Last week, Redmi announced the Redmi K40 series. The new series includes two pro models – the Redmi K40 Pro and the Redmi K40 Pro+. These two devices differ with respect to their camera configuration and nothing else. This is a different approach from last year’s series which had a Redmi K30 Pro and a Redmi K30 Zoom that not only differed with respect to cameras but also in other cameras.
Just as said above, the Redmi K40 Pro and Redmi K40 Pro+ differ only with respect to their camera configuration. The former has a 64MP primary rear camera while the latter has a 108MP Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor with a 7P lens as its primary rear camera.
For this week’s poll, we want to know which of the two phones you prefer. Is it the Redmi K40 Pro and its 64MP sensor or do you prefer having the 108MP sensor in the Redmi K40 Pro+? So please take the poll and also let us know what you think about Redmi’s decision to only differentiate these two phones with their cameras.
For the keen observers, Android users of the Google Chrome browser may have noticed the new tabs group feature that was recently activated on Google Android. The new feature gives a very nice overview of all open tabs and groups tabs together to enhance the compactness and appeal of the overall tab layout.
Now, the new tabs group feature will now be available on Google Chrome for desktop. This comes after a series of rigorous and extensive trials of the feature. The tabs group feature on the desktop version of Google Chrome will prove to be an invaluable tool to quickly organize a user’s browsing activities for enhanced productivity. It would help the user to declutter the environment without necessarily closing tabs which may still be needed.
There are indications that users of the Google Chrome browser for Android will soon be able to see and activate the Follow button feature on Google Chrome for Android. It enables the Chrome desktop or ChromeOS user to create new groups by right-clicking the selected tab. You can add some spice to the layout by giving it a color and name before creating the group. In addition, you can select multiple tabs by pressing shift while clicking the left mouse button.
As should be expected, while some users have welcomed the new functionality with aplomb, some have expressed skepticism on the utility of the new tab group feature to help declutter and enhance productivity. Some see it as tokenistic, as anyone can easily declutter his workspace by closing tabs no longer needed, rather than going through the tab group feature.
As more users of Google Chrome embrace the tab group feature across all platforms, its utility will be revealed. For now, we await further developments.
It looks like Qualcomm gave life to a new niche of handsets after releasing the Snapdragon 870. We are talking about very affordable flagship killers powered by this chipset, which is actually an upgrade of the Snapdragon 865+ released in 2020. It is not the best chipset by Qualcomm, but it is still a flagship SoC with 5G connectivity and delivers amazing performance. The most affordable devices launched with this chipset are the Redmi K40 by Xiaomi and the Motorola Edge S. Which one is the best and which has the highest value for money? This comparison is here to give you the answer.
Xiaomi Redmi K40 vs Motorola Edge S
Xiaomi Redmi K40
Motorola Edge S
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm, 196 grams
168.4 x 74 x 9.7 mm, 215 g
DISPLAY
6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
Triple 48 + 8 + 5 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2
20 MP front camera
Quad 64 + 16 + 2 MP + TOF 3D, f/1.7
Dual 16 + 8 MP front camera
BATTERY
4520 mAh, fast charging 33W
5000 mAh, fast charging 20W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Design
Despite they are actually affordable flagships, both Redmi K40 and Motorola Edge S come with an attractive design. The camera module is not invasive, the screen-to-body ratio is high and the display has a punch hole design. According to Motorola, the Edge S is splash resistant, while Redmi K40 does not provide any protection against water, at least officially. On the other hand, the Redmi K40 is thinner and lighter thanks to its smaller battery, and smaller display. If you want a device that fits better in a pocket and is easier to use with one hand, then Redmi K40 is actually a better choice. But the protection against water offered by the Motorola Edge S is an important added value.
Display
If we consider the displays, the Redmi K40 wins and you should choose it without thinking twice if you are looking for the best image quality. The Redmi K40 has a Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and the HDR10+ certification, as well as a very high 1300 nits peak brightness. It is almost a flagship display if we consider the color reproduction, the refresh rate, and the brightness. The Motorola Edge S has a midrange-class IPS display with a 90 Hz refresh rate and HDR10 certification, as well as a lower 560 nits typical brightness. Despite the Redmi K40 has an AMOLED display, both the phones feature a side-mounted fingerprint reader.
Specs & Software
As mentioned in the intro, Redmi K40 and Motorola Edge S are fueled by the Snapdragon 870 mobile platform by Qualcomm. The SoC is paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of fast UFS 3.1 native storage. In terms of the hardware department, it is essentially a draw. When it comes to the software, you get a user interface close to stock Android with the Motorola Edge S and a highly-customized MIUI with the Redmi K40. Both the phones run Android 11 out of the box. Note that Motorola Edge S has expandable storage thanks to a micro SD slot, while Redmi K40 does not.
Camera
The Motorola Edge S has a superior rear camera to the Redmi K40. It is composed of a 64 MP main sensor with an f/1.7 focal aperture, a 16 MP ultrawide sensor with a 121 degrees FOV, a 2 MP depth sensor, and an additional TOF 3D sensor. Even the front camera department is better: it consists of a 16 MP main sensor and a secondary 8 MP ultrawide lens.
