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Honor Band 6 fitness tracker announced for the global markets at CES 2021

A few months ago, Honor, which was a part of Huawei at the time, had launched its next-generation fitness tracker — Honor Band 6. Today, the same device has been announced for the global markets at CES 2021.

The highlight of this wearable device is that it comes with a bigger display compared to other devices from its competitors. The Honor Band 6 flaunts a 1.47-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 194 x 368 pixels and 2.5D glass.

Honor Band 6
Honor Band 6

There’s no capacitive key on the device given that the tacker is using gesture navigation. However, there’s a red-colored physical button on the right side of the device to wake the device up and on the left side, there’s an Honor branding.

As for the features, it comes with support for 10 sports modes, blood oxygen level monitoring, Huawei TruSeen 4.0 24-hour heart-rate monitoring, Huawei TruSleep sleep monitoring, and menstrual cycle monitoring, among others.

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi K40 flagship series confirmed to launch in February, key specs and price revealed

It also comes with Bluetooth 5.0, an accelerometer, gyroscope, optical heart rate sensor. The device, which is rated 5ATM for water resistance, is powered by a 180mAh battery that is promised to offer 14 days of battery life on a single charge.

The company has confirmed that the Honor Band 6 will soon launch in select markets for a price of around $35. In China, the device is priced at 249 yuan, which is roughly the same as the global pricing. So far, the company has not revealed the name of countries where this new fitness tracker will be available for purchase.

 

Redmi K40 series confirmed to launch in February, key specs and price revealed

Ever since Redmi became an independent brand, it has been releasing a flagship smartphone of its own. The first model was Redmi K20 Pro (Mi 9T Pro), followed by Redmi K30 Pro, which is sold as POCO F2 Pro in global markets. Now, just a few days after the launch of Xiaomi Mi 11, the world’s first smartphone powered by Snapdragon 888, Redmi also confirms the arrival of the Redmi K40 series powered by the same Qualcomm chip.

Redmi K40 Series Teaser Poster

The information regarding the launch of the Redmi K40 series comes directly from Redmi’s General Manager, Lu Weibing. He shared a post on Weibo revealing some key features of the brand’s upcoming flagship smartphone series.

According to him, the Redmi K40 series will be officially announced in February. Since the post as well teaser poster read ‘series’, we expect at least two devices – Redmi K40 and Redmi K40 but there could be more. Because last year, Redmi released multiple variants of Redmi K30 and a Zoom Edition of Redmi K30 Pro with a different camera setup.

That said, although the GM mentions Snapdragon 888, this chipset should be mostly exclusive to the Pro version, which he also confirms to start from ¥2,999 ($463). In other words, the Redmi K40 Pro could be the cheapest Snapdragon 888 smartphone for a while just like its predecessor.

Further, the brand’s executive also reveals the device to probably sport the “most expensive flat display” (translated”) and a battery rated above 4,000mAh. Since expensive panels are usually associated with AMOLED displays, we can expect the phone, at least the Pro variant to come with this type of screen. But there’s a chance that all the devices in the series may feature 144Hz refresh rate LCD panels like the Mi 10T (Redmi K30S Ultra) and the Mi 10T Pro.

Anyway, we expect to learn more about the Redmi K40 series via certifications, leaks, and teasers ahead of the official launch next month.

 

HP launches new Dragonfly laptops, features 5G and in built Tile tracking

Back in 2020, HP had launched the Elite Dragonfly laptop, which arrived with an impressively light weight of just 2.2 pounds (which is just under 1 kilogram). Now, the company is making the Dragonfly into a new series of light business oriented notebooks and has launched two new models in the series.

HP has now launched the Dragonfly Max and Dragonfly G2. The latter arrives with Intel’s latest 11th gen processors along with up to 32GB of RAM, which is an upgrade over the first gen’s 16GB limit. Other upgrades include, new “premium” keyboards that are backlit and spill resistant as well and arrive with additional features like on lap detection and Context Aware, which basically helps the device tell if it’s in users’ bag. Similarly, it can also detect if it’s on a stable surface or one’s lap based on how steady and even the surface is.

HP

This feature was added to avoid the laptop from getting too hot and lower the temperature so it doesn’t get too uncomfortably warm. When on an even surface, the new Dragonfly laptops can hit higher temps again. As for the Context Aware, HP claims that the feature can slash boot times by about “10+ seconds” and will even optimize battery life when the user is on the go. Both the HP Dragonfly Max and G2 arrive with 4G or 5G support, and a 13.3 inch display but with different configuration options.

