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Huawei revamps App Gallery interface for enhancing Discovery Experience

By
Balaji S
-

Huawei’s App Gallery now has over 500 million monthly active users worldwide(as of 2020). The company has reformed its features and added the most needed apps like Hungama, Bolt, HERE Maps etc. Today, it has revamped the App Gallery interface.

This new interface, which is launching across Europe, has localized content, helps easy navigation across thousands of Apps, Games, and more. Huawei is doing this with a new Discovery experience having ‘Featured’ content.

The company explained the new features of the App Gallery via a Press Release. The first and foremost change you will notice is the design of the interface. Huawei says that the App icons are now”Bigger and Bolder”. It adds that the interactive discovery will help present the Apps in an elegant but eye-catching and intriguing manner.

Basically, the App Gallery now has two Major Sections – ‘Featured’ and ‘Categories’. Here, the new Featured tab has Apps arranged in Cards at the top. These have marquees of Apps, Games handpicked by the team that are relevant to the user. It will include curated contents like Articles, Guides, and reviews as well.

Huawei says that App Gallery’s editors will make the contents focus more on local trends and needs. Before we jump into other features, let’s look at the list of countries that are going to receive this UI:

  • CEE(Central & Easter Europe) & Nordic region:
    • Sweden
    • Norway
    • Finland
    • Denmark
    • Romania
    • Czechia(Czech Republic)
    • Poland
    • Bulgaria
    • Turkey
    • Austria
    • Lithuania
    • Hungary
    • Ukraine
EDITOR’S PICK: Huawei announces €30,000 prize pool for publishing Indie Games on its AppGallery

 

*Note: To use the new App Gallery, make sure you complete updating the 6.0.2 (Oct 2020) and 11.0.2 (Dec 2020) versions beforehand. The rollout will begin from Today in the above-mentioned countries. You can also expect it to expand to other regions in the future.

Coming back, the Featured tabs can now be scrolled up/down to surf like a social media website from newer to older posts. Additionally, the Featured tabs also have Campaigns and Gifts tabs. They show recommendations like Lucky Draws, Cashback offers, and Challenges to win rewards, etc.

The Gift section has freebies for downloading the Apps. It might also include a free-subscription to certain premium services as a bonus, extra credits for Games(in-game Purchase), and more. That said, the Apps and Games can now be discovered under two Exclusive Tabs to avoid confusion, see reviews/ratings easier.

“The redesigned AppGallery lives up to its name by allowing users to browse easily through our curated content and discover unexpected delights,” says Wang Heng, Vice President, Global Partnerships and Eco-Development at Huawei Consumer Business Group, CEE, and Nordics.

UP NEXT: Huawei launches new AppGallery promotion to support businesses during pandemic

 

Redmi’s GM Lu Weibing shares a screenshot showing the Redmi K40 battery life

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Xiaomi Group Vice President, President of China Region, and Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing has been a reliable source of information about the upcoming Redmi K40 smartphone. The Redmi flagship is expected to debut later this month and ahead of the launch, Lu Weibing has again come out with a new detail about the Redmi K40 series. redmi k40

The Redmi K40 series is expected to pack a flagship Snapdragon 888 series processor and according to the screenshot shared by Weibing, the device will come with durable battery life. Battery durability is a relative term but in this case, the device is shown to still have 64% of the power after 10.5 hours of continuous use. The MIUI system forecasts the remaining 64% can still be used for 25 hours and four minutes.

However, we can’t judge definitively if the battery will have such extended usage outside light usage or standby mode. The post didn’t indicate if the battery usage was recorded during heavy usage.

Further, the screenshot also shows that the Redmi K40 will come with a screen resolution of 2400×1080 pixels. Although the battery capacity is unknown at this time, we expect it to be more than 4000mAh.

For reference, Redmi K30 4G and 5G were released in December 2019 while the Redmi K30 Pro/Zoom version was released in March last year, priced from 2999 yuan (~$462) to 3999 yuan (~$616). The brand later added the Redmi K30 Speed ​​Edition, Redmi K30i, Redmi K30 Extreme Commemorative Edition, and Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition.

Lu Weibing had earlier hinted that the device will be launched next month and will be priced from 2999 yuan(~$462).

UP NEXT: Giveaway: win 3 units Amazfit GTS 2e smartwatches

 

(via)

 

OPPO Reno5 Pro+ vs iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Specs Comparison

By
Michele Ingelido
-

2020 is finally over but OPPO decided to release one last flagship before the end of the year: we are talking about the OPPO Reno5 Pro+. It is the first flagship phone from the Reno lineup since the Reno 10x Zoom and one of the most powerful devices in the market, despite its price is not excessive. In this comparison, we decided to highlight the main differences between the latest OPPO high-end model and other flagships from the main brands released in 2020. We chose the iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for this specs comparison because the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the S21 lineup are definitely too expensive and recent for the Reno5 Pro+. Let’s see who is better.

OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G

OPPO Reno5 Pro+ Apple iPhone 12 Pro Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm, 184 g 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, 189 g 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm, 208 g
DISPLAY  6.55 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED 6.1 inches, 1170 x 2532p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED 6.9 inches, 1440 x 3088p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED 2X
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core Samsung Exynos 990, octa-core 2.73 GHz or
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, octa-core 3.1 GHz
MEMORY 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 512 GB 12 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE Android 11, ColorOS  iOS 14 Android 10, One UI
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA  Quad 50 + 13 + 16 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
Single 32 MP f/2.4 front camera		 Triple 12 + 12 + 12 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera		 Triple 108 + 12 + 12 MP, f/1.8 + f/3.0 + f/2.2
10 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY  4500 mAh, fast charging 65W  2815 mAh, fast charging 20W, fast wireless charging 15W 4500 mAh, fast charging 25W, Fast wireless charging
ADDITIONAL FEATURES 5G, Dual SIM slot, reverse charging 5G, Dual SIM slot, IP68 waterproof, eSIM Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging 9W, waterproof IP68, 5G, eSIM

Design

If we talk about the build quality, then the iPhone 12 Pro has no rivals here. It is built with a stainless steel flame and a glass back with the Ceramic Shield protection, and it is waterproof with the IP68 certification up to 6 meters deep. If we only consider the look, the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G is very attractive due to its thin and lightweight design, as well as its high screen-to-body ratio. But there is to say that the iPhone 12 Pro is actually more compact and thinner than the OPPO Reno5 Pro+. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the biggest one but still comes with a very attractive design and a waterproof body thanks to the IP68 certification.

 

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G has the most advanced display. It is a wide 6.9-inch panel with a Quad HD+ resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and the HDR10+ certification, rated A+ and one of the best displays ever by DisplayMate. Further, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G supports the S Pen for handwriting and drawing on the display. The OPPO Reno5 Pro+ has a 90 Hz refresh rate and a very good panel, but despite its standard refresh rate, the iPhone 12 Pro actually comes with a better display delivering a higher-end image reproduction. In each case, we are talking about OLED panles, but the iPhone 12 Pro lacks an in-display fingerprint scanner, unlike its two rivals. On the other hand, it relies on Face ID (3D facial recognition) for authentication.

 

Hardware and Software

If you want the highest performance, then you should go for the iPhone 12 Pro. It is equipped with an amazing Apple A14 Bionic chipset built at 5 nm and paired with 6 GB of RAM. But you have to deal with iOS, and if you are an advanced user or you do not own an Apple ecosystem, you might not like it. If we consider the U.S. version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, it is more powerful than the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ thanks to the Snapdragon 865+ mobile platform. But the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ has a better chipset than the EU version of the Note 20 Ultra coming with a weaker Exynos 990. OPPO Reno5 Pro+ runs Android 11 out of the box, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G has Android 10, and iPhone 12 Pro comes with iOS 14.

 

Camera

Each of these devices is a camera phone and it is very hard to pick the best one. Their performance mostly depend on the situation in which you click the photos. The iPhone 12 Pro is more interesting when it comes to video recording, while Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G has better zoom capabilities thanks to its 12 MP periscope camera with 5x optical zoom. The OPPO Reno5 Pro+ features an amazing 50 MP main sensor: the new Sony IMX766. Overall, iPhone 12 Pro looks more convincing, but we had no chance to test the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ as it just debuted in China.

 

Battery

Despite its 4500 mAh capacity, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G is disappointing. With just 2815 mAh, the iPhone 12 Pro is able to achieve similar results. Instead, we believe the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ will actually be better. It also comes with a faster charging technology, but you should keep in mind that it lacks wireless charging.

 

Price

OPPO Reno5 Pro+ starts from €500/$605 in China, while you need more than €1000/$1200 to get iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G in the global market. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra looks like a more complete phone for a lot of users, and so is the iPhone 12 Pro for the remaining ones. But the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ can let you save a lot of money while still getting a great flagship.

 

OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G: PRO and CONS

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

PROS

  • S Pen
  • Widest display
  • Micro SD slot
  • Ultrasonic fingerprint reader

CONS

  • Dimensions

 

OPPO Reno5 Pro+

PROS

  • Lightweight
  • Great cameras
  • Fastest wired charging
  • Good price

CONS

  • No wireless charging

 

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

PROS

  • Very compact
  • Better water resistance
  • MagSafe connectors
  • Awesome build quality
  • Nice cameras
  • Great performance

CONS

  • Price

OPPO Band finally coming to global markets as it receives EEC certification

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The OPPO Band was announced more than six months ago in China. Up until now, OPPO is yet to launch the device in other markets, but that might change soon as the fitness tracker has been certified in Europe.

OPPO Band

A certificate from the European Economic Community (EEC) has revealed that the OPPO Band was certified today, proof that it may soon be announced for global markets. The certificate also reveals the fitness tracker has the model number OB19B1.

The OPPO Band has a 1.1-inch AMOLED display with a 126 x 294 resolution and 2.5D glass on top. The fitness tracker has a heart rate monitor, blood oxygen level detection that works even while you sleep, and can track up to 12 different sports including outdoor and indoor running, rowing, elliptical, and badminton.

OPPO Band EEC

The fitness tracker has a 100mAh battery and OPPO claims it will provide up to 14 days of usage. It has a pogo pin charger and it takes 1.5 hours to charge from empty to full.

The OPPO Band is sold in three versions in China. The standard version is ¥199 while a second version called the OPPO Band Fashion which has NFC sells for ¥249. A third version called the OPPO Band Eva is ¥299. OPPO will most likely only announce the standard version for the international market.

There is no info on the launch date but we won’t put it past OPPO announcing it alongside the Find X3 series which is scheduled to arrive in March. OPPO may also decide to announce it earlier than that.

