Advertisement

Apple patents new MacBook Touch Bar with Force Touch technology

By
Jeet
-

Apple is expected to launch newly redesigned MacBooks next year, most probably powered by the company’s own Apple Silicon chipset. Now, ahead of that, a new patent application by the Cupertino-giant has been published by the US Patent & Trademark Office.

It reveals that Apple has filed a patent for a new Touch Bar which is almost the same as the current one, but it features Force Touch technology that can identify touch pressure on the screen to perform different actions.

MacBook Touch Bar Force Touch Patent

EDITOR’S PICK: India’s Lava Mobiles has reportedly started manufacturing smartphones for Nokia and other brands

The force touch technology, first appeared in Apple Watch, was introduced in MacBook trackpad in 2015. The company had also introduced it in the iPhone 6s as 3D Touch but was later discontinued.

Currently, it is now known how Apple is planning to have users use this force touch on the MacBook’s Touch Bar. For those who are unaware, Touch Bar is a small interactive OLED strip on top of the keyboard on the MacBook Pro models.

This new patent from Apple confirms that the Touch Bar is here to stay, at least for the MacBook Pro models for the foreseeable future, even though many users dislike this new addition because of accidental touches and many users consider it to not be much useful.

UP NEXT: TCL 20 5G renders and specifications leak reveal 6.67-inch display, Snapdragon 690 SoC, 48MP triple rear cameras, and more

 

Redmi K30S short supply issues continue in China

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

In October, Redmi announced the Redmi K30S (aka Redmi K30S Commemorative Edition or Redmi K30S Ultra) in China. The handset was sold at a special discount of 300 Yuan (~$46) during the Double 11 (Nov. 11) shopping festival in the home market. It was made available with a starting price of 2,299 Yuan (~$349). Now that the Double 11 has passed, the Redmi K30S is available with its regular pricing. Mydrivers reported that the smartphone is still difficult to purchase as there seems to be a shortage in supply.

After the Double 11, the Redmi K30S is selling with original price tags such as 2,599 Yuan (~$395) for 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant and 2,799 Yuan (~$425) for 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage model. At 10 AM this morning, the Redmi K30S was made available for purchase with the increased price tags. Still, it was sold quickly. Such is the demand for the Redmi K30S.

Redmi K30S
Redmi K30S

Editor’s Pick: Redmi Note 9 5G, Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 4G launched in China

Redmi K30S specifications

The Redmi K30S is a rebadged version of the Xiaomi Mi 10T smartphone. Flanked with Gorilla Glass 5 panels on the front and rear, the Redmi K30S features a 6.67-inch LCD screen that supports a Full HD+ resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The Android 10 OS overlaid with MIUI skin comes preinstalled on the device. It possesses a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

The Snapdragon 865 mobile platform powers the Redmi K30S with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB / 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The 5,000mAh battery of the phone supports 33W fast charging. It has a selfie camera of 20-megapixel and a 64-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel triple camera system. It comes in Cosmic Black and Lunar Silver color options.

UP NEXT: Redmi Watch launched as the brand’s first smartwatch priced at 269 yuan(~$40)

 

India’s Lava Mobiles starts manufacturing phones for Nokia and other brands

By
Jeet
-

Lava Mobiles, which is India’s one of the few homegrown mobile phone companies, is reportedly manufacturing devices for other brands. As per the new report, the company is now making Nokia and Moto branded devices in the Indian market.

HMD Global’s Nokia and Lenovo‘s Motorola brands are selling their devices with “Made in India” inscribed on the phone’s back. To ensure that the devices are made in India and as a cost-effective and convenient method, they have opted to partner with Lava Mobiles to manufacture devices at its facilities in India.

Lava Mobile Logo

It is also being reported that Lava Mobiles is in the advanced level of talks with one of the telecom companies in India for co-branded devices. Not just that, it is actually in talks with all three major network carriers in India for design and manufacturing partnerships, similar to what it is doing for Nokia.

Lava Mobiles was founded in 2009 and is among one of the few mobile companies with Indian roots. The company was once having a good market share but ever since the Chinese companies entered the Indian market, it has lost its hold in India’s smartphone market. Although, it is still selling its own smartphones and feature phones in India.

EDITOR’S PICK: Nokia 9.3 PureView flagship smartphone’s launch said to have been postponed to H1 2021

Apart from that, the company has now become a contract manufacturer and expanding its footprints in that sector, it is making low-cost phones for companies like AT&T and General Electric, among others.

One of the reasons for Lava to expand its business in the contract manufacturing space is because the company has been approved under the Indian government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme which offers incentives after meeting certain criteria.

Lava, which is the second-largest feature phone company in India, has ramped up its production capacity to 30-45 million feature phones. With its efforts to expand business in contract manufacturing, it is hoping to become one of the leading smartphone manufacturers in India.

