Redmi K40 Pro Review: The First True Flagship Killer of 2021

By

-

Mar 8, 2021

Redmi, no doubt, is the most popular smartphone brand this month. And today, let’s take a close look at the Redmi K40 Pro – the model that is probably going to make a lot of brands nervous in 2021. You might think as compared to the K40, the Pro model may be less cost-effective because of its 2999 RMB starting price, which equals to around USD 464. But among all the flagship models running the Snapdragon 888 chipset, the K40 Pro, no doubt, offers the best value for money.

I guess that’s enough of an introduction of the phone, let’s check out how this true flagship killer performs, and are there any areas where it doesn’t do well.

Redmi K40 Pro Review: Design

To start off, the design of the K40 Pro is almost the same as the standard K40. Both of them get excellent weight and size control. Especially the Pro version, it’s exactly as light and thin as the K40 even though the Pro features a better main camera and a slightly better chipset.

Redmi K40 Pro Damascus Black Featured — Redmi K40 Pro

Since we have a lot to talk about the Pro model, we are not focusing much on the design and display in this review. If you are curious about what’s new in the K40 series’ design, just check out our K40 review video that’ll be out in a day or two. But it’s pretty clear that the K40 is the first generation in the K-series lineup that takes its design seriously.

Redmi canceled the pure black version for the K40 Pro and replaced it with the Damascus-pattern version, which is also exclusive to this Pro model.

Here, look at the Damascus pattern version in our hand. In our opinion, it’s by far the best-looking Redmi model and even more elegant than the Mi 11’s design. But we noticed that the side-frame is made of plastic instead of metal, which makes it more prone to scratches and damage. So if you’re going to buy a K40 or K40 Pro, we suggest that it’s better for you to put a case on to prevent damage to the frame.

Redmi K40 Pro Review: Performance & Gaming

One of the biggest upgrades of the Pro version is the Snapdragon 888 chipset. But compared to the Snapdragon 870, the performance improvement is not so significant. The benchmark results show that the gap is mainly in single-core performance, which, in theory, would lead to around 10% improvement in actual gaming. On the other hand, the multi-core performance of the K40 is much closer to the K40 Pro. So in daily use, we didn’t really feel the gap between the two models.

What about Redmi K40 Pro’s gaming? Is the chip better optimized than the snapdragon 888 on the Mi 11?

It was pretty easy for the K40 Pro to unleash the best gaming performance in PUBG Mobile without any issues.

Redmi k40 Pro PUBG Mobile Gaming Review — Redmi k40 Pro PUBG Mobile Gaming

We have seen before how the game Genshin Impact has caused issues to a number of phones running the snapdragon 888 chip. But this time the K40 Pro restored dignity for the flagship chipset and finally achieved a stable high framerate of 58.2fps without much fluctuation. And during the whole 30-min test, the CPU of the K40 Pro didn’t throttle down the clock speed for the heat control. However, the phone’s surface did quickly heat up to 50℃.

So does this mean the K40 Pro offers excellent optimization in all scenarios? And what about the other games?

Redmi k40 Pro Gaming Nimian Legend 1080p

Well, in Nimian Legends, the smooth and delightful gaming experience was surprisingly absent. The familiar result for the 888 chipset came back. The phone suffered frequent ups and downs in performance and met a lot of stutter issues. The frame rate eventually remained at 36.5fps. So clearly the chip wasn’t optimized for this game.

Redmi k40 Pro NBA 2K Gaming — Redmi k40 Pro NBA 2K20 Gaming

In NBA 2K20, we could fully take advantage of the 120Hz display. In the first 6 mins, the K40 Pro stably ran the game at around 120fps. And then you can see the CPU temperature was rising rapidly. When it rose to 55°C, the framerate and CPU clock started jumping up and down. The performance down throttling occurs every minute and lasts for a few seconds. Still, the average framerate of 101.4fps is still not bad for this game.

In short, the optimization on the K40 Pro is much better than what we used to see on the Mi 11. But since the chipset remains the same, we still encountered overheating issues. So the chip throttled down its speed frequently on the K40 pro. But thank god, things get much better now on the K40 Pro as compared to the Mi 11.

Redmi K40 Pro Review: Camera

The main camera of the K40 Pro features a Sony IMX686 sensor. It’s a popular sensor that has been mainly used on 2020 flagship phones.

Let’s look at some samples shot from the main camera.

Daylight & Night Scenarios

On the K40 Pro the samples’ color style is pretty close to what we have on another Xiaomi model, the Mi 11. Both of them are more likely to present a cooler tone than what we actually saw from our eyes. And the K40 Pro’s samples have pretty high saturation with good contrast. But the Mi 11 still has better overall exposure to represent brighter images. Especially in darker scenarios, the Mi 11 is able to capture more details with sharper edges. And thanks to the original 108MP resolution and a 27MP resolution for normal mode, the Mi 11’s samples are sharper with better clarity, while the 12MP samples of the K40 Pro look a bit blurred when we zoomed into the samples. Another drawback of the K40 Pro’s main camera is the lack of the OIS anti-shaking. So when it comes to low-lighting scenes, our hand-shake could easily spoil the photos we shot. So you can see that some night samples are a bit blurred and lose much detail.

