Last year, Apple confirmed that it will be transitioning from Intel chipsets to its own Apple Silicon chips based on ARM. In line with that, the company launched a new M1 chipset and three devices powered by the same — MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini.
Now, months after the devices were available for purchase, a report from market research firm TrendForce reveals that M1-powered Mac devices currently account for about 0.8 percent of the total laptop sales in 2020.
However, the firm forecasts that this year, i.e. 2021, the market share of Apple M1-powered devices will be around 7 percent. This is because the Cupertino-based giant is expected to launch new devices, including 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
The report notes that the overall notebook shipments in the year 2020 surpassed the 200 million mark with a 22.5 percent year-on-year increase — the highest percentage of increase recorded so far. This is being attributed to the stay-at-home economy because of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
Apple is also expected to launch a new chipset for Mac devices this year which will be more powerful compared to the current M1 chip. The upcoming chipset, which could be named M1X or M2, will reportedly power high-end Mac devices from Apple and if it manages to meet the expectations as M1, the company’s market share could see significant growth.
In October 2019, Apple launched the AirPods Pro TWS earphones with in-ear design and active noise cancellation support. The company is expected to launch its successor in the first quarter of this year.
However, ahead of the launch of AirPods Pro 2, Apple has launched AirPods Pro Limited Edition in the Chinese market. This new limited edition model features ’emojis of the year’ on the charging case as well as the retail box.
Apart from that, it seems that everything else remains the same as the standard AirPods Pro available in the country. The AirPods Pro Limited Edition is being sold in China for a price of 1,999 yuan (approximately $310), the same as the regular model.
Coming to the features and specifications, the AirPods Pro features a silicone ear tip that sits over the ear canal and offers a better seal. This is crucial for offering Active Noise Cancelation (ANC), a feature that justifies the higher pricing.
The software-backed dual-microphone setup adapts continuously, removing background noises to offer an immersive audio experience. There’s also Adaptive EQ that automatically tunes low and mid-range audio frequencies based on the shape of an individual’s ear canal.
Users can also enable Transparency Mode that disables ANC, in case they want to hear background noises while listening to music. Apple’s new H1 chip is responsible for boosting AirPods Pro’s performance and the earphones offer five hours of battery backup.
China Telecom, a state-owned telecom service provider in China, has launched a new pilot program that offers quantum encrypted phone calls using a special SIM card and a smartphone application, reports SCMP.
This new service is being launched in Anhui province where the company is recruiting “friendly experience customers.” As the service requires a special SIM, the user needs to visit a China Telecom shop and swap out the existing SIM card for a new one.
After that, the user also needs to install the company’s “Quantum Secure Call” application which is currently available only on Android. So far, more details about the service, including its pricing, remains unknown.
Quantum encryption, unlike traditional methods, is based on the laws of quantum physics. The service will generate two secret keys using quantum information technology which verifies the caller’s identity and the call’s information, ensuring end-to-end encryption.
This is a step ahead for China which is focused on using quantum computing, especially in areas like 5G and artificial intelligence. It’s noteworthy that these areas are targeted by the United States in the on-going US-China trade war.
As for the wider availability of the service, China Telecom has said that quantum encryption will first be available to users that need “absolute security” such as those working in government, military, and finance. After that, the company will expand its usage to the general public.
The technology is being developed by China Telecom in partnership with QuantumCTek Group. The companies are also working on launching special phones with quantum encryption but nothing much is known about this.
Last year in March, Black Shark unveiled two gaming smartphones such as Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro. Hence, there is a possibility that the company may bring the Black Shark 4 series by March this year. Today, Black Shark Technology CEO Luo Yuzhou took to Weibo to hint at the arrival of the next Black Shark phone.
Through Weibo, Yuzhou hinted that the upcoming Black Shark gaming phone is truly invincible. Before the announcement of the Snapdragon 888 chip, he had claimed that the Black Shark will be one of the first smartphone OEMs to launch a phone with Snapdragon 888. Hence, it is highly likely that the Black Shark model will be driven by the Snapdragon 888 SoC.
Like last year, the company may launch two phones this year. Probably, the standard Black Shark 4 model could be accompanied by the more advanced Black Shark 4 Pro. Chinese manufacturers are known for skipping the number ‘4’ in the monikers of their products since it is considered a bad omen in the country. Hence, it remains to be seen whether the next phone from the brand will be called Black Shark 5 or 4.