UP NEXT: TCL 20 5G renders and specifications leak reveal 6.67-inch display, SD690, 48MP triple cameras, and more

 

Realme RMX3063 FCC listing reveals 5,000mAh battery and triple cameras

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Earlier this month, two unknown Realme phones with model numbers RMX3061 and RMX3063 were seen in the database of the Eurasian Economic Commission (ECC). Later, both model numbers were spotted at Indonesian certification platforms like TKDN and Sertifikasi website. Now, the RMX3063 handset has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. The FCC certification has revealed a few key specs of the device.

The first thing that has through the FCC listing of the RMX3063 is that the model number of its battery is BLP729. The battery is mentioned in its rated capacity of 4,880mAh. The BLP729 battery has been previously used by Realme on its Realme 5i handset. Hence, it appears that the Realme RMX3063 has a 5,000mAh battery.

There is no information on the fast charging capabilities of the device. The support for Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n suggests that it could be a budget phone from the brand. There is no support for 5G connectivity on the device.

Editor’s Pick:  boAT edges Xiaomi, Realme and others to top India’s TWS market in Q3 2020

The rear design of the RMX3063 phone shows that it has a square-reshaped camera module that houses three cameras. Realme has previously used such a camera layout on phones like the Realme Narzo 20 and Realme Q2i smartphones. The other details of the phone are not known yet. Also, the final product name of the device is under wraps. Hence, it is advisable to wait for further leaks to know more about the Realme RMX3063.

The Realme RMX3061 and RMX3063 could be the company’s first phones arriving in the coming year. In Q1 this year, Realme announced the Realme X50 5G and Realme X50 Pro 5G smartphones. Hence, the Chinese firm is expected to announce the Realme X60 5G and Realme X60 Pro 5G in Q1 2021.

UP NEXT: Realme N1 Sonic Electric Toothbrush now available in Blue; replaceable heads still not available online

 

 

(via)

Redmi Note 8 up for grab at an irresistible offer price of US$155!

By
Simranpal Singh
-

Redmi Note 8 can be all yours now at an ultra-affordable rate from Banggood. Thanks to the ongoing Black Friday Sale campaign on the e-commerce platform, the 4/128GB variant of the device is up for grabs at just US$155 over its actual listed price of US$189.99. Interested folks have the option to choose from Neptune Blue or Space Black color variant of the device.

Redmi Note 8 All Colors Featured

Related: Xiaomi India brings Black Friday deals for Redmi smartphones & Accessories

For the unversed, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Global Version boasts a 6.3 inch LCD display. It has a Quad Rear Camera setup led by a 48MP main sensor. Keeping the light on is a 4000mAh battery. It’s powered by Snapdragon 665 Octa-core Mobile Platform. And, includes all the necessary connectivity options such as LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, and so on.

Not going into detail about the specs of the Note 8 packs. Nonetheless, the offer price it’s indeed lucrative that you shouldn’t miss if looking to get an affordable device any time soon.

Coming back to the offer, to get the Redmi Note 8 for US$155, you’ve to make use of the special coupon code which is valid till only 30th November. So, waste no more time and hit the link given below to steal the device during this deal period. Also, don’t forget to apply the coupon code during the checkout.

Coupon Code: BGBFN8128

Valid Till: 30th November 2020

BUY NOW

It’s pertinent to mention here that, do check the availability of shipment in your area. The warehouse location in Hong Kong, so the discount is applicable in the region only. Hurry up!!!

Must See: Black Friday sale portal for some special deals

TCL 20 5G renders and specifications leak reveal 6.67-inch display, SD690, 48MP triple cameras and more

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

This year, TCL introduced a couple of smartphones such as TCL 10 Pro, TCL 10L, TCL 10 Plus, TCL 10 SE, TCL 10 5G, and TCL 10 5G UW under the TCL 10 branding. Reliable tipster Evan Blass has shared renders of the upcoming TCL 20 5G smartphone. The leak also carries the key specs of the phone.

The TCL 20 5G moniker suggests that it could be a successor to the TCL 10 5G. However, its T781 model number and specifications indicate that it may be a follow-up device for the TCL Plex that went official last year.

TCL 20 5G specifications

 

TCL 20 5G
TCL 20 5G

The leak states that the TCL 20 5G has a 6.67-inch display with a top-center aligned hole-punch. The screen supports a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. It has a front-facing camera of 8-megapixel.

The backside of the phone features a vertical camera unit that includes a 48-megapixel primary shooter, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens.

Editor’s Pick: The TCL MOVEAUDIO S150 is a pair of budget TWS earbuds priced at $39.99

The Snapdragon 690 5G chipset is present under the hood of the TCL 20 5G. The SoC is accompanied by 6 GB of RAM. The device will be available in 128 GB and 256 GB storage editions.

TCL 20 5G

The TCL 20 5G draws power from a 4,500mAh battery. A fingerprint scanner is embedded in the power button. The handset is equipped with a microSD card slot, a USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a dedicated Google Assistant button around its edges.

Blass revealed that the TCL 20 5G will go official early next year. Probably, the device may get showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021 in January There is no word on the pricing of the device.

