OnePlus Watch will go on open sale in India on April 22 for Rs. 12,999 (~$172)

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Apr 15, 2021

OnePlus recently launched the OnePlus Watch alongside the OnePlus 9 series. The watch is the brand’s first smartwatch and it has been received with mixed reactions. OnePlus is now set to launch the smartwatch for sale in India for the first time. The watch will go on sale first starting from April 21 on the brand’s exclusive Red Cable Club. On April 22, the smartwatch will then be on open sale via online and offline channels in India including Amazon.in.

The OnePlus Watch Classic Edition is available in both Midnight Black and Moonlight Silver colors and uses a Fluoroelastomer strap. This edition, which is the one that would go on sale soon, carries a price tag of Rs. 14,999 (~$199). However, OnePlus will be offering an instant discount of Rs. 2,000 for SBI credit card users and EMI transactions. This offer will run until April 30, 2021, so the effective price of the smartwatch during this period will be Rs. 12,999 (~$172).

As a reminder, the OnePlus Watch features a 1.39-inch AMOLED display and has an HD resolution of 454×454 pixels and 326 PPI. The round watch dial is covered by a 2.5D curved glass. The watch utilizes a 46mm frame made from 316L stainless steel with two buttons on the sides with one of them having the OnePlus’ logo. The smartwatch also features a Fluoroelastomer strap and you can use third-party straps if you want.

The OnePlus Watch is powered by an STM32 chipset paired with 1GB RAM and there is 4GB of internal storage onboard. It equally comes with the usual sensors such as Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic sensor, Barometer, Blood Oxygen sensor, Optical heart rate sensor, Ambient light sensors. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou.

The OnePlus Watch can also track stress levels, heart rate (PPG), sleep, and Blood Oxygen levels (SpO2), 110+ workout modes. Other features include smartphone notifications, receiving calls, as well as SMS. You also get more than 50 watch faces onboard.

The watch is said to come with both 5ATM and IP68 water and dust protection properties. Perhaps, another impressive feature is the ability to use the watch as a remote controller to control OnePlus TVs. It equally packs a linear motor onboard used for haptic feedback.

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Huawei to launch new tablet on the same day as Apple’s April 20 event

By

Sean

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Apr 15, 2021

Huawei is gearing up for the launch of its new tablet. The company will be unveiling the new device on its 20th April 2021 event, which is also the same day when Apple is set to hold its next Special Event.

According to a NotebookCheck report, the Cupertino based giant recently revealed the date when it will announce new products soon. In this event, it is expected that the company will offer a first look at the 2021 iPad models. But it seems that Huawei is also looking to launch its own new tablet on the same date as well. This clash in dates might be on purpose, with the Chinese tech giant being confident about its upcoming tablet.

The new tab from Huawei is likely the MatePad Pro 2, which has recently been rumored to arrive with a Kirin 9000 processor. This tablet would also sport a large 12.2 inch OLED display from Samsung along with support for 5G networking as well. Notably, the MatePad Pro 2 could possibly launch with HarmonyOS out of the box. For those unaware, this is a proprietary operating system developed by the Chinese consumer electronics maker.

This software might be exclusive to the Chinese market. Unfortunately, finer details regarding the MatePad Pro 2 is currently unknown. Furthermore, we would have to wait for the April 20 event to know more regarding both launch conferences. So stay tuned for more, as we will be covering the events and offer updates when additional updates are available regarding the new launches.

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iQOO T could be the brand’s next phone for India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 15, 2021

Chinese handset maker iQOO will be launching the iQOO 7 series in India on April 26. Recently, we learned that the iQOO 7 heading to India is basically a rebranded iQOO Neo5. Now, another interesting piece of information pops up on the internet regarding the brand’s possible upcoming phone for the country.

iQOO U1 Xing Yaolan Blue Featured — iQOO U1

According to a report by MySmartPrice, a smartphone called iQOO T may soon launch in India. This device has been spotted on the Indian IMEI database. As per the listing, it will be a 4G-only handset with model number V2019A.

