Realme has launched MediaTek powered 5G smartphones in Taiwan

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Dec 24, 2020

Realme has just launched two new 5G smartphone in Taiwan. The new smartphones are the company’s efforts to expand its presence and market share in the region and feature MediaTek processors.

The two new 5G enabled handsets includes the Realme X7 Pro and Realme 7. Both devices sport MediaTek’s Dimensity chipset that supports the newer and faster bandwidth. Looking at the higher end model first, the Chinese tech giant’s Realme X7 Pro features MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC, and will start for a price of 13,999 New Taiwan Dollars (roughly 500 US Dollars), which can be higher depending on the memory configuration the customer chooses.

On the other hand, with the Realme 7, the company is pushing for the mid range segment, which is its strong suit. The device is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor and is priced at 9,990 New Taiwan Dollars (roughly 355 US Dollars). Realme is aiming at growing its foothold in Taiwan by launching budget friendly 5G enabled smartphones. The devices would help accelerate the development and growth of the 5G handset market in the region and also boost’s the company’s market share, as per hung Hsiang-wei, chief commercial officer of Realme Taiwan.

According to the DigiTimes report, the company is currently the fifth largest OEM in the Taiwanese market in November with just a 5 percent share. Although, its 5G offerings are expected to account for 40 percent of its total smartphone shipment in 2021, based on local retail channels. The other major players in Taiwan include Apple, Samsung Electronics, Oppo, and Vivo, with the market having shipped a combined 620,000 units last month.

Russia’s own version of TikTok is being developed with Vladimir Putin’s Alleged Daughter Katerina Tikhonova

By

Sean

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Dec 24, 2020

Russia is apparently working on its own version of TikTok. The nation’s leading media holding, which is backed by the state’s energy giant Gazprom, is planning on launching a short video sharing application similar to the popular social media platform.

Gazprom-Media CEO, Alexander Zharov, confirmed the news and stated that the holding had purchased a service called “Ya Molodets” (“I am great”). According to Zharov, the app was developed with support from the Innopraktika foundation, which is an organization run by one of Vladimir Putin’s alleged daughters Katerina Tikhonova. The media firm will “use the project’s software to speed up the creation of a new video service for Russian bloggers.”

As per the NDTV report, the CEO said that the app will be launching within two years and will support short portrait videos, similar to ByteDance’s TikTok. For those unaware, Gazprom-Media is one of Russia’s largest media organizations and owns a number of the top television channels and a range of radio stations as well. The news of the upcoming TikTok alternative also arrives as the government is tightening its reins around the internet and platforms like YouTube that offers independent sources of news.

Zharov further added that the company has been working on the platform for “about a year to modernize it and make it no worse than YouTube in terms of tools.” Notably, the country is also working on RuNet, which is essentially a nationwide intranet. This would enable it to control both the platforms and the content being portrayed on it.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro key details and pricing leaks ahead of launch

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2020

Samsung is rumored to launch its Galaxy S21-series flagship smartphones at a launch event on 14th January. At the same event, along with the phones, the company is also expected to launch its next-generation TWS earphones — Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

While we have seen a few reports related to the upcoming wireless earphones from Samsung, a new set of leaked images have surfaced online, thanks to Twitter user WalkingCat, which reveals some key details.

The leak indicates that the Galaxy Buds Pro will come with a 2-way speaker, similar to the Galaxy Buds Plus. There will also be a more powerful active noise cancellation feature, which the company is calling Intelligent Noise Cancellation.

It is also said to provide users with greater control over the experience. The earphones will reportedly have three modes — Conversation Mode, Ambient Sound Mode, and Active Noise Cancellation Mode, which will also have level controls.

EDITOR’S PICK: Realme Koi smartphone powered by Snapdragon 888 confirmed, expected to arrive with beautiful design

Further, it appears that the TWS earphones will also have Spatial Audio and an IPX7 rating for water resistance. There’s something mentioned about the Galaxy Buds widget for Samsung devices but currently, nothing is known about this.

In the battery department, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are expected to offer eight hours of playback time and 4.5 hours of talk time on a single charge. With the charging case, the talk time can be increased to 15 hours while the playtime can be upped to 28 hours.

