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Samsung Galaxy S21 to ship to early adopters in some markets

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is set to be given away in Indonesia, with a new dedicated registration page offering customers a chance to win the upcoming premium grade flagship handset.

Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G render by Letsgodigital
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G render by Letsgodigital

Recently, Samsung Indonesia made the announcement through Twitter that “Something Epic is on its way.” While the company didn’t outright state that it would be giving away the Galaxy S21, a video in the same tweet referred to “The Next Galaxy.” In other words, this more or less confirms the South Korean tech giant’s plans with the new registration page that just went live. This promotional move from the company offers its Indonesian customers a chance to win a free Galaxy S21, while also sharing exclusive updates, and other promotional offers, as per a SamMobile report.

At the moment, it is unknown how exactly the company will be announcing its winners or how they would be picked either. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S21 series on 14th January 2020. This launch arrives a bit earlier than its usual release cycle, and in certain markets like India, the company is already taking pre orders for a fee of 2,000 INR (roughly 27 US Dollars).

However, the pre orders are not available everywhere, nor has the registration page going live globally. Furthermore, the company is expected to start launching such registration pages in other regions as well soon, giving many early adopters a chance to win various prizes. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates when additional information regarding this is available.

 

Apple’s new patents hint at Touch ID and under-display Camera support for Apple Watch

Apple Watch lineup is arguably one of the best smartwatches in the world. Recently, the company added two more models to the lineup — Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE. The company has been adding more and more features to the smartwatches, ensuring they remain the market leader.

In line with that, it seems that Apple is now exploring the idea of adding Touch ID to the Apple Watch, along with an under-display camera sensor. The company has filed a patent for the same, titled “Electronic device having sealed button biometric sensing system.” This was spotted by Patently Apple.

Apple Watch Touch ID Patent

The patent says that the Touch ID, which is basically Apple’s terms for the fingerprint sensor, can be embedded into the side button on the Watch, allowing users to have biometric authentication for unlocking the device as well as for making purchases.

There’s another patent filed by Apple titled “Electronic devices with two-stage display,” reports Apple Insider. It reveals how the company is planning to layer the display panels to include a camera and a flash, which are visible only when needed.

EDITOR’S PICK: Huawei releases HarmonyOS 2.0 Developer Beta version for smartphones with support for Android apps

Apple Watch Under-display Camera Patent

It showcases that one layer will have a pixel array for displaying images while the outer layer will have an array of light modulator cells that can become transparent or block out light when needed to allow the camera to function.

The technology proposed by Apple for the under-display camera should also be working for other devices, including iPhones and iPad, but interestingly, the patent is only focusing on the Apple Watch.

Do note that these are patent filing by Apple and it doesn’t necessarily mean that the company actually has such devices under development. However, this does reveal that Apple is interested in exploring these technologies and there’s a high probability that the features could actually be available in Apple Watch in the coming years.

 

Russian woman dies after her iPhone fell into the bathtub while plugged into an outlet

Smartphones have come to be a favorite companion for many people. It is quite common to see persons using their mobile phones in several places, including odd places like the toilet or bathroom. A  Russian woman, however, ran out of luck while using her iPhone in the bathroom. The 24-year-old identified as Olesya Semenova was reportedly electrocuted when her iPhone fell into the water inside the bathtub she was sitting.

Miss Semenova’s lifeless body was discovered by her roommate in their apartment in Arkhangelsk, according to a report on East2West News.

“I screamed, shook her, but she was pale, did not breathe, and showed no signs of life,” her roommate Daria told the emergency operator. “I was really scared. When I touched her, I got an electric shock.”

She added that she found Semenova’s iPhone 8 in the water and it was still charging.

Paramedics who arrived on the scene after the incident confirmed that the clothing store worker had died when the phone fell into the tub while plugged into an outlet.

The Russian emergencies ministry said in a warning after the incident; “The tragedy once again reminds us that water and an electrical appliance connected to the mains are incompatible.”

“The same applies to any mobile device. If you drown a smartphone, the worst thing is its failure,” it added. “But when it is connected to the network, we see what the consequences are,” the agency added.

This is yet another chilling story that should make us more cautious in the way we handle our smartphones and electrical appliances in general. It is the latest of a number of such fatalities that have been reported in Russia. Back in August, a 15-year-old schoolgirl identified as Anna K died in Moscow after suffering an electric shock in her bath. Also,  renowned poker star Liliya Novikova was electrocuted last year in her bathroom while using an hairdryer.

UP NEXT: Exclusive: Xiaomi Mi 11 scheduled for December 29 launch

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G Snapdragon version scores lower than Exynos variant in DxOMark test

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G has just been reviewed again by known camera reviewing brand DxOMark. The tests have revealed that the company’s flagship Snapdragon version has scored lower than its Exynos variant.