The last time we heard about iQOO V2019A was in July 2020. This device was supposed to launch as the cheapest 5G smartphone back then. But that never happened. Instead, the company released a phone called iQOO U1 (V2023A) with a similar set of specifications, however, without 5G support.

We once again looked at TENAA for this handset and found that it was re-certified in November. Weirdly, the certification is only valid until May 23 and it has images of the phone with vivo branding.

vivo V2019A TENAA Featured — vivo V2019A | Source: TENAA

This means either vivo dropped iQOO branding in the middle of development or this device was meant to release as a vivo smartphone since the beginning. The biggest question is whether this handset will ever hit the market in China since its certification expires next month.

On the other hand, as mentioned in the beginning, the V2019A has been registered as iQOO T in India with 4G connectivity. Looks like iQOO will be disabling the device’s 5G capabilities as it did with iQOO 3.

Anyway, we are not sure if and when iQOO T will launch in India. Perhaps, the phone may never release in the country.

Facebook signs deal in India to buy renewable energy

By

Sean

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Apr 15, 2021

Facebook has just signed a new deal in India. This deal will have the company buy renewable energy from local firm’s wind project, marking the social media giant’s first such deal in the South Asian region.

According to a Reuters report, the company is striking a deal with CleanMax. This deal is related to the latter’s 32 megawatt wind power project, which is located in Karnataka, India. This location is also a part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects from the social media giant and the Mumbai based CleanMax. Both firms are working together on supplying renewable power power into India’s electrical grid, as per a joint statement from the companies.

CleanMax will own and operate the projects, meanwhile, Facebook will buy the power off the grid off the grid using using environmental attribute certificates, or carbon credits. Urvi Parekh, Facebook’s head of renewable energy, stated that the company doesn’t own power plants, but has signed long term electricity purchasing agreements with renewable power based firms. She added that the deal would “enables the project to seek out the financing that it would need.”

Similarly, Facebook has also announced a similar partnership deals with energy providers like Sunseap Group, Terrenus Energy and Sembcorp Industries in Singapore for projects that can produce 160 MW of solar power. Notably, Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s CEO, had also announced that Facebook’s global operations are now wholly supported by renewable energy and that it has reached net zero emissions.

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Realme Q3 to feature Dimensity 1100 SoC and 65W fast charging: Report

By

Sean

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Apr 15, 2021

Realme has been reported to be working on a new mid range smartphone for a while now. This device will be a part of the company’s Q series of handsets and will reportedly feature MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chipset and 65W fast charging.

According to a MyDrivers report, the Chinese tech giant will be launching a cost effective yet capable smartphone. This device will be within 2,000 Yuan (roughly 300 US Dollars), despite its 5G enabled Dimensity 1100 chipset. As per a Weibo blogger (a Chinese microblogging website) @公然熊猫 , the device will arrive with a 120Hz high refresh rate and will be powered by a large 4,500mAh battery pack that supports fast charging. The tipster also added that the company might also include a 65W fast charger in the box.

The model of the device is currently unknown, but it is rumored to be the Realme Q3. The mid range handset from the Chinese tech giant will arrive with a quad camera setup on the rear and will feature a stylish design overall. We had previously reported on the company’s plans to launch an affordable device, which will strike a balance between price and performance. The Dimensity 1100 SoC is built with a new 6nm EUV process and is capable of 5G networking.

Furthermore, the device will likely arrive with current gen specifications like UFS 3.1 storage, LPDDR4X RAM, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and other such features. Notably, the performance of Dimensity 1100 is said to surpass the Snapdragon 870 in multi core tests. Thus, we can expect the device to offer robust performance for its rumored price tag. So, stay tuned for more updates.

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XPeng P5 Smart EV announced; powered by LiDAR-equipped XPILOT 3.5 and Xmart OS 3.0

By

Jeet

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Apr 15, 2021

XPeng Motors, a China-based electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Guangzhou, has announced its third production model named XPeng P5. It is touted to be the world’s first smart car to be equipped with automotive-grade LiDAR technology.

