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OPPO Find X2 Pro vs Reno5 Pro+: Specs Comparison

OPPO launched two top-tier flagships this year: OPPO Find X2 Pro and Reno5 Pro+. The former came in the first part of 2020, while the latter hitten the shelves at the end of the year. Despite that, there is a lot of confusion around their specifications and a lot of people do not know which one to buy since they do not understand which one is the most advanced and which delivers the highest value for money. Usually, the more flagships are recent, the more they are better than their predecessors. But the Find series is a higher-end series than the Reno lineup, and it is not exactly so in this case. This comparison will let you know the differences between the specifications of OPPO Find X2 Pro and Reno5 Pro+.

OPPO Find X2 Pro vs OPPO Reno5 Pro+

OPPO Find X2 Pro OPPO Reno5 Pro+
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 165.2 x 74.4 x 8.8 mm, 200 g 159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm, 184 g
DISPLAY  6.7 inches, 1440 x 3168p (Quad HD+), AMOLED  6.55 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz
MEMORY 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 10, ColorOS  Android 11, ColorOS
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA Triple 48 + 13 + 48 MP, f/1.7 + f/3.0 + f/2.2
32 MP f/2.4 front camera
Quad 50 + 13  + 16 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
32 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY  4260 mAh, fast charging 65W  4500 mAh, fast charging 65W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G, IP68 waterproof Dual SIM slot, 5G, reverse charging, electrochromic glass

Design

The OPPO Find X2 Pro has a fantastic design, especially if we talk about materials. It is available in three color variants made of vegan leather and a ceramic version. It is one of the most raffinate devices in the market and it is even waterproof, thanks to the IP68 certification. But the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ is a premium device as well. It is made with a glass back and an aluminum frame: at first glance, we are talking about less raffinate materials, but the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ is the first commercial phone with an electrochromic glass changing its color after a simple double tap. Further, the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ is more compact, thinner, and lighter than the Find X2 Pro. This makes it an awesome flagship even in terms of aesthetics.

 

Display

The display champion is the Find X2 Pro: it has one of the best displays ever seen. We are talking about a 6.7-inch panel with a high Quad HD+ resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits, one billion colors, and the AMOLED technology. The OPPO Reno5 Pro+ has a great AMOLED panel as well, but the resolution is lower and even the refresh rate. However, it remains an amazing display with the HDR10+ certification, a very high brightness, and great color reproduction. Both feature an in-display fingerprint reader and a punch-hole design, as well as curved edges and a very high screen-to-body ratio.

 

Specs & Software

With OPPO Find X2 Pro and OPPO Reno5 Pro+, you get exactly the same chipset: the octa-core Snapdragon 865 which is Qualcomm’s flagship chipset of 2020. The amount of RAM for the Find X2 Pro is 12 GB, while for the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ you get 8 GB and 12 GB. Find X2 Pro features up to 512 GB of UFS 3.0 internal storage, while Reno5 Pro+ has up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The native storage of the Reno5 Pro+ is actually faster, but you can get more space with the Find X2 Pro. However, when it comes to storage speed, we are only talking about marginal differences. Find X2 Pro runs Android 10 out of the box, while Reno5 Pro+ ships with Android 11.

 

Camera

The OPPO Find X2 Pro has better secondary sensors, while the Reno5 Pro+ has a better main camera. So, if you want a more versatile camera phone, you should go for the Find X2 Pro. If you only care about normal photos, the Reno5 Pro+ is enough. The Find X2 Pro has a periscope sensor with a 5x optical zoom that is not present on the Reno5 Pro+. It also features a better 48 MP ultrawide camera, while Reno5 Pro+ stops at 16 MP. You do not get a dedicated macro camera on the Find X2 Pro, but the periscopic sensor is definitely more important. The front cameras are the same, with a 32 MP resolution and an f/2.4 focal aperture.

 

 

Battery

The OPPO Reno5 Pro+ has a bigger 4500 mAh battery and it is able to provide a longer battery life not only thanks to the bigger capacity but also because the display is more efficient. Both feature a 65W fast charging technology and both lack wireless charging. So the only difference is the battery capacity.

 

Price

The OPPO Reno5 Pro+ starts from €500/$604 in China, while the Find X2 Pro has an €826/$998 listing price in the country. Overall, Find X2 Pro is a very interesting phone due to its better display, IP68 certification, and more versatile cameras, but the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ is amazing thanks to its value for money, Android 11 out of the box, and bigger battery.

 

 

OPPO Find X2 Pro vs OPPO Reno5 Pro+: PRO and CONS

OPPO Find X2 Pro

PRO

  • Best display
  • Waterproof
  • Worldwide availability
  • Periscopic camera

CONS

  • Smaller battery

 

OPPO Reno5 Pro+

PRO

  • Great cameras
  • Electrochromic back
  • Bigger battery
  • More compact
  • Android 11 out of the box

CONS

  • Inferior display

Next Week in Tech: Amazfit GTR 2e/GTS 2e coming to India; MediaTek’s 6nm chip launch, and Vivo X60 Pro+ unveiling

This week was packed with several announcements which is no surprise as it was not only CES Week but also Samsung Week. Thankfully, next week has fewer events but you wouldn’t want to miss them either.