Samsung

Looking at the scores, the Snapdragon version that got reviewed recently scored 117 points in the DxOMark camera test while the Exynos variant scored 120 points when put through the same tests. The score had the handset receive 119 points for its photography, 75 for its zoom, and 103 points for its video recording. DxOMark noted that while the device offered “competent” performance with good “photographic versatility,” it is still not as impressive as the smartphones on the top of its rankings.

Talking about score, the firm found that it offered vivid colors in most images, with good details in both indoor and outdoor shots. It even praised the device’s bokeh mode and depth estimation, while its long range zoom pictures also retained high levels of details. The stabilization on videos was also quite effective and the white balance was neutral for both indoor and outdoor videos as well. Unfortunately, the flagship suffered from various instances of instability in autofocus both during videos and photos.

Samsung

Night scenes or other low light scenarios had the device struggle, with noise being noticeable in most images. Furthermore, DxOMark also found a number of inconsistencies in performance while capturing videos, especially in terms of sharpness in between frames while walking. While the Exynos and Snapdragon variants offer comparable performance, the firm still preferred the the former over the latter, due to its more erratic autofocus performance and higher levels of noise.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 press render leaks online showcasing the front panel

Samsung is gearing up to launch its next-generation Galaxy S-series flagship smartphones — Galaxy S21. This time, the company is expected to launch the devices a couple of months earlier, most likely around 14th January.

Now, ahead of the official launch of the Galaxy S21 lineup, Evan Blass has shared the render of the upcoming Galaxy S21 5G smartphone, showcasing the device’s front panel.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Render Leak by Evan Blass

Just looking at the front side, there is nothing that differentiates the smartphone from its predecessor, Galaxy S20. It features a punch-hole cutout on top of the screen, right in the middle, housing the front-facing snapper.

Evan Blass says that the real design changes are on the back panel of the smartphone. He has promised more leaks related to the Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup ahead of the official launch, which should reveal more information about the phone’s design.

EDITOR’S PICK: Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 678 SoC; CPU gets a minor boost over Snapdragon 675

Recently, M Roh, the President and Head of Samsung’s mobile division, almost confirmed that the Galaxy S21 lineup will be the first non-Galaxy Note series from the South Korean giant to have S-Pen support. However, it is likely to be limited to Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The upcoming flagship smartphones will come powered by either Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset or the company’s own Samsung Exynos 2100 SoC. Recently, the Galaxy S21 Ultra powered by the Exynos 2100, which is set for India and Europe region, was spotted on Geekbench with 12GB RAM and Android 11 operating system.

 

Huawei releases HarmonyOS 2.0 Developer Beta version for smartphones

Huawei first unveiled the HarmonyOS 2.0 (also known as Hongmeng OS 2.0) at the Huawei Developer Conference 2020. The tech giant has today officially announced the release of the developer beta version of the new ROM targeted at app developers. HarmonyOS 2.0 beta

According to Wang Chenglu, president of Huawei’s consumer BG software department, this year, Midea, Joyoung, Boss Electronics, and Puffin Technology have all released products that run on Hongmeng OS. The tech giant’s goal in 2021 is to cover more than 100 million devices from 40+ mainstream brands.

HarmonyOS was conceived originally for the Internet of Everything, with a better experience and more adaptations. For instance, with HarmonyOS, JD’s app can run on TVs, even refrigerators, and other screen-equipped devices. Thus, hundreds of millions of devices including cars equipped with a smart screen can run the JD app or any other app. This opens up several possibilities like allowing payment portals such as UnionPay to be accessed using multi-devices like PC, TV, etc.HarmonyOS 2.0 beta

At present, the beta version public test recruitment activities have been rolled out and developers and partners can apply to participate for free. However, it is open to just the Mate 40 series and Huawei P40 series as well as the MatePad Pro tablet.

Starting from today (December 16), Huawei will provide developers with two ways to get the beta version on the selected devices. Developers can use the remote simulator in Huawei DevEco Studio by downloading the DevEco Studio 2.0 Beta3 version from the HarmonyOS official website to get it. Alternatively, they can use the exclusive OTA to upgrade their device. First, you have to register and when approved, you will then receive the official Huawei public beta invitation email. According to the email content guidelines, you can get OTA push.HarmonyOS 2.0 beta

Here are the complete mobile phones and tablet models that the HarmonyOS mobile phone beta supports in China.

  • For mobile phones, there is the Huawei P40 full Netcom (5G dual card), as well as the P40 Pro Full Netcom version. Others include the Huawei Mate 30, Mate 30(5G), Mate 30 Pro, Mate 30 Pro(5G), the model list is ANA-AN00, ELS-AN00, TAS-AL00, TAS- AN00, LIO-AL00, LIO-AN00.
  • Tablet: Huawei MatePad Pro Full Netcom version, Full Netcom version (5G), WIFI version. The model list is MRX-AL19, MRX-W09, MRX-AN19.

