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BOE reportedly starts supplying OLED panels to Apple for iPhone 12 series

China-based display maker BOE has been trying to become a supplier of OLED panels to Apple for the iPhone 12 models for many months now but wasn’t able to secure orders from the Cupertino-based giant.

However, it seems that the company has finally managed to supply OLED screens for the iPhone 12 series to Apple. As per the reports, the Chinese company supplied the first batch of screens to Apple last week.

EDITOR’S PICK: Black Shark announces new mobile accessories including 30W charger, shoulder triggers, and charging cables

The development comes just days after it was revealed that BOE had finally passed Apple’s certification for supplying screens. It is not yet confirmed how many panels will be supplied by BOE to Apple for the iPhone 12 lineup but in the first batch, it reportedly sent 10,000 units of the 6.1-inch screen.

A recent report had stated that Samsung still remains the top choice for Apple when it comes to iPhone 12 screen. As a result, the South Korean company is expected to ship around 140 million OLED panels for iPhone in 2021, followed by LG Display which is expected to ship 30 million panels. Lastly, BOE is expected to ship 10 million OLED panels.

Earlier, it was reported that the BOE, which is already a display supplier for MacBook and iPad, will be supplying OLED screens for the new iPhones as Apple tries to reduce its dependence on Samsung. But the Chinese firm wasn’t able to meet Apple’s standard but after working on it for a few more months, it seems that the issues have been resolved and BOE is now a supplier for Apple iPhone 12 display panels.

 

Lenovo exec teases a mysterious Motorola phone in China

Last Friday, Chen Jin who is Lenovo China’s General Manager mobile phone business department shared a retail package of an unknown Motorola phone through Weibo. The Weibo post suggests that a couple of Motorola phones could be landing soon in China.

Lenovo sold only two Motorola phones such as Moto G7 Plus and Motorola P50 in China last year. However, the home market was treated with several Lenovo phones. This year, except for selling the Motorola Razr (2019) and Razr 5G phones, it did not launch any other Motorola branded phones in the home market. Also, very few Lenovo phones including the Lenovo Legion Pro were released in China.

In an interview last month, Jin said that the company adopted a new strategy for selling Lenovo and Motorola branded phones in China. Lenovo’s Lemon-named phones will be used to sell low budget phones. The company has already launched a couple of Lemon K12 series smartphones in China earlier this month.

Upcoming Motorola phone teased

The Legion brand will have performance-driven phones like the Legion Pro (aka Legion Duel in global markets). As far as Motorola branding is concerned, it will include mid-to-high smartphones. Hence, the teaser shared by Jin suggests that the company could be gearing up to launch a new mid-range or a high-end Motorola smartphone in China. Probably, the mysterious phone may go official as early as next month.

Motorola has launched a couple of 5G-ready phones such as Moto G 5G, Moto G 5G Plus, and so on in global markets recently. Probably, some of these phones could be landing in China soon. Motorola is expected to announce a Snapdragon 800-series Moto G phone soon. Also, it plans to launch a flagship phone powered by the Snapdragon 888 in 2021. The final product names of these high-end phones are under wraps.

 

Xiaomi AIoT AX3600 Wi-Fi 6 router gets price cut ahead of the launch of Enhanced Version

Earlier this year, Xiaomi announced its first Wi-Fi 6 router, dubbed Xiaomi AIoT AX3600, along with the Mi 10 series flagship smartphones. Soon after the announcement, the device went on sale in China for 599 yuan, which is about $92.

Now, keeping up with the launch schedule, the company is gearing up to launch a new router along with the upcoming Mi 11 lineup, which is expected to be an Enhanced Version of the current AX3600. Ahead of the launch of this new router, the current device has received a price cut in China.

Xiaomi Mi AIoT Router AX3600 (WiFi 6)

It has been confirmed through a listing on JD.com that the Xiaomi AIoT AX3600 will be available for purchase in China for 499 yuan (approximately $76) from 1st January.

As for the upcoming Enhanced Version, the company’s executive has revealed that it will have twice the bandwidth support and transmission information density has been increased by 20 percent, along with offering 2.1 times faster network speed.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi has begun MIUI 12.5 closed beta registrations for 21 smartphone models

To remind you of the details of the Mi AIoT Router AX3600, it is a flagship product in this category from Xiaomi. It is powered by Qualcomm’s IPQ8071A chipset that has four Cortex-A53 cores and is clocked at 1.0GHz. The chipset on the device is paired with 512MB of RAM and 256MB of internal storage.