Amazfit GTR 2e
Amazfit GTR 2e

Amazfit GTR 2e and Amazfit GTS 2e are heading to India

Huami announced the Amazfit GTR 2e and Amazfit GTS 2e at CES 2021 a few days ago and can now be purchased in the US. The two watches already launched in China last month. Now, it has been announced that it is v.

MediaTek-MT6893

MediaTek Dimensity 1200

MediaTek has an event scheduled for January 20th and we are expecting a new chipset will be unveiled. There are reports that MediaTek will unveil a 6nm processor called the Dimensity 1200 and it is said to be more powerful than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset. The processor should power phones from Redmi, Vivo, OPPO, and realme.

EDITOR’S PICK: Qualcomm’s CPUs are about to get even more powerful as it plans to acquire NUVIA

 

Vivo X60 Pro

Vivo X60 Pro+ is finally coming with Snapdragon chip(s)

The Vivo X60 series made its debut in China in late December. The series includes the Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro, two phones powered by the Exynos 1080 chipset. A third model will arrive on January 21 and there are reports that it may come in two variants – a Snapdragon 888 version and a Snapdragon 875 version.

 

Amazon announces service that allows companies customize Alexa

Amazon’s Alexa is one of the top smart assistants. It is not only available on phones but also on tablets, computers, TVs, smart displays, smart speakers, and even microwaves. You will also find the assistant available in vehicles as Alexa Auto. Now, Amazon has announced a service that will allow customers (read car makers, consumer electronics manufacturers, and service providers) to customize the assistant.

Amazon Alexa

Called Alexa Custom Assistant, it will allow manufacturers to build their own experiences on top of Alexa in a fashion similar to the way phone manufacturers build their own experiences on top of Android.

With Alexa Custom Assistant, manufacturers can have their own smart assistant name and create their own wake word in addition to skills and routines. They will also be able to create custom voices with help from Amazon’s own “voice science experts”.

EDITOR’S PICK: Amazon launches its Prime Video ‘Mobile Edition’ in India; Plans start at ₹89($1)

Amazon said the solution will help manufacturers reduce the cost and complexity of building their own intelligent assistants.

“By reducing the burden of building the core capabilities of an intelligent assistant, companies can focus their time and resources on creating unique capabilities that delight their customers,”

One of the manufacturers that have signed up for Alexa Custom Assistant is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The car manufacturer has plans to bring a custom assistant to select vehicles.

Amazon Alexa Custom Assistant should help bring smart features to a lot more products now that manufacturers don’t have to build from the ground up. Amazon says it will manage the data generated by these manufacturers and it will apply the same “rigorous privacy and security policies” that it uses for Alexa.

The service is already available in countries where Alexa is supported such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Brazil. Amazon says more countries will follow.

 

Vivo X60 Pro+ may have a Snapdragon 875 version

Following the launch of the Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro, it was announced that there will be a third phone called the Vivo X60 Pro+. Unlike its siblings that are powered by the Exynos 1080 chipset, the Vivo 60 Pro+ will have a Snapdragon 888 processor. Now, a leak has revealed there may be another version with a different Snapdragon chipset.

Vivo X60 Pro
Vivo X60 Pro

According to tweets by the leaker Teme (@RODENT950), the Vivo X60 Pro+ will have a version powered by the yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 875 processor. In one of the tweets, he said the phone “seems to come with SD875” and in another, he said that alongside the Snapdragon 888 version of the phone, there is probably a new SD875 version.

Qualcomm is yet to announce the Snapdragon 875 processor. Actually, the Snapdragon 888 was expected to launch as the Snapdragon 875 but it came as a surprise when it announced the processor with a different name. These new details reveal that there is an actual Snapdragon 875 processor, one that may be a higher clocked Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset.

There is also a possibility that it may arrive under a different name. Chinese leaker, Digital Chat Station, said that the processor may launch as the Snapdragon 870. He also added that the chipset has its CPU clocked at 3.19GHz and its GPU will be clocked higher too. For reference, the Snapdragon 865 Plus is clocked at 3.09GHz.

Vivo X60 Pro+ Snapdragon 875 version

The Vivo X60 Pro+ is scheduled to launch on Thursday, the 21st of January, 2021 in China. The phone will come in 8GB RAM and 12GB RAM variants according to listings on JD.com with 128GB and 256GB of storage respectively. It will also come in Vegan leather options with one of them similar to the Huawei Mate 30.