The company adds that we can expect smartphones running on HarmonyOS in 2021. You can get more details about the schedule on the Huawei developer’s website.

UP NEXT: The Galaxy S21 is coming in January with S Pen support, Samsung confirms

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with Exynos 2100 and 12GB RAM for India and European markets spotted

The Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra are now officially confirmed to debut in January. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is expected to debut as the first S-series smartphone with S Pen support. Ahead of the rumored Jan. 14 launch, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has appeared on Geekbench (via) with the Exynos 2100 chipset.

Recent reports have revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S21 trio heading to markets like the U.S. and South Korea will be driven by the Snapdragon 888 chipset. India and European markets are expected to get the Exynos 2100 powered S21 editions. At Geekbench 5, the Galaxy S21 Ultra (mentioned with SM-G998B model number) has been spotted with the Exynos 2100 SoC, 12 GB of RAM, and Android 11 OS. The listing states that the yet to be announced chipset has a base frequency of 2.21GHz.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Geekbench

While the performance of the Exynos 2100 powered device appears to be better than the Snapdragon 888 powered S21, readers should know that the S21 models benchmarked at Geekbench are unfinished prototypes. Recent reports have revealed that the Exynos 2100 is equipped with a Cortex-X1 core clocking at 2.91GHz, a 3 x Cortex-A78 cores ticking at 2.81GHz, and 4-Cortex-A55 efficiency cores working at 2.21GHz. The SoC is also said to include a Mali-G78 GPU.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G render by Letsgodigital
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G render by Letsgodigital

Last week, a tipster had claimed that the Exynos 2100 will consume far less power than the Exynos 990 predecessor chip. The Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores offer faster performance than their counterparts found in the Snapdragon 888 SoC. This may allow the Exynos 2100 to offer marginally better performance than the SD888. Samsung is expected to unleash the Exynos 2100 before the end of this month. It is only then a good comparison can be done between the two chipsets.

 

Vivo X60, X60 Pro camera specs emerge in a new leak

Vivo is likely to announce the Vivo X60, X60 Pro, and X60 Pro+ smartphones on Dec. 28 in China. Like the predecessor Vivo X50 series, the Vivo X60 models are expected to deliver a stellar photography experience. Ahead of the official announcement, a reliable tipster from China has shared the camera configurations of the Vivo X60 trio.

According to the tipster, the Vivo X60 will have a triple camera system led by a 48-megapixel main camera with an f/1.6 aperture. It will be accompanied by a 13-megapixel superwide lens, and a 13-megapixel portrait camera.

The Vivo X60 Pro has a quad-camera setup featuring a 48-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel superwide lens, a 13-megapixel portrait sensor, and an additional 8-megapixel periscope zoom lens that will bring support for 5x optical zoom and up to 60x digital zoom.

Also, the Vivo X60 Pro’s main camera gets an f/1.48 aperture for the main camera. The Vivo X60 and X60 Pro will feature the second-generation micro-gimbal stabilization powered by ZEISS optics.

Vivo X60 December 29 Launch-

Coming to the Vivo X60 Pro+, it is expected to sport an L-shaped camera setup. However, he did not share the configurations of the camera sensors. He added that the Vivo X60 Pro+ will have a centered punch-hole display like the X60 and X60 Pro. It will be driven by the Snapdragon 888v mobile platform, whereas the X60 and X60 Pro will be equipped with the Exynos 1080 chipset.

The Vivo X60 trio is likely to arrive with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate and 33W fast charging. The X60 series will be the first Vivo phones to arrive with OriginOS flavored Android 11 OS. It is speculated that the V2059A, V2047A, and V2046A Vivo phones that were recently approved by the 3C authority of China could be the upcoming X60 series smartphones.

 

Leaked render gives closer look at Nova 8 series rear cameras, details emerge

Huawei will be announcing the Huawei Nova 8 series of smartphones on Dec. 23. The upcoming unveiling event could see the arrival of the Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro smartphones. Leaked posters that surfaced yesterday revealed that the front and rear design of the Huawei Nova 8 Pro. The handset was seen with a unique quad-camera setup that is housed inside an oval-shaped module. A leaked render that gives a closer at the rear camera system of the Nova 8 series smartphone has surfaced on Twitter. The leakster who shared the render also revealed the camera configurations of the Nova 8 series phone.

As it can be seen in the image below, the camera module of the upcoming Nova 8 series smartphone features a main camera at the top. The other three cameras and an LED flash unit are placed below the main lens.

The new leak claims that the camera setup includes a 64-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel lens, and a pair of 2-megapixel cameras, probably for macro shots and adding depth effects. The Huawei Nova 8 SE that debuted last month came with the same camera setup. A recent leak had revealed that the Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro will have an identical camera setup.

