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Samsung Galaxy F41 schematics emerge, Geekbench listing reveals Exynos 9611 and 6GB RAM

Samsung is reportedly planning to launch a new camera-focused Galaxy F series smartphone in India. It is speculated that the name of the first Galaxy F series phone is Galaxy F41 and it is likely to launch by the end of this month or early October. The model number of the device is SM-F415. While there is no official confirmation on its existence, its support page is now live on Samsung India’s website. The handset has received Wi-Fi certification and the company has reportedly started developing its firmware. Well-known Indian tipster Ishan Agarwal has shared the schematics of the Galaxy F41 to reveal its design. Moreover, the phone has appeared on Geekbench to reveal some of its key specs.

The screenshots of the leaked manual of the Galaxy F41 shows that the device is equipped with a waterdrop notch display, which seems to be an OLED panel. The notch houses a speaker and a selfie camera. The left edge of the smartphone has a SIM card slot and there are a volume rocker and a power key on the right edge. An external speaker, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack are available on the bottom edge of the device.

The backside of the Galaxy F41 has a rectangle-shaped camera housing with three cameras and an LED flash inside. A fingerprint scanner is also available on the backside of the device. The device is equipped with a dedicated microSD card slot.

The Geekbench listing of the Galaxy F41 states that is driven by Exynos 9611 and 6 GB of RAM. The smartphone is preinstalled with Android 10 OS. Rumors surrounding the Galaxy F41 claim that it is a rebadged Galaxy M31 smartphone that may arrive with improved cameras. The schematics of the F41 also match with the design of the M31 handset.

The tipster further revealed that the Galaxy F41 mid-range phone will be coming to India in two variants. Also, he revealed that it will be available in three colors like blue, black, and green. It is speculated that the Galaxy F41 series phones will be priced between Rs 15,000 (~$204) and Rs 25,000 (~$339) in India and it will be made available through online retailers and later through offline channels.

 

 

OxygenOS Open Beta 18/8 for OnePlus 7/7T series adds new Game Space & Community features

After releasing OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 1 for OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro earlier this month, the company is now rolling out OxygenOS Open Beta 18/8 for OnePlus 7/7 Pro and OnePlus 7T/7T Pro. All the four devices receive a similar build with an identical set of Game Space and Community features.

First of all, the new OxygenOS Beta for OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, and OnePlus 7T Pro bumps up the security patch level to September 2020. The new update also fixes some known issues with screen recorder and a notification bar occasionally not working bug. It also brings an updated 2020.08 (August 2020) GMS package.

Talking about new features, Game Space gets a gaming tools box for Fnatic mode, three types of notifications – text only, heads up & block, quick reply feature in small window for WhatsApp/INS, and a mistouch prevention feature.

Also, the Community app gets a new Best Answer function and mall function to buy OnePlus devices from within this application. Lastly, the new OxygenOS update also optimizes log information capture function in the Community app.

OnePlus 7/7T Series OxygenOS Open Beta 18/8 Official Changelog

  • System
    • Fixed the known issues with screen recorder
    • Fixed the issue that the notification bar did not respond occasionally
    • Updated Android security patch to 2020.09
    • Updated GMS package to 2020.08
  • 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 the 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
  • Community
    • Add the Best Answer function, which allows you to mark others’ answers. Best Answer will also be rewarded with experience points
    • Add mall function, you can buy mobile phones and other OnePlus products more conveniently
    • Optimized the log information capture function

 

Xiaomi Fengmi 4K Max Laser Projector with up to 4500 ANSI Lumen launched

Xiaomi’s ecological chain company Fengmi Technology, on Tuesday, officially announced the Fengmi 4K Max Laser Projector, the brand’s latest laser TV which capable of displaying content in 4K. The product is presently on pre-sale on JD.com and is priced at 27,999 yuan (~$4,128).Fengmi 4K Max Laser Projector-3

The Fengmi 4K Max Laser Projector is another innovative masterpiece by Fengmi Technology in laser TV products. It comes with some premium features such as an increase for the display screen size from 100 inches to up to 200 inches. It also comes with 4K resolution, 4500 ANSI lumens super brightness level, as well as a high color gamut and high dynamic contrast.Fengmi 4K Max Laser Projector-3

At the same time, it is equipped with Fengmi’s self-developed FAV image quality optimization technology, as well as HDR10+ and HLG decoding technology support, which bring a more detailed picture contrast.

In terms of product appearance, the dimension of the entire projector is 608x389x140mm. It is manufactured using CNC metal integral moulding, and its streamlined design comes with gradual light and shadow.

Fengmi Laser Cinema 4K Max is equipped with a self-developed FengOS system and a flat layout, which is in line with the browsing and operating habits of large-screen users. With the self-developed FDP (Feng Dynamic Page) architecture, the FAV and FAA audio and picture engines are implemented at the technical level which can provide users with a smooth and large-screen human-computer interaction experience.

