Honor V40 series will not feature Kirin 9000, claims leak

-

Nov 23, 2020

At the recently held China Mobile Global Partner Conference, ZTE announced the ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme Edition and it also showcased the all-new Blade 20 Pro 5G mid-range phone. Today, the company took to Weibo to confirm that the Blade A20 Pro 5G will break cover on Nov. 30 in China.

In the launch poster released by the brand, the Blade 20 Pro 5G can be seen sporting a waterdrop notch display. It also reveals that the device will be sporting a curved edge display. The handset will be arriving as a higher version of the Blade 20 5Gv that debuted earlier this month in the home market.

Editor’s Pick: ZTE Blade A51 live shots and key specs leaked through FCC certification

ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G specifications

The Blade 20 Pro 5G has a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display that offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. While the Blade 20 5G came with the Dimensity 720 chipset, the Pro model will be driven by the Snapdragon 765G SoC.

The teardrop notch has a 20-megapixel camera for capturing selfies. The backside of the phone features a quad camera setup pioneered by a 64-megapixel lens. There is no information available on the configurations of its other cameras.

The Blade 20 Pro 5G draws power from a 4,0000Ah battery. It is unclear whether the device supports fast charging. The handset has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It is unclear whether the device has a side-facing or a rear-mounted fingerprint reader.

The Blade 20 Pro 5G will be available for purchase from Nov. 30. The Axon 20 5G Extreme Edition is also expected to go on sale on the same day. At present, there is no word on the pricing of these devices.

TikTok and WeChat ban in the US to “ultimately” succeed: Trump Aide

By

Sean

-

Nov 23, 2020

Robert O’Brien, the US National Security Adviser recently stated that the Trump administration’s efforts to ban popular Chinese social media apps like WeChat and TikTok will “ultimately” succeed.

For those unaware, President Donald Trump has been actively working to restrict Chinese owned social media platforms in the US. The reason behind this was national security, but the ban order had been put on hold due to court injunctions. Notably, WeChat and TikTok users have also argued that the ban was only motivated by election year politics rather than an actual security based risk, as per a Bloomberg report.

According to Robert O’Brien, “We’re now looking — those court cases are ongoing, so the federal government will wait and see what our courts tell us we can or can’t do with respect to those bans. I think ultimately the president’s authority with those bans on those apps will be enforced. And I think even if there’s a change in administration, those bans will take place.”

Interestingly, President-elect Joe Biden is set to take the office on 20th January 2020 and has promised to review the situation regarding the security risk posed by TikTok. Furthermore, the administration will also be reviewing other Chinese companies that have popular applications in the US “that are taking a lot of data from the American people,” O’Brien added. “We’re taking a look at those apps as well and there could be some action. We’ll have to see what the president decides to do.” Although, it is still too early to tell how the situation will play out, and we will have to wait for further development to know for sure.

Huawei launches MateStation B515 PC for government and enterprises, features AMD Ryzen 4000 series APUs

By

Sean

-

Nov 23, 2020

Huawei has just launched its latest desktop PC, dubbed the MateStation B515. It features an AMD Ryzen 4000 series APU and is mainly being aimed at government and other enterprises rather than the consumer market, as seen in the official listing on the company’s website.

According to the company’s official listing, the new desktop will only target the government and enterprise level corporations. In other words, its built with professional workloads in mind. Thus, its design and body is also sober and simple, with similarly styled monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Looking at its specs, the PC can be outfitted with either the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G or the Ryzen 7 4700G processors. These chips are APUs, which mean that they arrive with built in Radeon Vega graphics.

As for memory, the company is offering either 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 RAM that are clocked at 3200MHz. For storage, different configurations can have the users equip an SSD storage alongside a 1TB HDD. Its power supply is 300W, and it also supports built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The Huawei MateStation B515 runs on Windows 10 Home out of the box.

Arriving at the monitor, it is a 23.8 inch display with narrow bezels on every side and a high screen to body ration of 90 percent, which is in line with a leak we had previously reported on. It has a FHD resolution 1920 x 1080px and is paired with the smart keyboard and mouse. The PC’s power button integrates fingerprint recognition and even has its own NFC module, which can be linked with Huawei smartphones.

A Weibo user by the name of @看山的叔叔 (a Chinese microblogging website) shared further details regarding the new MateStation B515 PC. As per the post, the Huawei desktop can also be equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 discrete graphics card as well. Furthermore, only the 16GB RAM variant will feature the smart keyboard that supports fingerprint scanning, while the base 8GB RAM variant will only feature a normal keyboard. There are a total of 5 different configurations ranging from 4,999 Yuan to 8,999 Yuan (roughly 760 US Dollars to 1,370 US Dollars).

