OPPO patents a mobile gaming controller with an earphone storage compartment

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Apr 6, 2021

Chinese tech giant and BBK subsidiary OPPO has often strived to stay ahead of the pack when it comes to innovation. We have seen a number of recent patent filings that point to the direction the company is looking at when it comes to foldable displays, camera technology, and even in the aspect of gaming. A new patent by OPPO Guangdong Mobile Communications Co., Ltd has just been spotted. The patent is titled “game controller” and the application was made on September 9, 2019.

The patent has, in March this year, been published with filing number CN112451961A. The patent description notes that with the rapid development of the electronic game industry, mobile games have been widely promoted due to their convenience. In order to better operate the game, a gamepad is generally needed outside the mobile phone for convenience.

The existing mobile phone gamepads are mainly divided into two categories. One is the gamepad that cannot be plugged into the headset, that is, the mobile phone is clamped in the middle of the gamepad, and the gamepad blocks the 3.5mm audio jack of the mobile phone making it impossible to use a wired headset while using the game controller. Another design is a game handle that has a phone holder bracket at the top. The controller looks like the regular joystick gamepad and it frees up the space to plugin the audio jack or use the charging port while gaming.

OPPO’s patented game controller provides a gamepad and a housing to store the earphones. There is also a compartment at the top that’ll hold the phone.

We can’t say when this product will be released into the market but since the design is basic, it may not be extremely hard to bring this design to reality.

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Upcoming Apple TV model could support 120Hz refresh rate content

By

Balaji S

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Apr 6, 2021

Apple is said to host a launch event later this month where it is expected to unveil the new iPad Pro and few others. Alongside the iPad, there are chances that a new Apple TV would also launch. This next-gen product is reportedly coming with upgraded SoC, and storage for better streaming. Now, 9to5mac has found evidences of 120Hz refresh rate support on the upcoming Apple TV 2021 model.

As per the report evidences of high-refresh-rate support has been found on the latest tvOS 14.5 beta code. That is, terms like “120Hz” and “supports120Hz” have been added to tvOS’s PineBoard in the latest build. However, if you recall, the currently selling Apple TV has only up to 4K video at 60Hz support. Also, it has HDMI 2.0 port which cannot technically project the 120Hz content.

For the unware, the latest HDMI 2.1 standard brings improved bandwidth up to 48Gbps, resolution up to 10K, Dynamic HDR, eARC(enhanced Audio Return Channel), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and more. Accordingly, it also supports refresh rates on content up to 120Hz.

To do this, Apple has to put a powerful GPU and higher RAM capacity inside to pull that kind of content smoothly. Also, keep in mind that you will need a TV that has 120Hz refresh rate support as well. This report also goes in line with early info that said Apple was working on including HDMI 2.1 on the upcoming Apple TV.

That being said, the Apple TV 2021 model is turning out to be a worthy upgrade over the processors. Still, we will have to wait for a bit to know more intricate details on the same.

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RedMagic Watch gets an automatic dark mode feature via the latest update

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 6, 2021

Last month, Nubia’s RedMagic announced its first smartwatch. The smartwatch which is sold as the RedMagic Watch and is exclusive to China, for now, has begun receiving an update that brings a dark mode to one of its watch faces.

According to a Weibo post by the official RedMagic account, the latest update to the RedMagic Sports app, the smartwatch’s companion app, lets you choose a particular watch face (Astronaut) that automatically switches from a white background (light mode) to a black background (dark mode) once it is 6 PM.

While this seems to be the only watch face to have this feature, it is pretty neat nonetheless.

The RedMagic Watch is a ¥599 (~$91) smartwatch with a 1.39-inch 454 x 454 AMOLED display and two physical buttons on the right side for controlling the watch. The watch has support for 16 sports modes including football which adds a heat map that shows the wearer’s most active positions on the pitch.

There is a Sony GNSS receiver that adds support for GPS, QZSS, and Beidou. The health sensor adds support for 24-hour heart rate measurement and blood oxygen level detection. The RedMagic Watch has a battery life of 15 days in typical usage mode but it can go up to 23 days in basic watch mode or drop to 50 hours with GPS turned on.

The smartwatch comes in different colored silicone straps and is also available in leather options that cost ¥100 more (~$15).

