Advertisement

Leaked Mi 11 Pro renders show a distinct camera design & 120x zoom but may be fake

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Xiaomi officially took the wraps off the flagship Mi 11 smartphone in December 2020 but the phone went on sale in China this month. The Mi 11 scores several firsts but the most prominent is being the first Snapdragon 888-powered smartphone. Xiaomi didn’t announce the Mi 11 Pro but going by precedence, there is lays a Pro version for its flagship models. Although the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro release date is unknown, renowned tipster Digital Chat Station had hinted that the Pro model will be launched after the Chinese Spring Festival. Right now, a set of renders said to be those of the Mi 11 Pro have leaked online.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
Alleged renders of the Mi 11 Pro

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will likely have several similarities with the vanilla Mi 11 but with a few upgrades. The renders show the device will be available in blue and silver but what is more spectacular is the refreshed rear camera design. The camera occupies a wider island than the Mi 11’s and that is because there is a fourth sensor onboard. One of the sensors seems to be a periscope lens and the 120x inscription on the housing suggests the device will be capable of 120x digital zoom just like the Mi 10 Ultra.

XIaomi Mi 10 Ultra features a 120x zoom periscope lens

For reference, the Huawei P30 Pro is capable of 50x zoom including moon shot and the output has received rave reviews since its release. However, the same can’t be said about the 120x zoom on the Mi 10 Ultra. Our review of the 10th-anniversary flagship didn’t really reveal a spectacular performance for the 120x digital zoom.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi’s Merach Nano Pro Massage Gun launched on Indiegogo

Other features inscribed on the camera island include a 35mm equivalent focal length of 12mm for the ultrawide camera, while the periscope goes to 120mm. One of the other shooters is likely to be the exact same 108 MP sensor as the one in the Mi 11, while the last camera could be a 2x or 3x telephoto lens for smoother zooming.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will share display specs with the Mi 11

The renders didn’t include the front design but the Mi 11 Pro is said to have the same display design as the vanilla Mi 11. As a reminder, the Mi 11 packs a 6.81-inch curved display with a QHD+ resolution of 1440×3200 pixels, 120 Hz refresh rate, 480 Hz touch sampling rate, and 1,500-nit peak brightness.

We can’t say if this render is real or fake. Already, a source on an unofficial Xiaomi/MIUI news channel on Telegram claims it is fake. While that is an unverified claim, we’ll advise you to take this leak with a pinch of salt.

UP NEXT: Snoppa ATOM 2 Phone Gimbal with 3-Axis, auto-foldable design launched on Kickstarter

 

 

(source)

 

Snoppa ATOM 2 Phone Gimbal with 3-Axis, auto-foldable design launched on Kickstarter

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Shenzhen-based Chinese company Snoppa Technology is mainly known for its electronic 3-axis gimbal stabilizer series, including handheld, on-vehicle types, for sports cameras and smartphones. The brand is one of the leading manufacturers of stabilizing gimbals. The brand’s advanced self-developed multi-axis stabilizing technology gives it an edge in the manufacture of smart film shooting facilities for both professionals and individuals.

Snoppa Atom 2 phone gimbal
Snoppa Atom 2 phone gimbal

The brand has now launched the Atom 2 phone gimbal under crowdfunding on Kickstarter.  Snoppa ATOM 2 phone gimbal is the world’s first auto-foldable 3-axis phone gimbal that is pocket size. The product takes over from the ATOM that was first launched in 2018 and which happens to be the first gimbal with a foldable design and which the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 seems to have borrowed some features from.

Snoppa ATOM 2 vs Snoppa ATOM
Snoppa ATOM 2 vs Snoppa ATOM

The ATOM 2 takes things a notch higher as it comes with an auto-foldable mechanism while retaining the 3-axis gimbal functions thanks to the ingenious hybrid 3-axis structural design. Compared with 1 or 2 axes selfie-stick style gimbals, a 3-axis gimbal can best eliminate shakes and jitters in all 3 axes of roll, tilt, and pan, balancing the phone camera in real-time which results in smooth and steady videos.Snoppa ATOM 2

The roll and pan axes both use a direct-drive brushless motor while the tilt axis uses a special hybrid brushless motor self-developed by Snoppa. It has a much higher torsion and excellent stabilizing performance, which cannot be found in any other gimbal.Snoppa ATOM 2

Snoppa which also takes the credit for the Vmate, a portable gimbal camera, says the ATOM 2 is a hassle-free phone filming assistant as it senses your action for auto startup and folding. It is also equipped with a built-in tripod and an extendable handle which expands the possible uses – phone-filming, vlogging, live-streaming, and selfies!

Editor’s Pick: Huawei’s next flagship chipset to be called the Kirin 9010 and will be 3nm

Snoppa ATOM 2 vs Snoppa ATOM

Snoppa ATOM 2 is currently the only gimbal that supports fast charging. It uses a USB-C port and charges the battery from zero to full in just 1 hour or 40 minutes charging to reach 80%. The gimbal also crams a built-in temperature sensor that can detect the battery status in real-time to ensure safety.