Xiaomi says that up to 248 devices can be connected to the router. The router comes with 7 high-gain antennas where one of the antennas is an IoT device antenna, two are 2.4GHz antennas and the remaining five are 5GHz antennas. It supports OFDMA technology (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) which allows it to send data to multiple terminal devices using only one transmission.

The Mi AIoT Router AX3600 works with the Mijia app and it automatically detects IoT devices from the surroundings, allowing users to set up via one-click configuration. It can also be controlled through a dedicated WiFi App which has been updated with new features such as real-time notification when a device connects or disconnects from the network.

 

Xiaomi has begun MIUI 12.5 closed beta registrations for 21 models

Xiaomi will be launching the Xiaomi Mi 11 later today at 7:30 PM (local time) in China. The same event will be also used to announce the MIUI 12.5. It will be announced as an updated version of the MIUI 12 that went official in China back in April. Starting from today, the company has commenced the MIUI 12.5 closed beta registrations.

The MIUI 12.5 closed beta is now available for 21 models through the “Early Access” registration process. Users in China who wish to try the MIUI 12.5 need to follow MIUI’s WeChat official account and hit “Early Access” to participate in the registration. After submitting the application, it will be reviewed and the closed beta MIUI 12.5 will be available for installation.

MIUI 12.5 closed beta

The 21 models that are eligible to receive the MIUI 12.5 include Xiaomi Mi 10, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra, Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition, Redmi K30, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi K30 Pro 5G, Redmi K30i 5Gv, Redmi K30S Ultra, Redmi K30 Ultra, Xiaomi Mi 9, Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, Xiaomi Mi CC9e, Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro, Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi 10X 5G, Redmi 10X Pro 5G, Redmi Note 9 5G, Redmi Note 7, and Redmi Note 7 Pro.

The latest video from Gizmochina:

Devices such as Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5Ght, Xiaomi Mi CC9, Xiaomi Mi CC9 Meitu Custom Edition, Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 8, and Redmi Note 8 Pro are not included in the first batch that is eligible for the MIUI 12.5 closed beta.

Reports have revealed that MIUI 12.5 will bring several improvements such as better privacy protection, cleaner UI, new animations, and more. Last week, the Xiaomi MIUI Turkey had confirmed that it will be releasing the final and stable version of the MIUI 12.5 in late February in the home market.

 

LG Styler clothes steamer & sanitizer goes official in India

Korean tech giant LG has launched the LG Styler clothes steamer & sanitizer in India. The device offers deep-penetrating steam which not only keeps your cloth clean and virtually wrinkle-free thus maximizing the appearance of your clothing and other special-care items.LG Styler clothes steamer & sanitizer

The LG Styler sanitizes the fabrics in your home and reduces allergens in clothes, bedding, sportswear, even your children’s plush toys – by up to 99% with its asthma and allergy-friendly CERTIFIED sanitizer. From clothing to pillows, this gentle steam system does it all – from getting wrinkles out of dress pants to fast drying for delicates like sweaters and lingerie (without the shrinking and damage from traditional high heat drying).

The Styler also boasts an odor-reducing feature and gentle dry with pants crease care setting, making it an ideal companion to your washer and dryer set.LG Styler clothes steamer & sanitizer

The LG Styler features a crisp white finish that’s designed to blend seamlessly with your washer and dryer – for a laundry room that’s both fashionable and functional. All you need do is to plug the steam closet into a standard outlet and simply fill the water container to start your refresh.LG Styler clothes steamer & sanitizer

The smart dryer can also be controlled via the SmartThinQ app right from your smartphone. It offers cycle times as fast as 20 minutes – perfect for a quick refresh.LG Styler clothes steamer & sanitizer

The LG Styler is available for purchase in LG online and offline stores for a price of Rs. 160,000 (~$2175).

Commenting on the launch, Vijay Babu, VP – Home Appliances, LG Electronics India said:

“We have been launching Health & Hygiene range of Home Appliances, LG Styler is an extension of same. In the current scenario, consumers are concerned about hygiene & looking for solutions that enhance the same. We are extremely confident that LG Styler will be well received by the Indian consumers. With a sleek design and highly effective performance, the elegant LG Styler takes in-home clothing care to the next level”.

UP NEXT: New users of Apple Watch and HomePod are facing iCloud Activation issues

 

ICYMI: A roundup of last week’s major news and announcements

If you missed out on the major announcements and happenings from the mobile industry, then this post should bring you up to speed.