Redmi K40 Pro Standard Night 01.jpg — Redmi K40 Pro Night

Talking about night shooting, the Mi 11 could produce better details in both dark and bright situations, no matter whether we were using the normal mode or the night mode. The K40 Pro seems not so stable to present the colors correctly. And usually, when this happened, the image turned out to be a bit greenish. And the color style may be inconsistent when we switch from the normal mode to the night mode.

High-Res Mode

As for the high-resolution mode, however, the gap between the 108MP resolution on the Mi11 and the 64MP on the K40 Pro was not as significant as we expected.

Ultra-Wide Camera

Coming to the wide angle camera, the Mi 11’s samples show slightly better image clarity, while the K40 Pro does a better job on image pureness with less noise. But when it came to night shooting, the gap is much more obvious. The K40 Pro’s performance is far behind what the Mi 11 can do, no matter whether you compare their exposure or image detail.

Macro

Because the Mi 11 and the K40 Pro use exactly the same setup for the macro camera, their performance is exactly the same. From their samples, we cannot really see any difference but both of them are really good at shooting extremely close subjects and present some interesting detail for close-up shooting.

As for their filming capacity, the K40 Pro only supports up to 8k 30fps video and 60fps for 4K filming on the main camera, and up to 1080P 30fps video on the 8MP wide-angle camera. So to be honest, it’s not so practical for video filming.

Overall, the Redmi K40 Pro has a pretty decent camera setup especially under good lighting conditions but it’s still not as good as the Mi 11. This is expected given the difference in their pricing. To conclude, while the cameras on the K40 Pro are decent, it still isn’t one of its strong points.

Redmi K40 Pro Review: K40 vs K40 Pro Differences

Besides the differences in the camera and chipset departments, there’re still several tiny differences between the K40 and the K40 Pro. Although they both feature fast charging up to 33W, the K40 Pro applies a slightly aggressive charging strategy that can save several minutes for full charge.

Another difference is the RAM they use. The K40 Pro can take full advantage of the LPDDR 5 Ram and run up to 6400 megabits per second, while the K40’s ram can run up to 5500megabits per second. But to be honest, in daily use, it’s hard to perceive the difference.

The third one is the network support. The K40 Pro supports dual-sim cards with dual-5G network standby, while on the K40 you can only have one 5G standby and another 4G standby as loading dual-sim-card. But you still need to make sure whether the bands that they support are adopted in your region.

The last one is the WiFi signal. Redmi claims that the Pro features an enhanced WiFi 6 connection, which brings more stable and faster transmission when connected to a WiFi 6 wireless network.

Redmi K40 Pro Review: Battery Life & Stereo Speakers

As for the Pro’s charging and battery performance, there is no surprise from what we expected. The charging result is very close to what we got on the K40. The Pro was charged to 70% in 30mins, and it took us just 50mins to fully charge the phone. The 4500mAh battery in daily use didn’t bring us any surprises, and the test result of battery life was close to what we got on the Mi 11.

We played PUBG Mobile on the K40 Pro for an hour, and the power dropped by 23%; and then we used the phone’s camera to shoot 1080P video for another hour, which consumed an additional 19% of power. Considering the Snapdragon 888 has been in the market for over 2 months, we feel the K40 Pro could have had slightly better efficiency in terms of power consumption.

In addition, although the dual-speaker solution of the K40 series has the same Dolby certification as the Mi 11, it still doesn’t compare to the sound output from the Mi 11. That said, the immersive stereo sound of the speakers is still pretty impressive.

So that’s it for our Redmi K40 Pro review. The K40 series is definitely a revolutionary entry in the 2021 smartphone market. The biggest surprise is still the pricing, especially of the K40. And the K40 Pro is still the best option by far that you can buy in its price range. Compared to the K30 Pro released in the same period last year, the K40 Pro brought us more surprises and even gave us an illusion that it’s trying to challenge the Xiaomi Mi flagship series to some extent.

But it’s worth mentioning that the Realme GT was released a couple of days ago and it’s also a super-powerful flagship killer that takes on the K40 Pro, and more importantly, it’s even a bit cheaper than the K40 Pro in China. These two models were designed for those who prefer flagship features with decent cameras.

We’ll publish the Redmi K40 review soon, so stay tuned for that as well!

RELATED:

Vivo X60 series to launch in India in March: Tipster

By

Sean

-

Mar 8, 2021

Mukul Sharma has just revealed that the Vivo X60 series will soon be launching in India. The tip was shared on Twitter and he said that the new lineup will launch in India sometime in March 2021.

