1999 (~$308)
8GB RAM + 128GB = ¥2199 (~$339)
8GB RAM + 256GB = ¥2399 (~$370)
12GB RAM + 128GB = ¥2399 (~$370)
12GB RAM + 256GB = ¥2699 (~$416)

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OnePlus 8T receives OxygenOS Open Beta 4 with a ton of fixes, updated security patches, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Apr 27, 2021

Last week, OnePlus rolled out OxygenOS Open Beta 3 for the OnePlus 8T. However, the company halted the rollout within a few days. Instead of resuming the rollout, the brand is now seeding this very same update as OxygenOS Open Beta 4.

The latest OxygenOS Open Beta 4 update for the OnePlus 8T comes with the same changelog as the older OxygenOS Open Beta 3. OnPlus says that it has rolled out the OTA for users on both Open Beta 3 as well as Open Beta 2.

According to the official changelog, the new public beta build for the OnePlus 8T brings April 2021 security patches, a new real-time FPS/CPU/GPU monitor feature in OnePlus Games, improvements for OnePlus Gallery loading speed, and a number of fixes.

As far as fixes are concerned, this update arrives with fixes for abnormal display of fonts, status bar cannot be pulled down, status bar not displaying app icons, missed calls not displaying in notification bar, expanded screenshot not working, audio recording not working on headphones, flickering of previewed photos, abnormal display of calculator in split-screen, AOD contextual information not updating timely, ambient display switching to Canvas when device owner is changed, and abnormal display of AOD time when system language is Hebrew.

OnePlus 8T Oxygen OS Open Beta 4 Official Changelog

System
- Fixed the issue that some app’s fonts are displayed abnormally after setting customized fonts
- Fixed the small probability issue where the status bar cannot be pulled down
- Fixed the small probability issue where the status bar does not display app icons
- Fixed the issue that the missed calls are not displayed in the notification bar
- Fixed the small probability issue that the expanded screenshot may stop working
- Fixed the small probability issue where recording audio with headphones may not work as expected
- Fixed known issues
- Updated Android security patch to 2021.04
Camera
- Fixed the small probability issue that the previewed photos are flickering under the photo mode
Calculator
- Fixed the abnormal display with the calculator under the split screen
Ambient Display
- Fixed the issue that the contextual information of AOD is not updated timely
- Fixed the issue that the ambient display is switched to Canvas after the device owner is changed
- Fixed the issue with AOD that the time is displayed abnormally when the system language is Hebrew
OnePlus Games
- Newly added the Data Monitor feature, you can find it in the Game Toolbox and monitor the FPS/CPU/GPU changes in real-time
Gallery
- Improved the loading speed of the gallery to speed up the process of previewing pictures

This update is currently being pushed in batches. It should be available for all the users on the OxygenOS Open Beta channel in the coming days. Also, users on the OxygenOS Stable channel can download and install this new build from the OnePlus Community.

Super Deal: Buy Xiaomi REDMI AIRDOTS S / REDMI AIRDOTS 2 for $8.63

By

Daily Deals

-

Apr 27, 2021

Xiaomi Redmi Airdots S and Airdots 2 are now available at heavily discounted prices at AliExpress.Both Redmi Airdots S and Redmi Airdots 2 are now available for $8.63 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Xiaomi REDMI AIRDOTS S / REDMI AIRDOTS 2 at $8.63 (after discount)@AliExpress

Redmi Airdots S and Airdots 2 come with Bluetooth 5.0. This means faster and stable connections with a high speed and data transmission rate. The deep bass and high-quality stereo audio make it a pleasure to listen to your favorite tunes on Xiaomi Redmi Airdots S and Airdots 2. The multi-functional touch control can easily navigate through your music as well as pick up and hang calls and activate the built-in XiaoAI voice assistant.

The main difference between the Redmi AirDots 2 and Redmi AirDots S is that Airdots S has a dedicated games mode which significantly reduces the latency and enhances your gameplay. Available in a single Black color, these budget earbuds are selling on AliExpress at heavy discounts. Redmi Airdots S and Redmi Airdots 2 are selling for $8.63 only. So go and grab your discounted Airdots 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.

Apple likely to face Anti Competitive charges by the EU later this week

By

Sean

-

Apr 27, 2021

Apple is expected to face anti competitive charges by the European Commission later this week. The news arrives over concerns that its the company’s App Store would break EU competition law.

According to a FinancialTimes report (Via MacRumors), the charges are regarding a two year old antitrust dispute with Spotify, the popular music streaming platform. For those unaware, Spotify filed a complaint back in 2019 with the European Commission alleged that the Cupertino based giant enforced App Store rules that “purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience,” accusing the company of “acting as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers.”

Spotify had even accused the iPhone maker takes a 30 percent commission on every App Store purchase. This includes in app subscriptions, which forced the music streaming service to charge existing subscribers 12.99 US Dollars per month for its Premium plan on the store just to collect 9.99 US Dollars per month for its usual charges. The app is also arguing that the tech giant is abusing its unfair advantage since it is unable to compete with its own music streaming platform, Apple Music.

Notably, the antitrust case from Spotify is just one of several charges opened by the European Commission into Apple’s business practices since June 2020. Just last month, EU regulators were in the process of finalizing a charge sheet against the company in relation to Spotify’s antitrust complaint. Meanwhile, Apple has denied allegations of anti competitive behavior and stated that its rival Spotify was using “its financial motivations in misleading rhetoric.”

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Apple M2 processor enters mass production for upcoming MacBook Pro: Report

By

Sean

-

Apr 27, 2021

Apple has apparently entered mass production for the second generation of its in house Silicon processor for its upcoming MacBook Pro models that is expected to launch in the second half of this year.

According to an AppleInsider report, sources told NikkeiAsia that the M2 processor has entered volume production earlier this month. As per people familiar with the matter, it is possible that shipments could begin as early as July. The sources also stated that the new processors will first be seen in the new MacBook Pro models. Similar to the M1 processor back when it launched, the Cupertino based giant is expected to launch the new processor across a wider range of products later.

The company’s M2 processor is likely to arrive with various improvements in terms of performance and optimizations. Unfortunately, it is still too early to offer any concrete statements. Thus, we will have to wait for more leaks or an official company announcement to know for sure, so stay tuned for more as we will be providing updates when additional informational is available regarding the matter.

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OnePlus 6/6T get April 2021 security patches via OxygenOS 10.3.10 update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 27, 2021

Late last month, OnePlus rolled out a new system update for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T. A month later, these old smartphones are receiving another OTA update. The latest firmware for the brand’s yesteryear flagship devices comes with build number OxygenOS 10.3.10.

OnePlus 6T All Colors Featured — OnePlus 6T

OnePlus is rolling out a new system update for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T from 2018. The new update arrives with firmware version OxygenOS 10.3.10.

The announcement post on OnePlus Community only lists two changes. According to the official changelog, this new update bumps up the security patch level to April 2021.

Apart from this month’s security patches, the latest system update for these smartphones also brings fixes for known issues and improves system stability.

OnePlus 6/6T OxygenOS 10.3.10 Official Changelog

System
- Updated Android Security Patch to 2021.04
- Fixed known issues and improved system stability

Like any OTA system update, the OxygenOS 10.3.10 update for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T is being rolled out in batches worldwide. Hence, the build may take some time to reach every user.

Lastly, it is worth noting that although these two phones are eligible for Android 11 (OxygenOS 11), OnePlus is yet to release any beta build for them.

Upcoming Huawei PKU-AL40 with full specifications, images spotted at TENAA

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 27, 2021

A new Huawei smartphone with PKU-AL40 model number has received approval from the TENAA regulatory body of China. While the final product name of the device is yet to be confirmed, the TENAA listing of the PKU-AL40 has revealed its entire specifications and images.

The Huawei PKU-AL40 is a 4G LTE smartphone that houses a 6.5-inch LCD screen that delivers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. it has a front-facing camera of 5-megapixel.

The rear camera array has an LED flash, a 13-megapixel main camera, and a 2-megapixel secondary shooter. The device seems to be lacking a fingerprint scanner.

The PKU-AL40 Huawei smartphone is preinstalled with Android 10 OS. It is powered by an octa-core processor that works at 1.80GHz. It is likely to arrive in China with 4 GB / 6 GB RAM editions and storage options like 64 GB and 128 GB.

The Huawei PKU-AL40 has a 3,900mAh battery, but there is no word on whether it carries support for fast charging. The handset was certified by the Bluetooth SIG authority last month through which it was revealed that it supports Bluetooth 5.0.

The TENAA listing further revealed that the Huawei PKU-AL40 has 163.93 x 75.79 x 8.95mm dimensions and it weighs 198 grams. It is expected to arrive in color editions like Magic Night Black, Frosty Silver, and Spruce

(via)

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India sees record smartphone shipments in Q1 2021, but new COVID-19 wave expected to slow demand

By

Sean

-

Apr 27, 2021

The smartphone shipments in India in the first quarter of this year saw a record growth of 23 percent year on year, reaching over 38 million units. This marks the highest first quarter shipments in the country but are expected to lower in the following quarter due to the resurgence of Coronavirus in the region.

According to a Counterpoint Research report, the record rise in shipments in the nation arrives as new product launches paired with promotions, new financial schemes, and pent up demand coming from last year. Research analyst Prachir Singh stated that “Continuing with its stellar run, India’s smartphone market registered a third consecutive quarter of record shipments in Q1 2021, riding on pent-up demand. Consumer confidence also increased due to the beginning of a vaccination drive in the country. But these numbers should be taken with caution as a second and more virulent wave of COVID-19 is currently on in the country and is likely to impact the coming quarters. The consumer demand will take a hit due to the ongoing COVID-19 wave and subsequent lockdowns.”

Furthermore, the report also added that the Chinese brands also held around 75 percent share in the first quarter of 2021. In the local market, Xiaomi led with a 26 percent market share followed by Samsung, Vivo, Realme, and Oppo. Xiaomi managed to hold the lead thanks to the expansion of its local manufacturing capacities with new EMS partners. Samsung also maintained a high number of new product launched in its Galaxy M series, Galaxy F series as well as the Galaxy S21 series as well.

The Indian mobile handset market also grew by 19 percent year on year in Q1 2021 due to the strong performance of both feature phones and smartphone segments. The feature phone market saw a growth of 14 percent year on year. Notably, OnePlus led the 5G smartphone market in the region, with a 33 percent market share while Samsung recorded the largest growth in the region at 52 percent year on year.

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realme X7 Pro is now part of realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) Early Access program

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Apr 27, 2021

The realme X7 Pro launched in India in early February. Just like the original that was released in China last year, the Indian variant also debuted with an outdated Android 10-based realme UI operating system. Now, a little over two months after its release, the brand has started recruiting beta testers for Android 11.

In early March, realme revealed that the realme X7 Pro will be part of the realme UI 2.0 Early Access program in Q2 2021. As promised, the company has opened registrations for testers.

According to the official announcement post on realme Community, interested users should be running the latest firmware with build number RMX2121PU_11.A.14. To enroll in the program, users will have to navigate to Settings > Software Update > Gear Icon > Trial Version > Apply Now and submit details.

Not all users will be eligible to try Android 11 on the realme X7 Pro. That’s because the brand has only allocated limited seats and it does not say how much. Hence, the availability of seats will be based on FCFS (First Come First Serve).

Anyway, we would advise you not to register yourself if this is your only smartphone. Because beta builds are always buggy and realme also warns the same. But it is worth noting that you can roll back to the stable channel if you don’t like the realme UI 2.0 Early Access build. However, this process will wipe the internal storage of the device.

Samsung and NPEs seek to acquire LG’s 5G patents

By

Sean

-

Apr 27, 2021

Samsung Electronics and a few other non practicing entities (NPE) have recently been aiming to buy and use LG Electronic‘s fifth generation (5G) mobile patents. This arrives after LG announced that it would be shutting down its smartphone business earlier this month.

According to the KoreaTimes report, a source close to the matter stated that “A lot of NPEs have approached LG Electronics for the possible acquisition of its 5G mobile patents.” Unlike LG’s products, the company’s mobile patents are still considered competitive. This has caused multiple firms to seek its patents including Samsung. An official from the South Korean tech giant said that “We have not reviewed any plans.”

For those unaware, NPEs are firms that holds a patent or patent rights. These companies do not manufacture or produce such patented technology but rather generate profit by licensing it out to other firms. As per the source, LG currently holds patents in LTE and 5G technology that are worth around 901 million US Dollars. In total, the former smartphone maker holds about 24,000 LTE and 5G standard essential patents, which is the third largest nuymber of 5G standard patents, as per data provided by IPlytics.

Furthermore, the company is also ranked 1st in terms of global 4G standard patents for four consecutive years from 2012 to 2016. Thus, after its exit from the mobile market due to the unit being a loss maker, it arrives that no surprise that other firms aim to buyout its patents. An LG Electronics’ official also offered a statement citing that “We cannot confirm the speculation. We are reviewing the use of our network patents in other sectors such as IoT or self-driving.”

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