ATOM 2 has an embedded infrared sensor in the gimbal phone holder, which can actively sense the phone mounting status to prevent the motor from starting before the phone is mounted – helping to avoid motor damage. The gimbal also comes with AI gesture control which further makes it easy to use. Users can set customized gestures to start/stop shooting, to activate the shot clock, for inception mode, and more.Snoppa ATOM 2

The ATOM 2 also includes a dedicated filming app that offers powerful functions for users to enhance their shooting experiences like AI recognition and tracking, time-lapse, slow motion, panorama, beauty mode, gesture control, and more. The app also offers a beauty mode which helps you edit images and video to bring out your best features in both your selfie pictures and vlogs.

As for the pricing and availability, the Snoppa ATOM 2 stabilizer gimbal is up for backing on Kickstarter with a starting price of $69 (HK$535). The product is expected to start shipping from February 2021 and will ship to anywhere in the world. Inside the box, apart from the user manual, USB-C cord, and Warranty card, Snoppa is including a free hand strap for all backers.

UP NEXT: Tesla to start shipping Model Y SUVs from its China factory this month

 

(UPDATE: Relisted)Huawei removes Tencent games from its app store over revenue dispute

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

UPDATE: Tencent’s games have been relisted on the Huawei App store after they were pulled off over what is alleged to be a dispute over revenue sharing. Apparently, both parties have finally reached a consensus but there is no official statement to that effect. The original story continues below.

Tencent has confirmed that Huawei has removed its (Tencent’s) online game catalog from Huawei’s app store due to the failure of both companies to reach an agreement on revenue sharing.

A statement by Tencent reads; “Due to the failure of Huawei’s mobile game platform to renew its contract with our Mobile Game Promotion Project Agreement as scheduled, relevant products of Tencent Games were suddenly removed from the shelves early this morning.”Nubia Gaming Phone

Although Xiaomi is referred to as China’s Apple, in the real sense, Huawei is the company that is the equivalent of Apple in China in terms of revenue and market share. Huawei presently controls 41.4% share of the China mobile phone market and 14.9% of the global market, according to data from market research firms IDC and Canalys.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi’s Merach Nano Pro Massage Gun launched on Indiegogo

Although Tencent sells some of the top-ranked online games worldwide, its partnership with Huawei is an important one as it leverages the hundreds of millions of Huawei phones that is in circulation in China, Tencent’s biggest market.

Huawei and Tencent did not immediately respond to a request by Reuters seeking comment. However, a source familiar with the matter hinted that the games were removed because the companies could not agree on a revenue-sharing deal for the app store sales. Huawei had reportedly insisted on receiving a 50% cut, a term Tencent disagrees with.

Tencent hints that they are actively communicating and negotiating with Huawei’s mobile game platform in a bid to reach a resolution as soon as possible. The brand also extended an apology to all users for the inconvenience.

Apart from Tencent, there is mounting resistance from game developers to Huawei’s revenue demands. Last year, Shanghai-based developer Mihoyo, decided not to place its hit game “Genshin Impact” on Huawei’s app store due to failure to reach an agreement with the commission structure for sales.

This dispute is reminiscent of the imbroglio between Apple and Epic Games which saw Apple remove Fortnite and other Epic Games’ titles from the App store due to disagreement over revenue collection.

UP NEXT: Nitty-gritty of Xiaomi Mi 11 midframe, Harman Kardon engraving, leatherback explained

 

(via)

 

Samsung may launch Galaxy M12 or Galaxy M62 next week in India

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Samsung is reported to announce the Galaxy S21 series this month. But ahead of it, the company may launch a Galaxy M series device in India. In fact, this smartphone may go official as soon as next week. Even its teaser poster has been leaked but unfortunately, it does not say much about the phone.

Samsung Galaxy M MAXUP Teaser Poster Leak

The South Korean tech giant is expected to release a number of budget smartphones worldwide in the coming days. A bunch of them have already cleared necessary certifications and have been even spotted on benchmarking platforms like Geekbench.

One of these devices is the Galaxy M12, which is a strong contender to launch next week in India. But we could be wrong as the teaser poster shared by Mukul Sharma (@stufllistings) has the text #MAXUP. Also, he says that this handset will come with a ‘BIG’ screen.

Additionally, earlier this week, Tushar Mehta of XDA Developers also suggested that his phone will not be the Galaxy M12. Hence, the only thing that matches with #MAXUP and ‘BIG’ screen is the Samsung SM-M625F, which was reported last month to launch as the first Galaxy M series tablet – Galaxy Tab M62.

However, an older report on the same devices said it to be a smartphone – Galaxy M62. Also, the leaked teaser poster showcases a dew-drop notch. Hence, it could be a phablet like the Galaxy J Max instead of a tablet.

Anyway, we will know everything about this upcoming device if Samsung is indeed announcing it next week. Maybe, we will learn more about it before the official announcement itself.

UP NEXT: The Exynos Galaxy S21 may offer 25-35% better battery life than its predecessor

 

Xiaomi patents two more surround display smartphone designs

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

In late 2019, Xiaomi announced a concept smartphone called Mi MIX Alpha with a surround display. The company said that it will go on sale in limited quantities but that never happened. Also, the firm did not unveil its successor even a year later. But the company did patent a few smartphone designs with a similar form factor. Now, again, two such designs have emerged after a one with pop-up cameras was exposed a few days back.

Xiaomi Surround Display Smartphone Design Patent 01

According to LetsGoDigital, Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software filed a patent with the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Office) at the end of 2019. The documentation for the same was published on January 1, 2021. It exposed two surround display smartphone designs with some minor differences.