So yes, the Vivo X60 series is to launch in March in India
Few pointers
• X60 Pro+ to be launched along vivo X60 Pro and X60
• The series is likely to feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and 870 for India
Vivo and Zeiss together can indeed turn out to be a great camera experience. pic.twitter.com/f4cuKOr0wT

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) March 8, 2021

According to Mukul Sharma, the Chinese tech giant will be launching the X60 Pro+ along with the X60 Pro and the base X60. Furthermore, Mukul also added that the series will likely also feature Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon 888 or Snapdragon 870 mobile processors. Interestingly, the tipster also shared an image of the device’s rear camera module, highlighting its capabilities that were made possible thanks to the partnership between the Vivo and Zeiss.

The new is in line with our previous report, which stated that the Chinese tech giant plans on launching the series in India along with the Vision+ initiative in March 2021. Taking about the upcoming lineup, the Vivo X60 series will include X60, Pro, and X60 Pro+ in India. Reportedly, the X60 and X60 Pro will feature Snapdragon 870 chipset while the X60 Pro+ will retain the Snapdragon 888 from China.

The tipster added that the new high-end series will be launched this month. If the device does launch in March, we can expect more rumors or leaks to surface soon. So, stay tuned for more updates as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

RELATED:

Google to roll out heart and respiratory rate tracking for Pixel phones next week

By

Jeet

-

Mar 8, 2021

A few weeks ago, Google had announced that Fit for Android will be able to measure heart rate and respiratory rate using the smartphone. Now, the company has confirmed that this new feature will start rolling out the Pixel series smartphones from next week.

Google has clarified that these measurements are “not intended for medical purposes.” It’s functionality is quite unique and the company says that it provides a convenient way to “track and improve day-to-day wellness.”

Both of these new features rely on the smartphone’s camera. For monitoring the user’s heart rate, it tracks color change as blood moves through the fingertips. And for monitoring respiratory rate, it tracks the rise and fall of the user’s chest. To increase accuracy in dark environments, flash can be enabled.

The calculation for these two metrics happens in real-time and is done entirely on the user’s device and not uploaded to Google’s cloud. After every measurement, it asks if the user wants to store the result for long-term graphing.

The heart rate monitoring feature is similar to what Samsung offered on several Galaxy smartphones, including the Galaxy S10. However, the South Korean giant removed the feature from Galaxy S10E, Galaxy S20 lineup, and phones launched after that.

As noted, the feature will start rolling to the users of Pixel smartphones from Monday and the company has said that more Android devices will be getting it in the future.

RELATED:

POCO X3 Pro colors, memory variants, and price leaked before launch

By

Balaji S

-

Mar 8, 2021

POCO X3 Pro Global launch is said to happen this month, i.e, March 2021. Ahead of the launch, the device has already received certifications like FCC, NBTC, BIS, and SIRIM. Today, 91Mobiles have partnered with Twitter user Sudhanshu to leak the storage and color variants of the device.

As per the report, POCO X3 Pro will have the following storage, color variants, and Europe pricing:

POCO X3 Pro Colors
- Blue, Black, Bronze
POCO X3 Pro memory variants
- 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM
- 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM

Further, Sudhanshu also says that the Europe prices for the POCO X3 Pro will probably start at €250 for the 6GB/128GB variant and the 8GB/256GB variant could debut for €300.

POCO hasn’t started teasing the device officially yet but we have signs for an imminent launch already. Recently, tech influencer Mukul Sharma tweeted that the POCO X3 Pro Global launch could be in March.

This happened a couple of days after POCO Global Spokesperson hinted at a new launch this month. Besides launching Globally in markets like Europe, the device is also expected to arrive in Asian markets like India, Malaysia, and Thailand.

As for specs, the POCO X3 Pro is tipped to feature a Snapdragon 860 SoC which isn’t official yet. Qualcomm has launched a pumped version of the Snapdragon 865+ as the 870 and similarly, the Snapdragon 860 is expected to be a boosted version of Snapdragon 855+.

Further, the device will likely feature a 120Hz IPS LCD panel and a 5,200mAh battery. The POCO X3 had a 64MP Quad-camera setup and going by the naming, we can expect some improvements in the camera department of the POCO X3 Pro.

However, let’s wait for the official info to get an idea of how good a sibling is the POCO X3 Pro to the already selling POCO X3.

RELATED:

Insta360 to launch a new pocket camera on March 9, pre orders live on JD.com

By

Sean

-

Mar 8, 2021

The Insta360 was recently teased, just prior to its launch. The company shared an image poster on social media, which highlighted its tiny size. It is currently listed online for pre orders and will begin sales on 9th March 2021.