Other specifications that have been revealed include a 6.56-inch AMOLED screen with a centered punch hole for the selfie camera, a 120Hz refresh rate, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and cameras with ZEISS optics.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra China Price, Colors, and Memory variants revealed

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ along with the Galaxy S21 Ultra(w/ S-Pen support) 5G smartphones on January 14 event. The company has already announced prices for the US, Europe, and countries like India. Ahead of a scheduled online event on January 18 in China, it has revealed the pricing and variants of the Galaxy S21 series.

According to a Weibo Official post, Samsung is holding an online conference on January 18 at 19:30(UTC+8) in China. Here, it will probably unveil more details about Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy SmartTag, more S21 offers, and more. Anyway, let’s look at the Prices, storage variants, and Color options mentioned on the Samsung Shop website as follows:

  • Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G(SM-G9980):
    • Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Silver
    • Memory: 12/16GB RAM, 256/512GB storage
    • Price:
      • (12GB + 256GB)- 10,199 yuan($1,574)
      • (16GB + 512GB)- 11,199 yuan($1,728)
  • Galaxy S21+ 5G(SM-G9960):
    • Colors: Phantom Violet, Phantom Black, Phantom Silver
    • Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage
    • Price:
      • (8GB + 128GB)- 7,699 yuan($1,188)
      • (8GB + 256GB)- 8,499 yuan($1,311)
  • Galaxy S21 5G(SM-G9910):
    • Colors: Phantom Violet, Phantom Gray, Phantom White.
    • Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage
    • Price:
      • (8GB + 128GB)- 5,999 yuan($926)
      • (8GB + 256GB)- 6,799 yuan($1,049)

 

Right from January 15, at 0:00 Beijing time, the devices are already on pre-orders in China. As per the official Samsung shop website, priority shipping starts from 0:00 on January 22.

A disclaimer says that the 16GB RAM variant of Galaxy S21 Ultra will ship only from January 25 in the country. The official specs list also shows that Galaxy S21, S21+ box will include a standard charger(could be 25W) but S21 Ultra won’t.

It’s worth noting that Samsung denotes the Price as “Early Adopters’ Price” in the Terms & Conditions below. It says any difference after the final reveal(i.e, on Jan. 18) will be refunded/sought to & from the consumer respectively.

 

 

WhatsApp postpones new Privacy Policy cut-off date to May 15; Explains the changes in Detail

Right from the day WhatsApp announced its changes in Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, it has been facing a lot of backlash. Users on Social media have been expressing their disapproval and some are even recommending alternatives. As a result, rivals like Telegram and Signal have witnessed millions of downloads recently. To end this, WhatsApp has now given an explanation and postponed the cut-off date.

WhatsApp Logo

WhatsApp tweeted that it’s working constantly to counter the confusion on the privacy of users’ messages and Account suspension. Through a blog post, it has now announced the extension of the cut-off date to May 15, 2021. Also, WhatsApp clearly says that it won’t delete anyone’s account on February 8 which was earlier the last date for users to accept the new update changes.

Speaking of which, in case you are unaware, WhatsApp recently updated its privacy policy and terms of service. Accordingly, it added new sections about business chats and sharing of data with other Facebook companies.

However, People started spreading the news that WhatsApp gets access to Private messages and locations. To this, WhatsApp now says that they are protected by end-to-end encryption and neither Facebook/WhatsApp can access it.

 

Through the blog post, WhatsApp also says that it will continue to follow the things that it did before as shown below:

  • No access to users’ private messages by WhatsApp/Facebook
  • WhatsApp doesn’t store logs of Messages/call info.
  • WhatsApp/Facebook can’t see your Shared Location.
  • WhatsApp doesn’t share your contacts with Facebook.
  • WhatsApp Groups are Private.
  • You can make your messages disappear(via Disappearing Messages)
  • Locally Download your data anytime.

That said, WhatsApp still stands by the update changes regarding Businesses, Payments, and concurrently Facebook’s help. Precisely, some businesses that use Facebook’s hosting services might run on WhatsApp too. WhatsApp will label them separately so you can make your choice as to whether chat with them/not.

It further mentions clauses about Discovering businesses from Facebook/Instagram Ads and using their shopping experiences on WhatsApp. Simply put, the update excludes sharing info like personal messages, contacts & location to Facebook.

Nevertheless, WhatsApp is now moving back the date for accepting the terms. During this period, we can expect more explanation about privacy in future before the business options go live on May 15.

 

POCO M3 Indonesia launch date is January 21

Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note9 4G in China back in November. However, POCO was the first to launch this as the POCO M3 in Europe a couple of days earlier. Although the specs are similar we have differences in design and Cameras. A tweaked version of the Redmi Note9 4G has also landed in India as the Redmi 9 Power. Now, POCO has finally revealed that POCO M3 will make it to Indonesia.

