Xiaomi unveils the MIJIA Double-port Induction Cooker under crowdfunding

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Dec 18, 2020

POCO, a sub-brand of China-based Xiaomi, has been focused on expanding its product lineup after being silent for a few months. And moving forward, the company isn’t limiting itself to just smartphones.

It appears that the company is soon going to launch its own laptops in the Indian market. As per the report, two battery models — R15B02W and R14B02W have passed through the BIS certification process, hinting towards imminent launch.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro — Xiaomi’s Mi Notebook Pro

The battery models are from POCO and Xiaomi, which means that the upcoming laptops from the POCO brand are likely to be the rebranded model of the Redmi laptops. We expect to get more details in the coming weeks.

Xiaomi has already launched its own laptop in the Indian market but the Redmi-branded laptops, which have been launched in China, are yet to debut in India. But now it seems that the Redmi laptops will go official in India under the POCO brand, as the company.

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi 9 Power launched in India with 6,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 662, and 48MP quad-camera

In line with the company’s plan of expanding the product portfolio in India, along with the laptops, POCO is also expected to launch its own TWS earphones. Given that POCO is positioned as a budget brand, both the upcoming products — laptop and TWS earbuds are likely to be priced aggressively.

The R15B02W battery seems to be powering the Xiaomi Pro 15.6-inch laptop that has been launched in China. This could mean that the same device could go official in India under the POCO brand but it’s just speculation at this point in time. To know for sure, we will have to wait for the official launch.

It’s noteworthy that while POCO is positioning itself as an independent brand, the company is still relying on Xiaomi for supply chain, manufacturing facilities, and software, and more.

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 2 powered by 11th-gen Intel processor goes official

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Dec 18, 2020

Earlier this year, in May, Samsung had launched its Galaxy Book Flex 2-in-1 laptop, and recently, in September, the company released Galaxy Book Flex 5G in the market. Now, a successor of the original Galaxy Book has been launched.

Samsung has today launched the Galaxy Book Flex 2 in South Korea. The device has the same 2-in-1 design with a 360-degree rotatable screen. It also comes with support for the Smart S Pen stylus.

It comes in two options for the display size — 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch, offering a QLED Full HD+ touch screen panel. Under the hood, the laptop is powered by the latest 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor.

The 13.3-inch model packs Intel Iris Xe graphics while the 15.6-inch model comes with NVIDIA MC450 GPU for handling the graphical tasks. It can be configured with up to 16GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 1TB SSD for storage.

EDITOR’S PICK: OPPO Reno5 series first sale in China generates 100 million yuan within just 10 minutes

There are two 5W AKG stereo speakers and the device also comes with support for fingerprint recognition. It also features a 13MP camera which should come in handy, especially during these times when people are working from home and relying on webcams to attend meetings and collaborate with colleagues.

The device is powered by a 69.7Wh battery. The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 2 comes in two color options — Black and Purple. It’s pricing starts at 1.845 million yuan (approximately $1683) and goes up to 2.83 million yuan (~$2581).

Along with this, the company has also launched the Galaxy Flex 2 5G, which as the name indicates, comes with built-in support for 5G connectivity. This model was announced in September but the company had not revealed its pricing. It will be offered in just Royal Silver color, for a price of 2.725 million won which roughly converts to $2,468.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G with Dimensity 720 and Android 11 OS emerge at Geekbench

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Dec 18, 2020

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A32 5G smartphone has surfaced at the Geekbench (via) benchmarking site today. The listing has revealed which processor will be powering the smartphone. It is the second major leak on A32 5G after the CAD renders that had emerged at the beginning of this month.

The Galaxy A32 5G listing has appeared with its SM-A326G model number on the benchmarking platform. The listing shows that the MT6853V chipset by MediaTek is present under its hood. This chipset is nothing but the Dimensity 720 that powers a couple of low budget 5G phones such as the OPPO A53 5G, OPPO K7x, OPPO A72, Vivo Y52sv, Vivo Y73s, Realme V5, Realme V3, Huawei Enjoy 20, and some others.

The listing further reveals the presence of Android 11 OS and 4 GB of RAM on the device. In the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench 5, the handset scored 478 and 1595, respectively.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra official images leaked before launch

Yesterday, the Galaxy A32 5G was spotted in the database of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification platform. The listing only confirmed a few details like 5G support, NFC, and 15W charging. Previous reports have revealed that it has a 48-megapixel main camera on the back, and it has a 5,000mAh battery.

The CAD render of the phone had revealed that it has a waterdrop notch display with a fairly thick chin. It is expected to arrive with a 6.5-inch display. The glass-like polycarbonate rear of the phone features a uniquely designed triple camera system. With FCC certification, Samsung is likely to launch the Galaxy A32 5G. It is expected to debut as the most affordable 5G phone by Samsung.

