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Redmi K30 Ultra base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB goes on sale for 1,999 yuan ($309)

A couple of months ago, Xiaomi launched the Redmi K30 Ultra smartphone in its home market China, marking the 10-year anniversary of the company. Recently, the phone’s 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant went on sale, for 2,499 yuan (~$374).

Now, the Redmi K30 Ultra’s base variant which packs 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage is available for purchase in China through online marketplace JD.com for 1,999 yuan, which roughly converts to $309 and will start shipping from 30th November.

Redmi K30 Ultra

As for the specifications, the Redmi K30 Ultra features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display from Samsung that offers Full HD+ screen resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, HDR10+ support, 120Hz refresh rate, and 92.7 percent screen-to-body ratio.

Under the hood, the device comes powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ 5G chipset. It is built using a 7nm process and packs the latest high-performance ARM Cortex-A77 and Mali-G77 cores. The device supports SA/NSA dual-mode 5G as well as dual 5G standby.

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In the camera department, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back that includes a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5-megapixel tele-macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the front side, there’s a 20-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The phone is also optimized for gaming as it comes with dual Hyper Engine 2.0 and Game Turbo optimization engines. It also has a 3,495mm² ultra-large area vapor chamber along with a graphene + graphite 3D heat dissipation system.

It runs the Android 10 operating system with the company’s MIUI 12 on top. The phone is powered by a 4,500mAh battery along with support for 33W fast charging technology.

 

Realme 7 5G launch date is November 19

Currently, the Realme 7 series has three smartphones such as the Realme 7, Realme 7 Pro, and Realme 7i. None of these phones are equipped with support for 5G connectivity. Yesterday, the Realme 7 5G was spotted at Thailand’s NBTC certification platform. Now, Realme UK has officially confirmed that it will be holding an online launch event for the Realme 7 5G on Nov. 19.

The launch poster released by Realme UK has revealed the front design of the Realme 7 5G. The handset can be seen flaunting a punch-hole screen like the other Realme 7 series smartphones. The device is equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Realme 7 5G November 19 launch

The Realme 7 5G’s NBTC certification revealed that its model number is RMX2111. Since the Realme V5 5Gv phone that debuted in August has the same model number, it seems that it will be rebranded as the Realme 7 5G in the UK. Hence, the Realme 7 5G may borrow all its specs from the Realme V5 5G smartphone.

Realme 7 5G specifications (Rumored)

The Realme 7 5G could be equipped with a 6.5-inch punch-hole display. The IPS LCD screen may produce a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The Realme UI based Android 10 OS may come preinstalled on the device.

Realme V5 5G
Realme V5 5G

The Dimensity 720 chipset could be powering the device with up to 8 GB of RAM. The phone may ship with up to 128 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for additional storage. It could be housing a 5,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. For photography, it may feature a 16-megapixel selfie camera and a 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad camera setup.

 

 

YouTube is experiencing a downtime at the moment

If you are trying to watch a video on YouTube right now, you probably can’t. The good news is that you are not alone. The bad news is, of course, you can’t watch your video.

One of the official YouTube Twitter accounts has confirmed that there is an issue and they are working on a fix but there is no info on how long it will take before things get back to normal.

The issue is a global one as there are reports of YouTube down from different parts of the world including Nigeria and the USA.

Based on this info, you should let your router be, stop restarting your devices, and just chill till things get back to normal. Maybe, read a book or just take a break from your phone. Your eyes will thank you for that.

 

Smoking Xbox Series X? Microsoft says not to blow vape smoke into your console

The Xbox Series X and Series S went on sale this week. The new consoles bring new features and upgrades over the previous generation. Just a day into the first sale day and there are a few videos of smoking Xbox Series X consoles on the internet.

Those who have uploaded these videos claim the console caught fire and began letting out smoke but it turns out that these videos are most likely fake.

Another video (below) has revealed what seems to be going on and as you can see below, it’s users blowing vape smoke in the direction of the console which then exits through the vent at the top.

The reason why the vape smoke exits through the vent is because of how the console is designed. The fan is designed to suck out the heat from the console and let it out through the vent, and since the Xbox Series X doesn’t sit flush with the surface, thanks to the feet at the bottom, the fan can pick up the vape smoke, thus appearing as if the console is on fire.