Talking about the first design, this phone’s display wraps around from top to bottom, instead of side to side as found on the Mi MIX Alpha. But there are two separate screens on either side. Further, the device features a horizontal frame on the back housing a quad-camera setup, dual-LED flash, and what appears to be a microphone.

The main highlight of this design is that this smartphone is slimmer than the MIX Alpha and is even elliptical in shape. On the other hand, the second design features a rounded shape. Also, this one includes a triple camera setup and there’s no LED flash or microphone.

Xiaomi Surround Display Smartphone Design Patent 02

Anyway, we don’t see Xiaomi launching such a handset in the near future. The company may showcase it may never enter mass-production just like the Alpha.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi patents a rollable smartphone design with a secondary display

 

Letv Super Earphone Ears Pro launched with ANC, wireless charging, and 28-hour battery life

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

LeEco is no longer a popular company in international markets. But the firm is not dead yet despite financial troubles. It continues to sell a wide variety of products in its home country China. Hence, we are not surprised to learn it launching a new pair of TWS called Letv Super Earphone Ears Pro (translated).

Letv Super Earphone Ears Pro Featured 01

Letv Super Earphone Ears Pro Specifications and Features

The newly announced Letv Super Earphone Ears Pro are just another pair of truly wireless earphones in the already crowded market but with some uncommon specs in its segment. They feature an in-ear design with silicone tips and come in two colors namely White and Black. In other words, they look like a fusion of Apple AirPods Pro and HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro.

The earbuds are powered by L1+ chip and connect with devices via Bluetooth 5.0. Unlike most budget TWS, these also come with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). Another notable feature is that their charging case also supports Qi wireless charging, in addition to USB Type-C charging.

EDITOR’S PICK: Best TWS Earbuds of 2020: Samsung, OPPO, Huawei, Sennheiser & More

 

Further, the buds support HSP, HFP, A2DP, AAC, and SBC audio codecs. Also, since they feature touch gesture controls, users can single tap to play/pause, double-tap to play the next track, and tiple-tap to play the previous track.

As for battery life, the company claims this product to offer up to 4 hours using the buds’ 45mAh battery and extra 24 hours from the charging case. Hence, it comes with up to 28-hour battery life.

Last but not least, the buds measure 33.2 x 19.6 x 23.6mm in dimensions and weigh 4g each, whereas the charging case measure 62 x 22.8 x 46.3mm in dimensions.

Letv Super Earphone Ears Pro Pricing and Availability

The Letv Super Earphone Ears Pro are priced only at ¥218 ($33). They are currently up for pre-order on the company’s official online store in China and will start shipping from January 7. 

There’s no word on international availability as of now but anyway, we highly doubt if they will ever make it out to global markets.

UP NEXT: The Most Underrated Phones of 2020

 

POCO X2 may soon receive Android 11 update as Redmi K30 4G gets it

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Xiaomi was part of the official Android 11 Beta program. Hence, the company was one of the first to start rolling out stable update to its devices. Currently, a handful of phones from the firm are already on Android 11 stable worldwide. Now, Redmi K30 4G has also joined this elite list of smartphones running the latest version of Android.

Redmi K30 4G Featured

For those unaware, the Redmi K30 4G started receiving MIUI weekly builds based on Android 11 back in late October. However, it took Xiaomi over two months to deliver the first stable build for this device.

That said, the update comes with build number V12.1.3.0.RGHCNXM and brings the December 2020 security patch apart from the newest version of Android. It is currently in the Stable Beta phase and therefore, it is only available to select users.

Also, since the Redmi K30 4G is exclusive to China, it only has a single variant of the software build. Hence, if you have imported this handset, you should also get the update as soon as the build’s availability has been extended.

On the other hand, this very same phone is also sold as POCO X2 in India. Since both of them share everything unlike the other POCO devices that are slightly different, it should also receive the Android 11 update very soon.

UP NEXT: MIUI 12.5 announced: All new Features, Supported devices, & Rollout details

 

[Update: Kirin 9020] Huawei’s next flagship chipset to be called the Kirin 9010 and will be 3nm

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Update: The source has corrected his original tweet to say that the 3nm chipset is called the Kirin 9020 and not the Kirin 9010. However, there is a chipset called the Kirin 9010 which is a 5nm+ chipset. Both chipsets are under development already.

Original Story

It has just been a few months since Huawei announced the Kirin 9000 processor. The chipset comes in two variants – the Kirin 9000 and Kirin 9000E – and is found only in the Mate 40 series. Now, a leaker has disclosed details about the next flagship Kirin processor which has been reported to be called the Kirin 9010.

The info about the new Kirin processor comes from the leaker @RODENT950, and according to a tweet posted today, the next-gen Kirin processor should arrive as the Kirin 9010 and it will be a 3nm chipset.

The Kirin 9000 launched as the first 5nm processor for Android devices and after its announcement came the Samsung Exynos 1080 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. While most people will expect Huawei to stick to the 5nm process for at least two years, this leak reveals it is making the jump to 3nm for its next mobile chipset, which if all goes well, should launch this year and possibly appear in the Mate 50 series by the fourth quarter.

EDITOR’S PICK: Chip Battle: Snapdragon 888 versus Kirin 9000

We won’t be wrong to presume that other chip manufacturers such as Qualcomm will follow suit and also switch to 3nm for their next-generation flagship chipset if the news about Huawei’s 3nm chipset is true. Though the San Diego-based company is expected to announce a Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset later this year which should be a 5nm processor like its sibling but with a higher clock speed.

