WhatsApp is testing self-destructing photos feature

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Mar 3, 2021

Recently, WhatsApp has been testing a lot of features on the Beta version before bringing it to everyone. One such is to let users mute the videos before sharing. Today, WABetainfo has unearthed yet another feature and it could make you send disappearing photos.

WhatsApp is said to be working on a few features that will let users send disappearing/ self-destructing photos. WABetainfo has showcased the new feature via a Tweet in which we can see a new icon appearing inside the edit section of the media before sharing it.

As per the update, a ‘blue color’ toggle beside the ‘Add Caption’ textbox. Clicking on it will show a pop-up message that says, “This media will disappear, once you leave this chat”. This concept comes a couple of months after it rolled out the disappearing messages feature.

However, this could turn out as yet another useless feature as WABetaInfo says that so far WhatsApp hasn’t added a way to prevent users from getting access to the media. That is, it says that the receiver can take a screenshot of this disappearing photo and the sender won’t even be notified of it.

WhatsApp is working on self-destructing photos in a future update for iOS and Android.
• Self-destructing photos cannot be exported from WhatsApp.
• WhatsApp didn't implement a screenshot detection for self-destructing photos yet.

Same concept from Instagram Direct. ⏱ pic.twitter.com/LLsezVL2Hj

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) March 3, 2021

It’s also worth noting that the company hasn’t added similar security features to the disappearing messages yet. Either way, the disappearing media feature isn’t new to Facebook, which currently owns WhatsApp. This is because we have already seen a similar photo/video disappearing feature on Instagram.

Anyway, we don’t know when WhatsApp will start rolling the feature. However, we do know that the company is working for both the Android and iOS versions. And not just that, the company has been improving its Web/Desktop app too. It recently enabled biometric authentication and Audio & video calling features on PC.

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Vivo S9 brings the Dimensity 1100 processor to market; Vivo S9e tags along

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 3, 2021

The Vivo S9 and Vivo S9e were unveiled today in China. The former is the first phone to have MediaTek’s 6nm Dimensity 1100 chipset under the hood while the latter comes with the Dimensity 820. Performance is not the only focus for Vivo’s new phones as both phones have nice cameras too.

Vivo S9 and Vivo S9e Design

Vivo is still one of the few manufacturers that has stuck to notches for most of its mid-range/upper mid-range phones. As you can see, the Vivo S9 has a wide notch that holds two cameras while the Vivo S9e sticks to a waterdrop notch for its selfie camera.

On the back, the two phones pack rear cameras arranged in a similar fashion and placed in a raised housing. The Vivo S9 series reminds us of the iPhone 12 series with its straight edge frames. Vivo claims the S9 is its thinnest 5G phone ever with a thickness of just 7.35mm. It is also pretty light at 173 grams. The two phones are available in three colors each.

Vivo S9 specifications

The Vivo S9 has a 6.44-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. The display has a TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort Certification, an SGS Seamless certification, and HDR10+.

The 6nm Dimensity 1100 clocked at 2.6GHz is paired with 8GB/12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. There is no support for storage expansion.

There are three cameras on the back of the Vivo S9. The primary camera is a 64MP sensor with OIS and it comes along with an 8MP ultrawide angle camera and a 2MP macro camera. There are two selfie cameras – a 44MP primary sensor with autofocus and an 8MP ultrawide angle camera with a portrait lens for wide-angle selfies. There are also two soft lights in front for illumination when you take selfies in low-light environments.

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As expected of Vivo, there are some interesting camera features bundled with the Vivo S9. There is an AI brightening and AI noise reduction feature that helps brightens and enhances facial features in low-light environments. There is also a 3D five-fold super texture beauty mode that adds 3D face highlighting and contouring and a handful of other enhancements to selfie photos. The Vivo S9 also has a VLOG mode and double exposure mode.

Vivo says the new phone has an ultra-thin VC cooling plate that is 12.5% thinner than a traditional cooling plate. It also covers a 30% larger cooling area (136% overall) compared to the previous generation.