As a cinema-grade product, in addition to the laser TV, it also comes standard with a 100-inch Fresnel non-reflective screen that stands on an 8mm metal anodized frame. With the Fresnel screen, the contrast ratio is increased 10 times compared with the white wall, so that the projector’s picture quality is not affected by the ambient light level.

Except you are willing to ship this product from third-party retailers, we doubt if this product will be launched outside China.

 

Redmi K30 Pro Zoom’s new firmware update delivers camera optimisation

Xiaomi’s Redmi brand launched the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom in July this year as one of its flagship offering this year.  As the name implies, the model features a zoom camera and on DXOMark, it was able to make it into the top 10 rankings for camera reviews. Apparently, Xiaomi is still optimizing the camera even with its prowess.Redmi K30 Pro Zoom

Recently, Xiaomi reportedly pushed a new firmware update to the Mi 10 Ultra which upgrades the camera algorithm to the level of the model sent to DXOMark for testing. According to an announcement on Xiaomi community, the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom will also receive a similar update which will upgrade the firmware to the DXOMak version firmware.

According to the feedback from users of Mi 10 Ultra who have upgraded the new firmware, the new firmware mainly has changes in many aspects such as the camera and the system. Of course, the focus of most users is on the performance of cameras with the same version of DXOMark firmware, because the Mi 10 Ultra equipped with this firmware version is still ranked at the top of DXO’s camera review with an impressive output.

In addition, Xiaomi also reportedly disclosed that the new Redmi K30 Pro Zoom firmware version will also bring new functions such as front and rear dual scenes, AI watermark, and voice-activated camera. It also adds green orange and black ice filters in the movie frame mode, and also in the video mode. Also added are black gold, cyberpunk and other colour filters.

 

ASUS ROG Phone 3 CrossFire Special Edition launched in China

Taiwanese tech company ASUS unveiled the ROG Phone 3 in July this year as a beastly gaming phone. The phone comes with an unprecedented 144Hz screen refresh rate support, a SNapdragon 865+ chipset and several other features.ASUS ROG phone 3 CrossFire Special Edition

Perhaps to leverage on the popularity of the online tactical first-person shooter game CrossFire, ASUS has teamed up with Tencent, the publisher of the game in China, to launch the ASUS ROG phone 3 CrossFire Special Edition. The special edition carries a price tag of 4699 yuan (~$692) and will be available in limited numbers on September 22. ASUS has disclosed that the phone has been on the reservation on Jingdong since September 10. The total number of reservations has reportedly exceeded 160,000.

The ROG phone 3 CrossFire Special Edition comes with a customized theme that reflects the layout of the game. There are also several perks available to buyers which can be used for in-app purchases. You also get special lighting effect when playing CrossFire on the ROG Phone 3. The phone also supports Tencent Solar Core 3.0 game acceleration engine.

As a reminder, the ASUS ROG Phone 3 features a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The phone sports a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, as well as a refresh rate up to 144 Hz. At 270Hz screen touch sampling rate and 25ms touch response, it can bring more sensitive battlefield visual capture and faster bullet firing speed. The phone also has a LED-lit ROG logo at the rear which lights up during gaming.ASUS ROG Phone 3 CrossFire Special Edition

The ROG Phone 3 is powered by a Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform. The processor offers a 10% increase in GPU and CPU speed. It also brings 5G support to the smartphone with a Snapdragon X52 external 5G modem supporting all the 5G spectrum, including mmWave (SA and NSA). The version comes in 12GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration.

The phone comes with four AirTriggers functionalities which make it possible to setting up the entire gaming controls with less incursion into the display, giving gamers an immersive experience. During the game, players can set up special mapping settings for the four shoulder buttons through the horizontal screen game system. Skilled players can also set up special operation methods through somatosensory mapping to easily operate with multiple fingers.

For photography, the ROG Phone 3 packs a triple camera setup on the back including a 64MP Sony IMX686 main camera with f1.8 aperture and 1.6um large pixel size. There is also a 13MP ultrawide sensor and macro camera. For selfies, the notch-less display houses a 24MP sensor. There is a 6000mAh battery under the hood as well as dual stereo speakers.

ASUS ROG Phone 3 CrossFire Special Edition

 

 

Royole FlexPai 2 scheduled for September 21 launch

A new foldable is coming, this time from China. Royole has announced that it has a new product launch next week and we believe it is for the FlexPai 2 foldable smartphone.

Royole FlexPai 2

The new FlexPai 2 was briefly announced back in March and is now set to get a proper launch on September 21. The event will begin at 7:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time which corresponds to 10:30 AM Beijing Time. The invite says the product launch will be live-streamed on YouTube and on the official Royole website.

The device is expected to feature the company’s 3rd generation Cicada Wing Fully Flexible OLED Display that is 7.8-inches in size and has a 60Hz refresh rate. It will have a Snapdragon 865 processor, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a 4050mAh battery. A leak from last month also revealed the phone will have four cameras – 64MP + 16MP + 8MP + 32MP and it will weight 340 grams.

The FlexPai 2 is expected to be cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 2 but that remains to be seen. Hopefully, the foldable phone will be available globally when it launches.

