OnePlus Nord OxygenOS Open Beta 1 brings Android 11, Canvas, insight AOD, and more

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Jan 5, 2021

A few days back, OnePlus promised to release OxygenOS Open Beta 1 for the OnePlus Nord this week. The update has been made available for download on the OnePlus Community. Interested users of the device can install this update without losing their data but they are still recommended to backup.

The first-ever public beta update for the OnePlus Nord arrives with a bang. It not only introduces Android 11 to the users of the smartphone but also brings a ton of new features, courtesy of OxygenOS 11.

First and foremost, the new build brings new UI visuals and optimizations for the stability of some third-party applications. Further, the update adds 10 new AOD (Always-on Display) clock styles, including ‘Insight Clock Style’, which was designed in collaboration with Parsons School of Design. It also brings the Canvas feature that allows users to apply any picture as AOD wallpaper.

Then, the update finally adds a shortcut key for dark mode along with support for scheduling. Also, it brings the newly redesigned Shelf with a weather widget that has animation effects.

Last but not least, the build also brings the new OnePlus Gallery app with support for story function and faster loading speed.

OnePlus Nord OxygenOS Open Beta 1 Official Changelog

System
- Update to Android 11 version
- Fresh new UI visual design brings you a more comfortable experience with various optimizations of details
- Optimize the stability of some third-party applications and improve user experience

Ambient Display
- Newly added Insight clock style, a joint creation with Parsons School of Design. It will change according to the phone usage data ( To set: Settings > Customization > Clock Style)
- Added Canvas feature that can automatically draw a wireframe picture based on a lock screen photo on your phone（Path：Settings-Customization-Wallpaper-Canvas-Choose photo preview and it can be generated automatically）
- Newly added 10 new clock styles ( To set: Settings > Customization > Clock Style)

Dark Mode
- Added the shortcut key for Dark Mode, pull down the quick setting to enable. Supporting automatically turn on feature & customize time range. path: Settings – Display – Dark Mode – Turn on automatically – Automatically enable from sunset to sunrise / Custom time range

Shelf
- Newly shelf interface design, the interface is clearer
- Added weather widget, animation effect smarter

Gallery
- Supporting Story function, automatically form weekly videos with photos and video in storage
- Optimize the loading speed of the gallery, and the image preview is faster

Having said that, once you install OxygenOS Open Beta 1 on your OnePlus Nord, you will be receiving the future builds via OTA. Anyway, you can rollback to the stable channel by installing the respective rollback file but that will erase the entire phone.

Redmi M2101K6G gets FCC certification; could be a 4G variant of Redmi Note 10

By

Balaji S

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Jan 5, 2021

Xiaomi is gearing to launch a new 5G device in Europe, the Redmi Note 9T 5G. Besides, last month, a Redmi smartphone with model number M2101K6G received Russia’s EEC certification. It was rumored to be the Redmi K40. Today, the same device has got FCC certification, and a tipster claims that it will belong to the ‘Note’ series.

As spotted by our very own Simranpal Singh, a Redmi device with a model number M2101K6G is listed on the FCC certification website. The listing shows that the device has support for NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5GHz bands in addition to running MIUI 12 as software. We could also spot that the device is certified for LTE/GSM/WCDMA carrier frequencies.

However, a tipster Sudhanshu on Twitter claims that it is the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G but there is neither any indication of the “5G NR” bands in the list nor is it mentioned on the label as you can see below in the tweet:

Redmi M2101K6G smartphone arrives on FCC with 5G support. It houses Dual-Band Wifi and Bl and runs on MiUI 12.#redmi #redmim2101k6g #xiaomi #fcc pic.twitter.com/C36Zu1JNl4

— Simranpal Singh (ਸਿਮਰਨਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ) (@simransingh931) January 5, 2021

Hence, it could just be a 4G LTE device and not a 5G-one as the device doesn’t have any of the FCC permitted frequency bands for sub-6GHz and mmWave. You can check the additional images below:

1 of 2

That said, we also can’t rule out the possibility of this model having 5G variants but we will have to wait for the official news to confirm it. Additionally, tipster Mukul Sharma has also spotted that the device has already got it’s IMEI registered in India.