UP NEXT: TCL 10L and TCL 10 Pro get price cuts for Black Friday

 

 

Black Friday Deals: Get Amazon Echo Devices at over 50% discount, starting from $9.99

By
Simranpal Singh
-

How can we miss the Black Friday Deals on Amazon Echo devices this season? Here’s the guide to avail of up to a 50% discount on Amazon products ranging from Echo devices to Fire TV streaming devices. The shopping giant keeps evolving its product lineup by introducing new smart devices every year. There are significant discounts on the new 2020 Echo and Echo Dot speakers too.  These deals are available from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and other major retailers.

echo

Must See: Black Friday Deals: Best smartphones on sale (Apple, Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, Google) [US]

These little devices can bring smart home functionality to your homes and can help you in day to day routines. Alexa supported devices can link with other smart devices at your premises to give you an overall automated experience. Here we have concluded some best deals on Amazon Echo devices:

*Must Check: Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) and Amazon Echo Spot are available at the best prices. 

Black Friday Amazon Echo Devices

New Amazon Echo with Premium Sound (4th Gen) – It is the latest entrant to Amazon Echo Lineup and available for $69 $99. It carries a 2-inch woofer and two 0.8-inch tweeters.

Grab Now for ($69 $99.99)

New Echo Dot (4th Gen) – It features a 1.6-inch speaker with support for 3.5mm audio or Bluetooth Line in. It measures 100 x 100 x 89 mm in size and packs Alexa support. It is available in Charcoal, Glacier White, and Twilight Blue color.

Grab Now for ($28.99 $49)

Amazon Echo Flex – It is the cheapest Echo device available for the price of $9.99 this Black Friday. It brings Alexa functionality to any free plug socket. It carries a 0.6-inch speaker.

Grab Now $9.99 ($44.99 $24.99)

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – A bit old, but can accomplish every task like the new Amazon Echo Dot. It houses a 1.6-inch speaker, measures 4.3 x 9.9 x 9.9cm in size, and weighs 300g.

Grab Now ($18.99 $49.99 )

Amazon Echo (3rd gen 2019) – A large-sized smart speaker with a 3-inch woofer and 0.8-inch tweeter provides a good listening experience. It measures 14.8 x 9.9 x 9.9cm in size and weighs 780 grams.

Grab Now ($99)

Amazon Echo Show 5 – A useful smart display device best suited for small rooms. It can be a bedside table-friendly gadget to control your whole house. The device can also be your work station’s attraction point. It carries a 5.5-inch display and measures  14.8 x 8.6 x 7.3cm in size.

Grab Now ( $89.99)

Amazon Echo Show 8 –  It is an 8-inch Echo device that features a 2 x 2.0-inch @ 10W speaker. The device measures 20.4 x 13.6 x 9.9cm in size and weighs 1037 grams. It is the best suitable Echo device for a larger room.

Grab Now ( $64.99 $129.99 )

Amazon Echo Plus – It is a super large speaker measures 14.8 x 9.9 x 9.9cm in size and weighs 780g. The smart speaker brings impressive audio and also features a temperature sensor.

Grab Now ($149.99)

Amazon Echo Spot –  A beautifully crafted Amazon Echo device featuring a round 2.5-inch display. It carries a 1.4-inch speaker and weighs 420 grams. It can be your bedside clock and video call manager. The camera on top makes it different from other devices.

Grab Now ($59 $129.99)

These are some best deals on Amazon Echo devices that you can grab from the Black Friday sale. You can check our full Black Friday Deals coverage to save maximum this festive season.

Related: Black Friday Deals: Best smart TVs on sale (50, 55, 65, 75, 85-inch)

Nokia 9.3 PureView launch said to have been postponed to H1 2021

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Nokia has been missing from the flagship scene for more than a year now. While other manufacturers launch at least two flagship smartphones per year, HMD Global’s last flagship phone is the 2019 Nokia 9 PureView.

There have been several reports that the manufacturer is working on a new flagship called the Nokia 9.3 PureView which will come with a more powerful processor and upgraded cameras. The last we heard was that the phone will eventually be announced in December after multiple postponements. However, the latest report says that the phone will no longer launch this year.

The info comes from Nokia anew (nokia_anew) and according to a tweet they posted, the Nokia 9.3 PureView will not launch this year as the announcement has been postponed to the first half of next year.

The source said in a reply that the info was not a joke as they have received confirmation. It is also stated that the new date (month) is unknown.

While the info above is an unconfirmed report and should be taken with a grain of salt, it wouldn’t be surprising if it turns out to be true. The phone which is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 865 has been postponed more than once already, so another postponement will not be unusual.

The phone was expected to make its debut in December along with the Nokia 7.3 and Nokia 6.3 smartphones but with a move to next year, our guess is that HMD Global may be making a major change to the phone’s specifications or may believe December is no longer the best time to announce such a high-profile phone.

If it is making a major change to the phone, we presume that the Snapdragon 865 processor may be dropped in favor of the Snapdragon 875. If that is the case, the Nokia 9.3 will most likely arrive later in the first half of the year rather than early due to the availability of the processor.