The Vivo S9 has a 4000mAh battery capacity with support for 33W fast charging. The phone has NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, dual SIM support, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and face unlock. It runs OriginOS 1.0 based on Android 11 out of the box.

Vivo S9e specifications

The Vivo S9e is a more affordable model with some tradeoffs in certain areas. The Samsung OLED panel has a 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10, and also has TÜV Rheinland’ Eye Comfort Certification and SGS Seamless certification.

Vivo has swapped the Dimensity 1100 for the Dimensity 820 and it is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. You also get a 64MP main rear camera but there is no OIS. The other two cameras are a 120° ultrawide angle camera and a 4CM macro camera. A single 32MP sensor is in front for selfies.

There is a 4100mAh battery inside the phone with support for 33W fast charging. It also runs OriginOS 1.0 based on Android 11 out of the box.

Price and Availability

The Vivo S9 is priced at ¥2999 for the 8+128GB version and ¥3299 for the 12+256GB version. Pre-orders are live now ahead of the first sale on March 12.

The Vivo S9e is ¥2399 for the 8+128GB version and ¥2699 for the 8+256GB version. Pre-orders will begin much later on March 22 and then it will go on sale on March 27.

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OPPO shares ColorOS 11 global update rollout plan for March 2021

By

Balaji S

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Mar 3, 2021

Last month, OPPO had updated its plan for the ColorOS 11 global rollout and extended it to a lot of devices. Today, the company is back with its schedule for the month of March.

In a tweet, OPPO Global has shared the Global ColorOS 11 update rollout plan for the month of March. In case your device is eligible for the update, you can look below to find if it’s getting the Beta/Stable update this month.

As always, the schedule has been divided according to regions and you can take a look at it below:

ColorOS 11 Beta

Ongoing
- OPPO Reno2 F(India)
- OPPO Reno 10x Zoom(India, Indonesia)
- OPPO F15(India)
- OPPO A91(Indonesia)
March 10
- OPPO Reno2(India)
March 17
- OPPO Reno2 Z(India)

ColorOS 11 Stable

Ongoing(EU, EEA)
- OPPO Find X2(Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania)
- OPPO Find X2 Pro(Switzerland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, Netherlands)
- OPPO Find X2 Neo(France, Netherlands, Spain)
- OPPO Find X2 Lite(Netherlands)
- OPPO Reno4(Poland)
- OPPO Reno4 Pro(Ukraine)
- OPPO Reno4 5G(France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal)
- OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G(France, Switzerland, Moldova)
- OPPO Reno4 Z 5G(France)
- OPPO Reno4 Lite(Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova)
- OPPO Reno3(Turkey, Ukraine, Poland)
- OPPO Reno3 Pro(Ukraine)
- OPPO A72(Netherlands)
- OPPO A52(Italy, Spain)
March 31
- OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G(Romania)

*EU- European Union, EEA- European Economic Area

Ongoing(Other regions)
- OPPO Find X2
- OPPO Find X2 Pro
- OPPO Find X2 Pro Automobili Lamborghini Edition
- OPPO Find X2 Neo
- OPPO Find X2 Lite
- OPPO A93
- OPPO F17 Pro
- OPPO Reno4 F
- OPPO Reno4 5G
- OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G
- OPPO Reno4 Pro 4G
- OPPO Reno4 4G
- OPPO Reno4 Z 5G
- OPPO Reno4 Lite
- OPPO Reno3 Pro 4G
- OPPO Reno3 4G
- OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G
- OPPO A72
- OPPO A92
- OPPO A52
- OPPO F11
- OPPO F11 Pro
- OPPO F11 Marvels Avengers Limited Edition
- OPPO A9
March 9
- OPPO Reno 10x Zoom(India, Indonesia)
March 16
- OPPO Reno2 F(India)
March 17
- OPPO F15(India)

That said, before you update your device, don’t forget to read our coverage on the ColorOS 11 features.

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Deal: Buy Xiaomi Mijia Steam Iron for $35.59 (Original Price $40)

By

Daily Deals

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Mar 3, 2021

Banggood is giving out Xiaomi Mijia Handheld Steam Iron at a discounted price of $35.59 (original price $40).

