Qualcomm introduces Adaptive ANC tech which balance out changes in earbud fit

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Sep 3, 2020

In March this year, Qualcomm announced the two new chips – QCC514x and QCC304x for TWS earbuds with integrated noise cancellation. While the QCC514x is a premium Bluetooth chip, the QCC304x is designed for entry-level earbuds. The tech giant has now unveiled its latest tech dubbed Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The tech is integrated with the QCC514x Bluetooth audio chip.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a major feature integrated with most wireless earbuds in recent times. As a result of the difference in design between over-ear headphones and earbuds, noise cancellation has to account for ambient noise differently since the entire ear can’t be sealed. As an alternative to sealing the entire ear, earbuds rely on replaceable tips to achieve a solid closure. Some utilise software-based calibration to ensure the sound quality remains topnotch when the listening environment is noisy.

Typically this setup isn’t dynamic. However, Qualcomm’s latest solution will automatically adjust the ANC levels when the fit of your earbuds changes or with variations in outside noise. Qualcomm says the technology can help companies deliver high-quality audio performance for more users taking in cognisance differences in ear sizes.

Qualcomm further hinted that Adaptive ANC relies less on the tight seal which headphone manufacturers have often deployed to create noise cancellation on earbuds. Instead, the hardware will adjust to variations in the fit of the earbud including during activities like running. It does all of this by automatically responding to any alteration to the tightness of fit, the level of “leak-through” noise and both how and where the earbuds are used.

Furthermore, the Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) brings support for voice assistants, “premium” audio quality, “extended” battery life and more.

The company promises the Adaptive ANC will work across different use cases, from music and podcasts to calls or speaking to a virtual assistant. Qualcomm says switching between any of those modes can be done with no interruption of the ANC.

Qualcomm didn’t say when the Adaptive ANC tech will find its way into devices but since it has been announced, that may happen soon.

Grab Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra from GizTop Europe warehouse with fast shipping

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 3, 2020

There is no dearth of Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 powered devices out in the market. But, none has grabbed the attention as the Mi 10 Ultra with regards to the pricing. The Mi 10 Ultra has an exquisite 6.67-inch Curved AMOLED punch-hole FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is so ultra cause of the crazy 120x zoom camera which is a part of the monstrous rear quad-camera setup. For selfies, it has a flagship 20MP AI front camera. The device runs MIUI 12 based on Android 10 OS. The Mi 10 Ultra has been limited to China all these while and fortunately, it’s changed now as GizTop Europe has listed the device for $899.

Unfortunately, there is no 512GB variant listed on the GizTop. The base variant with 8GB/128GB configuration is priced at $899. For the 8GB/256GB model, it’s $999. While the high-end model with 8GB/256GB is tagged at $1099. Buyers can choose from the available three color options – Black, Silver, and Transparent.

Critics have it that the camera of the Mi 10 Ultra performs much better than some flagships of even $1000 and above price tag. The model listed on the retail site is Chinese edition but comes with full Google Mobile Service and Google Play store installed.

So, if you’ve been waiting for the device to hit any European retailer, then the time has arrived. Book your piece from here, it’s expected to ship in 24 hours and deliver within 4-6 days in Europe.

Related: Realme X7 Pro pre-orders go live on Giztop with $50 discount

Poco X3 NFC flash sale to commence from September 8 via AliExpress

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 3, 2020

The Poco X3 NFC smartphone is all set to debut on September 7 with some high-end specifications. Already there are plenty of rumors and leaks revealing some specifications and features of the device. Interestingly, the new smartphone is all set to start retailing from 00:00 PST on September 8 via AliExpress. You can even pre-book the device by heading to the Poco’s AliExpress Store.

The smartphone listing confirms the presence of Snapdragon 732G with enhanced gaming performance. The latest chipset even packs advanced AI computing capabilities and uses 8nm process technology. Apart from the popular 4G chipset, the device will feature a 5160 mAh battery with 33W fast charging. A 64-megapixel primary camera will be present on the rear side of the smartphone.

There will be two storage variants including 6GB RAM and 64GB storage and another 128GB storage variant with unconfirmed RAM.

According to the previous leaks and rumors, it will feature a 6.67-inch LCD display with a 20MP punch-hole front camera. The display supports Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate toggle for smooth gaming. The fingerprint scanner will be present on the side, doubling as a power key.

