Samsung Galaxy A32 5G bags Bluetooth certification, launching next month?

Dec 31, 2020

The Galaxy A32 5G is one of the upcoming A-series phones by Samsung. Recent reports have revealed a lot of information about the smartphone. Today, the handset appeared in the database of Bluetooth SIG authority. With an important certification in tow, it appears that the Galaxy A32 5G launch date is not far away.

The listing reveals that the Galaxy A32 5G moniker belongs to model numbers such as SM-A326B, SM-A326_DS, and SM-B326BR_DS. The only other thing that can be found in the listing is that it carries support for Bluetooth 5.0.

Editor’s Pick: Best TWS Earbuds of 2020: Samsung, OPPO, Huawei, Sennheiser & More

Smartphones are known to go official around a month after their appearance at Bluetooth SIG authority. Hence, it is likely that it may break cover in the coming month. A recent report had revealed that some markets may receive the 4G edition of the smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G specifications (Expected)

The Galaxy A32 5G is expected to sport a 6.5-inch display panel. Its CAD renders have revealed that it will be sporting a waterdrop notch screen. The Dimensity 720 chipset is present under the hood of the Galaxy A32 5G. Its 4G model may feature a different chip.

It will come preloaded with Android 11 OS and it will draw power from a 5,000mAh battery. The rear camera setup of the device will have a 48-megapixel main camera. The phone may feature a 3.5mm audio jack. It is likely to debut in Europe with a price tag of 299 euro (~$367).

LG aims on using transparent OLED displays as ‘invisible’ bedroom TVs

Sean

Dec 31, 2020

LG Display has been working on transparent OLED panels for a while now and is aiming on making the technology more feasible for consumers as well. Now, the company unveiled a possible application of the transparent displays with its “Smart Bed” concept, which would use a 55 inch transparent screen that would function as a TV that can turn invisible when not in use.

During the South Korean tech giant’s CES 2021 show, it introduced the “Smart Bed” concept.” This concept had a transparent OLED display be housed on the foot of the bed, or even at other positions at one’s home. One would simply have to press a button to have the transparent panel rise from the base, allowing for seamless entertainment. This invisible TV would also use Cinematic Soun to output audio without requiring separate external speakers.

Furthermore, LG also gave other possible applications of the 55 inch panel, with the example of the transparent OLED screen being used in restaurants. This would allow the customers to see their meals being prepared by the chef. Similarly, subway trains could also sport these screens, offering real time information like route map and location along with the view of the outside, as per an AndroidAuthority report.

As per the company, its 55 inch transparent OLED panel would thrive on a high 40 percent transparency level compared to the 10 percent found in LCD screens. It also expects such transparent displays to replace windows in smart homes or even smart driving cars sometime in the future as well. LG stated that it is not sure when transparent display would hit the consumer market or store shelves, but there has been “growing demand” from different industries.

Best TWS Earbuds of 2020: Samsung, OPPO, Huawei, Sennheiser & More

Joel Joseph

Dec 31, 2020

2020 was probably the year of the TWS earbuds. Almost every known smartphone manufacturer released at least one TWS earbuds this year, be it Samsung, Huawei, OPPO, or even OnePlus. And as usual, we got a bunch of premium earbuds from dedicated audio brands too like the new Sennheiser Momentum 2 and the Bose QuietComfort TWS. Overall, we were spoiled for choices in 2020 which made it harder to compile a list of the Best TWS Earbuds released in 2020.

But what you see below are the ones we think stood out for their sound quality and value for money.

Best TWS Earbuds of 2020

1Best Value (Android): Samsung Galaxy Buds+

Galaxy Buds Plus

If you are looking for the best non-ANC TWS earbuds with good connectivity, excellent sound quality, comfortable fit, and a good looking design, the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ fits the bill. These AKG tuned earbuds come with a new dual-driver system for clear audio reproduction. Despite its compact form factor, the Buds+ also boasts of excellent call quality, thanks to the three microphones, of which two are situated outside.

But the biggest selling point of the Buds+ is its exceptional battery life. You get over 11 hours of music playback on these earbuds, which is way above average for a pair of TWS earbuds. It doesn’t support the aptX codec but comes with support for Samsung’s proprietary Scalable codec.

The Galaxy Buds+ are usually available for sale for under $110 (under Rs. 9000 in India) which is a steal for the sound quality and features it offers. There are a bunch of color options available too.