Xiaomi Mijia Steam Iron is a highly portable, lightweight hand-held ironing machine that can be used to press clothes and other fabrics. The electric steam iron works on 1200W high power and can warm up easily in 30 seconds. The supercharged continuous steam pellets, give you dry and wrinkle-free clothes and a 99.9% sterilization rate on every use.

Xiaomi Mijia Steam Iron can be used on all-season clothing and can be easily packed into a small travel case. The iron which usually retails around $40 is available for $35.59 only for the next 7 days. Please note that this discounted price is applicable only on orders from the CZ warehouse and additional shipping costs may be charged.

DJI FPV drone with Goggles V2, motion controller, 4K gimbal camera official

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 3, 2021

DJI‘s upcoming FPV drone has been the subject of several leaks which reveal a great deal about the device before launch. We won’t have to wait for more leaks as the FPV has been launched. It is a hybrid drone that merges the first-person feature of FPV drones as well as the speed and agility of racing drones with a simplistic usage as well as integrated camera feature that consumer drones are known for.

DJI FPV is propelled by high-performance motors that make it capable of hitting 100 km/h in just 2 seconds. The drone also comes with a peak speed of 140km/h. The drone also comes with three flight modes; Normal mode, Manual mode, and Sport mode.

The Normal mode is designed for novice pilots, activating features such as obstacle detection and allowing the drone to hover in place. On the other hand, the Manual mode disables all assistance and gives the user full control over the flight. Finally, the Sports mode combines some of the features of the Normal mode while retaining the manual control availed in the Manual mode.

Furthermore, the DJI FPV comes with an Emergency Brake and Hover feature which can be deployed at any time with the press of a button regardless of the mode in use. The drone also retains the “Return to Home” feature that is used to land the drone at the point it took of from. There is also an ADB-S receiver onboard which alerts pilots of any aircrafts or helicopters in the vicinity.

One major feature onboard the DJI FPV which stands it out is the DJI FPV Goggles V2. The pilot is said to be capable of viewing footage from up to 10km using the goggles. The drone also comes with several technologies such as auto-switching dual frequencies, 50Mbps bitrate, and anti-interference. Two viewing modes will be available to pilots; a standard low-latency HD mode and a Smooth mode. The standard low-latency HD mode displays in a resolution of 1440x810p at 60fps with 142° FoV or 50fps with 150° FoV. The latency in this mode is less than 40ms.

On the other hand, the Smooth mode utilizes either 120fps with 142° FoV or 100fps with 150° FoV with less than 28ms latency but shares the same resolution as the standard mode. In addition to the main Goggle, users can add up to eight other goggles giving others the pilot’s view.

As for the camera, the DJI FPV comes with a 4K/60p 120Mbps camera that is mounted on a gimbal. The camera is capable of recording 4X slow motion in 1080/120p while videos can be saved in H.264 or HEVC. Apart from the stability offered by the gimbal, there is also DJI’s RockSteady digital image stabilization equipped on the camera.

As for the price, the DI FPV carries a price tag of $1299 inclusive of the remote controller 2 as well as the FPV Goggles V2, cables, and one battery. DJI will sell a standalone motion controller separately. It allows the pilot to control the drone with movements of the hand. The motion controller will sell for $199. There is also the DJI FPV Fly More Kit which bundles two extra batteries and a charging hub for just $299.

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Deal: Gearbest is Giving $5 Discount on Huawei Honor Band 5 (Coupon)

By

Daily Deals

-

Mar 3, 2021

Gearbest is giving out this fantastic deal on Huawei Honor Band 5. The smart bracelet can be availed at a $5 discount by using the coupon code: L5C390EE2D112000

Huawei Honor Band 5 which comes in two color variants viz: Sakura Pink and Glacier Grey is a dual-mode smart band that can be used on your wrist as well as foot. A single charge gives you two weeks of standby and 40 hours of continuous battery life. This waterproof fitness band comes with Bluetooth 4.2 and generic functions like step counter, calorie counter, incoming call notification, alarm, sleep time reminder, etc.