From this, it is clear that the device is global-bound and will make it to multiple countries including the Americas, and Asia. Sadly, apart from the network features, we don’t have enough information about specs to talk more about it.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite specifications, renders emerge; March end launch expected

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 5, 2021

Xiaomi has recently unveiled the Xiaomi Mi 11 flagship smartphone in China. Rumors are rife that the more advanced Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will break cover by February or March. Some reports have also speculated on the existence of a phone called Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 4G. Recently, it was revealed by a tipster the Mi 11 Lite could be among the nine new phones that Xiaomi has reportedly planned to launch in early 2021. It is even being said that the same phone or its variant could be debuting as the POCO F2 in some regions. A new video that talks about the specs of the Mi 11 Lite 4G have appeared on a Vietnamese YouTube account named The Pixel.

The YouTuber has shown the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite in two color variants such as blue and black. It appears like a stripped-down version of the Mi 11 flagship. The renders shared by the YouTuber suggest that the Mi 11 Lite has a flat display with a punch-hole design. The square-shaped camera module on its rear looks like a plain version of the camera housing available on the Mi 11.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G with 120Hz display, SD750G, flagship 108MP HM2 camera launched for Rs 20,999 (~$287)

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite Specifications (Rumored)

The YouTuber revealed that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite has a display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. Hopefully, it carries support for Full HD+ resolution. There is no word on the front camera of the device. It is mentioned in the video that the phone has an IPS LCD panel, which indicates it should be equipped with a side-facing or a rear-positioned fingerprint scanner. However, the fingerprint sensor is not visible in the renders.

Moving forward, the Snapdragon 732G chipset is said to power the Mi 11 Lite. At present, the POCO X3 is the only phone in the market that features the SD732G chip. The video further mentions that the Mi 11 Lite has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The rear camera setup includes a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel secondary lens, and a 5-megapixel sensor.

The YouTuber has claimed that the Mi 11 Lite will be sold in Vietnam by the end of March with a pricing of around 7500,000 VND (~$324) or 800,000 VND (~$346). Since there are some discrepancies with the renders, it is advisable to digest the leak with a grain of salt.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi 11 dethrones HUAWEI Mate40 Pro+ to top the AnTuTu December 2020 report

(via)

Alcatel 5X with a 5000mAh battery launched alongside the 1V Plus

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 5, 2021

Chinese tech giant TCL has unveiled two new smartphones in Argentina. The Alcatel 5X and the Alcatel 1V Plus are both entry-level models and come with decent specs but what stands out on the models are their big batteries. The 5X is the top model out of the two and appears to be the successor to the 3X 2020.

Specs-wise, the Alcatel 5X has a 6.52-inch IPS display with HD + resolution and is powered by a 2.0GHz octa-core processor paired with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory which can be expanded via micro SD. The device will pack a quad-camera setup at the rear. The setup includes a 48MP + 5MP + 2MP + 2MP combo while at the front, there is a 13MP selfie camera.

The 5X comes pre-installed with Android 10 and packs a rear fingerprint reader. The display also has an oleophobic coating and supports facial recognition.

Editor’s Pick: Best Concept Smartphones of 2020: OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo, & More

On its part, the Alcatel 1V Plus features a 6.22-inch IPS LCD display with HD + resolution. The device is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6762D processor with a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz. The processor is paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. On the back, we also find a dual-camera setup which is a 13MP + 5MP combo. At the front, there is a 5MP selfie camera. Finally, there’s a sizeable 4000mAh battery on board.

TCL is yet to reveal the pricing and availability details of the Alcatel 5X and 1V Plus. But since they are both listed on the brand’s official Argentine website, we may see the models launched there soon. TCL may also showcase both models for the international market at CES 2021 which is commencing on January 11.

UP NEXT: Apple to launch AirTags, AR device and more in 2021, claims Ming-Chi Kuo

Realme V15 live shot leaked before unveil event

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 5, 2021

Last year, Realme introduced the V-lineup in China by announcing the Realme V3 and Realme V5 smartphones. The Chinese firm has recently confirmed that it will be launching the Realme V15 phone on Jan. 7. The company also shared a couple of renders of the phone to reveal that its colorful rear design is inspired by ornamental Koi fish. Today, a tipster from China shared a live shot of the Crescent Silver edition of the Realme V15.

The silver variant of the Realme V15 wears a very sleek and sophisticated appeal. Probably, the smartphone features a glass panel on its rear. The edges of the rear shell are cured towards the left and right edges.