The chance of the console catching fire if it overheats is almost non-existent as there is no battery inside the device. Most electronic devices that catch fire or explode are known to have built-in batteries and this is not the case with consoles such as the Xbox Series X.

The development has resulted in the official Xbox Twitter account releasing a statement today, pleading with users not to blow vape smoke into their consoles.

There are other complaints on the internet about issues with the console such as unusual noises and the drive not accepting discs. If your console is having these sorts of issues, Xbox says you should contact support.

It is not unusual for a new product to have issues and the Xbox Series X will most likely not be excluded from this. Nevertheless, it’s ridiculous to see some folks are making up issues.

 

Motorola US offers up to $100 discount on Moto G smartphones

Holiday shopping has begun already and if phones are part of what you plan to hand out as gifts this year, then you may want to look towards Motorola’s lineup.

The US arm of the Lenovo-owned company has announced a discount of up to $100 on its Moto G series alongside some other models. Below are some of the notable ones:

Moto G Power

Moto G Stylus

The Moto G Stylus launched earlier this year and specs of a successor have already been leaked. The phone which had a launch price of $299 can now be purchased for $199. That price gets you a phone with a 6.4-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 665 processor 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 48MP triple rear cameras, and a 4000mAh battery. As the name says, you also get a stylus along with some cool software features such as a notification when the stylus has not been reinserted after a while.

The phone is known as the Moto G Pro in Germany with slightly different features and a promise it will get Android 11 and Android 12, so we expect the US version will receive the same treatment.

 

Moto G Stylus discount

Moto G Power

The Moto G Power which has a similar design and uses the same processor as the Moto G Stylus is also on sale. It launched for $249 in February but can be picked up for $179.99 now. While it has just 64GB of storage, you still get 4GB of RAM. There is a MicroSD card slot for adding up to an additional 512GB of storage. It has also got 16MP+8MP+2MP triple rear cameras, a 16MP selfie camera, stereo speakers, and a 5000mAh battery that should last up to days on a single charge.

 

Moto G Fast

Moto G Fast

Want something even more affordable? Then the Moto G Fast should do it for you. This phone, which also has a Snapdragon 665 processor as the ones above but 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, launched in the US in June for $200. Right now, Motorola is selling it for $149.99.

Other features are a 6.4-inch HD+ screen, triple rear cameras, a 4000mAh battery, a water-repellent coating, and a fingerprint scanner. The phone also runs Android 10 out of the box.

Motorola has not said how long the prices will be discounted but you should hurry as the stock may be limited. All phones are available on Motorola’s website.

 

iPhone SE vs iPhone XR vs iPhone 11: Specs Comparison

The whole iPhone 12 lineup is finally on sale, but their prices are all but affordable. If you want to save money when getting a new iPhone, you should opt for the iPhone SE 2020 or for one of the models from previous generations which are still on sale. The iPhone 11 is a very good option, and it was one of the best selling phones of 2020. If you need to save even more, then you could opt for the iPhone XR as it is more affordable than the iPhone 11, but it costs more than the compact iPhone SE 2020. Which affordable Apple phone is the best for your needs? With this specs comparison, we tried to answer this question.

Apple iPhone SE vs Apple iPhone XR vs Apple iPhone 11

Apple iPhone SE 2020 Apple iPhone XR Apple iPhone 11
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm, 148 g 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm, 194 g 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm, 194 g
DISPLAY  4.7 inches, 750 x 1334p (HD+), Retina IPS LCD 6.1 inches, 828 x 1792p (HD+),  Liquid Retina IPS LCD 6.1 inches, 828 x 1792p (HD+),  Liquid Retina IPS LCD
PROCESSOR Apple A13 Bionic, hexa-core 2.65 GHz Apple A12 Bionic, hexa-core 2.5 GHz Apple A13 Bionic, hexa-core 2.65 GHz
MEMORY 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE  iOS 13 iOS 12 iOS 13
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA  Single 12 MP, f/1.8
Single 7 MP f/2.2 front camera
Single 12 MP, f/1.8
Dual 7 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera
Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4
Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY  1821 mAh, fast charging 18W, Qi wireless charging 2942 mAh, fast charging 15W, wireless charging 3110 mAh, fast charging 18W, Qi wireless charging
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Optional eSIM, IP67 water resistant, Touch ID Optional Dual SIM slot, optional eSIM, IP67 water resistant, Face ID Optional Dual SIM slot, optional eSIM waterproof IP68, Face ID

