Realme X7 Pro global launch set to take place on December 17

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Dec 11, 2020

China-based AGM, which is well-known for making phones with rugged build has unveiled the AGM X5 smartphone in the home market. The AGM X5 has arrived as the world’s first 5G-ready ruggedized smartphone.

The AGM X5 comes with an armor-style shell structure and 6-sided protection to safeguard it from impacts. With IP68 certification, the X5 will work fine even if it is submerged in water with a maximum depth of up to 1.5 meters. The IP68 rating also makes it resistant to dust and dirt.

The AGM X5 is also equipped with the highest Ingress Protection rating of IP69K, which protects it from the high-pressure liquid. In addition, the smartphone comes with a military-grade MIL-STD-810G rating that guarantees a high level of durability. As far as build is concerned, the AGM X5 has a metallic frame with plastic protection and its rear shell is also made from metal manufactured using an injection mold process. The thickness of the device is 11.8mm and it weighs 274 grams.

AGM X5 specifications and features

The AGM X5 has a 6.5-inch LCD screen with a waterdrop notch that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is preinstalled with XOS 5.0 based Android 10 OS. The Chinese brand claims that the new OS offers 48 precent fluid experience than its previous generation and it has no ads.

Editor’s Pick: US FCC to take action against Huawei and China Telecom over Security concerns

For snapping selfies, the AGM X5 has a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The vertical camera setup on its rear comprises of a 48-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens, a macro lens with 4cm focal length, and an infrared background blur camera. It has a rear-facing fingerprint scanner, and it carries support for face unlock.

The AGM X5 draws power from the Unisoc T7510 5G-enabled chipset. The phone packs in an 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of built-in storage, a 5,600mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. On the connectivity front, it supports dual SIM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, USB-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

AGM X5 price and availability

The AGM X5 is priced at 3,699 Yuan (~$565) and it will go on sale in China from Dec. 12. The company is expected to release the smartphone in global markets in 2021.

Xiaomi declared as India’s No. 1 Brand by TRA Brand Trust Report 2020

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Dec 11, 2020

Earlier today (11th December 2020), Xiaomi received the title of being India’s No 1 brand by the TRA Brand Trust Report 2020. The company was declared the ‘Most Trusted Smartphone Brand’ and the second ‘Most Trusted Brand’ across all categories of products.

The TRA Brand Trust Report 2020 arrives as the tenth edition of its annual research that analyzes and cover over 8,000 unique brands amongst of consumers across 16 cities in India. As per the report, Mi India, Xiaomi’s Indian unit, “redefined consumer experience through its innovative products and robust quality. Delivering strong consumer connect with trust has largely contributed to the brand’s success in India.”

According to Manu Jain, Xiaomi India Managing Director, “Trust is built over a period of time and being a consumer first company, we have always believed in delighting our fans with unique products and delivering high levels of quality & customer satisfaction. Over the last six years, our endeavor has been to deliver products and services with latest technology with highest quality at honest price to consumers across India.” He further added that “As we expand our portfolio in the market, we will continue delivering products & experiences that delight and help strengthen the strong foundation of trust that we have built in the market.”

India has been one of the company’s key markets and since its entry into the country back in 2014, the company has since become one of the market leaders as well. For those unaware, TRA is a consumer insights and brand analytics company with its primary research revolving around consumer brands. This achievement also marks another milestone for Xiaomi and its operations in the Indian subcontinent.

Huawei to launch HarmonyOS-powered tablet along with P50 series phones next year

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Dec 11, 2020

Huawei has been severely impacted by the sanctions imposed by the United States. Despite facing major issues, the Chinese giant continues to advance its journey at its own pace, regularly launching new products.

Continuing the trend, Huawei is expected to launch its flagship P50 series smartphones early next year, as per the schedule. Now, a new report claims that along with the P50 series smartphones, the company will also launch a new tablet.

The highlight of the tablet is that it will be running the PadOS HongMeng operating system, which as the name indicates, has been designed especially for tablet devices. For those who are unaware, HongMeng is the Chinese name for Huawei’s own HarmonyOS.

The tablet in question is expected to come with a 12.9-inch OLED display, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and ultra-narrow bezels surrounding the screen. The body of the device, made up of metal, will be thin and light.

EDITOR’S PICK: Huawei ban will cost 5G “a lot more”, says Brazil Vice President

As for the processor, the device could come powered by the company’s own Kirin 9000 chipset — the same chipset that powers the Huawei Mate 40 lineup. The report mentions that the product will belong to the company’s MatePad lineup.