The Motorola Edge S packs a bigger battery with a 5000 mAh capacity, while you get just 4520 mAh with the Redmi K40. The Redmi K40 has smaller dimensions thanks to its smaller battery, but the Motorola Edge S provides a longer battery life. On the other hand, the Redmi K40 charges faster with its 33W fast charging technology, while Motorola Edge S stops at 20W.
Price
The starting price of the Motorola Edge S is €250/$302, while Redmi K40 starts from €280/$338. Those €30 do not make the difference. What does are the cameras and the displays. If you want a better display quality, then go for the Redmi K40. But if you need a better camera phone, then Motorola Edge S is actually better. I would actually choose the K40 because despite the Edge S has a better camera department, it remains a mid-range camera phone.
The OnePlus 9 series is expected to launch this month. Rumors have reported that there will be three models – the Oneplus 9 Pro, the OnePlus 9, and a third model whose name is unconfirmed but has been referred to as OnePlus 9E, OnePlus 9 Lite, and OnePlus 9R. A new leak has surfaced that reveals key specifications of the OnePlus 9 Pro.
OnePlus didn’t launch a OnePlus 8T Pro last year, so big changes are expected for the OnePlus 9 Pro. Based on this new leak, we can confirm that these changes are there, at least in the camera department.
The source of the leak is the greek publication, Techmaniacs.gr, and they have shared screenshots of the About Phone section and camera app which contain a bunch of details.
OnePlus 9 Pro About Phone
OnePlus 9 Pro camera app screenshot
OnePlus 9 Pro camera app screenshot
As seen in the first image, the OnePlus 9 Pro will have a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It will have a Snapdragon 888 processor that is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Of course, there is no support for storage expansion. If you want that, you will have to look to OnePlus’s Nord lineup.
The image also shows that the OnePlus 9 Pro will have four rear cameras – a 48MP + 50MP + 8MP + 2MP. The screenshot doesn’t say the specification of the front camera but from the image of the phone, we can see it will have a single front-facing camera. It is also revealed that the OnePlus 9 Pro will run Android 11 out of the box.
The other two images show that the camera app has been redesigned. The settings menu can now be accessed from the top and not the bottom as it is on current models. The redesigned settings menu for video will allow users to switch between frame rates, resolutions, and aspect ratios.
If you look closely, you will see that the screenshot shows that the OnePlus 9 Pro supports 8K video recording at 30 frames per second and 4K video recording at 120 frames per second.
There are still a number of details we do not know but we expect more details
India is an important market for a lot of technology companies, so it is no surprise that it is usually one of the early destinations when a company is expanding to new markets. The latest company to extend its roots in the country is Carl Pei’s Nothing and this week, it appointed who will head its Indian division.
The new appointee is Manu Sharman, an ex-Samsung VP. Mr. Sharma will take on the role of General Manager of Nothing India according to a report by the Times of India. He will also hold the title of Vice President of the company. Prior to his move to Nothing, he was the head of product strategy at Samsung up until December 2020.
Carl Pei is reported to have said that Mr. Sharma’s track record and experience will play a pivotal role in Nothing’s growth in India. His responsibilities will include setting up the India office, overseeing the region’s product strategy, marketing, and sales.
Thanks Carl @getpeid. Excited to be part of Nothing’s journey. Your vision is inspiring and I am confident that Nothing will have a meaningful impact on the consumer technology market in India and around the world. #nothing@nothinghttps://t.co/8xVV2lHFAy
Nothing has announced that it will launch its first product, a pair of earbuds, this summer. Following the appointment, we can expect it and future Nothing products to launch in India. However, it remains to be seen if these products will be locally made or imported into the country.
If you are wondering what is going on at Honor, then we have got some news for you. A new leak has revealed info about what the Chinese manufacturer has planned for this year. Some of the details confirm what we have heard before from other sources while the rest are new.
According to the Weibo leaker that goes by Digital Chat Station, Honor is planning to release new mid-range and entry-level phones soon. We don’t know which models are planned but we expect the Honor 11, Honor11x, and their variants to launch this year. We also presume the entry model phone may be a successor to the Honor 9A which should launch as the Honor 10A.
The leaker also revealed that the next flagship from the manufacturer which should launch as the Honor 40 will come with a new processor and will be announced in May or June. He adds that one of the main selling points of the Honor 40 will be its camera performance. This is because a lot of Huawei’s big advancements in camera technology are now owned by Honor.
Last but not the least, the source confirms that the Honor Magic foldable phone is coming (later) along with a flagship tablet. We have heard reports that the Magic series will return this year and that the new model will be a foldable phone. This is a big deal as Honor is yet to launch a foldable phone while its former parent company, Huawei, has announced three. The Honor tablet should be the successor to the Honor V6 from last year.
Honor definitely has a lot of interesting devices planned for this year and we look forward to their launch most especially its first foldable phone.