There will be a 64-megapixel primary camera on the rear side of the smartphone with f/1.79 aperture supporting up to 4K video recording at 30fps.

The smartphone was also spotted in a TUV certification document that confirms the presence of 33W fast charging. However, the Poco X3 NFC features a quad-rear camera as per the design mockups by the Poco global spokesperson.

It is officially launching on September 7th via an Online Launch Event at 5:00 PST. The flash sale will begin on September 8 via Poco’s AliExpress Store.

POCO X3 NFC hands-on video leaks revealing the entire design

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 3, 2020

POCO announced recently that the POCO X3 NFC will be launched on September 7. Ahead of the launch, a YouTuber has given us a hands-on review video of the device. The video bares all there is to know concerning the design and features of the device. Well, before it was pulled down. However, there are still images of the device grabbed from the video online.

The real-life design of the X3 NFC as spotted on the video by Spanish channel Tecvideos is the same with the renders of the device which appeared online earlier today. From the pictures, we can grab that the OCO X3 NFC won’t be a rebadged Xiaomi phone unlike its predecessor that was a rebranded Redmi phone.

The phone will feature a Qua-camera setup design in an X-formation along with the LED flash. At the front, the X3 NFC will pack a central hole-punch design which houses a 20MP selfie camera. The screen is a 6.67-inch LCD panel with FHD+ resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate. There is a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 panel on top the display for protection. The phone also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded with the power button.

The Snapdragon 732G chipset is expected to power the model paired with 6GB RAM. There is 64GB of internal storage onboard the phone. The main camera is given as a 64MP sensor with f/1.79 aperture and support for 4K video recording at 30 fps. The phone also packs up to 5100mAh battery.

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The POCO X3 NFC is expected to be priced around PHP10,990 ($225). It is also said to have a “Premium Version” that may likely retail for up to PHP12,990 ($265).

AnTuTu Benchmark August 2020: MediaTek and HiSilicon powered devices lead in mid-range segment

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 3, 2020

AnTuTu is a well-known benchmarking platform for smartphones other than Geekbench. It releases monthly reports on top-performing devices similar to Master Lu, which is another popular benchmarking platform in China. The reports for August 2020 are now out from both the companies. Yesterday, we had a look at the performance and UI fluency lists released by the latter. Today, let’s dig into the former’s list of top 10 high-end and mid-range smartphones.

High-end Smartphones

Just like on Master Lu, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and iQOO 5 (non-Pro) lead the AnTuTu Benchmark’s August 2020 list of top-performing high-end smartphones despite them being powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. Whereas, the ASUS ROG Phone 3 equipped with Snapdragon 865+ comes only at third position.

AnTuTu explains that they test the top variant of each phone. The scores mentioned in their database are the average of multiple tests performed on these devices. Hence, they tested the 16GB LPDDR5 RAM + 512GB UFS 3.1 storage variant of Mi 10 Ultra compared to 12GB + 256GB configuration of iQOO 5 and ROG Phone 3.

But still, the ROG Phone’s points are much lower than the other two as you can see from the list. The company says that ASUS has not optimized its software well-enough for the new 3.1GHz Snapdragon 865+.

Interestingly, iQOO 5 Pro cannot be seen in the top 10 list. Even on Master Lu, it lagged behind though the regular and Pro variant features same chipset and internals except for different camera setup, battery, and charging speed.

Also, Samsung’s most powerful smartphones of 2020 – Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Galaxy Note 20 don’t make the list just like OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8.

Mid-range Smartphones

Talking about mid-range smartphones, the MediaTek Dimensity 820-powered Redmi 10X and Redmi 10X Pro top the list, followed by HONOR 30, HUAWEI nova 7, and HUAWEI nova 7 Pro powered by HiSilicon Kirin 980. Again, we see the same trend. The regular models of the same phone perform better than the Pro variant.

Other phones in this list include Kirin 820 equipped HONOR X10, HONOR 30S, and HUAWEI nova 7 SE. It is interesting to see MediaTek leading the list in the mid-range segment, followed by HUAWEI and HONOR handsets powered by Kirin.