An Apple on Wheels

Apple is entering into the automobile industry and we should see the first car from the tech giant as early as 2024. It has also been reported that Apple’s car will use a new battery technology that is cheaper and has increased mileage compared to the competition.

Xiaomi Mi 10i India Launch Teaser January 5 2021

Aye! One more Mi 10

The Mi 10 series is pretty large already with more than five members already but Xiaomi is not done yet as it plans to launch a new phone called the Mi 10i in India on January 5.

Saved by the drone

A woman’s life was saved by a university professor who was out flying his drone. The man had spotted the woman, who is believed to have been knocked out by a wave, laying on the beach thanks to the keen eye of his drone’s camera.

Realme Koi phone

Realme wants to put a Koi in your hands next year

Realme has announced that its first Snapdragon 888 flagship phone for 2021 will launch as the Realme Koi. It will be nice if the phone has a special Koi fish wallpaper at the least or even a Koi-themed case that adds a bit of style.

Nokia – Cooling People

Nokia is no longer the brand associated with just phones. You can now purchase a Nokia smart TV, a Nokia streaming box, and a Nokia laptop. Now, a Nokia-branded air conditioner has hit the market in India.

OnemorePlus Watch coming early next year

The OnePlus Watch has been in development for a few years. It was expected to launch this year but the Chinese company changed its plans, not that it officially announced a launch date though. Nevertheless, an official statement by the CEO has said we should have the OnePlus Watch in our hands on our wrists early next year.

Huawei Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro launched

Huawei unveils the Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro

Huawei announced two new smartphones in the Nova series. The Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro are powered by the Kirin 985, have super-fast charging, high refresh rates, and 64MP quad rear cameras.

Meizu’s Lipro is a new brand of smart home products

Meizu has been taking things a bit slow lately, slower than a lot of its fans may like. Come next year, the Chinese manufacturer plans to announce a new brand called Lipro solely for smart home products. The announcement is scheduled for January 5.

 

Samsung expected to ship less than 300 million phones for the first time in 9 years

A recent report emanating from South Korea hints that global tech powerhouse, Samsung, may be unable to the 300 million thresholds for sales of its varied phone products this year, after 9 straight years of consistently massive sales globally. According to the South Korean report, it is estimated that the manufacturer will likely achieve about 270 million phones shipped out this year.Samsung

Although the report (via) did not highlight the possible causes for this massive decline in exports, the ravaging coronavirus pandemic tagged COVID-19 may have contributed substantially to its inability to meet its 9-year record.

At the end of the third quarter of 2020, Samsung confirmed that it had exported about 189 million units, which is still an appreciable figure when this year is put in perspective, due to the pandemic and other factors that significantly altered its forecasts.

According to recent updates by the South Korean tech giant, it has set a goal of eclipsing 307 million units in 2021 by expanding its mid-range and low-end 5G smartphone lineup and promoting the ever-widening segment of foldable models.

Of the projected 307 million units slated for 2021, about 287 million units, that is, about 93%, are going to be smartphones, while the remaining 7% (about 20 million units) would likely be from its feature phones stable. It is also expected that, of these 287 million projected exports of Samsung smartphones, 50 million are likely going to be flagship models.

Recently, Samsung has been making some decent inroads into the European market with a high possibility of nicking a few 5G supply contracts with some European mobile telecom operators. This was in addition to its successes in the American market, even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

UP NEXT: New users of Apple Watch and HomePod are facing iCloud Activation issues

 

Key specs of Huawei’s first Kirin-powered laptop leak

A recent leak has highlighted the features and specs of Huawei‘s latest flagship laptop, powered by its own Kirin chip.

Recently, reports emanating from the Chinese company, which is a global trailblazer in pioneering 5G technology, says the company is presently working on the possible release of several personal computers that are powered by Huawei‘s custom-made silicon chip, called the HiSilicon ARM chip.

Huawei MateBook X 2020 Frost Silver
Frost Silver

This new leak however provides enough details about the forthcoming laptop coming from the company. However, it should be pointed out straight away that the leak was not from official sources of the company.

A photo of the notebook’s shipping box was released by a long-standing and reliable Weibo tipster, which revealed important specs of the soon to be released laptop.
We now present a sneak peek into the listed specs of the notebook. The device is powered by the impressive and powerful Kirin 990 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch 1080p display, well primed from excellent visuals and speed operations. The laptop has the Linux-based Deepin OS 20 operating system, and the transition to HarmonyOS will be a possibility in the nearest future.Huawei laptop

The laptop itself has been named the Qingyun L410 and projections put its price far cheaper than the MateBook 14, even though they both come with similar specs and features. There’s also the exciting possibility of the laptop supporting 5G connectivity since its SoC has incorporated an integrated 5G modem. This 5G capability is one feature that could stand the device out and enhance Huawei’s reputation as a trailblazer in pioneering next-generation communications technology.