Earlier, we discussed IDP.Generic virus, which was detected by the third-party Antivirus software installed on your PC. In some cases, those are false-positive threats. We had provided different kinds of solutions to fix the same. Another threat that is shown by the third-part Antivirus software is the FileRepMalware threat. If you guys remember, AVG and Avast detected those, and the same is being repeated here too. These types of third-party software often identify these types of files. With this article, we will discuss the authenticity of these viruses. We will also include different solutions for fixing the same.
Note: GizmoChina is not endorsing the use of pirated software, we are just publishing the facts for the users who often get a virus warning.
What is the FileRepMalware virus identified by third-party apps?
The AntiVirus software that detects these viruses, like FileRepMalware, are mostly from some cracked software and apps like KMSpico. If you don’t know what KMSpico is, it helps you activate your Windows 10 and Microsoft Office. As of now, there are no reports from users that KMSpico had stolen their files or like. We meant that showing a threat that the KMSpico files are infected is just a gimmick that all AntiVirus, both defender and third-party Antivirus programs prompts.
Earlier, the error was known as Win32:Evo-gen [Susp]. The first part of the error, i.e., the Win32, suggests that those files are created for the Windows Operating System. And the latter part tells us that it is a file that is related to the Trojan virus. Don’t worry, and these are just based on some scores calculated by AntiVirus software. There are chances for FileRepMalware to be and not be a Trojan virus. These virus types can be seen on Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus, Infected email attachments, External media infected with malware, Infected files on Peer-to-peer (P2) file-sharing networks, and Fake updates.
How does this third-party AntiVirus software identify these files?
As we said, these FileRepMalware tags are given by third-party software. The Anit-Virus software provides the virus title if the publisher does not sign applications or the AntiVirus software doesn’t trust the signature. Moreover, it occurs if a large number of users have not used the file, or if the file is not added to the whitelist section.
Solution 1: Check with VirusTotal if the file is affected or not?
If you don’t know what is VirusTotal? Then, is an online software used to check whether a file is safe. For this, find the location of the FileRepMalware detected by your antivirus software. Now open the Virustotal website on your browser and tap on the File option. Then click on Choose files and select the files which your AntiVirus software has identified. If it is safe, then you can keep it, else delete the same immediately.
Solution 2: Uninstall Adware from your PC using Control Panel
The first step to remove these FileRepMalware viruses is by removing Adware that has been installed on your device. If you don’t know, then you can follow the below-mentioned steps.
Open the Start menu and then search for Run. Or you can open it by pressing Windows Key + R.
Then enter the Control Panel in the dialogue box, and it will open the same.
You can also open the Control Panel by clicking on the Desktop icon or searching from the Start menu.
Now tap on Programs and Features in the Windows, which pop-up.
From here, select and remove the unwanted applications which you have installed.
Or you can use Malwarebytes to remove these potential affected. If you don’t know how to use this, you can follow the below-mentioned steps.
Solution 3: By using Malwarebytes Free version!
For this, first, download the software from their official website.
Once it has been downloaded, install the same on your PC. It will ask for permission to modify the system, and you should permit that.
There will be many on-screen instructions, and you can install them by following those things. The setup will ask if it’s your Work computer or personal computer.
Select according to your wish and then continue the installation process.
Once the program opens, tap on the Get Started button to start the process. It will ask for you to choose between free and premium versions. You can buy the premium version if you can afford it. But for our use, the free version is more than enough. So tap on the Free button.
Now tap on the Scan button to start scanning, and the application will scan the entire files on your PC.
Like any other app, it will take some time to scan the whole file. It’ll show a Quarantine button if it has found any viruses after reviewing. Tap on the same to delete those viruses. It will delete those malicious files and registry keys.
Restart your PC to complete the process.
Solution 3: Remove all plugins and extensions installed in your Google Chrome or other browsers.
Some plugins may contain viruses which may create problems. To solve this, remove every extension which you have installed in your browser. Only install those which you can download from official websites. And read reviews of extensions before installing the same.
Solution 4: Use File Unlocker and Deleter to delete those infected files identified by your AntiVirus software.
If the files are affected by viruses, sometimes you can’t delete those files. Because the system would block these files, and you need specific apps to remove those malicious files. You can search on Google to find those applications.
These are the four different solutions available to remove the FileRepMalware virus. One of the main reasons for these viruses is using fake Windows, pirated software, and installing unwanted extensions. What we meant to say is that the virus identified by your AntiVirus software may be legit or not. Always download Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft’s website for safety reasons. Another one is from email attachments which spammers often send. Always use AntiVirus software to make your system safe.
We are just two months into the year and there are already tens of new Android phones that cut across different categories. For the last month of the quarter which begins on Monday, we are about to get bombarded with even more devices from several manufacturers and it all starts in the first week.
Gionee Max Pro
Gionee Max Pro – Another big battery phone
Gionee will try to grab the spotlight albeit briefly with the launch of the Gionee Max Pro on March 1 in India. Leaked specs have revealed that the phone will have a 6000mAh battery capacity, even bigger than the standard model that launched last August. If a budget phone with a big battery capacity is what you want, then you should keep your eyes peeled for this one.