Samsung Galaxy S21 series to reportedly launch with 5G support in India

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

Samsung is done launching its high-end smartphones for this year and now the focus is on the company’s upcoming flagship smartphones. The first one in the line is the next-generation Galaxy S-series devices.

As per the reports, the South Korean giant is gearing to launch its Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup earlier this year. There are reports out there which indicate that the launch event could take place on 14th January.

Now, it is being reported that the Galaxy S21 series will come with support for 5G connectivity in the Indian market. This is noteworthy that the Galaxy S20 series only offered 4G support in India given that India doesn’t have 5G infrastructure in the country.

As per the leaks, there will be three models in the Galaxy S21 lineup, similar to its predecessor — Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy S21 Plus 5G, and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. They will carry model numbers SM-G991B, SM-G996B, SM-G998B.

Recently, it was revealed that the Galaxy S21 will come with a 6.2-inch LTPS FHD+ AMOLED display while the Plus variant will have a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, a downgrade compared to the QHD+ display panel in S20 Plus. Both the smartphones are said to come with a 120Hz refresh rate. As for the S21 Ultra, the phone will feature a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with WQHD+ display resolution.

As for the internals, the devices will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 Mobile Platform or the Samsung Exynos 2100 chipset, depending on the region. As per the benchmark results, it seems that the Exynos 2100 is outperforming SD875.

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G key specifications revealed; Snapdragon 750G gets confirmed

In the camera department, the smartphones are expected to feature a triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is said to have a quad-camera setup consisting of a 108-megapixel ISOCELL HM3 camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, and a telephoto lens with 10X zoom.

Along with 5G, the phones are expected to have support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. The Samsung Galaxy S21 is said to pack a 4,000mAh battery while the S21 Plus is likely to come powered by a 4,800mAh battery. On the other hand, the S21 Ultra will be powered by a 5,000mAh battery.

Redmi Watch likely to launch on November 26

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

An official listing by Redmi has confirmed that there are three major highlights of the Redmi Note 9 5G launch event that will be held on Nov. 26 in China. Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing will be hosting a talk show mostly to talk about the new products. A screengrab of the official listing shows that the company will also unveil new smart products at the event. Since Weibing already teased the arrival of the Redmi Watch earlier this month, it appears that the first smartwatch by Redmi may get unveiled alongside the Note 9 5G series.

The Redmi Watch’s MIIT certification from September revealed its model number is REDMIWT01. In the same month, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite was spotted with model number REDMIWT02 model number at the UL (Demko) certification. Since both have similar model numbers, it appears the Redmi Watch could be made available with the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite moniker in markets outside of China.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi 33W SonicCharge 2.0 Charger launched in India for ₹999 ($13)

Last month, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite bagged certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The listing had revealed that the Mi Watch Lite has a square-shaped color display of 1.4 inches. The screen carries support for the auto-brightness feature.

The Mi Watch Lite offers 50ATM water resistance and many fitness modes including 24-hour heart rate monitoring. The device is backed by a 230mAh battery that supports 5W charging. The smartwatch is also equipped with built-in GPS and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.

Now that the same watch is likely to launch in China as the Redmi Watch, both devices could be packed with identical specs. At present, there is no word on its pricing.

Upcoming OPPO flagship smartphone to reportedly have dual main camera setup

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

Earlier this year, in March, China-based OPPO had launched its current flagship smartphone — OPPO Find X2, which comes with a 120Hz display and Snapdragon 865 SoC. Now, details about its successor have surfaced online.

A leak on Weibo related to OPPO’s upcoming flagship smartphone reveals some interesting features of the device. It claims that the phone will feature a 3K screen resolution and come with a high refresh rate.

OPPO Find X2 Pro Flagship Smartphone — OPPO Find X2 Pro

The device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 Mobile Platform, which is set to get launched in the coming days. Most of the flagship smartphones next year are likely to be powered by this upcoming chipset.

Further, it is revealed that the phone will come with new camera technology. It is said that the company has tested a new dual main camera system using a custom Sony IMX7xx camera sensor with a larger CMOS bottom and higher pixel count.

EDITOR’S PICK: OPPO X 2021 unveiled as the world’s first smartphone concept with an extending display

The leak also goes on to add that the smartphone will have support for Super Flash Charging technology. It’s likely to be 65W even though the company has already unveiled 125W Flash Charging technology a few months ago.