As for the pricing, the earphones are expected to be priced at $199 — the most expensive in the lineup. For comparison, the Galaxy Buds Plus and the Galaxy Buds Live are priced at $149 and $169 respectively.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 tipped to cost $699; key specs revealed

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2020

Earlier this year, Samsung launched its Galaxy Chromebook as a premium device in the market and now the company seems to be gearing up to launch its successor, named Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2.

Recently, Evan Blass shared images of the upcoming device and leaked Samsung slides have revealed what to expect from the laptop in terms of specifications. Now, the pricing details have also leaked online.

A Twitter user with the handle @_h0x0d_ has claimed that the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 could get launched for a price of $699. The pricing suggested is much lower than the $999 price of the Galaxy Chromebook launched earlier this year.

In the upcoming successor, the South Korean giant is reportedly addressing the major concern of the original model — battery life. The leak hints that the company is aiming for 12-hour battery life on the Galaxy Chromebook 2, which is much higher than around four hours of battery life available on the original Galaxy Chromebook model, although the company promised eight hours of battery life.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi’s market value crosses the $100 Billion mark, achieving its 2018 IPO Goal

One of the changes being done by the company to increase the battery life comes in the choice of display. This time, Samsung has opted for a QLED or Quantum Dot LED screen instead of the 4K AMOLED panel.

To lower the pricing of this device, the company is also downgrading internals. So, instead of the Intel Core i5, the upcoming Chromebook 2 will come packed with 10th generation Intel Core i3, which should easily handle tasks in Chrome OS. However, the choice of a 10th-generation processor is a bit odd as Intel has already launched 11th-gen chipsets.

If this report turns out to be true, then the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 will compete against the likes of Google Pixelbook Go. It could also help the company register more sales with such low pricing.

Xiaomi Market Value crosses the $100 Billion mark, achieving its 2018 IPO Goal

By

Sean

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Dec 24, 2020

Xiaomi Corp‘s market value has just crossed the 100 billion US Dollar mark. The company has finally reached its IPO goal set in 2018, which it had failed to achieve back then.

According to a Bloomberg report, the Chinese tech giant’s market value cross 100 billion US dollars after it rallied as much as 9.1 percent earlier this week in Hong Kong. This marked a new record for the company and even made it the 13th stock in the city’s Hang Seng Index to have a market capitalization that was over 100 billion US Dollars. The company ended the day 7.6 percent higher, with a market value of 802 billion Hong Kong Dollars (roughly 103 billion US Dollars).

Back in 2018, Xiaomi had aimed at a 100 billion US Dollar evaluation for its initial public offering. Although, the company had managed to achieve only half of that original goal upon its debut. Since then, the company has seen great success across the globe, especially in 2020. The news arrives after the smartphone maker saw strong sales with its shares having nearly tripled in 2020 after its post IPO struggles.

In November 2020, Xiaomi had reported its fastest quarterly sales growth in two years. These earnings had surpasses analysts’ expectations as the company remains one of the few Chinese tech firms that are able to see strong growth outside of its home country China. At the moment, the brand is also benefitting from China’s rollout of 5G technology, while also taking advantage of Huawei‘s current situation to take over its domestic market share as well.

Realme Koi phone with Snapdragon 888 confirmed, expected to arrive with beautiful design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2020

Realme will be launching its first Snapdragon 888 powered smartphone in the first quarter of 2021. Yesterday, Realme China President confirmed that it will be a part of a new smartphone series in the home market. While the rumor mill speculated that it could be arriving with Ace branding, the company confirmed today that its first SD888 phone will be called Realme Koi phone.

Koi is the name of an ornamented domesticated fish that is mainly known for its color and beauty. Koi fish means luck in Chinese and Japanese culture. Hence, it appears that the Realme Koi phone will be arriving with an incredibly attractive design and it could be available in vibrant colors.

Realme has created a dedicated profile for the Realme Koi phone on Weibo. The company is expected to use the profile to share more information on the Snapdragon 888 powered Koi phone.

Editor’s Pick: Realme X7 Pro spotted in Realme India’s support page, launching soon?

It can be said based on recent reports that the Realme Koi phone is codenamed Race and its model number is RMX2022. The handset includes 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. It will come preloaded with Realme UI 2.0 based Android 11 OS.