The G2 arrives with a low powered FHD screen alongside HP Sure Vie privacy feature that can be upgraded to a UHD panel, which supports HDR400 that offers up to 1000 nits of brightness. It weighs just under a kilogram similar to its predecessor while the Max is a bit heavier, weighing about 1.1 kilograms. Furthermore, both the new laptops feature Tile trackers integrated into the WLAN module. While both laptops are quite similar, the Max arrives with a few additional features like a 5 megapixel webcam and an IR sensor for Windows Hello login. On the other hand, the G2 only sports a 720p (1.2 megapixel camera).

HP

The HP Dragonfly Max also features HP Eye Ease that meets Eyesafe requirements. The slightly heftier version arrives in a new “Sparkling Black” color option in additional to the original blue, while the G2 only has the blue variant. Both laptops will be available for purchase in January 2021, although the company has yet to unveil the pricing for these laptops and will reveal the details near its launch date.

 

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite BIS certified; Could it be launching in Q1?

Soon after Xiaomi announced the Xiaomi Mi 11 flagship phone in China, the rumor mill started speculating on the arrival of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite mid-range phone. Last week, the handset that has a model number of M2101K9AG bagged approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. Rumors have it could be one of the several Xiaomi phones to debut in early 2021. The Indian variant of the smartphone received certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Sunday (via). The BIS certification is a good hint that the handset will be heading to India in the near future.

The M2101K9AI Xiaomi phone’s listing at BIS has neither revealed its moniker nor specifications. The name was confirmed when its global variant (M2101K9AG) has FCC certification.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite BIS certified

The FCC listing of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite revealed that it has an LTE smartphone and it is packed with a 4,250mAh battery. The phone carries support for 33W fast charging technology and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. The handset may come in two variants such as 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage.

Rumors are rife that the Mi 11 Lite may come with a 120Hz LCD display with a punch-hole design. The Snapdragon 732G chipset could be present under the hood. It could be coming with a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 5-megapixel triple camera system.

It was revealed through a recent leak that the upcoming POCO F2’s model number is K9A. It could be a rebranded or a modified version of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite that has a model number of M2021K9AG. There is a possibility that some markets may receive the Mi 11 Lite as the POCO F2.

 

Apple to launch new AirPods Pro and iPhone SE in April 2021: Report

Apple has been rumored to be gearing up for the launch of its next gen AirPods Pro and a new iPhone SE model. Now, a new report suggests that the company will be releasing its latest TWS earbuds and iPhone in April 2021.

Apple

According to a MacOtakara report (Via MacRumours), the Cupertino based giant will release the second generation AirPods Pro and the third generation iPhone SE model in April 2021. The news arrives from sources from within the company’s Chinese supply chain. As per the report, the upcoming AirPods Pro iteration will arrive with slight changes in its charging case. Reportedly, the new charging case for the hearables will retain its 21mm thickness height of 46mm and a width of 54mm.

This makes the second generation ever so slightly taller and narrower than the existing AirPods Pro that arrives with a charging case with a height of 45.2mm and a width of 60.6mm. Unfortunately, the report does not offer any other specifics regarding the wireless earphones from Apple. Similarly, it also doesn’t reveal any information regarding the new iPhone SE either.

Apple

Rounding out a couple of rumors, Apple was reportedly aiming to remove the stem on its earbuds for the upcoming AirPods Pro. This would have the earbuds resemble a design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Buds. Furthermore, the iPhone SE rumors have centered around a larger Plus variant also launching alongside the base model. In other words, a 5.5 inch and 6.1 inch display variant being released, the larger version is apparently expected to hit the market by the second half of 2021. However, these are just unconfirmed reports at the moment, so take these with a pinch of salt for now.

 

OnePlus Band for Rs 2,499 (~$34) launched with AMOLED display, 14-day battery life, fitness tracking sensors and more

Finally, the OnePlus Band has gone official in India as the first wearable device from OnePlus. Priced aggressively, the first fitness tracker from OnePlus comes with a decent display, a long-lasting battery, and various health and fitness tracking features.

OnePlus Band specifications and features

The OnePlus Band has a 1.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen full-color display that produces 126 x 294 pixels. Users can customize the appearance of the OnePlus Band by using different UI wallpapers. The 100mAh battery of the device promises a 14-day battery life. The fitness band can be charged using a USB-A wired charging dongle. It comes with user-replaceable straps. The main device comes with support for 5ATM and IP68 water and dust resistance.

The handset can be linked with Android devices running on Android 6.0 or higher. Once paired, users can make use of the OnePlus Health app on the phone to track their health data. For connectivity, it comes with support for Bluetooth 5.0 LE.