The company has also announced that the car will bring Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP) capabilities to city roads for the first time in a production vehicle, which is powered by XPeng’s full-stack in-house developed autonomous driving system XPILOT 3.5.

The P5 is the first vehicle in its class to pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon flagship SA8155P auto-grade computing platform, which is said to be three times more powerful than the previous generation. It ensures seamless user control and interaction to assist, inform, and entertain drivers and passengers.

It measures 4808mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2768mm. The company adds that the car’s sleek aerodynamic profile is complemented by a neat fastback with an unobtrusive ducktail. There’s also a 1.493 sqm transparent panoramic canopy glass roof that offers uninterrupted views.

The car also comes with double-prism LiDAR units that are capable to distinguish pedestrians, cyclists, and scooters, static obstacles, and road works, in challenging scenarios such as night and low-light conditions, backlighting, and alternating light and dark illumination in tunnels.

This new electric vehicle is positioned as a family-friendly car and comes with some cutting-edge technology along with superior user-centric and intuitive in-car features. The XPILOT 3.5 system powers smart driving and the latest Xmart OS 3.0 delivers smart interaction, a combination that the company believes will be a gamechanger.

XPeng’s proprietary XPILOT 3.5 architecture comprises 32 perception sensors (including 2 LiDAR units, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 13 high-resolution cameras) and 1 high-precision positioning unit (GNSS + IMU), integrated into 360° dual-perception fusion to provide sufficient redundancy across the perception sensors to handle challenging and complex road conditions.

The Xmart OS 3.0, the company’s in-car operation system offers an advanced digital cockpit for next-generation user-vehicle interaction. It supports full-scenario all-voice interaction, answering complex needs of driver-vehicle and passenger-vehicle interaction.

The XPeng P5 will be featured at Auto Shanghai 2021 on 19th April 2021 with more details of its specifications, performance, pricing, and availability.

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TSMC records 19% Q1 profit growth, believes chip shortage will last into 2022

By

Sean

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Apr 15, 2021

Earlier today (15th April 2021), TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd) said that it is working on increasing its productivity to help ease the shortage of semiconductors across the globe. But, due to tight supply, the shortage is expected to continue into the next year.

According to a Reuters report, the company made the announcement of expanding its capacity and working on keeping prices reasonable at an earnings briefing. In this report, the world’s largest contract chip maker marked a rise of 19.4 percent of its profits in the first quarter of this year. This figure was higher than previous estimates and is likely due to the strong chip demand, which is due to a shift of remote working and online education. TSMC’s net profit for Q1 2021 was 139.7 billion Yuan (roughly 4.93 billion US Dollars).

The firm also added that it has already flagged “multiple years of growth opportunities” as the coronavirus pandemic drove the demand up for advanced chips to power devices like smartphones and laptops. Initially, the company’s business surged by the chip shortage that had impacted the automobile industry, which forced them to cut production, but now, the shortage is also affecting other markets like smartphones, laptops, and even home appliances and other consumer electronic products.

Furthermore, TSMC stated that the chip shortage that is affecting its automaking clients at the moment will be greatly reduced from the next quarter. The company’s vice president and CFO Wendell Huang added that “Our first-quarter business was supported by HPC-related demand, balanced by a milder smartphone seasonality than in recent years. Moving into second quarter 2021, we expect our revenue to be flattish, as HPC-related demand will continue to grow, offset by smartphone seasonality.”

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OnePlus 9R launched in China for 2,999 Yuan (~$459)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 15, 2021

OnePlus 9R 5G launched in China for 2,999 Yuan (~$459)

The OnePlus 9R gaming-focused smartphone was made official last month in India alongside the OnePlus 9 5G and OnePlus 9 Pro 5G smartphones. Today, the company held a launch event in China to announce the arrival of the OnePlus 9R.