Design

If you want a modern and great design, just discard the iPhone SE 2020 right now. The iPhone SE 2020 has a very outdated design: it is the same as the iPhone 8, and this is probably its biggest disadvantage. You get very thick bezels around the display and it is not good for a 2020 phone. The iPhone XR and the iPhone 11 have the same aesthetics with the exception of the camera module. Given that the iPhone XR has just one camera, its rear side is more minimal: that is why it is my favorite handset in terms of design. Instead, the iPhone 11 has a big and square-shaped camera module including two sensors and a flash LED. While the iPhone XR may look more beautiful, the iPhone 11 has a better build quality and it is waterproof with the IP68 certification (instead of the IP67 certification of the XR).

 

Display

Besides having almost the same design, iPhone XR and iPhone 11 even come with the same display. It is a 6.1-inch panel with an 828p resolution, True-tone technology, and wide color gamut. It is an IPS panel, unfortunately, no OLED in this trio. The display of these two phones is actually superior to the screen found on the iPhone SE 2020. But the iPhone SE 2020 has the most compact display and it is easy to use with one hand. iPhone SE 2020 relies on Touch ID for authentication, while iPhone XR and 11 rely on 3D facial recognition (Face ID).

 

Hardware/Software

The iPhone 11 has the most advanced hardware department. It is composed of an Apple A13 Bionic chipset, 4 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of NVMe native storage. The silver medal goes to the iPhone SE 2020 sporting an Apple A13 Bionic chipset paired with 3 GB of RAM. iPhone XR loses the fight with its Apple A12 Bionic and 3 GB of RAM. iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 11 run iOS 13 out of the box and will get longer software support, while iPhone XR ships with iOS 12. If you need the fastest phone and the best one for multi-tasking, you should go for the iPhone 11 without thinking twice.

 

Camera

iPhone SE 2020, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11 are equipped with the same 12 MP sensor for the rear camera. But unlike its two internal rivals, the iPhone 11 has an additional ultrawide 12 MP sensor making it the best camera phone of the trio. Besides offering a better rear camera department, the iPhone 11 also comes with a better front camera sporting a 12 MP resolution. Both the rear camera and the front camera of the iPhone 11 are able to record videos with 4K resolution.

 

Battery

iPhone 11 provides the longest battery life simply because it has a bigger battery. Given its 3110 mAh battery, there is no chance for iPhone XR and SE 2020 to compete. The iPhone XR has a less efficient chipset and the same display, while the battery of the iPhone SE 2020 is definitely too small.

 

Price

iPhone SE 2020 is priced €399/$399 in its base variant, iPhone XR is available for about €619/$499, and you need €719/$599 for the iPhone 11. The iPhone 11 is the best phone here and it is worth spending €100 more to get better cameras, hardware, and battery. But the iPhone SE 2020 offers the highest value for money.

 

 

Apple iPhone SE vs Apple iPhone XR vs Apple iPhone 11: PRO and CONS

Apple iPhone SE 2020

PROS

  • More compact
  • Very affordable
  • Touch ID

CONS

  • Outdated design
  • Small battery

 

Apple iPhone XR

PROS

  • Good price
  • Same display as iPhone 11
  • Face ID

CONS

  • Inferior hardware

 

Apple iPhone 11

PROS

  • Best hardware
  • Best camera department
  • Biggest battery
  • Face ID

CONS

  • Costlier

Samsung Galaxy M31s is the first M series device to get “Secure Folder” via One UI 2.5 update

After its lower-priced siblings, the Samsung Galaxy M31s is also getting the One UI 2.5 update. The new update brings the November 2020 security patch and a lot of features to the device.

Samsung Galaxy M31s

The update, as reported by Tizenhelp(via Sammobile) has firmware version M317FXXU2BTK1. As per the report, the update weighs under 750MB and brings a slew of features to the Galaxy M31s. Some of them include a Split keyboard(landscape mode), SOS messages, Camera improvements, and more.

What is highlighting is that the One UI 2.5 update changelog for Galaxy M31s shows features like AlTZLife. Also, the addition of Secure Folder is the first of its kind for a Galaxy M series device.  For the unware, AltZLife will allow users to switch between normal and private mode by double-pressing the power key. Some of its features include Quick Switch and Content Suggestions.