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PROS	CONS
+11 hour battery life	- No ANC
+Comfortable Fit	- No aptX
+Dual driver system	- only IPX2 protection
+Compact form factor
+Qi Wireless Charging

2Best Value ANC TWS Earbuds (Android): Huawei Freebuds Pro

Huawei Freebuds Pro

If ANC is important to you, Huawei’s TWS earbuds — the Huawei Freebuds Pro offers excellent ANC and sound quality. The earbuds stands out from the crowd which is filled with AirPods Pro’s lookalikes. The shiny Silver Frost color option is particularly unique.

The Freebuds Pro comes with 11mm drivers with excellent ANC and balanced sound quality. In fact, in our review, we found out that it was one of the best sounding earbuds in its price segment. The Huawei earbuds also offer a comfortable fit and a good microphone setup for voice calls.

The battery life with ANC is average at around 4 hours but you should get way more (around 7 hours) without ANC turned on. Also, the provided case will add 15 hours more to your listening time.

The Huawei Freebuds Pro is often cheaper than its launch price and currently can be bought for around £128.35 (around $180) making it a solid ANC TWS option at this price.

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PROS	CONS
+Good ANC	- No aptX
+Comfortable Fit	- Water Resistant but NO IP Rating
+Good Sound quality	- Limited iOS support
+Unique design
+Qi Wireless Charging

Honorable Mention:

The Jabra Elite Active 75t is also a decent option with ANC around this price tag especially if you want something for workouts that has good sound quality with ANC noise isolation.

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3Best Unique Earbuds: Galaxy Buds Live

Galaxy Buds Live

Most 2020 earbuds either come with a compact Galaxy Buds-like design or Apple Airpods Pro-like design with a stem. But what if you want something that’s so uniquely designed that people will have a hard time realizing you are actually wearing a pair of TWS earbuds?

The Buds Live comes in a shiny metallic finish in a bunch of fancy colors like Blue, Red, and Bronze. It’s an open-ear TWS earbud (usually rare in this product category) which can be its plus point as I personally know some users who hate the traditional in-ear design. It sounds pretty good even though the design doesn’t guarantee good isolation and what’s more, Samsung has also added ANC which works to a pretty decent extent.

Other highlight features of the Buds Live include good and comfortable fit, Qi Wireless Charging, 6 hours of battery life, and a pretty decent set of microphones for voice calls.

The Galaxy Buds Live like the Buds+ can be usually found at discounted prices for under $150.

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PROS	CONS
+Unique & Stylish Design	-Poor Noise Isolation
+Comfortable Fit	-No aptX (has Scalable code)
+Qi Wireless Charging	-only IPX2 protection
+Decent Sound

4Best Overall: Sennheiser Momentum 2

Sennheiser Momentum TWS 2

The Sennheiser Momentum TWS 2 is the Best TWS earbuds in the market right now. Building upon the pros of the first-generation model, the new TWS earbuds comes with a fancy fabric covered case, best in class sound quality, and excellent ANC to offer the best TWS earbuds experience in 2020.

The Momentum TWS 2 has a very comfortable fit, comes with aptX support, and is rated IPX4. You get these features at a premium though as it’s very expensive. However, you’ll often find a few dollars off on these, so make sure to keep an eye out for good deals if you are out to get a pair.

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PROS	CONS
+Best in Class Sound Quality	-Expensive
+Excellent ANC
+aptX codec
+Comfortable Fit
+IPX4

Alternative:

BOSE QuietComfort TWS

Bose’s first pair of noise-canceling earbuds deserves more than an honorable mention. The Bose QuietComfort TWS is often touted as the Best ANC earbuds in the market right now. It has a ~~fancier~~ bulkier design than the Sennheiser pair and sounds exceptional. The only major con is its average battery life and a chunky companion charging case.

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5Best Budget TWS: OPPO Enco W11

OPPO Enco W11

Budget TWS earbuds are a hard sell mainly because you’ll often get better sound quality on non-TWS models. However, if you want the convenience and comfort of TWS earbuds at an extremely budget price, then you probably are looking for the OPPO Enco W11. Two of our writers on GizmoChina already have a pair of these earbuds and considering its pricing of under Rs. 2000 ($30), they sound pretty balanced with stable connectivity.