Black Shark 3S Crystal Blue
Nothing much is known about the next Black Shark gaming phones in terms of specifications. A recent leak had revealed that the next phone from the brand is codenamed as “Emperor” and it said that it could be coming with better design, faster-charging capabilities, and topnotch performance. Hopefully, the rumor mill will start spilling leaked information soon on the Black Shark 4 series in the coming weeks.
A new Xiaomi phone with model number M2101K9AG has received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority. The listing has confirmed that the device will be arriving in the market as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite. It will be arriving as the successor to the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite smartphone from last year. The FCC documents have revealed some of the key specs of the Mi 11 Lite.
The FCC documents show that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite will come preloaded with MIUI 12 and it will be an LTE device. The device is backed by a 4,150mAh rated battery, which means its typical size could be 4,250mAh. The battery will be coupled with 33W fast charging technology.
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Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite FCC
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite FCC
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite FCC
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite FCC
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite FCC
The handset will be available in two variants such as 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. The listing also confirms the support for dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1.
Recently, a Vietnamese YouTuber had shared the key specs of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite along with its renders. Apart from sharing some of the above-mentioned information, he revealed that the Snapdragon 732G would power the Mi 11 Lite and it will be sporting a 120Hz display with a punch-hole design. It is unclear whether the phone features an LCD or AMOLED panel.
Xiaomi MI 11 Lite render that appeared in The Pixel’s YouTube video
For photography, it may feature a triple camera system featuring a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel secondary lens, and a 5-megapixel sensor. The YouTuber claimed that it may break cover by March with a pricing of around $325.
A recent leak had claimed that the model number of the POCO F2 is K9A, which suggests that it could be a rebranded or a modified version of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite that has a model number of M2021K9AG. Hence, it’s possible that some markets may receive the Mi 11 Lite as the POCO F2.
Dell announced a new 2-in-1 notebook this week that is set to challenge other products in the market including the Microsoft Surface Pro X. The Latitude 13 7320 comes with some pretty impressive specs but you will be shelling out a lot more than the $999 starting price if you want all of the best stuff.
The Latitude 13 7320 has a 13-inch touch display with an FHD+ resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The bezels are slim though the side ones appear to be thicker than those of the Surface Pro X and you also get Corning Gorilla Glass DX Touch for protection. It is also said to have a Super Low Power mode.
The notebook can be configured up to an Intel 11th Gen Core i7 vPro processor, 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. There is a 5MP 1080p webcam and you can choose to have an IR camera included for Windows Hello. A Snapdragon X20 LTE modem is also optional but you get Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
The Dell Latitude 13 7320 has two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 (one on each side) and an audio jack. The detachable keyboard and stylus have to be purchased separately and Dell has copied the design of the Surface Pro X’s own keyboard so you have a place to store the stylus.
If you like Dell’s new 2-in-1, you will have to wait till March 30 before you can get your hands on one as that is when it will be available for purchase.
Samsung is expected to go official with the Galaxy S21 series in about a week’s time. The flagship series has continued to dominate headlines and even Samsung has been pretty generous with the device. A telecom carrier in Belgium – Voo has inadvertently unraveled the expected prices of the Galaxy S21 series.
Samsung Galaxy S21 price
The carrier accidentally posted the prices the three models will retail for in Europe and the specs sheet of the models. Although the pages have been taken down, a tipster was able to grab some screenshots (pictured) before the removal.
Going by the listing, the vanilla Galaxy S21 with 128GB storage will sell for €849 off-contract. On the other hand, the Galaxy S21+ will retail for €1,049 while the Galaxy S21 Ultra will sell for €1,399 for the base 128GB storage variants. This is similar to the €1,000 price tag for the Ultra which was earlier tipped. Another interesting aspect, going by this leak, is that the other two models are still cheaper than their predecessors.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra price
Taking a look at the specs sheets grabbed from Voo’s website before the landing pages were removed, we can gather that the EU version may likely launch with an Exynos 2100 chipset onboard. Considering the efforts put in by Samsung in the chip development, we expect the performance to be topnotch. Samsung will equally launch Snapdragon 888-powered versions for select markets.
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Other details include Android 11 across the board, AMOLED screens, a USB-C connector, 3.5mm audio jack, and more. The models also come with fast charging and wireless charging support.