Earlier, Liu Bo, OPPO’s Vice President and the company’s President in China, has confirmed that the next-generation OPPO Find series smartphone will get launched in the first quarter of 2021, which means somewhere between January and March.

It will be interesting to see what the upcoming flagship smartphone from OPPO packs and how it differs from other brand’s flagship offerings. While not much is known about the hardware, it’s safe to assume that the phone will run Android 11 with ColorOS 7.2 custom user interface on top.

Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G key specifications revealed; Snapdragon 750G gets confirmed

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

Redmi is all set to take off covers from the Redmi Note 9 5G lineup on Thursday. Various reports have claimed that the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite will be rebadged as the Redmi Note 9 5G Pro. However, only the noticeable difference between the two phones is that the Mi 10T Lite has a 64-megapixel main camera, whereas the Redmi phone is expected to flaunt a 108-megapixel sensor. A Chinese tipster took to Weibo to reveal a few details of the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G’s rear cameras. In addition, the Redmi General Manager has confirmed that the Snapdragon 750G will be powering the smartphone.

For the unawares, the quad-camera system of the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite has a 64-megpaixel main camera, a 120-degree 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. According to the tipster, the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G’s rear camera system has a 108-megapixel primary shooter, a superwide lens, a telephoto snapper, and a macro lens.

He added that the specifications of the other sensors are not that good, but they are relatively thin and cheap. Hence, it appears that the phone may borrow its superwide lens, telephoto sensor, and macro lens from the Mi 10T Lite. While Weibing did not specifically mention which of the Note 9 5G series phone has the Snapdragon 750G, it is quite evident that the Note 9 Pro 5G will feature it.

The above-shown poster reveals that the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G has a punch-hole LCD screen that offers 120Hz refresh rate, a 4,820mAh battery with 33W rapid charging support, dual speakers with Hi-Res Audio support, a 3.5mm audio jack, NFC, Z-axis linear motor, and an IR blaster.

Microsoft Surface Duo reportedly on track to launch in Europe in early 2021

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

A couple of months ago, in August this year, Microsoft officially launched its much-anticipated Surface Duo smartphone in the market. Soon after the launch of this device in the United States, the company decided to push back from rolling it out to other regions.

Now, it seems that Microsoft is on track to launch the Surface Duo in other regions, starting with the European market early next year. It’s noteworthy that the device has already been certified in Japan, UK, and Canada.

As per the reports, the Redmond-giant is in talks with mobile carriers in the United Kingdom to launch the Surface Duo in early 2021. However, it is not clear if the company is sticking to a similar launch timeline for other markets.

It seems that Microsoft is holding off on the expansion plan till it gets satisfactory customer feedback and meets the expectations as set by the company internally.

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung reportedly confirms Galaxy Z Fold 3 launch in June 2021 and Galaxy Note line discontinuation

The Microsoft Surface Duo comes with a pair of 5.6-inch PixelSense AMOLED screen that combines to offer a screen space of 8.1-inch. The front and rear sides of the device are protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

It packs 6GB of RAM and comes in two internal storage options — 128GB and 256GB. However, there’s no option for the users to expand the storage capacity. There’s also a single camera of 11-megapixel that supports EIS and 60fps 4K video recording.

The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform, an older chipset, which is a bit disappointing for such a high-priced product. It is running the Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 3,577mAh battery along with support for 18W fast charging technology.

Huawei FreeBuds 3i TWS earphone’s Black-colored model to soon go on sale in China

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

Earlier this year, in May, China-based Huawei had announced its new true wireless earphones in the market — Huawei FreeBuds 3i. As the name indicates, it’s a variant of the company’s third-generation of TWS earphones — FreeBuds 3.

At the time of launch, the company had revealed that while the earphones will initially be available in White color, the Black colored variant would go on sale in China from June 2020. However, it’s only available in just one color option — Ceramic White.

But, as per the latest reports, the company is now all set to launch the Carbon Black color option for the Huawei FreeBuds 3i in the Chinese market. It is likely to carry a price tag of 999 yuan, which is roughly $152.

The TWS earbuds pack large 10mm dynamic drivers and have multiple mics for the active noise cancellation feature. The company says that the earphones offer a thorough noise-canceling experience. It also comes with the usual touch-based controls for things like play/pause and answering or ending calls.

EDITOR’S PICK: Sony Xperia Compact phone with a 5.5-inch screen and Snapdragon 775 could be in works

Huawei also says that the new earphones have a highly-sensitive diaphragm that is carefully tuned to deliver authentic, balanced audio with powerful bass. It can be paired automatically with the pop-up window when the charging case is open.