The OPPO Enco W11 triumphs the Realme and Redmi options in the budget TWS category by offering good mid-tones, sufficient bass, and a comfortable fit.

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PROS	CONS
+Balanced Sound Quality	-Average Battery Life
+Comfortable Fit	-No Wireless Charging
+Super Cheap
+Stable Connectivity

Honorable Mentions:

If you can’t get hold of the OPPO W11, you can also check out the Earfun Free TWS which offers a wireless charging case, good sound quality in its price segment, a comfortable fit and retails for under $35.

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Or if you have a slightly higher budget, you can go for the OPPO Enco W51 which comes with a premium stem design, has a good and balanced sound quality, decent ANC, and a good microphone system.

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OnePlus Buds Z is another great value for money TWS earbuds in its price segment. It’s extremely comfortable to wear all day long, has good sound quality even if it’s a bit bass-heavy, and if you have a OnePlus smartphone, then it’s a solid option under $50.

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6Best Open-Ear Type Earbuds: Apple AirPods

Apple Airpods 2019

As I mentioned above, some users don’t like the in-ear fit of most TWS earbuds in the market and this category is specifically for them. While non-in-ear earbuds don’t sound as great as in-ear ones (thanks to the lack of effective noise isolation), there are still decent options available in the market, with the Apple AirPods being one of the best among them.

If you have an iPhone, there’s no doubt that the new AirPods will be the best companion for your phone with stable connectivity and decent sound quality.

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But if you are on Android and don’t have a large budget, you have decent open-ear TWS options in the market like the OnePlus Buds (not the Z). While the sound quality is not out of the ordinary, it offers pretty decent bass and mid-tones for its design type, and are way cheaper than the AirPods.

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So these were our picks for our Best TWS earbuds in 2020. Which is your favorite TWS earbuds from this year?

Apple AirPods Max suffers from a Noice Cancellation bug, but there’s a simple fix

Sean

Dec 31, 2020

The Apple AirPods Max has just been launched recently. It is the company’s latest addition to its hearables lineup, but some users are already suffering from an issue that affects the headphones’ noise canceling feature.

According to a MacRumors report, the new over the ear headphones from the Cupertino based giant is already suffering from an issue that affects the active noise cancellation and transparency modes. With the AirPods Max, users are able to press the noise control button on the right ear cup to toggle between the two modes seamlessly. However, it seems that certain units would only have one ear cup switch while the other remains unresponsive.

In other words, one cup is running ANC, while the other is stuck in transparency mode. At the moment, there is no official fix from Apple, but the company should soon patch this issue out, which seems to be a software glitch. But till then, the report also has a temporary fix to the issue. One has to essentially reboot their Apple AirPods Max, but make sure that they still have some charge. Then, one has to pressing and holding on to the Noise Control button and the Digital Crown until the LED status at the bottom of the right ear cup flashes amber.

After this, your AirPods Max should reboot, which should also fix the issue for the time being. The problem would likely recur, but one can simply reboot the device to fix the issue temporarily. It does seem like a hassle at the moment, but we can only wait for an official company fix for the time being. For those suffering from a persistent ANC/transparency mode bug, resetting the AirPods Max by pressing the same buttons but for 15 seconds should do the trick. This time the light will flash white and would require users to set up the device again.

Redmi could launch one of the cheapest handset with Snapdragon 888: Report

Sean

Dec 31, 2020

The Xiaomi Mi 11 was one of the first flagships of 2021 to feature Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon 888 mobile chipset. Other companies have also announced their own premium grade handsets with the new processor, and now, a new leak report suggests that the Xiaomi subsidiary, Redmi, might be launching the most affordable handset that sports the new Snapdragon 888 SoC.

The news arrives from the known tipster @数码闲聊站 on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website. As per the report, Redmi might be following Xiaomi’s footsteps in launching its own flagship with Snapdragon 888, although, this handset could possibly be one of the cheapest in the market to sport the latest Qualcomm processor. As per the Weibo post, the device also arrived with the code name Haydn model K11.

Unfortunately, there is currently no further information available regarding this new flagship from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer. However, a recent leak from another blogger had revealed images of what was allegedly the Redmi K40. Although, these are just images and we still have no way of confirming the specifications of this device or whether or not it actually is the Redmi K40.