OnePlus Band
OnePlus Band

Coming to health features, the OnePlus Band is equipped with features like a heart rate sensor, a SpO2 tracker, a sleep monitor, a gyroscope, and a 3-axis accelerometer. When it comes to health tracking modes, the OnePlus Band supports tracking activities like indoor and outdoor running, indoor and outdoor walking, indoor and outdoor cycling, elliptical trainer, row machine trainer, swimming, yoga, free training, badminton, and cricket. With the strap, the OnePlus Band weighs 22.6 grams and measures 40.4 x 17.6 x 11.95mm.

OnePlus Band price in India

Priced at Rs 2,499 (~$34), the OnePlus Band has arrived as a rival for the Xiaomi Mi Band 5. The company is offering dual-colored Tangerine Gray and Navy bands for the OnePlus Band buyers for Rs 399 (~$5.4). The sales of the fitness tracker will start tomorrow (Jan. 12) through OnePlus India’s online store, Amazon India, and Flipkart. It is unclear which other markets will be treated with the OnePlus Band.

 

Meizu Pop Pro TWS earphones with ANC launched for 499 yuan ($77)

Meizu first launched its POP true wireless earphones in 2018 and last year, the company launched two models as successors — POP 2 and POP2s. Now, the company has launched yet another model in this lineup.

As expected, the company has today launched the Meizu POP Pro — it’s first true wireless earphones with active noise cancellation. It is priced at 499 yuan, which is approximately $77, and will be up for sale from tomorrow, i.e. 12th January at 10:00 AM local time.

Meizu POP Pro

Design-wise, the newly launched POP Pro resembles the Apple AirPods Pro for the earbuds as well as the charging case. The product is equipped with a three-microphone intelligent call noise reduction algorithm that gets rid of the external environmental noise when the user is making a phone call.

The company claims that thanks to its third-generation noise reduction algorithm, it effectively offers a deep noise reduction of up to 35 decibels. The Meizu POP Pro uses a custom 10mm composite diaphragm moving coil unit for more mid-to-high frequency details as well as strong and powerful bass.

EDITOR’S PICK: Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 to reportedly come with a 13.5-inch AMD Ryzen-powered model

As for the Active Noise Cancellation, the device is powered by Meizu‘s new “triple hybrid active noise reduction technology” which uses feedforward and feedback microphones in the in-ear structure which detects noise to eliminate it.

It comes with features like a one-click connection, wear detection, and touch-based controls. Coming to the battery life, the company says that it offers 6.5 hours of normal usage and 4 hours of usage with noise reduction enabled. Meizu has also claimed that the charging case increases battery life to 20 hours.

 

Honor MagicBook Pro 2021 powered by Intel chipset announced at CES

Just a couple of months after being independent, Honor has announced its latest laptop in the market — Honor MagicBook Pro 2021. The launch comes after the company separated from Huawei, allowing it to source components from US-based firms.

Unlike the previous HonorBook which was powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor, the new models shift to Intel. The device comes powered by the Intel Core i5 10210U processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX350 GPU.

Honor MagicBook Pro 2021

It’s noteworthy that the chipset used in this new laptop is a downgrade compared to the previous model. Also, it is using the 10th generation Intel chip even though the company has already launched the 11th generation models.

It features a 16.1-inch display that comes with a Full HD panel with 100% sRGB coverage. Internally, the device packs 16GB of RAM and 512GB NVMe for storage. There’s also a pop-up webcam for video calling. As for the ports, the device features three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a single HDMI connection, along with the usual 3.5mm headphone jack.

EDITOR’S PICK: CES 2021 — All Major Announcements and Expected Products from Sony, Samsung, LG, Lenovo & More!

The laptop also comes with a fingerprint sensor that doubles as the computer’s power button. As for the battery life, the Chinese company claims to offer over 11 and a half hours of uptime on a single charge, thanks to the 56Wh battery.

Honor is also including a 65W power adapter, which is promised to offer 50 percent charging in about 30 minutes. While the company has not yet revealed the launch of availability, it is confirmed to be priced at $1,000.

 

MediaTek becomes TSMC’s third largest customer after boom in mobile chip sales

MediaTek is now the third largest customer of the world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company). The news arrives as the company sees a surge in demand for its mobile chipsets.

MediaTek

According to a ChinaTimes report, MediaTek has jumped to the third spot after seeing an increase in orders from major smartphone manufacturers like Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi. These orders mainly comprised of its latest 5G enabled processors that have seen a growth in popularity in the industry. Furthermore, it is expected that the shipments of MediaTek chips will reach around 80 to 90 million units within the first half of this year.

This figure is around the same as the total annual shipment for 2020, marking a rise of 1.6 to 1.8 times in terms of annual shipments. At the moment, the company’s flagship 6nm 5G chipset, the Dimensity 1200 series, has reportedly begun, as per the report. Similarly, TSMC’s 7nm and 6nm processes are also projected to output 111,000 wafers in the first quarter of 2021. During this time, Apple would fully shift to the 5nm process for its Mac based and iPhone processors. The Cupertino based giant is also expected to use TSMC’s 5nm process for its upcoming graphics processing units as well in the future.