However, if the decision to move the date is based on December not being a good time, then the phone should arrive early next year with the Snapdragon 865 on board. That would not be unusual seeing as the Nokia 9 PureView launched in 2019 with the flagship processor of 2018.

HMD Global needs to get its act together unless its long term plan is to keep making features, entry-level, and mid-range phones.

UP NEXT: The Nokia 8000 4G is HMD Global’s best-looking feature phone

 

Google Opinion Rewards app now available in Thailand

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The Google Opinion Rewards app was announced in 2013. The app which is available on both Android and iOS provides users with Play Store credits (Android users) or cash via PayPal (iOS users) after taking Google Surveys. It has now been reported that the app is now available in Thailand.

The support page for Opinion Rewards has a list of countries where the app is available and the current list has a total of 29 countries including the newly-added Thailand. The page also says that only users over 18years of age are eligible.

Google Opinion Rewards

So if you are interested and live in Thailand, all you have to do is head to the Play Store and download the Google Opinion Rewards app, register, opt-in for the service and begin taking those surveys.

The app description says that surveys will be sent about once a week and users can vary from choosing between logos to more personal questions such as when next you plan to travel. Credit earned from the surveys can be used towards purchases on the Google Play Store.

There is no saying when other countries will get the app but seeing as only 29 countries are supported since the service was made available in the U.S. about 7 years ago, there is a high chance many countries won’t be getting it anytime soon.

UP NEXT: Google India is testing Task Mate app: earn money by completing simple tasks on your phone

 

Blackview BL6000 Pro offers an Exclusive Discount for Black Friday

By
Greeva Agnihotri
-

Blackview is illustrious for making rugged smartphones at a decent price range. Their most recent introduction, BL6000 Pro, a 5G rugged phone, was launched with a $699.99 price tag. In the light of the Black Friday festivities, the company has decided to offer a discount on BL6000 Pro and is now available for just $449.99. The hefty price might limit some people from buying it, so let’s take a look at its specifications and find out.BL6000 Pro-1-Durability

BL6000 Pro has an IP68 and IP69K rating and made with a nano molding technology that efficiently upgrades its waterproof performance, making it ideal to be carried while swimming and surfing. Its military-grade built further protects it from accidental drops and falls. This rugged smartphone has an IceMode function for freezing environments where it can still conveniently function with a temperature of up to -30℃.BL6000 Pro-4-5G Compatibility

BL6000 Pro is the world’s first rugged smartphone with 5G compatibility. Since the 5G network is expected to be 10 times faster than the current one, it is expected to offer an enhanced user-experience while downloading huge files, surfing, online gaming, video calling, and more. This network band will also come in handy when the user is out on their adventures, where the connectivity is the most prominent for various security and safety purposes. It will also help the users share live vlogs and updates in challenging situations.BL6000 Pro-3-Specifications

BL6000 Pro runs on Android 10 OS that can most likely be upgraded to Android 11 in the first quarter of the next year. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 800 octa-core processor and has an 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS2.1 ROM. With 6.36-inch FHD+ punch-hole display, this unit offers an immersive viewing experience. Other features like Sony IMX582 48MP triple-rear camera with Samsung S5K3P9-SP 16MP front camera, 5280mAh battery with wireless charging support, Barometer sensor, fingerprint sensor, NFC payments, 5G and 4G compatibility, GPS & GLONASS & Beidou & Galileo & QZSS navigation make this Blackview smartphone ultra-versatile.BL6000 Pro-1-BL6000 Pro boasts a sleek and straightforward design that can make it pass for a regular smartphone. Packed with a host of features, this smartphone has something for everyone. And since it’s on a Black Friday sale for just $449.99, it gives all the more reason to be the ideal choice for an upgrade. This offer is only valid till November 28th, so hurry and make the most of it.BL6000 Pro-5-

Surface Laptop 4 and Surface Pro 8 FCC images leaked; rumoured to launch in January

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Fans of the Surface Laptop lineup who expected Microsoft to announce the fourth-gen model this year were disappointed. Instead, the Redmond-based company announced the Surface Laptop Go, an affordable model for the series. Now, images believed to be of the Surface Laptop 4 and the Surface Pro 8 have surfaced on the web along with details about when they will arrive.

The photos were posted on Twitter by the user that goes by “cozyplanes” (@cozyplanes) and they appear to be from the FCC. The Surface Laptop 4 is shown in black and we only get a top view of the device. The image of the Surface Pro 8 also doesn’t give us much to see.

Nevertheless, the design for both devices seem not to be too different from that of their predecessors, and fans of the series may not be pleased with that. A common complaint the Surface Pro 7 got was its unchanged design from that of previous generations which makes it more surprising that Microsoft is once again going with the same old look for the Surface Pro 8. Hopefully, it pacifies buyers with new colors.

The tweet also reveals the model numbers for the devices and also mentions an LTE version of the Surface Pro 8 will be announced. The Surface Pro 7 didn’t have an LTE version, so those who skipped it because of that can look forward to the Pro 8.