The predecessor Huawei Nova 7 and Nova 7 Pro smartphones came with different cameras. The Nova 7 came with a quad-camera setup featuring a 48-megapixel main shooter, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the other side, the quad-camera setup of the Nova 7 Pro featured a 64-megapixel main shooter, an 8-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, an 8-megaipxel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. It can be assumed based on recent reports that all the phones in the Nova 8 series may carry identical camera setup.

 

Alleged iQOO 7 (V2049A) spotted with 120W charger at 3C

A mysterious 5G phone has appeared in the database of the 3C authority of China with a 120W charger. A reliabe tipster has speculated that this device could be the alleged iQOO 7 flagship phone, which is expected to debut in early 2021.

The 3C listing reveals that the Vivo Mobile Communications Co. Ltd has a new 5G phone for the Chinese markets. The model number of the device is V2049A and it has been spotted with a charger that has a model number of V12060L0C0-CN. The new charger supports charging rates such as 9V/2A, 11V/2A, 11V/3A, 20V/5A, and 20V/6A Hence, the newly spotted V2049A smartphone is likely to support up to 120W fast charging.

Alleged iQOO 7 3C certified

While the listing does not directly carry the iQOO branding, a well-known Chinese tipster has speculated that this device could be the iQOO 7. It is not the first time that an iQOO phone has been spotted with the 120W V12060L0C0-CN charger. The iQOO 5 Pro that debuted in August came with support for 120W superfast charging. According to the company, the 120W charger can fully charge iQOO 5 Pro’s 4,000mAh battery in just 15 minutes.

The tipster who spotted the 3C listing had recently shared a few details of the upcoming iQOO flagship. The tipster claimed that the next iQOO flagship will be equipped with the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. The iQOO 5 Pro featured a curved edge display, but its successor is likely to arrive with a flat-screen. He revealed that it may come with a slightly larger battery as compared to the iQOO 5 Pro.

iQOO 5 Pro
iQOO 5 Pro

The other specs of the iQOO 7 could be the same as the iQOO 5 Pro. Hence, it is likely to arrive with a 50-megapixel triple camera system and a 16-megapixel selfie snapper. It may arrive preloaded with iQOO UI / Origin OS flavored Android 11 OS.

 

Vivo Y30 Standard Edition with Helio P35, 5,000mAh battery and 13MP dual cameras launched in China

In October, Vivo unveiled the Vivo Y3s and Vivo Y30 smartphones in China. While the Vivo Y3s arrived as a tweaked version of the Vivo Y17 available in India, the Vivo Y30 debuted as a better version of the Indian Vivo Y20 handset. A new handset named as the Vivo Y30 Standard Edition has silently gone official in China.

Vivo Y30 Standard Edition specifications and features

While the Vivo Y30 for China was fueled by the Snapdragon 460 chipset, the newly announced Vivo Y30 Standard Edition phone is driven by the Helio P35 chipset. The phone ships with 6 GB of LPPDR4x RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage. The handset is preinstalled with FunTouch OS UI 10.5 based Android 10 OS.

The Vivo Y30 Standard Edition has a 6.51-inch IPS LCD display with a waterdrop notch. The phone produces an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. According to Vivo, the Y30 Standard Edition delivers a screen-to-body ratio of 89 percent.

Vivo Y30 Standard Edition
Vivo Y30 Standard Edition

At the front, the Vivo Y30 Standard Edition has an 8-megapixel selfie camera. The backside of the device is fitted with a vertical camera setup that features a 13-megapixel primary shooter and a 2-megapixel depth assist lens.

The Vivo Y30 Standard Edition has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging. It has a side-facing fingerprint reader. It comes with connectivity options such as dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, microUSB, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It weighs 191.4 grams and measures 164.41 x 76.32 x 8.41mm. In terms of specs and design, it appears to be a modified version of the Vivo Y12s phone that went official in India last month.

Vivo Y30 Standard Edition pricing

The Vivo Y30 Standard Edition has arrived in China with a pricing of 1,398 Yuan. It comes in two colors such as Aurora and Cloud Water Blue.

 

OPPO A15s renders emerge to reveal color variants

A leaked promo pic of the OPPO A15s was spotted a few days back. Yesterday, another image appeared to reveal the pricing of the smartphone for India. These leaks suggest that the launch date of the A15s may not be far away. Ahead of the impending launch, 91mobiles has collaborated with tipster Ishan Agarwal to share the leaked renders of the OPPO A15s.

OPPO A15s renders

The leaked images that have surfaced recently only revealed the rear appearance of the OPPO A15s. However, the new leak reveals that it features a waterdrop notch display. The other image shared by the publication shows that it will be available in two color variants such as Dynamic White and Dynamic Black.

OPPO A15s renders

The previously seen images of the OPPO A15s had showcased its Rainbow Silver color variant. The A15s is a variant of the OPPO A15 phone that went official in October. It comes in Dynamic Black and Mystery Blue. The publication claims that the A15s may not be available in the Mystery Blue edition.