MediaTek

MediaTek is currently benefitting from the rise in popularity of 5G networking that has penetrated various industries. This includes the smartphone market, the PC industry, and even the wireless networking and the Internet of Things (IoT) field. Additionally, with Honor becoming independent from its former parent company Huawei, the chipmaker is also assessing on supplying the company with its 5G chips.

 

iQOO 7 Neo, Z3, Z3x, U3x specifications and pricing leaked

iQOO will be launching the iQOO 7 later today in China. A Weibo user has shared a couple of screenshots to share the specs of the upcoming iQOO phones such as iQOO 7 Neo, iQOO Z3, iQOO Z3x, and iQOO U3x. Before reading ahead, readers are advised to digest the leak with a grain of salt.

iQOO 7 Neo specifications (Unconfirmed)

The iQOO 7 Neo is expected to arrive with specs like an LCD display that offers a 120Hz or higher refresh rate, Snapdragon 888 chipset, LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and a 4,500mAh battery with 55W fast charging support. It could be coming with a 48-megapixel main camera and a 16-megapixel selfie snapper. The iQOO 7 Neo is expected to arrive in the second or third quarter in China with a pricing of around 2,500 Yuan (~$385).

iQOO Z3 and Z3x specifications (Unconfirmed)

The iQOO Z3 and Z3x phones are expected to arrive as the successor to the iQOO Z1 and iQOO Z1x phones from last year. The iQOO Z3 leak reveals that it has a 144Hz LCD display, an unknown 6nm chipset, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage a 4,500mAh battery with 44W fast charging technology. For photography, it may come with a 16-megapixel front camera and a 48-megapixel primary shooter. The device could be priced at 2,000 Yuan (~$308).

The iQOO Z3x may come with a 120Hz LCD display, Dimensity 820 chipset, LPPDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. It could be coming with a 16-megapixel selfie camera and a 48-megapixel primary shooter. The device may launch in Q1 with a pricing of 1,500 Yuan (~$231).

iQOO U3x specifications (Unconfirmed)

The iQOO U3x is expected to arrive with a 60Hz LCD panel, Dimensity 700 chipset, LPPDR4x RAM, UFS 2.1 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. It may feature an 8-megapixel front camera and a 13-megapixel main camera. It may release with a price tag of 1,000 Yuan (~$154). This phone will be succeeding the iQOO U1x phone from 2020.

 

Black Shark 4 has 4,500mAh battery and 120W rapid charging, confirms company

In March 2020, Black Shark announced the Snapdragon 865 mobile platform powered Black Shark 3 series gaming smartphones such as Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro. Today, the company released the first teaser of the Black Shark 3 series’ successor. The poster confirms that its next gaming phone will be called the Black Shark 4.

In the previous week, Black Shark CEO Luo Yuzhou claimed that the next-generation Black Shark gaming phone will be an invincible device. It could be powered by the Snapdragon 888v mobile platform.

Black Shark 4 key specs

As mentioned in the new poster, the Black Shark 4 will be driven by a 4,500mAh battery and it will come with support for 120W superfast charging technology. The poster confirms that the smartphone could be charged completely in less than 15 minutes.

At present, the other specs of the Black Shark 4 are under wraps. Hence, it is yet to be ascertained whether the company will be announcing the Black Shark 4 Pro along with the vanilla model. In 2020, the company released the first teasers of the Black Shark 3 series in February. Now that the company has already started releasing teasers for the Black Shark 4, it may go official in early February.

The last Black Shark phone from the brand was the Black Shark 3S that debuted in the second half of 2020. The handset arrived with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display that produces a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The Snapdragon 865 powered handset came with12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB / 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

The Black Shark 3S has a 20-mgeapixel selfie camera. The back panel of the phone has a 64-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide shooter, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The 4,720mAh battery of the Black Shark 3S supports 65W fast charging.

 

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 to reportedly have AMD-powered models

Microsoft is reportedly working on two new devices under its Surface lineup — Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop 4. Interestingly, the report indicates that the Surface Laptop 4 could come with an option for AMD chipset.

When the Redmond-based tech giant launched the Surface Laptop 3 in October 2019, it became the first device to come packed with a modified version of AMD Ryzen 3700U and AMD Ryzen 5 3500U. Now, for its successor as well, the company will have an AMD variant for better optimization, reports WindowsLatest.