OPPO Reno5 series sale generates 100 million yuan within 10 minutes

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Dec 18, 2020

A few days ago, OPPO had launched its new OPPO Reno5 and Reno5 Pro smartphones in China, both of which went on sale today at 10:00 AM local time. Now, the official data released by OPPO shows the popularity of the devices.

The company has shared that in just 10 minutes of sale going live, the Reno5 series models generated revenue of 100 million yuan.

The Reno5 8GB + 128GB model is priced at 2,699 yuan (~$412) while the 12GB + 256GB model costs 2,999 yuan (~$458). On the other hand, the 8GB + 128GB model of the Reno5 Pro is priced at 3,399 yuan (~$519) while the 12GB + 256GB model costs 3,799 yuan, which is about $581.

Coming to the specifications, the Reno5 features a 6.43-inch Full HD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC. On the other hand, the Pro variant comes with a 6.55-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ chipset.

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus Urban Traveler Backpack launched; to be available for purchase from January 8th

In the camera department, both the devices have a quad-camera setup on the back. The standard model features 64 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP sensors and the same configuration is present on the Pro model. On the front side, the devices come with a 32 MP snapper.

Both the smartphones are running the latest Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own ColorOS 11 on top. While the OPPO Reno5 is powered by a 4,300mAh battery, the Reno5 Pro is powered by a 4,350mAh battery. Both of them come with the support of 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging.

Video Release: Internal Structure of Ulefone Armor 10 5G

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Greeva Agnihotri

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Dec 18, 2020

Ulefone recently introduced their first 5G rugged phone – Armor 10 5G. Since durability is one of the most significant factors of a rugged smartphone, the company released a video showing the consumers what this device looks like from the inside and why is it worth. This was done to show that ruggedness depends not only on the process of manufacturing or material but also on the internal structure. Let’s take a look at the video.

The above clip clearly shows the complete process of the teardown of Armor 10 5G. Its internal design is quite compact, reasonable, and well laid-out with no extra space. This rugged smartphone is made using a metal frame on both sides where its internals are well protected by a waterproof seal ring. Its 5800mAh battery, on the other hand, is protected by a metal plate on the back and is secured with numerous screws to prevent damage caused by accidental drops.Apart from its exceptional built and ruggedness, Armor 10 5G boasts hardware configurations like MediaTek Dimensity 800 5G SoC and 64MP quad-rear camera, and 16MP front camera. This smartphone runs on Android 10 and will upgrade to Android 11 via OTA next year. Other highlights include 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, 15W wireless charging ICs, NFC antenna, 2 SIM card slots, and more.

Packed with an ideal combination of top-notch features and durability, Ulefone Armor 10 5G sets an ideal standard for smartphones. Currently, this rugged smartphone is up for sale at Banggood e-shop for just $399.99, where the first 700 buyers get a chance to win Ulefone Watch for free. So hurry and make the most of this opportunity.

To know more about the phone, users can visit Ulefone’s official website.

OnePlus Urban Traveler Backpack launched; to go on sale from January 8

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https://www.gizmochina.com/2020/11/26/khadas-tone-2-pro-dac-will-soon-launch-on-hifigo/

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Dec 18, 2020

OnePlus is known for making smartphones, which started its journey with “flagship killer” devices and then gradually started offering premium phones. However, in the recent past, the company has expanded its offerings to accessories and other products.

Now, the company has announced a new product — OnePlus Urban Traveler Backpack. It will be available in two color options — Black, and a combination of Black and White. The backpack is set to go on sale from 8th January but the company is giving away a few of them early as part of its User Festival.

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus to reportedly partner with Leica for the upcoming OnePlus 9 series’ camera

It has a 20L capacity and comes with nine pockets. The main compartment has a partition and a zippered back. There are two pair of elastic bands which can hold water bottles. Towards the backside, there’s a separate compartment for a laptop, which the company says can hold a device with up to a 16-inch display.

On the front side, there’s a diagonal line that opens a small storage area. Interestingly, it also has a secret compartment at the bottom. For those who travel a lot, the backpack comes with a luggage pole belt.

The shoulder straps on the OnePlus Urban Traveler backpack have a plastic loop, which can be used for attaching items, such as sunglasses or keyrings. The company says that zippers and lining are waterproof and the white color has been treated to prevent stains.

Khadas Tone 2 Pro Launch, Technical Specifications, and More

By

Greeva Agnihotri

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Dec 18, 2020

After the much-anticipated wait, Khadas officially launched their latest Hi-Fi DAC, Tone 2 Pro on December 16th. It is an ultra-slim desktop DAC that features a high-end ES9038Q2M DAC chip from Sabre technologies along with four high-performance OPA1612 Operational Amplifiers. This unit is fully up to date with MQA decoding support to offer a high-quality audio experience. However, the highlight of Tone 2 Pro is the Balanced RCA plugs that have three layers to provide better connectivity and functionality while maintaining their compact size.