Samsung, on the other hand, has been reported to be skipping the 4nm process and jumping to 3nm. Apple is also expected to announce 3nm processors that will be built by TSMC but it is not expected to arrive until 2022. So there is a chance Huawei may be the first manufacturer to announce a 3nm chipset

Prior to the release of the 5nm Kirin chipset, there were reports that the Mate 40 may be the last Huawei flagship to be powered by a Kirin chipset processor but that will likely not be the case. The Huawei P50 phones are expected to come with Kirin 9000 processors and if Huawei is able to pull it off, then this year’s Mate series will come with the 3nm Kirin 9010.

UP NEXT: MediaTek reveals its next-gen flagship processor will be unveiled in Q1 2021

 

Lei Jun is Xiaomi’s new “brand ambassador”; next Mi 11 sale date is on Jan. 5

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Chinese smartphone brands are known to choose celebrities in the entertainment or sports industries as their brand ambassadors. Xiaomi is one of such brands but it has decided to look inwards for its newest ambassador.

New images posted on Weibo have revealed that Xiaomi has decided to choose its CEO, Lei Jun, as its new brand ambassador for its new phone, the Mi 11. The CEO himself posted a photo on his Weibo that shows him posing with the flagship phone.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lei Jun

The caption for the photo reveals that the decision by the marketing department to use him as the new brand ambassador is a result of fans’ requests. He added that billboards of the new promotional image will be put up at the T3 terminal of the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Lei Jun is one of the most popular CEOs in the Chinese tech industry and is loved by fans of the brand. So Xiaomi has not made a bad decision by using him to market the new phone.  The Mi 11 even has a special edition that has a unique finish and the CEO’s signature engraved on it but surprisingly that is not the version Lei Jun is holding in the promotional images.

In other news, Xiaomi has announced that the next date of sale for the Mi 11 is 10 AM on January 5. The phone will be available in two retail versions – an “Eco/Green Edition” without a charger and data cable and a Set Edition that includes a 55W Gan Charger and cable.

The first sale was on January 1 and Xiaomi announced it recorded over ¥1.5 billion in the total sales revenue which roughly amounts to over 350,000 units sold.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi 10i to be India focused smartphone with a brand new camera sensor, says Xiaomi India MD

 

ZMI No. 20 Powerbank Pro with up to 200W power output launching on Jan. 6

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company ZMI is gaining popularity for its wide range of charging solutions. The company’s products include superfast power banks, wired chargers, wireless chargers, as well as car chargers. The brand even launched its first TWS noise-canceling headphones in China.  In October last year, the brand launched the No. 20 Powerbank Pro with a massive 25000mAh battery capacity and up to 200W output. The Chinese company has now released a poster announcing that the power bank will be launched for sale on January 6, 2021. ZMI No. 20 Powerbank Pro

The ZMI No. 20 Mobile Power bank is a successor to the No. 10 Mobile power bank which was launched towards the end of 2016 with 45W power output. This model has been upgraded from 45W to a staggering 200W. The Mi 10 Pro Extreme Commemorative Edition was launched last year with support for 120W fast charging something Xiaomi didn’t replicate on the Mi 11. Thus, the power bank happens to be the only one globally which supports up to 120W fast charging.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi 11 first sale rakes in over 1.5 billion yuan in 5 minutes

In terms of design, there is an LED screen on the side of the mobile power bank which can display real-time power. There are two USB-C ports on the top, one supports 100W, and the other supports 45W, which can charge almost all notebooks with Type-C ports on the market. There is also a USB-A port with 120W output, and the total output power of the three ports can reach 200W. At the same time, it supports 65W self-charging and can be filled within 2 hours if it goes flat.ZMI No. 20 Powerbank Pro

The 25000mAh battery capacity is yet another interesting feature of the No. 20 Powerbank Pro. ZMI touts the big battery as capable of charging the iPhone SE 2020 from zero to full charge eight solid times and the MacBook Pro 1.3 times.

UP NEXT: Huawei removes Tencent games from its app store over revenue dispute

 

Less than six percent of first Mi 11 orders were for the no-charger “Green Edition”

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The Mi 11 which was announced on Monday, 28th of December, as the first Snapdragon 888-powered phone in the world went on sale in China today. Based on the total sales revenue released by Xiaomi, it sold about 350,000 units. If you are wondering how many of those orders were of the bundle without a charger, it is just a small fraction.

Mi 11

Xiaomi announced that the Mi 11 will not ship with a charger by default, following in the footsteps of the iPhone 12 series which launched without chargers. However, unlike Apple, the Chinese giant provided the option for buyers who wanted a charger to get one for free, for a limited time. The bundle with a free charger is called the Special Set Edition and includes a 55W GaN charger that is worth ¥99 (~$15). Once the promotion is over (Xiaomi didn’t say when), the bundle with a charger will sell for ¥4099 (~$627) instead of ¥3999 (~$612).

