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realme C12 gets a 4GB RAM variant in India

By
Balaji S
-

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
-

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
-

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

 

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

By
Sean
-

The Apple iPhone 13 series will arrive later this year, although, the 2021 lineup isn’t expected to arrive with major changes. However, a new report believes that the company might add an in display fingerprint scanner into the iPhone 13 display and that a foldable iPhone is in the works.

Apple
iPhone SE (2020) with Touch ID

According to a Bloomberg report, the Cupertino based giant is testing an in display fingerprint scanner for the iPhone 13, as one of the key upgrades for its 2021 iPhone lineup. Starting with the iPhone X, the company has mostly discontinued Touch ID from its mainline iPhone series for the facial recognition system, Face ID, for biometric security. But the report states that the system has become less practical due to the pandemic, which has caused users to wear masks when outside.

Editor’s Pick: Top stories from last week: iQOO 7 and Galaxy S21 series launched, CES 2021, and more

So, Apple might be working on a more practical solution for its iPhone 13 series, which is already present available on Android smartphones for a couple of years now. The report also claims that the company will still keep Face ID, but might be considering the removal of a charging port on certain iPhone models in favor of wireless charging. Similarly, the report also talks about the company working on a foldable iPhone as well.

Apple

The source claims that internal testing for prototype foldable displays are already being undertaken and the screen will feature a hinge design similar to Samsung‘s foldable smartphones, with one of them featuring a 6.7 inch display. The company doesn’t have any plans for a finalized launch and has yet to even develop a prototype foldable handset.

UP NEXT: Foxconn receives a license in Vietnam for its $270 million plant that will produce MacBooks and iPads

 

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

By
Sean
-

Earlier today (18th January 2021), Oppo announced that it would be launching more than six 5G enabled smartphones in India this year. This arrives as the company aims on expanding its IoT and 5G handset portfolio in the region.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G 17

According to a Business Insider report, the move from Oppo arrives after the Chinese tech giant set up its first 5G Innovation lab in India, which will be for its overseas market outside of China. This lab will support the company’s plans in developing core 5G technologies and growing its global 5G presence. Oppo’s Vice President and Head of Research and Development, Tasleem Arif, stated that “In 2021, we will carry on this growth legacy with much more innovative products and concepts to make the life of our users even better. Building upon our 5G and IoT product category will be one of the key focus areas for us.”

Editor’s Pick: Top stories from last week: iQOO 7 and Galaxy S21 series launched, CES 2021, and more

He further added that “Aligned with this strategy. we have added Reno5 Pro 5G and EncoX True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earphones for our Indian customers. Our Reno series has been the epitome of consumer-centric innovation and one of the most loved smartphone devices. All the editions of Reno have been very well received around the world and in India, it witnessed a growth of over 50 per cent in Q3 2020.” In other words, the company is pushing for the growth of its IoT devices along with new 5G enabled smartphones launches.

Oppo

Notably, the Oppo Reno5 pro 5G will be manufactured at the company’s Greater Noida plant, which recently had its capacity increased to 50 million handset units in a year. Furthermore, the company’s Hyderabad site is also its first R&D center which is located outside of its home country, China, and is playing a vital role in the development of 5G technologies.

UP NEXT: Foxconn receives a license in Vietnam for its $270 million plant that will produce MacBooks and iPads

 

Galaxy A52 5G gets certified by China’s TENAA

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Galaxy A5x series of smartphones is Samsung’s global best-sellers. The 2020 Galaxy A51 was announced in December 2019 itself. But its successor, Galaxy A52, is yet to go official. Just like last year, there will be a 5G version as well, according to multiple reports. This 5G variant has been now certified by TENAA.

Galaxy A52 5G

The Galaxy A52, like the Galaxy A51, is said to come in two variants – 4G and 5G. Both devices are expected to pack the same design and features except for the chipset. They have received multiple certifications in the past few days.

One of those certifications is 3C, which not only confirmed that the Galaxy A52 5G will launch in China but also the device’s 15W charger. Now, this very same phone with model number SM-A5260 has been certified by TENAA as well. But unfortunately, the listing does not include the images and spec sheet of the handset yet.

