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Samsung and Oppo to fight for LG’s market share, as it exits smartphone business: Report

LG Electronics had just announced that it will be exiting the smartphone business. The company had various reasons to quit the industry, and it seems that its rival Samsung and Oppo will be fighting to grab its market share.

Samsung

According to a MoneyUDN report, the South Korean tech giant is shutting its loss making unit as it can’t compete with the likes of Apple or Samsung in the high end segments while Chinese brands dominate the mid to low end segments. Thus, it is expected to lose its market share once it exits the industry to its fellow South Korean rival and China’s Oppo. This also marks the departure of a major smartphone brand from the industry.

Furthermore, the global smartphone market can also be divided into two platforms, namely, Android and iOS. Within both platforms, Samsung and Apple are the leaders, meanwhile, even Huawei after being affected by the US trade restrictions and having its market share decline sharply is ahead of LG. Chinese vendors like Oppo and Xiaomi also offer better value to the consumers, and have hence, surpassed the South Korean firm as well.

Samsung

LG’s key markets included regions like Europe, South Korea, and certain Southeast Asian markets. These are now expected to be replaced with Samsung in the high end market and by Chinese brand Oppo for the mid to low end segments. LG was once one of the top three smartphone brands, although, it has been seeing losses since the second quarter of 2015. It had been rumored to shut its mobile division for a while so the announcement is not a surprise.

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LG Rollable and LG V70 smartphone’s live images surface online

LG was struggling in the smartphone business and recently, the company confirmed that it is exiting from the mobile market. The company plans to shut down the mobile unit in a few months but will continue to sell its existing inventory.

It remains to be seen what will happen to the company’s devices that are already in the pipeline. While that is yet to be known, details about the LG Rollable smartphone and LG Rainbow smartphones have now surfaced online.

LG Rollable Smartphone
LG Rollable Live Image Leak
LG Rainbow (V70) Leak
LG Rainbow (V70) Leak

A live image of the LG Rollable smartphone has leaked online, showcasing the black-colored phone with its design. Along with that, another smartphone from the brand, LG Rainbow aka LG V70 has also surfaced online.

The report also claims that the LG V70 smartphone isn’t getting launched in May or June this year. In fact, it says that the phone is dead and will not be released in the market. It also reveals that the LG Rollable won’t be equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset but will utilize a lower-grade processor.

LG Rollable Smartphone

LG had teased its rollable smartphone earlier this year at CES 2021 and had promoted to launch the device later this year. But given that the company is exiting the smartphone market, the release of the smartphone seems to have been suspended.

Earlier, there were reports about the company suspending the rollable smartphone but a couple of months ago, LG spokesperson said that the device has not been put on hold and added that there was no decision about the future of its mobile products. Right now, all we can do is wait and see what the company decides for the rollable smartphone.

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vivo X70 series may come with 66W charging, dual stereo speakers, and more

At the end of last year, vivo debuted the vivo X60 series in China. The three models in the series with some differences made their way to the global markets late last month. Despite being just a few months old, rumors about their successors have started popping up on the internet.

vivo X60 Pro Plus Featured 07
vivo X60 Pro+

 

Chinese smartphone makers OPPO and vivo are known for releasing two flagship smartphone series every year. Hence, it is not surprising to learn that the vivo X70 series may go official around June 2021, as per a Weibo user (@馬然熊猫).

This information comes from the same person who tipped the key specs of the upcoming vivo NEX (vivo NEX 5?). Hence, we advise you to consider this leak with a pinch of salt.

According to this tipster, the upcoming vivo X70 series will be backed by a 4,500mAh battery. Unlike the current-gen phones, the forthcoming models will also come with 66W fast charging.

Further, on the front, they will flaunt an FHD+ Samsung E4 AMOLED display with a centered punch-hole. Also, they will come equipped with dual speakers, which are missing on the vivo X60 series. 

Lastly, he says that we can expect a 1/1.28-inch primary camera sensor and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC underneath the vivo X70 Pro+. Unfortunately, he is not sure about the chipset in the Pro and vanilla variants.

Last but not least, it is worth noting that the leakster described these features for the ‘vivo X70 series’. He did not clearly specify which model will have these specs. Considering the previous generations, we expect the standard vivo X70 to come with slightly inferior features.

