ZTE S30 Pro officially confirmed to launch on March 30

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Mar 19, 2021

Chinese manufacturer ZTE has officially confirmed via a Weibo post that the S30 series will be launched in China on March 30. The new S series mid-range smartphones will be spearheaded by the S30 Pro which we expect to come with several top-of-the-pack features.

So far, from the available specs already made public, the stand-out feature of the ZTE S30 Pro is a quite decent camera system – it is equipped with a 64MP main camera and a 44MP front camera. Close watchers and insiders have said that the soon-to-be-released S series is being propped as a replacement of the ZTE’s Blade series, although much speculation still surrounds the upcoming release. In the coming days leading to the March 30 launch, we would expect ZTE to throw in additional specs and features of the S30 Pro as it continues to build the tempo for a massive launch for this smartphone series which is expected to be affordable.

The March 30 launch date for the S series will also likely see the company showcase its new ecosystem strategy dubbed 1+2+N. The strategy focuses on a new user experience across several ZTE appliances which may be interconnected and controlled via the user’s ZTE smartphone or tablet. This will thus provide a unified interface for a wide array of operations across the connected devices.

Huawei, OPPO, and Realme are known to have also deployed similar product concepts that promote the creation of an ecosystem.

Although the ZTE S30 Pro is billed to be unveiled as a mid-range smartphone, we are still in the realm of speculation as to the cost of the smartphone. The manufacturer is yet to give a hint on that aspect of the upcoming launch and our “leak radar” is yet to discover any of such information.

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POCO seems to be planning a dual launch for the POCO F3 and X3 Pro on March 22

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 19, 2021

A few days ago, Xiaomi’s independent POCO brand confirmed that it will be holding a launch event in India on March 22. The popularity of the POCO brand dates back to the iconic POCO F1 which not only arrived with flagship specs but also hit the ground running with affordable pricing. After that model, POCO has released a number of successors including the F2 Pro which was launched last year.

POCO X3 Pro Renders Leak Featured 02 — POCO X3 Pro Leaked Renders

Now, there have been speculations that the tech brand may launch two smartphones at a go during the March 22 event. The POCO F3 is expected to make its debut alongside the POCO X3 Pro. POCO may have just confirmed this speculation with its latest tweet which spoke about the brand “unleashing the beasts,” with emphasis on “beasts”. You will agree that if the Chinese brand was referring to a single phone model, a singular noun would have been used.

Indian tipster Mukul Sharma hopped on POCO Global’s mentions and disclosed via two hashtags that the POCO F3 and X3 Pro are to be unveiled on that day. While we can’t be so sure about it but that is what it seems. We’ll have to wait for just a few more days before the launch date.

The launch event is expected to kick off at 08:00 PM (GMT) on March 22.

Beasts eh? #POCO #POCOF3 #POCOX3Pro https://t.co/KRNVN8d6mG

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) March 18, 2021

The POCO F3 is expected to arrive as the global variant of the Redmi K40 that was launched in China recently. The model recently received FCC certification bearing the same model number as the Redmi K40. The flagship model will sport an AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The flagship model will get its juice from the Snapdragon 870 chipset, 48MP triple rear cameras, and more. Thus, it makes a perfect combo for becoming a member of the legendary POCO F-series of devices.

On the other hand, the POCO X3 Pro is expected to feature a 120Hz FHD+ display and will be powered by an unreleased Snapdragon 860 chipset. The phone will also pack a mammoth 5,200mAh battery.

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Deal: Buy Zeaplus Studio Headphone at a 50% discount for $19.99 only

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Daily Deals

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Mar 18, 2021

Giztop is giving an amazing deal on Zeaplus Studio Headphones. The headphone which generally retails at $39.99 is now available for $19.99 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Zeaplus Studio Headphones at $19.99 @Giztop

Zeaplus studio headphone is a budget wireless headphone with an Active Noise Cancellation function. The headset’s exterior body is made of black plastic with a matte finish and a brushed bright metal is used for the top expansion. Made with soft and breathable material the over-ear sponge is comfortable for long usage. For wireless use, the full-charged headset can continuously work for 16 hours with noise canceling on, while it can last up to 25 hours with noise canceling off. For more detailed information and comparison on Zeaplus Studio check out this article from Gizmochina.