 

LG Wing vs Motorola Razr 5G vs Microsoft Surface Duo: Specs Comparison

After the arrival of foldable phones to the market, a lot of innovative devices started coming to the shelves. In 2020, among the best smartphones, you do not only get those silly rectangles since a lot of new form factors started to emerge. An example is the LG Wing, with its dual rotating display and its Swivel Mode. This year Motorola even launched the Razr 5G: the evolution of its first foldable phone which is reminiscent of the iconic Razr series. Even Microsoft is back to the smartphone market and with a new form factor: the Microsoft Surface Duo is a foldable phone which is able to rotate by 360 degrees and supports the Surface Pen! Here is a comparison between three of the most innovative phones of the year.

LG Wing vs Motorola Razr 5G vs Microsoft Surface Duo

LG Wing Motorola Razr 5G Microsoft Surface Duo
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 169.5 x 74.5 x 10.9 mm, 260 grams 169.2 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm unfolded and 91.7 x 72.6 x 16 mm folded, 192 grams 186.9 x 145.2 x 4.8 mm unfolded, 145.2 x 93.3 x 9.9 mm folded, 250 grams
DISPLAY  6.8 inches, 1080 x 2460p (Full HD+), P-OLED
3.9 inches, 1080 x 1240p, G-OLED (secondary display)
6.2 inches, 876 x 2142p (HD+), 373 ppi, Foldable P-OLED
2.7 inches, 600 x 800 pixels, G-OLED (secondary display)
8.1 inches, 1800 x 2700p (Quad HD+), 401 ppi, AMOLED (5.6 inches, AMOLED, 1350 x 1800p folded)
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, octa-core 2.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, octa-core 2.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz
MEMORY 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot 8 GB RAM, 256 GB 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 10 Android 10 Android 10
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA  Triple 64 + 13 + 12 MP, f/1.8 + f/1.9 + f/2.2
32 MP f/1.9 front camera
 Single 48 MP f/1.7
20 MP f/2.2 front camera
Single 11 MP f/2.0
BATTERY  4000 mAh, fast charging, and wireless charging  2800 mAh
Fast charging 15W
3577 mAh, Fast charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G, IP54 splash proof, military certification, dual rotating display eSIM, water-repellent, foldable display Dual SIM slot, Surface Pen, foldable phone

Design

If we only consider the look, Motorola Razr 5G is definitely the best one. It is a clamshell phone with a foldable display built with premium material which reminds you of the iconic feature phones from the Motorola Razr lineup. But if you want to find the most useful form factor for multimedia and productivity, then LG Wing and Microsoft Surface Duo are more interesting options. With the Swivel Mode, the former can be used as a gimbal for better stabilization, it can split apps into two screens or even open two apps at the same time in two displays for a better multi-tasking experience. On the other hand, Microsoft Surface Duo has a dual display with a folding hinge that can turn it into a tablet. It can open two apps side-by-side for an even more amazing multi-tasking experience, it can be rotated by up to 360 degrees to reach the “phone mode” and it even supports the Surface Pen stylus!

 

Display

The AMOLED displays of the Microsoft Surface Duo are the most interesting panels because they come with a higher resolution and they can be positioned side-by-side in order to provide a tablet-like experience. Further, as mentioned above, you get the support to Surface Pen for handwriting and drawing, just like the Samsung Galaxy Note series! With the LG Wing, you get a rotating display with still high resolutions, while the Motorola Razr 5G offers an internal smartphone-sized foldable display and a mini external display to check notifications, shoot selfies, and a few more actions.

 

Hardware/Software

The most powerful hardware department belongs to the Microsoft Surface Duo which is fueled by the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform providing better CPU and GPU performance than the Snapdragon 765G. But unlike the Motorola Razr 5G and the LG Wing, Microsoft Surface Duo lacks 5G connectivity. With the LG Wing, you get 5G, up to 8 GB RAM, up to 256 GB of native storage, and even a micro SD slot to expand the internal storage. Android 10 is out of the box on each of these handsets.

 

Camera

LG Wing, Motorola Razr 5G, and Microsoft Surface Duo can be considered mid-range camera phones. The best one is undoubtedly the LG Wing which sports the most complete camera setup. It includes a main 64 MP sensor with OIS and two ultrawide sensors, as well as the best microphones with ASMR mode. Even the front camera is better with its 32 MP resolution. Right after, we got the Motorola Razr 5G with its 48 MP main camera and a 20 MP snapper for selfies.

 

Battery

The LG Wing has the biggest battery, it lasts more on a single charge and it is the only one to support wireless charging. Right after, we got the Microsoft Surface Duo with a 3577 mAh unit. The Motorola Razr 5G has a small and below-average 2800 mAh battery because it is a compact foldable phone.