Furthermore, previous reports had also hinted at the new K40 lineup featuring the MediaTek Dimensity 1000 series chips. This is also unconfirmed at the moment, thus, we will have to wait for an official company announcement or further leaks. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates regarding the upcoming Redmi flagship.

Best Concept Smartphones of 2020: OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo, & More

Balaji S

Dec 31, 2020

We, have already compiled a list of the Best 2020 Smartphones and Best 2020 Wearables. Among this, I am privileged to cover the most exciting topic that one could wait for – Concept Smartphones. Despite the rollercoaster ride the industry had, we saw some cool concepts of Smartphones in 2020. From the retracting cameras to rollable displays, companies have come a long way in experimenting with new technologies.

Although many of these concepts never see the light of the day, they do give a glimpse at what’s in store in our future. One such example would be foldable displays which, in 2021, is definitely going mainstream across different price points. That said, let’s look at some of the best concepts that came out this year.

6Xiaomi Retractable Camera concept

At the MIDC 2020, Xiaomi unveiled a concept by which a Telescopic Camera physically retracts (when not in use) inside a smartphone. This wide-aperture lens technology is inspired by conventional cameras in the market. This mechanism has two major advantages- more light, and videos without shake.

Precisely, such a wider aperture increases the amount of light by 300%(better for night mode) and produces a 20% crispier and stable image using the anti-shake feature. As you can see above, the retractable optical structure allows the lens to lodge in just like any point-shoot camera, and its response time is supposed to be quicker as well.

5OnePlus McLaren (Concept One) / 8T Concept

Back in January, OnePlus showcased it’s Concept One smartphone at CES 2020. This product is developed in collaboration with McLaren. It’s typically an OnePlus 7T Pro but has color shifting glass technology on the camera layout which is an Electrochromic Glass. Simply put, the glass changes from transparent to translucent (here it occurs in 0.7sec) if you vary the current/light through it.

You can spot these glasses on the sunroofs of some premium cars, Aeroplanes and buildings’ windows, etc. However, the significance of using it here is, it acts as a neutral density filter to capture the best shots in bright light scenarios.

Recently, OnePlus also revealed what could have been a cool addition to the tally of the OnePlus 8T models. This concept phone has a rear glass with a metal oxide film underneath. Similar to the concept above, the glass changes color (dark blue to light silver) as you vary the voltage across it.

Inspired by the hot springs of Pamukkale in Turkey, the concept, when paired with a radar module (based on mmWave) on the camera housing, responds to gestures like waving hands (for call accept/reject), sense breathing, etc. Precisely, it transmits/receives EM waves and works in conjunction with CPU, DSP to locate and track objects.

EDITOR’S PICK: Gizmochina’s Best Android Smartphones of 2020 / Best Mid-Range smartphones of 2020 (India)

4Vivo Apex 2020 / Color Changing panel concept

After the cancellation of MWC 2020, Vivo showcased its Apex 2020 Concept in February. The portless-smartphone has a 6.45-inch FullView Edgeless Waterfall display. Precisely, the display has a whopping 120° curved edges. The device also features an under-display 16MP selfie camera by increasing light-transmittance to that portion of the display by 6x times.

Vivo didn’t skimp on the cameras either. The rear layout has a 16MP active moving lens which Vivo coined as the “continuous optical zoom”(5x to 7.5x Optical) feature. Additionally, the device has a 48MP Gimbal-like camera (200% more stability than OIS), 60W wireless charging.

Just like OnePlus, Vivo also tapped into the peculiar property of the Electrochromic Glass tech in a color-changing panel concept. That is, the rear panel adopts the concept of Electrochromism where the color/opacity of material changes when the voltage is varied.

As you can see in the video below, the color changes from Blue to Silver to a Gradient of Purple colors. This is made possible by sandwiching two transparent electrodes and Glass sheets with an Electrochromic film in the middle. Nevertheless, this tech has all the possibilities to make it to commercial devices in the form of dynamic rear panels.

3 2TCL rollable/ tri-fold concept

TCL, a brand famous for Smart TVs, out of nowhere, showed two Concept renders of smartphones in March 2020. One has a rollable screen and the other is a tri-foldable display design. The displays, which are from the in-house TCL-CSOT, feature a flexible AMOLED technology.