As should be expected, the notebook will most certainly berth in the Chinese market first before being released to the global market- that is if there were plans for the device to be released to the global market. Huawei is yet to release an official statement on the matter at this time.

UP NEXT: Next Week in Tech: Xiaomi Mi 11 and Vivo X60 series will debut new processors

 

(source)

 

Poll of The Week: Do you use a game controller or touch controls for mobile gaming?

Mobile gaming has become a lot more popular over the years. It doesn’t matter if you are into multiplayer battle royal games such as PUBG, Fortnite, and Call of Duty: Mobile; role-playing games such as Genshin Impact; or racing games like Asphalt or Mario Kart Tour, there is probably a mobile game you enjoy.

GAMEPAD Android gaming

With the advent of these games, mobile gaming accessories have also become popular. You can purchase a variety of controllers that can be attached to your phone to improve your gaming experience.

For our poll this week, we want to know if you use a game controller while playing or touch controls a.k.a on-screen controls or even a combination of both. So please take the poll and also post a comment telling us the type of controller you use if you use one.

[yop_poll id=”65″]

 

Zeaplus Studio Wireless headphones with Active Noise-Cancelling available for $39

It’s the right time to give yourself a treat of wireless headphones as there are massive discounts on most of the audio devices and peripherals. Similarly, Zeaplus Studio wireless ANC headphones offering exciting features is available at a competitive price of $39.90. It offers high-quality audio along with the active noise cancellation feature.

Must See: Grab Zeaplus Earbuds with ANC at just $19.99 for the Black Friday Sale

Zeaplus Studio wireless headphones offer rotatable joints and an extended headband for comfortable wear. It features an ergonomic design and houses memory foam cushions to further improve the hearing experience. The headphone offers seamless connectivity with Bluetooth 5.0.

The users can enjoy flawless music and noiseless calls without worrying. It is quite easy to control the wireless headphones primarily using MFB button.

Zeaplus Studio wireless headphones carry 500 mAh battery which provides 20 hours of battery backup. However, the wired connection with ANC mode extends the battery standby time to 40 hours.

Zeaplus Studio

The headphones measure  7.19 x 2.92 x 9.95 inches in size and weigh 265 grams. It is available only in black colour. Zeaplus Stereo wireless headphones are retailing for the price of $39.90. However, you can enjoy $10 discount using coupon code ZS10ANC if you grab it before December 31.

Grab Now

Related: Get $20 Off on Zeaplus Buds with Active Noise Cancellation

Huawei Mate 40E spotted on Wireless Power Consortium; a Mate 40 with a Kirin 990E chipset

The Mate 40 series was announced a few months ago. The series includes the Mate 40, the Mate 40 Pro, the Mate 40 Pro+, and the Mate 40 RS Porsche Edition. Alongside these phones, Huawei also announced a fifth Mate phone – the Mate 30E Pro 5G. However, it appears there is another Mate 40 phone in the pipeline, one that will arrive as the Mate 40E.

Huawei Mate 40E
Huawei Mate 40E

This new device was spotted in the database of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). The device which has model number OCE-AN00, (close to that of the Mate 40 which is OCE-AN10) was registered on December 9. The included image shows a device that looks like the standard Mate 40.

The phone packs a curved display with a hole in the top left corner of the screen for a single camera. The power button, which is red, is on the right side of the phone alongside the volume control button. On the back of the phone is a cookie-shaped camera housing that is home to four holes but three cameras. You can also see the Leica branding and an LED flash in the housing too. The Huawei Mate 40 has an audio jack and infrared sensor at the top while the bottom is home to the SIM tray, USB-C port, and a speaker grille.

Huawei Mate 40E

TENAA already certified a Huawei phone with the OCE-AN00 model number. It has a 6.5-inch OLED screen with a 2376 x 1080 resolution. Unlike the standard Mate 40 which has a Kirin 9000E processor with a clock speed of 3.13GHz, the Mate 40E has a 2.86GHz processor. Our guess is that this might be the Kirin 990E 5G or Kirin 990 5G chipset. Since the Mate 40E has an “E” in its name, it is most likely powered by the Kirin 990E 5G.