There is no word on the front design of the Realme Koi phone. A leaked shot that was revealed by GSMArena earlier this month that the glass rear of the phone has curved edges. A quad-camera setup housed inside a round-shaped camera module along with an elongated LED flash unit is available on the phone’s back. The device could be equipped with an in-display fingerprint reader. it remains to be seen whether it carries support for 125W UltraDart fast charging technology that was announced in July.

Huami launches Amazfit Bip U and Bip U Pro smartwatches in the US

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2020

Huami, the Xiaomi-backed wearable device maker has a popular lineup of smartwatches under the Amazfit brand, which has also established its presence in the United States. Now, the company has launched two more devices in the US — Amazfit Bip U and Bip U Pro.

The Amazfit Bip U, which was first launched a couple of months ago in October, has now been launched in the United States for a price of $59.99. However, the company is currently offering a $10 discount.

It features a 1.43-inch LCD display in a square-shaped dial, which looks similar to the Apple Watch, offering 302 x 302 pixels screen resolution and 2.5D curved glass with an anti-fingerprint coating on top.

The company is offering 50 watch faces, including a few animated ones. However, only four of them are pre-loaded on the device and more can be downloaded by the user through the Zepp application. The smartwatch displays relevant information such as time, weather, and heart rate, with users also being given an option to customize the home screen.

EDITOR’S PICK: Huawei Nova 8, Nova 8 Pro with 120Hz display, Kirin 985, 64MP quad cameras, 66W charging launched in China

It supports 60 sports modes and packs an optical tracking sensor that can even measure users’ blood oxygen levels during deep sleep, light sleep, REM, and even when awake. It also houses the proprietary BioTracker PPG biological optical sensor and can track menstrual and ovulation periods for female users.

The Amazfit Bip U smartwatch supports Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity and can be used with both the platforms — iOS and Android. It is powered by a 230mAh battery that the company claims can offer nine days of battery life.

On the other hand, the Amazfit Bip U Pro is nothing but a rebranded Amazfit Pop Pro. Almost everything in this Pro variant is similar to the standard variant and the only difference is the addition of GPS and support of Amazon Alexa.

The Amazfit Bip U Pro is priced at $69.99 in the United States, which is a bit more expensive than the Chinese version launched earlier this month for a price of 349 yuan, which is about $52.

OnePlus Buds Z Steven Harrington Special Edition sales begin on December 24

By

Sean

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Dec 24, 2020

The launch date for the OnePlus Buds Z Steven Harrington special edition has just been announced. The limited variant of the company’s truly wireless earbuds will start sale on 24th December 2020 in China.

For those unaware, the OnePlus Buds Z was first launched back in October 2020. The new special edition variant that collaborates with known artist Steven Harrington is essentially identical to the base model. However, this limited edition version arrives with a new paint job over the regular model’s single color scheme design. Looking at this stylish new iteration of the Buds Z, one can observe stylized graffiti along with artistic caricatures and designs that the artist is known for.

Notably, Steven Harrington is known to have collaborated with other major brands as well. This includes major clothing and sportswear brands like Nike, Converse, and even big brands from the food industry, namely Coca-Cola. Since it is basically a regular OnePlus Buds Z from the inside, the special edition wireless earbuds arrive with 10mm drivers, IP55 rating, and more. This variant of the hearables was first announced back when the OnePlus Buds Z were first launched, however, the company has only now announced its launch.

Customers can expect to get around 20 hours of playback time with earbuds and the charging case combined. In other words, users can get 5 hours of playback from the earbuds alone and an additional 15 hours through the charging case. Furthermore, it also offers ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) but lacks ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). The OnePlus Buds Z Steven Harrington special edition will be available for purchase for a price of 359 Yuan (roughly 55 US Dollars).

OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G (CPH2201) bags certification in India, Taiwan, and Singapore, global launch nearing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2020

It is speculated that the OPPO Reno5 series that recently went official in China could be heading to global markets soon. An OPPO phone with model number CPH2145 was recently approved by Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC). Speculations are rife that it could be the global version of the Reno5 5G. Another OPPO phone with a CPH2201 model number has been approved by NCC, India’s BIS regulatory body, and Singapore’s IMDA authority. The latter has revealed that the CPH2201 phone will be debuting as the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G’s global version.