Further, the tri-fold device helps a 10-inch tablet contract into a smartphone with a 6.65-inch screen. It has an aspect ratio of 20.8:9 and a 3K resolution. The company also had two types of hinges- DragonHinge and ButterflyHinge. The former is like Galaxy Fold while the latter resembles Huawei Mate X.

Besides, the highlight of the two concepts was the rollable display. Accordingly, the AMOLED display extends sideways to a 7.8-inch screen and retracts to a 6.75-inch display on pushing a button. However, unlike the tri-fold above, it uses a motorized mechanism so you don’t have to push it manually.

TCL, in a video(as shown below), showcased that the display adapts to either of the given screen real estates in real-time. This makes additional features like multi-tasking, split-screen windows a joy to use.

1OPPO X 2021 Concept

Last, but not least, and my personal favorite, is the OPPO X 2021 extending display Concept. Although TCL was like a front-runner of sorts, OPPO unveiled a working prototype of the tech making it a first of its kind. At the INNO DAY 2020, OPPO showcased a device whose display extends from 6.7 to 7.4-inches.

The display is obviously an OLED screen and it rolls into the frame via a 6.8mm Roll Motor and a proprietary rollable concept design. Additionally, you can also see a 2-in-1 support frame plate inside for taking care of the rolled-up screen. Apart from this, OPPO also used a 0.1mm Warp Track laminate to protect the screen.

That’s it! Those were some of the coolest smartphone concepts of 2020. Heading into next year, we expect some of these ideas to evolve into a whole new array of explosive out-of-the-box products from the brands. And we are as excited as you are.

Perhaps, if we ask you whether you would’ve imagined the feasibility of these at the beginning of this decade, what would have been your answer? Let us know down in the comments below!

UP NEXT: The Best Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers of 2020

Samsung Galaxy S21 series smartphones to ship without charger in the UK

Jeet

Dec 31, 2020

Samsung will reportedly remove the charger or power adapter from the box of the upcoming flagship Galaxy S21 series smartphones. While the company has not explicitly confined this, as Xiaomi did, but the removal of social media posts mocking Apple for doing the same hints towards that direction.

Now, leaker Ishan Agarwal has claimed that the next-generation Galaxy S-series flagship smartphones will come without a charger in the retail box, at least in the United Kingdom. The tweet has now been deleted but below is the screenshot of the same (via GSMArena).

However, we expect the company to exclude a charger from the Galaxy S21 series’ retail box in almost every region. Recently, a certification list of the upcoming lineup in Brazil confirmed the exclusion of chargers and earphones.

But it’s not just following Apple‘s footsteps. Samsung has been working towards this move since the launch of the Galaxy Note20 lineup in which the company excluded the earphones from the box in the United States. The South Korean giant shipped out the earphones for free to those customers who requested.

EDITOR’S PICK: iQOO 7 series smartphones confirmed to come with 120W fast charging technology support

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G render — Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Render

So, there’s still a possibility of Samsung doing the same for the charger and earphones in the upcoming Galaxy S21 series. So far, it remains to be seen if the company decides to remove the bundled accessories in all three models — S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra.

However, to know for sure what the company has planned, we will have to wait for the official launch event that is expected to take place on 14th January. Meanwhile, Samsung company has set an event in the first week of January where it will showcase its new display technology.

MIUI Gallery app confirms the existence of Mi 11 Pro

Sudarshan Ravichandran

Dec 31, 2020

Back in late November, an MIUI 12 code exposed Xiaomi to be working on a smartphone with a QHD+ display. Following that, a few days back, the Chinese tech giant announced Mi 11 with a similar spec’d panel. Now, another code in the MIUI Gallery app confirms that there will be a Mi 11 Pro as well.

Earlier this year, Xiaomi launched both Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro at the same event. But surprisingly, the company only unveiled Mi 11 for 2021 as of now. Although the firm did not say anything about Mi 11 Pro at the launch conference, Digital Chat Station, a popular as well as reliable Chinese tipster revealed that the Pro variant will be announced after the Spring festival.

That said, recently, Xiaomi updated the MIUI Gallery to v2.2.17.18. According to kacskrz, a recognized XDA member, the source code of the latest version of the MIUI Gallery app not only confirms the existence of Mi 11 Pro but also its QHD+ curved display.

According to previous reports, the Mi 11 Pro’s display may also support 120Hz refresh rate, SDR to HDR mapping, MEMC, and AI upscaling. On the other hand, the vanilla Mi 11, which is now official does not come with any of these features except for the 120Hz refresh rate.