Poco M3 Price

POCO Indonesia, via a Tweet, confirms that POCO M3 will launch in Indonesia on January 21. The company is marketing it as an entry-level killer smartphone in the country. The launch event is scheduled to happen at 19:30 WIB(Western Indonesian Time – UTC+7). A poster image shared in the tweet shows the device in Yellow Color in the Faux Leather Finish on rear.

Recently, some leaked videos said that the POCO M3 could be rebranded as Redmi 9T in some markets. However, the latter is just a rebrand of Redmi 9 Power as its images showed quad-cameras and not Triple-cameras like POCO M3 above. Anyway, it’s refreshing that POCO is expanding the horizons of POCO M3 which in my opinion is a beautiful looking device.

POCO M3 Specifications

Assuming that POCO doesn’t do a last-minute dive on change in specs, POCO M3 should carry over the same features from Europe. In that case, it will feature a 6.53-inch IPS LCD display with a water-drop notch. It will have an FHD+ resolution, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, TUV Rheinland certification for Low Blue-Light.

Under the hood, Snapdragon 662 SoC will power the device paired with 4GB RAM, and 64/128GB UFS 2.1/2.2 storage. That said, we will have to wait and see if POCO brings any other variants to Indonesia. For Cameras, it will likely get a 48MP f/1.79 main lens, and a pair of 2MP sensors.

Othe features will include an 8MP selfie camera, 6,000mAh battery with 18W charging, dual speakers, IR blaster, 3.5mm jack, and run MIUI 12(Android 10).


Thomson Path series smart TVs launched in India with Apple AirPlay support

Super Plastronics, the brand licensee of Thomson televisions in India, has launched two new models under the Thomson Path series of smart TVs. These televisions run the Android TV operating system but also support AirPlay to stream content from Apple devices. Let us take a look a the specs, features, and price of these TVs in this article.

Thomson Path Series Smart TV Featured

Thomson Path Series (PATH2121, PATH0009BL) Smart TVs Specifications and Features

The new Thomson Path series smart televisions come with model numbers PATH2121 and PATH0009BL respectively. The former TV sports a 42-inch panel, whereas the latter flaunts a 43-inch panel.

Though both of them have different sized screens, these DLED IPS panels include identical features, such as FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution, 178° viewing angle, 500 nits peak brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, and 500000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

 

Further, they are powered by an Amlogic chipset consisting of a quad-core CPU ( 4 x 1.4GHz ARM Cortex-A53) and an ARM Mali-450MP3 GPU. This SoC is paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage.

For connectivity and I/O, these televisions come with single-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x AV ports, optical port, line port, RF port, ethernet port, and 3.5mm audio jack. Talking about audio, the 42-inch and 43-inch models include 30W and 40W speakers respectively.

Last but not least, they run the Android TV Pie operating system with support for Google Assistant (via voice-enabled remote control) and all the leading streaming services except Netflix. Also, interestingly, they support Apple AirPlay, in addition to Google Chromecast.

Thomson Path Series (PATH2121, PATH0009BL) Smart TVs Pricing and Availability

The Thomson Path Series smart televisions will retail for the following prices starting January 20 on Flipkart.

  • Thomson Path Series 42-inch Smart TV (PATH2121) – ₹19,999 ($273)
  • Thomson Path Series 43-inch Smart TV (PATH0009BL) – ₹22,499 ($308)

 

(Via)

Nexstgo launches VAIO E15 and VAIO SE14 laptops in India

Nexstgo Company Limited, the official brand licensee for VAIO laptops in Asia, has launched two models in India in the form of VAIO E15 and VAIO SE14. These notebooks mark the return of VAIO-branded notebooks in the country after a very long time. For those unaware, Nexstgo, a Hong Kong-based firm, is known for its Avita-branded laptops in India.

The new VAIO laptops are exclusive to Flipkart in the country and come with a 2-year onsite warranty. They are currently up for pre-order up until January 24. As part of the launch offer, the company is providing a discount of ₹3,000 for prepaid customers.

VAIO E15 Specifications, Features, and Price

The VAIO E15 is the cheapest of the two laptops launched by Nexstgo in India. It is priced at ₹49,990 for the variant powered by AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor and ₹56,990 for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U version.

VAIO E15 Laptop Featured 01

This notebook flaunts a 15.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (FHD) and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Weighing approximately 1.77Kg, it comes with a full-size backlit keyboard (numpad included) and measures 358.7 × 239.2 × 19.9mm in dimensions.

Further, the laptop features 8GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM and 512GB SSD. For GPU, the Ryzen 5 version comes with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, whereas the Ryzen 7 variant features Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics.

Talking about connectivity and ports, it comes with dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, 1 x LAN, 1 x USB Type-C (charging), 2 x USB Type-A 3.1, 1 x HDMI, and 1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack, and 1 x SD card reader.

Other features include a 1MP webcam, dual-speaker, dual-microphone, Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating system, and two colors (Graphite Black, Tin Silver).