 

 

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Moto G20 bags NBTC certification, Likely to launch soon

Recent reports have revealed that Motorola is working on a new smartphone called the Moto G20. The specifications and renders of the phone have already appeared in recent reports. It appears that the launch date of the Moto G20 could be drawing near as it has received certification from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) authority (via).

Moto G20 NBTC

The NBTC listing reveals that the XT2128-2 model number belongs to the Moto G20 smartphone. It only confirms that it is a 4G LTE device. Reports have revealed that the G20 could be powered by the Unisoc T700 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The device will come loaded with Android 11 OS.

The Moto G20 may feature a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging. The 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage edition of the phone could be priced at 148.07 euros (~$175).

Moto G20 render
Moto G20

The leaked render of the Moto G20 revealed that it has a waterdrop notch screen. The back panel of the phone has a rectangle-shaped camera module that seems to house a quad-camera system and an LED flash. It is unclear whether the Moto batwing logo available on the backside of the device is integrated with a fingerprint scanner.

The Moto G60 is the other that is waiting in queue to go official. A recent report claimed that the phone will arrive in India and Brazil with the Moto G40 Fusion moniker. While the European edition (Moto G60) will have a 108-megapixel main camera and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The Indian and Brazilian models will have a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. The smartphone is expected to come with other specs like a 6.78-inch FHD+ display, up to 6 GB of RAM, up to 128 GB of built-in UFS 2.1 storage, a 6,000mAh battery, and Snapdragon 732G.

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SK Group buys 16.3% stake in Vietnam’s VinCommerce for $410 million

SK Group, the third-largest conglomerate from South Korea, has announced that the company has agreed to acquire a 16.3 percent stake in VinCommerce for $410 million, reports Reuters. For those who are unaware, VinCommerce is one of the biggest retailers in Vietnam and is a part of Masan Group.

The transaction values the retailer at $2.5 billion. Along with SK Inc (formerly known as SK Holdings Co Ltd), battery maker SK Innovation, SK Telecom, SK Hynix, and SK E&S are also participating in this deal through an investment unit focused in Southeast Asia.

SK Group

VinCommerce is operating about 2,300 convenience stores and supermarkets in Vietnam and holds about 50 percent of the market share in the country’s consumer retailer sector. With the new investment, the company plans to accelerate online and offline distribution, logistics, and online payments.

Woncheol Park, representative director of SK South East Asia Investment, the SK Group arm that made the investment, said in a statement: “Our investment in VinCommerce is part of SK’s broader strategy of investing in Vietnam’s fast-growing sectors.”

VinCommerce achieved an EBITDA breakeven in the fourth quarter of 2020 and delivered positive EBITDA in the first quarter of 2021. The management is now expected to achieve positive EBIT in the second half of this year.

The SK Group had earlier invested about $1 billion in Vingroup and $470 million in the diversified company Masan Group.

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Xiaomi crowdfunds the MIJIA Brushless Smart Home Electric Drill for ¥449 (~$68)

Xiaomi has released a new product that different from all home products that the company has released in the past. That is because the product is the brand’s first electric drill. Dubbed MIJIA Brushless Smart Home Electric Drill, the product is on crowdfunding on Xiaomi Mall for 449 yuan (~$68). In the future, it will retail for 499 yuan (~$76).MIJIA Brushless Smart Home Electric Drill

You would think this is one of Xiaomi’s electric screwdrivers as it adopts the same minimalist design. The body has smooth lines and no visible screws on the surface. The grip design is more suitable for those with hands, making the grip operation more comfortable and reliable. The body is coated using the two surface processes of metal baking paint and UV top coat, giving it a high-grade matte metal texture. The texture is scratch and stain-resistant.MIJIA Brushless Smart Electric Drill

The entire body of the electric drill is manufactured using PC+ABS high-strength engineering plastics, which are sturdy and durable. The back half of the handle is covered with matte TPU soft rubber, which feels comfortable and non-slip, and won’t get discolored and sticky easily.