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Smartphone average storage crossed 100GB in 2020: Counterpoint

By

Sean

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Apr 6, 2021

Storage in smartphones is an important factor for any consumer while purchasing a new device. While there have been various improvements in various parts of the handset, like cameras and processors, the average amount of storage offered to consumers has also risen in recent years and apparently crossing the 100GB mark in 2020.

According to a Counterpoint Research report, the average smartphone NAND flash storage capacity in smartphones has surpassed the 100GB mark for the first time last year. Although, this figure differs based on iOS and Android platforms, with the former having an average of 140.9GB in Q4 2020 while the latter had an average of 95.7GB around the same period. However, the gap between the two platforms is closing as well, as Android devices are also offering higher storage options in past few years.

To put it into perspective, the average capacity in 2020 grew by 5.6 percent for iOS and 20.5 percent for Android handsets. These figures are indicative of the fact that Apple did not push the boundaries of its storage sizes that maxed out at 512GB. This has been the highest storage variant that the company has offered since 2018. Meanwhile, Android vendors like Samsung broke past this storage capacity and managed to offer 1TB of internal storage for the first time back in 2019, with the Galaxy S10 Plus.

Furthermore, higher capacities in Android smartphones are becoming more common as well. Devices with storage options can range from 256GB, 512GB, and even 1,024GB at times in flagship models. The final quarter of last year also showcased that 128GB was the minimum required standard for most mid range and every high end smartphones, especially premium grade flagships.

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ZMI has launched a sleek USB Type-C to Lightning cable with 18-month warranty

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 6, 2021

ZMI has launched a new accessory for Apple devices in China. This latest product is called ZMI USB Type-C to Lightning Silicone Cable. As the name suggests, it is a silicone-insulated cable for charging and data transfer. It is priced at ¥89 ($14) in the company’s home country.

For those unaware, ZMI is currently a subsidiary of Xiaomi. For years, this company has been developing chargers, power banks, and related products for its new parent firm. Since it operates independently, ZMI has also been selling accessories for other brands.

ZMI is known for value for money power accessories. It sells various types of chargers, power banks, and cables for a wide variety of products from different companies, including Apple. The latest ZMI USB Type-C to Lightning Silicone Cable is one such product.

This new silicone-clad skin-friendly smooth cable from ZMI is MFi-certified. Therefore, it works with Apple products without any problem. It also supports USB PD (Power Delivery) charging and up to 3A current.

Hence, it is highly compatible with the following Apple devices for maximum fast charging and up to 480Mbps data rate.

Apple iPhone
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone SE 2020
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 8
Apple iPad
- iPad Pro 12.9
- iPad Pro 10.5
- iPad Pro 9.7
- iPad Air 3rd Gen
- iPad Air 2nd Gen
- iPad Air
- iPad Mini 5th Gen
- iPad Mini 4th Gen
- iPad Mini 3rd Gen
- iPad Mini 2nd Gen
- iPad 8th Gen
- iPad 7th Gen
- iPad 6th Gen
- iPad 5th Gen
Apple iPod
- iPod Touch 6th Gen
- iPod Touch 7th Gen

Further, this FDA-approved 1m sleek cable can withstand over 30,000 bends and 10,000 plug-ins. It ships with a cable tie and comes with an 18-month warranty.

Last but not least, the ZMI USB Type-C to Lightning Silicone Cable with model number GL870 comes in two colors (Red, Black).

iRobot launches new Roomba i3 and i3+ vacuum cleaners in India

By

Sean

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Apr 6, 2021

iRobot has just launched a new range of automated vacuum cleaners in India, expanding its existing portfolio in the region. The new vacuum cleaners include the Roomba i3 and Roomba i3+.

As per the official notes, the new vacuum cleaners from the popular robotic consumer products maker arrive with stylish design and advanced features for customers on both offline and online stores. Similar to the Roomba i7+, the Roomba i3+ is equipped with Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal, which empties the debris on its own without user interaction in a 60 day cycle. All the dust is stored in the AllergenLock bag that offers four layers of allergen blocking material to trap pollen and mold.

Both the Roomba i3 and i3+ can be paired with the iRobot Home App, which offers a higher degree of control along with a personalized cleaning experience as well. This app is available for Android and iOS. Furthermore, the app can also offer suggestions regarding cleaning schedules based on cleaning jobs, pet shedding, and other personalized suggestions. The new vacuum cleaners are also designed in a manner to blend in well with modern homes.