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

 

Samsung confirms more smartphones will ship without chargers or earphones

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Samsung has been in the news lately for one move or the other. The latest news to come out from the South Korean tech giant is the marked changes this year in relation to the accessories package for its lineup of smartphones slated for release this year. A number of models, we can confirm at this time, will come without a charger and earphones.

We hope the action may not douse the impact of the important news that the S Pen has been introduced to the S series. There would be no chargers in the following retail packages of Samsung’s latest flagship models, the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra.

In addition, there are indications that the observed charger changes would be extended to other Galaxy models. It would seem that the tech giant has decided to forgo the charger accessory in its upcoming smartphone releases in the coming weeks and months.

Editor’s Pick: Zeaplus Studio Review: ANC Headphones for just $39!

There had been several speculations and predictions even since last year that Samsung may toe the present line of action after Apple last year took a similar decision to omit chargers or earphones from the packages of certain of its products. At that time, several tipsters predicted that Samsung might follow suit in taking a similar decision as Apple’s.

In a statement released to the public earlier this week, a spokesperson of the company, TM Roh all but confirmed that indeed the company was working on gradually removing chargers, as well as earphones from the packages of its smartphones.

The action may also be linked with the fact that Samsung will be unveiling a couple of fast wireless chargers in a few weeks. While the chargers are very important accessories that should be part of the package, earphones, on the other hand, are a sort of bonus and could be easily omitted.

As things stand, Samsung faithful will have to purchase both a charger and earphones separately whenever they buy a new smartphone this year.

UP NEXT: Poll of The Week: Do you still use WhatsApp or have you switched?

 

(via)

 

Samsung Galaxy Fit2 launched with a $20 lesser price tag in China

By
Balaji S
-

At the Galaxy S21 online conference today, Samsung also launched the Galaxy Fit2 fitness tracker in China. This one surprisingly comes with a $20 lesser price tag than the US whilst sporting features like IP68 rating, AMOLED display, sleep and stress tracking, and more.

Galaxy Fit 2

Galaxy Fit2 China Price, Availability

The Galaxy Fit2 is priced at 249 yuan(~$39) in China. It will be available in Black and Red color options. If you compare this price with the US launch price($60), it is $20 cheaper. Also, the fitness tracker is at least a ₹1,000 costlier in countries like India(₹3,999).

Even though you can get the Fit2 for about 49 bucks in the US, the Fit2 in China is still a $10 cheaper in China. Anyway, the Fit2 will be available for purchase on January 29. Just like any other Samsung product, you can expect it to launch on Samsung website, JD.com, and other online & retail partners.

EDITOR’S PICK: Galaxy A52 5G gets certified by China’s TENAA

 

Galaxy Fit2 Specifications

The Galaxy Fit2 features a 1.1-inch AMOLED rectangular display with a resolution of 126×294 pixels and 16M colors. As mentioned in early reports, it brings improvements in Display and battery over predecessor, the Galaxy Fit. It also has a TPU strap and weighs lesser 21g.

Under the hood, it has 2MB RAM and 32MB internal memory. It has all the required sensors like Photoplethysmography, Accelerometer, Gyro.

Other features include Bluetooth 5.1 for connectivity. It runs on FreeRTOS(Real-Time Operating System), a one-touch key for navigation, 70 different watch faces, 90 workout modes, 5ATM along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

It also has a music controller, sleep & stress tracking, hand-wash reminder. All this is backed up by a 159mAh battery which is higher compared to 120mAh on the predecessor. That said, Samsung says users can get up to 15 days of battery life on a single charge.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G first teardown shows it is easy to repair

 

(via)

After Galaxy Z Fold2, First-gen Samsung Galaxy Z Fold gets Android 11 update

By
Balaji S
-

Samsung is on a One UI 3.0 update spree despite being busy with One UI 3.1 on Galaxy S21. The latest to get it are Galaxy Z Fold, Z Fold2 foldable devices. The latter has already got the Android 11 update last week and it is the turn of the First-gen foldable now.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

According to a Sammobile report, Galaxy Z Fold is now getting the Android 11 update in regions like France, UAE(4G LTE variant), and UK, Switzerland(5G variant). Accordingly, the OTA(Over-The-Air) update with firmware version F900FXXU4DUA1 (LTE), and F907BXXU4DUA1 (5G) is rolling out.

Recently, Samsung updated the Galaxy S10 Series including Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus, and Galaxy S10e a few days ago. If you recall, the S10 series including the Foldables were scheduled to get in January 2021 in Europe. Besides, the Z Fold2’s firmware version is F916BXXU1CTLL in Germany.

Both the devices are getting the One UI 3.0 features, and Android 11 features in addition to the January 2021 security patch. Speaking of which, the newest Android OS brings chat bubbles(conversations), media controls, improved permission management, and organized notifications.

Amidst this, Samsung has already updated its next UI to One UI 3.1. The Galaxy S21 devices are the first ones to get it. Also, a rumor says that Galaxy S10, S20, Note 10, Note 20 series including the Foldables (Z Fold, and Z Fold2) will definitely get the new 3.1 UI.

However, let’s take this info with a pinch of salt and wait till Samsung completes the current version. So far, Samsung has updated the Galaxy S20, Note 20, Z Flip 4G and 5G, S10 Series, and Note 10 devices.