While Samsung cemented its hold of the foldable market with multiple models last year, Huawei was missing from the scene after it announced the Mate Xs in February. Fans of the first two models were expecting the announcement of the Huawei Mate X2 but that never happened. Now, a new report says that the foldable phone which was earlier scheduled to launch this month has been postponed.
Huawei Mate Xs
The info comes from Teme (@RODENT950) who revealed that Huawei Mate X2’s launch that was originally planned for this month has been moved forward. However, there is no news of a new timeframe or specific date for the launch.
More postponed launches, this time Mate X2, originally plannet release on this month but currently it is postponed.#HuaweiMateX2
While no reason was provided for the postponement of the launch, our guess is that it has to do with Huawei’s current chipset predicament. Other than the Mate X2, it also has the Huawei P50 series scheduled for this quarter, and with limited chipsets, including the Kirin 9000, it may be weighing its options as to which device(s) should get the available stock.
There are rumors that the Mate X2 will have an inward folding design just like that of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 but a leaked image alleged to be that of the device that surfaced a few months ago shows an outward folding design. Until more concrete evidence surfaces, the Mate X2’s design remains unconfirmed.
Nevertheless, we expect Huawei to launch a foldable that packs improved features such as a bigger battery capacity with support for a faster charging technology, and better cameras.
Apple has made sure about a couple of patents that portrays a MacBook wirelessly charging iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, Patently Apple reports. Looking all the more carefully at the patent papers incidentally, Apple needs to incorporate wireless charging loops into the MacBook’s undercarriage. In addition, the coils work in two different ways, they can get power, hence wirelessly charging the PC itself or charge different gadgets.
The thought is a perfect one, given all the links and chargers one should take when voyaging. Numerous individuals as of now utilize their MacBooks to charge telephones and other little devices however in the good old, wired way. Here’s a passage from one of the patents:
Patent Claim #1: “A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having a back surface and defining an opening opposite from the back surface; a display positioned within the opening of the enclosure; a first inductive coil and a second inductive coil positioned separate from the first inductive coil, both the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil being positioned within the enclosure and between the display and the back surface of the enclosure, and operable to wirelessly transmit power to, or receive power from, an external device positioned proximate to the enclosure; and a first alignment component positioned adjacent to the first inductive coil and a second alignment component positioned adjacent to the second inductive coil, wherein the first alignment component is arranged in a first configuration, and the second alignment component is arranged in a second configuration different from the first configuration.”
There are 40 patent cases in the two papers, however, the general picture is clear. You take your MacBook with its charger and that is it. No compelling reason to manage iPhone chargers, cables, proprietary Watch chargers, etc. The MacBook’s reverse wireless charging itself is an intriguing choice – we wager it would require an incredibly powerful wireless charger to make this choice commercial. Similarly, as with all patents, we shouldn’t get our expectations high, despite the fact that putting a wireless charging loop into a laptop doesn’t appear to be serious.
Dell Latitude 7285
This won’t be the first laptop to adopt wireless charging. Wireless charging capabilities on laptops go back to 2017 when the Dell Latitude 7285 was launched packing a wireless charging coil. There is a wireless charging mat that charges the laptop when it is placed on top of the mat.
Xiaomi just launched its brand new flagship for 2021: the Xiaomi Mi 11. Despite it has a few compromises, it is undoubtedly one of the most attractive smartphones in the market, especially if we consider that it is actually the only one to boast the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. But is it the best Xiaomi flagship in terms of value for money? Is it an important upgrade if we compare it with the previous flagship released by the Chinese giant? In order to answer these important questions, we decided to compare the specifications of the latest flagships Xiaomi brought to the market: the Xiaomi Mi 11 and the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G. Let’s discover together all the main differences between their specifications.
Triple 108 + 13 + 5 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
20 MP front camera
Triple 108 + 13 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
20 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY
4600 mAh, fast charging 50W, wireless charging 50W
5000 mAh, fast charging 33W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot, 5G, reverse wireless charging 10W
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Design
There is definitely no challenge, and it is not a matter of taste: the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a more beautiful device than the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro. It has a more elegant and futuristic design, with a less invasive camera module, a curved display, a very high screen-to-body ratio, and a stunning overall look. Further, its glass is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus: the latest Corning protection which is actually superior to Gorilla Glass 6. Do not misunderstand me: the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G still offers a premium design, including a glass back and an aluminum frame. But nothing you can compare to the Mi 11.