Recent reports have revealed that the OPPO A15s will be arriving in India with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage and it could be priced at Rs 11,490 (~$156). This indicates that the A15s will be positioned higher than the OPPO A15 that comes in two options such as 2 GB RAM + 32 GB storage for Rs 8,990 (~$122) and 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage that is priced at Rs 9,990 (~$135).

The OPPO A15s is expected to arrive with a 6.52-inch HD+ display. The rear side of the phone has a square-shaped camera housing that houses three cameras and an LED flash. A fingerprint scanner is also available on the backside of the device.

 

Samsung’s big announcement wasn’t the Exynos 2100 but a short film

Samsung teased that there would be an announcement this week which we thought was for the Exynos 2100 chipset but it turns out it was for a short animated film.

The 4-minute long animated video titled “Exynos: Thank You” reminds us of the Pixar animated movie, Up. The description for the video is a short letter from the Exynos Team that talks about how the year has been challenging for everyone including the Exynos team.

Dear fans,

Although 2020 will be remembered as a year full of challenges, both global and personal, it also gave people time to reflect and think about what is most important to our lives. In rediscovering these personal values, we’ve learned to cherish every precious moment we have with family and friends, and to believe in our inner strength and ability to tackle life’s challenges head-on.

The same goes for the #Exynos team. Now more than ever, we realize how important the support of our fans is towards going further. With a renewed confidence in the talent of our team, we have refocused our efforts to meet our fans’ expectations by developing a whole new #MobileProcessor.

To all of you, especially our fans that have waited patiently and supported us, we offer a heartfelt thank you. We hope this story will bring you a warm smile and that you have a happy holiday with family, friends, and loved ones.

#ThankYou again for all you have done for us. Stay tuned for more stories.

Sincerely,
The Exynos team

The second paragraph of the letter reproduced above says the team has refocused their efforts to the expectations of fans by “developing a whole new Mobile Processor”. While there is no specific mention of the name of this “whole new mobile processor”, we want to believe it is a teaser for the Exynos 2100.

There have been reports that the Exynos 2100 will be an exceptional chipset and it appears Samsung is taking its time before it officially unveils the new chipset which will power the Galaxy S21 series when it launches roughly a month from today.

 

The Galaxy S21 is coming in January with S Pen support, Samsung confirms

The race is on for the OEM that will be the first to launch a Snapdragon 888-powered flagship. Xiaomi had earlier hinted that it would be the first to launch a phone bearing the latest Qualcomm flagship chip. The race is apparently for the swift as Samsung has also hinted that it will announce the Galaxy S21 in January 2021. This has just been confirmed by TM Roh, the President and Head of Samsung’s mobile division.

The Samsung mobile division head wrote a blog post which among other things outlined with admiration what the company accomplished in 2020. He also rolled out the tech giant’s plans for next year. Apart from the Galaxy S21 launch date, the Samsung chief also confirmed that the device will come with S Pen support, something that is associated with the Note series in the past.

Find some important quotes from the post below:

“Thank you to everyone who supported us in 2020. I look forward to sharing more in January!” concludes the post, shortly after this promise: “We’ve also been paying attention to people’s favorite aspects of the Galaxy Note experience and are excited to add some of its most well-loved features to other devices in our lineup.”

While the S Pen support will be one of the features, it will most likely be limited to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Samsung may also extend it to the foldable Galaxy Z-series but that wasn’t stated.

Further, Roh disclosed that the company will expand its portfolio of foldable smartphones since the Note series will be rested. He hinted that foldables will become more accessible, which seems to affirm rumors that there will be four Galaxy Z foldable smartphones next year.Samsung galaxy S21 S Pen

“Be on the lookout for super-intelligent, pro-grade camera and video capabilities in 2021,” Roh added. There are rumors that the Galaxy S21 Ultra will use a next-generation 108 MP main sensor and will have up to 10x periscopic zoom capability.

“It’s going to be an epic new year,” says Roh.

You can read the full post from here.

UP NEXT: Exclusive: Xiaomi Mi 11 scheduled for December 29 launch

 

(via)

 

 

Battle for your wrist: Amazfit GTS 2 vs Amazfit GTS 2e vs Amazfit GTS 2 Mini

Huami announced two new smartwatches today, one of which is the Amazfit GTS 2e. This new smartwatch brings the models under the Amazfit GTS 2 series to three which is a lot considering last year’s GTS watch was only available in one model.