That said, the update for Z Fold will soon extend to other regions in the future. If you are living in the regions mentioned above, you can try out the new features by navigating to Settings->Software Update->Download and Install.

Say tuned with us to know more about the One UI updates in the future.

UP NEXT: Alleged leak says Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 will cost only $50 more than its predecessor

 

Carl Pei to announce his new brand next week and he’s also giving away 10 MacBook Air computers

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Former OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei, announced his exit from the company last October to start his own venture. In December, he revealed that his new startup has raised $7 million but revealed little details about the business. If you are curious just as we are, you should look forward to next week.

Today, Carl Pei took to Twitter to announce that the audio brand will be unveiled next week on January 27th. While that is exciting news, the founder will also be giving away 10 units of the new Apple M1-powered Macbook Air.

The giveaway is open to everyone from across the globe and winners will be selected on January 31.

There is little we know about Carl Pei’s new company other than that it will deal in audio-related products, though that may change later in the future as companies are known to expand their portfolio as they grow bigger.

The money raised for the startup last month was raised from family and friends that include notable names such as Casey Nesitat, Kevin Lin who co-founded Twitch, Tony Fadell who invented the iPod, Steve Huffman of Reddit, and Josh Buckley who is the CEO of Product Hunt.

UP NEXT: Another leaker confirms the OnePlus 9 Lite is coming; will launch in India and China

 

Alleged leak says Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 will cost only a $50 more than its predecessor

By
Balaji S
-

Recent reports said that Samsung postponed the launch of the next Galaxy Flip to a later date in order to evade the cannibalization of Galaxy S21. This clamshell foldable smartphone is so far rumored to be called Galaxy Z Flip3 and not Z Flip2. Now, a Twitter user has posted alleged specs and price of the device.

According to the user(@TheGalox_), Galaxy Z Flip3 will cost about $1,499. If this report is true, then the 3rd gen Flip will cost only $50 more than its predecessor. Previously, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G debuted for a price tag of $1,449.

Apart from this, he also talks about a few details of the upcoming foldable. He says that the device will have a Glass display(i.e., UTG), with a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display with thinner bezels. To this, famous Ross Young(@DSCCRoss) replies that the display will be a LTPO and measure 6.70-inches which we already know.

Further, he mentions the processor of the smartphone as Snapdragon 888 SoC which suggests that Samsung might launch before the H1 of 2021. Usually, Qualcomm updates its flagship SoC with a ‘+’ at the beginning of the second half of the year.

And companies rush to include it in their flagships. For instance, we saw the Z Flip 5G boast the new Snapdragon 865+ in July 2020.

However, the Galaxy Z Flip3, unlike he says, is rumored to come with a 1.8-inch cover display which is actually higher than 1.1-inch on Z Flip. It’s worth noting that an earlier leak said Z Flip3 will also have a 4G model with affordable pricing. That said, he also mentions things like smaller punch-hole, New Hinge, Better Water-resistance(could be longer submerge times with IP68).

Recently, we saw a concept render of the Z Flip3 which was according to a leak that said it will have a Camera layout like Galaxy S21. On that note, this Twitter user says it will sport the same 12MP triple-cameras as the Galaxy Z Fold2. Either way, let’s take this info with a pinch of salt and wait for more leaks in the future.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G first teardown shows it is easy to repair

 

(via)

Ulefone Armor Mini 2 rugged smartphone with IP68 rating launched

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Chinese phone maker Ulefone is known for its wide array of phones ranging from normal smartphones to rugged phones. The brand has just launched the Armor Mini 2, a rugged smartphone that is also a feature phone.Ulefone Armor Mini 2

The Ulefone Armor Mini 2 features a regular T9 keyboard, and some additional buttons, including the ‘SOS’ one. There is also a single camera on the back. In order to aid users in the outdoors, the phone has a lanyard at the bottom. Ulefone Armor Mini 2

Editor’s Pick: [UPDATE: Response] US government blacklists Xiaomi and 8 other Chinese companies

The phone features a 2.4-inch QVGA display. It is powered by a MediaTek MT6261D SoC and there is a single 0.3-megapixel camera on the back of the device. Keeping the lights on is a 2,100mAh battery. That battery can provide you with 20 hours of talk time, and almost 19 days on standby time, claims Ulefone. On top of having an SOS key, this phone has a dedicated flashlight key as well.Ulefone Armor Mini 2

The Armor 2 Mini comes with IP68 water and dust resistance rating. The rating means it can be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. The phone can also withstand falls, shocks, and bumps.

Ulefone itself says that this device is suitable for kids and elders, as well as being a backup device. This may be a good thing to have if you’re going backpacking or something of the sort. It’s also a nice option for construction workers.Ulefone Armor Mini 2

The Ulefone Armor Mini 2 is extremely affordable. The device is priced at only $49.99 and comes in Dark Gray and Camouflage color variants. There is no word yet on when it will go on sale.

UP NEXT: Poll of The Week: Do you still use WhatsApp or have you switched?

 

Xiaomi Mi Watch launched in Spain; available for €99.99 for a limited time

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Xiaomi has announced two new smartwatches for Spain. The Mi Watch and the Mi Watch Lite can now be purchased in the country for €59.99 and €99.99 (limited time) respectively.