A rectangle-shaped camera module with three cameras and an LED flash can be seen at the upper-left corner. It is fitted with a 64-megpaixel primary camera. At the bottom, it features a speaker grille and a USB-C port. Neither the rear shell nor the edge of the phone features a fingerprint sensor.

Editor’s Pick: realme RMX3093 visits Geekbench with Dimensity 720, 8GB RAM, and Android 10

Previous reports have revealed that the Realme V15 has a punch-hole display. It could be an OLED panel integrated with a fingerprint reader. Rumors have it that the phone will draw power from the Dimensity 800U chipset. The device is expected to arrive with support for 50W fast charging. Reports have revealed that it has a thickness of only 8.1mma and it weighs 176 grams.

Realme China President Xu Qi revealed through a recent Weibo post that the company will continue to launch the Realme V3 series and V5 lineup devices in the future. The Realme V5 is the first-generation V5 handset and the upcoming Realme V15 is it’s second-generation. After the V15, it will be launching the Realme V25 in the future. In the same way, the Realme V3 lineup includes Realme V3, Realme V13, and Realme V23, and so on. While the V5 series will be costing between 1,500 Yuan (~$232) and 2,000 Yuan (~$309) and the V3 lineup will be priced between 1,000 Yuan (~$15) and 1,500 (~$232).

Xiaomi Mi 11 dethrones HUAWEI Mate40 Pro+ to top the AnTuTu December 2020 report

By

Balaji S

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Jan 5, 2021

It’s a New Year, and new beginnings for the industry is already evident with the launch of Snapdragon 888 SoC. Last month, HUAWEI Mate40 Pro+ topped the AnTuTu’s list of best-performing flagship devices. Today, it has been toppled by Xiaomi’s new 2021 entrant, the Mi 11.

For the unware, AnTuTu is a popular benchmarking platform. The Chinese software tool is used to calculate the performance of the CPU, GPUs on smartphones and give them a corresponding score. Just like previous tests, the latest test(Dec.1 – Dec.31, 2020) involves flagships sporting their highest RAM+storage variants in V8 version.

Xiaomi Mi 11 tops the flagship chart

And as per the report, Xiaomi’s Mi 11 tops the chart with 708,425 average points. With this, the entire devices from November’s report are down by a place. This includes both the Huawei Mate40 Pro+(702,819) and Mate40 Pro(686,408) as well. in terms of UX too, Mi 11 has had the upper hand with 100,000 points thanks to a 2K+120Hz display.

However, the 3D performance was neck and neck with both the Huawei and Xiaomi flagships crossing the 300,000 mark. It’s worth noting that devices like Asus ROG Phone 3, Lenovo Legion Phone Duel have vanished from the November report.

Also, it’s very strange to see Snapdragon 865 models outperforming the 865+ devices although the latter promises a solid 10% boost in performance. Anyway, the rest of the list has Mi 10 Ultra(667,006) in fourth and Redmi K30S Ultra(666,490) jumps a place above to 5th place.

In the process, it dethrones devices like iQOO 5(665,604), iQOO 5 Pro(664,998). The remaining three places are occupied by Vivo X50 Pro+(663,383), Mate40(654,325) being the other new entrant, and lastly iQOO Neo3(648,012) respectively.

Mid-range Devices: Redmi 10X 5G continues to reign the throne

Now, moving to the mid-range devices, not a lot was launched during the month of December. We only have a couple of new entrants like the Redmi Note9 Pro 5G, and OPPO’s Reno5 5G. Either way, Redmi 10X 5G with MediaTek Dimensity 820 chipset continues to top the list from November with 400,742 average points.

As mentioned earlier, with the two new entrants, the report says goodbye to the oldies like Redmi K30 5G Racing/Extreme Edition and HONOR 30S. Also, the HUAWEI nova7(398,308) has managed to clip Redmi 10X Pro 5G(398,212) and slot in the top three along with its sibling HUAWEI nova7 Pro(399,883).

The rest of the places from the 5th to 7th position are occupied by HONOR 30(390,184), HONOR X10(362,974), HUAWEI nova7 SE(355,787). That said, the new entrants Redmi Note9 Pro 5G(348,343) and OPPO Reno5 5G(348,303) slot in the 8th and 9th places respectively.

Just like the previous report, realme Q2 Pro 5G keeps the last position with 338,215 points. Since this is the beginning of the next flagship and mid-range era, we expect the list to change a whole lot in the January report.