 

Price

We still do not know the price of the LG Wing, while Motorola Razr 5G and Microsoft Surface Duo retail about €1500/$1400 and €1200/$1400 respectively. If you want the best design, the Motorola Razr 5G is definitely the best alternative, especially for nostalgic users. But if you prefer having a better user experience, then you should discard it. If we look at the specifications, the LG Wing is the most convincing one due to its better cameras, bigger battery, best audio experience, and protection against water and drops. But the Microsoft Surface Duo is the king of productivity with its dual display reaching a 8.1-inch diagonal, its advanced software offering the chance to use apps side-by-side, and the Surface Pen. Which form factor would you pick?

 

LG Wing vs Motorola Razr 5G vs Microsoft Surface Duo: PRO and CONS

LG Wing

PROS

  • Dual rotating display
  • Great cameras and stabilization
  • IP54 certification
  • Military certification
  • Bigger battery
  • Wireless charging

CONS

  • It does not fold

 

Motorola Razr 5G

PROS

  • Best design
  • Becomes extremely compact
  • Optional eSIM
  • Premium build quality

CONS

  • Small battery

 

Microsoft Surface Duo

PROS

  • Surface Pen
  • Very wide display
  • Best hardware
  • eSIM
  • Folding by 360°

CONS

  • No 5G

The new iPad Air is the first device with a 5nm chip; 8th Gen iPad tags along

Apple announced two new iPads as expected today. There is the new iPad Air which is the first device in the world powered by a 5nm processor and there is the more affordable 8th Gen iPad.

iPad Air featured

 

iPad Air

The iPad Air series is designed as a middle ground between the iPad Pro line and the standard iPad. This year’s iPad sort of switches things a bit as it is the first device to launch with the all-new 5nm Apple A14 Bionic.

The new hexa-core processor has 11.8 billion transistors and boasts a 40% improvement in CPU performance and a 30% increase in GPU performance. The new chip also boasts a 10x improvement in machine learning.

Coming to the tablet itself, Apple has gone for a new design. The new iPad Air ditches the thick bezels for slimmer and uniform ones. This new design means the TouchID button at the bottom of the screen is gone and it has a new home now. Apple has moved the fingerprint scanner to the top where it is buried under the power button. So when you push the power button, the iPad also unlocks.

iPad Air Touch-ID

The new iPad Air has a slightly larger screen than last year’s model but still skips on the 120Hz refresh rate available on the iPad Pro. It is a 10.9-inch liquid retina display, but with the trimmed bezels, it should be easier to hold. The screen is fully laminated and has an anti-reflective coating, P3 color gamut, and True Tone support.

The new iPad has a 7MP f/2.0 selfie camera and the same 12MP f/1.8 rear camera available on the iPad Pro. It also has a USB-C port with support for 20W fast charging (20W charger included in the box). There is support for the 2nd gen Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard Folio, and the Apple Magic Keyboard.

iPad Air 2020 colors

The iPad Air starts at $599 for the 64GB version while the 256GB version is priced at $749. If you want the LTE version, the 64GB version goes up to $729 while the 256GB version is $879. It will be available for purchase in October in Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, and Green, Sky Blue.

 

8th Gen iPad
8th Gen iPad

If you want something more affordable, the new 8th Gen iPad Air announced today is an option. It comes with the Apple A12 Bionic chip which offers a significant boost in performance compared to the A10 Fusion in last year’s model.

The design has not gotten much change if at all. So you are still stuck with thick bezels and ToucID remains in the familiar position you are accustomed to. Just like the iPad Air, this too will run the new iPadOS 14 which brings new features that make using the tablet a breeze. There is support for the first-gen Apple Pencil this allowing you to handwrite in any text field. There is also shape recognition which means your circle which doesn’t look anything like one can become a perfect one.

The A12 chipset will allow you to play games from Apple Arcade without any hiccups, and to make the experience better, you can pair your Xbox or PS4 controller to it.

The new iPad has a 10.2-inch 2160 x 1620 resolution, 32GB (Seriously, Apple?) or 128GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera, and a 1.2MP FaceTime camera. Apple says the 32.4 watt-hour battery should last up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi.

The 8th Gen iPad is available for pre-order starting today and will go on sale on Friday. It is priced at $329 for the 32GB Wi-Fi version and $459 for the LTE version. The 128GB model is $429 for the Wi-Fi version and $559 for the LTE version. The tablet is available in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold.

 

Apple Watch Series 6 launched alongside the cheaper $279 Watch SE

Apple today held an event where it announced a new Watch Series 6 alongside the iPad Air and Watch SE. The new Watch Series 6 retains the design of the previous Watch Series 4 and Series 5. However, this model comes with a number of new sensors which enables new features such as blood oxygen monitoring and better sleep tracking.Apple  Watch Series 6

The blood oxygen level monitoring feature on the Watch Series 6 completes the process in about 15 seconds. This is accomplished using both red and infrared light. The company says it’s partnering with health networks to start large-scale studies using the new blood oxygen measurement feature, including testing to see if it can detect if a person is infected with COVID-19.