Display
The display is actually the weakest point of the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G. Despite it comes with a flagship-class hardware department, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G has an IPS panel which is actually not the trend and provides an inferior image quality. The AMOLED panel of the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a lot better with one billion colors and more realistic quality. The Mi 10T Pro 5G has a higher 144 Hz refresh rate, but you will hardly notice the difference if you compare it with the 120 Hz refresh rate provided by its successor. Unlike the Xiaomi Mi 11, the Mi 10T Pro 5G does not have an in-display fingerprint scanner, but it comes with a side-mounted one.
Specs & Software
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G is one of the most powerful devices out there, but the Xiaomi Mi 11 is even better. Thanks to the new Snapdragon 888 chipset by Qualcomm, it reaches an even higher performance level. Further, you can get up to 12 GB of RAM instead of just 8 GB provided by the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G. But the latter is still an amazing handset providing blazing speeds and a great multitasking experience. Last but not least, Xiaomi Mi 11 ships with Android 11, while Mi 10T Pro 5G is still based on Android 10. Naturally, it will be updated to Android 11.
Camera
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 have very similar camera departments and, if you want the best camera phones, you should not choose these devices since they lack a telephoto sensor and optical zoom. The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G has a brighter focal aperture for the 108 MP main sensor, so it should be able to capture more light. That would be the reason why it wins the camera comparison. The rest of the cameras are exactly the same, including a 13 MP ultrawide sensor and a 5 MP macro camera. You also get a 20 MP selfie snapper on both the handsets.
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G has a bigger 5000 mAh battery, but this does not necessarily mean that its battery life will be better. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has more efficient components, including a processor with a 5 nm production process and an AMOLED display. Further, you get faster charging speeds thanks to a 55W fast charging technology. The phone even supports 50W wireless charging, unlike the Mi 10T Pro 5G and most of the flagships out there. So the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a better phone when it comes to both battery and charging technologies.
Price
Unfortunately, we still do not know how much Xiaomi Mi 11 will cost in the global market. Thanks to online street prices, you can actually get the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G for less than €500/$615 with ease. While the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro will surely provide a higher value for money, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is definitely a better smartphone thanks to its AMOLED display, fast charging, wireless charging, and a better chipset. But for the rest of the specifications, the Mi 10T Pro 5G is close.
Xiaomi Mi 11 vs Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G: PRO and CONS
It will be dishonest to say that Samsung has not stepped up its software support in the past year or more. Following the launch of Android 11, the Korean giant has updated practically all its flagship phones released in 2020 and has even begun to update those released in 2019. The latest devices to get the update now are the Galaxy S10 models.
The Galaxy S10 series include the Galaxy S10 itself, the Galaxy S10 Plus, and the Galaxy S10e, and if you own any of these devices, you should check for the update now and over the next few days. The Galaxy S10 Lite already received the update a few weeks ago.
According to XDA Developers, the update is already rolling out to users in Switzerland and the update brings with it not only a new Android version but a new user experience with One UI 3 and also January 2021’s security patch.
Android 11 brings new features such as conversation bubbles, new permission management features, built-in screen recording, and new media controls.
With One UI 3.0, you get a visually enhanced lock screen, home screen, notifications, and Quick Panel. Samsung says the motion effects and animation are smoother, button presses are more realistic, and toggles slide more smoothly.
Other customization features that the update brings include support for adjustable widget transparency, the ability to customize the clock on the lock screen or Always On Display, and the ability to add a video to the incoming and outgoing call screen.
One UI also brings upgrades to the camera such as improved autofocus and auto-exposure and better AI-based zoom to allow you to capture better photos. The gallery has also been re-organized to make it easy to easily find photos, Samsung says edited photos can even be reverted back to the original at any time even after saving.
Android 11 is the second major OS update for the Galaxy S10 series and going by Samsung’s promise to provide three years of updates for the phone, it is expected to get Android 12 too when it is released.
US computer maker Dell recently announced some new products in their Latitude series of laptops, highlighted with Intel’s new next-generation vPro chips and an integrated webcam shutter feature called “SafeShutter”, to serve customers with a business niche. In addition, the company has also announced the UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD display and Dell 34 Curved Video Conferencing Monitor which arrives alongside a 24-inch and 27-inch version with flat screens.
The U4021QW UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD display is the first from Dell, having a display resolution of 5,120 x 2,160 pixel and with “wide color coverage and excellent color performance”. It has support for Thunderbolt 3 via the USB-C port along with the capability to deliver up to 90W of power for fast charging.