January 2021 security update for Google Pixels brings a host of fixes and improvements

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 5, 2021

With yesterday being the first Monday of the month, Google has released the January 2021 security update for all the eligible Pixel smartphones. Apart from patching certain vulnerabilities, the build for each device also brings fixes and improvements.

The latest security update for Pixels arrives with a total of six fixes and improvements for different models. They are spread across four categories namely Audio, Display/Graphics, Sensors, and Telephony.

Talking about the common fixes first, all the eligible Pixels – Pixel 3/3 XL, Pixel 3a/3a XL, Pixel 4/4 XL, Pixel 4a/4a 5G, and Pixel 5 get a fix for an issue that causes certain apps to restart intermittently and a fix for an issue that prevents calls on certain MVNO networks. All of these phones also get improvements for auto-rotation response in certain device orientations.

Further, the devices released in 2020 – Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5 receive improvements for auto-brightness response in certain lighting conditions. It is worth noting that these handsets have been getting this improvement for a while now with each update.

Lastly, the update brings tuning and improvements for volume level of system sounds on Pixel 5 and fix for an issue causing speaker noise in certain scenarios on Pixel 4a 5G.

That said, the January 2021 update for Pixels is currently being rolled out in batches via OTA worldwide. In case you cannot wait, then either sideload the OTA file or flash the factory image.

OPPO Find X3 / X3 Pro shatters AnTuTu records with 771K+ benchmark scores

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 5, 2021

In March 2020, OPPO unveiled the OPPO Find X2 and Find X2 Prov flagship phones. The company is expected to unveil the Find X3 and Find X3 Pro by Q1 2021. A mysterious OPPO phone with model number PEEM00 has appeared in AnTuTu benchmarks. It has set a record at AnTuTu by scoring a remarkable benchmark score of 771K+.

Last week, the unannounced iQOO 7 was spotted at AnTuTu with 752K+. The mysterious PEEM00 phone has managed to salvage a better score of 771,491 on the benchmarking platform. However, it is unclear whether the PEEM00 OPPO smartphone is Find X3 or Find X3 Pro smartphone. Like the iQOO 7, the Find X3 series will be equipped with the Snapdragon 888 flagship SoC.

Editor’s Pick: OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G confirmed to launch in India on January 18

In December, reputed tipster Evan Blass had leaked the specifications of the Find X3 Pro. He had revealed that the flagship phone will be equipped with a 6.7-inch OLED panel with curved edges. It will produce a resolution of 1440 x 3216 pixels, a 10-bit color depth, and a pixel density of 525ppi. The screen will also support an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz.

There is no word on the front camera of the Find X3 Pro, but its rear is expected to feature a quad-camera setup. It will include a pair of Sony IMX766 50-megapixel cameras, one will function as the main lens and the other one has an ultrawide snapper. A 13-megapixel telephoto lens with a 2x optical zoom will be available as a third camera. Lastly, there will be a 3-megapixel macro lens that can operate like a microscope with a 25x zoom.

The Find X3 Pro will be backed by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 30W VOOC Air wireless charging and 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging technology. The latter is said to be 20 percent faster than the previous generation. The handset is expected to arrive with features like NFC support and ColorOS 11 based Android 11 OS. The Find X3 Pro is expected to arrive in black, blue, and white color variants.

Semiconductor sales to continue to rise across the globe: Report

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2021

The sales of semiconductors are expected to grow across the globe. Back in November 2020, semiconductor sales reached 39.4 billion US Dollars, which is up from 7 percent year on year.

According to an SIA report (Via DigiTimes), “Global sales of semiconductors continued to rise in November, increasing on a year-to-year basis by the highest percentage since March. Annual sales in 2020 are tracking well ahead of the total from 2019, despite substantial headwinds caused by the pandemic and other macroeconomic factors,” as per John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO.

He further added that, “Sales into the Americas remained strong in November, increasing year-to-year by a double-digit percentage for the eleventh consecutive month.” The report states that sales of semiconductors had risen by 14.2 percent year on year in the Americas during November, while sales in China rose by 6.3 percent and grew by 5.3 percent in the Asia Pacific/All Other regions.

