Apple to launch two 2021 MacBook Pro models with HDMI port and SD Card reader: Report

By

-

Feb 23, 2021

Apple’s MacBooks are expected to bring back the MagSafe connectors this year. Now, Ming-Chi Kuo has come back with another report stating that two of the 2021 MacBook Pro models will feature an SD card reader and HDMI port.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning at least two new MacBook Pros with significant changes to design and specs. Some of the critical changes would be the inclusion of an SD card reader and HDMI port.

Last month, Kuo had given details of the 2021 MacBook Pro’s design. He said that the laptops would have squared-off sides in both the top and bottom parts. That is, they would draw a lot of inspiration from the iPad Pro and iPhone 12 models.

Besides, the SD Card slot feature was first tipped by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg last month. So far, Kuo says Apple would remove the Touch Bar on the 2021 MacBook Pros while Mark Gurman had claimed minor changes.

Apple’s lineup of 2021 MacBook Pros will likely come in two sizes- 14-inch and 16-inch models. Considering the company grabbed a good amount of attraction with its Apple M1 chipset, these models could very well feature upgraded processors.

Either way, Kuo says that Taiwan’s Genesys Logic will be Apple’s exclusive supplier of SD card readers. Also, these two ‘Pro’ models are reportedly set for a launch somewhere in the Second half of 2021(2H 2021). Let’s wait for more details in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Apple is likely to launch new iPad Pro models and AirTags next month.

RELATED:

OnePlus Nord gets January 2021 security patches via OxygenOS 10.5.11 update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Feb 23, 2021

OnePlus is readying to release the much-awaited Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 update for the OnePlus Nord. The smartphone has been receiving the OxygenOS 11 Open Beta builds since last month. Ahead of the Android 11 stable release, the company is now rolling out a new stable update with build number OxygenOS 10.5.11 globally.

The OxygenOS 10.5.11 update for the OnePlus Nord does not bring any new features. It only bumps up the security patch level to January 2021. Additionally, it is also said to improve system stability.

The update comes with the following build numbers for the three different variants of the handset sold worldwide.

IN: 10.5.11.AC01DA
EU: 10.5.11.AC01BA
GLO: 10.5.11.AC01AA

OnePlus Nord OxygenOS 10.5.11 Official Changelog

System
- Updated Android Security Patch to 2021.01
- Improved system stability

Like any other system update, the latest OTA update for the OnePlus Nord is being seeded in a batched matter across the world. Therefore, it may take time to reach your unit. Anyway, you can head over to Settings to check for the update manually.

Having said that, it is worth noting that OnePlus’ update track record has become poorer than ever before. The brand has managed to release OxygenOS 11 stable update for only two devices so far.

The company is supposed to release the Android 11 update for nine more smartphones, while the first Android 12 Developer Preview is already out.

Samsung Galaxy S20 gets the eSIM functionality with the One UI 3.1 update

By

Balaji S

-

Feb 23, 2021

Samsung started rolling out the One UI 3.1 update for various devices including the Galaxy S20 series recently. Along with the update, it seemed to have enabled the eSIM functionality in regions like India.

As reported by Piunikaweb, the One UI 3.1 update for India has the firmware version G98xFXXU6DUB5. It weighs 1246.69MB and brings the latest UI to the Galaxy S20+(SM-G985F) variant. Certain users in Samsung community forums have confirmed that e-SIM functionality is enabled after this update.

As you can see below, the screenshot on the forums shows the eSIM options inside settings-> SIM Card Manager. If you recall, Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 series in February 2020. Back then, the devices in India had the support for eSIM but Samsung had disabled it.

So, for using a secondary SIM card, one had to take out the memory card out and use the slot for another network. For the unware, Samsung Galaxy S20 comes with a Hybrid-SIM slot i.e., users can use a nano-SIM + microSD card or two nano-SIMs at a time.
Anyway, with eSIM enabled, you can now use the device with two networks and an SD card simultaneously.

1 of 3

Also, that’s not the only thing the One UI 3.1 update brings to the table. Just like other regions(South Korea, UK, Europe), the Indian region also brings Improved performance, Private Share, GPS location data removal on Images, more Lock screen widgets, Background Video Calling, Zoom Lock(in camera), and more.

That said, the update should enable the eSIM features for other regions(like the USA) as well.