Just before the launch of Khadas Tone 2 Pro, the company released all its technical parameters; let’s check them out. Khadas Tone 2 Pro-2

DAC Performance(Balanced RCA)

THD+N- 0.000126%(-118dB)
THD+N, A-Weighted- 0.000112%(-119dB)
Noise- 3.5uVrms
Noise, A-Weighted- 2.75uVrms
DNR- 121dB
DNR, A-Weighted- 123.5dB
Crosstalk, 200kΩ- >120dB
Output, 200kΩ- 4.0Vrms
Frequency Response- 20Hz-20kHz, ±0.15dB

DAC Performance(RCA Single-Ended)

THD+N- 0.000158%(-116dB)
THD+N, A-Weighted- 0.000141%(-117dB)
Noise- 2.0uVrms
Noise, A-Weighted- 1.6uVrms
DNR- 119dB
DNR, A-Weighted- 122dB
Crosstalk, 100kΩ- >118dB
Output, 100kΩ- 2.0Vrms
Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz, ±0.15dB

Headphone Amplifier Performance(4.4mm Balanced Port)

Output Impedance- 2.4Ω
THD+N, 1kHz, 300Ω- 0.000158%(-116dB)
THD+N, 1kHz, 150Ω- 0.000158%(-116dB)
THD+N, 1kHz, 32Ω- 0.000282%(-111dB)
Noise- <4.2uVrms
DNR- 121dB
Max Output @300Ω- 83mW(5.0Vrms)
Max Output @150Ω- 167mW(5.0Vrms)
Max Output @32Ω- 211mW(2.6Vrms)
Max Output @16Ω- 123mW(1.4Vrms)
Crosstalk, 32Ω- >117dB
Frequency Response- 20Hz-20kHz, ±0.15dB

Headphone Amplifier Performance(3.5mm Single-Ended)

Output Impedance- 1.2Ω
THD+N, 1kHz, 150Ω- 0.000200%(-114dB)
THD+N, 1kHz, 32Ω- 0.000282%(-111dB)
Noise- <2.4uVrms
DNR- 119dB
Max Output @150Ω- 35.3mW(2.3Vrms)
Max Output @32Ω- 125mW(2.0Vrms)
Max Output @16Ω- 114mW(1.35Vrms)
Crosstalk, 32Ω- >69dB
Frequency Response- 20Hz-20kHz, ±0.15dB

DAC Sampling Rate Support

USB Input- PCM 384kHz/32-Bit
USB Input- DSD512 Natively
Coaxial Input- 192kHz/24Bit

USB Processor

XMOS XU216, 16 Real-time Logical Cores

DAC Chipset

ESS ES9038Q2M, 32-Bit Stereo Mobile Audio DAC

Amplifier Chipsets

I/V Stage- TI OPA1612x2
LPF Stage- TI OPA1612x2
Buffer Stage- RT6863Dx3

Ultra-Low Noise LDOs

1xESS ES9311Q, 1.3uVrms(10Hz-100kHz)
5xADI ADP151, 9uVrms(10Hz-100kHz)

Jitter Filter Technology

Built-in Intel Altera MAX V CPLD, Pre-shaping Technology
Accusilicon AS318-B Series Professional Audiophile Crystal Oscillator

OS Compatibility

Windows 7, 8, 10(Khadas USB ASIO driver required)
MacOS
Linux(with UAC2 compliant kernel)
Android(Support OTG function)
iPadOS & iOS

Rated Voltage

DC 5V

Compliances

CE, FCC, RoHS

High-Grade Output

Tone 2 Pro has a distortion rate of around 0.000126% (Bal RCA) /0.000158% (4.4mm) and low noise levels of less than 4.2uVrms to offer superior sound quality. One can expect a crisp output with ultra-low distortion and a pitch dark, noise-free background in their audio. Khadas Tone 2 Pro-3

Compatible Gears

Tone 2 Pro has 4.4mm and 3.5mm output ports with 2.4Ω and 1.2Ω super-low output impedance. It can be conveniently paired with sensitive IEMs or headphones without facing any issues. Khadas Tone 2 Pro-4

Sturdy Built

Each part of Tone 2 Pro is made using high-grade materials to offer durability. Its volume knob and casing are constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum, while the bottom cover is built from ABS plastic and polycarbonate. With a silicone footpad, this unit retains its position and prevents scratching the surface. This Hi-Fi DAC comes in 3 colors- Black, Red, Blue. Khadas Tone 2 Pro-6

Tone 2 Pro is already up for sale and can be pre-ordered for just $179.90 (early-bird price) till January 2nd, 2021. Post that, it will go up to its retail price of just $199. Shipments for the first batch will begin from 29th December. So hurry, and grab yours now.