Ever since the United States cut-off Huawei’s access to Google’s Android operating system, the company boosted the development of its own operating system, which the company unveiled as HarmonyOS last year. Recently, it released HarmonyOS 2.0, which is expected to power upcoming smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices from the Chinese giant.

Report: Entire Galaxy S21 series will feature reinforced polycarbonate back panel

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Dec 11, 2020

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S21 series on January 14. The world’s largest smartphone maker has even opened blind pre-orders in India. The three devices in the series have leaked extensively in the past few days revealing almost everything about them. Now, a new report sheds some more information about these handsets’ build.

According to a South Korean YouTube channel called Super Roader (via LetsGoDigital), the entire Galaxy S21 lineup will come equipped with a reinforced polycarbonate back panel just like the Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy S20 FE.

Anyway, this is not the first time we are hearing about Samsung using a plastic back for the Galaxy S21 series. But the previous reports suggested that only the regular Galaxy S21 and Galaxy 21+ will feature this material. On the other hand, the new piece of information says that even the ultra-premium Galaxy S21 Ultra will come with a plastic rear panel.

The YouTuber(Johyun Lee) who shared this detail is an ex-Samsung employee and he has previously revealed some accurate details about unreleased products. Hence, if his new tip happens to be true, then Samsung will be ditching the glass back design for the Galaxy S series after six years since it was introduced in the Galaxy S6 series.

What are your thoughts on Samsung giving up on glass build for its flagship smartphones? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Xiaomi to double its R&D staff in Japan as Huawei struggles

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Dec 11, 2020

Xiaomi plans on doubling its number of engineers at its research and development center in Japan. The company seeks to expand its presence in the region as its rival Huawei struggles due to pressures from US sanctions.

The Chinese tech giant made the announcement earlier this week, marking a year after the company made an entry into the Japanese market. Furthermore, Xiaomi even plans to relocate to new offices in Japan to double its overall employee count in the region. At the moment, Xiaomi is the world’s fourth largest smartphone manufacturer, but it aims to surpass Apple and Huawei in terms of global output next year, as per a NikkeiAsia report.

Thus, the company is focusing on the Japanese market, which it believes has a potential for growth. It even plans to roll out more than 15 consumer electronic appliances and other gadgets in the country as well, which can be paired with smartphones in the arriving year. At the moment, Xiaomi has not disclosed the exact number of engineers that it employees. Notably, the Chinese competitor Huawei arrived in the Japanese market before Xiaomi, although, it is currently on uneven grounds as it struggles after the impacts of the US sanctions that have disrupted its supply chain.

Back in 2019, Huawei only held a 5 percent market share in Japan, which leaves a lot of space for other Chinese tech giants to capitalize on. Since it has arrived in Japan, Xiaomi has offered products like budget friendly handsets, rice cookers, and even air purifiers. It even launched its first 5G enabled handset in September 2020. As the company is expanding its production capacity, we can expect it to rival if not beat Huawei, which is in dire straits.

Apple patent application reveals a new wearable blood pressure device

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Dec 11, 2020

Apple has been actively improving health and fitness-related features for its devices, especially the wearable ones. In line with that, the tech giant has been granted a new patent related to a major blood pressure monitoring system.

Now, a new patent application from Apple, published by the US Patent & Trademark Office reveals a major shift in the company’s blood pressure system. It includes an all-new wearable device, which is separate from Apple Watch.

It seems that instead of a watch interface, the cuff comes with a control unit and the company confirms that the control unit can offer a user interface, including Watch-related functionalities. The product is aimed at estimating the blood pressure value of a patient.

The method covered in this patent includes receiving feature vector data corresponding to a pressure variation of the blood pressure cuff. The data is derived from one or more physiological signals of the patient measured over the pressure variation of the blood pressure cuff.

EDITOR’S PICK: United State’s FCC to take action against Huawei and China Telecom over Security concerns

A first blood pressure value is estimated using the first algorithm with feature vector data as input data. It is then configured to be an estimate of one of the systolic blood pressure of the patient, the diastolic blood pressure of the patient, and the mean arterial blood pressure of the patient.

It is noted that the algorithm is configured to estimate the first blood pressure value of the patient to account for differences between changes in the shape, and/or timing of the one or more physiological signals of the patient measured over the pressure variation of the blood pressure cuff.