Previously, Samsung rolled out an update for Galaxy A51 and A71 that brought the AlTZLife features to those A-series devices. Besides, Secure Folder is for storing private data, apps, and more. Having said that, the inclusion of these features to Galaxy M31s suggests that the gap between One UI Core and fully-loaded One UI is starting to shrink.

Furthermore, the update for Galaxy M31s also includes features like Bitmoji stickers on AOD(Always On Display). Additionally, the camera app also gets improved performance to Single Take and Pro Mode. Precisely, features like Pro Video, AR Emoji, AR Doodle, Scene optimizer, SmartScan should work well now.

Anyway, Samsung is reportedly rolling out the update to countries like India, Russia, and Ukraine. You can download the update by navigating to Settings->Software Update->Download and Install.

Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro to come with Exynos 1080 chipset; to start at ~¥3500 (~$528)

Samsung will announce the Exynos 1080 processor at an event in China tomorrow. The new mobile chipset is expected to appear in a Chinese smartphone first and there are reports it will be one from Vivo. A Chinese leaker revealed today on Weibo that the new chipset will come in not one but two Vivo phones.

The source of the info is the Chinese blogger, Arsenal, and according to him, the Exynos 1080 chipset will power the Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro smartphones. This detail doesn’t come as a surprise considering the fact that the Vivo X30 and Vivo X30 Pro are both powered by the Exynos 980.

Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro Exynos 1080

This means that there is a possibility that the two phones will differ in other areas such as camera configuration.

The leaker also revealed that the starting price of the phones is ¥3500 (~$528) and that this price tag will position the phone (Vivo X60) against the Reno5 Pro and not the standard Reno5.

The Vivo X30 launched for ¥3298 (~$497) while the Pro model had a starting price of ¥4298 (~$603). It is not unusual for manufacturers to launch successors with a higher price tag and we want to believe the Vivo X60 will justify the increase in price.

The Exynos 1080 is a 5nm processor with four Cortex-A78 CPU cores and four Cortex-A55 cores. It also has a Mali-G78 GPU and an AnTuTu benchmark result puts it ahead of the Snapdragon 865+ processor.

 

OnePlus 5 gets an incremental OTA update with bugs fixes & September 2020 Security patch

OnePlus 5 has finally received an incremental OTA(Over-The-Air) update after quite a while. The new OxygenOS 10.0.1 update brings September 2020 security patch along with a few bug fixes.

OnePlus 5

OnePlus, through its community forums, announced(via XDADevelopers) the incremental update for the device. Accordingly, it says that the current update is only for the OnePlus 5 but the company will soon roll-out an incremental update for the OnePlus 5T as well.

Talking about the update, It weighs 253MB. As mentioned earlier, the update has bug fixes, security patch, and an updated GMS package as well. You can take a look at the entire changelog of the update below:

  • System
    • Fixed the abnormal call recording issue
    • Fixed the de-activated alarm issue when the phone was powered off
    • Updated Android Security Patch to 2020.09
    • Updated GMS package to 2020.08
  • Full-Screen Gestures
    • Back gesture from the bottom of the screen is available (OP5T only)
  • Camera
    • Electronic Image Stabilization added, bringing you a more stable shooting experience.

That said, this update comes after a few months of a messed up update from OnePlus. Back in May, the company rolled out a stable version of the OxygenOS 10 one month after a beta release. However, the update had many bugs including broken EIS(Electronic Image Stabilization).

Four months later, OnePlus issued an apology for not communicating the delay of updates to OnePlus 5/5T to users. It said that a serious communication module bag hampered the development. Anyway, the OnePlus 5 from 2017, launched with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and considering it already got the Android 10 update, it’s highly unlikely to get the Android 11.

Having said that, OnePlus says this update is a staged rollout. Hence, it will rollout only to a limited number of users initially. After verifying that it doesn’t have any critical bugs, OnePlus will rollout the update to everybody in a few days.