At Gearbest, the Huawei Honor Band 5 Sakura Pink variant which is listed at $17.99 can be bought for $12.99 and the Glacier Gray variant at $18.99 can be bought for $13.99 after applying the $5 coupon code: L5C390EE2D112000.

Please note that the above prices are applicable only on orders from China Warehouse. With free shipping to Europe, this deal from Gearbest is too good to miss. So go grab your Honor Band 5 asap.

realme 8 Specs revealed by India & Europe CEO Madhav Sheth

By

Balaji S

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Mar 3, 2021

realme recently confirmed that it would use Samsung’s 108MP HM2 camera sensor on the upcoming realme 8 Pro. While the company is yet to reveal a launch date for the realme 8 series, it has gone forward to reveal the entire specs of the non-Pro realme 8.

As you can see in the image below, the CEO of realme India & Europe, Madhav Sheth has shared an image on Twitter. In that, we can see the rear design of the realme 8 Pro once again. However, at the back of this are two boxes that should be the final retail packaging of the realme 8.

Anyway, the box reveals that the realme 8 will feature a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED FullScreen display. This is a clear jump from the predecessor, realme 7’s had a 90Hz IPS LCD panel. Also, there is a possibility that the company might limit the refresh rate to 60Hz on the realme 8.

The company’s box packaging also talks about the device being super slim & light but we will have to wait and see if the thickness is less than realme 7’s 9.4mm. Moving on, the box reveals that realme 8 will have the same MediaTek Helio G95 chipset as its predecessor.

To Infinity & beyond with Trendsetting Tech…Are you ready? pic.twitter.com/GKiR9YNoQg

— Madhav108MP (@MadhavSheth1) March 3, 2021

That said, the realme 8 will feature an AI quad-camera with 64MP as the main lens. We are yet to know the auxiliary camera sensors but they could be the same as the predecessor. Other specs include a 5,000mAh battery with 30W Dart Charging.

We can also spot the Android logo beneath the box packaging however, we aren’t sure of the OS version yet. Let’s just hope that the realme 8 series finally debuts with Android 11 out of the box.

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OPPO confirms the Find X3 will feature a 10bit Color Engine; X3 Pro stars in promo videos

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 3, 2021

OPPO is expected to officially unveil the flagship Find X3 series in China on March 11. Ahead of the launch, several teasers of the device have been shared online. One of the latest details shared by OPPO is that the Find X3 will launch as the first device that will be equipped with a full-path 10bit color management system.

OPPO first announced the Full-path Color Management System at the OPPO INNO DAY 2020 in November last year. OPPO touts the device to be the “very first” Android color management system to offer such performance. It promises to deliver an “outstanding viewing experience” with “authentic and accurate color reproduction.”

The Color Management System is capable of supporting full DCI-P3 wide gamut and 10-bit colour depth from capture to storage and display. Compared to a depth of 8-bits, the 10-bit colour tones down the artificial visual features brought about by gaps in colour. It also further improves colour gradient to enhance the quality of visual content during creation and post-editing. Meanwhile, with a size of around 50% of a JPEG, the new and powerful HEIF format fully supports a wide variety of multimedia, such as static images, Exif, depth information, and dynamic videos, giving users more creative freedom and is compatible with ultra-high colour depth.

In another development, tipster Evan Blass has shared two promotional videos of the Find X3 Pro which promote various aspects of the device. The videos which look like Sci-fi films promote features such as the dynamic 120Hz display, IP68 water resistance, 65W and 30W wired and wireless charging, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. The second video centers on the design especially the rear camera protrusion.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 gets a direct update to One UI 3.1 from One UI 2.5

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 3, 2021

Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S6 as its flagship tablet of the year 2019. The product debuted with One UI 1.x based on Android 9.0 Pie. It was later updated up to Android 10-based One UI 2.5. Now, one and a half years later after its release, the premium tablet is receiving its second major update in the form of One UI 3.1 based on Android 11.

Samsung started rolling out the One UI 3.0 (Android 11) stable update for the eligible devices from December 2020. A little over a month later, the company began to seed the One UI 3.1 update to the devices that had received the previous update.

For those unaware, One UI 3.1 is an incremental update to One UI 3.0 with some additional features that debuted on the Galaxy S21 series.

As for the Galaxy Tab S6, it has started getting a direct update to the latest One UI 3.1 from One UI 2.5, as per AllAboutSamsung. In fact, this tablet was supposed to receive the vanilla One UI 3.0 two months later. Anyway, we aren’t surprised since Samsung has been delivering Android 11 update to eligible smartphones and tablets ahead of schedule since the rollout began.

That said, the Galaxy Tab S6 One UI 3.1 update is currently only available for the LTE variant. The OTA update is being pushed for users in Germany with firmware version T865XXU4CUB7.

Apart from bringing Android 11 and new features, the latest system update for this 2019 Samsung flagship tablet bumps up the security patch level to March 2021. Last but not least, the update weighs 2267.69MB in size.

We expect the South Korean tech giant to soon extend the availability of this update to more regions as well as the WiFi-only variant of this tablet in the coming days.

iQOO Neo5 live images appear online

By

Balaji S

-

Mar 3, 2021

iQOO has already confirmed that it’s bringing the iQOO Neo5 to China on March 16. Ahead of the launch, the company has been teasing the device’s features. Amidst this, live images of the device are said to have appeared online.

As reported by GSMArena, the said live images of the iQOO Neo5 have been posted on Weibo. In the image, you can see that a device with a blue rear panel, rectangle-shaped triple-camera layout with the iQOO logo. In fact, the logo placement resembles the iQOO 7.

However, the cameras inside the layout are arranged straight and not in a Triangle fashion. Anyway, the leaker says that the iQOO Neo5 triple-camera setup will have OIS capability. He has also shared the front image of the device(single punch-hole display) with a screengrab from the PeaceKeeper Elite(China’s PUBG Mobile).

If the info given by the leaker is true, users of the iQOO Neo5 should be able to play games like ‘Honor of Kings’ at 90fps and Peacekeeper Elite at 120fps. He says that the device does it via the Game Frame insertion & stabilization techniques.

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And talking about the cameras, the previous leak said that the iQOO Neo5 would feature a Triple-camera on the back with a 48MP Sony IMX 598 main lens, a 13MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP sensor.

As for the rest of the specs, the device is said to feature Samsung’s E3 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and at least FHD+(2400x1080p) resolution. A Geekbench listing reveals that the Snapdragon 870 chipset will power the device which could also have up to 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and run Android 11 OS.

Other expected specs include a 4,400mAh battery with 66W FlashCharge support, a 16MP selfie shooter, 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and a rumored 2,999 yuan($465) pricing. Let’s wait for the official word to confirm the retail price.

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Discount: Get $5 OFF on Nokia 6.1 Global Version (Coupon)

By

Daily Deals

-

Mar 3, 2021

If you are in the market for a Nokia smartphone then check out this special discount of $5 from Gearbest on the Nokia 6.1 Global version. The smartphone which is listed on Gearbest for $109.99 can be availed for $104.99 by applying the coupon code: V61D784BA2512001

OFFER

Nokia 6.1 Global at just $104.99– COUPON: V61D784BA2512001

Nokia 6.1 comes with a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a hybrid dual sim slot. The 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM smartphone is powered by a snapdragon 630 chipset and octa-core processor. Equipped with a 16MP main camera and an 8MP selfie cam, the smartphone is fueled by a 3000 mAh fast-charging battery.

Gearbest is now giving out Nokia 6.1 Global version for $104.99 vide coupon code: V61D784BA2512001. The offer which ends in the next 4 days is applicable only on the black color variant ordered from the EU warehouse. With free shipping to Europe, this is a bargain deal. So order your Nokia 6.1 asap.

vivo Y12 from H1 2019 gets Android 11 update in India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 3, 2021

Chinese smartphone maker vivo launched the vivo Y12 budget smartphone in India in June 2019. The handset debuted with Funtouch OS 9 based on Android 9.0 Pie. The device was later updated to Android 10-based Funtouch OS 10. Now, it has even started receiving the Funtouch OS 11 (Android 11) update in the country.

The vivo Y12 is a sub-₹15,000 budget smartphone targeted at offline channels. Hence, its specs are mediocre but it features a striking design. Interestingly, the phone is still on sale nearly two years after its release.

It is powered by MediaTek Helio P22 SoC and was announced with Funtouch OS 9 (Android 9.0 Pie). For those unaware, vivo is not known for providing platform updates. Most of its phones only get a single Android update.

Hence, no one would have thought that this handset will be getting the Android 11 (Funtouch OS 11) update after the Funtouch OS 10 (Android 10) update last year.

According to a report by PiunikaWeb, the vivo Y12 Android 11 update is currently under greyscale testing. That means it is only available for a select few users. If these early adopters don’t face any major issues, the update will be made available for more users in the coming days.

That said, the software build that is live right now comes with build number vivo rev 6.71.46. Interestingly, it weighs a whopping 3.68GB in size. Hence, users are advised to have enough free space before hitting the ‘Download and Install’ button.

What are your thoughts on vivo providing two Android updates for a low-spec’d budget smartphone? Do let us known in the comment section below.

Giztop is selling the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra 5G for just $749

By

Daily Deals

-

Mar 3, 2021

Giztop is giving this fantastic deal on Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra 5G. The flagship which usually retails at around $800 is now available at a heavily discounted price of $749 only.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra 5G is one of the best flagships built by Xiaomi from 2020. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core processor, and Adreno 650 GPU this smartphone comes with a massive 6.67 inch curved AMOLED screen. The rear quad-camera setup has 48MP (wide) + 48MP (periscope telephoto) 5x optical zoom with 120x hybrid zoom + 12MP (telephoto) 2x optical zoom + 20MP (ultrawide) cameras and the display hosts a single 20MP selfie cam.

Fueled with a 4500mAh battery and 120W Fast charging technology, the smartphone charges up to 41% in 5 minutes and 100% in 23 minutes.

You can check out our Mi 10 Ultra Review here.

For a limited period, Giztop is selling Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra 5G for $749. The offer is valid only on the Black color and 8GB -128GB variant. The offer available is on the Chinese edition smartphone but comes with pre-installed google play store and services. Also, OTA updates and multi-languages are supported on this version.

Mysterious Realme RMX3041/2/3 smartphone’s images and key specifications emerge

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 3, 2021

A mysterious Realme phone with multiple variants such as RMX3041, RMX3042, and RMX3043 have appeared in the database of China’s TENAA authority. The listings include the key specifications and images of the smartphone.

The Realme RMX3041 has 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5mm dimensions. The phone features a 6.5-inch display featuring a round-shaped selfie camera cutout at its top-left corner. It is unclear whether the handset supports HD+ or FHD+ resolution.

The RMX3041 handset could be housing a 5,000mAh typical battery as it features a 4,890mAh rated battery. The phone will come preloaded with Android 11 OS. These specs are also available on RMX3042 and RMX3043 variants.

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The rear image of the RMX3041 shows that it has a rectangle-shaped camera array with three cameras and an LED flash. The RMX3042 and RMX3043 models also sport the same rear design. One noticeable difference on the RMX3042 is that it features a large-sized Realme logo. These models are also fitted with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

It is unclear with which moniker the Realme RMX3041 / RMX3042 / RMX3043 smartphone will be launching in India. Hopefully, newer reports will reveal the key specifications of the device.

In related news, a new Realme phone with model number RMX3023 has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. The FCC listing revealed that it is a 4G phone that will come preinstalled with Android 11 OS. It is said to be equipped with a 5,000mAh battery.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy M62 debuts in Malaysia for RM1,999($494)

By

Balaji S

-

Mar 3, 2021

Samsung launched the Galaxy F62 in India back in February. Today, the company has brought it as the Galaxy M62 to Malaysia at a price of $494.

Samsung Galaxy M62 Price, Offers, Availability

Samsung has launched a single variant of the Galaxy M62 in Malaysia. That is 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage priced at RM1,999($494). For colors, We have Black, Green, and Blue but Green isn’t listed on Lazada.