Recently, Samsung upped the ante yesterday by extending security update support for 4 years in total. The eligible devices including the Galaxy Z, S, Note, A, M, XCover, and Tab series will receive monthly/quarterly updates accordingly.

RELATED:

OPPO A93 receives ColorOS 11 (Android 11) update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Feb 23, 2021

OPPO has been rolling out the Android 11-based ColorOS 11 update to its smartphones ever since the company announced it back in September 2020. A number of devices are already running the stable build, whereas some are rocking the beta build. Joining this list is the mid-range OPPO A93.

For those unaware, OPPO A93 is a rebranded OPPO F17 Pro for some SEA counties. The F17 Pro had already received the ColorOS 11 update in November 2020. However, the A93 has started getting it only now.

According to PiunikaWeb, the company kicked off a beta program for this handset in January. A month later, the firm is now seeding the stable release. In case you own this device, then head over to Settings > Software update to check if your unit has got the OTA update yet.

Like any other system update, the OPPO A93 Android 11 update is probably rolling out in a staged manner. Therefore, the update may take some time to arrive on your phone.

That said, as per the ColorOS 11 update timeline for February 2021, OPPO will be releasing the first beta build for OPPO A91 on February 27 in Indonesia. On the other hand, the OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G will get a stable build in Russia and Kazakhstan on February 27.

That’s not all, the following smartphones are/ will be receiving a stable release in the European regions this month.

OPPO Reno4 5G (Portugal, Italy)
OPPO Find X2 Neo (Netherlands, France, Spain)
OPPO Reno3 Pro (Ukraine)
OPPO Reno4 Pro (Ukraine)

Sony announces new PlayStation VR system is coming but it won’t launch this year

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Feb 23, 2021

Sony announced the PlayStation 5 console last year along with a bunch of new accessories such as the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset, the PS5 Media Remote, DualSense charging station, and HD Camera. However, Sony didn’t announce a new VR system. Today, the tech giant has revealed details of its next-gen PlayStation VR system and when to expect it.

In the blog post, Sony revealed that its next-generation VR system will be coming to the PlayStation 5. The new system will provide users with an even more immersive experience than the previous generation.

The new PS VR will have enhanced resolution, field of view, tracking, and input. It will also connect to the PlayStation 5 via a single cable. The second statement is the more exciting part of the announcement considering that setting up the current PS VR system is a herculean task.

Another upgrade the next-gen PS VR system will get is a new controller that will have some of the key features of the DualSense wireless controller. Our guess is that the controller will have immersive haptic feedback and adaptive triggers similar to that of the PS5 controller.

Sony has said that development is still underway for the new system and that it won’t be launching this year. Sorry folks, we know you are excited about it but seeing as there is not even sufficient stock for the console itself, there is a chance the VR system won’t be readily available even if Sony was ready to launch it this year.

Nevertheless, PlayStation 5 owners can still make use of the current PS VR system. The new console is backward compatible with some PS VR games and there a handful of new PS VR games coming such as After The Fall, Sniper Elite VR, and Humanity, so you have what to play. Don’t forget that you have to get a new camera adapter (can be requested free of charge) to use the camera of the PS VR with the PS5.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy F62’s first software update delivers camera improvements

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Feb 23, 2021

Samsung is known for delivering regular and prompt updates to its smartphones. Thus, it is no surprise that the tech giant has pushed a new software update for the Galaxy F62. The Samsung Galaxy F62 was first introduced just last week and only went on sale in India for the first time yesterday.

The new update arrives with the firmware number E625FDDU1AUB4 and has a file size of about 180MB. The changelog shows that the update brings some improvements to the phone’s camera stability and performance. It also delivers some enhancement to the overall device performance. The update is already rolling out to some units via OTA. But if you don’t get the update, you can manually check for the update manually by heading to the phone’s Settings > Software update menu.

As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy F62 sports a 6.7-inch sAMOLED+ display with an Infinity-O design with Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display has a 20:9 aspect ratio, 420nits brightness, 1000000:1 contrast ratio, and up to 110 percent NTSC color gamut. The device is powered by the Exynos 9825 SoC paired with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The phone sports a 32-megapixel front camera for selfies housed inside a punch-hole opening at the front. At the rear, the Galaxy F62 features a quad-camera setup made up of a 64MP primary, a 12MP ultrawide, a 5MP macro, and a 5MP depth of field sensor. Other features onboard the device include a side-mounted fingerprint reader and a monstrous 7,000mAh battery charged through a USB-C port at up to 25W.