OnePlus’ budget Nord phones will only get a single major Android update

Late last month OnePlus took the wraps off its most affordable smartphones – the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100. The smartphones keep up with OnePlus’ longstanding reputation as a brand that offers high-end user experience at pocket-friendly prices. Another reputation Oneplus has built over the years is pushing timely updates to its smartphones including major updates.OnePlus Nord N10

The two affordable Nord pnes won’t be an exception. One Plus has confirmed that the two models will get updated to Android 11. However, the models will only get just one major Android update in their lifespan. Thus, the models won’t get updates beyond Android 11 as the phones ship with Android 10. This doesn’t mean they won’t get the regular security updates, though, as OnePlus hinted that the models will get two years of security updates. OnePlus did not mention if the updates will be monthly or quarterly.

A statement by a OnePlus spokesperson confirmed this to Android Central. “The Nord N10 5G and N100 will receive one major Android update and a total of two years of security updates. The plan for these two devices aligns with industry standards for smartphones in more affordable price ranges. As always, we will continue listening to feedback from our users and looking for ways to improve the software experience for all OnePlus devices”.

We should point out that this may come as a disappointing news considering that the phones were announced with Android 10 at a time Android 11 had started rolling out. Moreso, the OnePlus 8T which were launched after the Nord N10 5G and N100 came with OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 out of the box.

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Apple iPhone 12 Pro’s display has poor touch accuracy compared to OnePlus 8 Pro: DXOMARK

DXOMARK has released the display test results of the recently launched iPhone 12 Pro. And although it is two points short of topping the table, its touch accuracy seems to be poor compared to OnePlus 8 Pro.

iPhone 12 Pro DXOMARK display review

Jumping right in, the iPhone 12 Pro scores 87 points overall in the DXOMARK Display test. With this, it shares 3rd place in the rankings alongside the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. Currently, Samsung’s Note 20 Ultra 5G, which launched in August, tops the charts with 89 points. Thus, the iPhone 12 Pro misses out the crown by just 2 points.

Besides, it does well against the yesteryear iPhone 11 Pro Max which scores just 84 points. To compare, the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have a smaller 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display compared to the iPhone 11 Pro Max‘s 6.5-inches. You can check out the rest of the specs below:

  • Dimension, Aspect Ratio: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, 19.5:9
  • Resolution: 1170×2532 pixels, and 460 PPI
  • Maximum luminance: 1200 cd/m^2(candela).
  • Refresh rate: 60Hz.

The report says that iPhone 12 Pro, has only slight improvements in Color, Video over the iPhone 11 Pro Max. However, in touch accuracy, both of them score only 61, and 57 points respectively. And are way behind OnePlus 8 Pro‘s 83 points. The latter sits at second in the rankings with an overall score of 88 points.

That said, talking about Pros, the device has good video brightness and contrast, smooth light transitions, good aliasing quality while gaming, and good image rendering under sunlight due to gamma.

As for Cons, it seems to have a Yellow cast in every activity, less luminance in dark lighting, low-light flickering, and more impact of Blue-light filter on brightness and color.

Alleged specs of iPad Mini 6th Generation prototype leak

Apple refreshed its entire iPad lineup in 2020 leaving out the Mini model. But now, an alleged leak has emerged spilling the possible specifications of iPad Mini 6th Generation. As per the tipster, these specs are of one of many prototypes and therefore, the final product may differ.

Apple iPad Mini 5th Generation Featured
Apple iPad Mini 5th Generation

According to Twitter user @000leaker (via NotebookCheck), a prototype of the upcoming iPad Mini 6th Generation sports a larger 8.5-inch Liquid Retina Display, compared to the 7.9-inch screen on the current generation. Also, it features a similar boxy design as the new iPhone 12 series, iPad Air 4th Generation, and newer iPad Pro models.

Interestingly, it also features a USB Type-C port ditching the Lightning port for once and all. Further, most importantly, it is powered by Apple A14 Bionic chip paired with 4GB RAM. However, the stereo speakers are the same as the older model.

Other features of this prototype include a dual-battery, the same camera as the new iPad Air, and support for Apple Pencil 2nd Generation.

That said, the leakster also mentions the presence of performance issues with the dual-battery on this model. Hopefully, Apple fixes it and finalizes this prototype since the iPad Mini 6th Generation with this set of features should be a solid upgrade for anyone with an older gen model.

 

Moto E7 press renders and key specs leaked; Launch seems imminent

Last year, Motorola announced the Moto E6 entry-level phone in August and in September came the Moto E6 Plus smartphone. While the Lenovo-owned company unveiled the Moto E7 Plus in September, it is yet to announce its inferior sibling – the Moto E7. Fresh renders of the Moto E7 have appeared today to showcase its design in two color options. It appears that the launch date of the Moto E7 may not be far away.