Despite most areas regions seeing growth, sales in Japan and Europe declined by 1 percent and 4.8 percent respectively. The sales of semiconductors in November also marked an increase across every region, on a month on month basis. This includes the growth of 6 percent in Europe, 3.2 percent in Americas, 2.9 percent rise in China, the Asia Pacific/All other regions saw a 2.8 percent raise, and finally Japan with a surge of 1.6 percent as well.

Intel powered Notebooks with foldable displays to launch in H2 2021

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2021

Intel is apparently continuing to push the development of laptops with foldable displays. These will mark a new breed of notebooks, which are expected to hit the commercial market sometime in the second half of this year.

According to a DigiTimes report, the chip making giant will have its chips power these new laptops. In other words, the development of notebooks with foldable displays has been gaining momentum and we could soon see laptop PC makers launch their offerings soon. As per the report, Intel has been developing notebooks with bending screens, which should hit the market by the end of 2021.

Notably, the report also states that the development of this new type of laptop has already reached the final stages of its development. At the moment, finer details regarding foldable screen notebooks are unknown, but DigiTimes has also reported on its possible pricing. As per its sources that are close to the supply chain, these foldable display laptops could be priced upwards of 70,000 New Taiwanese Dollars (or roughly about 2,469 US Dollars).

This is a steep price to pay, although, the size of the foldable display itself could be one of the major reasons for its high price tag. Unfortunately, we currently have no way of confirming this news, so take the reported launch frame with a pinch of salt and stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates when additional information is available.

Huawei to fall from Top 6 rankings in 2021; as global smartphone production to crosses 1.3 billion units: Report

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2021

Due to the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, global smartphone production had fallen to just 1.25 billion units in 2020. Although, this figure is expected to rise to 1.36 billion in 2021; Huawei is also expected to fall from the top 6 rankings, during this time.

According to a TrenForce report, 2020 had seen a record breaking 11 percent year on year decline in smartphone production. In the previous year, the top 6 rankings were held by Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo, in terms of production volume. But despite 2021 seeing an increase in overall global smartphone production, the Chinese tech giant is expected to see a massive fall in its market share, falling from its top 6 rankings entirely.

Furthermore, 2021 will also have its sub brand, Honor, operating independently from Huawei. The reason the company sold off its budget smartphone unit was to ensure its survival after it faced various US sanctions against its own operations. In other words, Honor will now be competing against its former parent company in the smartphone market. Furthermore, TrendForce also believes that Huawei will face more difficulties in regaining its lost smartphone market share.

With people starting to become more accustomed to the “new normal,” the report believes that the smartphone industry will see a rise in unit production by up to 9 percent this year. The new top 6 brands are now expected to be Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Transsion, which will make up almost 80 percent of the total global smartphone market as well. Although, TrendForce believes that the pandemic still plays a big variable at the moment, while 5G enabled handsets will rise to reach 37 percent of the total handset production in 2021. However, production is expected to cause constraints due to limited foundry capacities across the globe.

Mi CC9 Pro receives Android 11 update, Mi Note 10/10 Pro should get it soon

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 5, 2021

Xiaomi launched the Mi CC9 Pro and Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition as the world’s first smartphones with a 108MP camera in late 2019. These phones are also known and Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro. They debuted with MIUI 11 based on Android 9.0 (Pie) and were updated to Android 10 and MIUI 12. Now, they have started receiving the Android 11 update.

For those unaware, the Mi CC9 Pro and Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition are basically the same smartphones with differences in RAM, storage, and lens. Hence, they run the same MIUI build.

Since they are also sold as Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro outside China, there are a total of five different MIUI builds namely China, Global, EEA, Russia, and Indonesia. All of them are currently on MIUI 12 based on Android 10 except for China.

The Chinese version (original) of the phone has been receiving weekly MIUI builds based on Android 11 for a very long time. But it has begun to receive the stable update only now with build number V12.1.3.0.RFDCNXM.

Currently, the build is in the ‘Stable Beta’ phase, and hence, it is only available for select users. Anyway, we expect Xiaomi to extend the update’s availability to more users as well as other regions in the coming days.

That said, the Mi CC9 Pro has now joined the elite list of Xiaomi smartphones (so many) that are currently running the latest version of Android.

Apple supplier Foxconn plans to invest in Chinese Tesla rival, Byton

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2021

Known Apple supplier Foxconn Technology Group is in talks to invest in a Chinese electric vehicle start up called Byton. The deal would have the Taiwanese company expand its horizons into the automobile industry over just being an iPhone assembler.