To know more about this Hi-Fi DAC, click here.

You can also check the link below to get an idea about the product.

Vivo X60 and X60 Pro official renders emerge once again ahead of launch

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Dec 18, 2020

Vivo is expected to launch the Vivo X60 series by the end of this month. While a recent leak claimed that it may go official on Dec. 28, the Chinese firm is yet to confirm it. Ahead of the launch, the official renders of the Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro smartphones have surfaced once again.

The Vivo X50 series that debuted in June came with 6.56-inch Samsung E3 AMOLED displays that offered 1080 x 2376 pixels resolution. The same display is tipped to be available on the Vivo X60 with some changes. Instead of the top-left corner selfie camera cutout available on the X50 models, the successor editions will have a top-centered punch-hole. Instead of 90Hz, the Vivo X60 will support a higher refresh rate of 120Hz. The renders show that the Vivo X60 will have a flat-screen, whereas the Pro model’s display has curved edges.

Editor’s Pick: Vivo and ZEISS officially announce their global imaging partnership

The rear appearance of the Vivo X60 series is not hugely different from the X50 lineup. The Vivo X60 has a triple camera system that includes a 48-megapixel main camera with f/1.6 aperture, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 13-megapixel portrait snapper.

On the other side, the Vivo X60 Pro will offer users a quad-camera setup that is said to include a 48-megapixel main camera with f/1.48 aperture, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 13-megapixel portrait lens, and an 8-megapixel periscope zoom lens. The Exynos 1080 chipset will be fueling the Vivo X60 and X60 Pro will up to 12 GB of RAM. The X60 series will be the first Vivo phones to come loaded with the all-new OriginOS flavored Android 11 OS.

The Vivo X60 family also includes the Vivo X60 Pro+, which is likely to be powered by the Snapdragon 888. While it may feature the same display as the other X60 models, it may come equipped with an advanced rear camera system. The X60 series phones could be coming with 33W fast charging.

(via)

Battle for your wrist: Amazfit GTR 2 versus Amazfit GTR 2e

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 18, 2020

The Amazfit GTS 2 wasn’t the only one that got a cheaper model this week, the round-faced Amazfit GTR 2 also did. The Amazfit GTR 2e, as the watch is called, is not only cheaper but has a significantly better life, though it does miss out on some key features of the standard version.

Amazfit GTR 2 vs Amazfit GTR 2e — Amazfit GTR 2 (Classic) and Amazfit GTR 2e

We already compared the GTS 2 series which has three models but if you have been waiting for a comparison between the Amazfit GTR and the new Amazfit GTR 2e, then this is for you. As usual, a spec-by-spec comparison of both watches comes first before we focus on the major differences:

	Amazfit GTR 2	Amazfit GTR 2e
Display	1.39-inch AMOLED 454 x 454 resolution 3D curved glass	1.39-inch AMOLED 454 x 454 resolution 2.5D curved glass
Materials and finish	Stainless steel case (Classic version) Aluminum alloy (sports version) Optical Diamond-like carbon coating	Aluminum alloy case Glass vacuum coating
No. of supported sports modes	90	12 built-in sports modes (will be upgraded to 90 via an OTA update in the future)
Built-in storage	4GB (Global version = 3GB)	No
AI Assistant	XiaoAI (Global version - Amazon Alexa)	XiaoAI
Microphone	Yes	Yes
Speaker	Yes	No
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0 NFC (Chinese version only) GPS 2.4GHz Wi-Fi	Bluetooth 5.0 LE NFC GPS
Waterproof rating	5 ATM	5 ATM
Sensors and Motors	Accelerometer Gyroscope Geomagnetic sensor Ambient Light Sensor Barometer Linear motor	Accelerometer Gyroscope Geomagnetic sensor Ambient Light Sensor Barometer Temperature Sensor Linear motor
Other features	Heart rate measurement SpO2 measurement Sleep tracking Bluetooth calls Offline voice assistant	Heart rate measurement SpO2 measurement Sleep tracking Temperature measurement
Battery capacity and battery life	471mAh Typical Usage - 14 days Basic Watch Mode - 38 days	471mAh Typical Usage - 24 days Basic Watch Mode - 45 days
Dimensions and weight	46.4 x 46.4 x 10.7 mm 31.5 grams (Sports model without strap) 39 grams (Classic model without straps)	46.5 x 46.5 x 10.8 mm 32 grams (without the straps)
Colors	Obsidian Black	Obsidian Black Dolphin Gray Ice Lake Green
Price	¥999 $179.99	¥799

Design and Display

The Amazfit GTR 2 comes in two versions – Classic and Sports. The Classic version has a stainless steel case and leather straps while the Sports version has an aluminum alloy case and silicone straps. Both are covered with 3D curved glass that fuses with the frame at the edges. The Amazfit GTR 2e is practically the sports version with 2.5D glass and a different finish when it comes to its design.