Xiaomi has released a press statement on Weibo announcing that of all the orders made on the first-day sale, only 20,000 of them were for the “Green Edition” which is the unofficial moniker that has been given to the version without a charger and data cable. That number translates to less than 6% of the total devices sold.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Eco Edition

EDITOR’S PICK: PSA: Do not update your Xiaomi Mi A3 to Android 11

We are not surprised by the low figure, and personally, I believe that a significant percentage of the remaining 330,000 buyers who opted for the bundle with a charger do not actually need it but chose it so as to have an extra charger. I also believe that more buyers would have chosen not to go for a charger if they were getting a free gift such as an extra case or power bank instead.

In the press release, Xiaomi thanked these 20,000 buyers for choosing to make the world a better place in their own little way. It also revealed that it had considered not including a charger along with its phones as far back as 2015 but didn’t make the decision until now.

While Apple may be credited as the first manufacturer to kickstart the “no charger in the box” trend, it actually isn’t. The first-generation Motorola Moto G announced in 2013 didn’t ship with a charger in the box. However, while Apple and Xiaomi’s reason is to reduce e-waste, Motorola’s reason was to keep the price of the phone low. In the coming months, we expect more manufacturers to jump on the new trend and not include chargers with their phones.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy S21 series smartphones to ship without a charger in the UK

 

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro: Specs Comparison

By
Michele Ingelido
-

With their actual prices, do top-tier flagships still make sense in 2021? We believe they do, but only for certain kinds of users. If you need the most advanced cameras, the best build quality, and the best displays, then you need a top-tier flagship. And this comparison is for those kinds of users, as it includes the most advanced flagships from Apple, Samsung, and Huawei. The first device of the comparison is the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which is the most powerful iPhone out there. Then we choose the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra as it is the most advanced Samsung flagship if we exclude the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 2 (the Note 20 Ultra has a few inferior specifications making it at the same level). At last, we included the Huawei Mate 40 Pro which is the best Huawei flagship sold in the global market.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G Huawei Mate 40 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm, 228 g 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm, 222 g 162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm, 212 g
DISPLAY  6.7 inches, 1284 x 2778p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED 6.9 inches, 1440 x 3200p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED 2X 6.76 inches, 1344 x 2772p (Full HD+), OLED
PROCESSOR Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core Samsung Exynos 990, octa-core 2.73 GHz or
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz		 Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 9000 5G, octa-core 3.13 GHz
MEMORY 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 512 GB 12 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – micro SD slot 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 512 GB – nano memory card slot
SOFTWARE  iOS 14 Android 10, One UI Android 10, EMUI
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA  Triple 12 + 12 + 12 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera		 Quad 108 + 48 + 12 + 0.3 MP, f/1.8 + f/3.5 + f/2.2 + f/1.0
40 MP f/2.2 front camera		 Triple 50 + 12 + 20 MP, f/1.9 + f/3.4 + f/1.8
Dual 13 MP + TOF 3D f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY  3687 mAh, fast charging 20W, fast wireless charging 15W 5000 mAh, fast charging 45W, Fast wireless charging 15W 4400 mAh, fast charging 66W, fast wireless charging 50W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES 5G, Dual SIM slot, IP68 waterproof, eSIM, 3D facial recognition Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging 4.5W, waterproof IP68, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G, IP68 waterproof, reverse wireless charging 5W, 3D facial recognition

Design

These devices feature premium and elegant designs, even though I personally think there are more beautiful handsets in the market. A lot of people would prefer the iPhone 12 Pro Max due to its stainless steel frame, more symmetric look, its compact size, and its thinner and lighter body. But several people do not like that big notch: if you are one of those, the leather variant of Huawei Mate 40 Pro maybe your favorite choice with its extremely curved display. Or you could go for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra with its single punch hole. Note that iPhone 12 Pro Max features better water resistance as it can go up to 6 meters deep without damages.

 

Display

The display of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is the most advanced one on the paper as it features a Quad HD+ resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, two features you do not get on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. That is why Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra wins the display comparison. But you can actually get a better color reproduction on the iPhone 12 Pro Max which features a very bright OLED panel with Dolby Vision and a wide color gamut. Huawei Mate 40 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max support 3D facial recognition for authentication, while Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra relies on an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader.

 

Hardware and Software

With the iPhone 12 Pro Max, you can actually get better performance thanks to the iOS operating system. But the Huawei Mate 40 Pro actually comes with the best hardware including a Kirin 9000 5G chipset built at 5 nm which is even more powerful than the Apple A14 Bionic. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra has older Exynos 990 and Snapdragon 865 chipsets built at 7 nm, so, despite its huge amount of RAM (up to 12 GB), it loses the hardware comparison. Note that you do not get Google services on the global version of the Huawei Mate 40 Pro due to the U.S. ban.

 

Camera

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro takes the first place in the camera comparison. It comes with a 50 MP main camera with omnidirectional autofocus and laser autofocus, as well as a periscope sensor with 5x optical zoom and an ultrawide sensor. The iPhone 12 Pro Max comes right after, but the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is more or less at the same level as the iPhone 12 Pro Max with its 108 MP camera.

 

Battery

Despite the 5000 mAh battery of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro has a longer battery life thanks to more efficient components: a 5 nm chipset and a display with a lower resolution. Further, it has the fastest charging technology and the fastest wireless charging technology. The battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is close to the Mate 40 Pro.

 

Price

The prices of these three devices vary depending on the market, but in each case, you need more than €1000 to get them. If you can deal with the lack of Google services, Huawei Mate 40 Pro is a more interesting option than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra due to its battery life, charging technologies, better hardware. But the iPhone 12 Pro Max actually comes with a more compact design, better display, great performance, and specifications close to the Mate 40 Pro. If iOS is not a problem for you, it looks like a very interesting choice.