The MIJIA Brushless Smart Electric Drill adopts a mechatronics design, which is safe and doesn’t produce any spark. With the brushless motor mechanics, there won’t any need to replace the carbon brush, thus giving the machine a longer service life. The drill has a maximum torque of 30Nm, while the maximum speed is 1400rpm. It can be used seamlessly on soft pine, hard beech, and other wood types as well as aluminum alloy pipe, steel plate, and other metal and plastic water pipe. The drill can also penetrate acrylic, and other plastic materials easily.MIJIA Brushless Smart Electric Drill

The electric drill features three operational modes; manual, smart, and pulse gears. The user can switch gears at any time by pressing the button at the bottom of the display. The three modes are designed to provide different speeds and operating methods depending on whether the user is a novice or an expert in the handling of electric drills.

Furthermore, it is equipped with a high-definition display, which can display the current operating mode and manual gear numbers in real-time.

In terms of battery life, the innovative battery layout design eliminates the need for additional bulky battery packs. The drill packs a built-in 2000mAh high-quality lithium battery that can drive over 550 self-tapping screws, or continuously drill through a 6mm steel plate over 22 times. It can also continuously drill 4cm deep holes in a wooden board over 280 times.

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Google Assistant Driving Mode now rolling out in more countries

A few more countries may soon join the United States as countries where the Google Assistant Driving Mode is functional. The Driving Mode feature was launched in 2020 in the United States, and feelers indicate that it is already operational in the United Kingdom, while several others are lined up for the rollout.Google Assistant Driving Mode

Previously, the official support page for the feature indicated that it was only available in English in the US. That has been updated to read that some features “aren’t available in all languages or countries.” This is suggestive of an imminent global rollout for the feature even though that wasn’t stated. Android Police also reports that one of its readers in the U.K has reportedly got the feature on his Pixel 5.

The Google Assistant Driving Mode is a feature that helps users who are on the wheels to listen to audio notifications on their compatible Android smartphone, make or receive calls, as well as send messages using their voices.

The feature is a replacement for the Auto mode which was on Android smartphones previously. It was developed to ensure safety while driving, as the user can perform a lot of activities just through a voice prompt. The feature is compatible on smartphones with Android 9.0 operating system or higher, together with a minimum of 4.0GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the driving mode feature will not work in landscape mode. Therefore, the user will need to ensure that their smartphone is in portrait mode before activating the Google Assistant Driving Mode.

It is known that making calls while driving has caused hundreds of accidents with sometimes massive fatalities. Therefore, the Google Assistant Driving Mode will help a motorist receive or make calls and perform a few other activities without interfering with his driving.

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Lenovo Legion 2 Pro live shots emerge to reveal unique rear design with visible fan

Lenovo will be announcing the Legion 2 Pro gaming smartphone on April 8 in China. Ahead of the launch, a couple of live shots of the handset has appeared live shots to reveal its design.

The Legion 2 Pro gaming smartphone has a symmetrical design on the back. A bulge can be seen at the center of the back panel, which includes the cameras, a fan, and the Legion logo with RGB lighting. A cooling vent can be seen towards the edge of the device. Lenovo has revealed that the Legion 2 Pro features a 64-megapixel OmniVision sensor with a lens size of 1/1.32-inch. It is capable of shooting 30fps 8K videos and 120fps 4K videos.

The Legion 2 Pro sports a full-screen design on the front as there is no punch-hole or a notch on its display. Like the predecessor model, it features a side-mounted selfie camera. The Legion 2 Pro features a massive 6.92-inch AMOLED display that supports a 144Jz refresh rate and a 720Hz touch sampling rate, and a 3.8ms touch response rate. As far as the front camera is concerned, the company has already confirmed that it will be flaunting a 44-megapixel selfie camera.

The Snapdragon 888 mobile platform is present under the hood of the Legion 2 Pro smartphone. The handset is expected to arrive in multiple variants like 12 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 16 GB RAM and 512 GB of storage. For heat dissipation, the handset is equipped with a dual-turbo cooling fan.

The Legion 2 Pro will draw power from a massive 5,500mAh battery. With dual USB-C ports, the handset will carry support for up to 90W fast charging. There is no word on the pricing of the device.