EDITOR’S PICK: HUAWEI Enjoy 20 SE launched in China with Kirin 710A, 22.5W fast charging, and more

The phone will come in 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB RAM variants with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. The primary camera is a 50MP sensor and it comes with a 16MP sensor and an 8MP sensor which should be the ultrawide and telephoto cameras respectively. The selfie camera is a 13MP sensor.

The Mate 40E, when it launches will have support for storage expansion, an in-display fingerprint scanner, a 4100mAh battery, and run Android 10 out of the box. We do not know when the phone will be unveiled but as we can see from the specs, the Mate 40E is just a Mate 40 with a Kirin 990E 5G or Kirin 990 5G chipset, which means it should sell for less when it is announced.

Huawei most likely made this model due to its chip production issues. The Kirin 9000 series is in limited supply, so it is practically launching a Mate 40 phone with a last-gen processor.

 

Realme 7 5G vs Redmi Note 9 5G vs OPPO A73 5G: Specs Comparison

Do you need a phone supporting the 5G connectivity but you have a very limited budget? At the moment, you have a very high amount of choices, especially if you are from China. That is why we decided to publish a comparison between the latest affordable 5G phones. In this comparison, you will see three phones available in Asia, two of which already hitten the shelves in Europe as well. We are talking about Realme 7 5G and OPPO A73 5G, both available worldwide. Given its high value for money, we also included the Redmi Note 9 5G which is only sold in the Chinese market for now, but it will surely debut in other regions soon.

 

Realme 7 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs OPPO A73 5G

Realme 7 5G Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G OPPO A73 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 162.2 x 75.1 x 9.1 mm, 195 grams 162 x 77.3 x 9.2 mm, 199 grams 162.2 x 75 x 7.9 mm, 177 grams
DISPLAY  6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 405 ppi, 20:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD
PROCESSOR Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz Mediatek Dimensity 720, octa-core 2 GHz
MEMORY  6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD dedicated slot 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE  Android 10, Realme UI Android 10, MIUI Android 10, ColorOS
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS
CAMERA  Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.3 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
16 MP f/2.1 front camera
 Triple 48 + 8 + 2 MP  f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4
13 MP f/2.3 front camera
Triple 16 + 8 + 2 MP f/2.2, f/2.2 and f/2.4
8 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY 5000 mAh, fast charging 30W  5000 mAh
Fast charging 18W
4040 mAh, Fast charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

With Realme 7 5G, Redmi Note 9 5G, and OPPO A73 5G you do not get premium designs, unfortunately. All the phones are built with a plastic body, so you do not get premium materials. If you want the best build quality, then you should go for the Redmi Note 9 5G which boasts the Gorilla Glass 5 protection for the front panel and it has a water-repellent coating. If you want the best look, then I believe you should opt for the Realme 7 5G as it comes in more attractive color variants. If you need the most compact phone, then choose the OPPO A73 5G which is actually thinner and lighter.

 

Display

You should definitely discard the Redmi Note 9 5G if you want the most advanced display. Unlike its two rivals, the IPS panel of the Redmi Note 9 5G has a standard refresh rate. With the Realme 7 5G, you can get a 120 Hz refresh rate, while the OPPO A73 5G has a 90 Hz refresh rate. The refresh rate is the most important difference between these displays, that is why Realme 7 5G wins the comparison. Each of these devices features a 6.5-inch diagonal and a Full HD+ resolution with 1080 x 2400 pixels.

 

Hardware/Software

Do you need the most powerful hardware department? Then go for the Redmi Note 9 5G without thinking twice. It is fueled by the Dimensity 800U chipset by MediaTek, it offers up to 8 GB of RAM and UFS 2.2 internal storage up to 256 GB. Realme 7 5G has exactly the same chipset and the same amount of RAM, but the internal storage is UFS 2.1. The OPPO A73 5G is available in the 8/128 GB configuration only, but unfortunately, it has a weaker Dimensity 700 chipset. OPPO A73 5G, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G, and Realme 7 5G are all based on Android 10.

 

Camera

The most advanced camera phone of this trio is the Realme 7 5G: on the rear side, it has a 48 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and a pair of 2 MP sensors for macros and depth calculation. You get the same department with the Redmi Note 9 5G with the exception of the depth sensor. The OPPO A73 5G is a bit disappointing because it has a 16 MP main sensor instead of the better 48 MP one found on the Realme 7 5G and the Redmi Note 9 5G. The best front camera belongs to the Realme 7 5G boasting a 16 MP sensor.