On the other hand, though Qualcomm chips perform better in the high-end segment, the mid-range Snapdragon 768G and Snapdragon 7655-powered Redmi K30 5G Racing Edition and OPPO Reno4 5G pale in comparison with phones featuring chipsets from MediaTek and HiSilicon in this segment.

Zhiyun Smooth XS Smartphone Gimbal Launched: Features a new Grip & Bolder Color accents

By

Joel Joseph

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Sep 3, 2020

A few weeks back, our team in China reviewed the Zhiyun Smooth X smartphone gimbal. We were impressed with its functionality and design. Today, Zhiyun has announced a new variant of the Smooth X, called the Zhiyun Smooth XS, featuring bolder colors and some cosmetic design changes. The rest of the features and specifications are exactly the same as the older Smooth X model.

The Zhiyun Smooth XS comes with subtle design changes. For example, the buttons on the white color model come in an orange shade, while other parts of the gimbal, like the extendable telescopic selfie stick and the smartphone holder, come in a dark grey / black shade. The new cosmetic change is likely to make it more appealing to its target audience – the young and energic Vloggers, especially since the Smooth X had a basic and bland design. Another significant change in design is the new titled handle. The gentle tilt is said to make for better ergonomics, especially with an anti-slip grip on both sides.

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The portable form factor including its folding design and 249 grams weight is the same as the Smooth X. You also get a 260mm (10-inch) aluminum telescopic rod, which is one of its biggest highlights. In our review back in July, we mentioned that the Zhiyun Smooth X wasn’t an ordinary gimbal. It was a selfie stick gimbal hybrid. The same basic design and features are carried forward in this new Smooth XS model. This includes 2-axis motorized stabilization (pan and roll).

You get three buttons upfront, a joystick, a photo/video button, and a mode button – exactly the same as the older model. You also get a zoom button on the left side. But what’s new is that Zhiyun has bundled the mini tripod (1/4″ mount), soft travel bag, and a hand strap right inside the box.

Editor’s Pick: DJI OM 4 Mobile Gimbal announced with user-friendly Magnetic Mounts & Foldable design

Along with the regular templates and features found on the ZY Cami app, the company confirms that it has added new video templates for the device. The rest of the features and specs are the same as the Zhiyun Smooth X. If you want to know more about it, make sure to check out our review here.

The Zhiyun Smooth XS retails for $74.99 and is available on Amazon in two colors – ivory white and pearly pink. The company confirms the Smooth XS will arrive in two other colors later – navy blue, and shining yellow.

The Smooth XS is costlier than the $59.99 Smooth X. In return, you get additional accessories in the box and a slightly better design.

Samsung announces Galaxy Book Flex 5G with 11th Gen Intel Core i5/i7, dual-camera, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 3, 2020

A few hours ago, Intel announced its 11th Gen Tiger Laker chipsets. Followed by that, partner OEMs also unveiled their laptops with the newly introduced processors. One of those new notebooks is Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 5G whose branding was trademarked by the company last month, followed by a video ad leak earlier this week.

Unlike the original Galaxy Book Flex, the new 5G model does not seem to feature QLED display. In the press release, Samsung merely mentions it to sport a 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 108 pixels) touch screen panel. Anyway, it still comes with a built-in S Pen stylus like the Galaxy Notes.

It is powered by 11th Gen Intel Core i5/i7 processor paired with up to 16GB LPDDR4x RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD. Whereas, the graphics are taken care of by the brand-new Intel Iris Xe GPU. As for software, it comes in both Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro versions.

Interestingly, it houses two cameras, one 720p unit on the top bezel of the display for video calls and another 13MP sensor above the backlit keyboard. The latter can be used to take pictures of the surroundings when the notebook is used in tablet mode.

On the connectivity front, it supports WiFi 6, 4G LTE, sub-6GHz 5G, and Bluetooth 5.0. As for ports, it includes 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB, Type-C, 1 x USB 30, 1 x HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot, and SIM card slot.

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Other features include a fingerprint sensor, 2 x 5W AKG speakers, and a 69.7Whr battery. Last but not least, it measures 304.9 x 202.3 x 13.9~14.9mm in dimensions, weighs 1.26kg in weight, and is only available in a single Royal Silver color option.

Samsung is yet to reveal the pricing and availability of Galaxy Book Flex 5G.

