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

By

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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

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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.

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

By

Sean

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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.

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

By

Jeet

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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.

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

By

Daily Deals

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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

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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.

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(Via)

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

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Realme C25 spotted with Helio P65 at Geekbench, NBTC certification

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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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)

By

Sean

-

Mar 8, 2021

Earlier today (8th March 2021), the Meizu 18 series went on sale across multiple online channels. The new device is the company’s flagship series and arrives with top notch specs. But just one minute into its launch, the lineup was completely sold out, with sales surpassing 100 million yuan (roughly 15 million US Dollars).

The new “dual flagship” launch from the Chinese smartphone maker included the Meizu 18 and 18 Pro, which runs on the latest Flyme 9 custom skin that does not have any pre installed applications or advertisements. During the new series’ first official sale, the sales reached over 100 million yuan in value across all channels in just one minute, while the device was completely sold out within just 28 minutes.

Talking about the device itself, The Meizu 18 and 18 Pro are powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. Both handsets 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, 40W Super Wireless mCharge technology, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

In other words, the lineup is quite popular in the company’s home market, China, and has already seen great success. The reasonable pricing for the flagship grade premium smartphones and their design and popularity in the local market would’ve also helped boost sales.

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Google Pixel 5a may launch in June, while new Pixel Buds to arrive in April: Report

By

Sean

-

Mar 8, 2021

Google is apparently planning on launching a new Pixel device in June 2021. A Tipster made the announcement on Twitter, while new Pixel Buds are also reportedly arriving in April 2021.

Google stuff:

New Pixel Buds coming mid-April.

New Google phone scheduled for June 11, 2021. Not sure exactly which one it is just yet. 🤔

🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻 pic.twitter.com/vjOzT4M7nx

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) March 5, 2021

According to Jon Prosser, a tech analyst, the search engine giant is planning on launching a new Pixel device on 11th June 2021. While the tipster did not explicitly mention the name of the device launching, it would probably be the Pixel 5a since the company’s flagship series in the second half of the year. Although, the launch period for the Pixel 5a would also be a few months early.

Furthermore, renders of the Pixel 5a had recently surfaced as well. These renders revealed that the upcoming mid range handset from the company might just feature slight design changes. The renders also showcased that the device will also feature a 6.2 inch OLED panel, which may support a high refresh rate. Meanwhile, the tipster also added that the company will also be launching a new Pixel Buds truly wireless earphones in mid April.

Similarly, Jon had also previously hinted at Google working on a foldable Pixel device. But just like that report, this is still an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

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Samsung Galaxy A52/A72 will feature stereo speakers, built-in Snapchat lenses, 30x Space Zoom, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 8, 2021

The Samsung Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72 are in the news for a few months now. The specifications of these handsets have leaked multiple times. However, every new leak regarding these phones has been revealing new information. The latest leak confirms some of the previously unknown miscellaneous features.

Samsung Galaxy A52 A72 Render Leak — Samsung Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 Press Renders | Source: WinFuture

We won’t be talking much about the already known specs of the Samsung Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72 in this article. Instead, we will only focus on the new information shared by Twitter user TechTalkTV (@Mr_TechTalkTV).

To learn about the spec sheet leak by Roland Quandt of WinFuture, click on the respective handsets.

Coming to the latest leak, the upcoming Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 by Samsung will feature stereo speakers. That’s not all, these phones will also support Dolby Atmos for a 3D surround-sound experience.

Further, they will also have support for Snapchat lenses built right into the stock camera app, in addition to first-party lenses. A total of 21 lenses will change regularly, out of which 9 will be from Snapchat. Samsung calls this feature Fun Mode and for some reason, it will be not available on Galaxy A52 5G.

1 of 2

Continuing about camera features, the Galaxy A72 will come with 30x Space Zoom. This means the smartphone will be able to capture up to 30x digitally zoomed pictures, thanks to the presence of an 8MP sensor with a 3x telephoto lens.

Additionally, unlike the Galaxy A52, the Galaxy A72 will also ship with Advanced Game Booster with support for Microsoft Xbox Game Pass. Hence, users can play over 100 Xbox games on their phone itself.

Last but not least, Samsung will not be shipping a charger with these smartphones in certain markets. In some regions, even though these handsets support 25W fast charging, the company will be only including a 15W charger.

Vivo X60 series with Snapdragon 870 to launch on March 22

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 8, 2021

In December, Vivo announced the Exynos 1080 SoC powered Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro smartphones in China. Reports have claimed that the global variants of the X60 and X60 Pro could be equipped with Snapdragon 870. Today, Vivo Malaysia confirmed the Vivo X60 series will be breaking cover on March 22. The company also confirmed that it will be equipped with the SD870 chip.