For the display, the Amazfit GTR 2 and GTR 2e have the same AMOLED screen. They have the same size and the same resolution too. So save for the glass on top, the Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTR 2e are identical when it comes to their displays.

EDITOR’S PICK: How the Mi Watch Lite differs from the Redmi Watch

Sports Modes and Features

When the Amazfit GTR 2 was announced, it supported only 12 sports modes but an update released later increased the number to 90. Huami has said that the Amazfit GTR 2e will get an OTA update that will increase the supported sports modes to 90 too.

Coming to other features, the Amazfit GTR 2 has built-in storage so that you can load up your watch with your songs and listen to them via a connected Bluetooth headset without the need for a phone when exercising. It also has a microphone and speaker, so owners can accept calls when the notification shows up on their watch without needing to bring out their phone to pick up a call.

Both the GTR 2 and GTR 2e have Xiaomi’s XiaoAI assistant but only the former has support for offline commands. We do not know if the global version of the Amazfit GTR 2e will come with Amazon’s Alexa assistant if and when it is announced in other countries.

The two smartwatches packed nearly the same senors but the Amazfit GTR 2e adds a temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature and the temperature of the wearer’s skin.

Battery life

The Amazfit GTR 2 has a better battery life than its sibling, the Amazfit GTS 2, but the new Amazfit GTR 2e boasts an additional 10 days of usage over the GTR 2’s Typical Usage mode and extends the basic watch mode to 45 days.

Price

The Amazfit GTR 2 is priced at ¥999 (~$153) in China for the Sports Edition and ¥1099 for the Classic Edition. In the USA, the Sports Edition is $179.99 while the Classic Edition is $199.99. The Amazfit GTR 2e has an MSRP of ¥699 (~$122) and if it gets a global release, it is expected to cost a bit more but should still be under $150.

Conclusion

The Amazfit GTR 2e drops features such as built-in storage, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Bluetooth call support for a more affordable price tag but gets a significant boost in battery life. If you choose it over the standard variant, you won’t be missing much and its more affordable price tag makes it the easy choice.

However, if you want that built-in storage and support for Bluetooth calls, then you can choose the Amazfit GTR 2, though we will advise you to pick it up when it is on sale as it doesn’t pack enough features to justify its current price tag.

Samsung Galaxy S21 series pre-orders started in China before Xiaomi Mi 11’s launch

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Dec 18, 2020

At the beginning of this week, GizmoChina carried an exclusive report to reveal that the Xiaomi Mi 11 series will debut in China on Dec. 29. While Xiaomi is yet to officially confirm the launch date of the Xiaomi Mi 11 and Mi 11 Pro handsets, Samsung has started receiving pre-orders of the Galaxy S21 series through its official website. It was reported in the previous week that Samsung began receiving blind orders of the Galaxy S21 lineup in India.

Users in China can participate in the advanced reservations for the Galaxy S21 series by paying 100 Yuan. This will allow customers to apply for discounts and participate in a lucky draw. As many as 21 units of the Galaxy S21 series will be given out for free through the lucky draw in China. Also, customers who participate in the reservations will have mysterious purchase rights and a 10 precent increased pricing for a trade-in handset.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung in strong contention to replace Huawei in the European 5G race

Samsung is expected to officially announce the Galaxy S21 series on Jan. 14. It is likely that it will be arriving in various markets including China by the end of January. Hence, there is a possibility that Xiaomi could be the world’s first company to announce the Snapdragon 888 powered flagships.

China will be treated with the Snapdragon 888 version of the Galaxy S21 models. The U.S. and South Korea are believed to be other markets to receive SD88 editions of the Galaxy S21 series. The Exynos 2100 powered S21 models will be aimed towards markets like India and Europe.

The rumor mill has already revealed the entire specifications of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The official images of the S21 trio have also appeared. As far as pricing is concerned, there are speculations that the Galaxy S21 lineup could be arriving with cheaper price tags as compared to the Galaxy S20 series due to economic problems that have resulted from the ongoing global pandemic.

Huawei Nova 8 Pro specifications leak reveals 6.72-inch display, 32MP dual selfie cameras, Kirin 985, and more

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Dec 18, 2020

The real-life images of the Huawei Nova 8 that had appeared recently had not only revealed its design, but also its specifications. The Nova 8 Pro also appeared in live shots recently, but its detailed specs were not revealed. A well-known Chinese tipster known as Digital Chat Station on Weibo has shared the specs sheet of the Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro smartphones.

