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Renders provide a first look at the Pixel 5a and it looks a lot like the Pixel 4a 5G

Just like the Pixel 4 before it and the Pixel 3, the Pixel 5 will also be getting a more affordable variant which will launch as the Pixel 5a (no 5G). The renders show that the phone shares a striking resemblance to the Pixel 4a 5G.

Pixel 5a render

The renders were posted on Voice by Steve Hemmerstoffer who is best known by the moniker OneLeaks. The leaker has given us not only our first look at Google’s next budget Pixel phone but also some details.

The Pixel 5a is shown as having a flat display with a punch hole at the top left corner for a camera. On the back, it has a squircle-shaped camera module with two sensors and an LED flash. There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner on the device.

Pixel 5a render

Google will keep the audio jack on the Pixel 5a and the image above shows it will reside at the top. The bottom of the phone is home to the USB-C port which is flanked on each side by a slit. On the right-hand side is a textured power button that is painted white and below it is a volume rocker.

The Pixel 5a is said to have a 6.2-inch FHD+ OLED display just like the Pixel 4a 5G but there is no mention of it having a high refresh rate. The back of the phone is said to be made of plastic which isn’t surprising considering it will be Google’s most affordable phone this year.

The renders show the phone in black but we hope Google releases it in more colors. The Pixel 4a was announced in Just Black and Barely Blue while its 5G variant is sold in only one color – Just Black. The Pixel 5’s dimensions are given as 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (9.4mm when you add the camera bump).

A lot of the specs of the upcoming phone are unknown but we can expect a bigger battery capacity, a more powerful processor, and better cameras than the Pixel 4a released last year.

There is no news of a release date too but more details should surface in the coming weeks.

 

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OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G vs Realme X7 Pro: Specs Comparison

Realme X7 Pro was recently launched in India after months from the first release in China. Despite several months passed, it is still one of the most impressive flagship killers out there. But at the end of the last year, even OPPO decided to release an amazing flagship killer: the Reno5 Pro 5G. Unlike the Reno4 Pro, the new handset is not a mid-ranger but it comes with a high-end chipset, one of the best by MediaTek. Is it better to spend a bit more and grab a unit of the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G or Realme X7 Pro is a smarter purchase? This comparison will clear your ideas in regards.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G vs Realme X7 Pro

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G Realme X7 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 159.7 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm,

173 grams

160.8 x 75.1 x 8.5 mm,

184 grams

DISPLAY 6.55 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 402 ppi, 20:9 ratio, OLED 6.55 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 402 ppi, 20:9 ratio, AMOLED
PROCESSOR Mediatek Dimensity 1000+, octa-core 2.6 GHz Mediatek Dimensity 1000+, octa-core 2.6 GHz
MEMORY 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE Android 11 and ColorOS Android 10 and Realme UI
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA Quad 64 + 8 MP + 2 + 2 MP f/1.7 and f/2.2 and f/2.4 and f/2.4
32 MP f/2.4 front camera
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8 + f/.3 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
32 MP f/2.5 front camera
BATTERY 4350 mAh
Fast charging 65W
4500 mAh, Fast Charging 65W or Fast Charging 50W (market dependent)
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G, reverse charging Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

If you prefer having the most beautiful and gorgeous phone, then you should go for the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G without thinking twice. First of all, it has a display with curved edges making it way more elegant. Further, it is a thinner and lighter device. Even the build quality is better: the phone is a glass sandwich protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and it has an aluminum frame. Even the screen-to-body ratio is higher compared to the Realme X7 Pro. The latter still comes with a good design and build quality, but the Reno5 Pro has flagship-like aesthetics which can be considered objectively superior.

 

Display

Do you need the best display in terms of image quality or for gaming? If you are a gamer, then you may prefer the Realme X7 Pro due to its higher 120 Hz refresh rate. But for all the other activities, the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G is actually better: unlike the Realme X7 Pro, it features the HDR10+ certification and it even comes with a higher peak brightness (up to 1100 nits just like expensive flagships). Both the handsets come with an in-display fingerprint scanner and a punch-hole design.

 

Specs & Software

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G and Realme X7 Pro are powered by the same flagship-class chipset: the Dimensity 1000+ by MediaTek. But there is a difference when it comes to the memory configurations. The OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G packs up to 12 GB of RAM, while you can get a max of 8 GB RAM with the Realme X7 Pro. Even when it comes to the software there is an important difference: Realme X7 Pro is still based on Android 10, while OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G ships with Android 11 out of the box.

 

Camera

If we talk about the camera setup, OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G and Realme X7 Pro are more or less at the same level, but the OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G is slightly better. It has a brighter focal aperture for both the main rear camera and the front camera, which should allow for better photo quality, especially in low light conditions. For the rest, they have the same secondary sensors including an 8 MP ultrawide lens and a pair of 2 MP sensors for macros and depth.