OnePlus 9R 5G pricing in China

The OnePlus 9R 5G has arrived in China in options like 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. These models are priced at 2,999 Yuan (~$459) and 3,299 Yuan (~$505), respectively. The smartphone comes in two colors such as Black Island and Blue Island. It will go on sale from April 10 in the home market.

OnePlus 9R 5G specifications and features

The OnePlus 9R 5G features a 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED screen that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an in-screen fingerprint reader. Unlike the Indian version which runs on OxygenOS 11 based Android 11 OS, the OnePlus 9R for China boots to ColorOS 11 flavored Android 11 OS.

The OnePlus 9R draws power from the Snapdragon 870 chipset and LPDDR4x RAM. The handset offers users UFS 3.1 storage and it is backed by a 4,500mAh battery, which supports Warp Charge 65. For audiophiles, the OnePlus 9R has Dolby Atmos-powered dual stereo speakers.

On the front side of the OnePlus 9R 5G is a Sony IMX471 16-megapixel selfie camera. The rear-facing camera island has a Sony IMX586 48-megapixel primary camera with OIS and EIS support, a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens with a 123-degree FOV, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The handset is packed with connectivity features like dual SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, dual-frequency GPS, and a USB-C port.

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Xpeng Car catches fire in a charging station in China

By

Sean

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Apr 15, 2021

An electric car from Xpeng caught fire in China, earlier this week. It was the G3 model, which was parked at a charging station in the Tianhe District, Guangzhou, where it spontaneously combusted into flames.

According to a Zaobao report, the Xpeng G3 model caught fire at a charging station on 14th April 2021. The reports state that the fire was intense with a lot of white smoke being emitted. This incident also arrives on the same day the Chinese electric vehicle maker released its third new model, the Xiaopeng P5. Furthermore, the company even confirmed that the report was true and that it will be forming a team to investigate the accident and find out the cause of the fire.

Notably, the owner of the vehicle is safe and there was no harm to any other individual either. Looking at the statistics, the recent events marks the seventh accident of the company’s car since 2019. Out of this figure, two of them are related to fires as well. Unfortunately, finer details regarding the matter and the Xpeng’s investigation is still unknown at the moment. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

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iQOO 7 for India will be a rebranded iQOO Neo5

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 15, 2021

Chinese smartphone maker iQOO has scheduled to launch the iQOO 7 series in India on April 26. Ahead of the official announcement, the brand has been teasing the specs of these phones. A new promotional image on Amazon India now reveals something that was not known earlier.

iQOO Neo5 Night Shadow Black — iQOO Neo5

The sub-brand of vivo has confirmed that the upcoming iQOO 7 series for India will be priced under ₹40,000. Hence, these smartphones were thought to be the most affordable Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 devices in the country.

But now, we have learned that the standard iQOO 7 will not be the same handset that is sold in China. According to a teaser image on Amazon India, the iQOO 7 for India will be a rebranded iQOO Neo5. This makes sense why the Neo5 was certified by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards).

Hence, the iQOO 7 series for India will not only include the cheapest Snapdragon 888 phone but also the cheapest Snapdragon 870 handset as well. The duo will be competing against the likes of the OnePlus 9R, vivo X60, and the upcoming Mi 11X series in the country.

iQOO 7 India Rebranded iQOO 5 Neo — iQOO 7 Series Promotional Poster on Amazon India

Anyway, we cannot tell for sure if the iQOO 7 Indian variant will have the exact same specs as the original iQOO Neo5 sold in China. Because the iQOO 7 Legend BMW M Motorsport Edition for India has been confirmed to support only 66W fast charging instead of 120W like the original model.

Super Deal: Grab Zeblaze GTR Smartwatch for $27.99 (Original Price $55)

By

Daily Deals

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Apr 15, 2021

Banggood is giving an amazing deal on Zeblaze GTR Smartwatch. The watch which generally retails at $55 is now available at a heavily discounted price of $27.99 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Zeblaze GTR Smartwatch at $27.99 @Banggood

Zeblaze GTR features a beautifully refined metal body enclosure and a 1.3” curved glass display with full touch sensitivity. The smartwatch is powered by the all-new Goodix GR5515 chipset and gives 30 days battery life on power-saving mode and 18 days on typical usage. The average charging time for one full charge is just 1.5 hours.