Looking at the teaser shared on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, the company showcases the camera’s minuscule size. It arrives with a black charging box, which is similar to the charging case of truly wireless earbuds. Notably, the upcoming camera is quite similar to the Insta360 GO camera that is currently available on sale. In the teaser, the company highlights the camera’s capabilities by shooting a video in a small space, whilst offering a wide angle picture.

In another teaser, the company even showcases the new camera being mounted on a gimbal to highlights its stabilization features. As the name suggests, the new camera will be able to offer users a 360 degree panoramic field of view. The GO variant from the company weighs just 8.3 grams and also offers various features like slow motion video capture, 1080p recordings at 30fps, and more. So we can expect the new camera to offer much of these same features along with other improvements and features.

Unfortunately, finer details regarding the camera are still unknown, at the moment. But we can expect to find out more on the day of its launch. You can also check out the pre order listing on JD.com, by clicking on the link here.

RELATED:

Deal: Anker Soundcore 2 Speaker Now Available for $34.67 (Original Price $40)

By

Daily Deals

-

Mar 8, 2021

AliExpress is giving out this great deal on Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth Speaker. The speaker which retails at around $40 is available for $34.67 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Buy Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth Speaker at just $34.67 @ Aliexpress

Soundcore 2 by Anker is an incredibly powerful outdoor speaker with stereo sound and enhanced bass which gives you an immersive audio experience. This wireless speaker with its exclusive deep bass technology brings you richer and deeper bass even at low volume.

The Bluetooth speaker comes with a dual pairing function wherein you can pair two Anker Souncore speakers to one device simultaneously for double volume and bass effect. Also, the 5200mAh Li-ion battery ensures 24 hours of non-stop playtime and the IPX7 certification protects the speaker against rain, sweat, snow, etc thereby making it your perfect partner for outdoor adventures.

The aesthetically pleasing and uber-stylish Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth speaker is now available at AliExpress for $34.67 only (Original Price $40). The above deal which is valid only till 12 March 2021 is applicable on both the Black and Blue color variants. With free shipping and additional discount coupons on AliExpress, this is a bargain deal. So grab your speakers asap.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

*We may earn a commission when you buy using one of our links.

OnePlus Nord OxygenOS Open Beta 4 update brings even more fixes and February 2021 security patches

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 8, 2021

OnePlus launched the OnePlus Nord with OxygenOS 10.5 based on Android 10 in late July 2020. The handset received the stable Android 11 update in the form of OxygenOS 11 only last week. Now, the brand is rolling out OxygenOS Open Beta 4 for this phone.

The OxygenOS Open Beta 3 for the OnePlus Nord was released in early February, A little over a month later, the company is now seeding the OxygenOS Open Beta 4 for this device.

Just like the last public beta release, the latest one is also all about fixes. But additionally, the new build also bumps up the security patch level to February 2021 and improves system stability.

According to the changelog, the new open beta update for the OnePlus Nord brings a total of nine fixes. They are meant for Work-Life Balance not displaying full information, flashback issue with location toggle in quick settings, disappearance of documents in Lockbox, abnormal displaying of Privacy Policy page in Dark Mode, and loud sound while fast charging.

Other fixes are for Calculator UI, Calculator button size, crashing of File Manager when stopping the unzipping process, and a flashback issue when entering the Profile page in OnePlus Community.

OnePlus Nord OxygenOS Open Beta 4 Official Changelog

System
- Fixed the issue where Work-Life Balance does not display full information in the Quick Settings
- Fixed the flashback issue with the Quick Settings when enabling the Location
- Fixed the small probability issue that the documents in the Lockbox may disappear
- Fixed the issue that the Privacy Policy page is displayed abnormally if the device is in Dark Mode
- Fixed the issue that the fast charging sound is too loud
- Fixed the issue with the Calculator that the UI where results are showed is displayed abnormally
- Fixed the issue with the abnormal display of Calculator button size
- Updated Android Security Patch to 2021.02
- Improved system stability
File Manager
- Fixed the issue that the File Manager may crash when stopping the unzipping process
OnePlus Community
- Fixed the small probability flashback issue with the OnePlus Community when entering the Profile page

The update is currently being pushed to users on the previous beta build via OTA. However, interested users on the stable channel can install it by downloading the appropriate ROM file from the OnePlus Community.

Qualcomm is developing a Snapdragon 888 lite but it may not have 5G

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Mar 8, 2021

Qualcomm has so many mobile processors that it is hard to keep track of them. However, it has done a good job by categorizing them into four series which are the Snapdragon 400, the Snapdragon 600, the Snapdragon 700, and the Snapdragon 800 series. Its most powerful chipset is the Snapdragon 888 and a new report says that a less-powerful variant is on the way.

According to Roland Quandt of Winfuture.de, Qualcomm has a less-powerful version of its current flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 888, in development. He says the processor has part number SM8325 (the SD888’s part number is SM8350) but unlike the Snapdragon 888 which has an integrated 5G modem, this Snapdragon 888 Lite, if we can call it that, doesn’t have a 5G modem.