 

 

Battery

The Realme X7 Pro is a slightly better battery phone because it has a slightly bigger battery: its capacity is 4500 mAh against the 4350 mAh offered by the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G. Both feature 65W fast charging (SuperVOOC and Dart, different names for the same technology), but the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G is faster to reach 100 percent because of its smaller battery. According to Realme, the X7 Pro needs about 35 minutes to go from 0 to 100 percent of the battery charge. However, you should note that OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G ships with Android 11 out of the box which provides further battery optimizations which could help you in a few scenarios.

 

Price

You can grab a unit of the Realme X7 Pro in India for Rs. 29,999 / $415 (for the configuration with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage), while you need Rs. 35,990 / $497 to get an OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G (for the 8/128 GB configuration). We believe there is no doubt about the fact that OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G is a better device: it provides a better display quality, cameras, and design. But you can save money by choosing the X7 Pro and, despite that, you do not have to face big compromises.

 

 

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G vs Realme X7 Pro: PRO and CONS

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G

PRO

  • Better design
  • Better cameras
  • Thinner, lighter
  • Reverse charging
  • Android 11 out of the box

CONS

  • Smaller battery

 

Realme X7 Pro

PRO

  • 120 Hz refresh rate
  • Bigger battery
  • More affordable
  • Stereo speakers

CONS

  • Inferior design

 

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Leaked Samsung AR Glasses concept videos give us an idea of what to expect

Last year, it was revealed that Samsung was granted a patent for its augmented reality (AR) glasses technology. With previous efforts at developing AR and VR (virtual reality) technologies in the past not yielding the desired results, it was expected that the new patent was indicative of tremendous progress made by the company in developing an improved and easier navigation system.

A couple of leaked videos may have further shown that indeed the South Korean tech giant may have perfected the design of its AR glasses, as we now know how they may look and some of their exciting features. From the videos themselves and the reviews from other tipsters, the Samsung Glasses Lite, as the AR glasses are called, are capable of projecting a virtual screen in front of the user’s eyes, making it possible to watch videos or play games while putting on the AR glasses. The incorporation of Samsung’s Dex Mode will also help users to carry out some of these tasks without a monitor or a PC.

The company has tinkered with a number of AR and VR patents and products in recent years, like the Gear VR headsets. The AR glasses come at a time when global rival Apple had been rumored with a soon-to-be-released AR headset.

The leaked concept videos also showed that the AR glasses will not be controlled by mid-air gestures but rather the control will come from a Samsung smartwatch. This is similar to the principles underlying Apple’s AR headsets and even a similar device being conceptualized by Facebook.

The possibilities of deploying the AR glasses for other applications hold a lot of promise. The glasses could be deployed in drones to provide a better view from the drone’s camera. They can also serve as sunglasses with the Sunglasses Mode and a host of augmented reality features for a compelling viewing experience.

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(via)

 

Huawei turns to other businesses to make up for its loss of the smartphone market

Chinese tech giant Huawei has had a mixed bag of fortunes within the past year. It had come under severe and debilitating restrictions by the US government which accused it of being a front for the Chinese government and as such, a huge security threat that US businesses should not relate with. The impact of the ban is still being felt by the tech giant as it altered significantly the growth plans of its smartphone business and led to the sales of the Honor brand to shore up its investment and possibly ensure the Honor smartphone arm did not collapse under the weight of the sanctions.huawei logo

Huawei however continues to insist that it had no ties with the Chinese government and is not on any espionage for the Chinese government. It claims it has suffered a grave injury under the unfair and unwarranted US restrictions that have completely alienated the company from its US suppliers. Huawei has been unable to access 5G chips and hardware for its base stations, as well as software components for its flagship 5G smartphones.

Now, Huawei is turning its attention to other business models and one of them is about providing its advanced tech expertise to assist pig farmers to personalize the monitoring and dieting process by using facial recognition technology. This is in addition to a number of non-core technological areas the company is gradually delving into like mining. Earlier on, it was revealed that the computer was also shifting focus to cloud computing.

Huawei continues to develop its brand along these non-core lines as it seeks to come out from the burden of the US sanctions, which industry watchers say might not be lifted anytime soon even with the change of government from Trump to Biden.

The company, it has to be stated, has not completely jettisoned its smartphone business. It is still pursuing growth in that segment, with a scheduled release of two high-end smartphones shortly deploying its Harmony OS on the devices. This will be a significant leap for the company, as it continues to sidestep the US restrictions.

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(source)

 

Ulefone Armor 11 5G Infrared Night Vision Camera undergoes rigorous testing, reveals video

Ulefone always prefers to bring the actual performance and durability of their smartphones by stressing them under harsh conditions. They even publish videos of these rigorous tests to verify the claims. Similarly, Ulefone Armour 11 5G has already stood tall in resilence and durability tests, and now its Night Vision camera was put under lens. You can check detailed camera comparison video to analyse the actual camera performance.

Must See: Ulefone Armor 11 5G, world’s first-night vision 5G rugged phone launch impending

Ulefone Armor 11 rugged smartphone houses a 20MP infrared night vision camera which helps the users to take exemplary photos in the low light environment. However, we can see how it fares well against the iPhone 12, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra while snapping low-light photos. The Ulefone Armor 11 5G 20MP night vision camera clearly shows the object in the frame without the need for any external light. Meanwhile, the other two photos showed nothing but darkness.