Surface Laptop 3
Surface Laptop 3

While the specifications of the upcoming Surface Laptop 4 are not yet known, the device will be offering in two chipset variants — Intel and AMD. Unlike the predecessor, which offers AMD variant only for the 15-inch model, the upcoming laptop will offer an AMD option for the 13.5-inch model as well.

Microsoft has reportedly started testing these models with custom AMD chips. It will be interesting to see what the company has in store for the new models and which chipset from AMD it opts for this time.

EDITOR’S PICK: CES 2021 — All Major Announcements and Expected Products from Sony, Samsung, LG, Lenovo & More!

It is also being reported that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 could get announced by the end of this year. However, even if that’s the case, the device is unlikely to be available for purchase until March.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 comes in two models — a 13.5-inch model that is powered by the 10th Generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 chipset and a 15-inch model that is fueled by AMD’s “Ryzen Surface Edition” processor.

Both the devices come packed with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of SSD. Along with the proprietary Surface Connector, the laptop can be charged with a USB Type-C port. The company promises 80 percent of battery life with just an hour of charging.

 

iQOO 7 appears once again on AnTuTu with 733K+ score before official announcement

iQOO will be announcing the iQOO 7 flagship phone in China at 7:30 PM (local time) today. Earlier this month, the smartphone had appeared on the AnTuTu benchmarking platform with a staggering score of 752,935. Over the weekend, a screenshot of a new AnTuTu listing of the iQOO 7 appeared to reveal more on its benchmarking scores.

iQOO 7 AnTuTu

In the new screenshot, the iQOO 7 scored 202,487 in the CPU test, 3149,948 in the CPU test, 114,854 in the memory test, and 101,210 in the UX test. By this, the handset recorded a score of 733,519 on the benchmarking platform.

In the previously seen AnTuTu listing, the Snapdragon 888 powered iQOO 7 was spotted with specs like a 120Hz refresh rate supporting display, 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and Android 11 OS. The company today confirmed that the iQOO 7 will come equipped with an OriginOS upgrade.

iQOO 7 specifications (Rumored)

Past reports have revealed that the iQOO 7 will be coming with a 6.56-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with a punch-hole design. It could be featuring the same screen that is available on the recently announced Vivo X60 handset. The device could be backed by a 4,000mAh battery that supports 120W fast charging. It lacks support for wireless charging.

There is no word on the front camera of the iQOO 7. The rear-facing triple camera system could be featuring a 48-megapixel Sony IMX589 chipset, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 13-megapixel portrait lens. The phone is confirmed to arrive with dual-linear motors and dual speakers.

The iQOO 7 will be arriving in a textured black and a white-colored BMW edition. It may carry a price tag of 3,299 Yuan (~$508).

 

Honor V40 offline posters appear to reveal design and color variants

On Jan. 18, Honor will be announcing the Honor V40 smartphone in China. While a couple of leaks have revealed the front design of the V40, its rear appearance has remained a mystery. Weibo users have managed to spot a poster of the V40 at an offline store in China. The poster has revealed the front and rear design of the smartphone.

As can be seen in the poster, the Honor V40 can be seen in three colors in the poster such as black, blue, and peach/orange. The blurry images show that there is a rectangle-shaped camera housing at the upper-left corner of the rear shell. Sitting at the top is the main sensor, followed by three other sensors and an LED flash.

The Chinese text from the poster reveals that the Honor V40 is equipped with a 50-megapixel super-sensitive imaging lens as the primary shooter. Recent reports have claimed that the V40’s main camera could be the Sony IMX766 lens.

At the front, it features a dual punch-hole screen with curved edges. Reports have claimed that it could be fitted with the same 6.72-inch OLED FHD+ panel, which is available on the Huawei Nova 8 Pro. Hence, it is expected to arrive with support for a 10-bit color depth, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 300Hz touch sampling rate. The display of the V40 could be integrated with a fingerprint scanner.

The Dimensity 1000+ SoC is highly likely to be present under the hood of the Honor V40. It could be equipped with LPPDR4x RAM, UFS 2.1 storage, and a 4,000mAh battery with 66W fast charging support. It is also likely to arrive with 45W wireless charging technology. The device will be preloaded with Magic UI 4.0 based Android 10 OS.

 

Xiaomi actually sold over 500K Mi 11 units during the first sale

Xiaomi took the wraps off the Mi 11 flagship smartphone in December but the device went on sale for the first time on January 1. While the company revealed the first sale generated revenue of over 1.5 billion yuan in just 5 minutes, the company was elusive as to the number of units sold. Well, until now.Xiaomi Mi 11 Xiaomi was speculated to have sold over 350,000 units of the device. But that unofficial figure was arrived at using the average price of 4,300 yuan. Well, the Chinese tech giant has now officially announced that it sold over 500,000 units of the flagship. For this reason, Xiaomi held a celebration party that had in attendance Lei Jun, Redmi GM Lu Weibing, and a number of executives such as Zeng Xuezhong, president of the mobile phone department of Xiaomi Group.