 

Battery

Realme 7 5G and Redmi Note 9 5G have the same 5000 mAh battery capacity, but the Redmi Note 9 5G provides a longer battery life because its display has a standard refresh rate. Naturally, you could achieve a similar result by using 60 Hz on the Realme 7 5G. Further, the Realme 7 5G has a faster charging technology with 30W power. The OPPO has a smaller 4040 mAh battery and it can not compete with its opponents.

 

Price

Realme 7 5G is priced €279/$343 globally, OPPO A73 5G has a €300/$369 listing price, Note 9 5G is still not available in the global market and it carries a €192/$236 price tag in China. The winner of this comparison is the Realme 7 5G due to its 120 Hz refresh rate and great cameras.

 

 

Realme 7 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs OPPO A73 5G: PRO and CONS

Realme 7 5G

PROS

  • 120 Hz display
  • 30W fast charging
  • More cameras
  • Worldwide availability

CONS

  • Nothing particular

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G

PROS

  • Stereo speakers
  • Up to 256 GB storage
  • Water-repellent
  • IR blaster

CONS

  • Limited availability

 

OPPO A73 5G

PROS

  • Worldwide availability
  • 90 Hz display
  • Lightweight design
  • Thin

CONS

  • Inferior cameras

Next Week in Tech: Xiaomi Mi 11 and Vivo X60 series will debut new processors

Happy Holidays everyone! There are just a few days left before the year wraps up and the mobile phone industry intends to end it in style. The last week of the year is loaded with two major product announcements – the global debut of the Snapdragon 888 and the Exynos 1080 processor. These two processors will make their first appearance in smartphones from Xiaomi and Vivo respectively, two manufacturers that are not only Chinese giants but also global giants.

Xiaomi unleashes the dragon with the Mi 11

The first is Xiaomi who will announce the Mi 11 series on Monday, the 28th of December. The new flagship will be the first in the world to be powered by the Snapdragon 888 processor that was announced by Qualcomm at the beginning of this month.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Snapdragon 888

A lot has been revealed about the Mi 11. The phone has been reported to pack the best display on a Xiaomi smartphone, improved cameras, faster charging, and sadly, will not ship with a charger in the box.

 

Vivo to show off the Exynos 1080’s performance with the X60 series launch

A day after Xiaomi’s event, Vivo will announce the Vivo X60 series which will be the first phones to be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1080 processor that was launched in November.

Vivo X60 Samsung Exynos 1080

The series which should consist of the Vivo X60, Vivo X60 Pro, and Vivo X60 Pro+ will be premium phones with not just a powerful chipset but also impressive cameras. Vivo has partnered with ZEISS for the cameras in its new smartphones and we are eager to see how good they are.

 

Russia likely to ban Facebook, Twitter, YouTube over ‘censoring content’

Internet giants have never stayed out of the ambit of controversy. For instance, Google recently caught conspiring actions to counteract strict EU rules. Now, it looks like Russia has smelled dubious activities of US Tech giants like Google’s YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

First reported by Financial Express, the Russian Parliament has drafted legislation against the US tech giants. Accordingly, regulators will block social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google’s YouTube if they are found guilty of censoring Russian people’s content. With this legislation, the parliament planning to restrict the companies which have been circumventing their drawbacks lately.

The reason for this development is said to be the increasing order of complaints against these companies. In fact, the censoring of content hasn’t spared the Russian media too. This move also comes at a time when other countries like Britain are considering rules to regulate these companies.

That said, the legislation has already been passed by the lower house of the parliament(State Duma). A statement from the country’s parliament says the relevant authorities would not spare any company if they limit information based on language/nationality.

For the unware, the Russian parliament is termed the Federal Assembly. It has two houses- Upper(Federation Council), Lower(State Duma). For legislation to turn into a law, it needs the approval of two houses and the consent of the President. Out of this, the above-mentioned legislation will be up for approval at the Federation Council now.

And as per reports, these are just for formalities and the Russian Govt has already upped the Ante on combating online extremism. Among the accused names, Twitter recently got a fine of $547,000 from Ireland’s DPC.

However, Google and Facebook are facing anti-trust issues in their own home country, the US. Anyway, the State Duma says other websites that carry out such unfair practices would also be banned. Let’s play the waiting game to see how this situation turns out.

 

Black Shark announces new mobile accessories including 30W charger, shoulder triggers, and charging cables

Black Shark has announced a handful of new accessories for mobile phones. The accessories include a charger, charging cables for iPhones and Android, and shoulder buttons for mobile gaming.