Moreover, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and iPhone 12 shutter opened for more time than the Armor 11 5G. The images taken by the Armor 11 5G were more clear and even the reflection is easily visible. The night vision camera also enables 2X zoom on an object to get a better view. Overall, it provides you with a better option while shooting at night and can be a good companion for users who love outdoor activities.

On the other hand, the Armor 11 5G comes with a powerful Dimensity 800 5G SoC, 8GB RAM and 256 GB storage. It delivers lightning-fast 5G connectivity along with better protection. You can know more information about the device by heading to the Ulefone Official Website.

Related: Ulefone Armor 10 5G flaunts wireless charging efficiency with UF003 charger

vivo V20 SE is receiving Funtouch OS 11 (Android 11) update in India

Chinese smartphone maker vivo launched the vivo V20 SE in early November. The handset debuted with Funtouch OS 10 based on Android 10. Now, a little over three months later, the phone has started receiving Android 11-based Funtouch OS 11 update.

vivo V20 SE Aquamarine Green Featured

According to a report by PiunikaWeb, vivo has started rolling out the Android 11 update for vivo V20 SE. The update comes with build number PD2038CF_EX_A_1.70.6 for the Indian variant of the device.

The OTA update weighs 3.59GB and therefore, make sure to have enough space left on your unit, in addition to an appropriate data plan. As of now, it is not known if the update is being released under greyscale testing.

In case you do not know, vivo’s greyscale testing is similar to Xiaomi’s Stable Beta releases. In this phase, the update is only seeded out to a select few users to test the stability in public. If this is the case with vivo V20 SE Funtouch OS 11 update, then the update will take some time to reach every user.

That said, with vivo V20 SE receiving the Android 11 update, all the three models in the vivo V20 series now run the latest version of Android with Funtouch OS on top of it. For those unaware, vivo debuted with vivo V20 with the newest software out of the box but the vivo V20 Pro 5G was updated soon after its release.

Additionally, the new update is also being rolled out to the older vivo V19 and the expensive vivo X50. The much older vivo V17, vivo V17 Pro, vivo V15 Pro, and vivo S1 will start getting the update starting March, as per schedule.

 

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Samsung India unveils the Galaxy S21+ 5G Kvadrat case made from recycled material

Samsung joined Apple to remove the charging adapter from the retail box of its flagship Galaxy S21 series, citing the need to conserve the environment. Curiously, the action was carried out not too long after Samsung mocked Apple for the adapter removal. But now, to demonstrate its newfound love for environmental conservation, the Korean tech giant has teamed up with a premium textile brand in India called Kvadrat to launch eco-friendly protective cases for the Galaxy S21+ 5G.

The partnership will see both firms produce mobile accessories that are recyclable and promote sustainable production methods. Kvadrat claims the exterior, interior, and hooks of the protective case are manufactured using upcycled materials and a production method that sustains the environment.  In case you don’t know, Upcycling is the process of transforming end-of-life products into new materials that offer superior quality than the original product and also benefit the environment. The process is also known as ‘creative reuse’

In addition, the company disclosed that the new protective cases will be shipped in sustainable packaging that is produced entirely from paper which is biodegradable. There is absolutely no plastic that leaves behind wastes that are non-degradable.

Talking about the phone case, they are manufactured from re-purposed 500ml plastic bottles that are converted into textile yarns through melting and reformation processes. The recycled yarns help reduce the number of plastic bottles which are a  challenge to marine life. Samsung also noted that the melting and reformation processes are carried out in a way that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during manufacturing as compared with traditional material processes.

As for the pricing, the Galaxy S21+ 5G Kvadrat case carries a decent price tag of Rs. 2499 (~$34) and comes in Violet and Gray colours. The cases are available from Samsung India online and offline stores.

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Samsung extends security updates to four years for several of its phones

A few years ago, Samsung used to be terrible at releasing updates for its devices but that is no longer the case now. The smartphone market leader is only bested by Google when it comes to updates. Now, Samsung is taking it to another level and even surpassing Google by extending the duration of security updates for several of its phones.

Samsung Galaxy Logo Featured

In a press statement released today, Samsung revealed that it will be extending updates for several of its Galaxy products launched since 2019. These phones, which include models from the Galaxy “Z, S, Note, A, M, XCover, and Tab series will now receive at least four years of security updates”.

Samsung says that it has had to work with its OS and chipset partners as well as more than 200 carriers to ensure that its Galaxy devices receive timely security patches.

While Samsung doesn’t say, not all of these devices will receive updates monthly. A lot of them will receive security updates every quarter while some will fall under the “other regular” security updates group.