(source 1, 2)

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Carmaker Genesis broke the Guinness World Record for the most drones in the sky

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in various applications has increased in recent years. Companies and individuals are deploying drones in growing numbers for drone shows and several other activities, deploying thousands of drones for product publicity or showcase of one thing or the other.Genesis

Carmaker Genesis chose a drone show to mark its entrance into the Chinese auto market while also smashing the Guinness World Record for the most unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky at the same time. The Genesis brand, owned by Hyundai, entered the China market with a bang, as it used a total of 3,281 drones to make a visual display of its logo over the Shanghai skyline on March 29, 2021. Genesis broke a six-month-old record by Shenzhen Damoda Intelligent Control Technology, who had set the record with 3,051 drones in September 2020. Chipmaker Intel held the record with 2066 drones until 2020.

The beautiful display over Shanghai was a clear statement by Genesis that it intends to approach the Chinese market with energy, color, and innovation, as it moves to have a market share in the world’s biggest automobile market. Such publicity stunts are the outcomes of well-choreographed and synchronized drone systems deployed and controlled via choreography software that forms the shape without drones crashing into themselves.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, especially drones, are presently being used in several applications, including agriculture, security surveillance, photography, and the publicity angle is also growing with drone shows featuring thousands of drones. We expect to see more companies aiming for the current record of the most drones in the sky held by Genesis. The coming months will reveal the depth of the drone record by Genesis. 

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Juho Sarvikas takes on a new role as Qualcomm VP and President of North America

For those wondering where HMD Global’s former Chief Product Officer, Juho Sarvikas, is heading to, following his exit from the phone company last month, then we have an answer.

Juho Sarvikas featured

A tweet by Jim Cathey, a Senior Vice President and President of Global Business at Qualcomm has announced that the former HMD Global senior executive will be joining the San Diego-based tech company. In the tweet, it is revealed that Mr. Sarvikas will join Qualcomm as VP and President of North America.

Juho Sarvikas also confirmed the news in a quoted tweet and added that he will resume at Qualcomm on April 12. He has also changed his Twitter bio to reflect his new role.

A little over a week ago, Juho Sarvikas announced on Twitter that he was leaving Nokia and HMD after 15 years. Under his leadership as Chief Product Officer, HMD Global announced several Nokia-branded Android smartphones and feature phones. It also released modern versions of classic Nokia phones such as the Nokia 3310, Nokia 8110 4G, and Nokia 5310. Before his resignation from the company, he was also the VP of HMD Global North America.

 

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Sony Xperia 1 III and 10 III design renders revealed yet again by case maker Olixar

Sony is holding a new Xperia Product launch event on April 14 and it is expected to unveil Xperia 1 III, 10 III, and a compact phone. Now, accessory maker Olixar has listed the cases of Xperia 1 III and 10 III along with their design renders.

*CAD Renders of Xperia 1 III, 10 III, Credits: Steve(@Onleaks)

The case maker has put up listings of the Xperia 1 III and 10 III clear cases on its official website for $8.99. Along with that, we also see the designs of the new smartphones. These resemble the CAD renders of Steve(@Onleaks).

The design not only reveals the rear finish but also the change in the new camera setup. As you can see below, the renders on the Xperia 1 III case listing shows the new Periscope Telephoto lens and a ZEISS T* logo on the camera setup. Apart from this, we have similar I/O placements including the 3.5mm headphone jack.

As mentioned above, the Olixar website also shows the design of Xperia 10 III which is again similar to the CAD renders that leaked in January. That being said, the website has already listed few Genuine leather wallet stand cases for $25.99. Do note that the prices could just be placeholders so let’s wait for the official launch.

Leaks so far say that Xperia 1 III will feature a 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display,  Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 12/16GB RAM, and storage up to 512GB, Triple-cameras with 64MP main, 12MP periscope telephoto lens capable of 60x lossless zoom, ZEISS T coating, 5,000mAh battery with 65W charging, and $1,370 price tag.

The mid-range Xperia 10 III, on the other hand, could have a 6-inch screen, Snapdragon 690 chipset, sleek 8.4mm in thickness, triple-camera with 12MP main lens, 8MP selfie shooter.