Apart from the differences in display, we also expect the Mi 11 Pro to come with a better camera setup and support for faster charging.

iQOO 7 series smartphones confirmed to pack 120W fast charging support

Jeet

Dec 31, 2020

Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO confirmed that the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone, dubbed iQOO 7 will get launched on 11th January 2021 in China, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset.

Now, days ahead of the official launch, the company has shared a new teaser poster on its social media, confirming that all the models in the iQOO 7 series will come with support for 120W fast charging technology.

As per the company’s claim, the smartphone with a 4,000mAh battery can get fully charged within 15 minutes using this technology. Prior to this, the company had revealed that the phone will have its audio output tuned by Audio Technica. Along with the latest flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset, the phone will pack LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage for better performance.

The upcoming smartphone was recently spotted on the AnTuTu benchmark with a score of 752,935. The listing reveals that the phone will have a Full HD+ display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It is likely to feature a 6.56-inch AMOLED screen with in-display fingerprint sensor technology for added security.

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus Band fitness tracker priced under $40 to reportedly launch in a few weeks

A recent report has revealed that the smartphone will come with a triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 48-megapixel primary camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) support.

In the software department, the device will come running the latest Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with OriginOS on top, which was recently released by Vivo. We also expect the phone to come with several software enhancements, including a Gaming Mode for advanced users to boost performance and overall experience.

Along with the iQOO 7, the company has confirmed to launch the iQOO 7 BMW Edition on 11th January. This edition will come with a White-colored body and a Red-Black-Blue colored vertical stripe on the back. We expect the company to keep sharing more information about the device as the launch nears.

Samsung to launch Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection in Vietnam

Sean

Dec 31, 2020

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the company’s successor to its first foldable smartphone. It was launched earlier this year and now, the company has announced a new Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection is arriving for its customers in Vietnam.

According to a SamMobile report, the new Limited Edition Collection for Spring 2021 will not be sold along with the vase Galaxy Z Fold 2 variant. Apparently, the South Korean tech giant was taken by surprise by the foldable smartphone’s success in the region. So, Samsung decided to not just replenish the stocks, but also make the fresh batch a bit special as well. The official name of the device is the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection – Spring 2021, which essentially is the same as the regular version but its retail box arrives with a handful of goodies and incentives.

Looking into these special offerings, customers in Vietnam are given the Galaxy Z Elite Privilege card, which was previously only reserved for customers that had placed pre orders in the country. This card is valid till 25th September 2021 and will have holders enjoy benefits like receiving discounts up to 35 percent on non foldable Galaxy handsets, and up to 45 percent off on consumer electronics, excluding the 8K TVs.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Official Leather Case — Galaxy Z Fold 2 Official Leather Case

Furthermore, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection also arrives with a Premium Leather Case, Samsung Care+ extended warranty, and even allows users to choose the color of the hinge. All of this would be stores in the special edition retail box adorned with Lotus flowers. For those unaware, Lotus is Vietnam’s national flower and is considered a symbol of purity, commitment, and more. The device will be available for pre orders starting from January 7 from the company’s official Vietnamese website.

OnePlus Band fitness tracker priced under $40 to reportedly launch soon

Jeet

Dec 31, 2020

OnePlus is known for making smartphones but the company recently entered the mobile accessories market and has launched a few products in that category. Now, the Chinese company is set to launch yet another product in its portfolio.

It appears that the OnePlus Band fitness tracker is set to get launched in the first quarter of 2021. This will be the company’s first wearable fitness tracking device and likely to compete against the likes of Xiaomi Mi Band 5, and Honor Band 6, among others.

Interestingly, the company is also set to launch its first smartphone in 2021, which has already been confirmed by OnePlus. It is not yet known if both these devices — the OnePlus Band and the OnePlus Smartwatch will get launched at the same time.

Some reports indicate that the OnePlus Band fitness tracker could debut in the Indian market in January or February. Later on, the device will make its way to other regions, ahead of the launch of the OnePlus 9 flagship smartphone.

EDITOR’S PICK: ASUS Adolbook13 2021 with an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 and gradient metal color launched

The upcoming fitness tracker is said to be focusing on the budget market and will come with an AMOLED display and multi-day battery life support. Based on the render shared by StuffListings, the OnePlus Band could be a rebranded version of the OPPO Band.