OPPO CPH2201 (Reno5 Pro) has received the Indian BIS certification. Launch is not too far away from now.#OPPO #OPPOReno5Pro pic.twitter.com/mieLXlqVKh

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) December 24, 2020

OPPO CPH2201 receives the IMDA certification, thereby confirming the global OPPO Reno5 Pro (5G) moniker.#OPPO #OPPOReno5Pro pic.twitter.com/pM2xQrHMaT

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) December 24, 2020

The NCC listing of the OPPO CPH2201 includes the live shots of the Rneo5 Pro+ handset. The Reno5 Pro global edition can be seen sporting a punch-hole display with curved edges. The gradient-colored back of the phone has a rectangle-shaped camera module with four cameras inside it.

Above the display is the earpiece of the Reno5 Pro and its bottom edge has a SIM slot, a microphone, a USB-C port, and an external speaker. The volume buttons are on the left, whereas the right edge is fitted with a power key. The other images show the bundled earphones and charger that will come along with the device in Taiwan.

pic.twitter.com/hS6AZ3LmJH

— the_tech_guy (@_the_tech_guy) December 23, 2020

Editor’s Pick: Oppo to set up its first overseas 5G innovation lab in Hyderabad, India

Rumors surrounding the Reno5 Pro 5G global edition has revealed it will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G. The variant will be in China is fueled by the Dimensity 1000+ SoC. Apart from featuring a different chipset, the global variant may feature the same specs as its Chines edition.

The Reno5 Pro arrives in China with specs like a 6.55-inch 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, ColorsOS 11.1 based Android 11 OS, LPPDR4x RAM, UFS 2.1 storage, and a 4,350mAh battery with 65W fast charge support. For photography, it has a 32-megapixel selfie camera and a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel (superwide) + 2-megapixel (macro) + 2-megapixel (depth) quad-camera system.

Xiaomi Mi 11 to come with computational photography technology for capturing better photos

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2020

Xiaomi, which is set to officially launch its next-generation flagship smartphone, Mi 11, at an event on 28th December, has been revealing details about the upcoming device. In the latest development, the company has shared information about the camera department.

The company has now revealed that Xiaomi Mi 11 will come with support for computational photography, which is an image capture and processing technique that use digital computation instead of optical processes.

It uses artificial intelligence to break the physical limitations of optics and uses computing power to create a new visual image and makes use of deep learning to surpass the details visible to the human eyes.

Some of the well-known work of computational photography in smartphones come from Google and Apple with their Night Sight and Night Mode features, respectively. The technology is used to offer bright and detailed photos with better color accuracy even in challenging environments. It will be interesting to see what Xiaomi is offering with this technology in its upcoming premium devices.

EDITOR’S PICK: Realme X7 Pro spotted on Realme India’s support page, hinting at its imminent launch

So far, several leaks have suggested that the Mi 11 will come with a 6.67-inch curved AMOLED punch-hole display, Quad HD+ screen resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate. It will be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset.

The phone is speculated to have a triple-camera module consisting of a 108MP primary sensor, a 13MP secondary lens, and a 5MP tertiary sensor. Running Android 11 operating system based on MIUI 12, the phone will be powered by a 4,780mAh battery and support 50W fast charging technology.

As for the memory configuration, the device is expected to be available in at least two variants — 8GB RAM + 128GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB internal storage. There will be different color options including Smoke Purple, Blue, and White. Along with the Mi 11, the company will also be launching the Mi 11 Pro.

Samsung to exclude chargers from Galaxy S21 retail box as the company removes posts mocking Apple

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2020

Samsung is all set to launch its Galaxy S21 series of flagship smartphones in the coming weeks. While the company has not yet confirmed the launch date, it is expected to officially announce them on 14th January.

This time, the company is expected to remove the power adapter from the retail box of the smartphone. The South Korean giant has already stopped including earphones in the box, at least in the United States, since the launch of the Galaxy Note10 lineup.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Renders 04 — Samsung Galaxy S21 Render

The company has been rumored to exclude chargers and earphones from the retail box of the upcoming Galaxy S-series flagship but now there’s a strong possibility of that happening given that Samsung has removed social media posts mocking Apple for removing chargers from the iPhone box.

This could be a cost-saving measure from the South Korean giant given that the company is competing against Chinese companies which are selling premium flagship smartphones at much lower pricing compared to that of Samsung and Apple.