The premium mid-range smartphone starts at Rs.23,999 ($330) while the 8GB RAM variant is priced at Rs. 25,999 ($360). The phone is sold only in India at the moment. There is no word on when it will be released in other regions.

RELATED;

(via)

realme announces “Dual-platform Dual-flagship” strategy

By

Balaji S

-

Feb 23, 2021

realme has unveiled a new Strategy at the MWC 2021. Accordingly, it is going to launch two flagship series with different focus under points going forward.

As seen in the official tweet, the ‘Dual-Platform Dual-Flagship Strategy’ will focus on ‘performance’ and ‘camera’ aspects in each series. That is, realme will launch two devices one with Qualcomm 8xx and the other with MediaTek Dimensity 5G flagship chipsets. The company believes that this will help gain more share in the mid-to-high-end product segment.

Further, the realme GT that is debuting in China on March 4 will be the first device under this strategy. Speaking of which, the company also showcased a preview of the stainless steel VC cooling system on the realme GT at MWC Shanghai 2021 event.

This 3D cooling system will ensure that the CPU will reduce by up to 15-degree Celsius with the help of a 100% dissipation area. Earlier today, we saw the official posters of the realme GT in ‘Racing Yellow’ color. This will adopt a Dual-tone leather finish which the company says is a Vegan Leather.

Coming back, now that we know that the realme GT with Snapdragon 888 will focus on ‘performance’ and gaming, we can expect the MediaTek flagship later in the year to embrace ‘mobile photography’ more.

Soon after the MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200 announcement, realme had confirmed that it would bring a smartphone chipset soon. While it hasn’t spoken much about it since then, this could very well be the next realme Camera flagship.

Details about the same are bleak at the moment, but if realme were to launch a camera-focused flagship, we can expect features like a 108MP main camera, Telephoto Lens, and more. These are just our guess so let’s wait for the official details.

Talking about the strategy, VP, realme, and CEO of realme India & Europe, Madhav Sheth says, “I am confident that The dual-platform dual-flagship strategy will help us achieve a significant share in the mid-to-high-end products segment as a part of our brand development”.

RELATED:

(via)

vivo V2044 appears on EEC and Geekbench with Helio P35 and 3GB RAM

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Feb 23, 2021

Chinese smartphone maker vivo is reported to launch 11 smartphones in India by April. Some of these handsets are expected to be the premium vivo X60 series and mid-range vivo V20 series. The list could also include budget vivo Y series models. One of these affordable devices has been now spotted on Geekbench and EEC.

According to PriceBaba, a vivo smartphone with model number V2044 has cleared EEC certification. The publication believes this handset to be a vivo Y series device. Because its model number differs by that of vivo Y20 (2021) only by a single-digit (V2043). Hence, it could be either a successor or a toned-down version of the already official phone.

Further, as per Geekbench, this smartphone will be powered by MediaTek Helio P35 SoC. It will come with 3GB RAM and will run Android 11 (Funtouch OS 11) out of the box. However, there could be other storage configurations as well.

As far as scores are concerned, the phone bags 137 points in the single-core test and 451 points in the multi-core test respectively.

Although nothing else is known about this device, we can expect the vivo V2044 to feature a large HD+ display, triple camera setup, a huge battery, dual-SIM, MicroSD card slot, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Samsung 50MP ISOCELL GN2 camera sensor announced with several upgrades over the GN1

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Feb 23, 2021

Korean tech giant Samsung has announced a new 50MP camera sensor dubbed ISOCELL GN2. The sensor is an upgrade of last year’s model the ISOCELL GN1 which was announced with a faster auto-focus. Although the new GN2 still retains a 50MP sensor size, it features bigger pixels as well as improved energy consumption. The sensor also comes with a new Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) dubbed Dual Pixel Pro.

The ISOCELL GN2 has a pixel size of 1.4μm while the sensor has a size of 1/1.12-inch, the largest you can find in a smartphone. Samsung claims the large 1.4μm pixel size is capable of delivering “exceptionally detailed photographs in regular settings”. The sensor also deploys the four-pixel-binning technology to achieve a 2.8μm pixel size in order to deliver quality images in a low-lit environment.