 

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro: PRO and CONS

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

PROS

  • Bigger battery
  • Amazing QHD+ display
  • Widest panel
  • Micro SD slot
  • Ultrasonic fingerprint reader

CONS

  • Dimensions

 

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

PROS

  • Pen support
  • Awesome camera department
  • 3D facial recognition
  • Fastest charging and wireless charging technologies

CONS

  • No Google services

 

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

PROS

  • Better water resistance
  • MagSafe connectors
  • Awesome build quality
  • Great performance
  • 3D facial recognition
  • Compact

CONS

  • Price

Pamu Nano True Wireless Bluetooth Headset with HiFi quality launched

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

In the last day of 2020, Padmate, a well-known Chinese audio brand, launched a brand new true wireless headset product- PaMu Nano. The market positioning of this headset is a HiFi headset that can be carried with you considering its lightweight and compact size. The headet also comes with graphene speakers, which can bring a comfortable wearing experience without ear fatigue. Pamu Nano True Wireless Bluetooth HeadsetPaMu Nano True wireless Bluetooth headset is comfortable to wear and adopts a design concept which makes it near invisible to the eyes when worn. This solves the discomfort caused by the pressure of the earphone on the periphery of the ear when the user is lying on his side.Pamu Nano True Wireless Bluetooth Headset

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi’s Merach Nano Pro Massage Gun launched on Indiegogo

Using bionic earplugs, the force is even, can fit the ear canal well, even during strenuous exercises, it will not fall. The headset also supports IPX6 waterproof and sweatproof. Thus, even if the user is sweating profusely, it will not affect the music output.Pamu Nano True Wireless Bluetooth Headset

In terms of sound quality, it uses a 6mm graphene audio dynamic speaker with full low frequency, precise and pure high frequency, and rich details. The headset supports a 21-hour long battery life on standby. It supports up to 6 hours of music playback when fully charged. It also comes ith a charging biox as well as support for fast charging. A 10-minute charge can be used for 1 hour.Pamu Nano True Wireless Bluetooth Headset

At present, the headset is available on Padmate’s website, Tmall, and other malls, and the price is 399 yuan (~$61).

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

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 may actually not have a MicroSD slot after all

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

In continuation of the sequence of leaks connected with Samsung’s upcoming lineup of high-end smartphones, another seeming drawback detail has been leaked. Virtually all the important details have been revealed well ahead of the official unveiling of the Galaxy S21 models on January 14, 2021.Samsung Galaxy S21 5G render by Letsgodigital

As is expected, the smartphone should come with several improvements on all fronts, from previous models. However, a recent leak may indicate that Samsung may have regressed in some respect, with the absence of storage expansion capability that comes with the inclusion of a MicroSD slot.

All three Galaxy S21 models could lack this microSD expansion capability, although some pundits may be of the opinion that the absence of a microSD slot may be overcome by having larger internal storage in the devices.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi’s Merach Nano Pro Massage Gun launched on Indiegogo

Previous leaks had already hinted that the Galaxy S21 series may come without a microSD slot, and today, industry authority Roland Quandt, is seemingly confirming the story when he said that a memory card reader is not included on the Galaxy S21 specifications sheet. It is speculated that Samsung decided to do away with expandable storage for the Galaxy S21 lineup as a market strategy to enhance the uniqueness of its flagship models, and stand them out among the competition.

Samsung has taken such actions previously. All of its 2015 premium models were without a MicroSD slot, with some models in 2019 and 2020 also lacking a microSD slot. It would seem that these moves do not significantly affect the company’s bottom line as sales continued on an upward trajectory except last year, obviously due to the coronavirus pandemic. Customers shouldn’t expect a charger in the box, this time around.

It is worth reminding us, however, that these remain speculations, as Samsung is yet to debunk or confirm the stories. However, there could also be some substance in at least some of the stories on the eve of the release of the S21 lineup. We keep our fingers crossed and await the official launch in a fortnight with bated breath.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi 11 first sale rakes in over 1.5 billion yuan in 5 minutes

 

(via)

 

Tesla to start shipping Model Y SUVs from its China factory this month

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Electric car maker, Tesla Inc says it has begun sales of its China-made Model Y sport-utility vehicles (SUV) and the first customers are expected to take delivery of their automobiles this month, as the company makes inroads into the Chinese market, which is the world’s biggest car market.Tesla

Although the demand for electric vehicles, as well as the needed infrastructure needed for it, is still very low in parts of Asia compared to Europe, the Chinese market provides abounding opportunities and potentials for electric vehicle makers to tap in, as countries key into initiatives to cut greenhouse gases emissions and reduce their carbon footprint.

The electric car runs on substantially cleaner energy than its gasoline and diesel counterparts, thus producing a significantly reduced carbon footprint, in comparison with conventional cars.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi 11 first sale rakes in over 1.5 billion yuan in 5 minutes

China offers several incentives including hefty subsidies for electric vehicle manufacturing and deployment as it pursues a policy of cutting down on pollution from petrol or diesel cars, which aligns with Tesla’s global strategy. The electric vehicle maker is expanding its Shanghai factory where the Model 3 sedans are produced. The Model 3 vehicles have been exported to the European market since October 2020.