Qualcomm has a lower end derivate of the Snapdragon 888 (SM8350) in the works. SM8325 is the model number and there seems to be NO integrated 5G modem on this one. #CheapFlagshipPhones

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) March 8, 2021

The Snapdragon 888 launched as Qualcomm’s first Snapdragon 800 series with an integrated 5G modem. Its older processors such as the Snapdragon 855, Snapdragon 855+, Snapdragon 865, and Snapdragon 865+ all had a separate 5G modem. We are surprised Qualcomm plans to launch a new processor without an integrated modem since it has switched to an integrated modem.

If we were to take a guess as to why it is going this route, we will say it may be targeting markets where 5G is not yet available or widespread. By offering a chipset without an integrated 5G modem, manufacturers can offer more affordable 4G flagship phones.

At the moment, there is no info on when the processor will be announced. However, Qualcomm does have a few processors that it is expected to launch soon such as the Snapdragon 775/775G and there is a chance this new chipset may be unveiled alongside.

RELATED:

Apple patents new tech that detects light through the screen for Face ID and Touch ID

By

Sean

-

Mar 8, 2021

Apple has just patented a new technology that might bring its Face ID and Touch ID. This technology is based on a sensor that will be housed underneath the display, which will be able to detect light through the screen.

According to a WccFTech report, the Cupertino based giant filed a new patent application that shares details on a new technology that can detect light through the display. As of right now, the notch on iPhones has still been one of the biggest aspects of its designs that have been criticized. This was first seen in the iPhone X, meanwhile, smartphones from other OEMs have adopted various different designs like water drop notch or even a punch hole selfie shooter.

And now, it seems like Apple might also be looking to move its iPhones towards a full front screen body design in the near future. The patent is titled “Sensing System for Detection of Light Incident to a Light Emitting Layer of an Electronic Device Display.” Apple plans to house a light detecting sensor under the screen itself, which will be capable of working with Touch ID and Face ID biometric authentication systems.

Furthermore, the company patented two potential implementations of the technology. The light sensor will be embedded behind the display will be capable of assembling an image of the object touching the screen. In the patent, the company also mentions that the system would use an ambient sensor. Additionally, a second implementation would use an array of photodiodes or solar cells to assemble the pixels of the image. Unfortunately, it is still unknown if the company is actually working on such a product or just covering all bases.

RELATED:

Huawei P50 Pro tempered glass leak reveals its front-facing design

By

Jeet

-

Mar 8, 2021

Huawei, the Chinese technology giant which is going through some tough time because of several restrictions imposed by the United States. Despite it struggling to maintain its existence in the smartphone market, it is gearing up to launch its flagship devices.

The upcoming Huawei P-series flagship lineup is expected to have three phones — Huawei P50, P50 Pro, and P50 Pro+. Now, a tempered film for the P50 Pro smartphone has leaked online, shedding light on its design.

It appears that the smartphone will have a curved edges on the left and the right side but the curves on the top and the bottom part is less compared to the side edges. There’s also a single punch-hole cutout in the top-center of the screen.

Compared to its predecessors, the design of the P50 series is expected to be a bit different as the company aims to please audience with an updated design. It is speculated that the USP of this upcoming lineup will be its screen quality, a new camera system, as well as the gaming capabilities.

The Huawei P50 will be the new ‘Lite’ model of the lineup and is expected to come powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 9000E chipset. The P50 Pro will be the standard device and the P50 Pro+ will be the new Pro device, powered by the Kirin 9000 chipset.

RELATED:

Redmi Note 10 and Note 10 Pro now available for Purchase at AliExpress

By

Daily Deals

-

Mar 8, 2021

Attention all readers! Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 10 Pro (Global versions) are now available for purchase on AliExpress. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is retailing at $179 while Redmi Note 10 Pro is retailing at $306.27

WHERE TO BUY

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 at $179 @Aliexpress

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro at $306.27 @ Aliexpress

REDMI NOTE 10 :

Redmi Note 10 which comes with a quad-camera setup, features a 48MP main cam, and 8MP + 2MP + 2MP secondary cameras. The selfie cam is a 13MP front-facing camera. Powered by the Snapdragon 678 and an Octa-Core processor, Redmi Note 10 comes in two storage variants viz: 4GB + 64GB and 4GB + 128GB. A massive 5000 mAh battery fuels this 6.43 inches large smartphone which also supports 33W fast charging.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10, Global version, 4GB + 64GB variant is now available at AliExpress for $179 only. The above price is available on the Gray, White, and Green color variants and on shipments from China Warehouse only.