Crammed inside the Watch Series 6 is a new S6 processor which is based on the A13 chip. The processor is an upgrade over the S4 and S5 chips that were used on the Series 4 and at year’s Series 5 models. Despite the improvement in the performance, the Watch 6 retains the 18 hours battery life of the prior model. It also comes with fast charging which can be refilled in about one and a half hours between charges.

Further, it comes with always-on display which Apple touts to be 2.5 times brighter than that of the Series 5. It’s also now possible to access notifications, Control Center, change watch faces, or tap on complications without fully waking the screen. Another new sensor is the always-on altimeter, which provides real-time elevation information.

The Watch Series 6 comes in gray, silver, gold, or blue aluminium finishes. There is also a new Product (RED) version that has a striking red finish on it. The stainless steel model is available in either graphite or yellow gold, but the silver chrome model appears to be no longer available. The top-end Edition model is available in natural or black titanium, but no ceramic options this year.

Apple says the aluminium models are made of 100 percent recycled aluminium, much like the newer MacBook Pro models. In addition, Apple is announcing a new strap called the “Solo Loop” that is made from one piece of silicone, without any buckles or adjustments. It is available in a range of styles and seven different colors. There is also a braided Solo Loop made from yarn that’s available in five colors. Finally, Apple is releasing a new leather link strap.Apple Watch Series 6

On the software side, the smartwatch runs on watchOS 7. The OS brings native sleep tracking support, a rebranded Fitness app with new workouts, a hand-washing feature tailored for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, richer complications, and the ability to share watchfaces with others.

Further, Apple also announced a new feature called Family Setup, which allows parents to set up managed Apple Watches for their kids who don’t have iPhones of their own. Parents will be able to manage who the child can message or call from the watch, set up location alerts, add do not disturb modes for school time, and a new watchface will inform teachers that the watch is in DND mode from a glance. Family Setup requires a cellular Apple Watch model and will be available through a handful of carriers at launch.

Family Setup allows parents to remotely manage a child’s Apple Watch.
Apple is also debuting a new service for the Apple Watch called Fitness Plus, a subscription service for virtual workouts and improved fitness tracking features.

As for the pricing, the Apple Watch Series 6 will retail for $399 for the 40mm model while the cellular models start at $499. The Series 6 is available to order starting today, September 15th and will start shipping on Friday, September 18th. Do note that Apple is implementing shipping the watch without a USB power adapter as part of efforts to reduce waste.Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE

Alongside the Series 6, Apple also announced a new Apple Watch SE. The watch comes with a lower price tag than Watch Series 6. The Watch SE is a successor to the three-year-old Apple Watch Series 3 and it starts at $279; cellular models start at $329. It’s available this Friday, but you can order it today.

Despite the cheap pricing, the Watch SE comes with an array of features that are found on the Watch Series 6 such as built-in accelerometer, gyroscope, and always-on altimeter, as well as sleep tracking and hand-washing detection. The cellular models are also capable of making emergency calls, even internationally, with the Emergency SOS feature. Apple Watch Series 6

The watch uses the S5 System in Package (SiP) and dual-core processor, which Apple says will allow for up to two times better performance than we saw from the Series 3.Apple says the SE’s Retina display is 30 percent larger than that of the Series 3. It’s also compatible with all Apple Watch bands, including the new silicone “Solo Loop” and yarn “Braided Solo Loop” that Apple announced during the event.

The SE will run watchOS 7 and comes loaded with a new activity app (“Fitness Plus”), which includes workout tracking and virtual classes. It’s the first fitness service built for Apple Watch, and you’ll get three free months with the purchase of an Apple Watch (it’s $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year after that).Apple Watch Series 6

The Watch SE will also support Apple’s new Family Setup, which allows parents to set up and manage Apple Watches for their kids, including features like message monitoring and location alerts. And you’ll be able to share watch faces with others, using Apple’s new Face Sharing feature. watchOS 7 comes with seven new watch-face options.

 

Huawei Mate X2 won’t launch this year; no thanks to the US Government

Huawei seems to have been left behind in the foldable race. Samsung already announced two foldable phones this year – the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold 2 – and Motorola has also announced the Moto Razr 5G. So where is the Huawei Mate X2?

Huawei Mate X2
Huawei Mate X2 patent diagram

Going by the release date for the Mate X last year, the Mate X2 should not arrive until November, and that is about two months away. Unfortunately, that will most likely not happen, no thanks to Huawei’s troubles with the US government.

According to Ross Young, the Display Analyst and founder of DisplaySearch, the Mate X2 will not arrive this year due to the restrictions placed by the US government. These restrictions have made it near impossible for Huawei to get components for its products. If you have been following the news, you already know suppliers are trying to get licenses to supply the tech giant. However, there is no guarantee they will be granted, so Huawei has to cut back its plans.

The Huawei Mate X2 is supposed to have an inward folding design but with the same screen size as its predecessor, a more powerful processor (the Kirin 9000), upgraded cameras, and a stylus.

It is not yet known if Huawei is postponing the launch of the foldable device to next year or if it has suspended development.