According to the leak, the Huawei Nova 8 Pro measures 163.3 x 74.1 x 7.85mm and it weighs 184 grams. The device is equipped with a 6.72-inch OLED panel with curved edges. It supports a custom resolution of 2676 x 1236 pixels, a 10-bit color depth, and a 120Hz refresh. The edges of the screen have an 80-degree curvature. The display is integrated with a fingerprint scanner. The Huawei Nova 8 has a 6.5-inch OLED screen with 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, an in-screen fingerprint reader. The Nova 8 has 160 x 74.1 x 7.64mm dimensions and it weighs 169 grams.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung in strong contention to replace Huawei in the European 5G race

At the top-left corner of the display is a pill-shaped cutout that features a 32-megapixel main selfie camera and a 16-megapixel secondary lens. The back panel of the phone has a quad-camera system featuring a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The same rear camera setup is available on the Nova 8. Its front features a 32-megapixel selfie camera.

The Kirin 985 chipset powers the Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro smartphones. Both phones carry support for 66W fast charging. While the Nova 8 has a 3,700mAh rated battery, the Pro gets a bigger 3,900mAh rated battery. A recent leak had revealed that both phones could be available in 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage editions. The Nova 8 duo will go official on Dec. 23 in China.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra official images leaked before launch

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Dec 18, 2020

Samsung’s President and Head of the mobile division recently confirmed that the Galaxy S21 launch event will be held in January. However, the South Korean company is yet to confirm the specific launch date for the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event. Even before its confirmation Winfuture.de and Evan Blass have shared the official images of the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The official images of the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ were covered in a separate post. Shown in this post are the renders of the Galaxy S21 Ultra that will be arriving in two colors such as the Phantom Silver and Phantom Black. The Galaxy S20 Ultra featured a display with curved edges. However, the successor edition has a flat display like the S21 and S21+ phones. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a massive 6.8-inch Infinity-O AMOLED screen at the front and a glass rear.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung in strong contention to replace Huawei in the European 5G race

While the S Pen was previously reserved for the Galaxy Note series, but the S21 Ultra will be the first S-series handset to carry support for it. Like the S21 and S21+, the Ultra edition’s rear camera module fuses with its metallic frame. The camera module is said to include a 108-megapixel main camera with OIS and laser autofocus support, a 10-mgeapixel periscope telephoto lens with OIS and 10x optical zoom, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. It could be featuring a 40-megapixel camera on the front.

The S21 Ultra arriving in markets like the U.S. and South Korea are expected to feature the Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform. Other markets like Europe and India are expected to receive its Exynos 2100 CPU version. It could be coming with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

Leaker reveals OnePlus will partner with Leica for OnePlus 9 series’ camera

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 17, 2020

Phone manufacturers employ various methods to improve the cameras of their phones. From software optimizations to custom sensors to partnerships with big names in the camera industry: the goal is the same – to have a top-class camera phone.

Talking about partnerships with big players in the camera industry, OnePlus appears may be the latest phone manufacturer to do so if the information from a leaker turns out to be correct.

According to Teme (@RODENT950), the leaker known for Huawei-related leaks, OnePlus is partnering with Leica on the cameras for the OnePlus 9 series. The leaker had tweeted a list of phone manufacturers and the camera companies they have partnered with. It includes the familiar ones but also mentions a relationship between OnePlus and Leica, which is definitely new info.

Huawei- Leica
OnePlus- Leica
Nokia- Zeiss
Vivo- Zeiss
Who takes Hasselblad🤔

— Teme (特米)😷 (@RODENT950) December 17, 2020

One Twitter user then asks if OnePlus has collaborated with Leica, and Teme responds with “Op9 series” which of course means the OnePlus 9 series. This is definitely big news and one that is casually revealed in a tweet.

Op9 series

— Teme (特米)😷 (@RODENT950) December 17, 2020

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus reassures users of bi-monthly security updates for OnePlus 8/8 Pro and OnePlus Nord

If OnePlus is indeed working with Leica on the cameras for the OnePlus 9 series, then we should expect a significant improvement in the camera performance of the next-gen flagships. Maybe we may even see the OnePlus 9 or OnePlus 9 Pro topple the Huawei Mate 40 Pro and Mi 10 Ultra from the top of DxOMark’s smartphone camera ranking.

OnePlus’s CEO, Pete Lau, revealed in an interview with Input Mag that they are working on improving the camera performance of their phones “with a bigger focus on software and hardware”. He goes on to say that they are not only improving the offering on the flagship series but also future Nord series. However, nowhere in the interview did he reveal they were working with the German camera company, Leica.