We expect more information about this product, including specifications, features, and pricing details to surface online in the coming days or weeks. However, a report indicates that the device will be priced under $40.

Garmin Vivoactive 3 Element launched in India for ₹15,990 ($219)

Sudarshan Ravichandran

Dec 31, 2020

Garmin has launched the Vivoactive 3 Element in India priced at ₹15,990 ($219). This wearable can be purchased from either Garmin online store, Amazon India, or Tata Cliq in the country. It is the brand’s cheapest smartwatch offering in the region and comes in a single grey option.

The Garmin Vivoactive 3 Element sports a 1.2-inch transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. This screen is protected by chemically strengthened glass. Further, the casing of the smartwatch features stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer, whereas the strap is made of silicone.

Being a fitness-focused wearable, the product ships with all the essential sensors such as optical heart rate sensor, barometric altimeter, compass, accelerometer, thermometer, GPS, and GLONASS. As for connectivity, the smartwatch uses Bluetooth and ANT+.

The watch connects with smartphones via the Connect IQ app, which is available on both Google Play Store for Android and Apple App Store for iPhones. Just like any other companion app, this application can be used to modify various settings on the smartwatch.

1 of 2

As far as features are concerned, the wearable comes with more than 10 pre-loaded GPS and indoor sports modes. It also supports app notifications, VO2 Max, heart rate monitoring, stress level monitoring, customizable workouts, Samsung SmartThings controls, and more.

Last but not least, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Element is 5ATM water-resistant and can last up to 8 days in smartwatch mode but only up to 13 hours in GPS mode.

(Via)

ASUS Adolbook13 2021 with an 11th-gen Core i5 SoC, gradient metal color launched

Jed John Ikoba

Dec 30, 2020

Around September last year, Taiwanese tech giant ASUS announced the Adolbook14 which it prides as the world’s first metal gradient notebook. The company also marketed the device as a fashionable PC and that wasn’t far from the truth. The electronics giant has just launched a successor to the Adolbook14 and it is called ASUS Adolbook13 2021.

The Adolbook13 2021 is a compact notebook PC powered by the latest 11th generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. The processor is paired with 16GB of LPDDR4X-4266 memory while there is 512GB M.2 SSD onboard. The notebook is also equipped with an upgraded Cicada wing fan which supports three-speed fan switching.

In terms of the design, ASUS Adolbook13 2021 uses 3D metal printing technology. The company says the tech is used to create a psychedelic ocean color with gradient metal. The notebook uses an all-metal body with a toughened mirror logo.

Editor’s Pick: The Best Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers of 2020

The Adolbook13 2021 features a 13.3-inch display with an FHD resolution of 1080p. The display also offers 100% sRGB color gamut, and has a screen ratio of up to 88%. The entire notebook is as light as 1.19kg and is just 13.9mm thick. This makes it thinner, lighter and has a wider screen ratio than last year’s Addolbook14.

There are decent options when it comes to I/O, even considering the device’s thinness. The Adolbook13 2021 features a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SD card reader, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI video out port, a USB 3.1 port and a USB-C port. While the number of ports available isn’t all that impressive, the sheer variety is pretty good.

There’s a 50Wh battery, which should offer a decent hours of video playback. The laptop is TUV Rheinland certified and also packs HArman Kardon stereo speakers.

The ASUS Adolbook13 2021 carries a decent price tag of 4999 yuan ($766) which is a decent price considering the build material and other hardware configuration. The model is available from Asus’ Jingdong official flagship store.

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Redmi Note 9T with MediaTek Dimensity 800U spotted on Geekbench

Balaji S

Dec 30, 2020

The Redmi Note 9T has now appeared on Geekbench further strengthening the belief that it’s a rebadge of China’s Redmi Note9 5G. The listing also suggests that the supposed Global variant will come with an older version of Android.

The latest Geekbench listing of a Xiaomi smartphone with model number M2007J22G appears online. If we recall, a device with a similar model number has already passed Thailand’s NBTC and Malaysia’s SIRIM certifications. Among this, the NBTC revealed that the device would debut as Redmi Note 9T 5G.

Anyway, the device in testing runs 4GB of RAM and has an ARM MT6853T processor. A similar Geekbench of the Redmi Note9 5G before its launch revealed that it’s the MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G SoC. That said, the 4GB variant doesn’t exist in China as it is selling only in 6/8GB RAM, and 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage variants.