The new renders shared by tipster Abhishek Yadav shows the phone in blue and gray colors. As it can be seen, the Moto E7 sports a waterdrop notch screen. The backside of the device has a square-shaped camera module that includes two cameras. Below it is the company’s logo, which seems to be integrated with a fingerprint scanner. A 3.5mm audio jack is available on the top side of the device.

In recent months, the Moto E7 has been approved by various certification bodies like the FCC in the U.S, Thailand’s NBTC, and TUV. These certifications suggest that the Moto E7 may launch as early as this month.

The leak states that the Moto E7 has a 6.2-inch HD+ display and it has a front-facing camera of 5-megapixel. The backside of the device has a 48-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup. It runs on Android 10 and it has a 5,000mAh battery. The name of the processor that powers the Moto E7 is not mentioned in the leak.

Another tipster who had recently revealed that E7 is powered by a MediaTek chipset. This leak states that the phone has a 16-megapixel front camera, which contradicts with the above leak. He claimed that the phone will be arriving in 2 GB RAM + 32 GB storage and 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage editions. He mentioned that it will be priced at $100.

 

 

Realme emerges as the No. 1 Watch brand in India in September

Realme is a relatively new brand, established in 2018. Since then, the company has gone on to create strides in the smartphone industry in and outside India. Not too long along, precisely last year, the brand ventured into the wearable business and presently has an array of smart bands, earbuds and smartwatches to its name.realme watch

The latest IDC India’s Monthly Wearable Device Report of September 2020 has shown that the brand’s wearable business is also on the rise. The report ranks Realme as the number one brand in the wearables category in India in September as the company gained a share of 22.1%.

Also, the market research firm disclosed that the Realme Watch happens to be the most shipped device in India in the last two quarters, with a market share of 21.3% in Q2 2020. The smartwatch’s market share rose to 24.1% in Q3 2020.

As a reminder, the Realme Watch made its debut in May this year as the brand’s first smartwatch. The watch features a 1.4-inch color display and features a heart rate sensor as well as a SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen level measurement. The watch which has an IP68 Waterproof rating packs a 160mAh battery which is touted to last for up to seven days on a single charge.

Realme’s VP and CEO of Realme India and Europe Madhav Sheth, in a press release recently, confirmed that Realme will introduce the Watch S and Watch S Pro soon. The Watch S was announced in Pakistan earlier this month, so we expect the smartwatches to be launched soon in Europe and India.

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Samsung Sero TV with rotatable screen for social media content launched for Rs 1,24,999 (~$1,678)

In April 2019, Samsung unveiled The Sero rotating TV that can be rotated horizontally and vertically. Earlier this year, the Sero TV was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) tech exhibition. Today, the South Korean company announced the Samsung Sero TV in India.

Samsung Sero specifications and features

Optimized for social media content, the Samsung Sero features a rotatable 43—inch QLED UHD display that delivers a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and supports HDR10+ format. The smart TV can upscale lower resolution to 4K. Adaptive Picture, Responsive UI, Tap View technology, Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) are some of the features offered by the Samsung Sero for a better viewing experience.

When a social media app like Twitter or Instagram is accessed on a regular smart TV, black bars appear on either side of the app. On the Samsung Sero TV, such social media apps and smartphone videos can be viewed in a vertical orientation for a seamless experience. A phone can be paired with the Samsung Sero TV through NFC. This can be done by tapping the phone anywhere on the phone’s screen.

The Samsung Sero TV
The Samsung Sero TV

The Samsung Sero features 4.1-inch 60W front-firing speakers. It comes with connectivity features such as 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, 1 RF port, Bluetooth 4.2, and Wi-Fi 5. The smart TV runs on Tizen OS and it comes with support for AirPlay, Bixby, and Amazon Alexa.

Samsung Sero price in India

The Samsung Sero has arrived in India with a price tag of Rs 1,24,999 (~$1,678). The unique smart TV is available for purchase exclusively through Reliance Digital stores in the country.