The new Roomba i3 series start from 49,900 INR (roughly 680 US Dollars) for the base model and 69,900 INR (roughly 950 US Dollars) for the higher end model. However, the company is offering a promotional first sale offer for official stores in India, which can bring down the price to 39,900 INR (roughly 540 US Dollars) for the i3 and 59,900 INR (roughly 815 US Dollars) for the i3+. These offers can are only for a limited time and can be available on offline stores and e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.

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Google Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 get camera and graphic performance improvements with April update

By

Balaji S

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Apr 6, 2021

People who were interested in Pixel 5 back when it launched were faced with a surprise info that it had dropped the Neural core and Active Edge features. Later, the device also faced a few issues in graphics performance as per various reports online. Now, Google is rolling out the April 2021 security update to a lot of pixel devices and it comes bundled with Camera, GPU performance gains for some devices like Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.

Google, in an official post, has detailed what are the changes coming with the latest update for the Pixel devices including Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. You can take a look at the build numbers below:

Global:
- Pixel 4a (5G): RQ2A.210405.005
- Pixel 5: RQ2A.210405.005

Talking about the specific changes, it says that Google Pixel 4a 5G and Google Pixel 5 gets improvements in

Camera quality in certain third-party apps
Optimizations for certain graphics-intensive apps & games
Fix for certain devices appearing offline when connected with VPN
Fix for Freeze on Google logo during startup

This update is said to have improved the GPU performance of the device by about 30-50% more than before(3DMark, courtesy of Andreas Proschofsky). Earlier, reports suggested that the Android 11 update could have had an impact on the graphic performance of the Pixel 5 leading to frequent stutters.

However, the dark days are over now, and if you are a Google Pixel 5 user, we suggest you update the device as soon as you get it. Speaking of which, users who haven’t received it yet should get it in the coming days as it is a phased rollout.

As mentioned above, the April update also includes few improvements for other devices like Pixel 3(XL), 3a(XL), 4(XL), 4a. You can check the entire changelog here.

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ZTE Axon 30 series will be launching on April 15 in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 6, 2021

Recent reports indicated that ZTE will announce the Axon 30 series of smartphones by the end of April. However, the company confirmed through a Weibo post that the lineup will break cover on April 15 in China.

Reports have claimed that the Axon 30 series has three models namely, Axon 30, Axon 30 Pro, and Axon 30 Pro+. The handset shown in the image below is one of the Axon 30 series phones. It is likely that all three handsets may sport the same rear design.

The poster reveals that the Axon 30 series smartphone’s rear camera module has four cameras. There is a possibility that the Axon 30 Pro or the Axon 30 Pro+ will feature three 64-megapixel cameras and an auxiliary lens. While the rumor mill has revealed some of the key specs of Axon 30 Pro, the details of the Axon 30 and 30 Pro+ are yet to emerge.

Passt reports have revealed that the Axon 30 Pro is equipped with a 6.92-inch OLED screen, which is integrated with the second-generation under-display camera technology. The massive display is expected to deliver 10-bit colors, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 360Hz touch sampling rate.

The handset will be fueled by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform and it houses a 4,500mAh battery with 55W or 65W fast charging support. The SoC will be accompanied by LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. It may feature a 44-megapixel camera for capturing selfies. It is expected to offer users other features like MyOS based Android 11 OS, dual speakers, and linear motor, and so on. Hopefully, the company will confirm the other features of the Axon 30 series through daily teasers before the official announcement.

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Realme x TÜV Rheinland event, showcases growing smartphone quality standards

By

Sean

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Apr 6, 2021

Realme just held an online conference earlier today (6th April 2021). In the event, the company offered us a glimpse of its new smart factory for its smartphones and was joined by TÜV Rheinland as well.

The Realme X TÜV Rheinland Quality Standards Event was live streamed on multiple platforms and had the smartphone maker showcase the growing quality standards of its devices. The Chinese tech giant was also joined by the German certification agency, TÜV Rheinland, which is a known brand in the smartphone industry, with its certifications being offered to handsets ranging from flagship to even affordable ones.

On the live stream, the company also showcased its new smart factory in action. This site had been teased recently on multiple image posters, that depicted its assembly lines, smart warehouses, automated workshops, and much more. Realme also further emphasized its focus towards the younger demographic or youth in the event, mentioning how their products are designed around these age groups, starting from product design and even testing.