Below are the devices that will receive security updates for four years:

  • Galaxy Foldable devices: Fold, Fold 5G, Z Fold2, Z Fold2 5G, Z Flip, Z Flip 5G
  • Galaxy S series: S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, S10 Lite, S20, S20 5G, S20+, S20+ 5G, S20 Ultra, S20 Ultra 5G, S20 FE, S20 FE 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G
  • Galaxy Note series: Note10, Note10 5G, Note10+, Note10+ 5G, Note10 Lite, Note20, Note20 5G, Note20 Ultra, Note20 Ultra 5G
  • Galaxy A series: A10, A10e, A10s, A20, A20s, A30, A30s, A40, A50, A50s, A60, A70, A70s, A80, A90 5G, A11, A21, A21s, A31, A41, A51, A51 5G, A71, A71 5G, A02s, A12, A32 5G, A42 5G
  • Galaxy M series: M10s, M20, M30, M30s, M40, M11, M12, M21, M31, M31s, M51
  • Galaxy XCover series: XCover4s, XCover FieldPro, XCover Pro
  • Galaxy Tab series: Tab Active Pro, Tab Active3, Tab A 8 (2019), Tab A with S Pen, Tab A 8.4 (2020), Tab A7, Tab S5e, Tab S6, Tab S6 5G, Tab S6 Lite, Tab S7, Tab S7+

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Microsoft brings Surface Pro 7+ and Surface Hub 2S 85-inch to India

Microsoft recently launched the Surface Laptop Go in India starting at ₹71,999. Today, the company has brought the Surface Pro 7+ starting at ₹83,999 for Business and educational users and a Surface Hub 2S 85-inch to the country.

Surface Pro 7+

Microsoft Surface Pro 7+, Surface Hub 2S 85-inch India Price, Availability

Microsoft has launched the Surface Pro 7+ in Black and Platinum color options. It, however, has up to 11 different configurations of CPU and Storage. The starting price is a bit expensive compared to the US. Let’s look at their pricing below:

  • 11th Gen Intel Core- i3(8GB RAM + 128GB SSD)- ₹83,999
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i5(8GB RAM + 128GB SSD)- ₹93,499
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i5, LTE(8GB RAM + 128GB SSD)- ₹109,499
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i5(8GB RAM + 256GB SSD)- ₹121,999
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i5, LTE(8GB RAM + 256GB SSD)- ₹136,499
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i5(16GB RAM + 256GB SSD)- ₹139,999
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i7(16GB RAM + 256GB SSD)- ₹149,499
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i5, LTE(16GB RAM + 256GB SSD)-₹153,999
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i7(16GB RAM + 512GB SSD)-₹183,999
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i7(16GB RAM + 1TB SSD)- ₹222,499
  • 11th Gen Intel Core -i7(32GB RAM + 1TGB SSD)-₹258,499

Apart from this, the company has also launched the Microsoft Surface Hub 2S 85-inch variant in India for ₹21,44,999. Users can get the Surface Pro 7+ from today at their local resellers  while the Surface Hub 2S will be available from March 3.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ Specifications and Features

The Surface Pro 7 Plus has quite a few changes compared to the  Surface Pro 7 from 2019. It features a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display. This one has a 2736 x 1824 resolution, 267 PPI, and 3:2 aspect-ratio.

As seen above, it is an upgrade from 10th-gen Intel on the predecessor. That is, it starts from 11th-gen Intel i3 and goes all the way up to Intel Core-i7 CPUs. This is paired with Intel UHD/Intel Xe Graphics, up to 32GB LPDDR4x RAM, and 1TB SSD storage.

For Connectivity, you get an optional LTE variant(4G-nanoSIM). However, do note that only the core-i5 models have this support. Other options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD card reader.

You can also hook up an external display using the USB-C and optional Surface Dock 2 if you want. Other features include a 50.4WHr battery, dual far-field microphones, 5MP selfie camera. Finally the Surface Pro 7+ measures 292x201x8.5mm.

Microsoft Surface Hub 2S 85-inch Features

Unlike any other 4K displays, the Surface Hub 2S 85-inch has an 85-inch screen with a 4K PixelSense Touch Display. This one has a 3,840×2,160 pixel resolution and a 16:9 aspect-ratio.

It has the following ports and connectivity features:

  • 1xUSB Type-A, 3xUSB-C
  • Mini-DisplayPort, HDMI
  • USB Type-C with DisplayPort
  • RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0.

Under the hood, it is powered by an 8th-gen Intel Core-i5 processor paired with 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD. Other features include a 90-degree horizontal field of view, three-way stereo speakers, camera with 4K support, and more.

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Mega Sale: ILife is presenting its Biggest Sale of 2021 with more than $100 Discount on AliExpress

The biggest ILife sale of 2021 is now live at AliExpress. With this mega sale, ILife is giving out more than $100 discounts on a variety of products.

ilife 1

ILife is a prominent name in the intelligent cleaning industry. They have created simple yet smart cleaning robots, designed to cater to different home and office needs. They have designed different bots for different purposes like sweeping, wet mopping, disinfecting, shining, polishing, etc. Winner of multiple awards like the LAZADA Top Brand 2020 and RedDot design award, the company churns out high-quality advanced cleaning bots for their consumers. Moreover, their in-house R&D labs and large-scale manufacturing centers ensure high tech, great quality, and ever-evolving bots, reach their customers across the globe.

ilife 2

From 22 February 2021 to 26 February 2021 ILife is offering its biggest sale of the year. The company is giving great discounts and coupons on a variety of products, exclusively at AliExpress. So for our loyal readers here are some great deals handpicked by our editor at GizmoChina.