Samsung to manufacture 800,000 Galaxy Z Fold 2 units this year: Report

By

Sean

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Sep 3, 2020

Samsung has just recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 2, its successor to the original Galaxy Fold. The successor features a larger display with a higher refresh rate, improved screen protection, better cameras, and a lot more. With these improvements, it seems like the company is planning on selling more than its predecessor, with a report from South Korea claiming that 800,000 units will be made by the company.

According to a SamMobile report, sources from South Korea have claimed that the tech giant will be making 700,000 to 800,000 units of the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Samsung is currently making the device in multiple production sites, including Brazil, South Korea, and Vietnam. An industry insider stated that the company manufacturing the foldable handset outside of its home country is indicative of the yield of its manufacturing process.

Reportedly, Samsung is now trying to cut down on manufacturing costs. Analysts have also claimed that the company might sell as many as three million units of foldable smartphones this year, which also includes the Galaxy Z Flip. Furthermore, this figure can grow as high as 8 million units by 2021, while Samsung is also rumored to be working on an affordable foldable device as well.

As of right now, only a few OEMs have launched their own foldable offerings, including Huawei, Microsoft, and Motorola. Samsung, at the moment, seems to be in the best possible position in terms of technology and development into this new breed of smartphones. Due to various advancements, it has been speculated that the company will take a leading position in the market for quite a while as well.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4-series with 5G support to debut in Q1 2021

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 3, 2020

Thanks to the availability of 5G-ready flagship to mid-range chipsets, various smartphone OEMs have launched 5G-ready smartphones across different price segments. MediaTek has a couple of chipsets such as Dimensity 820, Dimensity 800, Dimensity 800U, and Dimensity 720, which has made it possible for smartphone makers to launch cheaper 5G phones. Earlier this week, Realme unveiled the Dimensity Realme V3 with 999 Yuan (~$146) pricing. Qualcomm has a couple of high-end 5G-ready chipsets, but it does not have a chipset for cheaper 5G phones. Today, the U.S. based chip maker revealed that it will be launching the 5G enabled Snapdragon 4-series chipsets in early 2021 to power low-priced 5G smartphones.

Without confirming the exact name of the chipset, Qualcomm revealed that the Snapdragon 4-series 5G SoCs will be introduced in Q1 2021. Motorola, OPPO, and Xiaomi will be among the first brands to launch low-priced 5G phones powered by the new chipset.

Editor’s Pick: Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 8cx 2 5G processor for new ARM based laptops

Qualcomm has 5G chipsets like Snapdragon 865, 865 Plus, 855, and 855 for powering flagship phones. The Snapdragon 768G, 765G, and 765 are designed to power premium mid-range 5G phones. In June, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 690 5G or mid-range phones. A phone featuring the SD690 is yet to arrive in the market. Probably, 5G phones powered by the Snapdragon 4-series 5G chipset could be priced around $200 in the market.

It is speculated that the Snapdragon 4-series chipsets with 5G support will only work with sub-6GHz networks. In other words, it may not support high-speed mmWave networks. The U.S. based chip maker did not share any details on the specs of the chipset.

Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 8cx 2 5G processor for new ARM based laptops

By

Sean

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Sep 3, 2020

In the IFA 2020 event, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 8cx 2 5G, the next generation of the company’s ARM based chips for Windows laptops. It arrives two years after the original Snapdragon 8cx and arrives with incremental improvements across the board.

Unfortunately, exactly what areas Qualcomm made improvements on is currently unknown, but the company did promise that the successor offers “generational performance and efficiency gains.” Furthermore, the company also focused on the chip’s capabilities, especially in terms of rivaling chips from Intel. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8cx 2 5G offers significant performance gains over 10th Gen i5 processors, and even Intel’s Lakefield chips, which were made to rival Qualcomm’s efforts in the laptop market.

The 8cx offers an improved battery life with the ARM powered laptops lasting a full 25 hours on continuous use. This is quite an impressive feat if it actually holds up in real world tests. Notably, Qualcomm is also offering the Snapdragon 8cx with other features like Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 support, Qualcomm’s Aqstic audio technology, and support for dual external 4K monitors at 60 fps.