In the event, the smartphone maker detailed a few key pillars of its Project C. This includes, Definition, Design, Development, Warehousing, Manufacturing, Quality Testing. Notably, the company also said that the Realme C series of smartphones are also the first to receive TÜV Rheinland high reliability certification. The company is built using highly advanced automated machineries, with the brand preparing for the global launch of the C21 and C25 handsets as well. You can check out this event above.

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‘Made in India’ iQOO 7 Legend confirmed to debut under ₹40,000 in India in April, Live images revealed

By

Balaji S

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Apr 6, 2021

iQOO is gearing up to launch a flagship smartphone in India this month. And going by iQOO India director Gagan Arora’s words, it should be sometime around the end of April. Now, the company has teamed up with popular YouTuber Gaurav Chaudhary(@TechnicalGuruji) to confirm the iQOO 7 Legend and reveal more details regarding the device.

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In a conversation with Gaurav on YouTube, Gagan has confirmed that two smartphones including iQOO 7 Legend will launch in India this month. Although he hasn’t talked much about the latter, reports say that it could be the iQOO Neo5 from China. Anyway, he says that the devices will debut somewhere at the end of April.

Talking about the ‘Made in India’ iQOO 7 Legend, Gagan also confirms that iQOO 7 Legend is designed in partnership with BMW M Motorsport and this news falls in line with a leak last week by Tech influencer Mukul Sharma.

Live images of the iQOO 7 Legend have also been shared in the video and it is the exact same one that launched in China as iQOO 7 Legendary edition. It has a white back panel with stripes of the BMW M Motorsport logo and a “Fascination meets Innovation” slogan.

Moving on, Gagan also talks more about how iQOO has been working on expanding its presence in India. He says that iQOO will bring multiple smartphones at different price points and users will be able to service their phones in select Vivo service centers in India in the future.

Also, he admits that iQOO, despite having separate philosophy, shares a manufacturing facility with Vivo.

iQOO 7 Legend is likely to feature a 6.62-inch AMOLED FHD+ centered punch-hole display with a 120Hz refresh rate, flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, 48MP main lens, 16MP selfie camera, 4,000mAh battery, and Android 11 OS.

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OnePlus 9/9 Pro OxygenOS 11.2.3.3 update brings improvements for camera, battery life, and network

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 6, 2021

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 9 series in the second last week of March. The primary devices in the lineup, namely the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro received their first update on the launch day itself. The second update was rolled out last week. Now, the duo is receiving their third system update in the form of OxygenOS 11.2.3.3.

OnePlus 9 Pro Morning Mist Featured 04 — OnePlus 9 Pro

The latest update for the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro brings several improvements. It comes with the following build numbers for different regions.

OnePlus 9
- IN: 11.2.3.3.LE25DA
- EU: 11.2.3.3.LE25BA
- NA(GLO): 11.2.3.3.LE25AA
OnePlus 9 Pro
- IN: 11.2.3.3.LE15DA
- EU: 11.2.3.3.LE15BA
- NA(GLO): 11.2.3.3.LE15AA

According to the changelog, the new stable update for the OnePlus 9 series brings improvements for power consumption performance for better battery life, camera shooting & recording experience, stability of telecommunication functions, and WLAN transmission performance & stability.

Last but not least, the latest OTA update also comes with fixes for known issues for improved system stability.

OnePlus 9/9 Pro OxygenOS 11.2.3.3 Official Changelog

System
- Improved the power consumption performance to extend the battery life
- Fixed known issues and improved system stability
Camera
- Improved the shooting and recording experience
Network
- Improved the stability of telecommunication functions
- Improved the WLAN transmission performance and stability

Like any other OTA system update, the new build for the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro is being rolled out in batches. Therefore, it may take time to reach every unit around the world.

Oppo and Vivo foldable smartphones’ display near mass production: Tipster

By

Sean

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Apr 6, 2021

Earlier today (6th April 2021), a known Weibo blogger, a Chinese microblogging website, and tipster revealed that foldable displays for upcoming smartphones from Oppo and Vivo are nearing mass production.