According to previous reports, the Galaxy A52 5G will sport a design similar to its predecessor with some minor tweaks. It is expected to flaunt a 6.5-inch Infinity-O AMOLED display (centered punch-hole) with an in-screen fingerprint sensor. 

The smartphone is reported to sport a 64MP quad-camera setup consisting of wide, ultra-wide, macro, and depth units. As for software, it expected to run Android 11 (One UI 3.0 or 3.1), whereas, for horsepower, it will feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset. On the other hand, the Galaxy A52 4G will come with Snapdragon 720G, as per Geekbench.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G variant is coming to India: Report

 

(Via)

POCO X3 available for Rs 13,999 (~$191) only for today in India

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Indian retailer giant Flipkart will carry out the Big Saving Day sale from Jan. 20 to Jan. 24. Early access to the sale will be available to the people starting from Jan. 19 at midnight. During the sale, like other brands, POCO will be offering attractive discounts on its smartphones like the POCO M2 Pro, POCO M2, and POCO C3. However, the POCO X3 is already up for purchase at a discounted starting price of Rs 14,999 on Flipkart from today. Furthermore, there is an HDFC offer which is only available until today that allows users to avail the POCO X3 for as low as Rs 13,999 (~$191)

The POCO X3 variants such as 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage are priced at Rs 16,999 (~$232), Rs 18,499 (~$252), and Rs 19,999 (~$272), respectively. During the sale that kicks off from tomorrow, these variants will be available for Rs 14,999 (~$205), Rs 15,999 (~$218), and Rs 17,999 (~$245), respectively.

With the HDFC Bank credit/debit and EMI transactions, the three variants of the POCO X3 can be bought for Rs 13,999 (~$191), Rs 14,999 (~$205), and Rs 16,999 (~$232), respectively. The HDFC offer is only available today. Customers will be able to take advantage of the additional discounts by exchanging their old phones for the POCO X3 during the sale.

POCO X3 NFC logo featured

Editor’s Pick:  POCO F2 will not have Snapdragon 732G, reveals POCO India head

POCO X3 specifications and features

The POCO X3 is fitted with a 6.67-inch IPS LCD FHD+ display that offers an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a front camera of 20-megapixel and its back panel as a quad-camera system comprising of a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a pair of 2-megapixel lenses for adding depth effects and macro shots.

The Snapdragon 732G SoC fuels the POCO X32 with LPPDR4x RAM and UFS 2.1 storage. The 6,000mAh battery of the phone supports 33W fast charging.

UP NEXT: POCO M3 Indonesia launch date is January 21

 

Huawei Mate 20 series will no longer receive security updates

By
Sean
-

The Huawei Mate 20 series was launched back in 2018. The lineup consisted of the company’s then premium grade flagship handsets. Now, the company is officially ending the support for the Mate 20 series and will be no longer offer security updates.

huawei mate 20 pro

The Huawei Mate 20 series featured the HiSilicon Kirin 980 chipset, which was based on the 7nm process. In terms of performance, the device is still a capable handset. Although, on the Chinese tech giant’s official website, Huawei removed the names of three devices from its EMUI security update list. This included the Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, and Mate 20 X, which will no longer receive either the monthly or quarterly security patches, as per an AnTuTu report.

Editor’s Pick: Huawei MateBook X Pro 2021 with 3K display and 11th gen Intel chipset now up for pre order

At the moment, it seems that only the Mate 20 X 5G variant will receive the update, however, the rest of the Mate 20 lineup will are no longer on the security update list. The flagship series aren’t exactly dated by today’s standards but Huawei has decided to end the support of these devices. So this report arrives as a reminder to the owners of these smartphones.

Huawei

For those unaware, the Huawei Mate 20 series is a flagship model from the company from back in 2018 and featured top notch specs for its time. This included the Kirin 980 SoC paired with 40W fast charging and a 40 megapixel primary rear camera, which was said to be one of the best performers of that year.