The company is also adding manufacturing capacity for electric vehicle chargers in Shanghai and expanding its sales and service network in China. It sold over 20,000 vehicles in November 2020 alone.

The Model Y sells in China for around 339,900 yuan (about $52,000). Tesla’s China sales figures are indicative of a growing demand for these electric vehicles which also provide substantial savings in energy costs in the long run.

Some other electric vehicle makers already berthed in China include Volkswagen and BMW, while several local manufacturers such as Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto are also seeking a bite from the lucrative Chinese market.

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

 

(source)

 

Xiaomi’s New Extra Large Dual Material Mouse Pad priced at 49 yuan($8) in China

By
Balaji S
-

In the past, Xiaomi has launched Mouse Pads with features like Wireless charging support. Today, it has listed a new Double Material Mouse Pad on Xiaomi Mall in China. For the price, it offers improved ergonomics, double the coverage area than conventional Mouse Pads.

As ITHome reports, the Extra Large Double Material Mouse Pad has a thickness of just 2mm. And this is despite it sporting two types of Materials- PU and Cork. For the unaware, PU is Polyurethane and Cork is an impermeable buoyant material.

Traditionally, Cork is extracted from the bark of an Oak tree(Quercus suber) and that seems to be the case here. Xiaomi says that the Cork material is from European natural oak bark. It adds that this material underneath the pad is non-slippery and will definitely last longer.

However, the PU material at the top is typically an Artificial leather and a composite material. Despite the leather texture, it is soft and easy on the wrist laying on it. As per the company, it adapts to temperature and humidity conditions and is Abrasion, Dirt, Water, stain, and moisture resistant.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi Crowdfunds Mi Portable Wireless Mouse 2 for 79 yuan($12) in China

Xiaomi says that you can wipe the water spilled with a damp cloth and turn it good as new again. Apart from this, Xiaomi has improved the looks and durability by refining the materials and stitching them seamlessly like the seats of a Car. As for the large size, the Mouse Pad measures 800x400x2mm.

This means you get an 80cm long Track Pad which should essentially act as High-quality Desktop Mat as well. It comes in two colors- Black, and Gray. The Mouse Pad is rollable, flexible, and also comes with a carrying pouch to aid portability.

To put it in perspective, Xiaomi has listed a few use-case scenarios on the official website. Accordingly, you can use it as a base for books while Studying, encompass a lot more than keyboard, mouse in Home and Office, and more. The Mouse Pad is currently up for pre-orders on Xiaomi Mall for 49 yuan($8).

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi 11 first sale rakes in over 1.5 billion yuan in 5 minutes

 

Mi 11 source code reveals a new Qualcomm SM7350 SoC; will Redmi K40 sport it?

By
Balaji S
-

Recently, Xiaomi unveiled the kernel source code of its newly launched flagship smartphone, the Mi 11. Thanks to a report now we have some findings about a possibly new smartphone and an unannounced SoC of Qualcomm.

The Mi 11 source code(via) reportedly has new filenames of what could be an upcoming processor from Qualcomm. Accordingly, a screenshot shows two sets of filenames – one with ‘Venus’ and another of ‘Xiaomi’. The ‘Venus’ is the codename for Mi 11 as it is listed with “SM8350” part number which is of Snapdragon 888.

However, a new “SM7350” also appears along with “Xiaomi“. If we recall, Snapdragon 750G, 765G, 768G have part numbers SM-7225, SM-7250-AB, SM7250-AC respectively. And older SoCs like Snapdragon 730, 730G belong to the “SM7150” series. Thus, the SM7350 could be an upcoming SoC.

We also have a few reasons to believe this. Back in July, a tipster said that Redmi’s K40 and K40 Pro are coming with SM7350 and SM8350 SoCs respectively. Out of this, Redmi has already confirmed that the Snapdragon 888 processor will debut on a Redmi device in Q1 2021 and it could be the K40 Pro.

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi could launch one of the cheapest handset with Snapdragon 888: Report

 

Later, a popular tipster Roland Quandt, in September said that SM7350 could be Snapdragon 775 and is codenamed “Cedros”. According to him, Qualcomm was working to close boundaries with flagship processors with this SoC.

The unannounced 7-series SoC also was reportedly tested with 12GB DDR5 RAM, 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, 120Hz screen putting the SoC in close quarters with 8-series SM8350. That said, Qualcomm is yet to officially reveal the processor.

And if reports are to be believed, the SoC is coming soon in Q1 2021 which also falls in-line with the Redmi’s launch timeline. Either way, it looks like Redmi K40 will sport a Snapdragon 7x processor(likely Snapdragon 775) but let’s wait for more details in the coming days.

UP NEXT: Redmi 7 has begun to receive Android 10 update in India

 

Xiaomi Mi 11 first sale rakes in over 1.5 billion yuan in 5 minutes

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Just as scheduled, Xiaomi Mi 11 officially went on sale for the first time in China at 0:00 on January 1. As the first Snapdragon 888-powered flagship product, the Mi 11 was already the center of attraction in the tech circle. The device also came with an extremely decent price tag, starting at 3999 yuan (~$612) which further beamed the searchlight on the model. As we were already expecting, the first sale turned out to be a reflection of the device’s popularity.Xiaomi Mi 11 Xiaomi’s mobile phone division officially released the first sales report for the Mi 11 at 00:13, just 13 minutes after the first sales commenced. According to the details, its omnichannel sales exceeded 1.5 billion yuan in just 5 minutes. If calculated using the average price of 4,300 yuan, Xiaomi my have sold over 350,000 units of the device.