EDITOR’S PICK: Acer Nitro 5 Gaming laptop with Ryzen 5000 listed by German retailer ahead of launch

Even after Samsung stops including chargers and earphones in the retail box of upcoming smartphones, there’s a possibility that the company may offer an option to the users to request one for free.

Samsung stopped including earphones with the purchase of the Galaxy Note10 series in the United States but those who wanted the earphones could request the company and it sends them out for free. This is likely to be the case for the upcoming premium devices.

However, to know for sure what the company has planned, we will have to wait for the official launch event that is expected in a few weeks. Meanwhile, the company has set an event in the first week of January to showcase its new display technology.

Cost of the Cheapest 5G Rugged Smartphone is Far Less than You Think

By

Greeva Agnihotri

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Dec 24, 2020

Please note that this a sponsored story.

5G band connectivity is currently only available in a few regular and rugged smartphones. Given its high-speed browsing, downloading and transfer, it comes in phones with a slightly elevated price margin. Beating the odds, Oukitel recently released Oukitel WP10, that is by far the cheapest rugged smartphone with 5G compatibility. Today we will answer all the basic questions that one will have while buying this device. Oukitel WP10 5G

What makes it special and why should one buy it?

The direct answer would be- 5G network band is finally here, and it works! Users can now enjoy seamless HD browsing, video-calling, online gaming and more. Oukitel WP10 runs on an Android 10 OS that has all the user-convenient layouts and functions. Moreover, this Oukitel smartphone is highly durable and can work even in freezing conditions. It also comes with a clever modular design that uses magnets and POGO connectors for expansion, giving the user the freedom of endless customizations. This smartphone blends well with the needs of adventure enthusiasts, white-collared users, and tech-savvy people. Overall, it is priced at a much cheaper end than its competition.

What else should you know?

Apart from the high-speed connectivity and durability, Oukitel WP10 packs the sort of hardware that we’re accustomed to seeing in a mid-range smartphone. It boasts a 6.67-inch display with 2400 x 1080p resolution and Outkitel flagship runs on Mediatek Dimensity 800 system-on-chip. Other key features include 8GB RAM with 128GB onboard storage, a quad-rear camera with 48MP+13MP+2MP+2MP sensors, 16MP front sensor, and a massive 8000Ah battery with Type-C connector.

How much does it cost?

Currently, Oukitel WP10 is up for sale at Banggood with a $100 off and available for just $379.99 (about £275/ AUD487). This deal is up only till December 27th. Overall, you get more than 26% off its suggested retail price.

Any cons?

We’d love to have 256GB storage at this price as well as the perks of wireless charging. Weighing about 380g, it is also far heavier than we’d expect it to be; blame it on the huge battery and the near-tablet-sized display.

Have we reviewed it?

We will be reviewing the phone pretty soon, stay tuned.

Realme X7 Pro spotted in Realme India’s support page, launching soon?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2020

Realme fans in India are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the Realme X7 series in India. Both phones have received certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in the recent past. Earlier this week, Realme CEO Madhav Sheth shared an image of what appears to be the Realme X7 Pro smartphone. Today, popular tipster Mukul Sharma revealed that the handset is listed on the support page of Realme India. It remains to be seen whether Realme announces the Realme X7 and X7 Pro phones before the end of 2020 or in early 2021.

The Realme X7 Pro has begun its global journey as it has recently launched in markets like Thailand and Taiwan. The above-shown handset teased by Sheth for India is the X7 Pro. The appearance of the Realme X7 Pro on the spare parts support page is a good hint that its Indian launch is not far away.

So the Realme X7 Pro has been listed on the company's official support page in India.#Realme #RealmeX7Pro pic.twitter.com/JDdE5Ezlvx

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) December 24, 2020

Editor’s Pick: Realme Buds Air Pro Master Edition launched in India for ₹4,999 ($68)

Realme X7 Pro specifications

The Realme X7 Pro has a 6.55-inch 120Hz AMOLED display that offers a 20:9 aspect ratio and Full HD+ resolution. The Dimensity 1000+ SoC that has recently gone official in India is present under the hood of the X7 Pro.

The handset is equipped with up to 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 255 GB of UFS 2.1 storage in China. It comes preinstalled with Realme UI based Android 10 OS. It is backed by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging.