The information was shared on the online platform by @数码闲聊站, who revealed that there are two versions being worked on, one is an 8 inch flexible display while the other is a 7 inch panel. Both displays are inward folding, with the latter already having a prototype. The tipster also added that the 7 inch panel was also close to mass production at the beginning of this year, in January. Although, a specific time frame for commercial launch has yet to be determined.

As per the blogger, the Vivo foldable smartphone would arrive with an impressive hinge design for its 8 inch flexible screen. This display would also support a high refresh rate and would still be 6.5 inches when folded. Recently, Xiaomi launched its first foldable smartphone, so we can expect other Chinese tech giants like Vivo and Oppo to launch their own iterations soon. Unfortunately, the exact launch dates for these devices are currently unknown.

However, new foldable devices from such companies are expected to hit the market sometime in the second half of this year. In other words, we can also expect the foldable smartphone market to have increased competition later this year, which could also imply prices also becoming competitive and the prices for such high end devices to fall as well. So stay tuned, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

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Amazfit Bip U Pro launched in India for Rs 4,999 (~$68)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 6, 2021

The Amazfit Bip U Pro has launched in India today. It has arrived as an enhanced version of the Bip U smartwatch, which was introduced in the country with a pricing of Rs 3,499 (~$48) back in October. With a sub Rs 5,000 pricing, the Amazfit Bip U Pro comes with features like a large square-shaped screen, heart rate sensor, GPS, 5ATM water resistance, and more.

Amazfit Bip U Pro specifications and features

The Amazfit Bip U Pro measures 40.9 x 35.5 x 11.4mm and it weighs only 31 grams with the strap. The smartwatch has a polycarbonate construction that offers users 5ATM water resistance. The strap is made out of skin-friendly silicone material.

The Bip U Pro has a 1.43-inch IPS LCD color display that offers 320 x 320 pixels resolution. The display is shielded by 2.5D curved glass, which comes with an anti-fingerprint coating.

The smartwatch is packed with sensors like a heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and geomagnetic sensor. It features Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity support for pairing it with a smartphone. It runs on RTOS and it is compatible with Android 5.0 or higher and iOS or above devices.

The Bip U Pro is backed by a 230mAH battery that takes around 2 hours to charge completely. With typical use, it can last for up to 9 days and it can last for up to 5 days on heavy use. There is a microphone onboard, which brings in support for Alexa assistant. The Bip U Pro also supports 60+ sports modes, sleep tracking, stress level monitoring, and menstrual cycle tracking. The non-Pro version lacks GPS support, a microphone, and an Alexa assistant.

Amazfit Bip U Pro pricing and availability

The Amazfit Bip U Pro has arrived with a price tag of Rs 4,999 (~$68) in India and it comes in colors like Black, Green, and Pink. The smartwatch is now available on pre-orders through Amazfit’s online store in India and Amazon India.

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DJI Air 2S renders and specs leaked, features a 20MP camera

By

Sean

-

Apr 6, 2021

DJI has been known to be working on a new drone for a while, and now, a new leak has revealed the supposed renders of the upcoming Air 2S drone along with a few key specs.

According to a TechnikNews report, the Air 2S from the popular drone maker a features 20 megapixel shooter, which is an improvement from the 12 megapixel sensor that can be found in the previously launched Mavic Air 2. Notably, the Air 2S does not carry the ‘Mavic’ branding and was spotted in certain certification listings as well. So it is unknown if it is a direct successor or a new refresh of the Mavic Air 2.

The upcoming drone will also weigh 600 grams, which is about 30 grams heavier than its predecessor. Furthermore, the company is also including the 10 bit color space into the camera, meaning, the camera is capable of capturing over a billion colors. Similarly, the Air 2S will also support “Intelligent HDR,” which “automatically combines several recordings in order to increase the dynamic range of images without post-processing.”

Other features include the support for hyperlapse and a panorama function. Looking at the renders, the drone also features a total of four rotors and is apparently capable of reaching a maximum speed of up to 19 meters per second (about 68 kilometers per hour), which is the same as the Mavic Air 2. It also rated to operate in a maximum altitude of 6,000 meters above sea level. Just like the Mavic Air 2, the Air 2S also houses 8GB of onboard storage. Another new addition includes “Master Shots,” which has the drone perform ten different maneuvers of a subject and make short recordings.