The huge sale is an affirmation of the brand’s popularity and the receivership the Mi 11 enjoys already. Despite the removal of the charger, a good number of fans still want to get the device but most of the orders are for the non-Green edition which has an adapter inside the box. The first sale saw only 20,000 units of the Mi 11 Green Edition get sold.

The Mi 11 comes with several improvements over the Mi 10 including the screen, performance, fast charging technology, and several other aspects.Xiaomi Mi 11

As a reminder, the Mi 11 packs a 6.81-inch curved display with a hole in the top left corner of the screen and Corning Gorilla Victus protection. The screen is not only bigger than that of the Mi 10 5G but also sharper as it has a 2K (3200 x 1440) resolution. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 480Hz touch sampling rate.

The phone crams a 4600mAh battery under the hood with support for 55W fast wired charging as against 30W support on the Mi 10. It is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 high-speed storage. There is also an in-display fingerprint scanner, which Xiaomi says can also measure your heart rate in addition to unlocking your phone and authorizing payments.Xiaomi Mi 11 featured review 15

Other features include stereo speakers tuned by Harman Kardon, dual nano-SIM support, NFC, IR blaster, enhanced WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 with Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus. It runs MIUI 12 based on Android 11 out of the box.

UP NEXT: realme V15 5G launched in China with Dimensity 800U, AMOLED display, and 50W fast charging

 

(source)

 

Amazfit GTS 2e and GTR 2e will get a global launch at CES 2021

The Amazfit GTS 2e launched in China last month alongside the Amazfit GTR 2e as more affordable versions of the Amazfit GTS 2 and Amazfit GTR 2. Now, the Amazfit GTS 2e is about to get a global release at CES 2021.

A tweet by the official Amazfit Twitter account has revealed that the Amazfit GTS 2 and GTR 2 family will be announced on Monday, January 11 which is Day 1 of CES 2021.

The launch is actually for the Amazfit GTS 2e and Amazfit GTR 2e based on the tweets below which are teasers for the two smartwatches and because the GTS 2 and GTR 2 have already had a global launch.

As we said, the two smartwatches are more affordable models of their siblings which already launched a few months ago but a lower price tag is not the only selling point of the two watches as they also boast better battery life.

EDITOR’S PICK: Battle for your wrist: Amazfit GTS 2 vs Amazfit GTS 2e vs Amazfit GTS 2 Mini

The Amazfit GTS 2e has a 1.65-inch Super Retina AMOLED display with 2.5D glass. It has support for up to 90 sports modes and also has heart rate measurement, SpO2 measurement, and temperature measurement. It doesn’t have built-in storage like the Amazfit GTS 2 neither does it have a speaker, so you cannot use it to receive calls. The Chinese version comes with the XiaoAI assistant but we expect the global version will have Amazon’s Alexa assistant on board. Its typical usage battery life is 14 days which is double that of the Amazfit GTS 2. The smartwatch is sold for ¥799 (~$123) in China, so we expect a price tag of under $140 for the global version.

The Amazfit GTR 2e has a smaller 1.39-inch round AMOLED display but it packs the same features as the GTS 2e such as a temperature sensor, SpO2 sensor, heart rate measurement, and sleep tracking. It doesn’t have built-in storage like the standard Amazfit GTR 2 and also misses out on a speaker. However, its battery life (typical usage) is 10 days more than that of the GTR 2 and it goes up to 45 days in basic watch mode. It also launched for ¥799 in China, so it should have the same price tag as the GTS 2e in global markets.

 

Xiaomi Mi 11 vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro: Specs Comparison

Xiaomi just came up with its first flagship of 2021: the Xiaomi Mi 11. The handset debuted in the Chinese with a very attractive price tag, but there is another Chinese flagship launched in the recent period which represents a great choice in the 5 nm segment for those who want a real top-tier device for this year: the Huawei Mate 40 Pro. We published this comparison to highlight the main differences between Xiaomi Mi 11 and Huawei Mate 40 Pro so that you can make the best choice depending on your personal needs. Let’s discover together whether it is worth considering the Huawei Mate 40 Pro or not with the Xiaomi Mi 11 around.