For snapping selfies, the Realme X7 Pro has a 32-megapixel front camera. Its rear is fitted with a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (macro) + 2-megapixel (depth) quad-camera system. There is no word on its pricing for India.

UMIDIGI A9- First Android 11 Smartphone with Infrared Temperature Measurement Launches Globally

By

Greeva Agnihotri

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Dec 24, 2020

UMIDIGI recently launched UMIDIGI A9, a comparatively cheaper version of A9 Pro. Despite its budgeted price, this smartphone packs a powerful battery, efficient processor, and the latest operating system. It is also the world’s first smartphone with infrared temperature measurement that runs on the new Android 11 OS. UMIDIGI A9 will be up for global pre-sale from January 1st, 2021 for just at $99.99.

Operating System

The key feature of UMIDIGI A9 is without a doubt Android 11 OS as there are hardly any devices enhanced with it currently, let alone the ones priced in the entry-level range. In this perspective, UMIDIGI has taken a huge leap and is competing with high-end, expensive phones on the software front. With the latest layout and functions, this UMIDIGI flagship offers many device controls and convenient ways to manage conversations, privacy settings, and much more.

Temperature Measurement

The other highlight of UMIDIGI A9 is surely the infrared temperature measurement, similar to the one we can find in the premium Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 40 RS. This comes as a handy tool for checking fever, given the current pandemic and the alarming number of COVID-19 cases. The below video shows how what is the infrared temperature measurement all about and its uses.

Other Specifications

UMIDIGI A9 boasts a 6.53-inch HD+ dot-drop display that has a resolution of 720×1600p and an aspect ratio of 20:9. It is powered by MediaTek Helio G25 processor with 12nm process technology and 2.0GHz speed. This UMIDIGI flagship has 3GB LPDDR4X RAM along with 64GB storage.

UMIDIGI A9 is a budget-friendly device featuring a triple-rear camera with 13MP primary lens + 8MP ultra-wide lens + 2MP depth lens and an 8MP front camera. It has a 5150mAh battery capacity and can be charged with a 10W, Type-C charger. This UMIDIGI flagship sports an independent shortcut key for quick controls and a triple card slot for two SIM cards and one SD card. UMIDIGI A9-4-

Packed with a host of features, UMIDIGI A9 can be an ideal upgrade for people looking to buy new smartphones. The company will start global pre-sale of this unit from the first day of the new year for just $99.99. Apart from this smartphone, UMIDIGI has also launched a new smartwatch- UMIDIGI Urun S, a budgeted version of Urun (just without GPS), which will also be available from Jan 2021.

Additionally, in the light of the holiday season, UMIDIGI is running a huge giveaway, with a chance for over 50 participants to win a UMIDIGI smartphone or smartwatch for free. To participate, interested users can check out the UMIDIGI official website. UMIDIGI A9-5-

Vivo V20 (2021) silently launched with Snapdragon 730G, 44MP selfie camera, 64MP triple camera and Android 11 OS in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2020

Vivo has silently announced the Vivo V20 (2021). The handset is now listed on Vivo India and Amazon India. It is the fourth member of the Vivo V20 series that includes phones like the Vivo V20 SE, Vivo V20, and Vivo V20 Pro.

Vivo V20 (2021) specifications and features

The Vivo V20 (2021) measures 161.3 x 74.2 x 7.38mm and it weighs 171 grams. It is fitted with a 6.44-inch AMOLED display that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The waterdrop notch on the screen has a 44-megapixel selfie camera.

The rear-mounted camera module has a 64-megapixel primary shooter, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megpaixel depth sensor. The phone boots to Android 11 OS and FunTouchOS 11.

Editor’s Pick: Vivo X51 levels iPhone 12 Pro and Galaxy S20 Ultra in DXOMARK display test

The Snapdragon 730G SoC is present under the hood of the Vivo V20 (2021). It is coupled with 8 GB of RAM. The phone comes with 128 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. The 4,000mAh battery of the smartphone supports 33W fast charging.

In terms of design and specs, the Vivo V20 (2021) is identical to the original Vivo V20. The major difference between the two phones can be seen in the chipset department. The Vivo V20 has the Snapdragon 720G, whereas the SD730 fuels its 2021 edition.