UP NEXT: Foxconn receives license in Vietnam for its $270 million plant that will produce MacBooks and iPads

 

Foxconn receives license in Vietnam for its $270 million plant that will produce MacBooks and iPads

By
Sean
-

Earlier today (18th January 2021), the Vietnamese government has just given Foxconn the license to set up its plant worth 270 million US Dollars. The new site will produce laptops and tablets, as per a new report.

Foxconn logo

According to a Reuters report, the new plant will be developed by Fukang Technology and is situated in the northern province of Bac Giang. It will be responsible for producing up to eight million units each year as per a statement by the local government. Foxconn Technology, the known Apple supplier, has already invested about 1.5 billion US Dollars in Vietnam and aims to recruit over 10,000 additional local workers within this year.

Editor’s Pick: Top stories from last week: iQOO 7 and Galaxy S21 series launched, CES 2021, and more

Furthermore, local reports have also indicated that Foxconn is planning to invest an additional 1.3 billion US Dollars in the Thanh Hoa province, which is south of Hanoi. Through the new site, the company is aiming to shift the assembly of some iPad and MacBooks, as per a person close to the matter. The move also arrives after Apple decided to diversify its supply chain to minimize the impacts faced by straining US-China relations.

Foxconn

Apart from raising its workforce in the region, the Taiwanese firm is also aiming on raising its investment in the region by another 700 million US Dollars as well. The investment would again be towards its local plants in Vietnam, as per the government. In other words, we can soon see Apple MacBook and iPads that were made in Vietnam be in circulation across the globe.

UP NEXT: Huawei MateBook X Pro 2021 with 3K display and 11th gen Intel chipset now up for pre order

 

ASUS ROG Phone 5/4 live shots emerge to reveal 64MP main camera and design

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Last week, ASUS released the first teaser of its upcoming ROG branded gaming smartphone. The teaser suggests that the next-generation ROG Phone will be sporting an improved display design. A tipster from China recently revealed that the battery capacity and fast charging capabilities of the ROG Phone 4. Now, a Weibo user has shared a live shot of the smartphone to reveal its rear design.

The tipster who shared the live shot of the new ROG Phone has claimed that the device could be called ROG Phone 5. The reason behind it is the presence of number 05 at the center of the back panel. This suggests that the Taiwanese company may skip the number 4 to launch its next gaming phone as the ROG Phone 5.

ASUS ROG Phone 4 live shot

Editor’s Pick: ASUS ROG Swift PG32UQ announced as the world’s first 32-inch 4K gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1

The design language of the alleged ROG Phone 5 is not very different from its predecessor models. However, the ROG brand logo is now placed at the bottom-left corner of the back panel. There is a red-colored button on the lower-right corner of the phone’s frame. It could be a one-click key to enter the game mode. At the top is a horizontal camera module that houses a 64-megapixel main camera that is equipped with quad-Bayer technology.

There is no confirmation of the authenticity of the image. Hence, it is advisable to wait for newer reports to know about its exact design. The rumor mill is yet to leak concrete information on the specs of the phone.

All that is known so far is that the ROG Phone 5 could be packed with a 6,000mAh battery. The handset is likely to arrive with support for 65W fast charging. It goes without saying that it could be powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC. It is likely that the phone may launch as early as next month.

UP NEXT: ASUS announces three Chromebooks for Enterprises, General Consumers, and Gamers respectively

 

Color-changing OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G Artist Limited Edition up for pre-order in China

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

In late December, OPPO launched the Reno5 Pro+ as the high-end model in the Reno5 series. This device comes with a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor and Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC. The company also announced a special variant of this handset called OPPO Reno5 Pro+ Artist Limited Edition with an electrochromic rear glass panel. This special version is now up for pre-order in China.

OPPO Reno 5 Pro Plus Artist Limited Edition

OPPO is known for releasing special variants of its popular phones. Last year’s OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G had multiple such versions. One of them was ‘Artist Limited Edition’, in collaboration with James Jean, a Taiwanese-American artist. This variant of Reno4 Pro 5G had a distinct AG rear glass panel with an art etched on it.

However, the new OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G Artist Limited Edition boasts an electrochromic glass panel on its back. This device is designed in partnership with another artist called Joshua Vides, who is known for his sketch-like designs.