Generally retailing at $39.99, Giztop is giving Zeaplus Studio Headphone for $19.99 only. With a whopping 50% discount, this deal from Giztop is simply too good to ignore. So grab your Zeaplus Studio headphone asap.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

OnePlus Warp Charge 50 Wireless Charger has a better design thanks to its removable cable

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 18, 2021

OnePlus has a new wireless charger coming, one that is not only faster but also has a better design. A teaser video shared by OnePlus on Twitter gives us our best look at the OnePlus Warp Charge 50 Wireless Charger.

When OnePlus announced the OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless Charger for the OnePlus 8 Pro last year, we reported that it has a design flaw. This flaw, which is that it had a power adapter that was undetachable, made it impossible to pass the cable through the grommet on a desk. The cable is also fairly short at 3 feet, and since it is permanently fixed, it means you can’t use a longer cable if you want.

Something new really is on the horizon. Charge your way. #OnePlus9Series

— OnePlus 3 (@oneplus) March 18, 2021

As seen in the video above, the OnePlus Warp Charge 50 Wireless Charger has a removable USB-C cable which solves the problems of the 30W wireless charger. We are pretty sure we are not the only ones happy that OnePlus listened and improved the design.

The video shows that the charger has a white body with a band of silver that goes around it. It also shows that you can charge your phone in both landscape and portrait orientations.

In related news, the OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless Charger is listed as out of stock on the OnePlus online store in the US, Canada, and the UK. However, we do not know if this is a coincidence and it will be back in stock soon or if OnePlus plans to stop selling it in favor of the new charger which we believe should be backward compatible with the OnePlus 8 Pro.

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Samsung Galaxy A51 5G and A71 5G get the One UI 3.1(Android 11) update

By

Balaji S

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Mar 18, 2021

Samsung, which launched the 2021 editions of the Galaxy A5x and A7x smartphones yesterday, has started rolling out a new update for its predecessors. The Galaxy A51 5G and A71 5G are now getting the One UI 3.1(Android 11) update.

Do note that the Verizon version of these devices has already received the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 updates last month. However, it hadn’t launched in other regions. Today, the company is rolling out firmware updates with version A516NKSU3CUC4 for Galaxy A51 5G and A716SKSU3CUC4 for Galaxy A71 5G in Korea.

This end of Beta and rollout of stable has been confirmed on the Samsung community forums of Korea and is followed by screenshots of users confirming the arrival of One UI 3.1.

One UI 3.1 was introduced along with the Galaxy S21 and it brings a host of features like revamped UI, Private Share, GPS location data removal on Images, more Lock screen widgets, Background Video Calling, improved stock apps, and more.

That said, the Galaxy A51 5G and Galaxy A71 5G, unlike the US, have received the One UI 3.1 directly in Korea. Hence, you can expect the same for other regions as well. Speaking of which, the update, which includes the March 2021 security patch, could take a few days before reflecting for everyone so keep that in mind.

However, if you are someone living in Korea, you can check for the update by navigating to Settings > Software update > Download and install. As for the US, expect the devices to get the incremental One UI 3.1 anytime soon.

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OnePlus 9 Pro’ 50W wireless charging support confirmed; wireless charger certified by WPC

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 18, 2021

Wireless charging has recorded significant improvements in a very short span. The charging technology is now as fast and even faster than some wired charging technology. Today, OnePlus has confirmed that its new flagship, the OnePlus 9 Pro supports 50W Wireless Charging.

A tweet by Pete Lau has confirmed that the OnePlus 9 Pro supports 50W Wireless Charging. He goes on to reveal that the device will charge from empty to 100% in just 43 minutes via the wireless charging technology.

And while we're at it, if you want to talk about speed:
29 minutes to 100%, wired charging
43 minutes to 100%, wireless charging pic.twitter.com/zcw0wmPZAn

— Pete Lau (@PeteLau) March 18, 2021

This race doesn't go down to the wire. #OnePlus9Series

— OnePlus 3 (@oneplus) March 18, 2021

A tweet by the official OnePlus account shows the OnePlus 9 Pro’s fast wireless charging in a speed test against an iPhone. We also catch a glimpse of the 50W wireless charger which was certified today by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). The image below from the WPC certification page gives us a better look.

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The charger, which is officially called the OnePlus Warp Charge 50 Wireless Charger, has a white finish like the OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless Charger but the design is slightly different, Although it keeps the vertical design, however, unlike the 30W wireless charger which has a horizontal ridge in the middle, the 50W wireless charger is completely flat. There is an LED in front of where the phone rests when charging and we can make out slip-resistant pads underneath.