While the branding does have “5G” in it, the 2nd gen 8cx doesn’t actually change a lot in terms of connectivity. The chip still offers the same X24 LTE modem and X55 5G modem options like the original 8cx. The ultrabook market is going to face stiff competition, with Intel launching its 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors, the thin and light laptop category will have some heated rivalry in the market.

Redmi Smart Band will launch in India on September 8

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 3, 2020

Redmi Band first debuted in China in the month of April. Later, it was made available as Mi Smart Band 4C in Europe and other regions. Now, it will be launching as Redmi Smart Band in India on September 8 at 12 PM.

The Redmi Band is the first and the only fitness tracker from Xiaomi to feature direct USB charging. Also, it happens to be the first to sport a 1.08-inch color (16-bit) TFT LCD panel with 128 x 200 pixels and touch input. Another first is that it is boxy in design unlike curvy Mi Bands.

The display brightness of Mi Band 4 maxes at 400 nits but the panel on Redmi Smart Band can only go up to 200 nits. Due to the type of its display, the company claims only 14 days of battery life from its 130mAh battery. For comparison, the Mi Smart Band 4 features a 135mAh battery and is rated to run for 20 days on a single charge.

Apart from the above-mentioned differences, it is identical to Mi Band 4 (aka Mi Smart Band 4) in terms of functionalities. That means it includes optical heart rate sensor and 3-axis accelerometer (but no 3-axis gyroscope) to monitor fitness activities. It is even water-resistant up to 5ATM pressure.

Talking bout compatibility, it can be paired with both Android smartphones and Apple iPhones via Bluetooth 5.0 using the Mi Fit app. Last but not least, it should cost around ₹1,500 in India.

Apple iPhone 11 was the best selling smartphone in the world in H1 2020

By

Sean

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Sep 3, 2020

With the iPhone 12 series being right around the corner, rumors regarding the 2020 Apple flagship have been surfacing online. However, it is an older iPhone model that is grabbing headlines, as the iPhone 11 was the best selling smartphone in the world for the first half of 2020.

According to Omdia, an analytics and research based firm, the Cupertino based giant sold 37.7 million units of iPhone 11 in the first half of 2020. Previously, it was the iPhone XR that topped the charts during the same period back in 2019. Although, the iPhone XR only sold 26.9 million units, which indicates that the iPhone 11 has been more popular and successful. It also suggests that a relatively reasonably priced premium handset from Apple can have the company rope in more customers.

Notably, the three other smartphones that made the top selling list couldn’t reach Apple’s dominance in the market even if they were combined. The Samsung Galaxy A51 sold 11.4 million units, while the Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8 Pro sold 11 million and 10.2 million units respectively. Interestingly, the fifth best selling device was also an Apple handset, which was the iPhone SE that sold 8.7 million units. Despite being launched a year ago, the iPhone 11 is still the more affordable one, within its series and was quite popular in multiple markets.

Realme 7, 7 Pro with Helio G95, SD720G, 90Hz display, 64MP quad cameras, and 65W charging launched in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 3, 2020

After weeks of leaks, the Realme 7 series has gone official in India. The lineup has two phones namely, Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro. The vanilla model is the world’s first smartphone to feature the Helio G95 gaming-centric MediaTek chipset that went official recently. Both phones are blessed with large-sized displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate, 64-megapixel quad rear cameras, and big batteries with 65W fast charging technology

Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro specifications and features

The Realme 7 measures 162.3 x 75.4 x 9.4mm and weighs 196.5 grams. It comes in two attractive colors such as Mist White and Mist Blue. On the other side, the Realme 7 Pro has 160.9 x 74.3 x 8.7mm dimensions and it weighs 182 grams.

The Realme 7 has a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel, whereas the Realme 7 Pro has a 6.4-inch AMOLED display. Both phones support Full HD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio. Realme 7 offers a 90Hz refresh rate, whereas the Realme 7 Pro supports a 60Hz refresh rate. Both devices come with Gorilla Glass protection. The Realme 7 promises a screen-to-body ratio of 90.5 percent, whereas the Realme 7 Pro offers a screen space of 90.8 percent.

The 2.05GHz Helio G95 drives the Realme 7 whereas the 2.3GHz Snapdragon 720G is present under the hood of the Realme 7 Pro. These phones are equipped with LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.1 storage, and a dedicated microSD card slot. The Realme UI skinned Android 10 OS runs on Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro.