 

 

ilife l 100

Features: LDS Lazer Radar, App Control, 2000pa super suction, Vibrating water tank, Real-time mapping with an advanced map management system, Multiple cleaning modes, Dual suction mode, Forbidden zone, Anti-fall, and Anti-collision technology, etc.

 

ilife v7 plus

Features: Sweep and Wet mop, Disinfection, ideal for multiple hard and soft surfaces and different floorings, OBS All Terrain Detection system, i-dropping technology, Anti-fall and Anti-collision, 120 minute working time, Self-charging, etc.

 

 

ilife v8 plus

Features: Mop and Vacuum, Intelligent path planning, Powerful suction, Anti-fall and Anti-collision, Auto recharge, Scheduled disinfection, NIDEC Brushless motor, Dual suction mode, Ultra-large dustbin, Three-level filtration system, Adjustable water volume, etc.

 

 

life v9e

Features: 700ml Cyclone dust box, App Remote control, Scheduled cleaning function, Anti-tangle for pet hair, Multiple cleaning modes, Anti-skid bumpy wheel, Auto recharge, Anti-collision, and Anti-fall, etc.

 

 

ilife v3s pro

Features:  Multiple cleaning modes, 120-minute working time, Auto dock and recharge, Obstacle avoidance and Cliff detection sensor, Airway filtering, Scheduled cleaning, etc. 

All the above deals are available only at AliExpress as a part of their Brand Fest. Additional shipping charges may apply to different countries from different warehouses. New user coupons and additional discount coupons are also available at AliExpress. So grab this megadeal before it expires on 26 February 2021.

HarmonyOS is arriving on Huawei Flagships including Mate X2 from April 2021

Back in September at the HDC 2020, Huawei confirmed that it would bring the HarmonyOS to its Smartphones. Standing by its word, it has already rolled out a Beta Version of the HarmonyOS 2.0 to some devices. Now, the company has said that the stable Android alternative OS is finally coming to flagship devices.

HarmonyOS
HarmonyOS rollout

Starting from April 2021, Huawei flagship devices will start getting the HarmonyOS upgrade. This finally will transition the company’s smartphones into an ecosystem of its own.

At the launch, the company also said that the newbie HUAWEI Mate X2 will be among the first to get it. This means that the device will run EMUI 11.0 (Based on Android 10) till then.

Assuming that the HUAWEI P50 series launches in a couple of months, it should also get it alongside the 2021 foldable first. HUAWEI brought the HarmonyOS ecosystem as a way to evade the tussle with the US and the subsequent ban on Google Mobile Services(GMS).

This new Operating System is also considered as an infrastructure to get deep into the roots of smart IoT devices including Smart TVs. The company Last year upped the ante by bringing the HarmonyOS 2.0.

As mentioned above, it extended the support for IoT devices initially. Following this, it released the SDK and Developer Toolkit for Smartphones in December 2020 and Beta versions from Jan’21.

Now, it has finally found the groove for the Flagships, and hence, expect the stable versions to roll out before H1 2021 ends. We don’t have an exact list of devices that will be getting the update yet. However, it is likely to arrive on the Huawei P, Mate, and Nova devices gradually.

Not just the HarmonyOS, Huawei is working hard to improve the App Gallery market as well. As of 2020, it had up to 500 million monthly active users worldwide and is expanding further.

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Huawei Mate X2 arrives with a new folding design, 90Hz displays, Leica cameras, and a high price tag

Almost nearly a year since it announced the Mate Xs, Huawei is back with a new foldable device called the Mate X2. The foldable smartphone comes with a new folding design that differs from that of its siblings. It also has Huawei’s most powerful mobile processor, two high refresh rate displays, and a Leica-branded camera setup that surpasses that of the Mate 40 Pro. However, all these features have resulted in a high price tag.

Huawei Mate X2 featured

Huawei Mate X2 Design

Huawei has ditched the outward fold design of the Mate X and Mate Xs for an inward folding design. This switch in design means that the Mate X2 has two displays – an outer screen that looks like a smaller and flat version of the Mate 40 Pro’s own screen and an inner display that is devoid of a notch or punch hole. It also means that the device has a new hinge design. Huawei says it used zirconium-based liquid metal for the hinge system.

Mate X2 fold
The unique design of the Mate X2 allows for a seamless fold

A more interesting part of the design is the Seamless Foldable Design. The right half of the device slopes inwards while the left part slopes in the opposite direction. Huawei says that the advantage this brings is that the phone is perfectly balanced whether unfolded or folded even though the point of balance is no longer at the center. Another advantage this design brings is that there are no gaps when the device is folded unlike in the case of the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Huawei finishes the design by providing the Mate X2 with four different color finishes. There is Glaze White, Black, Crystal Blue, and Crystal Pink.