EDITOR’S PICK: Best Concept Smartphones of 2020: OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo, & More

 

Hence, this limited edition of OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G looks like it is out of a sketchbook. Also, it is the world’s first commercial smartphone with an electrochromic glass panel. Thanks to this tech, the device’s rear color can be changed from ‘Silver’ to ‘Blue’ by simply tapping on it. Since the company claims over 30,000 color change cycles, it should work up until the end of the handset’s lifecycle.

That said, this version of OPPO Reno 5 Pro+ 5G comes in a single 12GB + 256GB storage configuration. It is priced at ¥4,499 ($693) and is up for pre-order on JD in China ahead of its sale on January 22. Like the most limited edition smartphones by OPPO, this one may also remain exclusive to the brand’s home country.

Electrochromic glass made its first appearance on smartphones with the OnePlus Concept One at CES 2020. Later, vivo showcased a handset with a color-changing rear panel with this tech. ZTE’s Red Magic also has a gaming smartphone with a similar design in the works. OnePlus 8T Concept is another device with this type of glass. According to Digital Chat station, a well-known Chinese tipster, more OEMs will use electrochromic glass on their devices in 2021.

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

 

JingOS arrives as China’s first Linux Distro, offers iPadOS-like features and functions

By
Sean
-

Apple‘s attempts to distinguish its iPad lineup with a dedicated operating system has been met with positive reception overall. Now, China’s first Linux based Distro (Distribution) called JingOS has just been unveiled and it aims to provide the same level of functionality that the iPadOS offers.

JingOS

JingOS was built with the idea of improving the functionality and productivity of a tablet overall. So, the team behind the new operating system took inspiration from the Cupertino based giant’s iPadOS platform to offer a simple/clean, yet productive and efficient UI design that can ensure that your tablets are a mini computer that one can work on, on the go. JingOS is not only a tablet OS but a full function Linux distro.

Editor’s Pick: Top stories from last week: iQOO 7 and Galaxy S21 series launched, CES 2021, and more

With productivity in mind, the OS also supports full mouse and keyboard support. Furthermore, the current selections of apps designed for this platform also support both touch mode and desktop mode. Meaning, one can use it in the form of a laptop and as a notebook. So for those looking for an iPad like experience for their tablets, JingOS might be the next best thing.

JingOS

Notably, JingOS is also being developed for smartphones as well, and will be available before the end of this year, while the tablet variant will be launch before the end of this month. At the moment, the operating system is supported on just the Huawei MateBook 14 and the Microsoft Surface 6. Unfortunately, it has yet to be tested on other devices but the company aims to bring support for other tablets including ARM based ones as well in the near future.

UP NEXT: Huawei MateBook X Pro 2021 with 3K display and 11th gen Intel chipset now up for pre order

 

Samsung Galaxy Active 2 update brings support for SmartTag tracker

By
Jeet
-

Samsung has rolled out a new firmware update for the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and with that, the company has introduced a number of new features to the wearable device. In addition to the software features, the company has also introduced a Violet-colored strap, to match the profile of the Galaxy S21 lineup.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has received a firmware update that has been named R820XXu1DUA3/R820GFC1DUA3 and the size of this new update is about 85MB. Although it improves system stability, there’s also a major feature addition.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The company has added support for the SmartThings Find function, which is compatible with SmartTag released by Samsung. For those who are unaware, SmartTags is basically a Bluetooth tracker that can be attached to anything and now with the new update, it can be tracked using the smartwatch.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 comes in two sizes — 40mm and 44mm. It features an S-AMOLED display that supports 360 x 360 pixels resolution. The 40mm device has a 1.2-inch display whereas the 44mm model is fitted with a 1.4-inch screen.

EDITOR’S PICK: OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G launched in India; comes with a Slim body and Dimensity 1000+ SoC

Under the hood, it is powered by an Exynos 9110 chipset along with 768MB of RAM. However, the LTE supported premium stainless steel edition of the smartwatch has 1.5 GB of RAM. The smartwatch runs Tizen OS with One UI which also allows users to create a customized watch that matches the clothes of the user.