With respect to specs, Windows Central says that the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop 8 should come with 11th-gen Intel processors with Intel Xe graphics. There are also unconfirmed reports of an AMD version of the Surface Laptop 4. The time to market for the two devices is put at mid-January and not until October when the series usually launches.

UP NEXT: Microsoft introduces Pluton security chip for upcoming Windows computers

 

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G case renders reveal the phone’s design

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Smartphone OEMs have begun to release affordable 5G devices worldwide. Up until earlier this year, such phones were limited to China but not anymore. Following the launch of Galaxy A51 5G a few months back, Samsung recently unveiled Galaxy A42 5G as its cheapest 5G smartphone yet. But that mantle may soon go to Galaxy A32 5G whose design has leaked for the first time.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Case Render Leak Featured

We first heard about the upcoming Galaxy A32 5G back in late July. Since then, there has not been any new information regarding this smartphone up until now. The new leak concerning this handset comes in the form of case renders. These renders were shared by well-known India tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore on Twitter.

According to the renders, unlike any other Samsung smartphone, the forthcoming Galaxy A32 5G will feature separate holes for the vertically aligned triple camera setup on the back. Interestingly, the device will also come with a dual-LED flash for some reason. Anyway, it is at least two less than the quad-LED flash found on the rear of LG K92 5G.

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung unveils Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A02s with Infinity-V displays and 5000mAh batteries

 

Further, the phone will sport an Infinity-U display (panel with a dew-drop notch) on the front. Whereas, its right side will house volume rockers and a power key with an embedded fingerprint sensor, and the left side will include a SIM card slot.

Lastly, the top of the handset will only feature a secondary mic but the bottom will feature a USB Type-C port, a speaker grille, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Unfortunately, this leak did not reveal any specs of this phone. Anyway, as per its first leak, the handset will feature a 48MP primary camera.

UP NEXT: Alleged Galaxy Z Flip 3 specs say it will have a 6.9-inch 120Hz main display

 

ELEPHONE Discounts on Earphones, Smartphones, & Smartwatches for Black Friday Sale

By
Greeva Agnihotri
-

In the light of Black Friday, many brands are offering huge deals on various products. Jumping on this bandwagon is ELEPHONE; the company is offering huge discounts on the smartphone and earphone category. This might be the perfect time to give your devices and accessories an upgrade. To make things convenient, we have compiled the best products that one can opt for during this sale.ELEPHONE BLACK FridayELEPHONE U5

ELEPHONE U5 features a 6.4-inch FHD+ screen having a screen-to-body ratio to offer an immersive experience. It is powered by Helio P60 SoC coupled with an octa-core processor and an equally powerful GPU to handle graphics. It runs on Android 10 OS, has a 48MP quad-rear camera, 4000 mAh battery, and supports NFC and Google payments.

Currently, ELEPHONE U5 is up for sale and available for a discounted price at just $189.99.ELEPHONE U5ELEPHONE Elepods X

ELEPHONE Elepods X TWS earphones feature an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) mode. Its inward-facing microphone produces a dignified sound wave that quells the surrounding noise. With 9mm drivers, Elepods X offers a strong anti-interference and a stable connection. 2 microphones and an AI algorithm offers enhanced HD calls. It is compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and has a 50mAH battery capacity. ABS plastic body and IPX5 rating offer durability.

Currently, ELEPHONE Elepods X is up for sale with a discount of $40 and available for just $49.99.ELEPHONE ElePods XELEPHONE ElePods S

ELEPHONE ElePods S has a dual-chip and dual microphone setup for noise cancellation. It has a Hi-Fi diaphragm and dual-core dual-controller to offer decent sound quality and equal frequency on both ears. ElePods S support Bluetooth 5.0, have low-latency mode, and an IPX 5 rating for added versatility.

ELEPHONE ElePods S are currently up with a $10 off and available for just $19.99.ELEPHONE ElePods SELEPHONE R8

ELEPHONE R8 boasts a 1.3-inch IPS display with 360 x 360p HD resolution. Its most prominent functions include heart rate and sleep monitoring, various sports modes, and calorie calculation. R8 can be connected to various apps like Facebook and Twitter to keep the user updated.

Apart from the $20 off (discounted price- $49.99), ELEPHONE R8 is also offering 2 free bands on each purchase.ELEPHONE R8 Black FridayELEPHONE U3H

ELEPHONE U3H has a 6.35-inches IPS FHD+ screen with 1080 x 2340p and 405.86 PPI to provide an enhanced viewing experience. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio P90, a 64-bit processor and has 6GB LPDDR4X and 64GB storage. U3H runs on Android 9.0 and features a 48MP triple rear camera with a 16MP front camera. 3800mAh battery, NFC payments, and wireless charging are some of the other features it offers.