In Pete Lau’s tweet above, he also reveals that the OnePlus 9 Pro will be able to fully charge in 29 minutes via wired charging. This is shorter than the 39 minutes duration of the OnePlus 8T which also supports 65W fast wired charging and also has a 4500mAh battery like the OnePlus 9 Pro. Our guess is that the OnePlus 9 Pro may be coming with an enhanced version of Warp Charge 65.

The OnePlus 9 series will be announced on March 23 at a global launch event. Alongside the OnePlus 9 Pro, we will also get the OnePlus 9, the OnePlus 9R, and the OnePlus Watch.

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Deal: Buy Xiaomi Redmi Airdots S for $14.82 and Redmi Airdots 2 for $14.95 only

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Daily Deals

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Mar 18, 2021

Xiaomi Redmi Airdots S and Airdots 2 are now available at discounted prices at AliExpress. Redmi Airdots S is selling at $14.82 and Redmi Airdots 2 is selling for $14.95 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Xiaomi Redmi Airdots S and Airdots 2 at $14.82 and $14.95 @AliExpress

Redmi Airdots S and Airdots 2 come with Bluetooth 5.0. This means faster and stable connections with a high speed and data transmission rate. The deep bass and high-quality stereo audio make it a pleasure to listen to your favorite tunes on Xiaomi Redmi Airdots S and Airdots 2 at a cheap price. The multi-functional touch control can easily navigate through your music as well as pick up and hang calls and activate the built-in XiaoAI voice assistant.

The main difference between the Redmi Airdots 2 and Redmi Airdots S lies in the dedicated gaming mode found only in Airdots S which significantly reduces the latency and enhances your gameplay.

Available in single Black color, these budget earbuds are selling on AliExpress at heavy discounts. Redmi Airdots S is available at $14.82 and Redmi Airdots 2 is selling for $14.95 only. So go and grab your discounted Airdots asap.

However, if you are ready to shell out a little more we would recommend you to also check out this review of Redmi Airdots 3. This next-generation earbud from Xiaomi is packed with some extraordinary features at a budget-friendly price. Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 3 is retailing at around $37 @Aliexpress or @Giztop

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

90-Points launches Fully Automatic Folding Umbrella with Flashlight

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 18, 2021

It has been a long time we saw an umbrella launched under Xiaomi’s ecosystem. That has changed as Xiaomi’s ecological chain company, 90-Points has launched the 90-Points Fully Automatic Folding Umbrella ahead of the upcoming spring season. The umbrella has an original price tag of 99 yuan (~$15) but is on sale for 89 yuan (~$13) during the crowdfunding exercise.One of the top-selling points of this umbrella is its folding non-wet design. The fabric also allows for somatosensory cooling of between 3-7 degrees. Finally, the umbrella is equipped with high-brightness LED lighting and automatic opening and closing.

Unlike ordinary umbrellas, the 90-Point automatic umbrella utilizes a reverse folding design when it is to be closed. In other words, the wet outside part will fold inside while the dry part will be outside. This apparently makes it easy to move about with a wet umbrella. It features a high-density cloth that is water repellent. Thus, it won’t take time for the umbrella to get dried after use.

Talking of the LED lighting built into the 90-Point Automatic Folding Umbrella, it features LED lamp beads located at the base of the handle that can irradiate a distance of about 10 cm. There is a built-in switch that uses a push design so as to prevent misoperation. The handle has a compartment that houses the battery. The cell is a removable button battery with a large capacity of 120mAh.

It equally features a sturdy frame that is made of mixed fiberglass ribs, combined with a tough middle rod, giving it a wind resistance of level 6. It also has an explosion-proof safety lock.

This umbrella has a good sunshade effect as the fabric is designed with a special anti-UV coating processing technology that blocks light and insulates the user against heat. The sun protection factor can reach UPF50+. The coating cannot be eroded by rain or corrosion and can last for a long time.

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Micromax IN 1 press renders leaked before launch

By

Balaji S

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Mar 18, 2021

Micromax is launching the IN 1 smartphone tomorrow i.e., March 19 in India. Ahead of the event, press renders of the device have been leaked.