Zeblaze GTR comes with a Precision Sensor Fusion Technology which helps to monitor your heart rate 24X7 and also sends you an abnormal heart rate alert. It also features a blood pressure monitor, sleep tracker, female cycle tracker, and 10 goal-based exercise modes.

Generally retailing at $55, Banggood is giving out Zeblaze GTR at a heavily discounted price of $27.99 only. This super deal which ends in the next 5 days is applicable on all three color variants viz: Black, Gold, and Silver.

So grab your discounted Zeblaze GTR 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.

Playpulse One Smart Exercise Bike lets you play games while working out

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 15, 2021

Norwegian startup Playpulse has launched its smart spin bike today and will be on sale immediately, although the first units are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2021. There is a discounted price of $1,199 when the device is pre-ordered now, but it will revert to its actual price of $1,999 when it arrives around the year’s end.

The Playpulse One smart exercise bike is a connected exercise gadget that can also serve as a streaming platform for movies and even as a gaming device via its 24-inch touchscreen display. It provides a subscription service for gym classes and a few features to spice users’ exercise experience.

However, the TV watching can be tied to a particular fitness goal during exercise such that the screen goes dark whenever the user is not keeping pace with the specified exercise regimen. A few games can be played on the Playpulse smart exercise bike, with pedaling effort the primary gaming tool. Some of the games available at launch are street racing and bumper car, while other games would debut subsequently. The user can set more demanding fitness goals, and the TV watching would be adjusted to match the user’s pace.

The bike is designed to provide a more vertical seating position, obviously to help the rider continue watching the Netflix flick or play a game while cycling. The split handlebars feature a thumbstick on the left, with four buttons on the right and hand grip-mounted heart-rate sensors to provide vital fitness data while exercising.

The smart exercise bike has a subscription service of $19.99 a month after a six-month free period, where you get to be served with exercise classes and instructions for specific fitness goals.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 concept renders showcase 200-megapixel Olympus camera module

By

Jeet

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Apr 15, 2021

The high-end specifications in flagship smartphones seem to have reached a saturation point, and now the company is focusing on the user experience. But one aspect that takes priority for many manufactures is to offer the best camera experience.

Many smartphone makers are now collaborating with camera and lens manufacturers to optimize their flagship devices’ photo-taking experience. Brands like Nokia and Huawei have been doing this for a while, but more companies are now taking this route. OnePlus recently followed suit by forming a partnership with Hasselblad for the OnePlus 9 series.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Render by Technizo Concept

South Korean giant Samsung is also rumored to partner with Japan-based Olympus for its Galaxy smartphones lineup as the company aims to improve the photography experience. It is speculated that the Galaxy S22’s camera module could be from Olympus.

LetsGoDigital has revealed concept renders of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 flagship smartphone, created by Technizo Concept. Notably, the renders are based on the rumors that Olympus and Samsung are partnering for camera performance and these are just the concept renders, meaning the actual design could differ from this.

It shows a larger 200-megapixel primary camera sensor on a rectangular module placed in the top-left corner. There are a few other sensors that sit below the primary sensor. The larger lens could drastically improve the photo quality as it can capture more light. Recently, Samsung had also teased that it is developing a 200-megapixel image sensor as the successor of the 108-megapixel sensor found in the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

It is believed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, the company’s upcoming foldable smartphone slated to launch in July or August this year, could be the first device to feature a camera module designed under the partnership of Samsung and Olympus.

While rumors and reports about this partnership with Samsung and Olympus keep surfacing online, both the company are yet to confirm this. We speculate that the company could announce this at the upcoming ‘Galaxy Unpacked’ event scheduled on 28th April.