Further, the new Samsung sensor is capable of capturing 100MP photos by re-organizing the color pixels through what Samsung calls “an intelligent re-mosaic algorithm”. How this works is that the sensor captures three 50 MP layers in Green, Blue, and Red, which are then overlaid, upscaled, and merged to produce the high-resolution photograph.

Another key highlight of the ISOCELL GN2 is the Phase Detection Auto-Focus (PDAF) feature which Samsung christened Dual Pixel Pro. This is the first sensor with this feature which is said to be Samsung’s most advanced PDAF solution. The technology involves splitting the green pixels diagonally instead of splitting the red, green, and blue pixels vertically. This allows the top and bottom to read phase differences in addition to the left and right sides. In this way, the autofocus is swift and precise even in adverse conditions such as the low-light environment or fast-moving object.

Samsung says the camera sensor is already being mass-produced. There is no indication when we’ll find it in smartphones but whenever it comes, the sensor will feature Smart ISO Pro which is creating instant HDR images with fewer motion-artifacts. The sensor also supports 1080p @ 480 fps or 4K @ 120 fps video recording.

RELATED;

(source)

Best Price: Baseus A2 Car Vacuum Cleaner Available for $35.89 (Original Price $50)

By

Daily Deals

-

Feb 23, 2021

Baseus A2 car vacuum cleaner is available at a heavily discounted price of $35.89 (original price $50), at AliExpress.

This portable and stylish vacuum cleaner is so small and lightweight that you can carry it around in your purse or keep it in your car’s cup holder. The vacuum cleaner comes with a 60ml large dust bin and an 18-minute battery duration with a single charge. This means enough power and storage for thorough cleaning of your car, desktop, work/study table, etc.

A Type-C charging port makes it easy to charge in almost every environment and an additional air hose with suction and blow function, helps to thoroughly clean the gaps and corners.

baseus a2 vacuum 3 AliExpress is selling this 5000pa suction, wireless handheld vacuum cleaner for $35.89 only. The discount is applicable till 26 February 2021 and all three color variants are available at the China warehouse while only the Green and Black color variants are at the Spain Warehouse.

With free shipping to Europe and the USA, this super deal on Baseus A2 Car Vacuum Cleaner is simply too good to be true. So without wasting any more time, grab your vacuum cleaner asap.

Flash Sale: Eachine E009 Mini Drone for $9.99 (Original Price $19)

By

Daily Deals

-

Feb 23, 2021

As a part of their clearance sale, Banggood is giving out Eachine E009 Mini Drone for $9.99 only (original price $19)

Eachine E009 Mini Drone is a great choice for beginners as it is tailor-made for novice players. Designed for base control and flight stability this intelligent mini drone can fly up to 30 m and is perfect for outdoor as well as indoor usage. The lightweight and portable design make it easy to carry around and the hydromechanics enables it to achieve a stable and flexible flight. The drone comes with a 360-degree flip and roll function which makes it ideal for a new user who has yet to master the intricacies of a drone flight. Moreover, the one key take-off and landing function and a simple transmitter design make this drone the best option for even the most tech-averse person.

Eachine E009 Mini Drone which usually retails at around $19 is available at a discounted price of $9.99 only, for the next 24 hours. This discount sale is applicable on the single battery option and both the Blue and Green color variants, from the CN warehouse. So if you are planning to get a beginner-level drone then be sure to grab this amazing deal asap.

Super Deal: Get the Xiaomi Mi True Earbuds Basic 2 for $16.98 only (original price $20)

By

Daily Deals

-

Feb 23, 2021

If you are in the market for a good quality but budget earphone then check out this super deal from Gearbest on Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2. The earbuds which generally retail at $20 are available at a discounted price of $16.98 only.

Xiaomi Mi True Earbuds Basic 2 comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and 12-hour long battery life (with charging case). This means faster connectivity, clearer calls, and stable performance over long-duration calls. The 7.2 mm sound unit has a DSP noise cancellation technology that filters out ambient noise and medium and low frequencies tuned by acoustic experts which provides a sharp and melodious musical experience. The simplistic design concept has enabled one single physical button to activate multi-functions like play/pause music, answer/reject calls and even activate the voice assistant.

At $16.98, Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 is a bargain deal. At Gearbest, this flash sale is available on the global version for the next 35 days.