 

 

 

TCL unveils the world’s first 34-inch R1000 165Hz ultra-wide gaming monitor

TCL‘s China Star Optoelectronics Technology has launched the world’s first 34-inch R1000 165Hz ultra-wide gaming monitor. The monitor adopts a 21:9 screen ratio and has a resolution of 3440×1440 pixels. It also features a high refresh rate of 165Hz and adopts R1000 super curvature design.tcl

TCL China Star disclosed that it broke through several technical difficulties to manufacture this product. First, the R1000 super-curvature screen is more curved than the R1500 curved screen and the greater the curvature, the higher the requirement for the bending strength of the glass. For this reason, TCL optimized the backlight design to evenly balance the bending of the glass and also reduce stress on the glass.

Secondly, the greater the curvature, the greater the impact on the screen’s image quality, and the more difficult it is to adjust. In order to avoid the occurrence of the abnormal display after the LCD panel is bent, TCL manufactured a targeted matching design on the alignment film to overcome the curvature difference between the upper and lower base plates.

The display has successfully passed the reliability and mass production verification meaning it is now cleared for mass production.

In June this year, TCL’s China Star reportedly made an important breakthrough in R1000 products for the first time. The product, a 27-inch QHD R1000  panel was successfully shipped to Samsung. Apart from this 34-inch R1000 panel, the company is also looking to produce R1000 panels in 49 inches and other sizes in the future.

According to reports, TCL has successfully shipped the 34-inch R1000 165Hz ultra-wide gaming screen to Samsung and the monitor is expected to be launched in the market later this month.

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Certain OnePlus Nord users are facing network stability issues after OxygenOS 10.5.9 update

OnePlus brought a budget device, the OnePlus Nord five years after the OnePlus X. The device is priced lower than its flagships but hasn’t shied away from getting issues. One such is the network stability issue that users are facing after a recent update.

OnePlus Nord Colors Featured
OnePlus Nord

Accordingly, one of the users on OnePlus’ forums(via Piunikaweb) says that the OnePlus Nord has network connectivity issues after the OxygenOS 10.5.9 update. If we recall, OnePlus recently rolled out the update with the latest security patch and Game Space features.

Coming back, as per the user, the device doesn’t connect to the network albeit being switched on. However, few users say that by toggling Airplane Mode on/off the issue resolved. That said, we aren’t sure if this will work for all the users who face the issue.

Apart from connectivity, the issue extends to voice calls as well. A user says that frequent network drops make voice calling difficult. Apparently, the voice is getting cut-off for 10 secs, in addition to issues like call drops. The report also says that the forums are getting queries like poor internet speeds and disconnection while online gaming.

Previously, OnePlus Nord has caught up with issues like Factory reset bug, Bluetooth connectivity. However, the company has tried to address them quickly and for that, we have to appreciate OnePlus here. That said, we really hope that OnePlus fixes this new issue soon before it gets out of hand.

OnePlus Nord is the first of many attempts to capture the mid-range segment. The company has launched two more devices, the Nord N10, and N100 in the UK and US. And reports say that it is already on course to bring the next device, the Nord SE to markets like India, Europe next year.

Lord Snowdon would absolutely love the new Leica Q2 Monochrom camera

If you watch the Netflix series, The Crown, then the name Anthony Armstrong-Jones should be familiar to you. If you have forgotten who that is, then stating that he was Princess Margaret’s husband may help jog your memory.

The late photographer who went on to become the first Earl of Snowdon was shown in the second season of the TV show sporting a Leica camera which he used to take pictures at a wedding and of the princess at his studio. The show reveals he was a fan of monochrome photography which is why we believe he would love the new Leica Q2 Monochrom camera if he were alive today.

The Q2 Monochrom is a $6000 full-frame monochrome camera and its first autofocus Monochrom camera. The camera has a similar design to the original Q2 which takes color photos and costs $1000 less. However, to keep the “monochrome design”, the red Leica logo is missing from the camera.

Leica Q2 Monochrom

The camera has a 47MP full-frame sensor and can shoot in 4K. The press release says that the camera focuses in less than 0.15 seconds, making it one of the fastest cameras in its class. It can also record black and white videos in FHD at 120, 60, 30, or 24 frames per second.

Leica has also added a Wi-Fi module so users can easily post their photos on social media platforms, adjust camera settings from a smartphone or remotely control the shutter. There is also an OLED viewfinder and Bluetooth connectivity.

This is a black and white camera, so you won’t find any of the settings you will usually see on color cameras. However, you do get settings for adjusting monochrome images such as blue, sepia, and selenium.