Xiaomi Mi Watch featured

Mi Watch

The Mi Watch sold in Spain is not the same Mi Watch sold in China. They only share the same name. Neither is it the Mi Watch Revolve sold in India. Actually, this is the international version of the Mi Watch Color Sports Edition that has a SpO2 sensor. The spec sheet says its model number is XMWTCL02.

The smartwatch has a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen with a 454 x 454 resolution. Users will be able to choose from more than 100 watch faces that match their style or mood for the day.

The Mi Watch has support for 117 sport modes (17 professional training modes and 100 extended training modes). With the FirstBeat algorithm, Xiaomi says the smartwatch can accurately monitor and analyze more than 30 key data points including heart rate, speed, and calories burned. It also has automatic training detection and will stop when you do.

Alongside hear rate monitoring and sleep tracking, the watch also monitors vital signs, stress, and has a built-in breathing training exercise to help you quickly relieve physical and mental stress. Xiaomi has also added a SpO2 sensor that measures your blood oxygen level.

The watch has 5 ATM water-resistance, GPS GLONASS, Galileo, and BDS. Its 420mAh battery will provide 16 days of battery life in typical usage mode, go up to 22 days in basic watch mode, and drop to 50 hours for training mode (GPS turned on).

The Mi Watch comes in Beige, Black, and Navy. It is priced at €129.99 but for a limited (ends in 8 hours as at the time of writing), the watch can be purchased for just €99.99 on the official Xiaomi Spain website.

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus Band vs Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5: Detailed Specs Comparison

 

Mi Watch Lite
Mi Watch Lite

 

Mi Watch Lite

The Mi Watch Lite has an identical appearance to the Redmi Watch sold in China. However, it packs more features and has a higher price tag.

The smartwatch has a 1.4-inch display and more than 120 watch faces. It can track up to 11 sports modes including cricket and hiking and it has built-in GPS and GLONASS for positional tracking. It also has a 5 ATM water resistance rating.

You get heart rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, and a breathing exercise trainer but it misses out on the SpO2 sensor of the Mi Watch. The watch has support for music playback control (when connected to your phone), app notifications (with support for emojis), and it will also alert you if you have been inactive for a while. Its battery will provide up to 9 days of usage in typical mode and 10 hours for training mode (with GPS turned on).

The Mi Watch Lite comes in Beige, Black, and Blue. Unlike its sibling, there is no limited time discount for its €59.90 price tag when you purchase it on the official website.

UP NEXT: How the Mi Watch Lite differs from the Redmi Watch

 

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite gets Android 11 update

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Xiaomi launched the Mi Note 10 Lite in the first half of 2020. This design-focused handset was one of the cheapest curved-display smartphone released last year. For some reason, the company does not sell this device in China and India, which are its largest markets. That said, this phone debuted with MIUI 11 based on Android 10. But was soon updated to MIUI 12 and now, it has even started receiving Android 11.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Nebula Purple Featured

Though the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is only sold in select countries, there are four different MIUI builds for this smartphone, namely Global, EEA, Turkey, and Russia. All these variants of the handset are currently on MIUI 12 based on Android 10.

But the Global version has now started receiving Android 11 update with build number V12.1.1.0.RFNMIXM. This update is currently in the ‘Stable Beta’ phase and therefore, it is only available for select users. The build should start rolling out to more users if there are no major issues. 

Similarly, we expect also Xiaomi to start seeding the update to the other three variants of the phone (EEA, Turkey, Russia) in the coming days.

Usually, Xiaomi provides two Android updates and three MIUI updates for its mid-range and high-end devices. Hence, the Mi Note 10 Lite should also receive Android 12 along with MUI 13 and MIUI 14 during its lifetime.

UP NEXT: Mi A3 Android 11 re-release fixes “Brick Issue”

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G first teardown shows it is easy to repair

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

In tune with its trailblazing performance as an industry leader in teardown reviews, PBK has again blazed the trail by providing a teardown review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 model that was disassembled to examine the quality of the components and features of Samsung’s latest flagship series, in comparison with its predecessor, the Galaxy S20. The main findings of the teardown of the flagship device’s Snapdragon 888 version which is available in the United States have also been provided.Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

One of the quickest findings from the review is that the Galaxy S21 model is quite easy to dismantle and put back together again. It ramped up a repairability score of 7,5/10.
Also present in the S21, according to the review, is a removable cable connecting the screen display of the smartphone to the motherboard at the top of the device. This was claimed to be the main reason while the S21 got an above-average repairability score. It also reveals how the manufacturer, Samsung was able to come up with an almost perfectly symmetrical bezel width with the chin, which usually has the display controller cable attached in a permanent manner.

Editor’s Pick: [UPDATE: Response] US government blacklists Xiaomi and 8 other Chinese companies

The cooling architecture of the Galaxy S21 was also discovered to be superior, with its lighter and simpler graphite materials to copper tubes and vapor chambers.
In comparison to the S20, the fingerprint scanner of the S21 is larger resulting in greater responsiveness of the device in the area of granting fingerprint access.
For the S21, the unproved speaker assembly and circulation combine to produce an all-round better sound performance.Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

In terms of the cameras, the teardown revealed that both the main and zoom cameras come with optical image stabilizers, thus enhancing the quality of their outputs.
Also available for the single-SIM models, is a dual-SIM reader whose functionality is software-dependent.