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OPPO A74 and OPPO A74 5G get a quiet launch across Asian markets

The OPPO A74 and OPPO A74 5G smartphones have been quietly unveiled in various markets across Asia. The two phones join the trend of smartphones that come in 4G and 5G versions.

OPPO A74 4G

OPPO A74 4G

The OPPO A74 4G is a Snapdragon 662-powered phone with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display that boasts an FHD+ resolution but skips a high refresh rate. There is a punch hole at the top left corner of the screen that is home to a 16MP sensor.

You get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. On the back are three cameras – a 48MP main sensor, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro camera.

Under the rear plate is a 5000mAh battery that supports 33W fast wired charging. You get a USB-C port and audio jack but no NFC. There is also an in-display fingerprint scanner. OPPO ships it with ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11 out of the box and there is a Game Mode that increases the touch sampling rate from 135Hz to 180Hz.

OPPO A74 all colors

The phone is already listed for purchase in two stores in The Philippines and is also listed on the OPPO Cambodia official website. In The Philippines, the OPPO A74 is priced at PHP 12,000 (~$248) and is available in Prism Black and Midnight Blue. It can be pre-ordered on Lazada and Shopee.

 

OPPO A74 5G featured

OPPO A74 5G

The OPPO A75 5G also has a punch hole at the left corner of the screen. It is 6.5-inches in size and has a 90Hz refresh rate. We are not sure if it is AMOLED or LCD but the phone has its fingerprint scanner on the side where it doubles as the power button.

For the processor, you get the Snapdragon 480 5G chipset and it is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There are four cameras on the back – a 48MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide angle camera, and two 2MP cameras. The selfie camera is a 16MP sensor, the same as that of the 4G version.

You also get a 5000mAh battery but slower charging at 18W. The OPPO A74 5G runs ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11 out of the box. It is available in Fluid Black and Space Silver.

The phone is available for ฿8,999 (~$288) on Shopee and you get a free throw pillow and a portable rechargeable fan.

 

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iGear launches the RazorBeat wireless soundbar in India for Rs. 2000 (~$27)

Smartphone accessories maker iGear has unveiled the iGear RazorBeat wireless soundbar for the Indian market. The RazorBeat wireless speaker was first available in February 2021 and is now on sale via Amazon India and Flipkart for about Rs. 2000 (~$27).iGear RazorBeat

The affordable and versatile RazorBeat soundbar features a sleek and lightweight design, 10W sound output, an in-built subwoofer system, and a 1,500 mAh rechargeable battery which can provide up to five hours of non-stop entertainment on a full charge. The wireless speaker comes with multiple input channels (Bluetooth, USB, AUX, SD card, and FM), thus providing a high level of versatility for the device, whose design and lightweight properties make it a great addition to the sitting room.

iGear chief executive Kamlesh Sharma says the RazorBeat soundbar could boost the audio performance of an array of smart gadgets to a whole new level when interfaced with the RazorBeat soundbar. Sharma stressed that the iGear RazorBeat smart wireless speaker produces razor-sharp sound and superior bass, bringing a theatre-like sound experience for users with the subwoofer system. The iGear RazorBeat wireless soundbar can also operate as a standalone portable audio system and an easy interface for other systems.

The iGear RazorBeat soundbar can operate within a wireless range of 10 meters, and it will blend into your house stylishly. The iGear RazorBeat soundbar may not withstand contact with water and could mainly be used indoors or in situations where it can not come in contact with water while being used outdoors.iGear RazorBeat wireless soundbar

Interested customers can get a 33% discount when purchasing the iGear RazorBeat soundbar from Amazon India or Flipkart within this week. The original price of the iGear RazorBeat wireless speaker with 10W power output is Rs. 3000, so any buyer of the smart speaker this week will have an Rs. 1000 saving.

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ZTE Axon 30 listed on Jingdong ahead of launch

Chinese tech giant ZTE is expected to officially unveil its first flagship phone of 2021 later this month. The Axon 30 is tipped to go official in China on April 30. Ahead of the launch, a product page for the smartphone has appeared on  ZTE’s Jingdong (JD.com) official flagship store.ZTE Axon 30

The product page is devoid of any specs of the smartphone and even the pricing details. Instead, a placeholder image of a smartphone covered by a veil. We’ll still have to wait until the official launch to find out some of the details and retail price of the smartphone.