In addition, Dell also unveiled the Curved Video Conferencing Monitors, which come in three size variants of 24 inches, 27 inches, and 34 inches. The monitors are Microsoft Teams -compliant and feature secure facial recognition sign-in and several hands-free functions.
The monitors pack several features that make them stand out such as a one-touch dedicated Microsoft Teams button, a pop-up 5MP IR camera, two 5W speakers, a noise-canceling microphone, support for Windows Hello facial recognition sign-in, as well as hands-free commands via Microsoft Cortana.
Since Dell knows you’ll be staring at the screens for far too long each day, the company also says the monitors come with its ComfortView Plus system which helps reduce blue light emissions without sacrificing color accuracy.
Dell 27 Curved Video Conferencing Monitor
The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD display will be available for purchase at the end of January 2021 at $2,100.
On the other hand, the Dell 24 Video Conferencing Monitor is priced at $519.99, Dell 27 Video Conferencing Monitor (C2722DE) comes in at $719.99. Finally, the Dell 34 Curved Video Conferencing Monitor (C3422WE) will cost $1,149.99. All models will be available by mid-February 2021.
Bose Sport Open Earbuds are the perfect pair of headphones well suited for workouts and several other activities. The new sports earbuds, according to the company, operate in a refreshingly different manner from conventional headphones, as they don’t go into or cover your ears, but feature an innovative and new design in combination with Bose OpenAudio to keep users conscious of the sounds in the environment.
The design contains what could be called a contoured ear hook that is attached to an enclosure atop it, sitting just above the ear canal and aimed at redefining the listening experience. This design, therefore, affords users to hear sounds in their surroundings while engaged in one sporting event or the other, be it cycling, jogging, at the gym, or even mountaineering.
The new earbuds perfectly match the growing yearnings by sportsmen and women for headphones that allow them to remain focused on their activity without wires and neckbands, and not needing to occasionally remove such headphones to hear the sound of traffic while on the road.
For cyclists and runners who may be on public roads with some level of traffic, it is very important that they are always aware of their environments, as several fatal accidents have occurred as a result of the cyclists or runners not being fully aware of their environment by wearing headphones that totally covered the ear canals.
Many manufacturers have sought to produce headphones that sought to overcome the problem of the surrounding in different ways. Apple’s AirPods Pro goes inside the ear canal and has a transparency mode to enable users to hear what’s going on around them. However, Bose’s revolutionary solution instead introduces an innovative design to accomplish the twin outcomes of listening to your music while still very conscious of the environment.
The Bose Sport Open Earbuds, when worn, grips the user’s ear’s outer ridge without any skin contact. The enclosure uses a tiny dipole transducer for producing high-fidelity audio. The innovative earbuds also have a microphone system that will isolate your voice while chatting on the phone.
It is easy to control the Bose Open Earbuds. There’s a single button on the left bud to access your smart assistant of choice. There’s also one button on the right bud for phone call activities mainly.
The Sport Open Earbuds pack Bluetooth v5.1, IPX4 rating, and eight hours of battery life. The earbuds are expected to come on sale in mid-January and will launch for $199 from Bose.com and Best Buy.
Redmi Note 6 Pro is probably the least popular Redmi Note smartphone of all time. The handset was only sold in a few regions. The device debuted with MIUI 9 based on Android 8.1 (Oreo). It was later updated to MIUI 10, Android 9.0 (Pie), and MIUI 11. Now, the phone has begun to receive the MIUI 12 update.
Unlike most Xiaomi smartphones, the Redmi Note 6 Pro only has two build channels – Global and Russia. The latter has not received any update since early 2019. In other words, the variant sold in Russia is still on MIUI 10 based on Android Oreo.
Anyway, the global variant is receiving the MIUI 12 update with build number V12.0.1.0.PEKMIXM. It is currently in the Stable Beta phase and therefore, it is only available for select users.
Xiaomi will be extending the availability of this build to more users if early adopters don’t face any major issues. We expect the complete rollout to end by this month or early February.
That said, MIUI 12 is the last major update for the Redmi Note 6 Pro just like Redmi Note 5/5 Pro, which has also started receiving this update recently. But there’s a chance that these two phones may get the minor MIUI 12.5 update later this year.
As far as the Android version is concerned, both are not eligible for Android 10, let alone Android 11. However, interested users can install custom ROMs to experience the latest version of Android.