 

VAIO SE14 Specifications, Features, and Price

Unlike the former model, this notebook comes in a single variant powered by 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U processor with Intel UHD Graphics 620. It features 8GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD.

VAIO SE14 Laptop Featured 01

It is also smaller and lighter than the previous laptop as it sports a 16:9 14-inch IPS LCD screen with FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, weighs approximately 1.35kg, and measures 324.4 x 229.6 x 19.55mm in dimensions.

For connectivity and ports, it comes with dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, 2 x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort), 2 x USB Type-A 3.1, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack, and 1 x MicroSD card reader.

Other features include a 1MP webcam, quad-speaker (dual-top firing, dual down-firing), dual-microphone, TPM2.0 HW solution, fingerprint sensor, lock slot, full-size backlit keyboard (without numpad), Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating system, up to 13-hour battery life, and two colors (Red Copper, Dark Gray).

Last but not least, the VAIO SE14 thin and light laptop is priced at ₹62,990.

 

Galaxy M62’s FCC listing confirms the device to be a phablet

The existence of a Samsung smartphone called Galaxy M62 was first reported in November 2020. The handset was later said to be a tablet instead. Then, its alleged images appeared on the internet last week. They suggested it to be a giant phone aka phablet. Now, the device’s FCC certification also confirms the same.

Samsung Galaxy M62 Live Image Leak Featured
Alleged Galaxy M62 Chassis (Source: 91Mobiles)

The upcoming Galaxy M62 has been spotted on FCC with ID A3LSMM625F. The listing confirms the phone’s two model numbers – SM-M625F/DS and SM-E62F/DS (DS stands for dual-SIM)

A device with the latter model number leaked in live images in December as Galaxy E62. But now, we can confirm that it will be not the case, however, there’s still a chance of Samsung releasing the Galaxy M62 as Galaxy E62 in some markets.

Further, the listing reveals this device to come with 4G LTE, dual-band WiFi, NFC, and a 7,000mAh battery. As far as other specs are concerned, it is expected to feature Exynos 9825 SoC, at least 6GB RAM and, Android 11 (One UI 3.0) operating system, as per a Geekbnech listing.

For those unaware, this is the same chipset that powers the older Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy Note10+ flagship smartphones. Lastly, according to the first-ever report of this phone, it will come with 256GB internal storage but there could be a lower storage option as well.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about the display and camera of the upcoming Galaxy M62 phablet. But we do expect to learn about them before the product’s official launch in the coming days.

 

Xiaomi releases the first batch of 28 models scheduled to receive MIUI 12.5

Back in December 2020, Xiaomi announced the MIUI 12.5, a successor to the MIUI 12, which it describes as lighter, faster, and more efficient than before. The update brings a refined package with lower power and memory consumption by the core apps.

MIUI 12.5

When it was released, Xiaomi disclosed that a number of models will get the update in batches. Xiaomi has now officially posted the full list of eligible devices that would get upgraded to MIUI 12.5. The list spreads across flagship and mid-range models from Xiaomi and the Redmi brand.

The models include Xiaomi  Mi 11, Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition, Mi 10 Youth Edition, Mi 9, Mi 9 Pro, Mi 9 Transparent Exclusive Edition, Mi 9SE, Mi CC9 Pro, Mi CC9, Mi CC9e, Mi CC9 Meitu Custom Edition, Redmi 10X, Redmi 10X Pro, Redmi K30, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi K30i 5G, Redmi K30 Pro, Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition, Redmi K30 Extreme Commemorative Edition, Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 8, Redmi Note 7, and Redmi Note 7 Pro.

As expected, the update will be pushed to the models in China first but Xiaomi has promised to deliver MIUI 12.5 Beta for global units . There no word yet on the roll out timeline.

As a reminder, the MIUI 12.5 has an improved “MIUI Light Cone Motion Effect Architecture” than MIUI 12. It includes a dedicated thread for gestures, priority scheduling with the improved response time. It’s computing power has also been upgraded to 20-times the Rendering Engine than before. Further, the UI animations have also been improved. You can read more about the new ROM from our launch article here.

UP NEXT: Huawei plans to open its biggest Flagship Store outside China: Report

OPPO A94 could be coming soon as it bags IMDA certification

OPPO is working on a new smartphone called the OPPO A94. The handset has bagged approval from Singapore’s IMDA authority.

The IMDA listing of the OPPO A94 (via) reveals that its model number is CPH2203. Unfortunately, apart from revealing that its an LTE phone with support for GPS and Bluetooth, the IMDA listing has no information on its specs.

There is a possibility that it could be a country variant of the OPPO CPH2205 phone that was spotted at the Federal Communications Commissions’ (FCC) database recently.  The assumption is only based on the similarity of the model numbers of the two phones. Hopefully, upcoming reports will reveal more details on the CPH2203 and CPH2205 phones.