The OnePlus 9 series will include the OnePlus 9, the OnePlus 9E, and the OnePlus 9 Pro. We do not yet know if all three will feature Leica technology or if it will be limited to only the pro model. Nevertheless, we are excited and we look forward to what OnePlus has planned.

LG UltraGear 27-inch gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate launched in India

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Dec 17, 2020

LG has just released its new 27-inch UltraGear gaming monitor (27GN950) to the Indian market. The gaming monitor comes with several exciting features that will certainly catch the fancy of gaming fans in the sub-continent.

The monitor features a 27-inch 4K Nano IPS screen, with a 16:9 screen ratio, all ingredients for an enhanced viewing experience. It also has improved contrast, clarity and detail, a very good response time for GtG and VESA Display HDR600 technology well suited for an immersive and fulfilling gaming experience.

The new gaming monitor from LG has incorporated the VESA Display Stream Compression (DSC) Technology for high definition visuals (4K HDR) and is capable of covering adequately, 10bit color via a single DisplayPort connection. The embedded Nano IPS technology present in the UltraGear supports high-fidelity color.

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The super-fast refresh and response rates mean that the monitor offers incredible speed with an excellent display while blur and ghosting are greatly minimized. In addition, its NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro means gaming freaks would enjoy the game experience in a seemingly flawless display in hi-resolution, as high-octane games will be matched by an equally fast-paced viewing experience.

The display resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixel, while it has a typical Brightness reading of 400nits and Contrast ratio of 1000:1. The monitor has an overall viewing angle of 178º and comes with a couple of HDMI ports and utilizes the 16:9 aspect ratio. It also has a refresh rate of 144Hz.

It has a single display port, a headphone port, and a USB Up-stream and two down-stream connectivity ports. The UltraGear is also NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible as well as having several other impressive features that combine to yield a great gaming experience.

The LG 27GN950 UltraGear monitor costs Rs. 59,999 (~$816) and is available from both online and offline shops, including Amazon.in.

UP NEXT: Redmi 9 Power launched in India with 6,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 662, and 48MP quad-camera

ColorOS 11 update rollout has begun for OPPO Reno4 5G and OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Dec 17, 2020

OPPO announced ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 as the latest version of its mobile operating system in mid-September. The company started rolling out beta builds to eligible devices right away. Now, three months later, OPPO Reno4 5G and OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G have begun to receive stable update.

So far, OPPO has released ColorOS 11 stable update for the OPPO Find X2 series – Find X2, Find X2 Pro, and Find X2 Pro Automobili Lamborghini Edition, as well as OPPO F17 Pro. However, the builds are yet to go live in all the regions.

The same is the case for OPPO Reno4 5G and OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G. Because although the stable build is available for the regular model in most regions, the update is limited to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar, Thailand, and Russia for the Pro model.

Also, it is worth nothing that though the update is live for the duo in certain regions, it is not available for everyone. That’s due to the batched rollout program, which helps in protecting users from buggy build if any. Not only OPPO but all companies release new updates to a select few initially, and based on their feedback, the build’s availability is further extended.

Having said that, if you own either of the two handsets, then head over to Setting > Software Updates to check if your unit has received the ColorOS 11 stable update.

(Source 1, 2 / Via)

OPPO A53 5G with Dimensity 720, 90Hz refresh rate launched for ¥1299 (~$198)

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Dec 17, 2020

OPPO is bringing 5G on a budget as it has launched the OPPO A53 5G. The device belongs to the A-series and should rank as one of the cheapest 5G phones around. The smartphone is currently available for reservations on Vivo’s official website.

As for the design, the OPPO A53 5G adopts a full-screen design with a punch-hole located at the top left corner of the display housing the selfie camera. The rear design includes a triple camera setup that is housed in a square-shaped module alongside the LED flash. The module is located at the top left corner of the back panel. The phone has a lightweight build and weighs just 175g.

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OPPO A53 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 720 chip which uses TSMC’s 7nm process. The processor has a peak frequency of 2.0GHz and supports SA/NSA dual-mode 5G network. The device packs a 6.5-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2400×1080 pixels. The screen also has a contrast ratio of 1500:1, a brightness of 480nit, and a refresh rate of 90Hz.

For photography, the A53 is equipped with three AI smart cameras. The main camera is a 16 megapixels sensor and it is assisted by a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel portrait style camera.

Under the hood, the A53 5G crams a generous 4040mAh battery but unfortunately lacks fast charging support. It only has support for 5V/2A charging. The phone is also equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

OPPO A53 is available in 6GB+128GB and 4GB+128GB configurations. The phone is available for reservation and is expected to be shipped on December 21. The 4GB+128GB model is priced at ¥1299 yuan (~$198). It is available in three color options – Purple, Lake Green, and Black.