ELEPHONE U3H is currently up for the Black Friday sale and available for a discounted price of just $169.99.ELEPHONE U3HELEPHONE PX

ELEPHONE PX boasts a 6.53-inch display with an aspect ratio of 19.3:9. It runs on Android 9.0 MT6763 and has 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM for efficient operation. PX features a 48MP+5MP dual-LED and AF dual-rear camera with a 16MP front camera for versatility. Its 3300mAh battery lasts for a prolonged period while the rear fingerprint sensor offers added convenience.

For the Black Friday Sale, ELEPHONE PX is being sold with a $10 discount and can be brought for just $149.99.ELEPHONE PXELEPHONE is offering these deals and discounts only for a limited time in the light of the Black Friday Sale. Interested users can head on to their official website to know more about it.

DxOMark camera ranking puts the OnePlus Nord below the Pixel 4a

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The OnePlus Nord is OnePlus’s first mid-range smartphone. The 5G smartphone, which has four rear cameras, has been reviewed by DxOMark. The overall score awarded to it places it underneath the Pixel 4a, reaffirming that having one good camera is better than having four average ones.

OnePlus Nord DxOMark

The OnePlus Nord scored 108 points overall which is broken down into 117 points for photo, 47 points for zoom, and 92 points for video. The review says the Nord performs well for a mid-range phone, earning praise for its exposure, color, autofocus, and texture. However, it loses points for bokeh and night mode.

Scoring 47 points for zoom should not be a surprise. The OnePlus Nord doesn’t have a telephoto camera like its more powerful sibling, the OnePlus 8 Pro. Its lack of optical zoom means its only option is digital zoom via the main camera and that results in lower quality photos with respect to distance.

OnePlus Nord DxOMark

For ultrawide photos, the OnePlus Nord has good exposure but the “edges of photos were often noisy and fine details were lost”. DxOMark also says that the primary camera can distort subjects in bokeh simulation mode and the photos do not look natural.

Coming to videos, while the phone trails behind that of other phones, the colors are vivid when shooting indoors and outdoors when there is enough light. However, when in low-light, “there are strong hue-casts and color-rendering becomes inaccurate”.

For stabilization, the 48MP main camera has optical image stabilization but it doesn’t do a great job when walking and recording, as DxOMark says there is residual motion visible in the videos. What further lowers the video score is autofocus as it fails in most of the “tested conditions” and the “tracking capabilities are very low” says the review.

The conclusion says the phone performs well in general but its flaws are evident in the not-so-frequent scenarios such as in low-light. Its lack of a proper telephoto camera also affected its performance. We hope OnePlus and other manufacturers ditch the macro camera and depth sensor next year and replace them with a proper telephoto camera.

UP NEXT: OnePlus Nord 2 is already in development and it is codenamed “Denniz”

 

Redmi 9 global variant started receiving MIUI 12 update

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Xiaomi has been seeding out MIUI 12 update to the eligible smartphones worldwide since late April. But still, the company is yet to complete the rollout. The latest device to get the firm’s newest mobile operating system is the global variant of Redmi 9, which is also known as Redmi 9 Prime in India.

Redmi 9 Redmi 9 Prime Featured

Redmi 9 was one of the most-shipped smartphones in Q3 2020. Despite its popularity, Xiaomi is yet to release MIUI 12 for this handset worldwide. The firm began to roll out this update in late September in China. But the global version of this device has started receiving the same update only now.

The new system update comes with build number V12.0.1.0.QJCMIXM and is currently in the Stable Beta phase. That means it is only available for select users. If these early adopters don’t face any issue, then the same build will be made available for more users, followed by a wider rollout.

However, if this build happens to have some major bugs, Xiaomi will be releasing another build and it will go through the same cycle. Hopefully, the current build makes it to the Stable phase without further delaying the MIUI 12 update for users.

Having said that, Redmi 9 aka Redmi 9 Prime has four more variants namely India, Indonesia, Russia, and EEA. These versions of the phone should also start receiving the update in the coming days. We expect the company to finish the rollout by December end or later.

UP NEXT: Redmi Note 9 Pro gets Android 11 update in India

 

Redmi Watch and Mi Watch Lite appear on Bluetooth SIG Certification suggesting a Global launch

By
Balaji S
-

Xiaomi just unveiled the Redmi Watch alongside the Note9 Series in China. Not long enough, the Redmi Watch, along with the ‘Mi Watch Lite’ moniker has now appeared on Bluetooth SIG certification suggesting a Global launch soon.

As tipped by Mukul Sharma, the listing on the Bluetooth SIG website shows two models. One is REDMIWT01 and the other is REDMIWT02. Interestingly, both are similar and are applied by Xiaomi Inc. The description of both the models reveal that they are smartwatches. Additionally, the devices support Bluetooth version 5.1 connectivity which corroborates with earlier info.

Sadly, just like every other Bluetooth SIG listing, you don’t get any info apart from this here. However, thanks to an earlier launch in China we know the entire specs of the Redmi Watch and possibly the Mi Watch Lite too. That is because, earlier it was speculated that Mi Watch Lite with a similar model number could be a rebranded Redmi Watch.