It is an IP68 rated and MIL-STD 810G rated water-resistant and dustproof device that can remain unaffected from harsh climatic conditions. The device offers 39 workout options with different categories. It features an improved optical heart rate tracker with 8 LEDs for faster readings and also comes with an electrocardiogram (ECG).

UP NEXT: Honor V40 flagship smartphone to feature GPU Turbo X to offer an improved gaming performance

 

Honor V40 to feature GPU Turbo X for improved gaming performance

By
Sean
-

The Honor V40‘s launch is just around the corner. While the device was expected to arrive on 18th January 2021, its launch has since been delayed to January 22. Now, the company has teased one of its features that will help improve the mobile gaming experience on the new smartphone.

Honor

Earlier today, the Chinese tech giant shared a post on its official Weibo account, a Chinese microblogging website. In this social media post, the company teased the Honor V40’s new graphics acceleration engine, dubbed the GPU Turbo X. Honor even shared a short video teaser, which demonstrated the graphics acceleration feature that will arrive in the upcoming device. At the moment, the finer details of how this engine works are currently unknown, but we can expect it to be a form of software optimization, which improves paired with slight GPU overclocking to squeeze performance from its chip.

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According to rumors, the Honor V40 is expected to feature a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 Plus 5G chipset. Other reported features include a 6.72-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen that offers a 120Hz refresh rate and a 300Hz touch sampling rate. For photography, the Honor V40 could be sporting a 50-megapixel + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (macro) rear camera setup and a 32-megapixel + 16-megapixel duals selfie camera system.

Honor

The device is also rumored to be powered by a large 4,000mAh battery pack that supports up to 66W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging. On the front, the Honor V40 is said to also sport an in display fingerprint scanner for biometric security. Unfortunately, we will have to wait for the 22nd January 2021 launch conference to confirm these specifications so stay tuned for more updates and the release date.

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OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G launched in India: Comes with a Slim body & Dimensity 1000+

By
Joel Joseph
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OPPO has just announced its latest upper mid-range smartphone in India, the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G. It is the first Dimensity 1000+ smartphone in India and comes with premium features such as a 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging, a beautiful curved 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, and a special Reno Glow matte design.

Reno5Pro 5G
credit: OPPO

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G Design

OPPO is focused on bringing a sleek and lightweight design on the new Reno5 Pro 5G. The phone comes in a super thin 7.6mm body and weighs only 173 grams, which makes it one of the lightest 5G smartphones in the market. The front features a 6.5-inch 3D curved Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate. The display is rated for HDR10+ certification and is Amazon Prime and Netflix HD certified.

One of the biggest highlights of the Reno5 Pro 5G is the Reno Glow texture at the back. This adds a sparkly texture to the back of the device but features a matte finish ensuring that it’s not a fingerprint magnet. The Astral Blue variant shifts its color from blue to purple at different angles. There’s a Starry Black color variant as well.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G

OPPO also adds that its new phone brings a 360-degree surround antenna design which will select the appropriate antenna group based on how you are holding the device. This will ensure that there’s always a stable network connection without any interference.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G Specs

Inside, the Reno5 Pro 5G comes with the same Dimensity 1000+ processor, similar to its Chinese variant. The Dimensity 1000+ features an integrated 5G modem and comes with 4 big Cortex A77 cores for flagship-level performance along with the Mali-G77 GPU. MediaTek claims its Dimensity chip is the world’s lowest power-consuming 5G chip in the market right now. As for RAM and ROM variants, the Reno5 Pro starts with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM.

Camera

Coming to its camera specs, the new OPPO device features a quad-camera setup at the back. This includes a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle shooter, 2MP Macro and depth sensors, respectively. Unfortunately, there’s no telephoto sensor on the Reno5 Pro 5G.

However, OPPO is leveraging its new FDF Portrait Video system to improve the videography experience on its new model. We have already explained how the FDF Portrait System works in an earlier article. The system basically takes advantage of OPPO’s imaging algorithms to combine Live HDR and Ultra Night Video and offer a better video shooting experience on the Reno5 Pro. OPPO claims that the new model is able to capture brighter, more colorful, and less noisy videos, even at night.