Black Shark 30W Dual-Port Charger

Black Shark Dual-Port 30W Charger

Black Shark’s new charger has dual-ports – a USB-C port and a USB-A port and a foldable plug. It has a maximum power output of 30W but we don’t know what each port outputs as there is no official listing of the product. It has a price tag of ¥79 (~$12).

Black Shark Shoulder Triggers

Black Shark Split Mobile Gaming Shoulder Triggers

Black Shark has also announced a pair of shoulder triggers for mobile gaming. These buttons serve as additional buttons that sit at the top of your phone. Each trigger has two buttons and is priced at ¥39 (~$6) per unit, so if you are buying for both sides, that is ¥78 (~$12).

EDITOR’S PICK: JD teams up with industry partners to roll out e-Sports Plan for gamers

Black Shark Type-C Data Cable

If you are in need of a USB-C data cable, Black Shark has a new one that costs ¥59 (~$9). The cable is braided and has an angled USB-C connector at one end and a USB-A connector at the other.

Black Shark Charging Cable

Black Shark Lightning Data Cable and Lightning Fast Charging Data Cable

Black Shark has two new cables for iPhones. One is priced at ¥59 (~$9) while the other which supports fast charging is ¥69 (~$10.5). Both have USB-A connectors on one end and an angled lightning connector on the other end.

These new accessories will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow at 18:00 local time and will go on sale on the 1st of January at 10:00 AM.

 

New users of Apple Watch and HomePod are facing iCloud Activation issues

New Users of Apple Watch and HomePod are facing activation issues according to a report. The issue seems to be on the server-side as iCloud is probably receiving a lot of traffic on the occasion of Christmas.

First reported by Macrumors, users are reporting “Verification Failed” on their new devices be it Apple Watch/HomePod. One of the users says the Apple Watch SE that they purchased isn’t going past the iCloud sign-in process. Despite starting the pairing process using an iPhone, the verification fails multiple times.

To this, Apple reportedly shows a solution of resetting the encrypted data. This would normally delete old passwords and data which isn’t the advisable thing to do. Another user also reports that his HomePod is stuck in the “configuration” stage after multiple attempts. None of the solutions like removing it from iCloud seems to work.

All this points to an iCloud Account and Sign-in Issue on the server-side of Apple. We personally checked on Apple’s support page to see the status of the issue. And to our surprise, the issue still seems to be live(at the time of writing this) as you can see above. On clicking the status card, we get a message that the issue is “ongoing” since Dec 25, 3:15 PM PST.

We can only imagine the frustration of not being able to use a new product despite having it in hand. Besides, this is not the only issue Apple Watch SE users faced. A previous report said users of South Korea experienced wrist burn due to overheating.

In any case, we hope that Apple fixes the iCloud issue soon so that people can use their gifts/purchases at least for New Year’s eve.

 

Samsung Galaxy A72 4G reportedly gets a step closer to launch

Yesterday a Samsung device carrying the model number SM-A725F was spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking platform. The device in question had Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 720G SoC running the show. Today, the same device has reportedly got India’s BIS certification suggesting an imminent launch.

A Samsung device with a similar model number SM-A725F/DS (DS- Generally means Dual SIM) reportedly appears on the BIS database. Besides, Previous reports say that the Galaxy A72’s 5G version has a model number SM-A726B. That and a recent Geekbench listing suggests that the above device is probably the Galaxy A72 4G.

Well, this is not the first time Samsung has had two versions of the same device. If you recall, the company launched 4G and 5G versions of the Galaxy A51, A71 devices. The 4G devices landed in India(A51 4G, A71 4G) whereas Samsung took the 5G devices to Europe and USA.

Hence, it will be interesting to see if Samsung follows the same strategy next year. That said, we are also getting reports that the company is planning to bring affordable 5G devices by H2 2021. Anyway, Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything yet which it should have done by now considering the predecessors’ launch timeline.

The Galaxy A72 4G and 5G variants are expected to be identical except for network support. Accordingly, they will probably sport a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole at the center. At the back, they will retain the quad-camera setup as the predecessor, Galaxy A71. That is, the main lens is likely a 64MP camera while the other sensors are 12MP ultra-wide and two 5MP sensors.

Nevertheless, reports show that Samsung is also working on 4G versions of the siblings like Galaxy A32 and Galaxy A52 where the latter will succeed the best-selling Galaxy A51.

 

Android 11 arrives for Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G users in Europe

The Android 11 roll-out, like any other new version of Android, is slow, but there are manufacturers that are trying to get the update to as many devices as possible. One of them is Xiaomi and it has begun rolling out the update to its upper mid-range smartphone, the Mi 10 Lite 5G.