Vivo V20 (2021) pricing and availability

Interestingly, the Vivo V20 and the newly announced V20 (2021) have the same price tag of Rs 24,990 (~$339). The new phone comes in Midnight Jazz and Sunset Melody colors.

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming laptop with Ryzen 5000 listed by German retailer ahead of launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 24, 2020

Computer maker Acer is making progress in the design and production of a gaming laptop that combines AMD’s incoming Ryzen 7 5800H processor with the Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU. This information was provided by German retailer ElectronicPartner, as they have listed the company’s next-generation Nitro 5 ahead of its potential release at CES 2021. The listing has been removed from the retailer’s website, though.

The gaming laptop is among the first devices to pair AMD’s Zen 3 and Nvidia’s Ampere architectures. It is reported to have an octa-core Ryzen 7 5800H processor, capable of enhancing the base and boost clocks to 3.2GHz and 4.4GHz, respectively alongside the Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card with 8GB of memory and likely GDDR6.

Editor’s Pick: Redmi 9 Power launched in India with 6,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 662, and 48MP quad-camera

There is a high possibility that this could be the mobile version of the Ampere GPU, which will likely feature cut-down specifications. The Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop has a 17.3-inch FHD screen, refresh rate of 144 Hz, 32GB of DDR4 memory, and a massive 1TB SSD.

The gaming laptop features a full-size keyboard equipped with backlighting, a battery capable of working up to eight hours, together with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities. The laptop also has one HDMI port, three USB 3.0 ports, a single USB 3.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The listing by ElectronicPartner enforces the view that Acer may also be releasing a trimmed-down variant of the Nitro 5 that could have either an Nvidia GTX 1650 with 4GB of GDDR6 memory or an AMD Radeon GPU.

According to the German retailer, the Acer Nitro 5 will carry a hefty retail price of €1,948.61 (about $2,372). The laptop is also expected to adopt a cheaper price when it is announced for the US market.

UP NEXT: OnePlus shows off a color-changing concept phone based on the OnePlus 8T

(via)

Honor V40 could be launching on January 12 in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Dec 24, 2020

It was reported at the beginning of this month that the arrival of the Honor V40 could be postponed to January 2021. A tipster known for Huawei and Honor leaks claimed that the Honor V40 may go official on Jan. 12. Also, he has shared a new screenshot that reveals that the Honor V40 could be sporting a 120Hz refresh rate.

The above-shown poster states that Honor’s annual fan meeting is scheduled to take place on Jan. 13. In the past, the company held fan activities the day after it launched a new product. Hence, the leakster seems to have speculated that the Honor V40 will launch on Jan. 12.

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Previous reports have claimed that the Honor V40 is equipped with a 6.72-inch dual punch-hole OLED panel with curved edges. It is speculated to carry support for a 120Hz refresh rate, and it may offer the highest touch sampling rate seen on a smartphone.

Shown above is a screengrab shared by the tipster. He claimed while accessing the “Temple Escape 2” game, he saw a surprise message about the Honor V40. The message reads “120 fps beta test (Honor V40).” The 120fps beta test for the Honor V40 could be in progress, which indicates it could be arriving with 120Hz refresh rate support.

There is a possibility that the Honor V40 could be fitted with the same 6.72-inch OLED screen that is available on the Huawei Nova 8 Pro that went official yesterday. The Nova 8 Pro screen delivers a 120Hz refresh rate and a high touch sampling rate of 300Hz.

The Dimensity 1000+ SoC is expected to power the Honor V40. It is believed that the YOK-AN10 phone that was recently certified by the 3C and CMIIT authorities of China could be Honor V40. The handset is expected to arrive with support for 66W rapid charging and 45W wireless charging.

Xiaomi opens its largest Mi Store in Central & Eastern Europe & the first with a service centre

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Dec 24, 2020

Xiaomi is keeping true to its plans to expand further in Europe. The Chinese tech giant has reportedly opened its largest Mi Store in Central and Eastern Europe. The Mi Store is located in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. The grand opening of the store was carried out while observing COVID-19 protocols such as the use of facemasks and maintaining physical distancing.

Xiaomi’s International president Shou Zi Chew who shared the news on Twitter also disclosed that the store is the brand’s first store equipped with a service center inside. Thus, you do not only get the chance to get your favorite Mi ecosystem products, but you can also as well drop by to get your faulty Mi product repaired. This will particularly appeal more to new users who may be concerned about after-sales services and availability of parts when they are considering including a Xiaomi product on their shopping list.