Abhishek Yadav, on Twitter, has posted what he says the Official press renders of the upcoming Micromax IN 1. We can see that the images show a similarity to the IN Note 1 smartphone. A few days ago, Micromax itself had confirmed its design via a microsite page.

Anyway, looking at the renders, we see two colors- Blue and Purple. The rounded rectangle camera layout on the back has an LED flash and an AI logo that some might take for a camera lens. There are three cameras arranged in inverted L fashion and have a 48MP f/1.79 etching beside them.

The rear also has the stripes that shimmers to give an ‘X’ design like the green variant of the IN Note 1. Apart from this, we have a physical fingerprint sensor at the top and an ‘in’ logo at the bottom.

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Upfront, we have the punch-hole display with noticeable bezels on the bottom. Speaking of which, the display is said to be a 6.67-inch FHD+ display with a 21:9 aspect ratio, and 450 nits max brightness.

MediaTek Helio G80 is said to power the device paired with up to 6GB RAM and a 128GB storage option. Apart from the main 48MP sensor, the other two lenses are likely a pair of 2MP sensors. Upfront, it will probably have an 8MP selfie shooter. Other expected specs include a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging.

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Super Deal: Buy Amazfit GTR Smartwatch for $99.99 on Amazon US (Original Price $150)

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Daily Deals

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Mar 18, 2021

Attention Readers! Amazon US is giving an awesome deal on Amazfit GTR Smartwatch. The watch which generally retails for $150 is now available at a discounted price of $99.99 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Amazfit GTR Smartwatch at $99.99 @Amazon US

Amazfit GTR Smartwatch comes with a brilliant 1.39” AMOLED display, and a gallery of watch faces to choose from. The delicate yet rugged design is complemented with a dual crown and circular watch face. The smartwatch features Smart Sports Tracking technology that allows you to record 12 different sports and fitness activities including running, cycling, swimming, mountaineering, etc, and comes with an ultra-long battery life of 24 days.

With an advanced full-scale heart rate monitor, step counter, and sleep tracker, this stylish smartwatch fulfills almost all your health and exercise needs.

Generally retailing at $150 Amazfit GTR is now available for $99.99 only at Amazon US. This discount offer combined with free shipping is simply too good to be true. So go grab your Amazfit GTR before the deal expires.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Motorola razr 5G starts receiving Android 11 update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 18, 2021

The Motorola razr 5G is the company’s second foldable smartphone after the Motorola razr 2019. This handset debuted with Android 10 in September 2020. Now, months later, it has started receiving the Android 11 update.

Last December, Motorola published a list of devices that will be updated to Android 11. However, the company did not reveal when these smartphones will be getting the update.

Unsurprisingly, being a premium handset, the Motorola razr 5G is eligible for this update and the device has now started receiving it as well. According to an automated Telegram channel called Moto Updates Tacker (via PiunikaWeb), the razr 5G Android 11 update is currently live in Japan with build number RPS31.Q1-40-17-12.

As of now, it is not known when this update will be available in other regions. But it should be rolled out to more users across the world in the coming weeks.

Despite revealing the list of eligible devices in December, Lenovo-owned Motorola began seeding out Android 11 stable update only in late January starting with Moto G Pro. The update was later rolled out to Moto G8 and Moto G8 Power last week.

Apart from the above-mentioned four Motorola smartphones, the Verizon Motorola Edge+ is also receiving the Android 11 update right now.

OnePlus 9R confirmed to launch in India on March 23, will provide flagship experience at affordable price

By

Balaji S

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Mar 18, 2021

It’s a no-brainer that the OnePlus 9 series is arriving on March 23 globally and March 24 in China. The company has so far been promoting the OnePlus 9, 9 Pro devices but never spoke about the rumored 9R. That ends today as OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed it himself.

OnePlus 9 Pro Morning Mist Featured 04 — Representative image: OnePlus 9 Pro

In an exclusive interview with News18, Pete Lau says that the company is excited to bring the OnePlus 9R. The device will be targeted for a flagship experience at an affordable price.

If we recall, an older Android Central report said that the company is planning to bring a third device with an older Snapdragon 865 chipset. This was first believed to be the OnePlus 9 Lite only to be revealed as the OnePlus 9R later.

Coming back, Pete says that both the OnePlus 9R and OnePlus Watch will launch alongside the OnePlus 9, 9 Pro on March 23. He goes on to say further that the device will focus more on “smooth scrolling, immersive gaming controls and a superior viewing experience”.