As for software, the Reno5 Pro 5G runs on the new ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11.

Battery

The OPPO Reno5 Pro comes with a fast 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging technology which promises 100% charging of its 4350mAh battery in just 30 minutes. OPPO claims that a mere 5 minutes of charging will top up the phone for an additional 4 hours of video playback.

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G Pricing & Availability

Reno5Pro 5G price 2

 

The OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G starts at Rs. 35,990 (~$491) in India for its 8GB RAM and 128GB variant. The company is also offering cashback up to 10% to HDFC and ICICI card users along with exclusive offers for existing OPPO users.reno5 pro offers

Our Reno5 Pro 5G hands-on article will be up very soon, so stay tuned for that.

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OPPO Enco X TWS launched in India for ₹9,990 ($136)

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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OPPO has officially launched Enco X, the company’s flagship truly wireless earphones alongside OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G smartphone in India. They are priced at ₹9,990 ($136) and will be available in two colors, namely Black and White. Their first sale is scheduled for January 22 in the country.

OPPO Enco X Black White Featured

The OPPO Enco X TWS first debuted in China in the month of October 2020 at the OPPO TV launch event. Soon, the wireless earphones made it to other markets in the following weeks. In mid-December, this product was tipped to launch in India in January 2021. As expected, OPPO revealed its launch date last week and it is now official in the country.

These in-ear style earbuds with a stem feature an 11mm dynamic driver and a 6mm balanced membrane driver. They support LHDC, AAC, and SBC audio codecs. Above all, their sound is said to be tuned by Dynaudio, a Danish Hi-Fi brand.

Further, they connect via Bluetooth 5.2 and come with binaural low-latency support for gaming sessions. Being the brand’s high-end TWS, these earbuds also support ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). Users can either opt between two different modes of ANC (Noise Cancellation, Max Noise Cancellation) to lose themselves in music or Transparency Mode when they need to hear the outside world.

The OPPO Enco X earbuds are IP54-certified for water resistance and weigh 4.8g each. Whereas, their charging case measures 66.3 x 49 x 21.7mm in dimensions, weighs 42.5g without buds, and weighs 52.5g with buds.

Last but not least, each earbud is backed by a 44mAh battery, which is rated to run for up to 5.5 hours with ANC turned off and up to 4 hours when ANC is activated. With the 535mAh battery-equipped charging case that charges via USB Type-C and Qi wireless charging, these numbers increase to 25 hours and 20 hours respectively. 

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USA revokes licenses of Intel and others to supply chips to Huawei

By
Jeet
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Just when it seemed that things are finally lining up for Huawei, the company has been dealt with another major blow by the Trump administration in the United States. As per the report from Reuters, the Trump administration has notified the Chinese giant that it is revoking certain licenses granted to its suppliers, including Intel.

It doesn’t stop just there. On top of that, it has also informed Huawei that the administration is planning to reject dozens of applications for licenses to supply components and services to Huawei.

Huawei Logo MWC 2019

This is yet another attempt by the United States to weaken the world’s largest telecommunication equipment maker which it sees as a national security threat because of its origin and base in China.

In an email to Reuters, Semiconductor Industry Association said that the Commerce Department had issued “intents to deny a significant number of license requests for exports to Huawei and a revocation of at least one previously issued license.”

EDITOR’S PICK: MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chipset leaks online as a toned-down variant of the upcoming Dimensity 1200

However, sources aware of the development claims that as many as eight licenses from four companies have been revoked by the United States. It is also said that along with Intel, Japan-based flash memory chip maker Kioxia Corp’s license has also been yanked.

It seems that companies that received the “intent to deny” notices have 20 days to respond, and the Commerce Department has 45 days to advise them of any change in a decision, otherwise it becomes final. After that, Companies would have another 45 days window to appeal that decision.

After more than a year of restrictions, the United States had finally started issuing licenses to companies for commencing supplies to Huawei as long as the components were not related to the development of 5G technology. And now just months after that, the U.S. government is backing out from that as well, incurring hundreds of billions of losses for companies tied-up between this trade war.

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