Huawei ban will have 5G cost “a lot more”: Brazil Vice President

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Dec 11, 2020

The Brazilian Vice President, Hamilton Mourão, has spoken in support for Huawei, sparking a controversy. The official stated that the cost of 5G networking in the region will significantly rise if the Chinese tech giant is banned from providing its telecom equipment for the newer and faster bandwidth.

Earlier this week, the Vice President attended an industry event held by the São Paulo Trade Association where he revealed an estimate provided by the Brazilian telecommunications agency Anatel, which reported that gear from Huawei represents about 40 percent of the 3G and 4G infrastructure in the country. So, Mourão issued a warning that outright banning the company will have various additional costs, as per a ZDNet report.

Mourão stated that, “If Huawei can’t supply the [5G] equipment, the cost will be a lot higher.” He further added that an infrastructure review will incur additional costs that would have to relayed to the consumers as well. The Vice President even went on to talk about the Brazil 5G auction that was set to take place in March 2020, but has since been postponed to 2021. Mourão noted that any company that “demonstrate respect to [Brazil’s] sovereignty, privacy and cost efficiency” will be able to carry out operations in the nation.

However, increasing pressures from the US and the Trump administration to ban the Chinese tech giant last year, after the US President met the Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro. The Vice President believes that Brazil “can’t miss out on the 5G opportunity” and that the government should not interfere with Chinese company’s activities as long as the firm creates local jobs and complies with the local laws.

US FCC to take action against Huawei and China Telecom over Security concerns

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Dec 11, 2020

The US Federal Communications Commission is moving against Chinese companies, Huawei Technologies and China Telecom. The news arrives after a series of ruling over national security ruled in favor against both companies, which allegedly have ties to the Chinese government.

In the voting, the FCC voted 5-0 and ordered telecommunications operators to remove Huawei made equipment from their systems. Similarly, the agency also asked whether to end China Telecom’s permission to operate in the US, as per a Bloomberg report. Both Huawei and China Telecom that have a very small percentage of revenue from the US have yet to respond to this matter at the moment.

According to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, “Security agencies contend the company hasn’t complied with cybersecurity and privacy laws, and provides opportunities for Chinese state-sponsored economic espionage and disruption of U.S. communications traffic.” He further added that, “the company is owned by the Chinese government.” Back in 2019, the FCC had also barred the use of US subsidies to purchase telecom equipment from Huawei and ZTE. This decision was made over security risk, which both companies have denied.

Now, the unanimous vote in the FCC will have the agency establish a list of banned equipment, and will even setup a fund to reimburse carriers for replacing these scrutinized gear. This will start once Congress presents an estimated 1.6 billion US Dollars. As per FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, “The record on this is clear. The Chinese government intends to surveil persons within our borders, for government security, for spying advantage, as well as for intellectual property and an industrial or business edge.”

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 users are complaining about screen protector bubbling

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Dec 11, 2020

When Samsung first introduced its first foldable smartphone — Galaxy Fold, the company had to recall the units and delay the launch after learning about issues related to the display. The company made some changes and relaunched the device.

Later, when the South Korean giant launched the Galaxy Z Fold 2, it further improved the mechanism and the built-in screen protector was tucked inside the bezels so that the users won’t accidentally remove it.

The company is offering an extra protective layer on top of the display, which can be removed by the users if they want. But many users decided to keep it given that the company recommends visiting the Samsung Store for safe removal.

But now, some of the users of Galaxy Z Fold 2 are complaining on Reddit and other forums (via SamMobile) about the foldable smartphone‘s protector layer bubbling up around the crease. While the reason behind this issue is not known, it’s safe to assume that the issue is likely related to the fold/unfold mechanism.

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi K40 to reportedly launch later this month while the Redmi K40 Pro coming in Q1 2021

For the bubbling effect, there needs to be a gap for the air to seep through between the display and the protective layer from somewhere. It’s possible that numerous fold and unfold actions could have lead to a gap, allowing air to pass through.

To solve the issue, the user can simply remove the protective layer from the top as the issue isn’t related to the screen itself or hardware. There are also several options available as a replacement for the protective film.

Samsung Galaxy M12 Geekbench listing reveals Exynos 850 and Android 11

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Dec 11, 2020

Samsung is reportedly working on the launch of the Galaxy M12. The live shots of the rear shell of the phone had appeared last months. Next came the CAD renders of the Galaxy M12 that revealed its front and rear design. The phone has also been spotted at certification platforms such as Bluetooth SIG, Wi-Fi Alliance, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Galaxy M12 has today appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform (via) with its SM-M127F model number.