OPPO CPH2205 FCC
A schematic of the OPPO CPH2205 spotted at FCC

The OPPO CPH2205 smartphone has 160.1 x 73.32mm dimensions. It is expected to arrive with a 6.2-inch display, but it is not clear whether the device supports Full HD+ or HD+ resolution.

The large camera housing on the rear shell of the phone seems to house three cameras and an LED flash. It could b be equipped with a 48-megapixel primary camera. The smartphone seems to be fitted with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which indicates that it could be equipped with an LCD screen.

The CPH2205 is expected to arrive with ColorOS 11.1 based Android 11 OS preinstalled. It may draw power from a 4,310mAh battery. It is yet to be confirmed whether the device carries support for fast charging.

In related news, OPPO’s recent teaser revealed that the Find X3 series of flagship phones will be debuting in March. The series also includes two other phones such as Find X3 Lite and Find X3 Neo. Recently, popular tipster Evan Blass claimed that these phones will be debuting in early March and they will be available for purchase from April.

 

itel Vision 1 Pro with HD+ display, Android 10 Go, and 4,000mAh battery launched in India

The itel Vision 1 Pro smartphone has gone official in India. It is an entry-level smartphone that has arrived in the Indian market to compete with similarly placed phones such as Micromax In 1B and Lava Z2. As the name suggests, it is an upgraded version of the itel Vision 1 handset that debuted in 2020.

Itel Vision 1 Pro specifications and features

The itel Vision 1 Pro is fitted with a 6.52-inch IPS LCD panel with a waterdrop notch. The screen produces an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and it is overlaid with 2.5D curved glass. It offers a screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent, claims the company.

For capturing selfies, the itel Vision 1 Pro features a front camera of 5-megapixel. The back panel houses a triple camera system that includes an 8-megapixel main camera and a pair of VGA lenses. The company claims that the itel Vision 1 Pro can capture enhanced, brighter, and crystal clear HDR quality shots with amazing clarity even in low light. A fingerprint sensor is also available on the plastic rear of the phone. It also supports face unlock.

itel Vision 1 Pro
itel Vision 1 Pro

It is powered by an unspecified 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. The phone is packed with a 4,000mAh battery that promises 800 hours of standby time, 35 hours of music playback, and 7 hours of video playback. It has an internal storage of 32 GB and a microSD card slot for more storage. Lastly, it runs on Android 10 (Go edition).

Itel Vision 1 Pro price in India

The itel Vision 1 Pro is priced at Rs 6,599 (~$90) and it comes in colors like Aurora Blue and Ocean Blue. As a limited period offer, the phone comes with a free mono BT headset. It is available for purchase through Flipkart.

 

Honor V40’s launch date postponed to January 22

On Jan. 8, Honor confirmed that it will be launching the Honor V40 smartphone on Jan. 18. However, the company took to Weibo yesterday to reveal that it has postponed the launch event to Jan. 22.

The machine-translation of Honor’s Weibo post states that it is due to an issue related to the “conference venue and equipment,” it has pushed back the launch date on Jan. 22. The launch event will be held at 10 (local time) on the said date and the Honor V40 will go on sale on the same day starting at 12 PM (local time).

Honor V40 launch date postponed

The company has officially shared the same poster that appeared on Weibo earlier this week. It shows the handset in three colors like black, blue, and peach. The front side of the device features a curved edge display with a pill-shaped cutout at the upper-left corner.

The rear-facing camera module of the Honor V40 is said to be equipped with a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide shooter, a 2-megapixel macro lens, a laser autofocus unit, and an LED flash. It could be equipped with a 1/1.5x-inch Sony IMX7XX lens.

There is no concrete evidence on the configurations of the dual selfie camera setup of the Honor V40. It is said to be equipped with a 6.72-inch OLED panel, which was seen on the Huawei Nova 8 Pro handset. The FHD+ display is said to deliver a 120Hz refresh rate and a 300Hz touch sampling rate. Recently, Honor revealed that the V40’s has a retina-level super-sensing screen for better color reproduction.

The Dimensity 1000+ SoC is expected to fuel the Honor V40. It may house a 4,000mAh battery with 66W fast charging support. The handset is also rumored to support wireless charging.

 

Samsung launches the Galaxy Watch Active2 Rose Gold variant, pushes software update

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event has come and gone, and the tech giant didn’t launch a smartwatch as expected. Yet, there were rumors that the Korean giant will launch a Rose Gold variant of the Galaxy watch Active2.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 Rose Gold variant

Indeed, Samsung has announced the Galaxy Watch Active2 Rose Gold variant. The new colorway is only available in the 40mm Bluetooth variant of the Galaxy Watch Active2. In addition to the new Rose Gold variant, Samsung has begun seeding a big new software update for all the Galaxy Watch Active2.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 features a stainless-steel case and comes with a 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. The full-color Always-On display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ on top.Galaxy Watch Active2

Under the hood, the device is powered by a Samsung’s Exynos 9110 dual-core processor clocked at 1.15GHz and is paired with 1.5GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. The device is running Tizen-based Wearable OS, making it compatible with Android 5.0 or above on Android devices with more than 1.5GB RAM (Samsung/Non-Samsung), and iPhone 5 and above running iOS 9.0 or above.

Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 straps options

The new firmware ushers in the Samsung Health app, faster automatic workout detection, and home training fitness programs among others. Another new addition is SmartThings Find which helps you locate the watch if it’s ever misplaced.

Samsung galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung galaxy Watch Active2 Changelog

The new update which brings the R820XXU1DUA3/R820GFC1DUA3 builds has a file size of nearly 85MB and is presently being seeded in Canada and South Korea for now though it will soon make its way to more regions around the globe.

UP NEXT: F150 B2021’s software innovations are like an icing on the cake!

 

 

F150 B2021’s software innovations are like an icing on the cake!

We all would’ve at some point, thought of buying a rugged phone and for most (or all) cases the price/specs would be a discouraging factor. Well F150 is one company that heard the fan by launching a compelling rugged device – the F150 B2021.

Must See :[Deal] Grab Umidigi Bison Rugged Phone for a limited-time discount price of $145.00

A day or so ago, we’ve covered the B2021 highlighting its design. In case if you missed, go check that out to know more about the device in general as now, we’ll go through the software side of the device.

Dedicated F150 Key

The B2021 is backed with an optimized Android 10 operating system. It’s a rugged phone, so the least we could expect is an option to switch between normal and outdoor mode. With the dedicated F150 key, the user can do the very thing. All you have to do is to long-press the F150 key to switch between these modes. Repeatedly pressing this button will activate the emergency sequence, which will play a loud SOS alarm while continuously flashing the flashlight.

Real-Time Dynamic Measurement

While in the F150 mode the contents of the “toolbag” will be displayed on the home screen. This includes the following.

  • The Compass points towards the destination instead of the North. It will also display the instantaneous latitude and longitude.
  • The Power Manager widget frequently updates you with the power consumption rate. You can switch to either power-saving mode or extreme mode depending on your battery level.

Essential Tools in the ToolBag

The tools in the toolbag of the B2021 is what makes it stand apart from the other rugged phones. All the apps in the toolbag prove to be functional in one way or other. The phone is equipped with 4 kinds of sounds effects: Alarm, Dog bark sound effect, Engine sound simulator, and the SOS alarm. We don’t know why these sounds are there in the phone, but we hope it might have something to do with security. Also, we hope these sounds might come in handy when you’re roaming the wild.

Additionally, the toolbag provides you with some useful tools which will work flawlessly even while offline. The tools include a Torch, Compass, Protractor, Plumb, Fs-Clock, Timer, Voice Simulation, Step-Counter, and Magnifier.

UI design that perfectly blends with the hardware

A lot of attention has been put in while designing the UI. As you can see the octagon element is persistent everywhere in the B2021. Even the app icons are in the shape of an octagon. Most of the widgets, apps, and texts are all in yellow outdoor colour. The shape is also integrated into the boot animation, UI design etc.

That being said, on the software side, the device is equally “rugged” as it’s outside with stong features and customized UI blending well with the external rugged design.

The original price of B2021 is $199.99 on Aliexpress and Bangood. But, we could expect 55% off as an introductory offer from these retailers bringing down the rate to $109.99 in initial days. If interested, you may register on its official website.

Related: UMIDIGI Urun- GPS Sports Smartwatch Launched for Just $40

Xiaomi Mi Watch global variant on sale with $20 discount coupon via Giztop

Some Xiaomi devices get quite popular due to their stunning features and compelling pricing. Xiaomi Mi Watch is such a useful device featuring 1.39-inch AMOLED display, six high-precision sensors, 420 mAh battery for $139.99. It is limited to the Chinese shores and the international users have to wait for their official hands-on experience. However, the interested users can head over to Giztop to grab Mi Watch global variant for the effective price of $119 upon using  $20 discount coupon code – MWG20.

mi watch global

Must See: Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite pre-order starts on December 17 in Malaysia for RM199 ($49)

Xiaomi Mi Watch global variant is available only in black colour via Giztop. The retailer ships internationally to any country without any premium shipping costs.

On the other hand, Xiaomi Mi Watch global version ships with support for English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Indonesian, Portuguese, Czech, and other popular languages. There’s a 1.39-inch AMOLED circular display with 454 x 454 pixels resolution. The watch supports 24/7 all-day heart rate monitoring.

In total, there are six high-precision sensors which accurately map, steps count, tracks calorie, monitor stress level, breath training, sleep monitor and heart rate, monitor. It can distinguish between 17 different sports modes including indoor and outdoor activities. The Xiaomi Mi Watch global version houses first beat motion algorithms to better analyze different sports and activities. It is 5ATM waterproof smartwatch featuring built-in GPS, geomagnetic compass and air pressure.