Also, there is an additional discount on the CN Version -Redmi AirDots 2 which is available for a discounted price of $14.68 only. Additional shipping charges are applicable on both the CN and Global versions, however, the CN version sale is available only for a single day. So grab this flash deal asap.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 appears on Indonesia Telecom and BIS listings, Launch imminent

By

Balaji S

-

Feb 23, 2021

Xiaomi is gearing up to launch the most expected Redmi Note 10 series in India next month. The company could also launch the successor of Mi Smart Band 5 soon as the Mi Band 6 gets Indonesia Telecom and India’s BIS certifications.

As noted by Mukul Sharma, a Xiaomi device with model number XMSH15HM appears on Indonesia Telecom and India’s BIS listing. Among these, the former gives away the name of the product as ‘Smart Band 6’.

If you recall, Xiaomi launched the predecessor ‘Mi Band 5’ in China but brought it to markets like India as ‘Mi Smart Band 5‘. Going by this, the ‘Mi Smart Band 6‘ could launch as the Mi Band 6 in China. Either way, Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed anything yet.

Regarding the specs, the Mi Band 6 with the same model number XMSH15HM allegedly got leaked on the Zepp app code. It revealed that the fitness tracker will come with SpO2(Blood Oxygen Monitoring), and Alexa assistant Support.

It is also expected to feature a bigger display than the 1.1-inch screen on the predecessor. Just like previous versions, it could get an NFC, and non-NFC variants for different markets, built-in GPS(rumored), Heart rate Monitoring(PPG), Sleep tracking, and more.

Other possible specs include 30 activity modes(Sport Modes) including Zumba, cricket, basketball, and kickboxing. Xiaomi launched the Mi Band 5 back in September 2020 in India for a price of ₹2,499.

While there is no info on the color variants and pricing, we can expect Xiaomi to price the successor around the same price tag(if not higher) as before. Let’s wait for more details in the coming days.

RELATED:

Xiaomi Mi GaN Charger Type-C 33W launched in China for ¥79 ($12)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Feb 23, 2021

Xiaomi sells smartphones at different price segments. Almost all the handsets sold by the company support at least 18W fast charging, except for the few entry-level budget models. The most common charging speed found on the firm’s devices is 33W. So far, the chargers for this particular output rate have used silicon. Hence, the newly launched Xiaomi Mi GaN Charger Type-C 33W is the first Gallium Nitirided-based charger from the company with the said charging speed.

Xiaomi Mi GaN Charger Type-C 33W Specifications and Features

Gallium Nitride (GaN) chargers are smaller in size compared to silicon-based chargers with a similar output rate. Hence, the new Xiaomi 33W GaN charger is smaller (approximately 56% smaller) than the company’s regular 33W charger.

This charger with model number AD33G only comes in white color and features a USB Type-C port, instead of USB Type-A. Interestingly, a USB Type-C to Type-C model is also included in the package, unlike most chargers sold by both Xiaomi and other brands.

1 of 2

Further, the charger sports the following safety measurements.

Overvoltage Protection
Input Overcurrent Protection
Output Overcurrent Protection
Vpp (Peak-to-Peak Voltage)
Short Circuit Protection
Over Temperature Protection
Low Electromagnetic Interference
Anti-static

Apart from the Xiaomi group (Redmi, Mi,POCO) smartphones, this charger can also be used to charge phones from other brands, gaming consoles, tablets, and more. It supports the following output rates.

5V/3A – 15W
9V/3A – 27W
11V/3A – 33W
12V/2.5A – 30W

1 of 5

Last but not least, the charger measures only 30.4 x 30.4 x 34mm in size.

Xiaomi Mi GaN Charger Type-C 33W Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi Mi GaN Charger Type-C 33W is priced at ¥79 ($12) in China. It is currently up for pre-order in the country and will go on sale on February 25.

We can expect this product to make its way to global markets like the 65W variant.

Nubia Red Magic Watch Specs revealed, Could debut for 1,000 yuan($155)

By

Balaji S

-

Feb 23, 2021

Chinese Smartphone maker Nubia is gearing up to launch its next gaming smartphone, the Red Magic 6 on March 4. The company’s President Ni Fei has already confirmed that Red Magic Watch will launch alongside the smartphone. Now, we have got some official information on its specs.

In a Weibo post, Ni Fei has posted an image of the Red Magic Watch. You can see that the watch has a circular design like realme, Xiaomi, and OnePlus’ upcoming Smartwatch. It has two Crowns on the right and one has a ‘Red’ ring on it. The Strap(Textured) and the Watch dial are Black in Color.