Meizu – Meizu 18 series, Meizu Watch
Meizu will unveil its flagship phones for 2021 on Wednesday, March 3. The Meizu 18 and Meizu 18 Pro will come with Qualcomm’s flagship processors – the Snapdragon 870 and Snapdragon 888 respectively and also have AMOLED displays with high refresh rates. Phones are not the only products we will be getting, the Meizu Watch is also expected to launch on that day. We hope Meizu at least brings the watch to global markets if it won’t launch its phones outside China.
Vivo S9 – first Dimensity 1100 phone
Vivo will share Wednesday’s spotlight with Meizu as it unveils the Vivo S9 smartphone. The S9 will be the first phone in the world powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 1100 processor. It has also been revealed it will come with a 44MP front-facing camera and a 64MP sensor on the back.
Red Magic 6
Red Magic 6 and Red Magic 6 Pro – the first of 2021’s gaming phones
Just like Meizu, Red Magic is also expected to launch a smartwatch on the same day. ZTE’s Ni Fei, has revealed the Red Magic Watch will have a 1.39-inch AMOLED round screen. The Red Magic 6 series and Red Magic Watch should get an international launch.
Realme GT 5G
If gaming phones are not your thing, then you should turn your attention to the Realme GT, the first Realme flagship for the year which also launches on March 4. The phone will have a Snapdragon 888 processor and is expected to be a challenger to the Redmi K40 series. Realme has also confirmed that its flagship phone will have a leather version that comes in yellow along with a version with glass.
Which of these phones are you most excited about? Let us know in the comment box.
Recently, we saw a review of how products like smartphones, Smart Speakers performed in the Indian market in 2020. Now, a new report by IDC takes us back to last year to tell us how tablet devices sold in the country.
According to the report, the heart of the tablet device demands was around $100-200 which is a no-brainer. 2020 was an unusual year in the last decade as people were forced to study and work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant the demand for tablets started rising rapidly.
As a result Tablet vendors got the most of 2020 when it comes to shipments. Especially, Lenovo, whose tablets are very popular, registered a whopping 153% YoY growth despite facing a 15.1% decline in the commercial segment. It is the market leader with a 39% market share in India.
Anyway, the report says that a total of 2.8 million units of tablet devices shipped in India last year. This translates to a 14.7% YoY growth and it is the first positive growth in the last 4 years. Out of this, consumer shipments account for 59.8% YoY growth over 2019 whereas commercial shipments plummeted by 14.3%.
Credit: IDC
The Chinese giant Lenovo is followed by companies like Samsung, Apple, iBall, Huawei, and others. Samsung went a step above Lenovo and saw a 157% YoY growth. The company brought promising tablets like the Galaxy Tab A7 2020 to help boost sales.
Despite struggling with stocks initially, Apple managed to jump back to 3rd in the tablet segment in India. Its growth reached 13% YoY while companies like iBall faced a 69.4% decline in shipments.
Last but not the least, seeing Huawei on the list is a bit of a surprise considering the tussle with the US it’s been facing. The report says that Huawei saw a Tri-fold growth in the tablet segment in 2020 in India. Attractive price points and online Ads helped the company pull this kind of numbers.
A few weeks ago, it was reported that Xiaomi’s Mi Pad line of tablets will be getting a new model this year. For fans of Xiaomi and its tablet line at large, that is definitely good news considering the last model, the Mi Pad 4, was released in 2018.
Xiaomi’s last tablet, the Mi Pad 4, was released in 2018
A new Mi Pad tablet for a reviving segment
It is no surprise that Xiaomi has been missing from the tablet scene for a while considering the fact that the segment had shrunk in the past few years. However, the tablet market recorded growth last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced students to resort to online schooling. There is a possibility that this growth is what has prompted Xiaomi to want to revive its tablet line. Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that if Xiaomi is going to release a new tablet, it should not run Android but Chrome OS, at least the variant that will be sold in international markets.
Before diving into the reasons behind this opinion, let us take a brief look at the history of the Mi Pad line.
Mi Pad – a poor update history
The first Xiaomi tablet was released in 2014 and it launched as the Mi Pad 7.9. It had a 7.9-inch screen, an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 64GB of storage, and a 6700mAh battery. The tablet ran MIUI 7 based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box. It was updated to MIUI 8 but never had its Android version upgraded.
Xiaomi followed it with the Mi Pad 2 in November of 2015. It had a similar screen but swapped the NVIDIA processor for an Intel Atom X5-Z8500. It also had a smaller 6190mAH battery. The RAM and storage capacities were unchanged from that of the first-gen model. It also ran MIUI 7 based on Android 5 Lollipop.
1 of 4
Mi Pad 7.9
Mi Pad 2
Mi Pad 2 Featured
Mi Pad 3
Mi Pad 4 and Mi Pad 4 Plus
The Mi Pad 3 came two years later in 2017 with a 7.9-inch screen as the first two models, thankfully with more RAM at 4GB, and a single 64GB storage option. Xiaomi once again switched chipset brands by going with a MediaTek MT8176 processor. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a MicroSD card slot but it came with a bigger 6600mAh battery. This ran MIUI 9 based on Android 7 Nougat out of the box but never got updated to MIUI 10 and neither did it get an Android version upgrade.