REDMI NOTE 10 PRO :

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro comes with a 6.67 inch AMOLED Dot Display and MIUI 12 OS based on Android 11. It is powered by Snapdragon 732G and Octa-Core processor and comes with two storage variants viz: 6GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB. The rear Quad cam setup features a 108MP main cam and 8MP + 5MP + 2MP secondary cameras and the selfie camera is a 16MP front cam.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro, Global Version, 6GB + 64GB variant is available at AliExpress for 306.27 only. This price is applicable for the Gray and Bronze color variants and shipments from Spain and France Warehouse only.

For more detailed information on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 10 Pro check out this article from Gizmochina.

Please note that higher storage versions and different color variants are also available at AliExpress for all Global customers. With free shipping, new users, and other discount coupons, this launch at AliExpress is perfect for global users looking to get hold of the brand new devices.

*We may earn commission when you purchase using one of our links

SK Hynix confirms the 18GB LPDDR5 DRAM variant of the ASUS ROG Phone 5

By

Balaji S

-

Mar 8, 2021

Smartphones with higher RAMs have been a thing for years now. You might have experienced the scenarios when your smartphone’s RAM is more than your laptop. After the explosion of the Gaming smartphone market, this has gone to another level. Nubia recently brought its RedMagic 6 series and launched an 18GB RAM variant of RedMagic 6 Pro. Ahead of leaks saying ASUS will follow suit, SK Hynix has confirmed the news today.

In a press release, SK Hynix, which is a South Korean supplier of DRAMs (Dynamic Random Access Memory) chips, said that it supplied the very first 18GB LPDDR5 products to the Taiwanese giant ASUS. This is for the upcoming ROG Phone 5 gaming smartphone and the top-end variant should feature it.

Recently, reports regarding the 18GB RAM variant of the device surfaced on the internet. The variant appeared on the benchmarking platforms Geekbench and Master Lu. Anyway, SK Hynix says that it has started the mass-production of 18GB (gigabyte) LPDDR5 mobile DRAM chips.

These chips will ensure high processing speed and image quality with improved temporary data storage. These RAMs are capable of speeds up to 6,400Mbps which is around 20% faster than the current versions(5,500Mbps). Specifically, this means you can transfer ten 5GB FHD (Full-HD) movies per second.

The ASUS ROG Phone 5 is launching in a couple of days i.,e on March 10. The device is likely to feature a 6.78-inch OLED screen on the front, Snapdragon 888 chipset, and a revamped rear panel Dot-Matrix LED on the back.

DXOMARK Audio review revealed that it will also have a 3.5mm audio jack, Dual-Front facing speakers with Dirac tuning technology. Other expected specs include a 64MP Quad-Bayer triple-camera, a 6,000mAh battery with 65W rapid charging, and run Android 11 OS.

RELATED:

(Via)

OnePlus Watch with model number W310GB clears Malaysia’s SIRIM certification

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 8, 2021

OnePlus has confirmed to launch the OnePlus 9 series on March 23. Though the company has not revealed if the OnePlus Watch will be announced at the same event, the wearable has been tipped to make its debut alongside the OnePlus 9 smartphones. Ahead of its official announcement, the OnePlus Watch has now cleared one more certification.

The upcoming OnePlus Watch with model number W310GB has been spotted on Malaysia’s SIRIM certification bureau. Hence, we can expect this wearable to debut in this country.

According to previous reports, the OnePlus Watch (W310GB) will feature a square-shaped dial. It is expected to sport a similar design as the OPPO Watch. Whereas, a second variant with model number W501GB will have a circular dial like the realme Watch S series from the sister brand realme.

As of now, there’s no concrete proof of whether these two smartwatches will run Google Wear OS. If they don’t, then they will be merely glorified fitness trackers with watch designs like most so-called smartwatches available in the market.

That said, at least one of these wearables was supposed to go official in late 2020 with a limited edition in collaboration with Cyberpunk 2077 video game. However, that never happened and it’s not sure whether the special edition will be debuting now.

The OnePlus smartwatch with a square display could release as OnePlus Watch and the one with a circular screen may launch as OnePlus Watch RX. Both of them are certified by BIS and therefore, the due could get a launch in India like the OnePlus Band.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about these watches, however, there’s a chance that the circular model could sport a design that was recently patented by OnePlus.

Xiaomi Mi 10S dethrones ASUS ROG Phone 5 to rank No.1 in DXOMARK Audio test

By

Balaji S

-

Mar 8, 2021

Last month, DXOMARK did an exclusive Audio Review of the upcoming ASUS ROG Phone 5 and it topped the charts. Today, the Xiaomi Mi 10S has dethroned it for the top spot.

As per the DXOMARK Audio test, the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 10S gets an overall score of 80 which is a point more than the ASUS ROG Phone 5’s score of 79. The report says that the Mi 10 series’ 2021 addition has also outsmarted its yesteryear Mi 10 Pro(76 points).