The Mi 10 Lite 5G was announced in March of this year but didn’t go on sale until May. The phone which is powered by the Snapdragon 765G processor has now begun to receive the Android 11 update with (MIUI 12) in Europe.

Mi 10 Lite 5G Android 11

It has been reported that the update began rolling out to other global users earlier this month. For Europe, it comes as MIUI v12.1.2.0.RJIEUXM with a file size of 2.8GB and October’s security patch.

Since the phone already runs MIUI 12, users will not see a visual change in the phone. However, Android 11 brings new features such as Chat Bubbles, new permission settings, and a control menu for connected devices.

EDITOR’S PICK: Motorola Android 11 OS update: List of eligible devices confirmed

The Mi 10 Lite 5G has a 6.57-inch screen with a 2400 x 1080 resolution. The screen doesn’t have a high refresh rate but it is an AMOLED panel with a waterdrop notch. The Snapdragon 765G processor is paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Xiaomi packs the phone with a 48MP quad-camera system that includes an 8MP ultrawide angle camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro camera. The front-facing camera is a 16MP sensor with an f/2.5 aperture.

Other features are an in-display fingerprint scanner; a 4160mAh battery with support for 20W fast charging, USB Power Delivery, and Quick Charge 4+; an audio jack, NFC, and an infrared port.

 

Official: Xiaomi Mi 11’s retail box will not have a charger

The Xiaomi Mi 11 is all set to go official by the end of this month. An image of the retail package of the Mi 11 had appeared yesterday. The tipster who leaked the image claimed that the retail box is as thin as the iPhone’s packaging. He speculated that the Mi 11’s box may not include a charger. Today, the company released an official confirmation the Mi 11 will not arrive with a charger.

Shown above in the video is the brand-new packaging of the Xiaomi Mi 11. The company claims that it is quite thin and light. It states that it has removed the charger from the retail box in a bid to protect the environment.

Smartphone buyers already have chargers that came along with previously purchased smartphones. Shipping a new charger with Mi 11 will only burden the environment, claims the company. It is aware that its decision to exclude the charger may not go down well with the phone buyers. However, it reiterates that it is a better solution to follow the industry’s new norm to protect the environment.

Industry giants like Samsung and Xiaomi had mocked Apple when it removed the charger from the iPhone 12 series’ retail package. Reports have revealed that the upcoming Galaxy S21 series by Samsung will also come without an in-box charger. It is yet to release an official statement on it. Xiaomi has confirmed that it will be holding a press conference on Monday to speak more on why it removed the charger from Mi 11’s package.

Should companies continue to provide a charge with a phone? Share your thoughts by posting your comments below.

 

Vivo X60 Pro specifications leaked through TENAA listing

Earlier this month, three Vivo phones with model numbers V2059A, V2047A, and V2046A were approved by China’s 3C authority. These are believed to the upcoming Vivo X60 series smartphones. Last week, the V2047A had appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform with some of its specs. It is speculated that the V2047A could be the Vivo X60 or Vivo X60 Pro. Through Weibo, well-known tipster Digital Chat Station has shared screengrabs of the TENAA listing of the Vivo X60 Pro.

Vivo X60 Pro specifications

The Vivo X60 Pro measures 158.57 x 73.24 x 7.59 and it weighs 178 grams. The device is equipped with a 6.56-inch AMOLED display that offers 1080 x 2376 pixels Full HD+ resolution. The official images of the phone that have appeared in the recent past have revealed that its display has a top-cantered punch-hole and curved edges.

The X60 Pro has a rated battery of 4,130mAh capacity. The 3C listings of the Vivo X60 series have revealed that the Vivo X60, X60 Pro, and X60 Pro+ may come equipped with 33W fast charging. A 2.8GHz Exynos 1080 chipset fuels the X60 Pro.

Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro renders-
Vivo X60 (left) and Vivo X60 Pro (right)

The smartphone is likely to arrive in 8 GB and 12 GB RAM versions. The phone will arrive preinstalled with OrigionOS based Android 11 OS. It could be coming in two China in storage choices like 128 GB and 256 GB.

For photography, it has a 32-megapixel selfie camera and a quad-camera setup on its back. The latter comprises a 48-megapixel main camera, a pair of 13-megapixel sensors, and an 8-megapixel lens. Other features of the smartphone include a microSD card slot and an in-screen fingerprint reader.