To aid the above parameters, the device will also have the technology and class-leading industrial design so that the company can give a balanced all-around smartphone as per Pete. Talking about 5G, he says the network provides improved speed, better latency for cloud gaming.

There were vague rumors about the third device launching with watered-down specs like Snapdragon 690 5G chipset but looking at Pete Lau’s interview we feel that the device will be closer to the OnePlus 9, 9 Pro in performance, user experience, 5G but sell at a lower price.

Apart from India, we can also expect OnePlus to bring the 9R to countries like China.

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Meizu teases the Meizu 18 for global buyers; available on its AliExpress store

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Updated Apr 14, 2021

The Meizu 18 and Meizu 18 Pro are Meizu’s flagship phones for this year. While they are more expensive than their predecessors, they do come with some pretty significant upgrades. However, just like the Meizu 17 and Meizu 16 series, these phones will most likely not get a global release but Meizu plans to make them available for international buyers.

The official Meizu Twitter account posted a tweet earlier today about the Meizu 18. The attached image listed some of the phone’s selling points but the most important point is that it also has an official international price of $819.99!

Getting know about Meizu 18 small screen full configuration flagship💗 pic.twitter.com/b8OJs8qJCn

— MEIZU (@MEIZU) March 18, 2021

While Meizu didn’t say where interested buyers can grab the small-screen flagship, we found it is available on its official store on AliExpress, although as at the time of writing, the base model is currently out of stock. Do note that it is not a global version but the Chinese version

We are not entirely sure of Meizu’s plans for the Meizu 18 series. We have contacted them but are yet to get a reply. Nevertheless, we presume the tweet is teasing an availability of the phone albeit the Chinese version, for international buyers. We also want to believe it is gauging the interest for a proper global release of the phone or of a future model.

The Meizu 18 has a 6.2-inch curved S-AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Snapdragon 888 processor and has up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There is a 64MP main camera on the back along with a 16MP ultrawide angle camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera. It also has a 20MP selfie camera.

Meizu ships the phone with a 4000mAh battery with support for 36W fast charging via USB-C. It runs Flyme 9 based on Android 11 out of the box and is available in Blue, Sunset Ocean, and White Gray.

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Upcoming Motorola Hanoip phone with 108MP triple cameras bags BIS certification

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 18, 2021

At the beginning of this month, a leak by German publication TechnikNews revealed that Motorola is gearing up to launch a new phone that is codenamed as Hanoip. The publication had revealed that the model number of the device is XT-2135-1/2. Popular tipster and YouTuber Mukul Sharma spotted the XT-2135-2 variant listed in the database of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

As usual, the BIS listing has not revealed any information about the XT-2135-2 smartphone. However, the certification is a good hint that it will be arriving in the Indian market soon.

The identity of the XT-2147-1 and XT-2129-5 Motorola phones can also be seen in the screenshot of the BIS certification shared by Sharma. The XT-2129-5 model number belongs to the Moto G30, which recently launched in India and global markets. While the XT-2147-1 has also received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S, there is no word on its final product name.

Motorola Hanoip specifications (Rumored)

The Motorola Hanoip smartphone is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 732G chipset and it is expected to arrive in options like 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. It may feature a 32-megapixel + 16-megapixel dual selfie camera system and its rear camera setup may include a 108-megapixel Samsung HM2 primary camera, a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

The handset is expected to arrive in colors like Iceberg, Terracotta, and Sangria. There is no word on its pricing yet.

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Deal: Get Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal for $89 (Original Price $100)

By

Daily Deals

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Mar 18, 2021

If you are looking for a phone gimbal with some smart functions then check out this offer on Zhiyun Smooth 4,3-Axis phone gimbal. Generally retailing at $100 the gimbal is now available for $89 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Zhiyun Smooth 4,3-Axis phone gimbal at $89@AliExpress

Designed for mobile filmmakers Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal comes with a unique control panel with a separate menu, display, focus/zoom, and light buttons and a dedicated follow focus handwheel. Moreover, with advanced functions like the phone-go mode, you can use the gimbal to shoot fast-moving objects like vehicles and animals with clarity and precision.

Made with high-quality durable yet lightweight material Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal is comfortable to hold and easy to carry around. The ergonomic design and hammer paint texture adds a unique luster with a more sensible hand feel and advanced functions like timelapse, motion lapse, hyper-lapse, etc makes this gimbal a must-have for all aspiring mobile moviemakers.