As for the battery life, the Bluetooth 5.0-supported Huawei FreeBuds 3i can offer up to 3.5 hours of audio playback on a single charge. For longer battery life, it comes with a charging case that can deliver up to 14.5 hours of usage.

Redmi Note 9 5G series launch event will include Lu Weibing’s talk show

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

Recently, Xiaomi-backed Redmi confirmed that the company will be launching its Redmi Note 9 5G series smartphones at a launch event in China on 26th November. Now, more information about the event has surfaced online.

The company has confirmed that the event will feature Florist Show, a band set up by triplet girls. Apart from that, Lu Weibing, Redmi brand’s General Manager and Xiaomi China’s President will host a talk show to launch the new smartphones.

The teaser poster shared by the company reads “One Milion Goes Forward”, which hints at the 100MP camera sensor on the upcoming device. The high-end variant of the series will feature a Samsung HM2 camera sensor while the standard variant is expected to come with a 48MP primary camera.

It is also said that the high-end model will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset while the other devices in the series will pack MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor for 5G connectivity support.

EDITOR’S PICK: Sony Xperia Compact phone with a 5.5-inch screen and Snapdragon 775 could be in the works

As per the leaks, the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ 120Hz IPS LCD display and is powered by a 4,820mAh battery that supports 33W rapid charging. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 9 5G is said to have a 6.53-inch IPS LCD FHD+ display and is powered by a bigger 5,000mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging support.

The Redmi Note 9 5G is expected to arrive in other markets as the Redmi Note 9T. A 4G-ready Redmi phone (M2010J19SC) was recently approved by China’s TENAA authority. It seems that this device could also end up as a Note 9 series phone.

While the company is all set to officially launch the new Redmi Note 9 5G series smartphones in China on 26th November, the devices are now up for pre-orders in China through JD.com. We expect this series to go on sale soon after its launch.

Samsung reportedly confirms Galaxy Z Fold 3 launch in June 2021 and Galaxy Note line’s discontinuation

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

Samsung will begin the coming year with the launch of the Galaxy S21 series in Q1. Reports have claimed that the South Korean company may cancel the Galaxy Note line next year. This could be the reason why the Galaxy S21 Ultra is speculated to arrive with support for S Pen stylus. A fresh report by South Korean publication Aju News (via) states that Samsung Electronics has confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 foldable phone will break cover in June 2021. It also claims that the company will discontinue the Galaxy Note series.

According to the report, Samsung has started developing final samples of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for mass production. The premium foldable phone is expected to arrive with Samsung’s latest technologies such as the S Pen and under-display camera.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 will have a dedicated compartment to house the S Pen. Past reports have revealed that the Galaxy S21 Ultra will not have an S Pen compartment, but it will carry support for it. Since the S Pen support will be available on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and S21 Ultra, Samsung will discontinue the Note series. The report says that Fold 3 will go official by the last week of June.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy A70 starts getting One UI 2.5 update in Europe

Although the company succeeded in mounting an in-screen digitizer to recognize the S Pen, it was difficult to develop a tempered glass that prevents the screen from getting scratched while using the S Pen. Hence, the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 2 did not arrive with S Pen support. In a bid to enable S Pen support, Samsung replaced the CPI film with Ultra-Thin Glass (UTC) on the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Since the first-generation UTC couldn’t bring S Pen support, Samsung Display worked with its subsidiary Dowoo Insys to develop second-generation UTC which has made it possible to bring S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Recent reports have revealed that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will offer a full-screen experience since it will include an under-display camera. However, if the usage of UDC results in deterioration of the screen or low-quality photos, Samsung may exclude the feature from the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Wireless Power Consortium certifies Timex Alarm Clock with Wireless Charging

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

As wireless charging gets more popular, we have seen manufacturers include charging coils in products that usually wouldn’t have one such as Bluetooth speakers, desk lamps, and even laptop trackpads. Timex, the popular watch manufacturer has joined the trend with an alarm clock that doubles as a wireless charger.

With the average home having one smartphone, a smart display, and or smart speakers, alarm clocks should not be a thing anymore. Nevertheless, we won’t judge you if still use one. And if you are planning to pick up a new one or get one for a friend, then you should be on the lookout for this one from Timex that also has a wireless charging could at the top so you can wirelessly charge your phone while you sleep.

The Timex Alarm Clock with Wireless Charging was certified by the Wireless Power Consortium a few days ago. The alarm clock has a red LED display and a qi wireless charger built into it. From the image provided by the WPC, users can set two different alarms on the clock. It comes in black and has a handful of physical buttons at the top, right next to where the wireless charging coil is positioned.