According to an SCMP report, Foxconn is planning on investing somewhere around 200 million US Dollars into the potential Tesla rival and also aims to start mass production of the Byton M-Byte by the first quarter of 2022, as per a source close to the matter. At the moment, this news has still not been made public, but we might see it being announced as early as Monday as per the source.

The deal for Byton could be a major opportunity if the news is true since it is still struggling to produce its first vehicle, despite having unveiled the M-Byte concept car being revealed several years ago. Furthermore, the Apple supplier is also looking in talks with other Chinese electric car makers for potential partnerships as well, as per another person familiar with the matter. Unfortunately, Foxconn has yet to respond to this news for now, while Byton has declined to comment.

The move from Foxconn also signifies its diversification from just being a major supplier in Apple’s supply chain. Similarly, other tech companies have also been increasing their investments towards the development of next gen cars, especially electric vehicles, and related technologies. An example being Huawei, which is developing technology that will be housed within smart cars, under its HiCar branding.

TCL to unveil its next gen Mini LED and ‘Future display technologies’ at CES 2021

By

Sean

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Jan 5, 2021

TCL Electronics, the known display maker, is one of the companies that will showcase its latest innovations at the CES 2021 event. The company is set to unveil its next gen Mini LED and Future display technologies at the conference.

During the online event, the company will showcase the ‘TCL AI x IoT lifestyle’ under the theme #ExperienceMore. This will have it feature the Chinese company’s newest advancements in display technology along with other products as well. Kevin Wang, CEO of TCL stated that “TCL is proud to be at CES 2021 and a member of this vibrant industry. As one of the leading consumer electronics brands in the world, and second largest TV brand in America, it is our mission to make life intelligent with innovative technology through our AIxIoT strategy. Moving forward we are committed to providing the best smart products and services to global users.”

For those unaware, TCL is known for its Mini LED and QLED TVs, alongside other products like soundbars, smart home appliances, other consumer electronic gadgets as well. The company will showcase its latest innovations on 11th January 2021. The conference would be fall under the company’s AIxIoT strategy, to expand its presence in the global market. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates on CES 2021 and other notable technologies that will be showcased in the online event.

Apple to launch AirTags, AR device and more in 2021, claims Ming-Chi Kuo

By

Jeet

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Jan 5, 2021

For many months, Apple has been rumored to be working on AirTags — a device that can allow users to track any object it is attached to using the company’s Find My system. While it has been leaked a few times, we now have more information.

Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known and reputable Apple analyst, claims that the Apple AirTags could get launched this year, along with a number of other products, including an unnamed Augmented Reality (AR) device. This was reported by MacRumors.

EDITOR’S PICK: HONOR Mall to officially launch on January 12, will offer the company’s products and services

The Apple AirTags first reported in April 2019 and since then several reports have claimed different launch schedules. Even Apple itself had confirmed that the company is working on it. However, the product still remains unannounced and there’s no information available about its launch date.

Recently, an alleged Apple AirTag carrying accessory was leaked online, which looks like a small leather sleeve for the device that can allow users to easily place it within the leather cover, which is attached to the stainless steel keyring.

Kuo has revealed that apart from AirTags and AR devices, Apple is also set to launch new AirPods, more Apple Silicon-powered MacBooks, along with the fist Mini-LED display panel featuring iPads and MacBooks.

Redmi Note 5/5 Pro has begun to receive MIUI 12 update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 5, 2021

Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro in early 2018 in India with MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1 (Nougat). This very phone later debuted as Redmi Note 5 in China and other markets. The handset was updated to Android 8.1 (Oreo) and Android 9.0 (Pie) along with MIUI 10 and MIUI 11. Now, it has started receiving MIUI 12 update.

The Redmi Note 5/5 Pro aka ‘Whyred’ (codename) is one of the popular Redmi Note series smartphones among consumers as well as the custom ROM community.

The device has three different MIUI builds – Global, China, and Russia. Usually, the Chinese variant gets the first dibs on a new update but MIUI 12 has been initially made available for the variant running Global build. Hence, the update with build number V12.0.2.0.PEIMIXM is live in all the regions worldwide except China and Russia.

Currently, the update is in the ‘Stable Beta’ phase, and therefore, it is only available for select users. But it should be soon available for all the users if there aren’t any major issues with the build. We also expect Xiaomi to release the update for the variant sold in both China and Russia in the coming days.