Since the start of this month, ZTE has consistently been releasing teasers of the Axon 30 series. However, we still have to piece the details of the series from leaks and the teasers. The Axon 30 series is expected to include the Axon 30, Axon 30 Pro, and Axon 30 Pro+.

It is expected to pack Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 chip and will also feature an improved under-screen front camera with the display panel manufactured by Visionox. Since it is a flagship device, the display will have a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 360Hz. The Axon 30 series will come with a powerful triple camera setup which the company dubbed Trinity Triple camera system. The setup is made up of three 64MP sensors and a fourth “auxiliary sensor”.

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Infinix to launch two 5G smartphones in India after June, more Smart TVs coming as well

Infinix is one of Transsion Holdings Ltd.‘s brand that emphasizes more on markets like India. Apart from entry-level and budget smartphones, it is also looking to bring 5G devices to India as CEO Anish Kapoor has revealed to Gizbot that two 5G smartphones are coming after June to India.

Infinix Logo Featured

Anish says that Infinix is planning to bring two 5G smartphones to India after June. This suggests that the devices could launch as soon as H2 kicks in. He also says that the devices will be powered by MediaTek chipsets.

Infinix has been a long-time partner of the Taiwanese giant and devices like gaming-focussed Infinix Zero 8, and 8i and recent budget Smart 5 speak of their partnership.

Anyway, Anish has neither confirmed the naming or the name of the chipsets but it could very well be the Dimensity 800U chipset. This is because, he has said that the devices should be above ₹15,000 price bracket, and recently, the above-mentioned 5G chipset is dominating the segment.

That’s not all as Infinix is also said to launch 4-5 devices in the Note and Hote series in addition to diving deep into the Smart TVs segment(40, 55-inch TVs incoming). Out of this, if you ask us whose launch is closer, it has already scheduled a launch event on April 19 and is unveiling the Hot 10 Play in India.

Infinix has also partnered with e-commerce giant Flipkart before and we can expect these products to continue to sell on it. Either way, let’s wish the company good luck and grab a big bite of the market share in 2021.

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Nokia C20 stops at Bluetooth SIG before the expected launch on April 8

HMD Global is holding a not-so-regular launch event on April 8. As per various reports, it is going to revamp the Nokia smartphone naming scheme and bring new ones like Nokia G10, G20, X10, X20. Alongside these devices, it is also expected to bring a Nokia C20 and now, the device has appeared on Bluetooth SIG certification.

Representative image: Nokia C3

As reported by MySmartPrice, four models of HMD Global Oy smartphones TA-1339, TA-1348, TA-1352, TA-1356 appear on the Bluetooth SIG website. All of them are certified as Nokia C20.

If you recall, an exclusive report by nokiapoweruser said that Nokia C20 might accompany the April 8 event of HMD Global. The specs leaked by the report suggested that the device could be another entry-level offering like the Nokia 1.xx series.

Coming back, the listing further shows the required QDID design is from the Unisoc (Shanghai) Technologies Co Ltd., but it doesn’t explicitly confirm anything about the processor inside.

Previously, Nokia has used the Chinese semiconductor maker UNISOC chipsets on Nokia C3 so it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the Nokia C20 indeed has one. Speaking of which, the Nokia C20 is expected to arrive with 1GB RAM and 16GB internal storage variant.

Amidst reports of it running the Android 11 Go edition, it has been spotted on HTML5 test page shows running Android 11 OS. Apart from this, you can expect the Nokia C20 to launch in two colors – Blue and Sand options.

Last but not the least, Nokia C20 is said to retail somewhere around 89 euros(~$106). This is almost closer to the price of the Nokia C3 which launched for a price of 669 yuan($101) in China.

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Google Translate hits 1 billion downloads on the Play Store

Almost all Google apps and services are popular among the masses. The primary reason is that they are free to use. But above all, they are also the best in the segment, in addition to not being premium. Hence, Google Translate has been the undefeated translation service since its inception. Now, more than a decade after its introduction, the Google Translate Android app has hit a huge milestone.