The device reportedly performs well in both playback and recording scenarios(80 points in each category). Also, we already know that the Mi 10S, which is launching on March 10, will have speakers tuned by Harmon Kardon. And the report says that the device will have dual symmetrical speakers with the largest 0.7 mm speaker amplitude.

Talking about specs, the Xiaomi Mi 10S official renders have already revealed that the device will feature a quad-camera setup on the back with a 108MP main lens. Thanks to the previous reports, the device is likely to feature a 6.67-inch display.

And looking at the renders above, we can expect a curved AMOLED panel just like the other Mi 10 devices. The device will also feature a Snapdragon 870 chipset and will probably feature a 4,680mAh battery with 33W fast charging support, Android 11 OS out of the box.

The device will sell in Black, White, and Blue color options, and considering it has a slightly upgraded CPU and other features compared to Mi 10 5G, we can expect the pricing to be higher than the base model but not as high as the Mi 10 Pro.

Let’s wait for the full review from DXOMARK which should be live soon after the official launch.

RELATED:

iQOO Z3 may feature Dimensity 1200, 48MP camera, March end launch rumored

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 8, 2021

In the previous week, a mysterious Vivo phone with a V2073A model number was approved by the 3C certification platform of China. The listing revealed that the phone may arrive with support for 55W rapid charging. The rumor mill is of the view that the V2073A could be the upcoming iQOO Z3 smartphone. A tipster from China has shared a few key details of the iQOO Z3.

According to the leakster, the iQOO Z3’s body and middle frame will be made from plastic. Its appearance could be similar to the predecessor iQOO Z1v that went official in India back in May 2020. However, it is unclear whether the Z3 will sport a display with a top-centered punch-hole. The leakster claims that its screen will support a refresh rate of 144Hz.

The iQOO Z3 may feature the Dimensity 1200 chipset. For photography, it will be equipped with a Sony IMX589 48-megapixel camera. The upcoming iQOO Neo5, which is slated to go official on March 16, is also expected to feature the same primary camera. While the Neo5 will carry support for OIS, the Z3 is unlikely to feature it.

Lastly, the tipster revealed that the iQOO Z3 will be announced by the end of this month. Another phone named the iQOO U3x may launch alongside it. The iQOO U3x is likely to arrive as a cheaper version of the Dimensity 800U powered iQOO U3 handset that debuted back in December 2020.

iQOO is yet to confirm the arrival of the iQOO Z3. It is advisable to wait for further reports to know whether the Z3 and U3x will be launching by March-end.

RELATED:

Huawei Band 6 series to launch next month: Report

By

Sean

-

Mar 8, 2021

Huawei has recently been preparing to host another press conference soon. Apparently, the company might be holding the conference to announce new products that will launch new month in April 2021.

According to a Zol report, sources close to the matter have stated that the Huawei Band 6 series will be launching next month. The lineup will include the base Band 6 and the higher end Band 6 Pro. Notably, the new wearables would also be a part of the company’s efforts to focus on its IoT products portfolio and its development, as its primary source of revenue, the smartphone business, continues to suffer due to the US sanctions.

The sources also added that along with the new smart wearables, the Chinese tech giant is also planning on launching a new smart watch from its Huawei Watch Fit lineup as well. These smart watches feature a square display with AMOLED display panels with full color range as well. While we can expect the new smart band and smart watch to arrive with similar design and functionality, it would also likely feature a few upgrades and improvements as well.

At the moment, finer details regarding the upcoming wearables are currently unknown, But the report did add that the new product launches will be for gadgets under 1000 Yuan (roughly 153 US Dollars), although, it is unsure which products the pricing is for. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

RELATED:

Xiaomi smartphone with 200W charging expected to launch in H2 2021

By

Jeet

-

Mar 8, 2021

A few weeks ago, it was reported that a new flagship smartphone with support for 200W fast charging was about to be launched. Now, a new report coming from a Chinese leaker reveals that the device could be from Xiaomi.

The report further adds that the flagship smartphone from Xiaomi with support for 200W fast charging technology could be launched in the second half of this year. It appears that the device is currently being fine-tuned.

But it’s noteworthy that the report claims that the device, which is currently being developed, is not as good as the Ultra models of the current flagship in terms of performance and the company is working on strengthening the performance.

Do note that the 200W fast charging technology that is being talked about is the combination of wired fast charging, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. It’s not like the device will have wired fast charging of 200W.

The development isn’t surprising given that Xiaomi’s current flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 11, already has support for 115W charging. The Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition launched last year also supports 180W charging.

It remains to be see which device from Xiaomi will have support for this high-speed charging. Will it be a variant of the Mi 11 flagship smartphone or a completely new device? To find out, we will have to wait for a few more weeks.