Amazfit GTS 2 vs Amazfit GTS 2e vs Amazfit GTS 2 Mini
Amazfit GTS 2 vs Amazfit GTS 2e vs Amazfit GTS 2 Mini

When the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini was announced, I wrote an opinion piece on why the smartwatch was a better purchase than the standard Amazfit GTS 2. Now that there is a third model now, we are sure our readers will want to know which of these three watches is worth purchasing. We hope this post makes it easier for you to choose from the lineup. First, let’s have a spec by spec and features comparison of the features of all three watches:

 Amazfit GTS 2Amazfit GTS 2eAmazfit GTS 2 Mini
Display and Resolution1.65-inch Super Retina AMOLED Display with 3D glass

34I PPI

1.65-inch Super Retina AMOLED Display with 2.5D glass

341 PPI
1.55 inch AMOED Display with 2.5D glass

301 PPI
MaterialAluminum Alloy with optical Diamond-like Carbon CoatingAluminum Alloy with Glass Vacuum CoatingAluminum Alloy
No. of supported sports modes909070
Built-in storage4GB (Global version = 3GB)NoNo
AI AssistantXiaoAI (Global version - Amazon Alexa)XiaoAIXiaoAI
MicrophoneYesYesYes
SpeakerYesNoNo
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.0

NFC

GPS

2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0 BLE

GPS

NFC
Bluetooth 5.0 BLE

GPS

NFC
Sensors and MotorsAccelerometer
Gyroscope
Geomagnetic sensor
Ambient Light Sensor


Linear motor
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Geomagnetic sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
Temperature Sensor

Linear motor
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Geomagnetic sensor
Ambient Light Sensor


Rotary motor
Other featuresHeart rate measurement
SpO2 measurement
Sleep tracking
Heart rate measurement
SpO2 measurement
Sleep tracking
Temperature measurement
Heart rate measurement
SpO2 measurement
Sleep tracking
Women's health management
Battery capacity and battery life246mAh


Typical usage - 7 days

Basic Watch mode - 20 days
246mAh


Typical usage - 14 days

Basic Watch mode - 24 days
220mAh


Typical usage - 14 days

Basic Watch mode - 21 days
Dimensions and weight42.8 x 35.6 x 9.7 mm

24.7 grams without the straps
42.8 x 35.6 x 9.85 mm

25 grams without the straps
40.5 x 35.8 x 8.95 mm

19.5 grams without the straps
ColorsObsidian Black, Dolphin Gray, and Streamer GoldObsidian Black, Dark Green, Roland PurpleObsidian Black, Rose Powder, and Deep Pine Green
Price¥999

$179.99

€169

£159
¥799¥699

The table clearly shows the differences between the three smartwatches which cuts across multiple areas including the display, features, and price. Below, we will focus on the major differences

Display and Materials

This is the part of the smartwatch users will interact with the most, so it will most likely be the dealbreaker or dealmaker for anyone who is considering any of the three watches.

The Amazfit GTS 2 and GTS 2e both have the same screen which is a 1.65-inch Super Retina Display. Where they differ is in the glass covering the screen – you get a 3D curved glass on the former while the latter has 2.5D glass. Apart from aesthetics, the screens are the same. So you can’t go wrong with either of them.

However, the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini has a smaller and less sharp AMOLED display. It is not bad but it won’t measure up to that of its siblings.

Coming to materials, Huami uses the same material for the case of all three watches which is commendable. It is aluminum alloy but the finish is different and that is one of what makes them different.

 

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi Watch hands-on: A solid Budget smartwatch with NFC

 

Sports Modes and Features

The Amazfit GTS 2 lineup supports a plethora of sports modes – 90 modes on the Amazfit GTS 2 and GTS 2e while the GTS 2 Mini has 70, which is more than sufficient if you ask me.

All three of the watches support the basics too such as heart rate measurement, blood oxygen level detection, and sleep tracking. The GTS 2e adds temperature measurement, a feature not available on the more expensive GTS 2 and the more affordable GTS 2 Mini. According to Huami, you can use the temperature sensor to measure ambient temperature and also the skin (surface) temperature of the wearer.

Amazfit GTS 2 vs Amazfit GTS 2e vs Amazfit GTS 2 Mini feature

The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini’s own unique feature is support for women’s health and it is surprising it is the only one of the three that has it. This will make it appeal more to women as the menstrual calendar along with reminders for periods and ovulation will surely come in handy.

The Amazfit GTS has its own unique features too, one of which is built-in storage that allows users to store their own songs on the watch. Another feature it has is support for Bluetooth calls, so you can pick calls on it and talk back as it has not only a microphone but a speaker too. It is also the only one that connects via Wi-Fi.

 

Amazfit GTS 2 vs Amazfit GTS 2e battery

Battery life

The Amazfit GTS 2 and Amazfit GTS 2e have the same battery capacity but the latter has better battery life. The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini which has a smaller battery but of course smaller screen also has a great battery life too that matches that of the Amazfit GTS 2e.

 

Price

The Amazfit GTS 2 is the most expensive of the three, and Huami may justify that with its sharper display, built-in storage, support for calls, and more premium finish. The Amazfit GTS 2e is more affordable while retaining most of the features of its sibling. It also has a significantly better battery life which is one of the cons of the Amazfit GTS 2.