 

Xiaomi launches the MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater 1S for 699 yuan ($103)

In November last year, Xiaomi launched the MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater with a design that is similar to another model by Viomi, a Xiaomi ecological chain company. The electric heater later went on to clinch the 2020 German ed Dot Design award. A new version has now been launched dubbed MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater 1S. MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater 1S

Going by the name, the new electric heater is likely just a slightly upgraded version. It carries a slightly higher 699 yuan ($103) price tag compared to the first-gen model which was sold for 599 yuan (~$88) price tag. However, the product is presently on pre-sale on Mi.com for 599 yuan (~$88). Let us take a look at the features.

The MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater 1S bears the same design and specifications with the previous generation model. It also comes in black colour only which seems to be one of the differences with the first model which was available in white only.

At the same time, the new product emphasizes the “automatic constant temperature function.” The so-called automatic constant temperature means that on the basis of providing 900w/1300w/2200w three-speed power adjustment and adding an automatic transmission mode, the power output can be automatically adjusted according to the indoor temperature.MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater 1S

In terms of the build, the electric heater is made of aluminium. Power is automatically cut off when the body is tilted which is a safety feature. The gadget equally shuts down automatically when the temperature is too high, reducing the risk of flammability.

The electric heater adopts a windless convection heating system and is equipped with 127 dragon-scale radiating fins and double heating tubes. The heater can quickly heat up immediately after it is powered on. Heat circulates naturally through radiation and while doing so, dust won’t be generated easily and it reduces the indoor air moisture as well.MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater 1S

In addition, the MIJIA Baseboard Electric Heater 1S has an LCD touch screen which can be used to control the device. The heater can equally be controlled from anywhere deploying a XiaoAI Voice Assistant-powered device and also via the MIJIA app.

 

Vivo Y51 (2020) arrives with an AMOLED display and 48MP quad cameras

Vivo has a new smartphone called the Y51. Technically, this is the Vivo Y51 (2020) as the manufacturer announced a Y51 back in 2015. The new phone, which has been announced in Pakistan, is miles ahead of the original; boasting an AMOLED display, quad rear cameras, and almost double the battery capacity.

Vivo Y51 (2020) featured

The Vivo Y51 (2020) has a 6.38-inch AMOLED display with a waterdrop notch at the top and an FHD+ resolution. The phone also has an in-display fingerprint scanner and an Always-on Display mode too.

Under the hood is the Snapdragon 665 processor and it comes along with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Vivo has added a MicroSD card slot that allows users to add up to 256GB of storage. The phone has a 4500mAh battery capacity with support for 18W fast charging.

The camera setup is made up of a 16MP f/2.0 sensor in front and a 48MP f/1.8 + 8MP ultrawide + 2MP macro + 2MP portrait configuration on the back. The camera app includes a bunch of features such as palm capture, voice control, slow-motion recording, super macro, super night mode, and AI face beauty.

The Vivo Y51 supports dual-band Wi-Fi and has Bluetooth 5.0, a USB-C port, and an audio jack. It runs Funtouch OS 10 based on Android 10 and is available in Mystic Black, Jazzy Blue, and Dreamy White.

Vivo has put a price tag of PKR 36,999 (~$222) and you can pre-order it starting today until September 18. It will go on the first sale on September 19.

 

Realme Narzo 20 key specs leaked; includes a 6000mAh 18W battery

Realme first took the wraps off the Narzo 10 and Narzo 10A smartphones in India, signalling the birth of a new product line. The company recently confirmed at IFA 2020 tech trade show that the Narzo 20 series was in the works and will be launched in the near future.

Realme Narzo 10A
Realme Narzo 10A

Popular tipster Mukul Sharma (@Stufflisting) has shared some of the key specs of the Narzo 20. The device is tipped to come with a mammoth 6000mAh battery and will also have support for 18W fast charging. At the rear, there will be a triple camera setup at the rear with a 48MP main sensor.

The device will be powered by a Mediatek Helio G85 processor. The mid-range chipset was first used on the Redmi 10X launched a few months back. The chip is a higher-clocked version of the Helio G80. It features two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores.

Apart from the Narzo 20, Realme will also launch the Narzo 20 Pro and Narzo 20a. The launch date is still unknown.

 

Samsung launches Galaxy Watch3 Titanium & Galaxy Watch3 Titanium PXG Edition

Last month, Samsung released Galaxy Watch3 as the direct successor to the original Galaxy Watch from 2018. It is currently on sale in a number of markets. Within a month of its debut, the company now launches a new special edition of this smartwatch called Galaxy Watch3 Titanium. This wearable will go on sale in select markets starting September 18.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Titanium Featured
Samsung Galaxy Watch3 Titanium

As the name suggests, the casing of Galaxy Watch3 Titanium is made of Titanium with an adjustable metal strap. It will be available in a single 45mm size variant with Bluetooth only option in Mystic Black color.

The newly announced Galaxy Watch3 Titanium is Samsung’s first-ever titanium smartwatch. The company says that it is elegant, lightweight, and durable. It also comes with the SMART CADDIE app, which includes data of over 40,000 golf courses around the world. This wearable is a perfect companion for golfers.