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Epic Games raises $1 billion funding round, including $200 million from Sony

By

Jeet

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Apr 15, 2021

Epic Games, creator of the famous ‘Fortnite’ game, has announced that it has raised $1 billion in a new funding round which also saw an investment of $200 million from Sony. This isn’t the first investment of Sony in Epic Games as the Japanese company had invested $250 million last year.

The gaming company reveals that with this new round of funding, it is now valued at $28.7 billion. The capital will be used by the company to build social experiences into Epic’s popular Fortnite and Rocket League games.

The latest funding comes as Epic Games and Apple are fighting a legal battle following the gaming company’s effort to avoid paying a 30 percent App Store fee as it launched its own in-app payment system. After that move, Apple banned Fortnite from its App Store and is also trying to defend antitrust allegations.

Epic Games has accused Apple of trapping people in its mobile device world and collecting “outsized commission” on the App Store that serves as the only source of digital content. On the other hand, Apple is countering that it has no monopoly when it comes to digital games. It remains to be seen which company wins this battle.

The company has launched its free-to-play battle-royal video game ‘Fortnite’ in 2017 and since then the game has seen a huge following among young gamers. It has more than 160 million users on its PC store. Prior to this funding round, the company had raised $3.4 billion, including a $1.78 billion round last August.

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Samsung & LG win multiple awards at the 2021 iF & Red Dot Design awards

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 15, 2021

Samsung Electronics has again reaffirmed its leadership slot in terms of innovation in the tech industry with its latest run at the iF Design Award 2021. The company disclosed in a post that it received a staggering 71 awards at the popular award.

The Korean tech giant clinched two Gold Awards and these are part of a total of 36 prizes the company grabbed for Product Design. The company also clinched 10 awards for Professional Concepts, 11 for Communication Design, 5 for Packaging Design, and 9 for User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and Service Design.

The main highlight is the Samsung BESPOKE AX90000N air purifier which got the Gold Award honors alongside the BESPOKE City Color Edition. The air purifier is acknowledged for its innovative concept which gives consumers the leverage to choose the purifier’s front part design based on the consumers’ lifestyle.

In addition, the BESPOKE City Color Edition panel collection was noted for its range of colors and materials for kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, induction cooktops, and others. The colour palettes offered by the BESPOKE City Color Edition are inspired by various cities such as Stockholm, Berlin, and Seoul.

Samsung’s latest QLED 8K TV led the awards in the Product category. Apart from the QLED TV, several other Samsung designs clinched different awards such as The Premiere premium home projector equipped with Triple Laser and Ultra Short Throw technology. Others include the WW8000T Washer & DV8000T Dryer that can be stacked vertically, horizontally, or as a stand-alone to suit the available space. The Galaxy Z Fold2 and Galaxy Z Flip foldable smartphones were also award winners in the product category.

In a related development, LG also announced that it received a total of 31 different awards in this year’s Red Dot Award. LG’s award was for its innovative home appliances including air purifiers and refrigerators.

LG’s new home appliance line LG Objet Collection accounted for six awards at the competition, with recognition in the materials and surfaces category for their implementation of color, material, and finish, LG disclosed.

Apart from the Red Dot awards, LG also reportedly won 28 different awards at the German iF Design Awards. The products that won awards include LG’s home brew machine, wearable air purifier and Micro LED signage.

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(source 1, 2)

Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) with improved ANC, better design launched for $99

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 15, 2021

Amazon has unveiled the all-new Echo Buds (2^nd Gen) wireless earbuds in the U.S. The new earbuds offer users improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and promises a long-lasting battery life. In terms of design, the 2^nd generation Echo Buds are 21 percent smaller than the predecessor version. It features a shorter nozzle for enhanced comfort and a vent for reducing in-ear pressure.

The new Echo Buds come with four oval-shaped ear tips and a pair of wingtips. It has a matte finish and comes in black color only. With an IPX4 rating, it is designed to withstand damage from water splashes.