Xiaomi Mi 11 vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Xiaomi Mi 11 Huawei Mate 40 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.1 mm, 196 g 162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm / 9.5 mm, 212 g
DISPLAY  6.81 inches, 1440 x 3200p (Quad HD+), AMOLED  6.76 inches, 1344 x 2772p (Full HD+), OLED
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, octa-core 2.84 GHz Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 9000, octa-core 3.13 GHz
MEMORY 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB  8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – nano memory card slot
SOFTWARE  Android 11, MIUI  Android 10, EMUI
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA Triple 108 + 13 + 5 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
20 MP front camera
Triple 50 + 12  + 20 MP, f/1.9 + f/3.4 + f/1.8
Dual 13 MP + TOF 3D f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY  4600 mAh, fast charging 50W, wireless charging 50W  4400 mAh, fast charging 66W and wireless charging 50W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G, reverse wireless charging 10W Dual SIM slot, 5G, water resistant (IP68), reverse wireless charging

Design

If you want the most elegant and futuristic back cover, we think you should choose the Xiaomi Mi 11. It has a cleaner rear side, a single punch hole on the display, and a very high screen-to-body ratio. But the Huawei Mate 40 Pro remains very attractive with its extremely curved display replacing physical keys with a side touch technology. Both the phones come in a version with a rear cover made of eco leather for a more raffinate look, but the Huawei Mate 40 Pro has an important advantage compared to the Mi 11: it is waterproof. Thanks to the IP68 certification, it is dust and water resistant, while Xiaomi Mi 11 is not. Last but not least, Huawei Mate 40 Pro is more compact.

 

Display

Xiaomi Mi 11 wins the display comparison: not only it has a wider display, but it provides a way better image quality. First of all, it has a higher resolution: with the Mi 11, you get a Quad HD+ panel with 1440 x 3200 pixels. Further, it shows up to one billion colors. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a 120 Hz refresh rate and the HDR10+ certification as well. With the Huawei Mate 40 Pro, you get an OLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and the HDR10 certification: it is easy for everyone to understand it is an inferior display. With these two devices, you have an in-display fingerprint reader, but the Huawei Mate 40 Pro supports 3D facial recognition as well thanks to a 3D TOF sensor placed in a dual punch hole.

 

Specs & Software

The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a superior hardware department to the Huawei Mate 40 Pro. It is the first phone to be powered by the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform, and it is not the only reason why it is a faster phone. Besides its amazing processor, the Xiaomi Mi 11 offers more RAM than Huawei Mate 40 Pro: up to 12 GB, paired with a UFS 3.1 native storage. But the Huawei Mate 40 Pro is still an amazing flagship with its 5 nm Kirin 9000 SoC and 8 GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro does not have Google services in the global market. Mi 11 is still not global, but when it will be, it will include Google services.

 

Camera

Huawei Mate 40 Pro beats the Xiaomi Mi 11 if we look at camera performance. It has a 50 MP main camera sensor, a 12 MP periscope camera with 5x optical zoom, a 20 MP ultrawide sensor, and dual OIS. Mi 11 has a great 108 MP main sensor, but it lacks optical zoom and its secondary sensors are disappointing. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro wins even when it comes to the selfie camera, thanks to a great 13 MP front camera which can record 4K videos.

 

 

Battery

Xiaomi Mi 11 has a bigger battery than Huawei Mate 40 Pro, but this does not mean that its battery life is always longer. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro has a more efficient display and great software optimization. Further, it comes with a faster charging technology. Both the phones support 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

 

Price

Xiaomi Mi 11 is priced at €500/$610 in the Chinese market (talking about the base variant) and it is still not available in the global market. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro costs more than €1000/$1220 globally. Overall, Huawei Mate 40 Pro looks like a slightly better phone thanks to its better cameras. But the lack of Google services in the global market and the big price difference (as well as the great display and chipset of the Mi 11) make the Xiaomi Mi 11 a more interesting choice for most people.

 

 

Xiaomi Mi 11 vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Mi 11

PRO

  • Amazing chipset
  • Good price
  • Wider display
  • Best display

CONS

  • No optical zoom

 

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

PRO

  • Better cameras
  • Faster charging
  • Waterproof
  • Expandable storage

CONS

  • No Google services globally

Lenovo ThinkReality A3 AR smart glasses needs a Motorola phone to work

Lenovo has a new pair of AR smart glasses. However, the ThinkReality A3 is not for the average consumer but for enterprise users and it needs to be connected to a Motorola smartphone powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor or a PC to work.

Lenovo ThinkReality A3

The design of the ThinkReality A3 gives it a smaller form factor than the HoloLens 2 which is actually a Mixed Reality glasses but it is still bulkier than your regular glasses. Lenovo says that it “fits like sunglasses and can be enhanced with an industrial frame for a safer and more durable use”.

There is a Snapdragon XR1 processor inside the glasses which helps it able to present the user with up to 5 virtual displays. There is an 8MP RGB camera that records in 1080p for remote expert use cases and a pair of fish-eye cameras that provide room-scale tracking.