As for availability, the device is exclusively available for purchase(from Today, March 3) on the Malaysian e-commerce website Lazada. This website is running a limited quantity introductory 20% discount and as a result, the Galaxy M62 is available at RM1,599($395).

To compare, the Galaxy F62 starts at $330 for the 6GB RAM, 128GB in India, and the higher variant has the same storage yet 8GB RAM for $358. Anyway, it’s good that Samsung is at least providing a higher storage variant for the $494 price in Malaysia.

Samsung Galaxy M62 Specifications and Features

As mentioned above, barring the colors and memory variant, the device is the same as the Galaxy F62. Accordingly, The Samsung Galaxy M62 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O FHD+ display.

Under the hood, Exynos 9825 chipset powers the device with 8GB RAM, 256GB storage. To expand further(up to 1TB), you can use the microSD card slot available.

For cameras, there is a square-shaped layout on the back holding a 64MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro, and a 5MP depth sensor. Upfront, you get a 32MP selfie shooter.

Other features include a 7,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging, 3.5mm audio jack, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, dual SIM 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB-C port, Samsung Knox, and One UI 3.1 based on Android 11.

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Indian telecoms raise 4G capacity as 5G excluded from recent spectrum auction

By

Sean

-

Mar 3, 2021

With 5G spectrum auctions set to start in a year, Indian telecom operators have raised their 4G capacities. The recent spectrum auctions excluded the newer and faster bandwidth, but offers for 4G spectrum has still seen high biddings.

According to the LiveMint report, the results of the recent auctions came as a surprise as the local government received bids worth 77,815 crore INR (roughly 10.6 billion US Dollars). This signifies that the telecom operators are bidding on what’s currently available rather than waiting for the next auction, which would include 5G spectrums. Notably, the figure is also much higher than what the government had previously estimated to receive. A few of the bids were for renewal of spectrums, but a majority were for growth.

As per the report, the auction saw a more aggressive response than what was expected, with the total bids being over 70 percent higher than the renewal spectrum requirement. Furthermore, Reliance Jio spent the most during the auction, spending 800MHz on renewals worth 20,000 crore INR, and even raised its Sub GHz capacity for better indoor coverage. The company has even spend a lot on capacity spectrum in the 2300MHz band, along with the mid range 1800MHz.

On the other hand, Bharti Airtel spent an amount far lower than Jio, amounting to only 18,699 crore INR in the overall auctions. This arrives as the company’s data volumes grew by 52 percent last year, much higher than the 22 percent growth in data volumes on Jio’s wireless network, which also appeared to have capacity constraints as well.

RELATED:

AnTuTu February 2021: Galaxy S21 Ultra scores too low for a Snapdragon 888 device

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 3, 2021

AnTuTu has published its report on best-performing smartphones for the month of February 2021. For the first time in a while, the lists have changed dramatically, thanks to the launch of various new models. Let’s take a look at which phones have made it to the charts.

Talking about the flagship smartphones first, the iQOO 7 maintains its lead with 726,939 points. However, the Mi 11 slips to fourth with 712,366 points. Because the second and third spots are now acquired by newcomers vivo X60 Pro+ (726,925 points) and Redmi K40 Pro (718,434 points) respectively.

Further, the iQOO 5 Pro, vivo X50 Pro+, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra are no longer on the list. Places from fifth to tenth are now occupied by HUAWEI Mate40 Pro (683,919 points), Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (679,152 points), Redmi K40 (668,471 points), OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G (667,456 points), Redmi K30S Ultra (666,043 points), and iQOO 5 (661,609 points).

From the list, we can note that the first four positions are captured by smartphones powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. Also, interestingly, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G with the same SoC scores way lower than the others.

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Coming to the chart for mid-range smartphones, Redmi 10X 5G and Redmi 10X Pro 5G still lead the list with 404,346 points and 398,570 points respectively. The third-place now belongs to the newcomer vivo S7t (395,082 points) and therefore, HUAWEI nova 7 Pro (392,093 points) and HUAWEI nova 7 (391,542 points) are pushed down to fourth and fifth positions respectively.