Editor’s Pick: Realme X7, X7 Pro 5G with 120Hz display, Dimensity 1000+, 64MP quad cameras, 65W fast charging launched in China

The Realme 7 has a 5,000mAh battery, while the Pro model gets a slightly smaller 4,500mAh dual-cell battery. The vanilla model supports 30W Dart Charge technology and there is support for the faster 65W SuperDart technology on the Realme 7 Pro. According to Realme, the Realme 7 Pro can completely charge in just 34 minutes through the SuperDart technology.

The Realme 7 Pro has an f/1.8 aperture 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 primary shooter, an f/2.3 aperture ultrawide shooter of 8-megapixel with 119-degree field-of-view, a 2-megapixel B&W portrait lens, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter with 4cm focal length. The quad cameras offer features like Starry Mode, Super Nightscape, HDR, AI scene recognition, UIS / UIS Max video stabilization, AI Color Portrait Video, Ultra Nightscape Video for clear footages in low-light conditions, 120fps 1080p slow-motion video shooting, and 4K video shooting. At the front, the Realme 7 Pro features a 32-megapixel selfie camera with an 85-degree field-of-view. It offers features like portrait bokeh, HDR, AI beautification, nightscape mode, 120fps slow-motion video recording, and 30fps video recording.

The Realme 7 features the same quad cameras that are available on the Realme 7 Pro. For selfies, it possesses a Sony IMX471 16-mgeapixel selfie camera that offers the same photography features as the Pro model.

Realme 7 has a side-facing fingerprint sensor whereas the Realme 7 Pro features an in-screen fingerprint sensor. The Realme 7 series comes with connectivity features like dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 (Realme 7) and 5.1 (Pro), GPS, USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone slot. The Realme 7 Pro also features stereo speakers.

Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro price in India and availability

The Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro variants and pricing are as follows:

Realme 7

6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – Rs. 14,999 (~$204)
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – Rs. 16,999 (~$231)

Realme 7 Pro

6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – Rs. 19,999 (~$273)
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – Rs. 21,999 (~$299)

The Realme 7 series will be available for purchase for the first time at 12 PM (local time) on Sept. 10 through Flipkart and Realme.com. Later, both phones will also sell through offline stores. Buyers of Realme 7 series can avail Discovery+ subscription for Rs. 299 and get a 2nd-year subscription for free.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 to launch on September 9 in China

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 3, 2020

Samsung officially unveiled Galaxy Z Fold2 earlier this week for a starting price of $1,999. Now, the company announces the handset to launch in China next week on September 9. So far, the South Korean tech giant has debuted all of its previous foldables (both 4G and 5G variants) in the country though it has a negligible share in the region’s smartphone space.

The Galaxy Z Fold2 fixes all the complaints of the original Galaxy Fold. It now comes with a 6.2-inch larger external display and a 7.6-inch internal foldable display with punch-holes instead of huge bezels and notch that are found on its predecessor.

The inner display is now protected by UTG like the Galaxy Z Flip. Also, it comes with a new hinge design in order to support “Flex Mode”. In other words, users can keep the foldable opened at any angle, again similar to Z Flip.

Further, It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor paired with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 2.1 storage. According to reports, China will also get an exclusive 512GB variant.

The primary triple camera setup on the phone includes a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide unit, and another 12MP shooter with a 2x telephoto lens. Also, both the external and internal displays house a 10MP snapper each in their punch-holes.

Other features of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, One UI 2.5 based on Android 10, 4,500mAh battery, 25W fast charging, 11W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.

Last but not least, the device comes in two colors namely Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black.

Intel unveils its 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPUs, arriving on laptops later this year

By

Sean

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Sep 3, 2020

Intel has just unveiled its latest 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors for laptops. These new CPUs will power thin and light notebooks and will feature the company’s new integrated Xe graphics.

Intel will be launching 9 new 11th Gen chips for both its U series (now called UP3) and Y series (now called UP4) lineup. The latest generation will be led by the Core i7-1185G7, which features a 3.0GHz base clock and up to 4.8GHz turbo clock and a maximum boost clock of 4.3GHz. This chip also features Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics that has 96 CUs and a maximum frequency of 1.35GHz.