Zhiyun Smooth 4 3-Axis gimbal generally retails at $100. But as a limited period offer, AliExpress is selling this product for $89 only. Please note that this offer is valid only on the SM4-Black variant ordered from the China warehouse. So without further ado order your gimbal asap.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Possible Xiaomi foldable (M2011J18C) smartphone gets 3C certification in China

By

Balaji S

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Mar 18, 2021

Xiaomi’s foldable smartphone has been in development for years now. Right from a prototype video showcased in early 2019, the company’s first foldable device has triggered quite a lot of expectations. This year, it is finally going to launch up to three such devices according to reports. And one of those might have just appeared on China’s 3C certification.

Alleged Xiaomi foldable spotted in the wild

A Xiaomi smartphone with model number M2011J18C appears on the 3C certification authority website. If you recall, this device, likely a foldable smartphone, had appeared on the TENAA certification last month.

A few reports have said that the company would bring this device under the Mi MIX series but that’s not confirmed yet. In that report, it was mentioned that the device would come with a 67W Wired Fast charging support.

In line with that, the 3C certification of the M2011J18C shows that the device can charge up to a maximum of 20V at 3.25A~65W. Apart from this, the listing shows that it supports 5G connectivity.

So far, reports say that the device would adopt Galaxy Z Fold2 like hinge design hinting at an inward folding display. The device is expected to feature and a display of around 7-inches with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Other expected features include a flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset, 108MP camera, 5,000mAh battery, run MIUI 12, and more. Let’s wait for more concrete details which are sure to come out as the launch draws near.

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ASUS ZenFone 8 Mini may offer 120Hz 5.9-inch OLED display and Snapdragon 888

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 18, 2021

ASUS has recently unveiled the ROG Phone 5 gaming smartphone and it is now rumored to be working on the ZenFone 8 series of flagship phones. According to a new report by XDA Developers which cites information found through the kernel source of ROG Phone 5 has revealed that there are models in the ZenFone 8 series. These handsets are codenamed as “SAKE”, “PICASSO”, and “VODKA.”

The ASUS “SAKE” model is expected to debut as the ZenFone 8 Mini. It is believed to have a model number of ASUS_ZS590KS / ASUS_I006D. It is expected to arrive with specs like a 5.92-inch OLED screen that offers a 120Hz refresh rate and a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. It is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset.

For photography, it features a new camera with Sony IMX663 model number and a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 camera. It could be equipped with a Cirrus CS35L45 amplifier. In the ASUS software, the handset found to be mentioned as a “small phone,” which indicates that it could be the smallest Snapdragon 888 SoC powered smartphone.

The “PICASSO” handset could be the ZenFone 8 handset. It is expected to arrive with specs like a 120Hz 6.67-inch OLED panel, Pixel i6 visual processor, and Snapdragon 888 chipset. For photography, it may feature a 64-megpaixel (Sony IMX686) + 12.2-megapixel (Sony IMX363) + 8-megapixel telephoto (OmniVision) triple camera system and a 24-megapixel (OV24B1Q) selfie camera. The same camera setup can be found on the ZenFone 7. Its model number ASUS_ZS672KS / ASUS_I004D,

There is no word on the identity of the “VODKA” model, which is said to have ASUS_Z5675KW / ASUS_I007D model number. It is expected to feature a 6.7-inch display and Snapdragon 888 chipset. In related news, two monikers such as ASUS ZenFone 8 and ZenFone 8 Flip were spotted in the ASUS PixelMaster Camera app’s latest version. It is not clear whether the ASUS_ZS672KS or the ASUS_Z5675KW will be called ZenFone 8 Flip.

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vivo V17 Pro has started receiving Funtouch OS 11 (Android 11) update in India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 18, 2021

Chinese smartphone maker vivo shared Funtouch OS 11 (Android 11) update plan for India in early January. Keeping up with the schedule, the company has started rolling out this update for the vivo V17 Pro in the country.

A few days back, vivo began to seed the FuntouchOS 11 update for the regular vivo V17 in India. Now, this update is live for vivo V17 Pro as well.

According to a report by PiunikaWeb, the Android 11 update for vivo V17 Pro is currently under greyscale testing. In simpler words, the latest update is only available for a select few users of this smartphone.