EDITOR’S PICK: The Lenovo Tab P11 arrives months after the pro version

If you want to use it with a PC, then you have to get the ThinkReality A3 PC Edition that connects to your laptop or workstation so that you can use multiple virtual monitors. Lenovo says the smart glasses cater to professionals in industries such as finance, architecture, and engineering and those who may be working in a place where space is limited and privacy is important.

The Industrial Edition is the one that connects to Motorola phones powered by a Snapdragon 800 series processor and has DisplayPort support. Lenovo says in its press release that this version is “supported by the ThinkReality software platform that allows commercial customers to build, deploy, and manage mixed reality applications and content on a global scale and with global support”. This version of the glasses is designed for workers in factories, laboratories, and hospitality and the ThinkReality platform allows for remote assistance, guided workflows, and 3D visualizations.

Lenovo didn’t reveal the price tag of both versions of the ThikReality A3 but it says that will be available in select markets by the middle of the year. We expect it to be expensive but the fact that there are two variants that can be used interchangeably is disappointing.

 

Sources confirm Baidu will team up with Geely to manufacture smart EVs

China’s search giant Baidu Inc will establish a company to make smart electric vehicles (EV) and would collaborate with Geely. Sources familiar with the matter that was first broached in December 2020, said that manufacturing is to be carried out at plants owned by automaker Geely.

Baidu will have a majority stake and absolute voting power in the new company. The arrangement is expected to significantly revamp some of Geely’s existing car plants to make the vehicles, with in-car software input from Baidu and engineering expertise from Geely.

Back in December, Reuters had already reported that Baidu was contemplating making its own EVs and had held talks with Geely, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd (GAC) and China FAW Group Corp Ltd’s Hongqi on a possible venture.. But the sources have now confirmed talks between both companies.

The companies are in talks to use Geely’s EV-focused platform, Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), for subsequent product development, one of the sources, who declined to be identified as the plan was private, said.

Baidu, which is developing autonomous driving technology and internet connectivity infrastructure, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Geely declined to comment. Baidu’s shares at the New York Stock exchange surged on Friday.

Baidu’s competitor Alibaba has already formed an EV joint venture with China’s biggest automaker SAIC Motor Corp while China’s Didi Chuxing is making EVs designed for ride-hailing services with BYD. Drawing from the huge success of Tesla Inc in the commercialization of EVs, internet companies have expanded their operations to foster the development of automobile technology and investments. Informed sources said that Apple
Is also planning a move into automaking and could be designing an electric vehicle and batteries.

Geely is reputed to be China’s highest-profile automaker due to its stakes in Volvo, Daimler AG, and Malaysia’s Proton. The company is expanding its operations into EV production. Shares of Geely Automobile increased by 10% in the NYSE on Friday.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: The Best Value Snapdragon 888 flagship to beat in 2021

 

(source)

 

Sony unveils two new wireless speakers with 360 Reality Audio

Japanese tech giant Sony has announced the release of two new wireless speaker systems, the SRS-RA5000 and the SRS-RA3000. Both speakers, according to Sony, are capable of providing a more compelling sound experience with their room-filling sound feature in indoor situations and also have Sony’s 360 Reality Audio feature.Sony SRS-RA3000

The RA5000 is a seven-speaker system with three up-firing drivers, three front-facing drivers, and an internal woofer. The design creates a uniform sphere of sound around the speaker regardless of its position around the room. The device also has a manual sound calibration feature, allowing for an adjustment of the audio.Sony SRS-RA3000

The cheaper and more portable RA3000 is designed as a three-speaker system that is made up of two tweeters that project sound in an arc via a long strip and an internal woofer. It also has two passive radiators as an additional layer for sound modulation.

The RA3000 is designed to be humidity-resistant, and this allows it to be placed in moist and humid environments without any damage or malfunction. Thus you can continue listening to the music inside your kitchen or in the bathroom. The RA5000 does not have the humidity-resistant capability. In addition, the RA3000 can also auto-calibrate itself to its surroundings, which is absent in the RA5000.Sony SRS-RA3000

Both speakers have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Wireless connectivity allows for the streaming of content from Spotify using the Spotify Connect feature or the Chromecast integration is used to cast audio.

Both speakers also have integration with smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. However, they are not smart speakers but they can integrate with other smart home devices and also play audio along with smart speakers. In order to successfully integrate the smart assistant, an Amazon or Google-compliant smartphone or any other smart device is needed which will serve as the interface between you and the speaker using Alexa or Google Assistant.

Presently, the speakers are only available in the UK and Europe, at a cost of £500/€599 for the RA5000 and £280/€359 for the RA3000. Both devices will be available in February 2021, while their entry into the North American market will be announced later.

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