Google Translate Logo Featured

The Google Translate Android application was released in January 2010. Over the years, the app was updated with new features and UI like any other popular app that has survived a decade.

Now, 11 years and 3 months after its release, the Google Translate app has reached over 1 billion downloads on the Google Play Store. These installs come from users and not OEMs as this application is not part of the mandatory GMS (Google Mobile Services) core apps package.

Anyway, it is not surprising since it has been over a decade since the Google Translate Android app was introduced. Most importantly, there aren’t any better applications out there whether free or paid.

As of now, the Google Translated Android application supports 109 languages, transcription, pronunciation, offline translation,  camera translation, dark mode, and more.

 

 

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Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G vs POCO X3 Pro vs OPPO Find X3 Lite: Specs Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite launched in the global market in two variants: Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite and Mi 11 Lite 5G. The latter is the first phone ever with the all-new Snapdragon 780G: the best Qualcomm’s offering for the mid-range segment. But the chipset is not everything on a phone and having such a great SoC does not necessarily make the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G the best midrange out there. For this comparison, we chose two of the best mid-rangers sold in the global market in order to establish if the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is able to compete for the title of best mid-ranger of 2021: POCO X3 Pro and OPPO Find X3 Lite. Let’s discover who is better on the paper through a specs comparison.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G vs Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro vs OPPO Find X3 Lite

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro OPPO Find X3 Lite
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 160.5 x 75.7 x 6.8 mm, 159 g 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm, 215 g 159.1 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm, 172 g
DISPLAY  6.55 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED  6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD  6.43 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), OLED
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 780G, octa-core 2.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 860, octa-core 2.96 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, octa-core 2.4 GHz
MEMORY 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot  8 GB RAM, 128 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 11, MIUI Android 11, MIUI for POCO  Android 11, ColorOS
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS
CAMERA Triple 64 + 8  + 5 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
20 MP f/2.2 front camera
Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
Single 20 MP f/2.2 front camera
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP  camera, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
32 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY  4250 mAh, fast charging 33W  5160 mAh, fast charging 33W  4300 mAh, fast charging 65W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G 5G, Dual SIM slot Dual SIM slot, 5G, reverse charging

Design

The design of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is very attractive because it has one of the thinnest and most lightweight bodies in the whole smartphone market. The OPPO Find X3 Lite is another incredibly thin phone and it is even more compact than Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, but the Xiaomi’s mid-ranger is thinner and lighter. However, I personally prefer the OPPO Find X3 Lite due to its premium materials. The POCO X3 Pro is bigger, uglier, and thicker than both its rivals, so it loses the design comparison.

 

Display

With the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite, you get the most advanced display on paper. The AMOLED panel of this phone is able to show up to one billion colors, it supports the HDR10+ certification and it has a 90 Hz refresh rate. The OPPO Find X3 Lite comes right after with an AMOLED panel providing a very nice color reproduction, high brightness, and 90 Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, with the POCO X3 Pro, you get an inferior IPS display with less brilliant colors, but you have a 120 Hz refresh rate. However, an IPS panel like this can not compete with the AMOLED displays of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G and the OPPO Find X3 Lite.

 

Hardware/Software

The most powerful hardware setup belongs to the POCO X3 Pro which packs the high-end Snapdragon 860 processor paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal UFS 3.1 storage. However, the POCO X3 Pro is the only one of the trio to lack 5G connectivity. If you want the most powerful phone with 5G, then you should go for the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G powered by the Snapdragon 780G paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and UFS 2.2 internal storage. It has less impressive performance than a flagship killer like the POCO X3 Pro, but at least you get 5G. All the phones are based on Android 11.

 

Camera

The best camera phone of this trio is the OPPO Find X3 Lite. On the rear side, it has a quad camera including a 64 MP main sensor with bright f/1.7 focal aperture, an 8 MP ultrawide camera, and a pair of 2 MP sensors for macros and depth. Even the front camera is better with its 32 MP resolution. The silver medal goes to Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G sporting a 64 MP triple camera with the best macro sensor, as well as a 20 MP front camera.