In terms of connectivity, the S21 has two small mmWave 5G antennae, placed at both sides of the phone to pick up 5G super-fast network signals.
In summary, the teardown review has provided quite some insights into the motivation behind the Galaxy S21’s design.

UP NEXT: Poll of The Week: Do you still use WhatsApp or have you switched?

OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G Hands-on: Premium in the Right Areas

By
Joel Joseph
-

OPPO’s first 5G smartphone in India for 2021 is the brand new OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G. The company reveals that its one of the six 5G handsets it will launch this year. Unlike previous generations, this year’s Reno5 Pro will come with almost identical specifications as the Chinese variant. This means that the Reno5 Pro has Dimensity 1000+ flagship processor inside, making it the first smartphone with this chip in India.

I have been using the OPPO Reno5 Pro for over a week and the hands-on feel of the device along with its extremely lightweight design surprised me. The Astral Blue color is also very unique as the shifts between blue and purple at different angles.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 1

Let’s take a closer look at the Reno5 Pro in this hands-on.

OPPO Reno 5 Pro Hands-on: Design & Display

Inside the Reno5 Pro box, you get a charger, USB-C cable, a silicone case, as well as a wired USB-C headphone.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G box
OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G box contents

The first thing that you’ll notice about the new OPPO model is its lightweight body. The phone weighs just 173 grams and measures only 7.6mm in thickness. It’s extremely comfortable to hold, even with one hand and the edges are rounded and curved for a better hands-on feel.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 2

Another thing you immediately notice about the phone is its unique Astral Blue color. The color has a sparkly texture in a matte finish. So the back doesn’t attract any fingerprints yet the sparkly texture stands out quite significantly. The color isn’t plain blue and the shade shifts from light blue to purple at different angles.

The camera housing is located on the top left corner. It does protrude a bit from the body, but it’s hardly noticeable. A thin silicone case (provided inside the box) will completely eliminate this protrusion.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G thickness
The phone is just 7.6mm thick

The power button is located on the right side and it’s at a good position for your thumb to reach out. The volume buttons are located on the opposite side. On the top, you have a Designed For Reno text while all ports are down at the bottom which includes the dual SIM slot, USB-C, and a single speaker setup.

The OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G features a 6.5-inch 3D curved display upfront. It’s a Super AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate. The display is HDR10+ certified and the bezels on the top and bottom are noticeably thin. The colors pop out really well on this AMOLED panel and it’s sufficiently bright even under direct sunlight.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 18

There are no visible color shifts at different angles and it’s clear that the Reno5 Pro 5G is using a top-notch AMOLED panel. I’ll talk more about the display quality in my full review but overall, the phone has an extremely vibrant display as good as any other premium flagship.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 24

The in-display fingerprint sensor is located near the bottom bezel of the display. It’s actually very close to the home button’s position (if you have onscreen buttons enabled) and is situated a bit lower than what I would have preferred. But the sensor is fast and you get used to the position very quickly.

 

OPPO Reno 5 Pro Hands-on: Specs, Camera, & Battery

The Reno5 Pro is the first Dimensity 1000+ smartphone in India. Its an important chip for both MediaTek and OPPO, given how it features an integrated 5G modem and comes with top of the line flagship-grade specifications. In real life, the Dimensity 1000+ on the OPPO Reno5 Pro performed pretty well. However, I will talk about the chipset and its performance in detail in my full review that’ll come a week later.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 21
Reno 5 Pro Specs

The review unit with me is the 8GB RAM variant with 128GB of ROM on board. There are four cameras at the back, led by a 64MP primary shooter, an 8MP wide-angle shooter, a 2MP depth sensor, and another 2MP macro shooter. The last two sensors are not really mainstream ones so expect mediocre performance from them. However, the primary 64MP camera can capture excellent photos, especially in daylight scenarios.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 9

The AI Highlight algorithm that combines Live HDR and Ultra Night Video algorithms bring out vibrant colors in photos with good level of details. The videography experience on the phone is also very interesting thanks to the company’s proprietary FDF Portrait Video System.

The front 32MP sensor can capture high-quality selfies that are bright and vibrant, even at night.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G SuperVOOC 2

The 4350mAh battery can easily give you a day’s battery life but I never really had to worry about the phone’s battery because of its super-fast 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charger. You can get up to 100% in just half an hour, so low battery won’t really be an issue with this particular device.

The OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G retails for Rs. 35,990 in India and I personally think it offers quite a lot of features to justify this price tag. The thin and lightweight body is a big selling point of this 5G device and it offers a premium experience in the right areas. You get a flagship quality Super AMOLED display, a fast and efficient Dimensity 1000+ processor, a unique Reno Glow matte finish at the back and a super-fast 65W charging technology.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 4

I’ll be testing out the performance of the Dimensity 1000+ as well as the phone’s quad-camera setup in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned to Gizmochina for more updates.

 

RELATED:

realme C12 gets a 4GB RAM variant in India

By
Balaji S
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realme launched the realme C12 in India way back in August 2020. It debuted with a price tag of ₹8,999($122.77) and as a single 3GB RAM, 32GB storage variant. Now, the company has quietly launched an upgraded variant of the same smartphone in the country.

realme C12 4GB RAM

realme C12- 4GB RAM, 64GB storage Price, Availability

An upgraded 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant of the realme C12 has now landed in India. The smartphone is officially listed for ₹9,999($136.47) on the realme India website. Just like the 3GB variant, this one is also available in two colors- Power Blue and Power Silver. And it should go on sale soon.