Ni Fei says that the Red Magic Watch will feature a 1.39-inch AMOLED display. This circular display will have a resolution of 454-pixels(i.e, 454×454). The Watch seems to have the Red Magic Theme inside the Software as per the teaser image. To ascertain this, another leak on Weibo confirms it.

According to a post from WHYLAB, Red Magic Watch is likely to run on RTOS(Real-Time Operating System). While the other specs of the Smartwatch are under wraps for now, we can expect it to feature Heart rate, Blood Oxygen monitoring, and more.

1 of 3

Red Magic Watch is the first Smartwatch from the Chinese giant. Apart from Gaming smartphones, it has also launched a few other accessories like Truly Wireless Earbuds. The venture into the wristwear arena will only enable Nubia to further cement its position in the home country.

Considering the Red Magic smartphones make it to other countries this should come outside of china too. However, let’s wait for the official info. As for Price, the Red Magic Watch is expected to be priced around 1,000 yuan($155).

RELATED:

LG launches 2 new projectors are targeted for enterprises

By

Sean

-

Feb 23, 2021

LG Electronics has launched two new high resolution projectors earlier this week on Monday (22nd February 2021). These new projectors are targeted for enterprises and businesses and are a part of the ProBeam series.

For those unaware, the LG ProBeam series is aimed at the professional market, which includes the two new launches as well. On the other hand, the CineBeam lineup are the projectors targeted for the mass market and consumers. The new models include BU60PST and BF60PST. Both projectors offer 6,000 ANSI lumen of brightness. Furthermore, its laser uses light source that can last for around 20,000 hours, as per official notes. According to TheElec report, the BU60PST projector from the South Korean tech giant supports 4K resolution and is capable of providing a 300 inch screen.

Notably, this screen can also be expanded and contracted at twelve different points on the edge. Additionally, the contrast ratio of the output is 3 million to one on the models, while both models also support HDR10 as well. The new projectors also arrive with web browsers. This allows them to be connected to the internet. Additionally, these projectors can also share screens with other Android running devices. In other words, they can be connected wirelessly with notebooks and smartphones in professional environments.

RELATED:

OPPO announces Wireless Air charging and a new ‘Flash Initiative’ for Automakers and Chipmakers

By

Balaji S

-

Feb 23, 2021

Last month, Xiaomi announced a True Wireless charging technology called Mi Air Charge Technology. Now, OPPO has joined the bandwagon with its Wireless Air Charging tech. It has also announced a new partnership with Automakers and chipmakers.

OPPO Wireless Air Charge Technology — Credit: OPPO

OPPO showcased how the Wireless Air Charge Technology works on devices via a demo video. In the video, you can see the device used is the OPPO X 2021 rollable smartphone. Just like Xiaomi, OPPO tech seems to be true wireless charging as the device continues to charge even after lifting it from the charging mat a few centimeters above.

At the MWC Shanghai Booth Number N2-E40, it explained that the Wireless Air Charging tech can go up to 7.5W of charging power. As for the distance, OPPO says that a user can take the device up to 10cm distance from the charging mat to continue charging.

Compared to Xiaomi, whose tech sends millimeter waves via a Tower inside a room, this seems a bit lesser in range. Anyway, OPPO adds that it is using magnetic resonance as a solution for ubiquitous problems of wireless charging.

Apart from this, OPPO has also announced a Global partnership with Automakers and chipmakers to expand the VOOC Flash charging technology arena. Through the project ‘The Flas Initiative’, it is going to license companies to use its charging tech on their products.

Partners like Volkswagen, Anker, and NXP Semiconductors are pioneers in the fields of automobiles, portable charging, and chip manufacturing. OPPO says that these companies will work with technical designs developed by OPPO and implement them on their products.

In case you don’t know, OPPO has around 2,950 flash charging patents worldwide among which 1,400 are already granted. Talking about Anker, it is known for power banks, chargers, and vacuum cleaners. So we can expect VOOC to land on these products.

As for Volkswagen and NXP Semiconductors, the partnership will allow them to incorporate the charging tech on their Cars(made in China) and PCBs respectively.

RELATED:

Lenovo ThinkBook Pods Pro launched in China with optimizations for Microsoft Skype and Teams

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Feb 23, 2021

Chinese computer giant Lenovo has launched a new pair of truly wireless earphones with ThinkBook branding in China. The company calls this TWS ThinkBook Pods Pro. Targeted at enterprise customers, these earbuds come with a unique design and some useful features that are not found on regular Bluetooth earphones.