RELATED:

‘Fnatic Mode’ on OnePlus phones is now called ‘Pro Gaming Mode’

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 8, 2021

Lately, almost all Android smartphone OEMs have been shipping their devices with ‘Game Mode’. OnePlus introduced this feature with the launch of the OnePlus 7 series. The company partnered with Fnatic, an eSports team for this feature. Hence, the game mode on OnePlus smartphones is known as ‘Fnatic Mode’. But not anymore as OnePlus’ collaboration with Fnatic has come to an end.

Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus became the global sponsor of the Fnatic e-sports team in early 2019. A few months later, Fnatic Mode was introduced in the OnePlus 7 series with wallpapers and an easter egg.

This mode was also made available for future phones as well as old devices up to the OnePlus 5. Now, with the end of this partnership after two years (via XDA Developers), the handset maker has started removing the Fnatic branding.

This means all the gaming features will continue to exist but the branding has been now changed to ‘Pro Gaming Mode’ instead of ‘Fnatic Mode’. The new name is currently live on the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7T series running OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 3 update.

OnePlus has confirmed that Fnatic branding will be removed from all handsets starting from the OnePlus 6 series. Interestingly, the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T will continue to have the older ‘Fnatic Mode’ branding as these phones no longer receive software updates as they have reached the end of their support.

That said, we can expect the upcoming OnePlus 9 series to be the first OnePlus smartphones to ship ‘Pro Gaming Mode’ out of the box.

Motorola 4K Android TV Stick launched in India for ₹3,999($55)

By

Balaji S

-

Mar 8, 2021

Motorola has been licensing its brand to Flipkart for selling many smart products in India. The e-commerce platform has already launched Smart TVs under Motorola, Nokia, and MarQ in India. Today, it has brought the Motorola 4K Android TV stick. The media Stick supports OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5, YouTube, and more.

Motorola 4K Android TV Stick Price, Availability

The new Motorola 4K Android TV Stick is here to take on the likes of Mi Box 4K, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, and others. It is priced at ₹3,999($55) and will go on sale exclusively on Flipkart from March 15.

To compare, the Mi Box 4K launched at ₹3,499 while the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is retailing for ₹5,999 in India.

Motorola 4K Android TV Stick Features

Just like we mentioned in the previous report, the 4K Android TV from Motorola looks very identical to the Polaroid SmartBox S available elsewhere. Also, it has a square shape and is quite different from the likes of Mi TV Stick/ Amazon Fire TV Stick devices.

However, it is no slouch to the above devices in rendering Media content. Motorola says that the 4K Media Stick supports HDR, meaning users can play HDR10 and HLG video formats using the device. As the name says, it supports up to 4K video resolution(2160 pixels) and can go all the way down to 720 pixels at 60 Hz for streaming.

Under the hood, it is powered by a 2GHz Cortex A53 quad-core chipset paired with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The 4K Android TV stick runs Android 9 Pie out of the box and hence has Google Chromecast and Google Assistant built-in.

Since it’s running Google’s Android, it has access to the Google Play Store for downloading other media apps. Speaking of which, as mentioned above, it supports a majority of the Streaming apps and has hotkeys for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5, YouTube on the Remote.

The remote also has a microphone(for voice commands), dedicated mute switch, Google Assistant button, and more. Other features include HDMI port, Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth for connectivity, and Dolby Audio support.

RELATED:

(via)

Realme C25 spotted with Helio P65 at Geekbench, NBTC certification

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 8, 2021

At the beginning of the year, Realme announced the Realme C20 smartphone in Vietnam. Last week, it unveiled the Realme C21 handset in Malaysia. The Realme C25 could be the next C-series phone from the brand as it has bagged certification from the National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) authority of Thailand. The handset has also emerged at the Geekbench benchmarking platform to reveal some of its key specs.

The Realme C25 with its RMX3191 model number has appeared in NBTC’s database. The handset has also received approval from Europe’s EEC, Indonesia TKDN, and Indonesia Telecom. None of the certification listings have revealed information on the specs of the C25.

Thanks to its appearance at Geekbench, it is now known that the Realme C25 is fueled by the MediaTek Helio P65, which is mentioned as MT6768G. The SoC offers a base frequency of 1.70GHz. It is coupled with 4 GB of RAM and it boots to Android 11 OS. In the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench, the handset scored 383 and 1309 points, respectively. The other details of the Realme C25 are under wraps.

In related news, Realme is planning to launch the Realme 8 series of smartphones in India. A new leak that revealed the storage, RAM, and color variants of the upcoming Realme 8 and Realme 8 Pro claimed that the two phones may debut by the end of this month. It is speculated that the RMX3081 phone that was recently approved by the FCC regulatory body could be the Realme 8 Pro.

Speaking of FCC, the agency also approved the RMX3023 phone at the beginning of this month. The Realme RMX3043/2/1 phone was recently spotted by China’s TENAA authority. The identities of these phones are under wraps.

(via)