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The Mi Store also has a Smart Home zone that lets visitors experience Xiaomi’s ecosystem products first hand. This may be all we need to confirm that Xiaomi will soon release a majority of its ecosystem products in Europe. The brand is hoping to capitalize on Huawei’s travail to rake in more market shares in the smartphone market in Europe.

The brand had earlier hinted that it is looking to increase its offline presence in Europe. However, the drive will receive more thrust if other popular smart home and ecosystem products like the MIJIA Vacuum cleaner, electric scooter, shaver, hairdryer, smartwatch, fitness band, smart TV, lighting, air purifiers, surveillance cameras, and others are made available to its growing fans in the region.

Although several of the ecosystem products are on display at the store’s Smart Home zone, there is no indication that they’ll all be up for grabs at the store right away. However, we expect a rich array of Mi products including the latest flagship and mid-end smartphones to be available at the new Warsaw Mi Store.

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Samsung launches the AirDresser which can sanitize and refresh your clothes

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Dec 24, 2020

The emergence of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the launch of several products that are targeted at ensuring the objects we interact with daily are clean and sanitized. To this end, Samsung has launched the AirDresser, a portable wardrobe-like device that can sanitize and refresh our clothes deploying various built-in technologies.

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The AirDresser is equipped with a new technology which Samsung calls JetSteam. The JetSteam infuses powerful air deep into the clothes, an action which Samsung claims remove 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, 100% of house mites, 99% of odor-causing gases, and 99% of other harmful substances. The chamber also houses a Deodorizing Filter that can capture odor particles from sweat, tobacco, and food.

Also, the AirDresser is equipped with Heatpump Drying for drying up the clothes. The technology uses air supplied at a low temperature to dry clothes without allowing the clothes to shrink or get damaged. Since the winter period is a time most persons use fur coats, Samsung even included a dedicated Fur Care Cycle that can dehumidify fur clothes by removing up to 90% of the moisture.

The Samsung AirDresser carries a price tag of Rs. 110,000 (~$1489) and will be available for purchase starting December 24th via Samsung’s online and offline stores, as well as online retail stores.

Recall that Samsung launched the UV-C Portable sterilizer earlier this year which is designed to kill the germs on phones. The device is said to be capable of killing up to 99% of germs including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans in just 10 minutes. It can also be used to sterilize other devices and items including earbuds, smartwatches, keys, sunglasses, and masks. The gadget uses dual UV lights which sterilize both the top and bottom surfaces of the item that is placed inside the box.

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(source)

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro specifications leaked, expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S21 series

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Dec 24, 2020

Rumors are rife that Samsung will take off covers from the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphones on Jan. 14. At the same event, the company is also expected to unveil the Galaxy Buds Pro. Some of the specs of the upcoming earbuds were seen in official support page listings that had surfaced last week. A fresh leak by 91mobiles in partnership with Ishan Agarwal has revealed all the important specs of the Galaxy Buds Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro specifications (Rumored)

The Galaxy Buds Pro will be offering 20 precent more battery life than last year’s Galaxy Buds Live. Each earbud may have a 61mAh battery and its case may include a 472h battery. The Buds Pro may offer 28 hours of battery life.

The leak states that the Galaxy Buds Pro has 11mm bass drivers and 6.5mm tweeters coupled with coaxial dual speakers. The Buds Pro will come with Active Noise Cancellation and it will bring 35db noise canceling. It is already known that the earbuds will support multiple levels of ANC.

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The leak states the Buds Pro will be equipped with IXP7 water-resistance, dual connection, voice detection, and seamless connection. It is said that the 3D spatial audio with head tracking will be only supported on devices running on One UI 3.0 based Android 11 OS. The Buds Pro is expected to offer other features such as Find My Earbuds, gyro sensors, touch controls, Dolby Atmos, and ambient mode with four-volume settings.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro pricing (Rumored)

According to the leak, the Galaxy Buds Pro will be costing more than the Galaxy Buds Live earbuds. In Europe, the Buds Pro could be priced at 229 euros (~$279). It could be available in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver color options. The earbuds are likely to be made available as bundled pre-orders with the Galaxy S21 models.

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