Lenovo ThinkBook Pods Pro Specifications and Features

The newly released Lenovo ThinkBook Pods Pro features a design similar to the current ThinkBook computer and accessory lineup. Unlike most earbuds in the market, its charging case has a sliding lid, just like the case of Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro.

Talking about unique features, apart from Bluetooth, these buds can also connect with PC via the includes USB receiver. There’s also a dedicated application called ‘Lenovo Bud’dy’ to manage these earphones.

Further, these earbuds are optimized for both Microsoft Skype as well as Microsoft Teams with dedicated touch gestures to accept and accept calls. Since it can be connected via two mediums, it is easy to switch between devices.

1 of 5

That said, the buds weigh around 3.57g each and feature a dual-microphone for ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation). It is weird that despite sporting the ‘Pro’ moniker, the earphones don’t support ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).

Last but not least, these truly wireless earphones along with the case take only 30 minutes to fully charge. However, they only last about 2 hours on calls and up to 20 hours with the charging case.

Lenovo ThinkBook Pods Pro Pricing and Availability

The Lenovo ThinkBook Pods Pro is priced at ¥999 ($155) in China. It is already on sale in the country. Like most Lenovo products, this should also hit other markets in the coming days.

Samsung is working on foldable OLED displays for Google, Xiaomi and Oppo: Report

By

Sean

-

Feb 23, 2021

Samsung Display is apparently working on developing foldable OLED display panels for various companies. These panels will feature an in-folding design and will be shipped to Oppo, Xiaomi, and Google.

According to TheElec report, smartphones from these aforementioned brands will be launching later this year. The report claims that the OLED panel for Oppo features a clamshell design, folding from top to bottom. This display has a size of 7.7 inch unfolded, while the outer display will have a size between 1.5 to 2 inches. Notably, this is larger than the 6.7 inch foldable OLED used on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, which launched back in 2020.

Last year, the Chinese tech giant had unveiled an out folding 7.7 inch foldable screen prototype, which was sourced and developed in partnership with Samsung Display, BOE, and Visionox. But now, it seems like the South Korean firm is its sole supplier. Similarly, Xiaomi is also switching to an in folding design as it is reportedly aiming to launch a foldable smartphone with an 8.03 inch display. Meanwhile, its outer screen will have a size of 6.38 inch, which is being developed by Samsung Display and CSOT.

Meanwhile, Google has also requested the company to develop a foldable OLED panel with a size of around 7.6 inches. In recent times, in folding screens have become more common than out folding panels. This is primarily due to it being easier to secure the curvature needed for the panel to fold with the out folding method. Thanks to the brand’s experience with these types of display, it isn’t surprising that various companies are reaching out to it for foldable panels.

RELATED:

Samsung might soon launch its custom chip with AMD GPU: Report

By

Sean

-

Feb 23, 2021

Samsung and AMD working together to develop a custom GPU for the former’s chips, has been rumored for a while now. But, neither of the companies have yet to announce any news officially. But now, a new rumor has surfaced that suggests that this custom chip might be launching soon.

Samsung is tentatively scheduled to release Samsung × AMD GPU in June to showcase new technologies and specifications, but only to release GPU, the processor needs to wait.

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) February 23, 2021

According to a SamMobile report, the new rumor has seemingly revived hope for an upcoming launch of the custom chip with an AMD GPU. As per popular tipster Ice Universe, the South Korean tech giant is apparently planning to showcase the custom GPU developed with AMD in June 2021. Furthermore, the company will be revealing the technical details and specifications regarding the new chip around this time as well.

It was previously reported that Samsung might be unveiling its new Exynos chipsets with the new AMD GPUs sometime in the second or third quarter of this year. So the new rumor is in line with what we know so far, and would likely be a highlighting part of its upcoming flagship product line. Although, which series the new chips will arrive in is currently unknown. It could be for the Galaxy Note 21 series or the Galaxy Z Fold 3, while rumors have also pointed towards a 2022 launch with the Galaxy S22 lineup.

Notably, a graphics benchmark of a supposed Exynos chipset with the new AMD GPU had seemingly beaten the Apple A14 Bionic chipset. This may give us an idea as to what we could expect from the new custom chips. However, it is still too early to know for sure. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

RELATED: