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Samsung working on new chipset to beat Apple A14 Bionic’s performance

By
Jeet
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Samsung recently launched its latest flagship smartphones in the Galaxy S-series, which includes the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra. All three devices are powered by the company’s new Exynos 2100 chipset or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, depending on the region of availability.

Although the Samsung Exynos 2100 is a big improvement over the company’s Exynos 990, the chipset still lags behind when compared to the Apple A14 Bionic chipset that powers the Apple iPhone 12 lineup.

Samsung

Now, it is being reported that the South Korean giant is working on a new chipset with an aim to beat the performance of the Apple A14 Bionic. Further, it is also being said that this new smartphone chipset could be launched in the first half of this year.

It’s noteworthy that the Samsung Exynos 2100 SoC is comparable to the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset when it comes to CPU test, however, it lags behind in terms of GPU performance.

We previously reported that the company is working with AMD for enhancing the graphics performance on its upcoming Exynos chips. The early performance results are also impressive and put the chipset ahead of Apple A14 by a significant margin.

With the suggested timeline for launch being somewhere in the second quarter of this year, Samsung seems to be on a path to change the launch schedule of its chipsets. As the fate of the Galaxy Note series remains unclear, it will be interesting to see what device becomes the first one to be powered by this new upcoming chipset from Samsung.

RELATED:

Suspected Mi Band 6 details spotted on the Zepp app code

By
Jed John Ikoba
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This is 2021 and going by Xiaomi‘s release cycle for the Mi Band series, the Band 6 is expected to make its debut sometime this year. There is no indication as to when that will happen but the Mi Band 6 has started to feature in leaks. Xiaomi Mi band 6

A Geekdoing forum user MagicalUnicorn has discovered several details on the Zepp app said to be for the Mi Band 6. The Zepp app is Huami’s app for the Amazfit and Zepp smartwatch/fitness band lineup. As you may already know, the Mi Band lineup is manufactured by Huami. The company last year launched the Amazfit Band 5, an Mi Band 5 with some upgrades. Xiaomi Mi Band 6

The Mi band 6 is said to bear the codename “Pangu” and will not only come with the same useful features as its predecessor, but it will also bring on board several new features as well as visual improvements.

The device comes with the model numbers XMSH16HM and may likely have NFC and non-NFC versions for the Chinese and global markets. The Zepp app source code revealed data shows that the Mi Band 6 will come with support for Alexa and a SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen measurement.

In addition, the Mi Band 6 is also expected to come with built-in GPS but there are conflicting commands found in the firmware code which disputes this. The leaked watch faces for the Band 6 have a higher resolution than those stored in the Mi Band 5, further suggesting that the fitness band may feature a larger display than the 1.1-inch screen found on the Mi Band 5.Xiaomi Mi band 6

Further, the leaker also discovered that there may be up to 30 activity modes on Band 6 as against 11 models on the Mi Band 5. Some of the new additions include dance, Zumba, cricket, basketball, and kickboxing.Xiaomi Mi Band 6

However, we must point out that these features may actually be for the Amazfit Band 6 since the Zepp app is for Amazfit/Zepp products. We already know the Amazfit Band 6 exists as early as August 2020 and that it will have some of the new features spotted on the code such as SpO2 and Alexa support. However, the Mi Band 6 may still share similar features with the Amazfit branded version.

It may still be too early to conclude as we are still several months away from the launch. The Mi Band 5 was launched in June 2020 and this year’s version may also come around that same period.

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Top stories from last week: New chipsets from Qualcomm and MediaTek, Vivo X60 Pro+ and Honor V40 flagships launched, and the end of LG Mobile

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Last week was filled with some really important announcements, some of which will play a key role in how things turn out in the mobile industry this year. Here is a recap of the major stories from the previous week:

MTK Dimensity 1200

 

Qualcomm and Mediatek release new chipsets for flagship killers

The two top mobile chipset manufacturers announced a total of three chipsets last week. Qualcomm’s new system-on-chip is the Snapdragon 870 Mobile Platform which is a slightly faster version of the Snapdragon 865 Plus. It will power a number of smartphones from manufacturers such as Motorola, OnePlus, OPPO, iQOO, and Xiaomi.

MediaTek announced two new processors that will power affordable flagship phones this year. The first is the Dimensity 1200, a 6nm chipset with the same Cortex-A78 CPU cores found in the Exynos 2100 and Snapdragon 888. It packs some pretty cool features including ray tracing in mobile games and AR. The Dimensity 1200 will power phones from realme, Xiaomi, Vivo, and OPPO. It will also power Redmi’s first gaming smartphone.

The other MediaTek chipset is the Dimensity 1100 which is a less-powerful version of the Dimensity 1200. It also has the same type and number of CPU cores as its sibling but in a different arrangement.

 

EDITOR’S PICK: Chip Battle: Snapdragon 870 5G vs Dimensity 1200, which flagship killer chipset is better?

 

Vivo X60 Pro+ – A camera beast

The Vivo X50 Pro+ is among the top ten phones with the best camera performance according to DxOMark. Last week, it got a successor. The Vivo X60 Pro+ will challenge not only the current champions which are phones from last year but it will also slug it out with this year’s phones.

vivo X60 Pro Plus Featured 02
Vivo X60 Pro+

Boasting two main rear cameras – a 50MP Samsung GN1 sensor and a 48MP Sony IMX598 sensor – along with a 32MP 50mm portrait camera, and an 8MP periscope telephoto lens, the Vivo X60 Pro should be able to rank much higher than its predecessor which sits at the 8th spot. The phone is not just a camera beast. It also packs an impressive display, Qualcomm’s most powerful processor, and a battery that charges really fast.

 

HONOR V40 5G Featured
Honor V40

Honor V40 – Honor’s first phone post-independence

Honor announced its first phone since it split from its parent company, Huawei, last year. The Honor V40 is a flagship phone that boasts a curved OLED display with a high refresh rate, a 50MP triple rear camera, 66W fast wired charging, and 50W wireless fast charging. The good news is that the phone should get a global launch as the Honor View40 and with Google Mobile Services.

 

Image for post

Google bursts its internet balloon

Google has announced it is shutting down its internet providing service for remote regions. Loon (formerly Project Loon), provided internet service to large areas of remote parts of the world including Kenya where internet infrastructure doesn’t exist using specially designed balloons.

The main reason cited by Google for shutting down the service is the high cost and the difficulty in making it commercially viable.

 

LG Logo Featured

LG Mobile – Life is not good

LG may be exiting the mobile business after years of consecutive losses. The manufacturer said in a memo to employees that it is ”open to all possibilities” and one of such possibilities is the sale of its mobile phone business. There are reports that the company has already received offers including one from Vietnam’s VinGroup which not only makes its own phones but is also an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) for LG phones.

UP NEXT: Next Week in Tech: Motorola Edge S is coming, Carl Pei to unveil new company

 

Renders give us our first look at the 2021 Sony Xperia Compact

By
Habeeb Onawole
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A percentage of the Android community has been requesting a small-sized flagship phone for a while now. That should not be a surprise seeing as Apple released two “small” iPhones last year – the iPhone SE 2020 and the iPhone 12 Mini. Now, their wish is about to come true, thanks to Sony, as a leak has revealed that there is indeed a new Xperia Compact coming this year.

The last Xperia Compact smartphone was released in 2018 and several fans of the series expected a successor but there wasn’t one. Seeing as most manufacturers had dropped small screen phones in favor of larger ones with tall aspect ratios, Sony too had followed suit. Now, the Japanese manufacturer is breathing new life into the series and the popular leaker, Steve Hemmerstoffer a.k.a. OnLeaks, has given us a first look at the 2021 Xperia Compact.

2021 Sony Xperia Compact

The upcoming phone is said to have a 5.5-inch screen and the images show that there is a waterdrop notch for the front-facing camera and a significantly thick bezel at the bottom. The display is flat and there is no mention of it having a high refresh rate.

Sony has put two cameras on the back of the phone and they are arranged vertically in an elongated pill-shaped housing along with the LED flash. Save for the camera and the Sony logo, there is nothing else on the back panel.

2021 Sony Xperia Compact side view

The 2021 Xperia Compact doesn’t have its fingerprint scanner under the display but on its side where it doubles as the power button. There is an extra button other than the volume rocker and power button on the right side of the phone. We want to believe this button is either a dedicated Google Assistant button similar to that of the Xperia 5 II or a shutter key which the Xperia 5 II also has.

The SIM card tray is on the left and from the design, we can see that it doesn’t need a pin to be opened. We hope other manufacturers can emulate Sony in this regard. The 2021 Xperia Compact has an edge over Apple’s small-sized iPhones and that is the audio jack at the top. There is a USB-C port at the bottom that is flanked by a slit for the speaker on one side and the microphone hole on the other.

The source says that the phone has an 8MP selfie camera and a 13MP primary rear camera. He also gave its dimension as 140 x 68.9 x 8.9 millimeters. This leaves us with so many unknowns such as the processor, battery capacity, and screen resolution. There is also no info about the price and launch date.

UP NEXT: Sony Xperia Pro could be available for purchase soon

 

Vivo S7t rumoured to launch with a Dimensity 820 SoC onboard

By
Jed John Ikoba
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A tipster named Digital Chat Station has claimed that Vivo will shortly release the third model on its S7 lineup called Vivo S7t, and will be powered by the Dimensity 820 SoC.vivo s7

The S7 5G was launched in August 2020 while the S7e 5G came on board in November 2020. The tipster has said that the features and specifications of the upcoming Vivo S7t will mainly be similar to that of the S7. These include, among others, a 6.44 inch FullHD+ AMOLED display, fingerprint detection, a 4,000 mAh battery with a capacity for 33W charging.

Editor’s Pick: Chip Battle: Snapdragon 870 5G vs Dimensity 1200, which flagship killer chipset is better?

The source says that the rest of the specs of the S7t will remain the same as the vanilla S7, meaning it will feature a 6.44-inch FullHD+ AMOLED screen with a fingerprint reader underneath and pack a 4,000 mAh battery with 33W charging.

The smartphone will also come with five cameras: A 44MP wide and 8MP ultrawide camera will be the two front-facing cameras, while there is a 64MP main camera on the rear, together with an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP depth sensor camera. The camera module of the S7t, no doubt combines to provide a very compelling picture and video experience when using these cameras.vivo s7t

In line with the content of the tipster’s revelation, the Vivo S7t 5G is expected to come with an 8GB RAM in combination with either 128GB or 256GB internal memory space. The S7 5G runs an Android 10 operating system as a default factory setting. However, the S7t should come with the Android 11 operating system as its default.

Apart from the operating system, It is yet unclear what would be the fine points of departure from the standard Vivo S7 that may set apart the Vivo S7t from the earlier models.

UP NEXT: Vivo X60 Pro+ launched with Snapdragon 888 and two main rear cameras

 

Time frame for the release of Samsung’s AMD GPUs leaks

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Samsung’s latest flagship processor is the Exynos 2100 chipset and it offers significant upgrades over the Exynos 990 from last year. However, even with the new upgrades, the processor doesn’t measure up to its competitors in terms of GPU performance. Samsung knows this already which is why it revealed during the launch of the chipset that its next processor will feature GPU co-developed with AMD. Now, we have a time frame for when the GPU will be announced.

Exynos-Featured

According to the popular leaker, Ice Universe, the Samsung + AMD GPUs (not one) will be announced in the second quarter or third quarter of this year. He also adds that these GPUs will be used in the next Exynos 2*** and Exynos 1*** processors which means Samsung may change the release date of the new chipsets.

If Samsung is announcing the GPU as early as the middle of the year, then the Exynos 1080 and Exynos 2100 will get successors earlier than usual.  The Exynos 1080 is Samsung’s other 5nm chipset and it too packs a punch but falls short in GPU performance. Also, if the chipsets are announced early, there is a chance that we may even see them ship before the year ends.

A lot of folks are anticipating the next-gen Exynos processors and we hope Samsung doesn’t disappoint. Samsung’s new GPU will not only have to be better than the one inside the Exynos 1080 and Exynos 2100 but also surpass the Adreno 660 GPU inside the Snapdragon 888.

UP NEXT: Chip Battle: The Exynos 2100 challenges the Snapdragon 888

 

Android 12 tipped to feature a hidden shortcut that didn’t make it to Android 11

By
Jed John Ikoba
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As things stand, it is highly probable that Android 12 will be released this year, going by what is known of its trajectory of development. There is also a possibility that Google will restore a hidden shortcut that was seen on developer versions of Android 11 but was missing on the final build.Android 11 Go Edition

The shortcut in question is the double-tap on the back, which could open the Google Assistant, or play media, and several other tasks depending on how the action was accomplished.

However, for reasons only known to the developers, the double-tap gesture did not make the cut when the final version of Android 11 was released last year.

Editor’s Pick: Chip Battle: Snapdragon 870 5G vs Dimensity 1200, which flagship killer chipset is better?

It now looks like this feature will be part of the new release of the software, although there has not been any definitive statement from Google. Some leaks have revealed that the feature, codenamed Columbus will be part of the final release of Android 11, which could be available for non-Pixel phones, at least.

A recent report has stated that the double-tap feature was originally billed to replace the Edge squeeze-action on Pixel 4 phones, which was missing from Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5 models, and was discovered to be very sensitive to work properly. Obviously, there could have been some glitches that needed to be tweaked to make the feature work perfectly.

It now seems all those challenges have been overcome and the double-tap can only be activated with a firm double-tap on the back of the phone. The feature can also be turned off, for those not interested.

It is likely that we might see a developer preview of Android 12 in February or March. The grapevine also revealed that the update may include Wi-Fi sharing as one of the new features.

There is already a Back Tap feature in iOS 14, a shortcut that can be customized to take a screenshot, open Control Center, and a few other actions.

UP NEXT: Vivo X60 Pro+ launched with Snapdragon 888 and two main rear cameras

 

(source)

 

Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse with 12 custom side buttons launched for ¥499 (~$77)

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Razer continues to blaze the trail in the release of gaming accessories and there isn’t no stopping the Singapore-based company right now. The firm has launched a new mouse targeted at MMORPG gamers. The product is dubbed Naga X Gaming Mouse.Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse

A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game. Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse adopts a spectacular design. It is equipped with a massive 12 different buttons making it equally suitable for office multi-taskers who can’t get enough macro buttons on their thumbs. This is similar to the design of the Naga Trinity mouse which Razer already has under its belt.

The Naga Trinity has as its main difference from the Naga X, the modular design which it deploys. Since this model doesn’t have a modular design, it cuts down the weight as well as the cost. The Naga Trinity weighs 120g but this new model weighs 85g. The Naga X is about $20 cheaper than the Naga Trinity.

The Razer Nager X incorporates a newer Razer 5G Advanced Optical sensor for increased maximum sensitivity (18000 DPI). There is also a newer optical switch type to improve the expected lifecycle by 40 percent – 70 million clicks as against an estimated 50 million clicks on the previous model. It also comes with PTFE feet for a smoother glide. Thus, despite its cheaper pricing compared to the Naga Trinity, the Naga X isn’t an inferior version.Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse

In addition, you also get Razer’s traditional Chroma RGB lighting. The mouse adopts a right-hand ergonomic design and is equipped with Razer SPEEDFLEX super soft braided wire, which makes it slide more smoothly. Razer Synapse X can map game buttons and macro commands through Razer Synapse Thunder Cloud 3 software, and the onboard memory can store a configuration file.

The mouse is also equipped with the second-generation Razer optical micro-motion, with a response time of only 0.2ms, which avoids the rebound delay, feel, and life issues of traditional micro-motion.

This Razer Naga X is currently on sale in Razer’s official flagship store on Tmall, with a price tag of 499 yuan (~$77).

UP NEXT: Vivo X60 Pro+ launched with Snapdragon 888 and two main rear cameras

 

Nokia may launch several new phones including 5G models in Q1 & Q2 2021

By
Jed John Ikoba
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A recent report indicates that Nokia may launch several new smartphones within the first half of 2021. The projections place Nokia 1.4 as the first smartphone to be released from the stables of Nokia in 2021. This would be followed by Nokia 6.3/6.4, and Nokia 7.3/7.4 which are both 5G smartphones.Nokia

The Nokia 1.4 could be officially unveiled in February 2021 and has surfaced in several recent listings. It comes with a more powerful camera, a bigger battery, and greater RAM/storage than its predecessor, the Nokia 1.3. It also comes with a Fingerprint sensor.

Editor’s Pick: OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G Hands-on: Premium in the Right Areas
 

The next smartphone on the lineup is Nokia 6.3/6.4 5G which could be launched alongside the Nokia 7.3/7.4 5G between March and early May 2021. If the recent leaks are anything to go by, then the Nokia 6.3/6.4 5G will be powered by the Snapdragon 480 processor while the Nokia 7.3 5G will have the Snapdragon 690. The 6.3/6.4 5G will have a 48MP rear Quad-camera, with Zeiss optics providing a powerful output.  

As for the 7.3/7.4 5G, it has been the subject of several leaks and rumors. These leaks and rumors cover the specs in many details including the processor, camera system as well as overall quality ratings of the fifth-generation device and could be one of Nokia’s flagship line up this year.

It was reported recently that Nokia had plans to unveil up to four smartphones with 5G support in 2021. So if the tipsters and all the reports we have seen so far are anything to go by, then two more 5G smartphones, Nokia 5.5 and Nokia 8.4 may be released in the second half of 2021.

UP NEXT: realme X7 / X7 Pro India Colors and Memory variants leaked ahead of launch

 

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite gets a new update in its twilight bringing the latest Android security patch

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is now in its final year of regular software updates with the release of the January 2021 Android security patch for the device.

The Mi A2 Lite will not receive an operating system upgrade above Android 10, but it will continue to receive security patch updates for a 180 day period. This is the third year of updates for the device since it was released in July 2018. The phone, as it stands, can no longer receive another OS upgrade, but would still have security updates until July 2021.Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite

The security patch to the Mi A2 Lite also provides system performance optimizations and improved overall stability.

Editor’s Pick: Chip Battle: Snapdragon 870 5G vs Dimensity 1200, which flagship killer chipset is better?

As a tradition, Xiaomi always includes ‘Optimized system performance’ and ‘Improved system security and stability’ in the changelog for security patch updates, though. Hence, we can hazard a guess that the current security patch V11.0.17.0.QDLMIXM most likely only upgrades the Mi A2 Lite to Google’s latest security patch.

The V11.0.17.0.QDLMIXM security patch should arrive as a small over-the-air (OTA) download of size 16 MB in size. The patch integrates into your device so that a notification will be received by the user, that a new update is now available for download. On the other hand, if for any reason, you are yet to get a notification that an update is available, then you can download the patch and install it.

Please note that the installation file is hosted on Xiaomi’s servers. The same applies to the recovery and fastboot ROMs, which could be downloaded and flashed if you have run into trouble on your Mi A2 Lite.

UP NEXT: Vivo X60 Pro+ launched with Snapdragon 888 and two main rear cameras

 

(source, via)

 

List of second batch of devices getting OriginOS public beta released

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Earlier this month, Vivo released an open beta version of OriginOS for 11 devices. It has now released the list of the second batch of devices that are eligible for the public beta.

The recruitment for the public beta will begin on January 25 according to the official OriginOS Weibo account and will run until January 27. The build will then be pushed to selected users on the 28th of January. Below is the list of devices:

OriginOS open beta 2nd batch

The update should bring not only a new user interface but also bring Android 11 to these devices.

EDITOR’S PICK: Vivo Y20G launched in India with Helio G80, 5,000mAh battery, Android 11, and more

OriginOS is a complete design change from Vivo’s other operating system, Funtouch OS. The homescreen is arranged in a Klotski Grid format and features tiny pop-up widgets called Nano Alerts that display details such as upcoming flights and package delivery status. Nano Alerts not only show up on the homescreen but also on Always-On Display.

The new operating system also has system enhancements that include memory and app optimizations, intelligent app freezing, and application preloading for a smooth and fast experience.

Vivo is yet to announce OrginOS for the international market. Its new phones for the international markets running Android 11 have Funtouch OS 11 pre-installed. If and when OriginOS gets a global realease, it will take a while before it is available as a stable update for eligible devices.

UP NEXT: Vivo X60 Pro+ launched with Snapdragon 888 and two main rear cameras

 

Realme V15 5G vs Redmi Note 9 5G vs ZTE Blade V2020: Specs Comparison

By
Michele Ingelido
-

All the main Chinese manufacturers launched some very affordable 5G phones in China. You can actually get 5G-ready handsets by spending a very low amount of money, and you actually have a lot of choices. And you do not have to necessarily choose devices with entry-level specifications. If you want a pretty nice mid-range phone sold at a very affordable price, you can choose something like the Realme V15 5G, the Redmi Note 9 5G, or the ZTE Blade V2020 5G. They are all sold with listing prices below €200 or $250 in the Chinese market. This comparison will highlight the differences between their specifications.

 

Realme V15 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs ZTE Blade V2020 5G

Realme V15 5G Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G ZTE Blade V2020 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 160.9 x 74.4 x 8.1 mm, 176 grams 162 x 77.3 x 9.2 mm, 199 grams 162.7 x 76.3 x 8.8 mm, 184 grams
DISPLAY  6.4 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD
PROCESSOR Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz Mediatek Dimensity 800, octa-core 2 GHz
MEMORY  6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD dedicated slot 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE  Android 10, Realme UI Android 10, MIUI Android 10, MiFavor
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA  Triple 64 + 8 + + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.3 + f/2.4
16 MP f/2.5 front camera		  Triple 48 + 8 + 2 MP  f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4
13 MP f/2.3 front camera		 Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4
16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY 4310 mAh, fast charging 50W  5000 mAh
Fast charging 18W		 4000 mAh, Fast charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

If you look at these devices from the front side, the ZTE Blade V2020 5G is undoubtedly the most attractive one because it features a higher screen-to-body ratio. The bezels around its display are narrower than Realme V15 5G and Redmi Note 9 5G. But the Realme V15 5G looks more attractive if saw from other sides: it is thinner than ZTE Blade V2020 5G and Redmi Note 9 5G, it is lighter and the rear panel is cleaner (especially thanks to the in-display fingerprint reader), with better color variants.

 

Display

If you need the best display in terms of image and color reproduction, then you should go for the Realme V15 5G. It is the only one sporting an AMOLED panel and it is one of the most affordable phones with an AMOLED display. It shows more vibrant colors and deeper blacks, and it includes an in-display fingerprint reader. But you should not underestimate the LTPS display of the ZTE Blade V2020 5G: it does not provide the quality of an OLED panel, but it is still a very nice screen. Redmi Note 9 5G has an average IPS panel.

 

Hardware/Software

You can get the best hardware department with the Redmi Note 9 5G. We are not talking about huge differences, but it is actually superior as it features UFS 2.2 internal storage instead of UFS 2.1. Further, it has more internal storage in its most expensive variant: up to 256 GB. Right after, we got the Realme V15 5G with the same Dimensity 800U chipset, up to 8 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of UFS 2.1 storage. With the ZTE Blade V2020 5G you only get 6 GB of RAM and Dimensity 800. Despite they are recent phones, all of them run Android 10 out of the box, but they will be updated to Android 11.

 

Camera

The Realme V15 5G has a lower amount of camera, but a better camera department thanks to a better main sensor. We are talking about a 64 MP lens with an f/1.8 focal aperture. On the paper, the silver medal goes to the ZTE Blade V2020 5G sporting a 48 MP quad-camera and a great 16 MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. The Redmi Note 9 5G disappoints with its 48 MP triple camera and an inferior 13 MP selfie snapper.

 

Battery

The Redmi Note 9 5G wins the battery comparison because it is equipped with a bigger 5000 mAh battery. Its battery life is longer in all of the scenarios. Right after, we got the Realme V15 5G: it has a smaller battery but a way faster charging technology with 50W power. ZTE Blade V2020 5G is inferior again with its 4000 mAh battery and just 18W fast charging.

 

Price

Redmi Note 9 5G starts from €165/$200, ZTE Blade V2020 5G is priced at €180/$220, and Realme V15 5G costs €190/$231 in its base variant. The winner of this comparison is the Realme V15 5G due to its better main camera, AMOLED display, and sleeker design. But the Redmi Note 9 5G provides a bigger battery and stereo speakers, unlike its rivals. With the above-mentioned prices, it does not make a lot of sense to choose the ZTE Blade V2020 5G.

 

 

Realme V15 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs ZTE Blade V2020 5G: PRO and CONS

Realme V15 5G

PROS

  • Super AMOLED display
  • 50W fast charging
  • Better main camera
  • In-display fingerprint reader

CONS

  • No micro SD

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G

PROS

  • Stereo speakers
  • Up to 256 GB storage
  • Water-repellent
  • IR blaster
  • Bigger battery
  • Micro SD slot

CONS

  • Inferior cameras

 

ZTE Blade V2020 5G

PROS

  • Higher screen-to-body ratio
  • Good price
  • Micro SD slot
  • Nice front camera

CONS

  • Smaller battery

Next Week in Tech: Motorola Edge S is coming, Carl Pei to unveil new company

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

There are not a lot of announcements scheduled for next week but it should still be a pretty interesting one. The two main ones are the launch of Motorola’s new Edge phone and the unveiling of Carl Pei’s new company.

Motorola Edge S Poster Leaked
A leaked image shows the Motorola Edge S in two colorways
Motorola Moto Edge S launch

Motorola has a launch scheduled for January 26 in China and it is for a new smartphone. The Lenovo-owned company plans to unveil the Motorola Edge S on that day. This is a big launch for Motorola as it is its first flagship phone in the country in a while and it will also be the first Snapdragon 870 phone in the world.

The phone is expected to launch with a large display that has an FHD+ resolution, a high refresh rate, quad rear cameras, and a massive 5000mAh battery. It should also be priced competitively.

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus merges its R&D division with that of OPPO

Carl Pei’s new company

Carl Pei, the former OnePlus co-founder, also has a big announcement next week. The young entrepreneur revealed last week that he will unveil his new company on the 27th of January.

Mr. Pei has done a great job at keeping details of his new startup under wraps. The only thing we have learned is that the new company will deal in audio products. There have also been reports about early investors that include the popular YouTuber, Casey Neistat; Steve Huffman who is the CEO of Reddit; Tony Fadell who invented the iPod, and Kunal Shah, the founder of CRED.

Kunal Shah is reported to have said in a statement that he is sure the new consumer electronics company will be a disruptor in the tech industry. That sure sounds exciting and we can’t wait for Wednesday to be here.

UP NEXT: MediaTek is now the largest smartphone chip supplier in China

 

Samsung Galaxy A72 TUV Rheinland Certification shows same charging tech as predecessor

By
Balaji S
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Samsung’s one of the upcoming mid-rangers is the Galaxy A72 smartphone. It is likely to go official very soon. Amidst a lot of leaks about the device, it has received TUV Rheinland certification for Fast Charging.

Galaxy A72 5G render

A Samsung device with model numbers- SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725F gets TÜV certification issued by TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd. If you recall, this model number has already appeared on certifications like BIS. It is likely the upcoming Galaxy A72 according to previous reports.

The said certification shows that the device supports 9V at 2.77A charging. This is approximately 25W charging that is already present on its predecessor, Galaxy A71. Similarly, it’s supposed sibling Galaxy A52 is also coming with the same charging tech as the last-gen A51.

If this turns out true, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see the same battery capacity(4,500mAh) on the A72. For instance, contrary to early rumors, the Galaxy A72 will mostly arrive with the Quad-Camera setup. Among the others, the primary lens is said to be a 64MP camera sensor like the A71.

That’s not all as Leaked mold images show similar port placements, rectangular Camera layout as the predecessor. Besides, reports also say that the device will likely get the same 6.7-inch Infinity-O AMOLED display. However, the main difference will be in processor as the 4G version might feature  Snapdragon 720G whereas the chipset of 5G is a mystery.

The device is expected to arrive in Black, Blue, White, and Violet colors. So far, vague rumors say that the 4G variant of the device might retail for €400-€500 while the 5G variant could be somewhere around €500-€600.

RELATED:

Leaked Motorola Edge S poster shows Quad-Camera layout, Color variants

By
Balaji S
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Motorola Edge S is a flagship smartphone that is launching in China on January 26. The company has already confirmed that it will feature the newly launched Snapdragon 870 chipset. Also, this Edge S is speculated to be the Chinese version of the Motorola “Nio” that is appearing in leaks lately. Today, a Leaked poster almost confirms the same and reveals possible color variants of the device.

As spotted by a Twitter user Ankit(@TechnoAnkit1), an alleged Motorola Edge S poster has been leaked on Weibo. The image looks like the marketing teaser that appears on a website. Anyway, the poster shows the launch date which is scheduled on January 26 at 19:30 Beijing time(UTC+08:00).

Additionally, it also gives the first look at how the rear of the Edge S would probably be. It appears on what looks like White/Silver and Blue colors. We see quad-cameras which is very similar to the leaked images of the Motorola “Nio”.

Coincidentally, Nils Ahrensmeier, who posted the live images of Nio back then, said that the device would get a ‘Sky’ and ‘Beryl’ color options. As you can see below, the Edge S poster also has the similar colors(Sky- Shining White/Silver) and (Beryl- Blue) and quad-cameras.

While Motorola/Lenovo hasn’t shared this poster officially on Weibo yet, it has indeed teased the layout on the latest post. The post shows an array of circles with top-left four ones shaded in Blue teasing the layout. Coming back, the leaked images also show power (maybe with Fingerprint sensor embedded) and Volume buttons to the right.

Motorola Edge S is already up for reservations on JD.com ahead of the launch. It will feature a dual-punch hole display that probably measure 6.7-inches and has up to 105Hz refresh rate.

Other expected specs include a 64MP quad-camera, 16MP+8MP dual front cameras, 5,000mAh battery, 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, and run Android 11 out of the box. Let’s wait for official confirmation to know more.

RELATED:

Honor View40, Honor 40, and a new Honor Magic phone planned for global release this year

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Honor launched its first flagship phone for the year a few days ago. However, the Honor V40 as it is called, will not be the only flagship scheduled to launch this year. There are others and according to a leak, they will be coming to global markets too.

According to the leaker Teme (@RODENT950), There are lots of phones planned for the global market, and these upcoming devices are from the mid-range and flagship categories but there are a few of them you should be excited about.

Among these devices coming this year is the Honor View40 which is expected to launch this spring. There is also the Honor 40 which will arrive this summer, and last, but not least is a new Honor Magic phone.

EDITOR’S PICK: Honor partners with key suppliers like Intel, Qualcomm, and more after separating from Huawei

The Honor View40 should be the global version of the Honor V40 that just launched in China. Honor’s tradition is to launch the Honor V series as the Honor View series for global markets.

The Honor 40 will arrive as the successor to last year’s Honor 30. However, there is a chance that the new phone will come with a processor from MediaTek or Qualcomm. We also expect it to come along with two pro models just like its predecessor.

We are particularly most excited for the new Honor Magic phone as the last model was the Honor Magic 2 3D that was released in the first quarter of 2019. We do not know what new features the new phone will pack or what it will look like, but we can be sure that Honor will blow our minds away.

Which of these devices are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comment box below.

UP NEXT: Honor View 40 (V40) likely to arrive with Google apps and services in Q2

 

Honor Super Fast Power Bank 12000 with 66W fast charge announced in China for ¥359 (~$55)

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Honor’s latest smartphone is the Honor V40 and one of its features is support for 66W fast wired charging. Unlike Apple, Xiaomi, and Samsung who have decided not to include a charger in the box by default, Honor includes a 66W Super Fast charger in the box. But what if you are away from a wall outlet and need to charge your phone super fast? Then the new Honor Super Fast Power Bank 12000 with support for 66W fast charging is for you.

Honor Super Fast Power Bank 12000

The battery pack which has a 12000mAh capacity was announced in China this week and is now available for purchase on Honor’s online store for just ¥359 (~$55).

The Honor Super Fast Power Bank 12000 has a light gray polycarbonate body. There are two ports – a USB-A output port and a USB-C port that doubles as both input and output. The power bank has support for 66W two-way fast charging. What this means is that not only can it fast charge a compatible device up to 66W, you can also charge the power bank at up to 66W.

Honor Super Fast Power Bank 12000

Honor Super Fast Power Bank 12000

EDITOR’S PICK: Honor V40 sold out in just over 3 minutes during its first sale

Honor says the power bank will charge a 4020mAh battery up to three times before it gets depleted. If you use a 66W charger, you can recharge the power bank in just 1.8 hours while a 10W charger will take 5.3 hours.

The Honor Super Fast Power Bank 12000 is not only compatible with the Honor V40 but can also charge other phones, tablets, and even notebooks that support USB-C charging. It also has a low power mode for charging low-power devices such as earphones, fitness trackers, and smartwatches.

Honor says it supports a bunch of fast-charging protocols including Power Delivery, Quick Charge, SCP, and FCP. The power bank also boasts thirteen layers of safety protection including over-voltage, under-voltage, and battery overcharge, and battery short circuit protection.

UP NEXT: Honor smartphones may soon get support for Google Mobile Services

 

realme X7 / X7 Pro India Colors and Memory variants leaked ahead of launch

By
Balaji S
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It is a well-known fact that realme is bringing the X7 series to India. However, recent teasers by the company suggest that it might rebrand the V15 from China as realme X7 in India. Ahead of an expected February 4 launch, colors and memory variants of the devices have now been leaked.

reame X7 India (realme V15 China)
realme X7 teased by Madhav Sheth, CEO, realme India & Europe

First off, Madhav Sheth, CEO of realme India and Europe, tweeted the image of the upcoming realme X7 in India. Looking at the image, we can say that the device is mostly the realme V15 5G that launched recently in China. To affirm this, the device has already received India’s BIS certification as well.

With that out of the way, the new leak on Storage and Color variants of realme X7, X7 Pro comes from a Twitter user Himanshu(@byhimanshu). You can take a look at them below:

  • realme X7 India
    • Memory: 6 / 8GB RAM, 128GB storage
    • Colors: Nebula, Space Silver
  • realme X7 Pro India
    • Memory: 8GB RAM, 128GB storage
    • Colors: Mystic Black, Fantasy

Here, the Nebula of realme X7 should be the one that Madhav teased today. It is called the “Koi Mirror” color variant in China. Similarly, the “Fantasy” of the realme X7 Pro could be the “C- Color gradient” of China.

Either way, realme is yet to announce the launch event officially. A mistakenly posted tweet by a Blogger earlier today showed February 4, 2021 as the launch date. The invitation also had the MT6853VTNZA on it teasing the Dimensity 800U chipset on the realme X7.

This and Madhav’s teasers almost confirms the specs of realme X7 in India. Accordingly, it will feature a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.1 storage, 64MP triple-camera, 16MP selfie shooter, no 3.5m jack/microSD slot, 4,310mAh battery with 50W charging.

Although the company hasn’t tweeted much about the X7 Pro, it should most likely retain the specs and design from the Chinese variant.

RELATED:

vivo S7t with MediaTek Dimensity 820 may launch soon

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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Back in August, vivo launched a mid-range 5G smartphone called vivo S7 in China. The very next month, this handset debuted as vivo V20 Pro 5G in Thailand. In the following days, the phone made its way to other global markets one by one. Now, five months after the release of the original product, the company is reported to launch a new version of this device called vivo S7t with a different chipset.

vivo S7 Featured

The news regarding the vivo S7t comes from popular Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station. According to him, this soon to be launched smartphone will come with model number PD2080.

Further, it will be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 820 SoC, instead of Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 chipset that is present inside the standard vivo S7. Other than different silicon, the new vivo S7t will be identical to the old vivo S7 in terms of design as well as specifications.

So we can expect it to come with a 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a notch housing a 44MP (wide) + 8MP (ultra-wide) dual-selfie camera, 64MP (wide) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (macro) triple camera setup on the back, 4,4000mAh battery, and 33W fast charging.

Lastly, it is interesting to note that the vivo S7t will be the third smartphone with MediaTek Dimensity 820 after Redmi 10X and Redmi 10X Pro.

UP NEXT: Vivo V2045 with Snapdragon 870 receives Bluetooth approval

 

OPPO Find X3 Lite’s retail box leaks ahead of launch

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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Last month, OPPO launched the OPPO Reno5 series of smartphones in China consisting of three models, namely OPPO Reno5 5G, OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G, and OPPO Reno5 Pro+. Out of these, the regular OPPO Reno5 5G is expected to debut as OPPO Find X3 Lite in certain markets, as per a report from earlier this month. Now, just a few days later, this handset’s retail box along with the phone itself, charger, and cable leak in images.

The images of OPPO Find X3 Lite’s retail box with the in-box content were tweeted by Sudhanshu Ambhore, a well-known Indian tipster. According to him, he got these pictures via DM and claims that he didn’t find these pictures anywhere on the internet. Hence, this could be our first look at the Find X3 Lite in real life.

That said, these images confirm the information and the renders shared by Evan Blass (@evleaks) earlier this month. The renowned leakster revealed that the upcoming OPPO Find X3 Lite will be a rebranded OPPO Reno5 5G. The only difference will be the absence of ‘RENO GLOW’ branding on the rear panel.

Hence, the forthcoming OPPO Find X3 Lite should have the exact same specs as the OPPO Reno5 5G, such as 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, 64MP (wide) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (monochrome) quad-camera setup, 32MP punch-hole selfie camera, ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11, 4,300mAh battery, and 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging.

OPPO is yet to announce the launch date of this smartphone. It may debut at the OPPO Find X3 series global launch event or even earlier than that.

UP NEXT: Leaked images of the OPPO Find X3 Pro show a familiar but also unique design

 

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