If you are picking up the Leica Q2 Monochrom, you may want to purchase protectors and carrying bags and straps. The camera does have an IP52 rating, so you don’t have to worry about splashes and the likes. There are also additional accessories including flash units and color filters.

The camera is already available and can be purchased or ordered from Leica stores.

 

Alleged Vivo X60 series’ live shots and key features emerge

Last year, Vivo announced the Vivo X30 series powered by the Exynos 980 chipset by the end of 2019. Recent reports have revealed that the Vivo X60 series of phones driven by the Exynos 1080 will be made official in December. Today, reliable tipster Digital Chat Station shared a couple of live shots of two smartphones. It appears that the tipster may have shared the images of the forthcoming Vivo X60 series smartphones.

Alleged Vivo X60 series phone
Alleged Vivo X60 series phone

In the above-shown image, the alleged Vivo X60 series phone can be seen with the all-new Origin OS UI on its screen. The handset can be seen sporting a punch-hole display with curved edges. At the top-center of the display is a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. In the below shown leaked shot, the same handset can be seen on the right side.

Alleged Vivo X60 series phones
Alleged Vivo X60 series phones

The handset placed on the left side also features a punch-hole display. However, it has some different features such as it has a flat-screen and a red-colored power button. It could not be confirmed whether these devices are Vivo X60 series phones.

The tipster who shared the above images also mentioned today through different Weibo posts that there is an unreleased Snapdragon 875 powered smartphone with a centered single-hole curved screen. The diameter of the punch-hole is around 3.6mm. It has a screen of around 6.65 inches that offers a refresh rate of 120Hz. It appears that the tipster could be talking about the Vivo X60 series flagship phone.

It is highly likely that the Exynos 1080 will be present under the hood of the Vivo X60 phone. The series may include a Pro or Pro Plus model with SD875 onboard.

 

(source 1, 2|via)

Xiaomi offers Diwali discounts on OTT subscriptions for Mi TV, Mi TV Stick & Mi Box 4K users

Xiaomi is the leading smart TV brand in India. Apart from televisions, the company also sells a streaming stick and a streaming box. Now, ahead of Diwali festive season, the Chinese tech giant is offering discounts on subscriptions for 9 OTT services.

Xiaomi Diwali Discounts 2020

Xiaomi’s Mi TV range of smart televisions comes with PatchWall launcher on top of the Android TV Pie operating system. This launcher is a content aggregation service offering content from various partner OTT platforms.

Like the past two years, Xiaomi is once again offering discounts on subscriptions for select partner OTT services. This offer is not only applicable to the customers of Mi TVs but also those who own Mi TV Stick and Mi Box 4K.

For those unaware, the latter two devices don’t come with PatchWall and therefore, it is interesting to see Xiaomi extending the discounts to more customers. Having said that, let us take a look at all the offers.

 

Xiaomi Diwali Discounts on OTT Subscriptions for Mi TV, Mi TV Stick & Mi Box 4K Users

OTT Platform
Plan
Offer
Final Price
ZEE5
  • 1 year – ₹999
4 months FREE
  • 16 months – ₹999
SonyLIV
  • 1 year – ₹999
10% off
  • 1 year – ₹899
Eros Now
  • 1 year – ₹399
25% off
  • 1 year – ₹299
Hungama Play
  • 1 month – ₹149
1-month FREE trial
  • 1 month – FREE
ShemarooMe
  • 1 month – ₹129
  • 1 year – ₹999
20% off
  • 1 month – ₹103
  • 1 year – ₹799
EPIC ON
  • 3 months – ₹159
  • 6 months – ₹299
  • 1 year – ₹499
35% off
  • 3 months – ₹103
  • 6 months – ₹194
  • 1 year – ₹324
DocuBay
  • 3 months – ₹499
  • 1 year – ₹1499
50% off
  • 3 months – ₹749
  • 1 year – ₹249
aha
  • 1 year – ₹699
51% off
  • 1 year – ₹340
Hoichoi
  • 1 year (one screen) – ₹499
  • 1 year (two screens) – ₹699
30% off
  • 1 year (one screen) – ₹349
  • 1 year (two screens) – ₹489

To avail any of the above-listed offers, interested users will have to fill this form. These discounts are valid from October 14 to November 20.