Huawei Mate X2 Specifications

The Huawei Mate X2 has a 6.45-inch OLED external screen that has a pill-shaped punch hole at the top left corner for two front-facing cameras. The display has a 2700 x 1160 resolution (456 ppi), a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate.

The inner display is 8-inches in size when unfolded and boasts a 2480 x 2200 resolution (413 ppi) and a P3 wide color gamut. It is also an OLED panel and has a 90Hz refresh rate but its touch sampling rate is lower at 180Hz.

There is a Kirin 9000 processor under the hood along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. Huawei has added support for storage expansion (256GB max) via its proprietary NM card slot.

The Mate X2 has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, dual-frequency GPS, an infrared sensor, and a USB 3.1 GEN1 Type-C port.

Huawei Mate X2 Multitasking
You can use two instances of the same app on the Mate X2

Huawei ships the phone with EMUI 11 based on Android 10 out of the box. However, it says it will be upgraded to HarmonyOS in April. It also revealed that the top 200 apps have been optimized to take advantage of the phone’s form factor. Users will be able to minimize apps into bubbles, open two instances of an app for better multitasking, and more.

Surprisingly, there is no support for a stylus which would have given it an upper hand over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.

There is a 4500mAh battery capacity inside with support for 55W fast wired charging. Unfortunately, there is no support for wireless charging. Huawei ships the phone with its 66W SuperCharge charger.

 

Huawei Mate X2 Camera

The camera configuration of the Huawei Mate X2 is unmatched when it comes to foldable smartphones. The main camera is a 50MP f/1.9 RYYB sensor with OIS and it comes along with a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera, a 12MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with OIS, and an 8MP f/4.4 RYYB periscope camera that also has OIS and brings 10x optical zoom. The phone also has 100x digital zoom and a 2.5cm super macro mode.

Huawei Mate X2 cameras

The Mate X2 has a 16MP front-facing camera but users can take super selfies with the rear cameras when the device is unfolded. In this mode, the external display serves as the viewfinder.

 

Huawei Mate X2 Price and Availability

The Mate X2 is not cheap even in Huawei’s home country. The base model is priced at RMB 17,999 (~$2785) while the 512GB RAM version is RMB 18,999 (~$2940). It will go on sale in China on February 25 and will come with a Huawei SuperCharge charger, a Type-C data cable, a pair of Type-C earphones, and a leather protective case included inside the box.

Huawei Mate X2 accessories

Huawei also announced a bunch of accessories for the Mate X2. There is a case with a kickstand that is priced at RMB 299 (~$46), an RMB 399 (~$62) car mount that allows you to use the device in its unfolded state, a windowed case that is priced at RMB 399 (~$62), and a leather sleeve case that is RMB 699 (~$108).

 

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Samsung’s Neo QLED TV crowned as the ‘Best TV of All Time’ by German AV magazine

Samsung took the industry by storm when it launched the Neo QLED TV, its first mini-LED-based smart TV at CES 2021. The TV is expected to go on sale worldwide from March 2021. Ahead of the sales, Germany’s AV magazine has published the first independent review of the Neo QLED TVs, giving the TV awesomely favorable ratings.Samsung Neo QLED TV

The magazine rated that smart TV as the ‘Best TV of All Time.’ The magazine got its hands on the 75-inch 8K variant of Neo QLED TV with model number GQ75QN900A. The guys at AV magazine gave the TV model a score of 966 points. This is about 10 points higher than the score clinched by the best Samsung QLED TV from 2020 which received a score of 956 points.

The review team showered encomium on the TV for its impressive contrast ratio, deep blacks, high brightness, and precise local dimming as a result of the Mini-LED technology. Further, the Samsung Neo QLED TV was praised for its outstanding design, innovation, and the magazine has selected it as its ‘Reference’ TV.

As a reminder, the Neo QLED panel is based on mini-LED backlighting technology that features smaller LEDs that can focus light on a smaller area. The panel is equipped with up to 40 times smaller LEDs than conventional LEDs with full-array back-lighting. Adding more LEDs in a smaller area makes it possible for the display panel to offer precise backlighting control, improved HDR, higher contrast, and better brightness.

Samsung crams the Neo Quantum Processor image processor inside the Neo QLED panel which is used for AI upscaling with 16 neural networks to upscale image quality to the native resolution of the panel. The Neo QLED panel is built for Samsung’s QN900A 8K and QN90A 4K models. The new TVs featuring Neo QLED panels will offer features like super-slim bezels, 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios, a new audio system with object tracking and spatial optimization, and more.