This will be supplemented by the company’s “Spotlight 2.0” and “Point of Interest 3.0” along with the “ActiveTrack 4.0.” Additionally, the DJI Air 2S will also be upgraded to autopilot version 4.0. This would allow it to detect objects in all four directions and avoid them. The drone is expected to be powered by a 3,500mAh battery, which had been first confirmed in a previous FCC listing. While the exact pricing and launch date are unknown, it is expected to be around 800 Euros (roughly 950 US Dollars) and could be announced sometime this month.

RELATED:

HP Chromebook 11a launched in India for ₹21,990 ($300)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 6, 2021

As expected, HP has officially launched the HP Chromebook 11a in India. This laptop is currently the cheapest Chrome OS product in the country. Let us take a look at its specs, features, price, and availability in this article.

HP Chromebook 11a Specifications and Features

The HP Chromebook 11a sports an 11.6-inch LED-backlit LCD panel with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, 220 nits peak brightness, 45% NTSC color gamut, 73.8% screen-to-body ratio, and touch input.

It is powered by a MediaTek MT8183 SoC coupled with 4GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC storage. If needed, the storage can be further expanded up to 256GB via the included 3-in-1 card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC) and 1-year Google One subscription (100GB).

On the connectivity front, the notebook supports WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. It comes with 1 x USB 2.0 Type-C (DisplayPort 1.1, USB Power Delivery), 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, and a headphone/microphone combo jack.

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Further, since the laptop runs Google Chrome OS, it also supports Android apps and Linux applications. Other features of this notebook include a full-size keyboard, 720p webcam, dual speakers, dual microphones. Google Assistant, and a 37 WHr battery.

Last but not least, the HP Chromebook 11a with model number 11A-NA0002MU comes in a single Indigo Blue color option, measures 285 x 192.8 x 16.8mm in dimensions, weighs 1.07Kg.

HP Chromebook 11a Price and Availability

The HP Chromebook 11a is priced at ₹21,990 ($300) in India. It is already up for sale on Flipkart. It should be also sold by HP online store and select offline retailers in the coming days.

Xiaomi sends out 10,000 Haagen-Dazs ice creams to celebrate its establishment day

By

Jeet

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Apr 6, 2021

Xiaomi had recently announced that the company would be giving away around 10,000 sodas and now today, the company has said that it will be giving away 10,000 ice creams from Häagen-Dazs on its Xiaomi Mall mobile application.

For those who are unaware, the company is doing this to celebrate its establishment day. Xiaomi was established on 6th April 2010, which makes the company eleven years old. To celebrate, the company will be hosting a live event on Douyin.

Xiaomi further adds that it will be giving away discounts for the Mi Rice Cooker and 60 million yuan in cash red envelopes through its own Xiaomi Mall, JD.com, Tmall, and Suning.com stores in the form of discounts, gifts, coupons, and more.

The company has grown significantly in the past few years, emerging as the leading brand in several regions where it is present. Xiaomi has also expanded from smartphones to a wide range of products, covering almost everything when it comes to consumer electronics.

It is also ramping up investment into chip manufacturing as the pressure from the United States keeps increasing. This is also a part of China’s efforts to lower dependency on foreign technology after the US had targeted Huawei Technologies and a few others.

RELATED:

Oppo overtakes Huawei in 5G adoption rates for smartphones

By

Sean

-

Apr 6, 2021

With the world quickly towards 5G, the newer and faster bandwidth is one of the big selling points for new smartphone launches. It is the norm for flagship models while new budget devices are also arriving with 5G support. This holds especially true in China, with a new report stating that Oppo has surpassed Huawei in terms of 5G adoption rates for smartphones.

According to an MScience report, the adoption rate of 5G enabled devices for the Chinese tech giant surpassed its rival. The report also shared a graph that detailed the trend for 5G adoption rates in both the US and China, marking all the important events that led to either a rise or decline of 5G Android smartphones. Looking at this graph, we can observe that the Galaxy S20 series launch from Samsung was what initially led to the rise of 5G handset adoption in the US, meanwhile, China already had steady growth.

Furthermore, this was also backed by the American customers receiving the stimulus checks around the same time. Meanwhile, China, despite being ahead of the US in 5G smartphone adoption rates, saw a moderation in its growth due to 4G devices seeing a rise in demand in the region around the middle of the year. In 2021, the Galaxy S21 series also marked another rise in the US adoption rates, while China saw moderate changes overall.