 

Battery

The POCO X3 Pro packs the biggest battery (the capacity is 5160 mAh) and it provides the longest battery life. But with the OPPO Find X3 Lite, you get a faster charging technology with 65W power and the support of reverse charging.

 

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G vs Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro vs OPPO Find X3 Lite: Price

The price of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G for the global market is €369/$435, OPPO Find X3 Lite costs €499/$589, and POCO X3 Pro costs €279/$329. The winner of the comparison for most of the users should be Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite due to its impressive display, good value for money, great chipset. But if the price of the OPPO Find X3 Lite drops, it may represent a better choice thanks to its faster charging technology, better cameras. Despite its huge battery and amazing hardware, the POCO X3 Pro loses due to the lack of an AMOLED display and a 5G modem. But its price is a lot more affordable.

 

 

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G vs Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro vs OPPO Find X3 Lite: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G

PROS

  • 5G
  • Great AMOLED display
  • Gorilla Glass 6
  • Thin and lightweight

CONS

  • Nothing particular

 

Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro

PROS

  • Powerful chipset
  • Huge battery
  • IP53 certification
  • Wider display
  • Gorilla Glass 6

CONS

  • IPS display
  • No 5G

 

OPPO Find X3 Lite

PROS

  • Good design
  • 65W fast charging
  • Best cameras
  • Reverse charging

CONS

  • Less powerful chipset

 

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Realme 8 5G and Realme 8 Pro 5G expected to launch soon in India, vanilla model’s image emerge

Last month, Realme announced the Realme 8 and Realme 8 Pro smartphones in India. It was recently confirmed by Realme CEO Madhav Sheth that India will be soon treated with new phones like Realme 8 5G and Realme 8i. Fresh information reveals that the company is also planning to launch the Realme 8 Pro 5G in India.

As it can be seen above, in a response to a Twitter user, Realme India’s support team revealed that the company has already planned to launch Realme 8 and 8 Pro 5G soon in India. The Realme 8 5G is the Realme RMX3241 smartphone that was recently certification by regulatory bodies like India’s BIS, Thailand’s NTBC, and the FCC in the U.S. recently.

The Realme 8 5G is now listed  on the Peruvian MTC certification platform. The listing includes a couple of render of the Realme 8 5G. The handset can be seen sporting a quad-camera setup. The “Dare to Leap” branding with a holographic background can be seen on the right side of the phone’s back. While the front design of the phone is not known yet, it is speculated that it could be featuring an OLED screen with an in-screen fingerprint reader.

Realme 8 5G

The FCC listing of the phone revealed that it has 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5mm dimensions and it weighs 185 grams. The phone runs on Realme UI 2.0 based Android 11 OS and it is backed by a 5,000mAh battery. It offers connectivity options like 5G, Wi-fi 802.11ac, GPS, GLONASS, BDS, NFC, and 5G. There is no information available on the specs of the Realme 8 Pro 5G.

Recently. Sheth said, “We will have a Realme 8 5G version soon (but not so early). We have to understand that adding 5G with these features will incur additional costs.” Hence, it appears that the Realme 8 5G may launch by the end of this month. It is unclear whether the Pro model will also go official alongside it.

(via 1, 2)

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Redmi gaming smartphone will have support for 65W fast charging

It is no longer news that Redmi will be launching its first gaming smartphone this year. According to reports, it may even be announced this month. The smartphone which will have a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor under its hood will also have support for “ultra-fast charging”.

According to the Chinese blogger that goes by “Super Leo_” on Weibo, the Redmi gaming smartphone will support “65W ultra-fast flash charge”. This will be the first Redmi phone to support this charging protocol and also the fastest charging Redmi smartphone.

Redmi Gaming Smartphone fast charging

The post also included some other details we already know such as a Samsung E4 AMOLED screen with a centered punch hole and a 5000mAh battery capacity. He also adds that the Redmi gaming smartphone will likely have a ¥2000 (~$305) starting price. There is still a lot we do not know about the phone but more details should surface as its release date draws closer.

For those outside China who look forward to its global release, it has been reported that it may arrive under the POCO brand much like how the Redmi K40 is sold as the POCO F3 outside China.

 

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Upcoming Redmi gaming phone with Dimensity 1200 could be rebranded as POCO handset in India