Having said that, MIUI 12 is the last major update for the Redmi Note 5/5 Pro. The smartphone is not eligible for the Android 10 update but it may receive the minor MIUI 12.5 update later this year.

HONOR Mall to officially launch on January 12, will offer company’s products and services

By

Sean

-

Jan 5, 2021

Honor has just announced that it will be launching its own online shop, the HONOR Mall on the 12th of January 2021. The company made the announcement earlier today (5th January 2021) and will offer its products and services through this online store.

The Chinese tech giant made the announcement through a Weibo post, a Chinese microblogging website. For those unaware, this online store will have the company offer its HONOR-branded services and products. This would also have its very own after sales services as well. As per Honor officials, the company will closely work with its partners to provide safety upgrades and better after sales service for its various products.

The company had previously revealed that the HONOR Mall will launch sometime in January 2021, and now we finally have a confirmation on the date. In this store, the company’s Honor V40 will also be officially launched, although it was previously said to be on the same date as when the online channel goes live, new reports suggest a possible delay. Furthermore, this news also arrives as the brand separated from its former parent company, Huawei. So far, Honor branded products had been sold through Huawei’s official channels, so the move signifies its independence as well.

The company is also planning on launching a separate app for this online store, which will also reportedly carry forward users’ data from the Huawei Club. Although, that is still unconfirmed at the moment, so stay tuned for more as we will be providing more updates when additional information is available.

Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G with 120Hz display, SD750G, flagship 108MP HM2 camera launched for Rs 20,999 (~$287)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 5, 2021

Xiaomi has unveiled the Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G smartphone in India. It is the newest addition to the Mi 10 series, which includes phones like Xiaomi Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10T, and Mi 10T Pro. While these models are powered by Snapdragon 865, the Xiaomi Mi 10i is equipped with a mid-range chipset with 5G capabilities. Some other highlights of the smartphone include a 120Hz refresh rate supporting display and a 108-megapixel quad camera setup.

Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G specifications and features

The Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G has an IPS LCD panel of 6.67 inches. The FHD+ screen offers a 20:9 aspect ratio, 450nits brightness, HDR10, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The punch-hole screen and the rear shell of the device are blessed with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It weighs 215 grams, and it measures 165.4 x 76.8 x 9mm. The Mi 10 5G is an IP53 rated device that comes with a water-repellent coating.

The Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G has a selfie camera of 16-megapixel with EIS. It can shoot 30fps 1080p videos and 120fps slow-motion videos. There is a round-shaped camera module on the backside. It features the brand-new Samsung ISOCELL HM2 108-megapixel camera as the primary shooter. It is the second-generation lens that succeeds the 108-megapixel shooter found on the other Mi 10 series smartphones. The main camera of the Mi 10i 5G is coupled with an 8-megapixel superwide lens with a FOV of 120 degrees, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth assist lens. With dual native ISO and 9-in-1 pixel binning technology available for the main camera, the Mi 10i 5G promises better photography results in dim light conditions. It supports up to 30fps 4K video recording and 960fps slow-motion video shooting.

The Snapdragon 750G chipset that tags along with Adreno 619 graphics powers the Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G. The SoC is accompanied by up to 8 GB of LPPDR4x RAM and 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. There is a shared SIM slot onboard for adding a microSD card to the device. The Mi 10i 5G has built-in 11 temperature sensors on the rear side for modulating on-device temperature. In addition, its internal temperature is regulated by means of the inbuilt cooling system.

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The Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G comes preinstalled with MIUI 12 based Android 10 OS. The device is backed by a 4,820mAh battery that is coupled with 33W fast charging. The handset comes with a host of other features like dual SIM support, 4G/5G, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, dual-frequency GPS, NFC, USB-C, IR blaster, Hi-Res Audio support, stereo speakers, a linear motor for in-game vibrations, Widevine L1 support, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Last, it also features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

The Xiaomi Mi 10i is a modified version of the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite. Both phones have identical specs, but they only differ in the main camera department. The Mi 10 Lite has a 64-megapixel primary camera, whereas the Mi 10i gets the new 108-megapixel lens. Also, the Mi 10i is already available in China with a different moniker of Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G.

Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G price in India

Here is the pricing of the different variants of the Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G:

6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – Rs 20,999 (~$287)
6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – Rs 21,999 (~$300)
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – Rs 23,999 (~$328)

The Xiaomi Mi 10 5G can be purchased in three colors such as Midnight Black, Atlantic Blue, and Pacific Sunrise. The Chinese firm will be starting with the sales of the smartphone from 12 PM on Jan. 8 through Amazon, Mi.com, and Mi Home. Amazon India will be giving early access to Prime subscribers through the Prime Day sale on Jan. 7 (12 PM). The 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage variant will be available for purchase a bit later.

Customers using ICICI Bank credit cards and EMI transactions for purchasing the Mi 10i 5G will be provided with a flat discount of Rs 2,000. Purchasers can also benefit from Rs 10,000 worth of Jio benefits. The handset will be soon available through offline retailers in India.

Huawei MateBook 14 and MatePad T 10S to launch in Singapore on January 16

By

Sean

-

Jan 5, 2021

Earlier today (5th January 2021), Huawei announced that it would be launching the MateBook 14 AMD edition in Singapore along with the MatePad T 10S. The laptop is a part of the company’s ultra portable notebook lineup and will be available for pre orders starting from the 9th to the 15th of January.

MateBook 14

The Huawei MateBook 14 is a light portable notebook that is designed to offer performance in a slim form factor. It features an AMD Ryzen 4000 series chipset under the hood and sports a 14 inch display. The display has a 2K resolution and is surrounded by thin bezels, which helps it achieve a 90 percent screen to body ratio. Its aspect ratio is 3:2, while the keyboard houses the recessed camera and a fingerprint power button for added security.

Notably, the Chinese tech giant is also offering TÜV Rheinland low blue light
certification that limits blue light emissions, for a more comfortable viewing experience. The AMD chipset is from the 4000H series, meaning, it offers notable performance along with Team Red’s integrated Radeon Graphics as well. For cooling, Huawei has outfitted the laptop with its Shark Fin 2.0 cooling fans for better thermal performance even during heavy loads.

A 56Whr battery powers the laptop, which can run up to 10 hours continuously while playing a 1080p video on a single full charge, as per official claims. The laptop only arrives in a single 16GB Ram + 512GB SSD storage variant and is priced at 1,298 Singapore Dollars (roughly 985 US Dollars). It will launch on 16th January 2021 and will be available for pre orders from 9th to the 15th of January.

MatePad T 10S

The Huawei MateBook 14 is being launched in Singapore alongside the MatePad T 10S as well. The tablet features a 10.1 inch display, with an 80 percent screen to body ratio and is built to be an “entertainment powerhouse.” It arrives with the company’s Huawei ClariVu technology, which offers improved visuals and an enhanced viewing experience. The tablet even sports speakers from known audio based company, Harmon-Kardon.

Under the hood, a Kirin 710A processor runs the device paired with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which is also expandable via a microSDXC slot. The MatePad T 10S houses a large 5,100mAh battery pack as well. The laptop is priced at 298 Singapore Dollars (roughly 226 US Dollars) and will be available for purchase from 16th January 2021 alongside the MateBook 14.

OnePlus 9 Pro flagship smartphone could support 45W wireless charging

By

Jeet

-

Jan 5, 2021

OnePlus established its presence in the highly-competitive smartphone market with its “flagship killer” smartphones and the company eventually started launching its own flagship smartphones but as a trade-off for keeping prices low, it missed some premium features.

The OnePlus 8 Pro was the company’s first smartphone to come with support for wireless charging. Now, as per the new report, its successor, the OnePlus 9 Pro, will come with 45W wireless charging support and for the first time, reverse wireless charging support.

The faster wireless charging can charge the smartphone up to 50 percent in 30 minutes. This also hints that the company could also bump up wired charging technology for the smartphone to 65W.

Apart from these, nothing much is known about the OnePlus 9 Pro smartphone at this point in time. However, a leak related to the OnePlus 9 indicates that the device will feature a 6.65-inch AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate display.

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In the software department, the phone will be running the company’s own OxygenOS 11, which as the name indicates, is based on the latest Android 11 operating system.

Under the hood, the phone is expected to come powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset with up to 12GB of RAM. It could feature a dual-48MP rear camera setup and is likely to pack a 4,500mAh battery.

This time, the company is expected to launch three smartphones in the lineup — OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro, and OnePlus 9 SE (or 9 Lite). We expect to know more about the smartphones in the coming weeks and could get launched in the coming months.

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