The Mi Pad 4 and Mi Pad 4 Plus were announced in June and August of 2018 respectively. The standard version had an 8-inch screen while the plus model ad a 10.1-inch screen. Both came with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 chipset with 3GB or 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. Xiaomi also brought back the MicroSD card slot and also added 4G. The smaller one had a 6000mAh battery while the larger model packed an 8620mAh battery. The Mi Pad 4 ran MIUI 9 based on Android 8.1 Oreo while the Mi Pad 4 Plus ran MIUI 10 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. Neither of the two tablets got updated to MIUI 11 nor did they get an Android upgrade.
As you can see, Xiaomi was pretty poor at updating the Mi Pad series. Now that it has a new tablet in development, what are the chances that this tradition won’t continue?
Why Chrome OS?
Why Chrome OS? There are several reasons as to why the next Mi Pad should run Chrome OS but the key advantage is software support. The average Chrome OS device gets software support for no less than five years. Last year, Google revealed that Chrome OS devices will now be supported for even longer as devices such as the Lenovo 10e Chromebook Tablet and Acer Chromebook 712 will receive updates until June 2028. That is 8 years of software support!!!
There are other advantages that Chrome OS brings:
Support for Android apps – Chrome OS has native support for Android apps, so there is no complaint of a limited app library.
Regularly updated with new features – Chrome OS is also regularly updated. Unlike Android that you have to wait nearly a whole year before you get significant changes, that is not the case with Chrome OS. Full OS updates arrive every 6 weeks with new features while minor updates such as security fixes are released every 2- 3 weeks.
Shallow learning curve – Chrome OS is easy to operate. A lot of keyboard shortcuts from Windows and macOS work the same way in Chrome OS. Also, there is Google Assistant available which you can call up to perform several tasks.
Chrome OS is a growing market Xiaomi can profit from
There are several Chrome OS devices available. That is not surprising considering this year makes it a decade since it was first released. However, the first Chrome OS tablet, the Acer Chromebook Tab 10, didn’t launch until 2018.
Now, there are more but still not enough options. Not only that, the few available Chrome OS tablets are sold in very few regions. By launching a Chrome OS tablet, Xiaomi can grab a share of a growing market. It already has its presence in several countries, a lot of which have very few or no Chrome OS tablets. Take India for example, which is a key market for Xiaomi. The Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook is the only Chrome OS tablet sold in the country.
Last year, Chrome OS devices outsold devices running Apple macOS. The growth of Chrome OS is expected to continue as e-learning continues in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Xiaomi definitely doesn’t want to miss out on having a share of this cake.
A dual OS strategy
Fans of the Mi Pad 2 will notice I didn’t mention an important feature of the Mi pad 2. Actually, I didn’t forget as this is a better chance to talk about it.
The Mi Pad 2 actually launched with two different operating systems. You could pick up the tablet with either Android pre-installed or with Windows 10. The Windows 10 version launched a few months after and was available in only one storage variant – 64GB of course, for obvious reasons.
The Mi Pad 2 had a version that ran Windows 10
Xiaomi can go the same route with its next tablet by launching it in Chrome OS and Android versions. This way, folks who want a tablet running the Android-based MIUI are not left out while those who want Chrome OS can also pick it up. Sales of both variants should also help Xiaomi determine if it wants to continue with a dual OS strategy or stick to one.
Expected specifications and price for the upcoming Mi Pad
We don’t know how much the new tablet will cost neither do we know its specifications but here are the features and price range we will love to see:
10-inch/10-inch+ FHD display (of course with stylus support)
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner and or Face Unlock
7000mAh battery capacity
30W/33W fast charging (though we won’t be surprised if Xiaomi goes with 18W fast charging)
Bluetooth 5.0
USB-C with support for display output
Stereo speakers
3.5mm audio jack
Optional 5G
Accessories
Chrome OS is a productivity device and this feature is enhanced with the right accessories. Chrome OS tablets like the Lenovo Ideapad Chromebook Duet come with a detachable keyboard in the box and also has support for USI styluses. Xiaomi has a number of companies under its ecosystem that manufactures keyboards and mice, so making an affordable detachable keyboard for the Mi Pad shouldn’t be difficult.
MIIIW, a company under Xiaomi’s ecological chain makes Bluetooth keyboards that cost as low as ¥149 (~$23)
However, the stylus is a device Xiaomi has no experience with. The good thing about Chrome OS devices with touch displays is that they have support for the USI (Universal Stylus Initiative) standard. This allows for devices that support the standard to be able to use supported active styluses from different brands. So if Xiaomi decides not to manufacture a stylus, buyers can pick one from any third-party manufacturer. You can also read my thoughts on why more manufacturers should add support for a stylus on a smartphone.
Price
For the above specifications, we can expect the 4GB + 128GB version to sell for $250 with a bundled keyboard and kickstand case while the 6GB + 128GB version can sell for $280. A 5G version with the same configuration as the top-end model can sell for $329. If Xiaomi does decide to make a USI stylus, we expect it to have a price tag of $39.