This is not Timex’s first alarm clock with support for Qi wireless charging. There is one that not only has a wireless charging coil but also has a speaker and a USB port for charging a second device.

We do not know when this alarm clock will launch but we are pretty sure there won’t be much fanfare, if any at all, when it is announced.

Sony Xperia Compact phone with 5.5-inch screen and Snapdragon 775 could be in works

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

A recent report had revealed that Sony is working on the successors for the Sony Xperia 1 II and Xperia 10 II that went official earlier this year. The alleged Xperia 1 III and Xperia 10 III are expected to go official in the first quarter of the coming year. Fresh information reveals that the Japanese tech giant is working on a compact. Probably, the company will bring back its Compact Xperia lineup next year.

A Weibo user has claimed that Sony will release a new 5.5-inch Compact series smartphone in the first half of 2021. He also revealed that the device will be driven by the upcoming Snapdragon 775 chipset. It is expected to go official as a lower variant of an existing model.

Editor’s Pick: Sony PS5 selling for twice its price in Hong Kong due to high demand

Probably, the compact phone arriving next year could be the lower variant of the Snapdragon 875 powered Sony Xperia 1 III that is expected to go official in Q1 2021. Hence, there is a possibility that its compact version could be dubbed as the Sony Xperia 1 III Compact. The Snapdragon 775 chipset is expected to go official soon as the successor to the Snapdragon 765 / 765G that went official earlier last year.

There is no other information available on the specs of the rumored Xperia 1 III Compact. It is likely that the device will borrow most of its specs from the advanced Xperia 1 III. It is speculated that the Xperia 1 III will be the company’s first phone with quad rear cameras.

The Xperia 10 III could be driven by the Snapdragon 690. It is speculated that the Xperia L5 could be equipped with the Helio P35 chipset. The L5 is also expected to go official in Q1 next year.

(via 1, 2)

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

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

If you live in India and are looking for a way to earn extra money, you may soon be able to do so with a new app from Google called Task Mate. The app which is still in beta provides users with tasks they can complete on their phone to earn money which can then be withdrawn.

According to a Reddit post via 9to5Google, the tasks are simple, sourced from “businesses around the world”, and are categorized as “Sitting or Field” tasks. Some sitting tasks include transcribing, recording spoken sentences, and translating from English to your local language while field tasks include taking photos of shopfronts for use in improving mapping details.

Screenshots from the app show that users will be able to see the amount earned from approved tasks as well as the amount from tasks still pending review. You will also be able to see the total number of tasks you have completed, the total number of correctly done tasks, your level, and your accuracy. Tasks can be completed anytime and from anywhere according to the description of the app on the Play Store.

Users will be able to withdraw their earnings in their local currency. To do that, they will have to register an e-wallet or account with their payment partner. When that is done, earnings can be withdrawn by hitting the “Cash Out” button.

Google Task Mate is currently available on an invite-only basis and there is no info saying how long it will be in beta. Nevertheless, now that you know about it, you can keep your eyes peeled on news related to the app. Based on the description of the app, it is expected to be available in other countries too but there is no info on which countries will be supported and when it will be available.

Vivo V20 Pro pre-order offers include cashbacks and rewards up to ₹10,000 (~$135)

By

-

Nov 23, 2020

The Vivo V20 Pro 5G is yet to get an official launch date in India. Yesterday, a leak revealed that the phone may be announced on Tuesday, November 24. We have also heard that the phone is likely to launch in the first week of December. While we wait for Vivo to announce the launch date, details of offers and rewards for those who will pre-order the phone have surfaced.

According to an image shared on Twitter by Tushar Mehta (@thetymonbay) of XDA Developers, those who pre-order the Vivo V20 Pro will get 10% cashback on credit and debit cards from ICICI, 10% cashback on ZestMoney Finance, and 10% on credit cards from Bank of Baroda.

The image also says that buyers will get Jio offers worth up to ₹10,000 (~$135), Vivo upgrade offers, and 1 EMI cashback from IDFC First Bank among others.

The Vivo V20 Pro will most likely launch in December as the official Vivo India social media accounts are yet to make an announcement with respect to its launch if it were indeed scheduled for November 24.

When it does launch, the mid-range 5G phone will pack a 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 765G processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 64MP triple rear cameras, 44MP+8MP dual front-facing cameras, a 4000mAh battery capacity, and support for 33W fast charging. It will also run Android 10 out of the box.

Poll of The Week: Which Chinese flagship are you most excited for next year?

By