 

That said, apart from the use of different material and a special golf application, the Galaxy Watch3 Titanium is exactly the same in terms of features as it comes with identical internals, rotating bezel, and display as the regular version.

Additionally, the South Korean tech giant also announced a limited edition of this smartwatch called Galaxy Watch3 Titanium PXG Edition in collaboration with premium golf equipment company Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG).

This version of the watch will feature a PXG logo and will ship with PXG watch face as well as PXG accessories. Most importantly, only 1,000 units of this model will be available for purchase.

Last but not least, the Galaxy Watch3 Titanium is priced at KRW 770,000 ($652), whereas the Galaxy Watch3 Titanium will retail for KRW 990,000 ($839) in South Korea.

 

Xiaomi’s new Mi Wireless Power Bank 30W doubles as a wireless charging stand

Xiaomi announced a new power bank today that serves a double function. The Mi Wireless Power Bank 30W is not only a portable battery pack but also doubles as a wireless charging stand.

Mi Wireless Power Bank 30W

The Mi Wireless Power Bank 30W (WPB25ZM) comes in black and has a wireless charging icon at the top to show it supports wireless charging. There is a 10000mAh lithium-ion polymer battery inside the device but the rated capacity is just 5600mAh.

The new power bank ships with a dock that allows you to use the power bank as a vertical wireless charger when you are at home/work. All you have to do is place it on the dock pictured below and you can proceed to place your phone on it to charge. The dock will charge the power bank which will in turn wirelessly charge your device. There are LEDs on the side of the power bank that let you know its battery level and when the power bank is connected to the dock.

Mi Wireless Power Bank 30W input ports

Mi Wireless Power Bank 30W dock

The power bank has a USB-A port with a maximum output capacity of 27W. There is also a USB-C port that has a maximum output capacity of 30W. The power bank can also wirelessly charge compatible devices at up to 30W such as the Mi 10 Ultra, Mi 10 5G, and Mi 9 Pro 5G. It will also charge the iPhone 11 series and Galaxy S20 series.

There are two ways to charge the power bank. The first is via the USB-C port which has a maximum power input of 18W. The other way to charge the power bank is when plugged into the dock that transforms it into a wireless charging stand. In this mode, it charges via the pogo pins. Do note that the dock has a maximum power output of 10W.

The Mi Wireless Power Bank 30W is priced at ¥199 (~$29) and is available for pre-order on Mi.com.

 

Goophone 12 Pro is the first of several iPhone 12 Pro clones that’ll hit the market soon

Apple is expected to hold a launch event today where the Watch Series 6 and iPad 4 Air are expected to be unveiled. The iPhone 12 isn’t likely to be launched until October but Chinese phone maker Goophone has teased the GooPhone 12 Pro, a clone of Apple’s next-gen flagship smartphone.Goophone 12 Pro

The brand is notorious for releasing counterfeit clones of popular high-end smartphones such as the iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S series. The phones are usually equipped with off-the-shelf chipsets from MediaTek. They also run on the Android operating system with customizations to the user interfaces who tends to make it resemble those of the devices they imitate.

The Goophone 12 Pro is no different. It has a quad-camera setup at the rear housed in a square-shaped module similar to what the iPhone 12 is expected to come with. The four sensors include a 48MP main camera teaming up with a 13MP, 5MP and 2MP sensor array.

The device is expected to feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED FHD+ display but the design doesn’t look like the iPhone 12. While the iPhone 12 Pro is expected to retain the notch design due to the 3D face unlock, this model features a punch-hole design. The punch-hole is located at he top left corner of the display panel and houses a 13MP selfie shooter.

On the internals, the iPhone 12 Pro clone is expected to be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ processor paired with 8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB UFS 3.0 storage. Here comes the twist, this hardware lineup places the phone in the flagship category. But traditionally, Goophone clones are cheap devices. For instance, the iPhone X clone dubbed Goophone Phone X was released in 2017. The device, which had significantly inferior hardware, was sold for around £80/$105 while the iPhone X retailed for $999. The same scenario played out for the iPhone XS Max. So, we are not so sure if the model will pack a Dimensity 1000+ chipset. The phone has to be cheap to make headway in the market.

However, the pricing and availability details are yet to be announced. The company has indicated that the model will be officially released soon, in China of course. The phone is currently listed on Giztop which means it may be available outside China.

 

Huawei opens EMUI 11/Magic UI 4.0 Closed Beta recruitments for 9 more devices

Last week, at HUAWEI DEVELOPER CONFERENCE (HDC) 2020, the company announced EMUI 11 as the latest version of Android skin. Unfortunately, it is based on Android 10 due to the US ban as the Chinese telecom giant could not work with Google. Anyway, it did promise to bring select Android 11 features in the future. That said, EMUI 11 Closed Beta was made available for 10 devices on the day of its announcement. Now, as promised, it opens closed beta recruitment for 9 more devices.