For those unaware, vivo greyscale testing is similar to Xiaomi MIUI Stable Beta. These types of builds are made available for only a few users to test their stability before rolling out to everyone. In this way, companies can avoid catastrophe if there are problems with the software build.

Anyway, the vivo V17 Pro FuntouchOS 11 (Android 11) update should be available for all the users in India very soon. However, we cannot tell for sure how long it will take for the company to seed it out to everyone.

That said, Android 11 should be the last major software update for the vivo V17 Pro since vivo is not known for providing more than two Android updates. This handset debuted with Android 9.0-based Funtouch OS 9.1 was updated to Android 10 (Funtouch OS 10) last year.

Huawei to launch the FreeBuds 4 in four color variants in May: Tipster

By

Sean

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Mar 18, 2021

Earlier today (18th March 2021), a tipster on Weibo,a Chinese microblogging website, shared that Huawei might be planning on launching its FreeBuds 4 truly wireless earbuds in four color variants in May 2021.

As per a social media post from @勇气数码君, the Chinese tech giant is planning on launching its latest iteration of the FreeBuds earphones in May. The wireless earbuds will be available in four different colors. At the moment, it is currently unknown what colors the new hearables will arrive in, but it is expected to be a white, black, red, and silver. The codename for the upcoming earphones is “Mermaid.”

The previous iteration, the FreeBuds 3, had a semi in ear design and still featured active noise cancellation feature (ANC). This design is expected to likely to be carried forward for the upcoming FreeBuds 4. Keep in mind, the actual name of the new earbuds are unknown as of right now. Notably, the consumer electronics maker already launched a FreeBuds 4i model recently.

Unfortunately, the finer details like specifications of the new earphones are still unknown. The FreeBuds 3 arrived with the Huawei HiSilicon’s Kirin A1 chipset along with support for Bluetooth 5.1, the first earphone to feature it. This is all the information we have so far, so stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

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itel G-series 32, 43, and 55-inch Android TVs launched in India: Specs, Features, and Price

By

Balaji S

-

Mar 18, 2021

As reported before, a brand of Transsion Holdings, itel, has entered the Android TV market and launched its new G-series Smart TVs in India. The company has brought four models in total and they span across three different sizes- 32,43, and 55-inches. Let’s take a look at their specifications, features, and prices.

itel G-series Android TV itel G3230IE, itel G4330IE, itel G4334IE, and itel G5534IE Price, Availability

itel has brought four Android TVs to the market. The lower-priced ones run Android TV 9 whereas the 43 and 55-inches run Android TV 10. You can take a look at the pricing below:

itel G3230IE(32-inch, HD Ready)– ₹16,999
itel G4330IE(43-inch, FHD)– ₹28,499

The company hasn’t revealed the complete list of pricing yet but said that the TVs would be available for purchase starting today across offline stores in the country.

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itel G-series 32-inch, 43-inch, 55-inch Android TVs Specifications and Features

itel G3230IE and itel G4330IE

itel 32-inch and 43-inch Android TV with model numbers itel G3230IE and itel G4330IE has HD ready and FHD display. These displays have resolutions of 1366×768 and 1920×1080 pixels respectively. They also have a viewing angle of 170°, and have respective contrast ratios of 3000:1 and 4000:1.

In terms of storage, these two TVs have 1GB RAM and 8GB storage each. They run Android TV 9, have I/O like 1xTuner, 2xHDMI, 1xMini AV, 1xUSB, 1xRJ-45, 1×3.5mm jack, 1xOptical

itel G4334IE and itel G5534IE

On the other hand, the itel G4334IE and itel G5534IE come in 43-inch and 53-inches sizes, have a 4K UHD panel with a resolution of 3840*2160 Pixels, and 1300:1 and 1200:1 contrast ratios respectively.

Unlike the above models, these two Android TVs have slightly wider viewing angles(178°). Also, they have 2GB RAM and 8GB onboard storage, run Android TV 10, have 3xHDMI, 2xUSB ports, 1xMini AV & Mini-YPbPr port in addition to the ones mentioned above.

Apart from this, all the four models have some common features like frameless design, 60Hz refresh rate displays, 24W(12*2) speakers with Dolby Audio, Bluetooth remote with Voice control for Google Assistant(Hotkeys for Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube), Play Store, Google Assistant, Chromecast built-in, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity.

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