The 2^nd generation Echo Buds features a 5.7mm dynamic driver that promises increased bass and treble fidelity. Each earbud has 3 microphones for improved ANC that helps in cutting down background noise. It offers a Passthrough Mode that helps users to hear the ambient noise. The company claims that it is equipped with an advanced chipset for enhanced experience while using Alexa and ANC.

While it supports touch controls, users can rely on Alexa for a hands-free experience while skipping songs, increasing volume, and so on. Alexa’s assistance can be used for various tasks like starting a call and setting up a reminder. Later this year, Amazon will add a VIP Filter function that will allow users to select the notifications that they want to listen to. It also supports other voice assistants like Google Assistant and Siri.

Coming to the battery life, charging the case for 15 minutes will bring two hours of playback time. Once charged, the new Echo Buds can offer up to 5 hours of music playback with ANC and handsfree Alexa. The battery life increases to 6.5 hours for music playback when ANC and handsfree Alexa are disabled. The charging has LED lights for each earbud.

Amazon Echo Buds (2^nd Gen) pricing and availability

The Echo Buds (2^nd Gen) with USB-C charging case is priced at $119, whereas it costs $139.99 for an upgraded case with wireless charging support. For a limited period of time, both models are available for $99 and $119. The sales of the Echo Buds (2^nd Gen) will begin on May 13 in the U.S.

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Galaxy Book Pro 360 new renders appear ahead of April 28 launch event

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 15, 2021

Yesterday, Samsung confirmed that it will be holding a launch event on April 28. Speculations are rife that the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event could see the arrival of the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360. Ahead of the launch event, reputed tipster Evan Blass has shared new renders of the Galaxy Book Pro 360 to showcase its 2-in-1 convertible design.

While the Galaxy Book Pro is expected to arrive as a conventional laptop, the Galaxy Book Pro 360w will be a 2-in-1 convertible model with a touchscreen and S Pen stylus support. The renders show that the device is equipped with a pair of USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and an HDMI slot. On the other side, the Galaxy Book Pro features the same connectivity options except for the USB-A port.

1 of 4

The Galaxy Book Pro is expected to arrive with a 13.3-inch OLED screen, while the 360 model will offer users a larger 15.6-inch OLED display. The 11^th generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors are said to be power the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360. These devices will come preloaded with Windows 10 OS.

The Galaxy Book Pro may arrive in Wi-Fi and LTE editions, whereas the 360 edition may hit the shelves in Wi-Fi and 5G versions. These devices may come in color editions like blue and silver. Reports also suggest that the South Korean company may also announce the Galaxy Book Go as a budget-friendly device. It is likely to offer users a 14-inch FHD screen, Windows 10 Home, Snapdragon 7cx / Snapdragon 8cx Gen. X (new version) CPU versions, 4 GB / 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and 128 GB / 256 GB of UFS 2.1 storage.

(source|via 1, 2)

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Realme 8 5G to debut as India’s first Dimensity 700 SoC phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 15, 2021

Realme will be announcing the Realme 8 5G and Realme 8 Pro 5G smartphones in Thailand on April 21. It is speculated the Realme 8 5G series may break cover in India on April 22. A microsite for a new 5G-ready Realme phone has appeared on Flipkart. It does not explicitly mention the name of the upcoming 5G smartphone for India. However, a major clue suggests that the company could be teasing the arrival of the Realme 8 5G.

Realme has been actively launching 5G phones across different price points in India. The Realme X50 Pro 5G was made official as India’s first 5G phone last year and it has also launched a couple of other 5G phones like the Realme X7 5G, Realme X7 Pro 5G, and Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G in the recent months. Now, it is gearing up to launch India’s first phone powered by the Dimensity 700 chipset.

Realme 8 5G render — Realme 8 5G poster released by Realme Thailand

Last month, Realme announced the Realme V13 5G with Dimensity 700 SoC in China. Rumors are rife that the same device may get rebranded as the Realme 8 5G in India and other markets like Thailand. As far as India is concerned, the Chinese firm will be confirming more information on its specs and features on April 16.