Already, the device is listed as out of stock on Xiaomi’s official mall despite the company claiming that it is prepared well-enough to maintain stocks of the Mi 11.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi’s Merach Nano Pro Massage Gun launched on Indiegogo

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

The phone crams a 4600mAh battery under the hood with support for 55W fast wired charging, 50W fast wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging. It also supports Quick Charge 4+, Quick Charge 3+, and Power Delivery 3.0.Xiaomi Mi 11

The 5nm Snapdragon 888 chipset powers the device and is paired with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 high-speed storage. There is also an in-display fingerprint scanner, which Xiaomi says can also measure your heart rate in addition to unlocking your phone and authorizing payments. There are stereo speakers tuned by Harman Kardon, dual nano-SIM support, NFC, IR blaster, enhanced WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 with Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus. It runs MIUI 12 based on Android 11 out of the box.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 has three rear cameras. The main camera is a 108MP 1/1.33″ sensor with an f/1.85 aperture, a 7P lens, and a 1.6μm pixel size. There is a 13MP super wide-angle lens with a 123° field of view and the third camera is a 5MP 50mm telephoto macro camera. The front-facing camera is a 20MP sensor.

UP NEXT: New Honor Smart Screen X1 TV features a 75 inch display, reservations now open

 

OPPO China reveals ColorOS 11 update rollout plan for Q1 2021

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

OPPO announced ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 in mid-September. Since then, the company has been rolling out this update to its smartphones worldwide. So far, only a handful of phones have received them. That said, last evening, ahead of the new year, the firm revealed the ColorOS 11 update rollout plan Q1 2021 for China.

OPPO ColorOS 11 Update Rollout Plan Q1 2021 China

For those unaware, OPPO has already shared the ColorOS 11 update timeline for different markets. The company has been seeding builds following that schedule. But for some reason, the firm has reshared the rollout plan for Q1 2021, especially for China.

According to the ColorOS Assistant Weibo account, the following OPPO smartphones will be receiving ColorOS 11 update in the first quarter of 2021 in China.

  • January 27, 2021 – Open Beta (limited)

    • OPPO Reno3 5G
    • OPPO A92s
    • OPPO A52

  • March 2021 – Open Beta (limited)

    • OPPO Reno2
    • OPPO Reno2 Z
    • OPPO K5
    • OPPO A72 5G
    • OPPO A91

  • March 2021 – Stable Release

    • OPPO Reno 10x Zoom
    • OPPO Reno Ace
    • OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G
    • OPPO Reno4 SE 5G
    • OPPO Reno3 Vitality Edition
    • OPPO K7

As you can see from the above list, most of these handsets are China-exclusive. But it is worth noting that some of them are sold with different branding in other markets.

Anyway, this update schedule is similar to that of global. Therefore, we can expect the above-mentioned phones to receive the ColorOS 11 update at around the same time in global markets as well.

UP NEXT: OPPO ColorOS 11: All the features you need to know

 

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag spotted on NCC certification; could launch soon

By
Balaji S
-

Samsung is preparing to launch the next Galaxy S series of Smartphones in January. Alongside the flagship, the company is also expected to launch a new Tracker. Today, 91Mobiles has spotted its real-life images courtesy of NCC Certification.

Galaxy Smart Tag

As per the report, a Samsung device appears on the NCC certification website. Its model number is “EI-T5300” and the moniker is “Galaxy SmartTag”. This corroborates with a EUIPO trademark filing which showed it as an Object tracker. And the name rhymes well like the rumored Apple AirTags.

Besides, a device with a similar model number has also passed Indonesia Telecom Certification. Hence, it is safe to say that it is indeed the upcoming Tile tracker-like Bluetooth tracking device from Samsung. Accordingly, the applicant is also listed as Taiwan Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., (Translated).

We have two sets of images. Although both have a circular ring at the center of the front, only one of them has a “Galaxy SmartTag” name. At the back, we have a Samsung branding. These images of the Black variant also remind us of a recent design reveal in Black and White color options.

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung Galaxy S21 series smartphones to ship without a charger in the UK

Just like the early report, the images from this NCC listing also show a hole at one corner. As we said earlier, it could be for attaching a lanyard or any other strap as a grip. The circular ring on these supposed prototypes is like the early GIF image leak which depicted an animation of its Bluetooth functionality.

To quickly remind you, a Tracker is a device that relies on the Bluetooth Low-Energy technology. It has a battery in itself with which it is able to locate objects like Keys, wallets, remote, earbuds, Smartphones etc. The upcoming Samsung Tracker is also expected to have features like Bluetooth 5.1, UWB(Ultra Wide Band), interfacing with NFC, and RFID.

That said, Samsung is yet to officially reveal the other details of this SmartTag. It is expected to tag along the Galaxy S21 launch on January 14 and if true, we will know the pricing and availability in a couple of weeks.

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

 

1...3,1113,1123,113...5,180Page 3,112 of 5,180
Gizmochina
Gizmochina brings you the best of tech from China and around the globe!
© 2025 Gizmochina | All rights reserved | If you buy something via one of our affiliate links, Gizmochina may earn a commission.