Mi Watch Lite Bluetooth SIG

Now, after comparing the specs of the Redmi Watch in China, and the earlier FCC listings of the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite, it looks like the latter is most likely a rebrand for global markets like Europe, the USA, etc. That said, the Redmi Watch could launch with the same moniker in Asian countries like India as it has also appeared on the listing with a slightly different model number. However, Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed it yet, and hence, let’s wait for more info.

EDITOR’S PICK: Mibro Air Smartwatch Review: A well designed affordable wearable by Xiaomi Ecosystem

Mi Watch Lite Specifications(Expected)

Talking about specs, the design on the FCC listing, and Redmi Watch’s official renders show a similar square-shaped screen. Design-wise, the Redmi Watch in China has the 2.5D curved watch dial housed inside the textured body with a Matte finish. The detachable straps are made of TPU material and it has a rounded-rectangle dial on the right side.

Redmi Watch China

The Smartwatch’s Global version will likely have multiple colors like the Chinese version. Those could be Black, Ivory, Cherry Pink, Needle Green, and Blue Ink. The Redmi Watch has a 1.4-inch display which is similar to the FCC listing and has 323 PPI. We can expect other features like auto-brightness, 230mAh battery with 5W charging. And fitness tracking features like 24-hr heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, and sedentary monitoring.

Additionally, it will likely have multiple sport modes(7-modes) along with swimming stroke recognition, GPS and NFC for connectivity, 5ATM water resistance. The Redmi Watch is priced at 299 yuan($45.47) in China. Nevertheless, considering the Mi Watch Lite is already certified by DEMKO and FCC, we don’t think the global launch will take longer.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi and other Chinese brands build up inventory to bite into Huawei’s market share

OxygenOS 10.3.7 update for OnePlus 6/6T brings improvements to Game Space

By
Balaji S
-

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 6, and OnePlus 6T flagship devices in 2018 with Android 8.1 Ore and 9 Pie respectively. The handsets, which later got the Android 10, are receiving a new update from yesterday. The OxygenOS 10.3.7 update brings the latest security patch, Game Space features, and more.

The details of the new OxygenOS 10.3.7 update for OnePlus 6/6T have been posted on OnePlus’ official forums(via XDA). Accordingly, the update, which weighs about 224MB in size, brings the latest November 2020 security patch. That said, the update also brings fixes to notifications, screenshots, and features to Game Space. Precisely, you get new gaming tools in Fnatic mode, a quick reply feature, and more. You can take a look at the entire changelog below:

  • System
    • Newly added “Hide silent notifications in status bar” feature to filter unimportant notifications, making the app notification management easier( Route: Settings>Apps & Notifications> Notifications> Advanced> Hide silent notifications in status bar )
    • Fixed the small probability issue that Screenshot may fail
    • Updated Android Security Patch to 2020.11
    • Improved system stability and fixed general bugs
EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro get November 2020 security patch update
  • Game Space
    • Newly added gaming tools box for convenient switches of Fnatic mode. You can now choose three ways of notifications: text-only, heads up, and block, just for your immersive gaming experience
    • Newly added quick reply feature in a small window for WhatsApp and INS (Enable it by swiping down from upper right/left corners of the screen in gaming mode)
    • Newly added mistouch prevention feature. Enable it, swipe down from the top of the screen, click and the notification bar will pop out.

If we recall, the company rolled out an OxygenOS 10.3.6 update last month. However, it had very few changes, unlike the latest update. Anyway, both the OnePlus 6 and 6T, as mentioned above are flagships from 2018. Hence, it will be interesting to see if they get an Android 11 update sometime in the future although I feel it’s unlikely.

That said, the OTA is a staged rollout, and hence expect it to take a few days before it reaches you. If you are someone who has either of these devices, you can check for OTA notification in Settings->Sytem-> System Updates to update them.

UP NEXT: iPhone 11 vs OnePlus 8T vs Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro: Specs Comparison

Lenovo teases the design of its upcoming smartphones

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

Lenovo has three new smartphones coming soon. We believe they are three based on the first teaser poster it released last week. The new phones will be positioned as direct rivals to the three new Redmi Note 9 phones announced in China today.

Following the launch of the Redmi Note 9 series, Lenovo has shared new teaser images of the upcoming phones on its Weibo page. These images reveal some parts of the design of the new devices.

Lenovo teaser

The first image reveals that the phones or at least one of them will have triple rear cameras. Yes, we believe that the image shows three cameras and an LED flash and not four cameras. The cameras are housed in a squircle that sits at the top left corner of the phone. The image also shows that the phone(s) will have an audio jack at the top.

The second teaser image shows the front of the device and as we can see, there is a hole punch at the top left corner for the front-facing camera. The third photo shows the left side of the phone where a button sits on the frame. Practically all phones have their power button on the right side of the device and we believe that this will be the case for the upcoming Lenovo phones. However, since this button is on the left, our guess is that it may be a custom key that can be used to quickly launch an app or call up the AI assistant on the device.