On Geekbench 5, the Galaxy M12 has scored 178 in the single-core test and 1025 in the multi-core test. The smartphone is fueled by the Exynos 850 chipset and 3 GB of RAM. The handset is loaded with Android 11 OS.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G spotted running Android 11; will it be One UI 3.0 or 3.1?

While the BIS listing did not reveal any specs, it served as a good hint that the Galaxy M12 will be launching in India in the near future. The Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG listings revealed support for 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Android 11 OS, and Bluetooth 5.0. There is a possibility that the phone may get rebranded as Galaxy F12 in some regions.

The CAD renders of the Galaxy M12 revealed that it will be sporting an Infinity-V notch display. It is said to be equipped with an LCD panel of 6.5 inches. The handset measures 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm. The rear side of the phone has four cameras arranged in a square-shaped module.

The renders also show that the Galaxy M12 has a side-facing fingerprint sensor. A loudspeaker, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack are placed on the bottom edge of the smartphone. It remains to be seen whether the M12 goes official before the end of this year.

Apple iPad launching in Spring 2021 to feature bigger display and better chipset

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Dec 11, 2020

A few months ago, Apple unveiled its newly refreshed lineup of iPad tablets in the market, including the eight-generation iPad and the new iPad Air. Now, reports about the next-gen iPad have started surfacing online.

In the latest report, it is being said that the entry-level iPad from Apple, will be getting a few major changes next year. The ninth-generation model will reportedly come with a bigger 10.5-inch display.

Apple iPad 10.2 (2020) — Apple iPad 8th Generation

Further, it is said that the device will be powered by the Apple A13 chipset, which is not surprising as the company usually updates the chipset model with the launch of a new iPad model in the market.

In terms of design, the upcoming iPad, which is expected to launch in Spring 2021, will continue to have the same design as the current model. However, the device could become a bit thinner and lighter.

EDITOR’S PICK: OPPO Reno5 5G and Reno5 Pro 5G launched in China with Snapdragon and MediaTek processors respectively

It will continue to come with a Home button and Touch ID sensor embedded into it for added protection, despite other models supporting Face ID. Also, the company will keep using Lightning connectors and won’t be adopting a USB Type-C port.

The report says that the upcoming ninth-generation iPad could have a starting storage capacity of 64GB instead of 32GB. It also claims that the pricing could lower with the new version, starting at $299. We expect to know more about the device in the coming weeks or months, as the launch nears.

After Qualcomm, Honor is now close to getting chipsets from MediaTek

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Dec 11, 2020

It’s been just a few weeks since Huawei announced selling off the Honor brand and the newly formed entity is already in the process of getting new suppliers for its devices. In line with that, it was recently confirmed that Honor and Qualcomm are in advanced talks to reach a deal for supplying chipsets.

Now, MediaTek, another leading smartphone processor maker, has confirmed that it is in the process of determining and evaluating legal affairs related to the restrictions imposed by the United States on Huawei. If everything works out in its favor, then the company will be able to supply chipsets to Honor.

The development comes at a time when it is important for the Honor brand to establish new supply chain relations with other companies to restart its smartphone production, given that Huawei is now out of the picture.

It is being reported that the company will complete signing new labor contracts for its personnel by the end of this month. So, the new Honor is all set to enter the market in January 2021 and is expected to launch new V40-series smartphones.

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi GM speaks on the future of in-display fingerprint, faster-charging technology, and more

The upcoming Honor V-series will be powered by the MediaTek chipset, however, it is said that the company will be using the chips that it already has in stocks and won’t be getting a new lot from the Taiwanese company.

Honor is expected to resume operations in China with full force given that the company’s CEO Zhao Ming recently communicated with all the employees that the aim is for the brand to become a leading smartphone company in China, overtaking Huawei.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm has been issued a license by the United States government to continue doing business with Huawei for several categories of products, including 4G, computing, and Wi-Fi. However, the company says that it is still trying to obtain a license for the other set of products.

Huawei Nova 8, 8 Pro, Enjoy 20 SE, Watch Fit likely to debut on December 23 in China

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Dec 11, 2020

Recently, a Chinese tipster known for Huawei leaks had claimed that Huawei will announce the Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro smartphones in China on Dec. 23. Today, another well-known leakster from China posted on Weibo that Huawei will not only launch Nova 8 series smartphones but also other products on the said date.