Although it currently isn’t listed(as of writing this) on Amazon, you can expect the device to be available on Amazon, Flipkart, and other retail partners as well.

realme C12 Specifications

The realme C12 shares a lot of design to its higher-priced sibling realme C15. The main difference here is the Camera, and Charging tech. Hence, if you are ok with one less camera sensor and a slightly slower charger, you can very well get the 4GB Variant of the C12 at a ₹1,000 lesser than C15’s 4GB variant.

Talking about specs, the realme C12 features a 6.5-inch LCD HD+ dew-drop notch display and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, MediaTek Helio G35 SoC powers the device paired with 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage.

For cameras, it has a triple-camera layout with a 13MP main lens, a 2MP monochrome(B/W sensor), and a 2MP macro sensor. Upfront, you get a 5MP selfie snapper.

Other features include a 6,000mAh battery with 10W charging, microSD card slot(for storage expansion), micro-USB and 3.5mm audio jack ports, rear fingerprint sensor, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and Android 10(Realme UI).

UP NEXT: realme X7 Pro 5G and Watch S Pro launching in Malaysia on January 26

 

(via)

OPPO A12 receives another price cut in India

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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OPPO launched the OPPO A12 budget smartphone in India in June 2020. The handset received its first price cut after its release in late November last year. Just within two months, this phone’s price has been now slashed once again.

OPPO A12 Black Blue Featured

Chinese smartphone maker OPPO debuted the OPPO A12 in India priced at ₹9,990 and ₹11,490 for the 3GB + 32GB and the 4GB + 64GB variants respectively. The handset’s first official price cut brought down its selling price to ₹8,990 and ₹11,490.

According to the retail sources of 91Mobiles, the company has dropped the price of this smartphone once again by ₹500. Thus, the base 3GB + 32GB version is now being sold for ₹8,490, whereas the higher 4GB + 64GB model is retailing for ₹10,990.

It is worth noting that these prices are only applicable offline as of now. Amazon India has still listed this device at the old price. But the seller is offering a ₹2,000 coupon for the 4GB + 64GB variant and so, interested customers can get the phone for only ₹9,490. On the other hand, Flipkart has listed the 3GB + 32GB for ₹7,990.

Hence, despite the price drop in offline stores, the OPPO A12 is cheaper online. Anyway, it is a known fact that the online prices of most products are dynamic. Hence, the price of OPPO A12 may increase to match that of offline pricing. Therefore, if you were planning to get this handset, then make sure to buy it online as quickly as possible.

UP NEXT: Oppo is planning on launch over six 5G smartphones in India this year

 

Amazfit GTR 2e, GTS 2e goes official for ₹9,999($137) each in India

By
Balaji S
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As usual, Amazfit has made the GTR 2e and GTS 2e smartwatches official a day before the January 19 launch in India. Both the wearables are priced under ₹10k in the country and offer features like Heartrate, Blood Oxygen Monitoring, and more.

Amazfit GTR 2e GTS 2e comparison (16)
Amazfit GTR 2e(right) GTS 2e(left)

Amazfit GTR 2e, GTS 2e India Price, Availability

Amazfit India has revealed the prices of these new GT-2 smartwatches on its official website and other e-commerce platforms. You can take a look at them below:

  • GTR 2e- ₹9,999.99($136.48)
  • GTS 2e- ₹9,999.99($136.48)

The Amazfit GTR 2e will be available in Obsidian Black, Slate Grey, and Matcha Green colors. The Amazfit GTS 2e, on the other hand, will retail in Moss Green, Obsidian Black, and Lilac Purple options.

Both these smartwatches are already listed as ‘Buy Now’ on the Amazfit India website. Additionally, the GTR 2e will be available on Amazon which says the sale starts Midnight(i.e, January 19 at 0:00 AM IST(UTC+05:00). The GTS 2e teaser page on Flipkart says it’s ‘coming soon’ which is mostly the same as January 19.

If you recall, the ‘e’ versions of the GT-2 series are updated to the older GTR 2 and GTS 2 smartwatches. They brought improvements to battery life, a new Temperature sensor back at December launch in China. Later, the devices got introduced to other markets like USA(@ CES 2021).

Amazfit GTR 2e, GTS 2e Specifications and Features

Anyway, the smartwatches feature a round display(GTR 2e-1.39-inch, 326 PPI) and a Square Display(GTS 2e-1.65-inch, 341 PPI). Both these are AMOLED displays and come with 50+ watch faces, 90 sports modes.

The display on GTR 2e has a 454x454p resolution with 450 nits brightness whereas GTS 2e has lesser 348 x 442 pixels. Compared to their GTR 2, GTS 2 siblings, they come with improved battery life. Precisely, GTS 2e with a 246mAh battery is claimed to give 14-day battery life in Normal and 24-days in Basic Watch modes.

The GTR 2e, however, will give a higher 24-days(Normal), and 45-days(Basic Watch Mode) with 471mAh battery. Other similar features include a new Temperature measurement sensor, Huami’s self-developed BioTracker™ 2, Heartrate, Blood Oxygen(PPG) and sleep tracking, 5ATM water resistance, Bluetooth 5.0/BLE, GPS, and microphone.