During this time, however, Oppo had managed to surpass Huawei in 5G adoption, as per the report. This would likely be due to the latter suffering from the impacts of the US trade restrictions, which led to the sharp decline of its smartphone business last year. For those unaware, Huawei was cut off from its primary chip supplier, TSMC, causing it to only focus on the launch of its latest flagship lineup. On the other hand, Oppo had launched various new handsets with 5G support including premium and mid tier segments.

RELATED:

Samsung to stop manufacturing Galaxy S20 FE Exynos 990 variant: Report

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 6, 2021

Samsung introduced the Galaxy S20 FE back in September 2020 as its second Fan Edition smartphone after the Galaxy Note FE from 2017. This handset launched in two variants – 4G and 5G. The former version is powered by the company’s in-house Exynos 990 SoC and the latter model features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC. Now, months after this phone’s release, Samsung may stop manufacturing the Exynos 990 variant.

The Galaxy S20 FE was one of the best smartphones launched in 2020. But those rave reviews were for the 5G variant with the Qualcomm chipset. Wheres, the 4G version was criticized by both media and users for its poor battery life and performance.

Looks like Samsung is trying to right this decision with its new move. The company recently launched the Galaxy S20 FE 5G in India. Also, the South Korean tech giant is reported to be working on a new 4G variant with Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 instead of Exynos 990, as per multiple certifications.

Now, according to popular leakster Ice Universe, Samsung will halt the production of Exynos 990-equipped Galaxy S20 FE. This variant will be replaced by a Snapdragon 865+ model. This means the upcoming new Galaxy S20 FE (SM-G780G) could be powered by Snapdragon 865+ SoC and not Snapdragon 865.

That said, since this upcoming Galaxy S20 FE has been already listed on multiple regional Samsung websites, we can expect it to go official very soon.

Samsung is moving down Galaxy S9 smartphone to quarterly updates

By

Jeet

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Apr 6, 2021

Samsung has improved quite a lot when it comes to providing updates to its smartphones. The company tries to optimize the process and as a part of that, some older models move down to the list of less frequent updates.

Now, it appears that the Samsung Galaxy S9 is moving down to quarterly updates from its current schedule of monthly updates. So, from now onwards, the Galaxy S9 will only get 4 security patches per year, likely moving to the biannual schedule next year.

This change is applicable to both the models — Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. The updates provided are based on the Android 10 operating system, which was rolled out to these smartphones in February last year.

The development comes just days after Samsung rolled out April 2021 security patch to the Galaxy S9 Plus smartphone. Interestingly, the update for this model comes before some more recent devices from the company.

Based on the updated schedule, it seems that the next update for the S9 series smartphones will be available in July or August. Its predecessor, the Galaxy S8 series is also on a quarterly update basis and is likely to move to biannual updates by next year.

RELATED:

OPPO F19 with Rs 18,990 (~$259) pricing launched in India as rebranded OPPO A74

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 6, 2021

Yesterday, OPPO unveiled the OPPO A74 4G smartphone in some Southeast Asian markets. The same handset has now gone official in India as the OPPO F19. It is third F19-series from the brand after the OPPO F19 Pro and F19 Pro+ phones, which were announced in the country in March.

OPPO F19 specifications and features

The OPPO F19 has a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole design. The screen delivers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, a DCI-P3 color gamut, a 60Hz refresh rate, a 135 to 180Hz touch sampling rate, and an in-screen fingerprint reader.

The OPPO F19 is fueled by the Snapdragon 662 mobile platform and 6 GB of RAM. It is equipped with 128 GB of UFS 2.0 storage, and it features a microSD card slot for more storage. The handset is preloaded with ColorOS 11 based Android 11 OS.

For capturing selfies and video calls, the OPPO F19 has a front camera of 16-megapixel. The rear camera module has a 48-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel depth assist lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

The OPPO F19 has a massive 5,000mAh battery that supports SuperVOOC 2.0 33W fast charging. The phone offers connectivity features like dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

OPPO F19 pricing and availability

The OPPO F19 is priced at Rs 18,990 (~$259) in India and it comes in colors like Prism Black and Midnight Blue. Customers with HDFC, ICICI, Kotak, and Standard Chartered banks can get a flat 7.5 percent cashback. Buyers of F19 can get the Enco W11 for Rs 1,299 (~$18) and the W21 for Rs 2,499 (~$34).

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