The GTS 2 Mini is the most affordable of them all and that low price is due to the tradeoffs in the screen size and type, fewer sports modes, and motor type. Its battery life also matches that of the new Amazfit GTS 2e.

 

Conclusion

I already said there isn’t a compelling reason to get the Amazfit GTS 2 since there is the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini, and the launch of the Amazfit GTS 2e further reinforces that point. The GTS 2e packs the same display as the GTS 2, most of its features, and a way better battery life at just ¥100 more than the Mini model. All of these make the Amazfit GTS 2 a hard sell.

So if you want to pick up a model from the second-gen GTS series, the Amazfit GTS 2e or the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini are what we will consider first before the Amazfit GTS 2.

 

Ireland’s DPC imposes a €450,000 fine on Twitter over an early 2019 bug

Twitter has been slapped with a fine over a bug that made private tweets appear public. This marks the first-ever sanction against a cross-border firm after the new GDPR dispute resolution mechanism. What’s more surprising is that the bug had occurred in early 2019.

As Reuters reports, Ireland’s DPC(Data Protection Commission) has imposed a fine of 450,000 euros ($547,000) on Twitter. Besides, this is a result of a 2019 investigation according to which Twitter violates Article 33(1) and 33(5) of the GDPR. Precisely, some of the users’ private protected tweets became public due to an Android App bug.

This doesn’t go well with the DPC as GDPR law requires a company to notify the breach of privacy on time(within 72 hours) and document it properly(scope of vulnerable data, security measures, etc.,). However, Twitter has responded to this saying that it occurred due to an “unanticipated consequence of staffing between Christmas Day 2018 and New Years’ Day”.

For the unware, GDPR is Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation. Made in 2016, the new law is in force since May 2018. Its scope widens to the European Union and the European Economic Area. DPC, on the other hand, is a lead privacy supervisor for many tech giants including Apple, Twitter, Facebook, Google in the EU region.

The Irish watchdog already has a total of 20+ cases pending so far. Generally, it has the power to impose a fine up to 4% of a company’s global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher. Plus, the new sanction is the first against a US firm after the new Dispute resolution system as mentioned above.

Accordingly, it empowers a national regulator to make a decision before consulting with other regulators of the EU. Anyway, Twitter’s response to the final ruling also says that it is fully responsible for this mistake and remains fully committed to protecting the privacy and data of our customers.

GSMA announces MWC Shanghai 2021 as an in-person event

The 2020 edition of Mobile World Congress, shortly referred to as MWC, was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The organizers, GSMA even refunded the amount for attendees and companies. Moving forward, it recently rescheduled the MWC Barcelona event to June 2021 for better interests. Now, the organization announces that MWC Shanghai 2021 will return as a physical event.

Credit: GSMA

GSMA(formerly: GSM Association) in a press release(via PR Newswire) announced the details of the in-person event. For starters, MWC 2021 Shanghai, China, will take place between  February 23-25 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). The theme for MWC 2021 is Connected Impact. Besides, people who attend the 2021 edition will witness 5G, AI, IoT, smart home, and many such breakthrough technologies.

Some of the exhibiting companies at the event include China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, CICT, Ericsson, H3C, Huawei, Nokia Shanghai Bell, and ZTE. Out of the entire list of keynote and sessions speakers, some notable keynote speakers include:

  • Ken Hu, Rotating Chairman, Huawei
  • Yang Yuanqing, Chairman & CEO, Lenovo
  • Xu Ziyang, CEO, ZTE
  • Yang Jie, Chairman, China Mobile
  • Ke Ruiwen, Chairman, China Telecom

In addition to in-person events, MWC also says it will allow an online international audience from around the globe. The virtual experience will cover content, networking, and exhibition of the event.

That said, the event has four types of passes- Online Pass, Full Exhibition Pass, 5G Smartphone Conference Card, VIP Meeting Card. You can take a look at their pricing below:

  • Online Pass- 390 RMB($59.64)
  • Full Exhibition Pass- 690 RMB($105.5)
  • 5G Smartphone Conference Pass- 6,200 RMB($948)
  • VIP Pass- 6,300 RMB($963.39)*

*This is a discounted price. Original price is 9,000 RMB($1376)

In case you didn’t know, MWC is an annual trade show. It showcases new concepts and technologies from smartphones, networking companies, etc., every year. Coming back, as per the official press release, MWC 2019 witnessed about 500 exhibitors and 65,000 attendees from around the world.

However, it is hard to expect such an audience next year given the pandemic is easing out very slowly. Nevertheless, if you are interested in visiting the event, you can book the passes here-> MWC Shanghai 2021 Pass.