Vivo had also Snapdragon 888 powered Vivo X60 Pro+ smartphone in China. It is unclear whether March 22^nd will also see the global launch of this handset. The landing page of the Vivo X60 series on Vivo Malaysia’s website states that it will come with camera features like Gimbal Stabilization 2.0 and Extreme NightVision 2.0.

It is likely that the global versions of the Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro may only differ in the chipset department when compared to its Chinese variants. With two weeks remaining for the launch, Vivo is expected to reveal more features of the upcoming Vivo X60 series in the coming days.

Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro specifications (Chinese variants)

The Vivo X60 and X60 Pro are equipped with 6.56-inch AMOLED FHD+ displays with 120Hz refresh rate support. The vanilla model has a 4,300mAh battery, whereas the Pro version has a 4,200mAh battery. Both phones support 33W fast charging. Both models are loaded with OriginOS based Android 11 OS.

The Vivo X60 and X60 Pro are equipped with a 32-megapixel front camera. The Vivo X60 has a 48-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 13-megapixel (portrait) + 13-megapixel ultrawide lens triple camera system. The Vivo X60 Pro has a 50-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (periscope telephoto with OIS) + 13-megapixel (portrait) + 13-megapixel (ultrawide) in its quad-camera system.

Recently, Vivo India Director of Brand Strategy Nipun Marya revealed that the Vivo X60 series will be announced in India this month.

RELATED:

OnePlus 9 series launch set for March 23, Hasselblad partnership & camera specs officially confirmed

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 8, 2021

OnePlus has officially confirmed to launch the OnePlus 9 series on March 23 at 10:00 AM ET. The launch event will be livestreamed on the company’s official YouTube channel. That’s not all, the Chinese smartphone maker has also formally announced its partnership with the Swedish camera maker Hasselblad.

In the press release, OnePlus did not reveal the models in the OnePlus 9 series, which are expected to be OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro, and OnePlus 9R, as per leaks. Instead, the brand has confirmed the camera specs of these devices.

OnePlus says that it has signed a three-year partnership with Hasselblad to co-develop camera systems for future OnePlus flagship devices. To do so, the company will be investing $150 million over the next three years for four R&D labs around the lab, including two imaging labs based in the United States and Japan.

The OnePlus 9 series and the upcoming high-end phones from the OEM will ship with ‘Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad’, a new color solution jointly developed by OnePlus and Hasselblad. The brand’s flagship smartphones will also come with ‘Hasselblad Pro Mode’ with support for 12-bit RAW format and options to adjust ISO, focus, exposure times, white balance, and more.

Additionally, OnePlus and Hassleblad are also working on a panoramic camera with a 140° FOV (Field of View) and T-lens technology for faster focus in the front-facing camera.

That said, here are some of the camera specs of the OnePlus 9 series, as confirmed by the company itself.

Custom Sony IMX789 Sensor
Freeform Lens for Minimal Distortion in Ultra-Wide Pictures
Support for 12-bit RAW
Improved HDR Video Recording
Video Recording at 4K 120FPS and 8K 30FPS

From the above-mentioned parameters, we can clearly say that none of the hardware is new but they are first for a OnePlus smartphone. Hopefully, the OnePlus 9 series’ camera system performs as well as the company claims.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming OnePlus 9 series and the OnePlus-Hasselblad partnership? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch Active 4 running Wear OS to launch in Q2 2021

By

Jeet

-

Mar 8, 2021

Samsung’s current lineup of smartwatches include Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 3. This year, the South Korean giant will be launching their successors, but if the latest report is to be believed, then the announcement could take place earlier than the company’s usual timeframe.

As per the report from @UniverseIce, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 could get launched in the second quarter of this year. This means that the devices will go official somewhere between April and June.

Usually, the new Galaxy series smartwatches gets announced in the month of August, along with the Galaxy Note lineup of flagship smartphones. However, this time, the company is planning to launch new wearable devices ahead of the launch of Apple’s Watch Series 7 to have an upper-hand in the segment.

It appears that both Samsung and Apple are gearing up to introduce a feature that will monitor the user’s blood glucose levels and Samsung wants to be the first in the market with this feature, thus an early launch of the devices.

There are also reports claiming that the Samsung is ditching its Tizen OS for the Google Wear OS on its upcoming smartwatches. If this turns out to be true, then it will be the first wearable devices from the South Korean giant to have Google’s Wear OS.

Samsung accounted for about 10 percent of the global smartwatch sale in the fourth quarter of 2020, which is way behind Apple‘s 40 percent market share. With major changes to the devices, the South Korean company is hoping to catch up with the market leader.

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