Of course, these are just our speculations and we’ll have to wait and see for some concrete information.
Conclusion
Xiaomi’s poor update history with respect to the Mi Pad line is going to be a major reason for some folks to avoid its next tablet. However, it can win back these customers and gain new ones by launching a Chrome OS tablet that is assured of longer software support than practically all Android devices, phones, and tablets. This is also Xiaomi’s chance to get into the Chrome OS tablet market, one that has very few players and even fewer products for consumers.
It is important to state that the chance of Xiaomi launching a Chrome OS tablet so soon is really slim, though we won’t rule out the possibility of it happening. Also, Xiaomi’s attitude to its mobile devices not running MIUI (its Android One and Android Go phones) shows that it will try to avoid launching a device it can’t put its customized version of Android on.
What do you think about Xiaomi launching a Chrome OS tablet? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment box below.
Earlier this week, Xiaomi launched Mi GaN Charger Type-C 33W in its home country China in a single white color option. A few days later, ZMI has also released the same product but in black color. It is called ZMI 33W GaN Charger Mini and is also priced at ¥79 ($12), just like the Mi-branded charger.
For those unaware, ZMI is one of the members of the Xiaomi ecological chain. The company is known for manufacturing power banks and chargers for Xiaomi. Hence, it is not surprising to see the same charger being sold with both ZMI and Mi brandings.
Although the two chargers are identical in terms of specs as well as price, they differ by appearance. The Xiaomi model features a glossy finish with white color paintjob and ‘Xiaomi 33W’ writing on one of the sides. On the other hand, the ZMI product has a dual-tone (glossy, matte) black color finish with a ‘33W’ text.
Talking about specifications, the ZMI 33W GaN Charger Mini with model number HA715 supports up to 33W output. It features a USB Type-C port and also ships with a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.
1 of 3
The charger is compatible with all smartphones and tablets, including iPhones as well as iPads. As the name suggests, it uses GaN (Gallium Nitride) instead of silicon, and therefore, it is smaller than regular chargers with an identical maximum output rate.
Last but not least, the new ZMI charger measures 30.4 x 30.4 x 34mm in dimensions and weighs 50g.
It’s been one and a half years since Lenovo announced the last versions of the Galaxy Tab M7, and M8. The successors to these are already long overdue. Recent Geekbench listing suggested that a new Lenovo Tab with Model number TB-7306F could debut as the 2021 Tab M7 model. Now, a Google Play console listing shows specs of the Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen).
Rep Image: Lenovo Tab M8 3rd Gen Credit: GoAndroid
The listing via GoAndroid shows a new Lenovo Tablet with model number TB-8506F. The name of the tablet appears as the Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) and the SoC is the MediaTek MT8768A. Searching this model number on the Geekbench database yields us the results as below.
Contrary to the Google Play Console, the Geekbench listing shows the chipset as MediaTek MT8768WT. That said, the chipset could just be the MediaTek Helio P22T found on its own tablets like Lenovo Tab M10 HD but we will have to wait for the official info.
Moving on, the display seems to have a resolution of 800×1280 pixels which suggests that Lenovo is sticking to just over HD format. And going by the naming, it should measure 8-inches. Other specs include 3GB RAM, Android 11 OS. Although the Geekbench suggests a 4GB RAM variant, we would put a pin on that until the launch.
1 of 2
Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) Geekbench
Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) Google Play Console, Credit: GoAndroid
Lenovo has constantly been performing well in the tablet segment despite scattered launches. It has shipped about 5.6 million units in Q4 2020 and secured an 8.6% market share. Let’s wait and see how the company manages to price the 2021 versions to continue the momentum.
The LG V60 ThinQ 5G is the last-ever proper flagship smartphone from LG Electronics. It was unveiled in late February 2020 with Android 10 out of the box. A year after its announcement, the handset has finally started receiving the Android 11 update.
A few weeks back, LG began to roll out Android 11 for the LG Velvet 5G in South Korea. Hence, it became the first device in the company’s portfolio to get last year’s Android update.
Now, the electronics giant is seeding this update for LG V60 ThinQ 5G. As of now, the update is only live in the US. Also, it is only available for Verizon and T-Mobile variants. AT&T model is yet to receive the update but it should be getting very soon.
Interestingly, the Verizon variant’s Android 11 update comes with January 2021 security patch. On the other hand, the T-Mobile version’s build bumps up the security patch level to February 2021.
That said, if you happen to own any of these two models, then head over to Settings > About Phone > Software updates > Check for Update to check whether your unit has received the OTA update. If not, wait for a few days as it may take some time since it is being rolled out in batches.
As for other regions, there’s no official word from the company but those versions of LG V60 ThinQ should also get the Android 11 update in the near future.
Samsung launched a bunch of Galaxy E series devices back in 2015 starting with Galaxy E7. Then, it somehow vanished as the company’s strategy evolved and focused on the other Galaxy mid-range series and flagship devices. However, it looks like Samsung is bringing the series back again as the support page for a possible Galaxy E02 has gone live.