UP NEXT: Giveaway: win 3 units Amazfit GTS 2e smartwatches

realme X7 Pro 5G and Watch S Pro launching in Malaysia on January 26

By
Balaji S
-

realme started the global journey of the X7 series with realme X7 Pro launch in Thailand. Later, the company confirmed that it’s bringing the series to India this year. And it has already started appearing on support pages. Now, the company has revealed the launch date of the ‘Pro’ variant in Malaysia.

 

In a Facebook post, realme Malaysia says that the realme X7 Pro 5G will debut in Malaysia on January 26. It’s worth noting that the company has explicitly mentioned the ‘Pro’ like Thailand and Taiwan. However, we can’t rule out the possibility of the company launching the non-Pro(i.e., realme X7) variant in the future.

Anyway, the launch event will happen at 12:00 PM MST(UTC+08:00). Surprisingly, the event will be happening via Facebook which means you can expect a live stream on the platform. Plus, realme Malaysia also said that realme Watch S Pro will accompany the X7 Pro on Jan. 26 event.

EDITOR’S PICK: Realme Watch S and Watch S Pro launched in India; pricing starts at ₹4,999 ($68)

 

realme X7 Pro 5G Specifications

Thanks to the early China launch, we know what to expect from the realme X7 Pro Malaysian variant. We can already spot the Gradient color with that ‘DARE TO LEAP’ slogan etching on the realme Malaysia Poster page. The Chinese variant also has two other options- Black and Fantasy White colors.

The device features a 6.55-inch sAMOLED 120Hz FHD+ display and is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000+ SoC. This is paired with up to 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and 256 GB of UFS 2.1 storage. For cameras, we have a quad-camera setup with a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and depth lenses. Upfront, there is a 32MP sensor inside the top-left punch-hole for selfies.

Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast charging, SA/NSA 5G, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, 4K video recording, dual-frequency GPS, NFC, stereo speakers, and more. It could run Realme UI based on Android 10 but with Android 11 already out, it will only be fair for realme to bring that to flagship.

UP NEXT: NBTC: realme RMX3201 will launch as realme C21

 

OnePlus Nord N10 5G gets January 2021 security patch ahead of expensive models

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is the brand’s cheapest 5G smartphone. It is also the company’s second most affordable handset. The device initially debuted in Europe and was made available in the US a few days back. Despite being a budget smartphone, this phone has been getting regular updates since its launch. Now, it has started receiving OxygenOS 10.5.9 with January 2021 security patch ahead of expensive models.

OnePlus Nord N10 5G Featured 01

OnePlus is known for its OxygenOS operating system and regular timely updates. Unfortunately, these two most favored qualities of the brand began to degrade over the past few months. 

The Chinese smartphone maker’s OS is full of issues, as per multiple users on the OnePlus community, social media, and other forums. Similarly, the firm has now become slower in delivering updates as its portfolio has increased.

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus’ budget Nord phones will only get a single major Android update

 

As a result, the company’s flagship smartphones – OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and OnePlus 8T are still on November 2020 security patch. This is mostly because the firm is busy fixing the bugs, which should not have been there in the first place.

That said, apart from bringing January 2021 security patch, OxygenOS 10.5.9 update for the OnePlus Nord N10 5G also optimizes power consumption and improves network stability. Also, the update is being rolled out in batches with the following build numbers.

  • EU: 10.5.9.BE89BA
  • NA: 10.5.9.BE86AA​

OnePlus Nord OxygenOS 10.5.9 Official Changelog

  • System
    • Optimized power consumption
    • Updated Android Security Patch to 2021.01
  • Network
    • Further improved network stability
UP NEXT: Another leaker confirms the OnePlus 9 Lite is coming; will launch in India and China

 

Samsung Heir Lee Jae Yong faces prison over bribery case

By
Sean
-

Samsung heir Lee Jae Yong has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison over a bribery scandal. The news arrives after a high court in South Korea passed the judgment over the company’s head.

Samsung

According to a BBC report, the bribery case is a retrial of a bribery case, which even involved the country’s previous President, Park Geun-hye, who also faced prison term for bribery and corruption charges. For those unaware, Lee has been the head of Samsung Electronics since 2014, although, the recent ruling will likely have impacts on his current role in the South Korean tech giant. Notably, the news of the prison term on Lee Jae Yong caused the company’s shares to plummet by more than 4 percent.

Editor’s Pick: Foxconn receives license in Vietnam for its $270 million plant that will produce MacBooks and iPads

Furthermore, the prison sentence will temporarily have Lee be separated from being involved in any decision making process involving him in Samsung. Kim Dae-jong, a business professor at Sejong University, told news agency AFP that “It’s really a huge blow and a big crisis for Samsung.” Back in 2014, Lee had assumed the leadership of the company after his father Lee Kun-hee was forced to step down over health related issues.

As per the court’s ruling, Lee “actively provided bribes and implicitly asked the president to use her power to help his smooth succession” as the head of Samsung. “It is very unfortunate that Samsung, the country’s top company and proud global innovator, is repeatedly involved in crimes whenever there is a change in political power.” The court found that Lee is responsible for 8.6 billion won (roughly 7.8 million US Dollars) worth of bribery, embezzlement, and concealment of criminal proceeds.

UP NEXT: Apple iPhone 13 may sport in display fingerprint scanner, company working on a foldable iPhone

 

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