Huawei rebranded Qeexo’s FingerSense to Knuckle Sense. Subsequently, the feature to take screenshots and gesture actions using the Knuckle of a finger became popular. Several devices of Huawei and Honor supported them. Last year, Redmi K30S Ultra became the company’s first smartphone to support a similar feature. Now, according to a report, Xiaomi Mi 11 also joins the list.
According to the report, Mi 11 is currently running on MIUI 12.0.8 stable version in China. In this, the device has been reportedly spotted having the Knuckle screenshot and gesture actions. Precisely, you can take a look at the Knuckle functions below:
Double-Tap for Screenshot
Draw a ‘Circle’ with a Knuckle for Localized Screenshot(Particular Area)
Draw ‘V’ with Knuckle to perform customized actions as below:
Wake up Xiao AI assistant
Redirect to AliPay, WeChat Payment Code
AliPay, WeChat Scan
Additionally, you can also long-press and drag across the screen to toggle screen brightness. As mentioned above, Xiaomi hasn’t quite popularized this feature after K30S Ultra that launched back in October. The reason for this is said to be the problems with Patent Authorization.
Probably, Xiaomi has to pay royalty fees for this to access them and that could be the reason for the delay in expansion across the MIUI devices. That said, as much as the feature’s usability is welcoming, we aren’t sure if it would be efficient on adding a screen protector.
Anyway, if you are a user in China, you can try out the feature by navigating to Settings->Additional Settings->Shortcut Gestures. Nevertheless, we really hope that Xiaomi finds a way to popularize the Knuckle-based features to other devices in China and maybe to the Global version in the future.
There are only three 5nm chipsets available for Android smartphones at the moment. The first to hit the market is Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin 9000 series and it was followed by Samsung’s Exynos 1080 before Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 888 early last month. We already compared the Kirin 9000 and Snapdragon 888, and now we want to see if Samsung’s first 5nm chipset can hold its own against Qualcomm’s most powerful mobile chipset.
Processor
Exynos 1080
Snapdragon 888
Node size
5nm EUV
5nm
CPU
1 x ARM Cortex-A78 at 2.84 GHz
3x ARM Cortex-A78 at 2.6 GHz
4x ARM Cortex A-55 at 2.0GHz
1 x ARM Cortex-X1 at 2.84GHz
3 x ARM Cortex-A78 at 2.40GHz
4 x ARM Cortex-A55 at 1.8GHz
GPU
Mali-G78 MP10
Adreno 660
ISP
Info not available
Spectra™ 580
AI Engine
Info not available
Hexagon 780
Modem
Info not available
Snapdragon X60 5G
Connectivity
W-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
CPU
Samsung’s Exynos 1080 chipset brings a significant upgrade in performance compared to its predecessor, the Exynos 980. With eight cores made up of four Cortex-A78 performance cores and four Cortex-A55 cores, it definitely packs a punch.
The Exynos 1080 not only has its Cortex-A78 cores clocked higher than that of the Snapdragon 888, but it also has one more Cortex-A78 core than it. Similarly, its Cortex-A55 cores are also clocked higher than those of the Snapdragon 888. However, the Snapdragon 888 has the upper hand thanks to its prime core which is a Cortex-X1 core clocked at 2.84GHz. Arm says that the Cortex-X1 brings a 30% improvement in performance over the Cortex-A77 while the Cortex-A78 has a 20% improvement in performance over the Cortex-A77. Based on this, we can say deduce that the X1 has a 10% improvement in performance over the A78.
What do benchmarks say?
An AnTuTu benchmark result of the Vivo X60 Pro which has an Exynos 1080 processor powering it shows the device scored a total of 634,373 points. Do note that this is not the highest score recorded by AnTuTu for the chipset but this may be the most reliable one as it was recorded from a commercially-available phone.
In AnTuTu’s review of the new Vivo phone, the X60 Pro surpasses almost all devices that are powered by the Snapdragon 865 processor, Qualcomm’s last-gen flagship chipset.
Image source: AnTuTu
The image below shows a benchmark comparison of the Vivo X60 Pro and the Snapdragon 865-powered Vivo NEX 3S 5G. While the Vivo X60 Pro does have a higher overall score, its scores are slightly lower than those of the NEX 3S 5G in the CPU department.
In conclusion, seeing as the Exynos 1080 doesn’t surpass the Snapdragon 865 in the CPU department, it definitely can’t match the Snapdragon 888 which has a CPU score of 196,334 points (recorded from the Mi 11) as seen in the image below. And as you can see, the margin is less than 15,000 points.