The support page for a new Samsung mobile with model number SM-E025F/DS has gone live on the Indian website. We can take cues of the device’s names from the model numbers. For instance, the recently launched budget Galaxy M02s in India has SM-M025F as its model numbers. In that case, this device could very well debut as the Samsung Galaxy E02.
Apart from the support page, this model number has also been spotted on Wi-Fi Alliance and India’s BIS certifications a while ago. Here, the Wi-Fi certification reveals that the device supports Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and runs Android 10 OS.
1 of 2
Apart from this, we do not have concrete info regarding the specs and features of the devices yet. It is possible that Samsung might launch this device under a budget category and rumors say that it may launch under ₹10,000 in India.
Now, this is just a premature guess looking at the above listings and it could change any day in the future. Let’s wait for the official word to get an idea about what’s coming. Speaking of which, Samsung has already started teasing the Galaxy A32 in India and the specs and sale date are out.
The company is also expected to bring the 2021 Galaxy A5x, A7x successors, Tentatively the Galaxy A52, A72 very soon to the country.
Last year, iQOO entered India with a single smartphone called iQOO 3. Despite being powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, the handset was announced in both 4G and 5G versions. It has been a year since this device’s debut in the country but the brand has not announced any other model so far. However, it has dropped the price of the iQOO 3 several times. In fact, the phone now starts at only ₹24,990 ($340).
For those unaware, iQOO is an independent brand, which was formerly a series of performance-focused smartphones by vivo. Hence, just like POCO and Xiaomi, vivo shares its resources with iQOO.
The brand entered India without any ties with vivo India, which has been operating in the country for years. Hence, iQOO India being a new player could not market its device well enough on its own.
Additionally, the phone is plagued by poor software, as per critics and users. Also, though it was part of the Android 11 Beta program, it is yet to receive the stable update.
Further, as most of the smartphone sales in India happen under the $250 segment, it was hard for a newcomer like iQOO to sell a $500+ handset. As a result, it had to cut down the price many times.
Hence, the device is currently selling for the below-listed prices on its official online retail partner Flipkart.
Variant
Launch Price
Selling Price
iQOO 3 4G (8GB + 128GB)
₹36,990 ($503)
₹24,990 ($340)
iQOO 3 4G (8GB + 256GB)
₹39,990 ($543)
₹27,990 ($380)
iQOO 3 5G (12GB + 256GB)
₹44,990 ($611)
₹34,990 ($475)
We don’t know how long the phone will be selling for these price tags. Hence, if you are interested in getting this handset, make sure to place an order as quickly as possible. Also, make use of bank offers to further lower the cost.
Update: Newer reports suggest that these specs could be incorrect. These specs may belong to a different upcoming OPPO phone for China. A newer report seems to talk more reliable information on the F19 and F19 Pro+ 5G smartphones.
Original story follows…
A recent leak revealed that OPPO’s F19 series includes a handset named OPPO F19 Pro and OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G. The lineup may also include a vanilla model named OPPO F19. A tipster has shared a few key pieces of information about the F19 Pro+ smartphone. It appears that it could be one of the first phones to arrive with the Dimensity 1200 chipset.
The said tipster shared screenshots of an upcoming OPPO phone that has a model number PEPM00. He claims that the device could be debuting as the OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G. The first screengrab shows that the handset supports a 90Hz refresh rate. The image also suggests that the device’s display could be featuring a punch-hole at the upper-left corner.
1 of 2
OPPO PEPM00 screenshot 2
OPPO PEPM00 screenshot
The second screengrab shows that the phone is fueled by the MediaTek MT6893. This chip is the 6nm Dimensity 1200 chip that debuted last month. The tipster claims that the device is equipped with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The other details of the phone are under wraps.
OPPO introduced the OPPO Reno Ace as the first Ace branded smartphone in China in October 2019. The OPPO Ace2 arrived as its successor in April 2020. It appears that the Chinese firm is also working on an Ace series phone. The tipster claims that another OPPO phone with a PENM00 model number may debut as the OPPO Ace3. It could be powered by the Snapdragon 870 mobile platform.
Realme will be unveiling the Realme GT on March 4 in China. Ahead of the upcoming launch, the smartphone has appeared at the Geekbench benchmarking platform (via). At that same time, the former OPPO VP Brian Shen has shared an image of the retail box of the smartphone.
At Geekbench 5, the Realme GT 5G has appeared with an RMX2202 model number. The listing reveals that the Snapdragon 888 powered phone is equipped with 12 GB of RAM and Android 11 OS. It scored 1138 and 3572 points in the single-core and multi-core tests, respectively.
The handset had previously appeared at AnTuTu with specs like a 120Hz refresh rate, 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, SD888, and Android 11 OS. Other reports have revealed that the phone will be sporting a 64-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 13-megapixel triple camera system. It is expected to arrive with support for 65W fast charging. It also features a 3.5mm audio jack.
Brian Shen shared two mages through its Weibo handle. The first one shows the Realme GT smartphone’s Bumblebee leather edition in reality, whereas the image showcases its retail box. The Realme GT will come in a black-colored retail package with a big Realme branding. And apart from the leather variant, the handset will also come in a glass back version.