It is a golden opportunity to buy the Mi Watch at a discount price of $119.

Grab Now

Related: Gearbest Sale: Redmi Watch at Discounted Price with Free Shipping (Coupon)

 

Zeaplus Studio headphone up for grab at just $29.9 on Giztop

You can save up to $10 on Zeaplus Studio headphone from GizTop. Wondering how? Then, all you’ve to do is apply a Coupon Code on the checkout page. The headphone is listed for $39.9 in the website, upon the application of the $10 off coupon code which we’ve given below, you’ll be able to purchase the gadget for $29.9.

Coupon Code: ZS10, $10 Off

Grab Now

Still on the turf thinking whether the headphone is of good quality and worth the discounted price. Let us tell you then, the Zeaplus Studio is a headband style headphone offering hands-free calling for convenience. It offers high-resolution audio with active noise cancellation feature. Zeaplus claims up to 20 hours of battery life in a single charge. It comes with quick charge support so you can quickly return to enjoy what you’d been doing before the battery drained. You can know more about the device in our hands-on experience guide.

The headphone has a good build-quality with Memory foam cushions which will ergonomically fit around your ears. Other specs are given below for your reference.

Other Specs

  • Colour: Black
  • Model: BT30NC
  • Batteries: 500mAh/3.7V Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
  • Working time: 16 hours(ANC Wireless) / 25 hours(Wireless only) / 40 hours(ANC Wire)
  • Bluetooth: 5.0
  • Working Distance: up to 10m
  • Impedence: 32Ω +/-15%
  • Driver: Φ40mm

Now interested? If yes, then go grab from GizTop, don’t forget to make use of the $10 Off code – ZS10.

Related: Zeaplus Studio Review: ANC Headphones for just $39!

 

Xiaomi Mi 6X receives MIUI 12 update

Xiaomi launched the Mi 6X in the first half of 2018 in China. This smartphone later debuted as Mi A2, an Android One device in global markets. In the company’s home country, this handset was released with MIUI 9 based on Android 8.1 (Oreo). But was updated to MUI 10 and MIUI 11 along with Android 9.0 (Pie). Now, the phone has started receiving the MIUI 12 update.

Xiaomi Mi 6X

Just as we reported in late April 2020, MIUI 12 is the last major update for the Xiaomi Mi 6X smartphone. This update comes with build number V12.0.1.0.PDCCNXM and is currently in the Stable Beta phase. Therefore, it is only available for select users. But since Mi 6X was only sold in China, the final rollout should begin shortly.

On the other hand, the global version of this device, Mi A2, received its last major update in the form of Android 10 last year. But it should continue to receive monthly security patches up until July 2021.

However, if you are a power user, you can install Android 11 custom ROMs on this phone to experience the latest version of Android from Google. Or else, stick with Android 10 till the end of its lifetime.

 

Motorola Nio live hands-on images appears online

Motorola “Nio” is a smartphone that’s widely rumored to be Motorola’s upcoming flagship device. Ahead of the official launch, alleged live images of the device have now appeared.

First spotted and reported by Nils Ahrensmeier(@NilsAhrDE), the live images of a Motorola device has appeared on Weibo a few days ago. This device has a dual punch-hole screen at the front, and a Moto G 5G Plus-like quad-camera layout on the back. However, the position of Flash is below the cameras here.

Further, the rear of the device seems to have a color that the tipster says is the ‘Sky’ variant. Apart from this, the device will also have a “Beryl” which could be a Green/Blue color. On the back, there is a “64MP camera” and “Audio Zoom” keywords. On the right, there are volume buttons and power-cum-fingerprint senor button.

The settings on the front image shows it as “Motorola Edge Plus” which means this could just be a prototype. That said, the display on this live image is also similar to a front render of Motorola “Nio” with a dual punch-hole screen leaked a few days ago.

For those who don’t know, a Motorola smartphone codenamed “Nio” and Model number XT2125 has already cleared multiple certifications. So far, we know that a Wi-Fi alliance certification revealing support for Wi-Fi (2.4, 5GHz), and run Android 11.

Similarly, FCC and TUV showed that the device will have 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, NFC, and GNSS, and a 5,000mAh battery with 20W charging. Previous reports said that the device is a flagship running older Snapdragon 865 SoC and a 64MP triple-cameras. However, the latest image contradicts it with a quad-camera image.

Either way, the device will likely have a FHD+ display with a 2520×1080 resolution and a possible 105Hz refresh rate, come with 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. For cameras, you can expect a 64MP main, 16MP ultra-wide sensors on the back, and a 16MP+8MP(ultra-wide) set up in the front for selfies.

Nevertheless, the Motorola “Nio” is expected to launch as Motorola Edge S in China and a flagship under Moto-G branding elsewhere.