The caption for the images hints at the upcoming phones having a better camera, a bigger display, and a more ergonomic design than the Redmi Note 9 series. While Lenovo is yet to reveal the name of the upcoming smartphones, one of the devices is expected to launch as the Lenovo K12 Pro which is a rebadged Moto G9 Power.

UP NEXT: Lenovo to launch Lemon branded entry-level phones soon in China

 

Redmi Watch launched as the brand’s first smartwatch priced at 269 yuan(~$40)

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Aside from the Redmi Note 9 series that was unveiled by Xiaomi, the brand also launched the Redmi Watch in China today (Thursday). the smartwatch is the second wearable device that Redmi would be showcasing and indeed, the first Redmi-branded smartwatch.Redmi Watc

The Redmi Watch features a square-shaped screen with a simple but elegant design. It weighs just 35g and the frame comes in three color options of black, ivory, blue ink. In addition, the strap color options include black, ivory, cherry pink, and pine needle green.

The minimalist design language includes a 2.5D curved glass panel, matte texture body, metal texture buttons, matching skin-friendly TPU material strap, manufactured using heat bending process in order for it to fit the curvature of the wrist. The watch also comes with a detachable buckle.Redmi Watch

The Redmi Watch may as well be the same as the Mi Watch Lite that Xiaomi is expected to announce soon. Both smartwatches share a similar 1.4-inch square display with a pixel density of 323PPI. The watch also features more than 20 custom dials, including classic simplicity, cool IP, independent design, etc.

In terms of functions, the Redmi Watch supports heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and sedentary monitoring. It can record 24-hour heart rate changes, resting heart rate for the past 30 days, and also supports breathing training functions. The watch comes with 7 sports modes which include outdoor running, indoor running, outdoor cycling, indoor cycling, walking, swimming in the pool, and free activities.Redmi Watch

Furthermore, there is a built-in high-precision six-axis sensor with a motion algorithm and supports 50 meters waterproof. Redmi didn’t disclose the battery capacity but claims the watch can last for a week on a single charge. The battery saver mode can extend the battery life for up to 12 days.

In addition, the smartwatch has a built-in microphone that supports XiaoAI voice assistant. At the same time, it has a multi-functional NFC, supports more than 270 city bus cards, can write access cards, linkage with Xiaomi door locks, etc., It also supports Alipay two-dimensional code offline payment via NFC. It comes with 5ATM waterproof protection.

The Redmi Watch carries a decent price tag of 299 yuan (~45). It is presently up for pre-orders across multiple channels in China.  The pre-order comes with a 30 yuan discount, bringing down the price to 269 yuan (~$40). The watch will be officially launched at 0:00 am on December 1.

UP NEXT: Oppo X 2021 unveiled as the world’s first smartphone concept with an extending display

 

Microsoft may bring Xbox games to smart TVs as early as next year

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Xbox chief executive Phil Spencer recently gave an interview with The Verge where he outlined the future direction of the company. Possibly alluding to falling sales for the gaming console from Microsoft, Spencer voiced his disappointment that the expected launch title Halo Infinite was delayed to 2021, as this obviously could have negatively affected sales of the Xbox Series X/S. However, the decline in sales was an industry-wide phenomenon largely due to supply chain problems, and also affected Sony, Nvidia, and AMD.Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S featured

According to Spencer, “From a business standpoint, I’m selling every console I can build. It’s hard for me to point out how I would be selling more consoles today. I wouldn’t be.”
Spencer had some good words for rival Sony, as he applauded what Sony has done with the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller that is bringing a lot of plaudits.

As game streaming becomes an integral part of the gaming industry, Spencer insists that Microsoft still has plans for another console after the Xbox Series. Spencer also had a few words on Microsoft’s spat with Apple over game streaming.

A major highlight of the interview was that Microsoft is already thinking of adding the Xbox console experience as an app for smart TVs, starting from next year.

When asked a question about the Xbox becoming a TV app, Spencer responded thus: “I think you’re going to see that in the next 12 months. I don’t think anything is going to stop us from doing that.” Going further, he said that TV sets have undergone a massive transformation from just beaming visuals to a device that can now easily take on the functions of many devices we used to have around the TV. The TV has been consolidated into one big screen serving several purposes.

Presently, xCloud is only currently available at 720p and is far from being TV-ready.
The idea that a smart TV could stream xCloud, similar to the way Google uses the Chromecast Ultra for Stadia sounds very appealing. There are however possible complications: Stadia controllers connect directly to WiFi to try and nullify the input lag.
Although Spencer was non-committal on the possibility, we are sure It’s going to happen sooner or later.

UP NEXT: Oppo X 2021 unveiled as the world’s first smartphone concept with an extending display

 

1...3,1543,1553,156...5,166Page 3,155 of 5,166
Gizmochina
Gizmochina brings you the best of tech from China and around the globe!
© 2025 Gizmochina | All rights reserved | If you buy something via one of our affiliate links, Gizmochina may earn a commission.