The Realme GT 5G will be priced less than 2,999 Yuan (~$463). In terms of pricing and specs, it will be rivaling the Redmi K40 Pro that debuted earlier this week with a starting price of 2,799 Yuan (~$432). The Realme GT 5G is expected to receive a stupendous response from the audience as it was reported on Thursday that its reservations have exceeded the 1 million mark.
The demand for electric scooters has seen an upward spike in recent years, accentuated by several factors including a desire for an increasing number of persons to embrace green choices by reducing their carbon footprint, the chaotic traffic situation in many cities, and the COVID-19 crisis. These e-scooters, though come with their own challenges on the road, especially collisions with pedestrians, leading to injuries for both the rider and pedestrian.
In response to the sometimes rising incidence of collisions, e-scooter manufacturers are now embracing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to essentially transform the e-scooter into a smart and responsive scooter. A Swedish company called Voi, in collaboration with Luna from the Republic of Ireland, is developing a system of cameras and sensors that uses AI to correctly identify what surface a scooter is riding on, as well as the presence of nearby pedestrians. It then uses the information in real-time to alert the rider or even take some actions to prevent the impending collision. It could slow down the speed, make an audible sound prompt, and so on.
Vio has begun trials of the Luna technology fitted e-scooters in parts of England and the outcome has been quite impressive. The company hopes to scale up the trial process to cover more cities, as it insists that the AI algorithm is capable of being adapted to new cities.
It should be noted that Vio is not the only company developing smart solutions to the problem of e-scooter collisions. However, experts believe that incorporating such technology into the micro-mobility systems as the e-scooters come with their challenges including prohibitive costs that may make the e-bike unaffordable for a huge segment of its present users.
The development of systems to make the e-scooter responsive to threats within its environment remains however a great leap in their development.
It is not uncommon to hear stories of exploding batteries in smartphones, laptops, and other electronic gadgets. These stories serve as reminders of the need to use the device properly and also that having such gadgets with or around us might imply playing with a bomb waiting to explode. Here’s a story about an exploding headphone!
Before you go picturing a situation of having the ears ripped off by a headphone explosion, that didn’t happen. According to the news, a consumer in Wuhan, China had her Sony WI-1000XM2 burnt after it exploded when she mistakenly plugged the in-flight adapter into the AC power unit. The victim identified as Ms. Liu is reported to have bought the Sony headset for 2,300 yuan (around $355) on Febraury 17.
When she reached home that night wanted to charge the headset, instead of using an adapter, her son used the in-flight plug adaptor in the box and this caused the headset to explode and go up in flames. The burning headset left the boy with some degrees of burns in his right hand.
The in-flight plug adaptor lets you enjoy balanced sound from the in-flight entertainment system while travelling in a plane. Sony included a warning on its website that the adaptor “is NOT MEANT to charge your device. Plugging the in-flight adaptor into a AC Power Socket to charge the headphones will cause severe damage to the device”.
When Ms. Liu returned to lodge a complaint at the merchant store but the merchant believes that the acident was caused by the improper operation of the device but the consumer and was unwilling to take responsibility. Indeed, it was caused by improper operation by the consumer but we must point out the in-flight plug adaptor looks very much like a two pin adaptor. After the news break o ut, there have been series of reports about similar incidence by consumers in China despite the in-flight adaptor having a warning that reads “please do not plug into the power socket”.
In this regard, the Hubei Provincial Consumer Council reminded that operators should do their best to remind and adequately inform users of the hidden dangers that may endanger consumers’ personal safety.
A leaked poster that is now being circulated on Weibo states that the OPPO Find X3 series will go official on March 11 in China. It appears that the company will be announcing the Find X3 and Find X3 Pro smartphones in the home market.
The poster states that the OPPO Find X3 series launch event will take place at 7:30 PM (local time) on March 11. Reports have revealed that the Find X3 series also includes two other phones such as Find X3 Neo and Find X3 Lite. These phones are said to be rebadged versions of the Reno5 Pro+ 5G and Reno5 5G phones that went official in China in December 2020. It is likely that the company may hold a separate launch event to announce the Find X3 series for global markets.
Reports have revealed that the TENAA and 3C certified phones such as OPPO PEEM00 and PEDM00 will be arriving in the Chinese market as the OPPO Find X3 Pro and Find X3. The former is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform, whereas the latter is likely to come with Snapdragon 870 SoC.
Both phones are said to be equipped with 6.7-inch OLED panels that will offer QHD+ resolution of 14440 x 3216 pixels. The Pro version is said to support 10-bit color depth and an adaptive refresh rate of 10Hz to 120Hz.
The Find X3 Pro is said to house a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W SuperVOOC charge support and 30W AirVOOC wireless charging. There is no word on its front camera. Its rear camera setup is said to include quad cameras such as a Sony IMX766 50-megapixel main lens, a Sony IMX766 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 13-megapixel telephoto snapper with 2x optical zoom, and a 3-megapixel macro camera with 25x zoom support.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