Realme’s official mascot known as Realmeow unveiled

Realme made an official announcement today but it isn’t for a smartphone or any other smart gadget. Instead, the company unveiled its first mascot known as Realmeow. The mascot is a reflection of the vision of the company and is said to be the brand’s so-called Chief Trend Officer.Realmeow

The Realmeow mascot is designed by famed animator Mark A. Walsh in conjunction with Realme’s design team. The designer is a regular when it comes to animation as he has worked on numerous animation films like Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc. Realme says the mascot is 18 years old showing that the company is trying to appeal to Gen-Z.

It comes in Realme’s typical yellow and sports stylish laser glasses. Realmeow, whose name sounds like a cat and has some physical attribute of one, loves to skate, dance to hip-hop, and listen to rap. It also aims to deliver Realme’s message to be more daring, original, and be a trendsetter.

Realme disclosed that Realmeow will be a regular on marketing materials and also be an integral part of the design of future products. Already a Realmeow exclusive gift bag has leaked continuing a Realme Buds Air Pro, Realme Smart Watch S, Realmeow Hand Bag, and a Realmeow face mask. Realmeow

Realme describes itself as an emerging mobile phone brand that is committed to offering mobile phones with powerful performance, stylish design, and sincere services. The company established in 2018 has continued to see a rise in its market share in several regions. From India where it was first established, the company has expanded to more markets in South-east Asia, Europe, and China. The brand is eying a further expansion into more markets driven by a powerful and innovative product regime.

UP NEXT: Poll of The Week: Have you received the Android 11 update?

 

 

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Honor Band 6 gets a massive discount, available for $59.99

Honor appears to be be marching along with the Xiaomi in terms of its fitness band products. To compete agaisnt the Xiaomi Band 5, Honor came up with a improved Band 6 fitness band carrying a large display and some smarrtwatch features. It is a hybrid band which lies in between fitness band and SmartWatch category availabel for the effective price of $56.99 from Gearbest.

honor band 6

Must See: Huawei Mate 40 preorders finally arrives months after announcement

The user gets additional $3 discount while paying via Paypal. The offer is valid for the first 1000 orders, so we suggest you to grab it as soon as possible. Honor Band 6 is available in three different colors of Black, White and Pink.

The device carries a 1.47-inch color display along with 2.5D Cirved Glass Design. It carries a fast magnetic suction charging and provides 10-14 days of battery standby upon full charge. It supports convinient blood oxygen monitoring which can accurately detech blood pressure. Moreover, the device comes with a support for 10 different professional sports and activities including riding, walking, swimming and others.

It is 5ATM waterproof which makes the fitness band more practical and useful. The smart band comes in three different color options of Meteorite black, Seagull grey and Coral pink.

It’s a limited time deal on Gearbest. Make sure to grab the maximum discount before the sale fades away.

Grab Now

See More: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 on a limited-time sale for $26.99 via Gearbest

Apple plans to amplify iPhone production by 30% in H1 2021: Report

Apple is planning to boost the iPhone production in 2021 according to a Nikkei report. The move comes at a time when it already faces shortages of several components for the iPhone 12 series.

According to the report, Apple is planning to make 96 million iPhones in H1 2021. That’s a 30% YoY increase which is reportedly due to the demand for its 5G devices. Apple brought the 5G connectivity to iPhones with the iPhone 12 series. Since then, there has been a good demand for the devices in Europe, China, and other Asian markets. In fact, it’s initial demand forecasted a two-week recovery period due to shortages of supplies.

Anyway, the report says Apple has directed suppliers to get ready for the target which also includes iPhone 11, and iPhone SE. Further, Apple is also planning to take it deep with a total of 230 million iPhone shipments next year. Recently, Apple got pushed to 4th place by Xiaomi in Global Smartphone Shipments.

Precisely, the company has so far shipped 116 million iPhones in 2020. Out of this, the majority of shipment is from the 5G devices according to the report. Either way, it has crawled back up with just a 1% YoY dip in shipments so far. And with the global smartphone market’s recovery far away in 2022, Apple has no choice but to crank it up a notch and do something.

However, Apple has a main concern to address in order to achieve the next year’s target. Although the report says Apple has enough stocks of processor, it has been increasingly facing shortages of components. A recent report on IC shortages for iPhone 12 Pro which could last till Q2 2021 gives more bad news.

That’s not all as the report says in spite of reallocated parts of the iPad to the iPhone 12 range, Apple is chasing for other components to meet demand. Experts also say that even though a positive atmosphere lies ahead in 2021, Apple won’t benefit from Huawei’s absence, unlike other companies. Either way, Apple’s target for 2021 is a 20% YoY increase from 2019.

Going into 2021, it already has healthy demands for iPhone 12Pro, 12 Pro Max but not-so-great want for iPhone 12 and 12 mini. Nevertheless, the iPhone 12s will allow Apple to take a chunk of total OLED shipments but experts feel that the next iPhones won’t have any excitement now that 5G is already here.