UP NEXT: Redmi 9 Power launched in India with 6,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 662, and 48MP quad-camera

Amazfit GTS 2 Mini goes global with a $99 price tag; Bip U available too for $49.99

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 17, 2020

The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini was announced at the beginning of this month. The smartwatch made its debut in China as a more affordable version of the Amazfit GTS 2 that was launched back in September. Now Huami has taken the new mini watch to global markets.

If you are in the US, you will be able to grab the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini from Amazfit’s US online store for $99.99 which is a fair price considering it sells for ¥699 (~$107) in China. Honestly, we expected a higher price tag. The smartwatch is available in Green, Pink, and Black color variants.

The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini has a 1.55-inch AMOLED display with a 2.5D glass cover and sits inside an aluminum alloy case. Huami says it has a borderless design thanks to the curved glass on top. The watch has matching silicone straps and users can choose from over 50 different watch faces with over 30 Always-on Display patterns to style up their watch.

The smartwatch supports over 70 different sports modes including indoor swimming and outdoor cycling. It will notify you of exercise stages, conditions and heart rate zones, and will provide a data report when you are down with your workout.

EDITOR’S PICK: With the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini, there’s no compelling reason to get the Amazfit GTS 2

The GTS 2 Mini has a heart rate sensor with 24-hour heart rate monitoring and also has Sp02 and stress level measurement. It will also measure the quality of your sleep including daytime naps. Other supported features are female health (menstrual cycle tracking), Amazon Alexa assistant, breathing exercises, music playback control, Pomodoro clock, and Bluetooth camera remote.

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The smartwatch has a 220mAh battery that will provide up to 14 days of battery lfe in typical usage and up to 7 days in heavy usage. It goes up to 21 days in basic watch mode.

The US store also has the Amazfit Bip U which launched first in India. The square-faced watch is priced at $59.99 but has been discounted to $49.99. Unfortunately, it can only be picked up in black as the Pink and Green variants are listed as out of stock. The Amazfit Band 5 has also been discounted to $39.99 from its original price of $49.99.

Samsung in strong contention to replace Huawei in the European 5G race

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Dec 17, 2020

Recent developments point in the direction that European mobile operators are seriously contemplating replacing Chinese tech giant Huawei with Samsung as the core supplier of 5G systems in Europe. Samsung had long been seen as rank outsiders among the leading lights in the pioneering technology of 5G but has steadily clawed its way to the top, due to a combination of factors within and outside its control. Early talks within the group of mobile providers are not yet definitive, as developments unfold fleetingly.

A key catalyst for the renewed interest in Samsung was its impressive performance in nicking the $6 billion deal with U.S. mobile provider Verizon in September 2020, against all odds. Obviously, this prompted closer attention to the South Korean tech giant from various parts of the world including Spain’s Telefonica and France’s Orange, both of whom have held useful formal interactions with Samsung, according to its officials.

Currently, Huawei’s hardware systems account for up to 50% of the European 4G network architecture and were expected to form the foundation for the next generation ultra-fast 5G infrastructure, together with Nokia and Ericsson.

However, as should be expected, European operators are under intense pressure from the US to abandon Huawei for its 5G architecture, as Washington says there is a risk the Chinese firm could be spying for Beijing, an accusation the firm has consistently denied.

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A major hurdle for Samsung is that operators fear that its products will not be compatible with the existing 4G networks built by Huawei, and this may lead to ballooning costs if these systems were to be scrapped entirely, rather than a simple upgrade. Samsung has however risen stoutly to defend itself, insisting that its equipment is indeed compatible with the existing 4G infrastructure. US mobile operator, Verizon wireless is using Samsung for various parts of its network.

European mobile operators have already plowed billions of euros to roll out fibre optic networks in the continent and certainly, an additional extensive 5G rollout will further dent their investment capabilities. The GSMA projects about $800 billion in global investments on 5G up to 2025, representing about 78% of overall investments in the sector.

Europe’s biggest mobile operator, Deutsche Telekom, however, is yet to be upbeat about the possibility of Samsung being competitive in the short term, sources say.

Industry experts are divided on the prospects of Samsung being able to compete with Nokia and Ericsson on their home turf, as the company may have to do more to measure up as a serious competitor to these European powerhouses.

Samsung maintains that it has a strong Network team and research facilities in Europe and can indeed foster the relationships required to step into the void when the chance beckons.

UP NEXT: Redmi 9 Power launched in India with 6,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 662, and 48MP quad-camera

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Vivo and ZEISS officially announce their global imaging partnership

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