GPU
In the above benchmark result, the Exynos 1080 almost matches the Snapdragon 865 Plus in CPU performance but where it really shines is in the GPU. The Mali-G78 MP10 leads the Adreno 650 GPU of the SD865 by a significant margin. So how does it compare to the Adreno 660 of the Snapdragon 888?
Qualcomm released a video that benchmarked the Snapdragon 888 on AnTuTu. The benchmark result showed the chipset had a GPU score of 319,439 points. However, seeing as we want to make this a fair comparison by using commercial products, we will go with an AnTuTu benchmark result of the Snapdragon 888-powered Xiaomi Mi 11 which shows the Adreno 660 has a GPU score of 306,548 points. Irrespective of the Adreno 660’s score you decide to go with, the Mali-G78 MP10’s 239,408 points of the Exynos 1080 is way behind.
Image source: AnTuTu
If you are wondering how the Adreno 660 of the Snapdragon 888 is able to surpass the Mali G78 of the Exynos 1080 by such a wide margin while it barely beats that of the Kirin 9000 as seen in the image above, the reason is that the Kirin 9000’s GPU has more cores (24 cores) than that of the Exynos 1080 (10 cores).
AI
Samsung says the Exynos 1080 has a powerful neural processing unit (NPU) but doesn’t specify the increase in performance over the last-gen. Unfortunately, the AI Benchmark site doesn’t have both the Exynos 1080 and Snapdragon 888 listed, so we can’t say which processor is better at AI tasks.
Conclusion
The Snapdragon 888 is the clear winner as it outperforms in both CPU and GPU performance. Nevertheless, the Exynos 1080 is an excellent chipset too as it almost holds its own against the Snapdragon 865 in CPU performance and even surpasses it in GPU performance. However, it is its more powerful sibling, the Exynos 2100, that will be the challenger to the Snapdragon 888.
Huawei spun off its Honor business recently due to the crippling effect of the US trade ban on the company. The dispute wasn’t only affecting the company’s access to semiconductor, but was also affecting the honor brand.
After the sales, Honor is yet to release any product, but the brand is gearing to launch its firsts product.Honor has released a teaser poster on its official Weibo channel. Alredy, we know the brand will launch the V40 smartphone soon but that won’t be all. The poster shows that Honor will release a number of products under the Honor Smart Life platform.
The poster shows the array of new products that are expected to be launched soon includes the 75-inch Honor Smart Screen X1, Honor Watch GS Pro smartwatch. Others include a notebook, fascia gun, smart water cup and electric toothbrush.
In comparison with the previous models under the Honor Smart Screen X1 series, this 75-inch Honor Smart Screen X1 is larger in size than the previous models which has 65 inches as the largest. The smart TV will also come with a more aesthetic design and upgraded smart functions.
Currently, the Honor Smart Screen category includes a standard version, a Pro version, and the X1 series. In terms of configuration, it is equipped with Honghu smart chip, has 92% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, 3840×2160 pixel ultra-high-definition 4K display, and is also equipped with 4x10W high-power speakers.
Already, the 75-inch Honor Smart Screen X1 is up for reservation on Jingdong, and the website information shows that it is expected to be available on January 15, 2021.
Honor also announced on Weibo that the Honor Mall will officially be launched on January 12 and will provide consumers with genuine guarantees, considerate services and after-sales peace of mind to enhance the purchase experience in all aspects.
realme is all set to launch the realme V15 in China tomorrow(January 7). Ahead of this, it’s pre-sale registrations is already underway on JD.com(Jingdong). And the device has received a rave response from the consumers.
The realme V15 is the first of probably many smartphones coming with a “Koi”-inspired beautiful rear design. That is, it resembles the Koi ornamental fish found in Japan. While the company hasn’t revealed the core specifications and price yet, it’s pre-sale has already crossed 450,000 registrations on Jingdong(via).
Precisely, at the time of writing this, the numbers stand at 474,662. At this rate, it looks like, before official launch event, which will happen tomorrow at 14:00 PM Beijing time(UTC +08:00), registrations will surely cross 500,000.
The realme V15 is said to come in three colors but we only know about two of them. Those are Koi-Design with Gradient hue and Crescent Silver. The device will weigh within 200 grams(probably 176g with 8.1mm thickness) and be one of the slick phones.