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Flash Deal: Boxym oFit-2 Pulse Oximeter selling at $14.55 only

In the pandemic era, health and hygiene have become extremely important. With the impending threat from covid 19, it’s sensible to invest in a good quality pulse oximeter and for the next 20 hours, Banggood is giving the Boxym oFit-2 pulse oximeter for $14.55 only.

boxym oximeter 1

Boxym oFit-2 finger clamp pulse oximeter can accurately determine your SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels) and pulse rate. SpO2 rate helps you to determine the health of your lungs and accurate reading of the pulse rate is important to determine the overall health of your body. 

boxym oximeter 2

The oximeter comes with an alert alarm function set for alerting abnormal pulse or SpO2 rate and a regular pulse rate sound which beeps as and when your pulse is detected, indicating your pulse beating rate. The lightweight and compact device comes with a multi-direction display screen and auto shut-off function. 

boxym oximeter 3

The oximeter is available for $14.55 for the next 20 hours only. So grab this flash deal before it expires.

Super Deal: Grab MIJIA Mini Thermos, White for $13.88 (original price $18)

Gearbest is giving a fantastic limited-time offer on Mijia Mini Thermos White edition. The 350ml thermos which retails at around $18 is available at a discounted price of $13.88 only.

mijia thermos 3

A thermos bottle is necessary to keep your liquid hot in the winters and cool in the summers. Mijia Mini thermos, 350 ml is your perfect companion to carry hot or cold water as per your needs. The stylish and sleek thermos is lightweight to carry and fashionable enough to flaunt. Made from food-grade stainless steel, the bottle is resistant to oxidation and corrosion and pretty simple to clean and maintain. This means summer or winter, travel or work, this bottle is suitable for almost every occasion. 

mijia thermos 1

This elegant thermos which costs $18 is available for $13.88 only. The offer is valid for just one day on the white color variant. Though additional shipping charges are applicable on the product, this beautiful thermos bottle at $13.88 is a pretty sweet deal. So if you are planning to purchase a thermos be sure to check out this deal.

Alleged Meizu 18 Specs leaked, could feature Snapdragon 870 chipset

Meizu recently hinted that it is going to stick to flagships at least for the future. Its flagship for 2021 is expected to be the Meizu 18 devices. Now, a screenshot has been doing the rounds online that reveals the alleged specs of the flagship.

meizu 17 featured
Rep Image: Meizu 17

A screenshot posted by a Weibo user shows a screenshot of settings in a Meizu smartphone. As you can see below, the model number is M181Q. Now, if you recall, two devices with similar model number was spotted on 3C certification a bit earlier. Just like the leak, the settings show that it is Meizu 18.

Now, we aren’t sure of the authenticity of this screenshot so let’s take it with a pinch of salt. Also, the specs listed on the screenshot are quite intriguing. The device seems to be powered by the Snapdragon 870 chipset and Flyme OS 8.3.0.0A based on Android 11.

In the past, Meizu has stuck to the Qualcomm 8xx but it would be interesting to see it avoiding the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 888 this time. Moving on, the Meizu 18 could also have 8GB RAM, 256GB storage as one of its variants.

Other specs listed include a Triple-camera setup with a 64MP main lens, and two other 12MP + 5MP sensors. Having said that, Meizu has teased that it would unveil something tomorrow(Feb. 23) at 10 AM Beijing Time which according to its poll on Weibo hints at a new Flyme OS version based on Android 11.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the brand starts teasing the new flagship series from tomorrow either. Speaking of which, the Meizu 18 series will likely have two devices- Meizu 18 and Meizu 18 Pro.

The duo is expected to feature a flat punch-hole Samsung E4 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3,910mAh and 4,410mAh batteries respectively.

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LG W41, W41+, and W41 Pro launched in India with Helio G35 and 5,000mAh battery

LG has launched three new smartphones in India called LG W41, LG W41+, and LG W41 Pro. The trio is basically the same phone with different storage configurations. Let us take a look at their specs, features, price, and availability in this article.

LG W41, W41+, W41 Pro Specifications and Features

The LG W41 series flaunts a 6.55-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels (HD+) and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen has a pixel density of 268 PPI, 400 nits peak brightness level, and a punch-hole for the front-facing camera.

The devices sport a quad-camera setup on the back consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide unit, a 5MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies and video calls, the handsets feature an 8MP snapper.

LG W41 Plus Pro Featured

As for the chipset, all three of them are powered by MediaTek Helio G35 SoC. But they sport different amounts of RAM and internal storage. The standard LG W41 comes in 4GB + 64GB configuration, the LG W41+ has 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, and the LG W41 Pro comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.

On the connectivity front, the phones support dual-SIM, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. Other features include a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, dedicated Google Assistant Key, USB Type-C, Android 10, and a 5,000mAh battery.

Last but not least, the LG W41 series comes in two colors (Laser Blue and Magic Blue), measures 166.5×77.3×9.3mm in dimensions, and weighs 201g.

LG W41, W41+, W41 Pro Pricing and Availability

The LG W41 series will be available at leading retail stores across India for the following price tags.

  • LG W41 (4GB + 64GB) – ₹13,490 ($186)
  • LG W41+ (4GB + 128GB) – ₹14,490 ($200)
  • LG W41 Pro (6GB + 128GB) – ₹ 15,490 ($214)

 

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ASUS ROG Phone 5 tops DXOMARK Audio charts ahead of March 10 launch

ASUS ROG Phone 5 is set to launch on March 10. Ahead of the launch in a couple of weeks, DXOMARK has come out with an exclusive Audio review and the ROG Phone 5 has topped the charts.