Realme 8 5G specifications (Rumored)

The Realme 8 5G is expected to sport a 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen with a punch-hole design. The FHD+ display is likely to support a 90Hz refresh rate. The Dimensity 700 powered phone may offer users up to 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 2.1 storage.

It may come loaded with Realme UI 2.0 flavored Android 11 OS. For photography, it may feature an 8-megapixel selfie camera and a 48-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera system. It may house a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support.

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Moto G60, G40 Fusion Geekbench listings emerge as Motorola begins teasing new G-series phones in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 15, 2021

Yesterday, Motorola India took to Twitter to teaser the arrival of a pair of new G-series smartphones in India. Probably, the company could be gearing up to launch the Moto G60 and Moto G40 Fusion phones as both models have appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking site (via).

The Geekbench listings show that the Moto G60 and Moto G40 Fusion are powered by the Snapdragon 732G. While the name of the SoC is not explicitly mentioned in the listings, a couple of leaks have claimed that the Moto G60 and G40 Fusion by the SD732G chip.

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The Moto G60 has 6 GB of RAM, whereas the G40 Fusion has 4 GB of RAM. Both smartphones will offer an Android 11 OS out-of-the-box experience. In the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench, the Moto G60 scored 515 and 1375, respectively. The Moto G40 Fusion scored 519 in the single-core test and 1425 in the multi-core test.

Motorola India’s tweet neither reveals the design nor confirms the names of the upcoming G-series phones. The Moto G50 and Moto G100 smartphones, which debuted in other markets have not yet arrived in India. Moreover, the Moto G20 is also an upcoming phone from the brand. It remains to be seen whether the company announces any of these smartphones or the Moto G60 and G40 Fusion in India.

The coveted path to glory is the one filled with most memories. #GetSetG to treasure them with our two most awaited launches. Stay tuned to know more. pic.twitter.com/Kqrnmolgnn

— Motorola India (@motorolaindia) April 14, 2021

Reports have revealed that the Moto G60 and G40 Fusion have identical specs like a 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz display, a 6,000mAh battery, and an SD732G chip. As far as differences are concerned, the Moto G60 is expected to come with a 32-megapixel front camera and a 108-megapixel Samsung HM2 main rear camera, whereas the G40 Fusion has a 16-megapixel front camera and a 64-megapixel primary camera on the back. Both phones are rumored to feature a triple camera setup on their rear 8-megapixel and 2-megapixel auxiliary lenses.

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OPPO A74 5G tipped to launch in India by April end

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 15, 2021

Recently, OPPO announced the OPPO A74 4G and OPPO A74 5G in some Southeast Asian markets. Tipster Abhishek Yadav has learned from a source that the Chinese manufacturer is planning to launch the OPPO A74 5G smartphone in India by the end of this month.

The tipster claimed that the OPPO A74 5G will be aimed towards offline markets in India. This phone is expected to launch in the last week of this month with under Rs 20,000 (~$266) price tag. The specifications shared by the tipster suggests that the A74 5G for India could be slightly different from the A74 5G, which was announced in Southeast Asian markets.

OPPO A74 5G specifications and features

The OPPO A74 5G has a 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen, which supports a Full HD+ resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a 90Hz refresh rate. The device boots to ColorOS 11.1 based Android 11 OS. For security, it features a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The A74 5G has a 16-megapixel camera for capturing selfie shots. The camera setup of the phone features a 48-megapixel main camera and a pair of 2-megapixel cameras. The A74 5G which recently debuted in other markets has an additional 8-megapixel lens.

The Snapdragon 480 chipset fuels the OPPO A74 5G with 6 GB of RAM. The device offers users 128 GB of built-in storage. it is unclear whether this phone has a microSD card slot. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. The thickness of the device is 8.4mm and it weighs 188 grams.

The OPPO A74 5G for India appears to be rebranded version of the OPPO A93 5G, which debuted in China earlier this year.

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