Upfront, it will have a top-left punch-hole display which could be AMOLED. At the back, a rectangular layout for cameras and a ‘realme’ branding. The triple-camera setup will host a 64MP main lens and a couple of other sensors(could be Ultra-wide, Macro).
Further, you get a speaker grille, USB-C, Microphone at the bottom, and at the right and left, there is a Power button and Volume rockers respectively. Underneath, it is expected to bring improvements like an in-display fingerprint scanner, bigger battery over it’s predecessor, the realme V5.
Most likely, it will feature a MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset with SA/NSA 5G support. Besides, the company’s China President Xu Qi has confirmed today that it will have 65W fast charging support.
A leak spotted by Mukul Sharma also hints that realme V15 will come in 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB configurations. Accordingly, the price is expected to be around 1799 yuan($278) and 2099($325) yuan respectively.
OPPO unveiled ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 as the latest version of its mobile operating system in September 2019. Since then, the company has been updating its devices to this new version of its software worldwide. As we have entered the new year, the company has now shared its update rollout plan for January 2021.
A few days back, OPPO China revealed the ColorOS 11 update rollout plan for Q1 2021. We expected the global division to make an announcement soon. And there they are, with a tweet and a community post detailing the rollout plan for January 2021 instead of the year’s first quarter.
According to OPPO Global, the following smartphones will receive the ColorOS 11 update in January 2021.
ColorOS 11 Beta
The below-mentioned handsets are currently receiving a beta update.
Ongoing
OPPO F11
OPPO F11 Pro
OPPO F11 Pro Marvel’s Avenger’s Limited Edition (India, Indonesia)
OPPO A52 (India, Indonesia, Pakistan)
OPPO A92 (Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt)
OPPO A9 (India)
OPPO Reno4 Z 5G (Thailand, Philippines, Australia)
Whereas, the following phones will start receiving the beta update on the listed date.
January 26
OPPO Reno2 F (India)
OPPO Reno 10x Zoom (India, Indonesia)
January 29
OPPO F15 (India)
ColorOS 11 Stable
Taking about the stable update, these are the smartphones that are currently receiving it.
Ongoing
OPPO Find X2
OPPO Find X2 Pro
OPPO Find X2 Pro Automobili Lamborghini Edition
OPPO F17 Pro
OPPO Reno4 F
OPPO A93
OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G
OPPO Reno4 5G
OPPO Reno4 Pro 4G
OPPO Reno4 4G
OPPO Reno4 Lite
OPPO Reno3 Pro 4G
OPPO Reno3 4G
OPPO A72
Last but not least, the stable rollout will begin for the following handsets on the mentioned dates.
January 6
OPPO Reno4 Z 5G (Australia)
January 8
OPPO F11
OPPO F11 Pro
OPPO F11 Pro Marvel’s Avengers Limited Edition (India, Indonesia)
January 15
OPPO Reno4 Z 5G (Thailand, Philippines)
January 21
OPPO A9 (India)
Having said that, to know about the complete list of eligible devices as well as their update timeline, make sure to check out our coverage on the same.
Chinese smartphone maker Blackview is known for its rugged smartphones but the brand also manufactures tablets. The brand has just announced the Blackview Tab 8E which is a budget tablet with fairly decent hardware.
Specs-wise, Blackview Tab 8E packs a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution 1,920 x 1,200 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The device is powered by a Unisoc SC9863A SoC which integrates eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores split across two clusters. The processor is paired with 3GB of RAM. The display is powered by a PowerVR IMG GE8322 GPU.
Furthermore, the tablet packs 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded using a microSD card. The device gets its power from a 6,580 mAh battery which can be charged using a USB-C port. Blackview touts the device will last up to 8 hours between charges when playing videos and has a standby of 408 hours.
For interface, the Blackview Tab 8E runs Android 10 out of the box although Blackview has not confirmed if the tablet will receive Android 11. The tablet is a WiFi tablet and doesn’t support LTE. The tablet also comes with a detachable keyboard which will be purchased separately. The detachable keyboard makes the tablet to be used as a laptop replacement. It comes pre-installed with WPS Office Suite.
For photography, the device packs a 13MP rear camera which should output vivid shots and clear videos. While for selfies, there is a 5MP camera at the front.
As for the price, the Blackview Tab 8E can be purchased from Blackview’s website and other third-party retailers like AliExpress for $135.99. The tablet bundled with the keyboard is available for $165.99. It is available in grey or gold.
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