In November, Huawei unveiled the Huawei Nova 8 SE in Dimensity 720 and Dimensity 800U chipset variants. It is unclear which chipsets will be powering the Nova 8 and 8 Pro smartphones. The new leak reveals that the company will also take off covers from the Huawei Enjoy 20 SE smartphone and the Huawei Watch Fit.

Editor’s Pick: The Huawei MateStation B515’s monitor can now be purchased separately

The Huawei Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro are speculated to sport a dual punch-hole display design. Both phones are expected to sport high refresh rates. The vanilla model may feature a flat-screen, whereas the display of the Pro model may have curved edges. There is a possibility that the Nova 8 Pro could be driven by Kirin 9000 flagship chipset. These phones arrive with respective starting prices of 3,000 Yuan (~$459) and 4,000 Yuan (~$611).

Nothing much is known about the Huawei Enjoy 20 SE smartphone. The moniker suggests that it will be positioned lower than the Dimensity 720 powered Enjoy 20 5G.

While the company launched the Huawei Watch Fit globally in September, it is yet to be land in the home market. Hence, it appears that the same Watch Fit may land in China on Dec. 23 along with other products. The key features of the Watch Fit include a 1.54-inch AMOLED display, 10-day battery life, and 12 kinds of workout modes. The Watch Fit bears resemblance to the Honor Watch ES, but the major difference between the two is that the Huawei model has built-in GPS.

Redmi K40 to reportedly launch this month; K40 Pro coming in Q1 2021

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Dec 11, 2020

Xiaomi has reportedly been working on launching its flagship smartphone dubbed Mi 11, powered by the newly launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, later this month in China. At the same time, it’s sub-brand Redmi is also working on its flagship smartphone.

Now, a new report coming from China indicates that the launch of Redmi K40, the brand’s upcoming flagship smartphone, should happen quite soon. In fact, it is expected to go official by the end of this month, just like the Mi 11.

Redmi K40 Pro display design leak — Redmi K40 Pro Display Design Leak

It has been confirmed that the upgraded variant of the same, dubbed Redmi K40 Pro, will be launched in the first quarter of 2021. The Pro variant is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, given that Lu Weibing had said that the company will be among the firsts to launch an SD888-powered smartphone.

On the other hand, the Redmi K40 is rumored to come powered by the unannounced Qualcomm Snapdragon 700-series chipset. In that case, even though the phone will be announced this month, it will go on sale in 2021.

EDITOR’S PICK: OPPO Reno5 5G and Reno5 Pro 5G launched in China with Snapdragon and MediaTek processors respectively

It seems that the company is following the launch schedule similar to the Redmi K30 and K30 Pro of last year. Redmi had launched its K30 smartphone in December 2019 and then launched the K30 Pro powered by SD865 SoC in early 2020.

As per the recent reports, the Redmi K40 lineup is expected to ditch the pop-up front-facing camera mechanism and will instead come with a punch-hole cutout on top of the display that is expected to have an OLED screen and 120Hz refresh rate support.

Redmi 9 Power to go on sale through Amazon

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Dec 11, 2020

It was officially confirmed yesterday that the Redmi 9 Power will be announced on Dec. 17. Soon after the confirmation, a leak appeared to reveal the configurations of the rear cameras of the smartphone. A microsite for the Redmi 9 Power is now active on Amazon India. This indicates that the phone will be available for purchase through the retailer site after its announcement.

The Redmi 9 Power will debut at 12 PM IST on Dec. 17. There is a “Notify Me” button on the microsite, which users can click to stay updated on its arrival. It is speculated that the Redmi 9 Power will be a slightly modified version of the Redmi Note 9 4G that went official in China last month.

It may arrive with a starting price of Rs 10,999 (~$149) or Rs 11,999 (~$163) in India. It is expected to arrive in variants like 4 GB RAM + 64 GB and 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and it could be available in colors like blue, black, and green.

Editor’s Pick: Redmi GM speaks on the future of in-display fingerprint, faster charging tech, and more

Redmi 9 Power specifications (Rumored)

The Redmi 9 Power has a 6.53-inch IPS LCD panel with a waterdrop notch. The phone supports a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The Snapdragon 662 mobile platform is present under the hood of the device. It may house an 18W fast charging enabled 6,000mAh battery.

For capturing selfies, it may possess a front camera of 8-megapixel. The rear camera setup of the phone may comprise of a 48-megapixel primary shooter, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 2-megpaixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. It may come with MIUI Based Android 10 OS and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Upcoming Red Magic Snapdragon 888 phone leak reveals color changing rear

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