ROG Phone 5

According to the report, ROG Phone 5 gets an overall Audio score of 79. As of today, this is the highest ever score on the Rankings chart. The device, not only beats Xiaomi’s Mi 10 Pro(76 points) but also does well compared to the predecessor.

Compared to the ROG Phone 3 from last year(75 points), the successor apparently does well in both playback and recording with 78 and 79 points respectively. Specifically, it aces the Playback section with good dynamics, spatial, and artifacts scores. It also has good timbre, clear tonal balance, and bass precision.

However, few cons like slightly lesser overall volume and pumping effects at max volume might irk some users. Regarding the recording feature, the report says that the ASUS‘ 2021 ROG flagship has a tonal fidelity, realistic spatial traits, accurate envelope rendering(The envelope of a sound wave for finding quality).

It also has a good maximum recording level and mic pickup but has slight distortions at some point.

ROG Phone 5 DXOMARK

The ASUS ROG Phone 5 is expected to feature a 6.78-inch OLED screen, Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with up to 16GB RAM. The device will likely feature a 6,000mAh battery with 65W rapid charging.

Other than this, the DXOMARK Audio report also gives us a good look at the Dot-Matrix LED on the rear panel. As you can see above, it can be used to show signs, messages, and logos on the back(in the case of ROG Laptops). However, we need to see how ASUS optimizes it for smartphones.

Also, the report confirms the presence of a 3.5mm audio jack, Dual-Front facing speakers with Dirac tuning technology.

Apart from this, ASUS is also likely launching a variant without the Dot-Matrix display and it could launch a bit cheaper than the one above.

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Super Deal: OnePlus Nord N10 5G available for $259 at AliExpress (original price $299)

Great News! AliExpress is offering a fantastic deal on OnePlus Nord N10 5G, global version. One of the best mid-rangers in the  OnePlus line-up, Nord N10 5G, which usually retails at $299 is available for as little as $259 at AliExpress.

nord n10 1

OnePlus Nord N10 5G is one of the finest mid-rangers available in the market. The smartphone which comes with a snapdragon 690 octa-core processor is powered by a 4300mAh battery with a warp charge 30T fast charging technology. This means your Nord N10 will charge from 0 to 70% within just 30 minutes. A quad rear camera set up with a 64MP main camera is adequate for your daily needs and the 16MP selfie cam, gives you Instagram-worthy decent photographs. 

nord n10 2

The smartphone comes with a 6.49-inch display and the standard Android10, Oxygen OS 10.5. The 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM are sufficient for your average daily needs and excellent build quality and stylish design make it a pleasure to carry around.

nord n10 3

OnePlus Nord N10 5G which usually retails at $299 is available for  $259 (China Warehouse) and $269 (EU Warehouse) on the application of coupon: OPN26910. With a free shipping option and a new user discount, this deal from AliExpress is too good to ignore. So grab your Nord N10 5G before the deal expires. 

Doogee S86 rugged smartphone goes official with a massive 8500 mAh battery, 6.1-inch display and 6GB RAM for $299.99

Doogee is doing phenomenal work by introducing new smartphones featuring highly anticipated specifications. The company announced Doogee S86 featuring a massive 8500 mAh battery that can withstand for 2-4 days without charging. This is another powerful smartphone like the predecessors such as S88 Plus and S96 Pro.

Must See: DOOGEE S59 Pro rugged phone with a 10050mAh battery launching on Dec. 15

The Doogee S86 is a highly durable smartphone that equally delivers impressive performance. It has several other advantages like a massive battery, excellent performance and a fully rugged design.

Mighty Design

Doogee S86 is a perfect smartphone that carries a perfect balance between design and performance. It is beautifully crafted and diligently designed to withstand major and minor impacts. It can be a perfect companion for outdoor adventure enthusiasts and users who often travel a lot.

Large Battery

Doogee S86 houses an astounding 8500 mAh battery that supports 24W Type-C first charge. It provides a backup for 2-4 days and can remain on standby for 27 days. Its massive battery supports 29 hours of continuous calling.

Best Performance

The smartphone hosts an Helio P60 octa-core processor coupled with a GPU that works in unison to handle all the tasks. It is coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 internal storage. It measures 164.6 x 81.2 x 16.8mm in size.

Doogee S86 is a perfect combination of a beautiful design and performance. It can provide you with the needed security at odd times.

It is an IP68 and IP69K certified device that can resist water, drop and dust.

The interested users can grab the smartphone via AliExpress for the retail price of $299.99. Moreover, you can stay connected with Doogee social media to keep an eye on giveaways. The user can win Doogee S86, X95 Pro and the Doogee CR1 smartwatch for free by entering the giveaway. However, the results will be announced on February 25.

Related: Doogee S88 Plus goes official with Helio P70, 8GB RAM, triple-rear camera and a 10000 mAh battery