The sixth and eighth places are by other newcomers – HUAWEI nova 8 Pro (390,039 points) and HUAWEI nova 8 (388,568 points). Lastly, HONOR 30 (389,107 points), HONOR X10 (362,664 points), and HONOR 30S (355,028 points) came seventh, ninth, and tenth respectively.

What are your thoughts on the AnTuTu Benchmark scores of the leading smartphones mentioned above? Which phones do you think will enter the charts in the next month’s report? Do let us know in the comment section below.

DEAL: Grab this Cool Foldable 15W Qi Wireless Charging 4-in-1 Dock at just $19.40

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Daily Deals

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Mar 3, 2021

AliExpress is giving out a 15W Qi Fast Wireless Charger Stand at a discounted price of $19.40.

The 4 in 1 wireless charger/docking station can be simultaneously used to charge two phones, your Apple smartwatch, and AirPods. Compatible with different versions of smartphones like Samsung, Huawei, iPhone, etc, the highly portable charging station can be used to charge 4 different devices at the same time. Designed to optimize energy and space, this charging station is less than 0.6 inches thick when folded.

The wireless charging and docking station is manufactured with high-quality and energy-efficient material and boasts advanced functions like temperature control, protection from overload (current/voltage), foreign object detection, etc.

This 15W 4 in 1 charging stand is available for a discounted price of $19.40. The stand comes in two color variants viz: Black and White and works with USB Type C. With free shipping to the US via AliExpress Standard Shipping, this discount coupon code is simply too good to ignore. So go grab your charging station before the offer expires.

Meizu 18 series Vertical Wireless Charger launched for 199 Yuan ($30)

By

Sean

-

Mar 3, 2021

Earlier today (3rd March 2021), the Meizu 18 series of flagship smartphone were launched. Along with the new smartphones, the company also unveiled a vertical wireless charger, which is compatible with the new devices.

The Meizu 18 Pro is the current high end flagship from the Chinese smartphone maker and supports 40W wireless and wired fast charging, while also supports 10W reverse wireless charging as well. Thus, the vertical wireless charger is an accessory that lets users wirelessly fast charge their new smartphones. The new charger is priced at 199 Yuan (roughly 30.7 US Dollars) and is sold separately.

Talking about the newly launched devices, The Meizu 18 and 18 Pro are powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. They are equipped with up to 12GB of LPPDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The Meizu 18 has a 4,000mAh battery, whereas the Pro model gets a larger 4,500mAh battery. The vanilla model supports 36W Super mCharge fast charging, while the Pro model is equipped with 40W charging and 40W Super Wireless mCharge technology.

The Meizu 18 series is currently up for pre orders in China through various e commerce sites. It will be available for purchase from March 8. There is no word on the global availability of the Meizu 18 and 18 Pro handsets. So, we can expect the new vertical charger to launch around the same time.

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Global Smartphone shipments to rise by 50% in Q1 2021: Report

By

Sean

-

Mar 3, 2021

Smartphone shipments across the globe is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, reaching up to 340 million units in Q1 2021. The primary reason for the rise includes surging iPhone 12 series shipments along with Chinese brands competing to take over Huawei‘s market share.

According to a DigiTimes report, the Cupertino based giant’s market share are expected to reach over 60 million units in the first quarter of this year, despite it also seeing shipments reaching over 90 million units just a quarter prior. Apple is also likely to be the top vendor for the sixth month period that ends on 31st March 2021, having its total shipments reach 150 million units. This also marks a rise of 38 percent from the same period from a year ago.

On the other hand, Samsung Electronics is expected to rank second for the same six months period, with its shipments reaching somewhere between 60 to 65 million units for both the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, Xiaomi is expected to arrive third with its shipments for the same six month period totaling just 90 million units. Although, this still marks a rise of over 80 percent over the same period from a year prior.

During this time, Huawei is projected to ship less than 20 million handset units, arriving sixth in the global rankings in the first quarter of this year. Furthermore, the global shipments of 5G enabled devices are expected to reach over 600 million units in 2021, which is more than double of the 280 million units that shipped last year. Apple, Huawei, and Samsung were the top three 5G handset vendors in 2020 with a combined market share crossing 70 percent.

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