HUAWEI EMUI 11 Logo Featured

All the first batch of EMUI 11 Close Beta devices were HUAWEI-branded smartphones and tablets. But the second batch whose closed beta registrations have now gone live in China include 5 HONOR smartphones and 4 HUAWEI smartphones.

HONOR devices run a tweaked version of EMUI called Magic UI. Hence, the EMUI 11 update for eligible HONOR devices will come as Magic UI 4.0. The HONOR devices included in the second batch of closed beta rollout will be the first to get the latest version of Magic UI.

Having said that, there’s the list of newly added HUAWEI/HONOR devices in EMUI 11/Magic UI 4.0 Closed Beta program.

Huawei is currently recruiting closed beta testers for the above-mentioned devices only in China. The company is yet to announce the Closed Beta program for global markets. 

 

Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 will launch on September 22; may have SpO2 and Stress detection

Today, Huami announced it will have a launch event next week. The launch will be for the new Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 smartwatches. Alongside the poster for the event, Huami’s CEO, Huang Wang, also shared a post that talks about the challenges in design and how theirs and Apple’s own smartwatches overlap.

Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 launch dte

The launch is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 at 2 PM (Beijing Time) and it will be held at the Black Sugar Box Art Center in Beijing. While the poster above doesn’t specifically say which products will be announced, the invite (pictured below) confirms it is for the GTR 2 and GTS 2.

Amazfit GTR 2 launch invite
Image source: Fast Technology

In the post written by the CEO, he cited how difficult it was to design the new smartwatches while focusing on three things – stylish appearance, long battery life, and great health features.

The post also mentioned the overlapping relationship between Apple and Amazfit Watches. Last year’s Amazfit GTS looks like Apple’s own watches and there are reports that the GTS 2 has ditched the square display for a round dial.

The top executive adds that he is looking forward to Apple’s own launch event today and what new features their new watches will have such as support for Blood Oxygen detection. The new Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 should also have support for SpO2 detection and stress monitoring as the features are now visible on the Zepp app.

 

OPPO Enco W31, Enco M31 & Enco W11 price cut permanently by ₹500 ($7) in India

OPPO is known for its audio products other than smartphones. It offers bang for buck Bluetooth earphones under Enco series. Since the beginning of this year, the company has launched Enco W31, Enco M31, Enco W11, Enco Free, and Enco W51 in India. The price of the first three products has now been cut permanently by ₹500 ($7) in the country. Their new prices are now reflected on Amazon India and Flipkart respectively.

OPPO Enco W31 Enco M31 Enco W11

OPPO Enco W31

OPPO launched the Enco W31 TWS in March alongside OPPO Reno3 Pro 4G in India. It was priced at ₹4,499 ($61). But due to COVID-19, the truly wireless earphones only went on sale starting mid-May for a new revised price of ₹3,999 ($54).

Now, after months since it was made available for purchase, the TWS receives a permanent price drop of ₹500 ($7) lowering its selling price to ₹3,499 ($47).

OPPO Enco M31

Unlike the previous product, the OPPO Enco M31 is a neckband-style Bluetooth earphones. It supports LDAC codec and is even Hi-Res Audio certified. It is one of the most critically acclaimed budget audio products in India.

It launched for ₹2,999 ($41) but its selling price was ₹2,499 ($34). Now, with ₹500 ($7) permanent price cut, people can buy it for ₹1,999 ($27).

OPPO Enco W11

The OPPO Enco W11 is the company’s most-affordable TWS offering in India. Its price was said to be ₹2,999 ($41), however, it debuted for ₹2,499 ($34). Now, as its price has been slashed by ₹500 ($7) permanently, buyers can get it for ₹1,999 ($27).

 

N95 face masks might soon be rechargeable, reducing waste

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, N95 masks have become one of the most sought after commodities in the world. This holds especially true for many essential workers. However, this led to the problem of a huge amount of N95 masks also being disposed of, leading to waste, but that might soon change with a more effective rechargeable version.

N95
Rechargeable N95 face mask prototype

According to a TechCrunch report, the new rechargeable N95 face masks have been proposed by researchers at Technion-IIT in Israel and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India. N95 masks use both mechanical filtering and electrostatic filtering, through which particles are caught in the microscopic fibers and are attracted to static charged surfaces on the scale of microns.

However, while this method has been proved to be very effective, it does not last. As with any charge, the electrostatic charge over time as more air and moisture passes over it. So while the mask can be cleaned, its effectiveness is lost as time passes. Thus, in a paper published in the Physics of Fluids journal, Dov Levine from Technion and Shankar Ghosh from Tata, showcases a method to possibly recharged said static charges to increase the masks’ life and effectiveness.

N95

According to the researchers, “We find that the total charge deposited on the masks depends strongly on the charging time… with the pristine value almost reattained after a 60 min charge at 1000 V.” In other words, the filter was just required to be placed between two plate electrodes with the application of a strong electric field. While regular essential workers cannot be expected to dismantle and charge their masks over and over again a dedicated team could be established, or better yet, a mask with a rechargeable battery can be made.