Redmi Note 9T 5G Spotted On Geekbench.
Most Probably Launching Next Month i.e. January 2021.
•Android 10
•4GB Ram 👎
•Mediatek Dimensity 800U https://t.co/U6HniQkLqE pic.twitter.com/yHTEB0juOi

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) December 30, 2020

Besides, the listing also reveals that the Global variant will likely debut with Android 10 OS just like Redmi Note9 5G. Previously, while launching in November, the latter came with MIUI 12 but didn’t carry the latest Android(11). Also, despite sporting a lower RAM, the scores are almost on par with the Chinese variant(single-core- 598, multi-core- 1,760 points).

Redmi Note 9T Specifications(Expected)

The Note 9T 5G will likely feature a 6.53-inch FHD+ LCD display with a top-left punch-hole upfront. At the back, a circular camera layout like the Note9 Pro 5G will hold three sensors with a 48MP main lens, 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP sensor.

Other expected specs include a 5,000mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging, in addition to SA/NSA 5G and other connectivity options.

Xiaomi Mi Human Sensor 2 now on sale in China for ¥59 (~$9)

Jed John Ikoba

Dec 30, 2020

Xiaomi launched the Mi Human Sensor 2 was launched on Xiaomi crowdfunding in November this year. The product is focused on motion detection, light and dark recognition, intelligent linkage, and adopts a compact size. Exactly a month after the crowdfunding exercise, the tech giant has launched the Mi Human Sensor 2 on open sale for 59 yuan (~$9). The product is on sale on Jingdong and other platforms.

The Mi Human Sensor 2 is small in size and comes with a stand, which can be placed or pasted at will. It supports multiple installation methods such as flat placement, wall pasting, and inversion.

The Mi Human Sensor 2 supports 130° wide-range sensing and a detection distance of 7 meters. It can be placed in a room, corridor, or bedside to monitor the movement of people or pets, and send notifications to the Mijia app through a nearby Bluetooth gateway, or when linked with other smart devices.

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This version comes with ambient light and dark detection function and so there is no need to buy a light sensor. You can wake up at night and it automatically turn on the light after detecting your movement.

The product also supports linkage with Mijia IoT products. For example, when you go home, you can turn on the Mijia Air Purifier remotely. When there is no one in the house, you can turn off the home air conditioner, air purifier, and other electrical equipment remotely from the app.

It should be noted that the Mi Human Sensor 2 cannot be directly connected to the smart home via Wi-Fi, and must be used with a Bluetooth gateway or Bluetooth Mesh gateway, such as Xiaomi XiaoAI touch screen speakers and Xiaomi smart multi-mode gateway.

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realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) Early Access now live for realme 7, 6 Pro, narzo 20 Pro, and X2 Pro

Sudarshan Ravichandran

Dec 30, 2020

Chinese smartphone maker realme unveiled realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 in September. The announcement for the same came soon after the ColorOS 11 launch event. Because despite separating from OPPO, realme’s software is still based on ColorOS. So far, the brand has delivered the stable update to a single handset – realme X50 Pro, whereas builds for two devices are in the beta testing phase. Now, the company has started recruiting testers for four new phones.

A few days after announcing realme UI 2.0, the brand also revealed the ‘Early Access’ roadmap for all the eligible devices. Following the same, the company has been releasing builds.

Hence, as December 2020 is about to end, the firm has started recruiting realme UI 2.0 Early Acess testers for the following smartphones.

realme 7
realme 6 Pro
realme narzo 20 Pro
realme X2 Pro

Just like with the previous three handsets, the seats for the next four devices are also limited. Therefore, if you are interested in trying out the latest software, then head over to Settings > Software Update > Gear Icon > Trial Version > Submit Details > Apply Now.

If you get selected, you will be receiving the realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) beta build via OTA. That said, for some reason, you want to rollback to realme UI (Android 10), make sure to backup your data first as this process will wipe your internal storage.

Anyway, even if you don’t join this program now, you will be receiving the stable update in the coming weeks when it is ready.

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6Xiaomi Retractable Camera concept

5OnePlus McLaren (Concept One) / 8T Concept

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3

2TCL rollable/ tri-fold concept

1OPPO X 2021 Concept

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