Ultrabooks with thin and light design will feature these new chips and are expected to arrive later this year. Intel is aiming at a TDP of around 7W to 28W with these new chips, which also support Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6, and a notable bump in performance and battery life over its predecessor, the Ice Lake chips. At the moment, the company has provided various benchmarks comparing it to its primary rival AMD. However, we will have to wait for real world tests once these chips are actually available.

Notably, Intel is also betting big on its Xe integrated graphics with these new chips. According to official claims, the new integrated GPUs are offering a better graphical performance when compared to a 10th Gen chip running with an NVIDIA MX350 GPU. Keep in mind, that Xe is only available for i5 and i7 chips, while the i3 will still feature the Intel UHD Graphics. Notably, the company is also debuting a new iteration of its Project Athena certification standard, dubbed “Intel Evo.”

Huawei Enjoy 20, Enjoy 20 Plus 5G launched in China; Specifications, features and price

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 3, 2020

Huawei unveiled the Enjoy 20 5G and Enjoy 20 Plus 5G smartphones in China. Both phones are now part of the Enjoy 20 family that already includes Enjoy 20 Pro 5G that debuted in June. The new Enjoy 20 series come with attractive design, big displays, large batteries, and decent cameras. With a pricing of the 1,699 Yuan (~$248), the Huawei Enjoy 20 5G is one of the most affordable 5G-ready Huawei phones in China.

Huawei Enjoy 20 5G and Enjoy 20 Plus 5G specifications and features

The Huawei Enjoy 20 and Enjoy 20 Plus are respectively equipped HD+ and Full HD+ resolution supporting IPS LCD screens. The Enjoy 20 has a waterdrop notch display of 6.6 inches, while the Enjoy 20 Plus has a notch-less display of 6.63 inches. Both phones offer a 20:9 aspect ratio.

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The MediaTek Dimensity 720 chipset fuels the Enjoy 20 and Enjoy 20 Plus smartphones with LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.1 storage. The EMUI 10.1 flavored Android 10 OS runs on both devices. For additional storage, these devices are equipped with a microSD card slot.

Editor’s Pick: Huawei is increasing investment in Russia because of U.S. sanctions

The Huawei Enjoy 20 5G has an 8-mgeapixel front camera. It has back is fitted with a square-shaped camera module. It includes a 13-megapixel main camera with f/1.8 aperture, a 5-megapixel superwide lens with f/2.2 aperture, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.2 aperture.

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The Enjoy 20 Plus 5G offers users with a pop-up selfie camera of 16-megapixel. The Oreo-like camera housing on the backside of the smartphone has an f/1.8 aperture 48-megapixel primary shooter, an f/2.4 aperture 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and an f/2.4 aperture 2-megapixel macro lens.

The Enjoy 20 comes with support for 10W charging for its 5,000mAh capacity. On the other side, the Enjoy 20 Plus comes with a smaller battery of 4,200mAh battery, but it supports 40W fast charging. These phones are equipped with other features like dual SIM slot, 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone slot, and side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Huawei Enjoy 20 5G and Enjoy 20 Plus 5G pricing and availability

Here is the pricing of the different variants of the Enjoy 20 and Enjoy 20 Plus smartphones:

Huawei Enjoy 20 5G

4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 1,699 Yuan (~$248)
6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 1,899 Yuan (~$278)

Huawei Enjoy 20 Plus 5G

6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 2,299 Yuan (~$336)
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 2,499 Yuan (~$365)

The Enjoy 20 and Plus edition comes in multiple colors like black, green, silver, gold, and gradient pink. The first sale of both phones will be held on Sept. 10 in China. The Chinese firm did not share any details on the availability of both phones outside China.

Huawei Chairman: Continued investment in HiSilicon can help Kirin chips in this crisis

By

Sean

-

Sep 3, 2020

Guo Ping, the rotating chairman of Huawei, stated in an interview that we will continue to maintain his investment in HiSilicon, which he believes will help the company’s Kirin chips. The senior executive also stated that he would be helping its partners as well, to improve and develop their own offerings as well.

According to Ping, maintaining investment within Huawei’s chip designing subsidiary will have the firm bounce back stronger than before and help its proprietary Kirin chips overcome recent obstacles. For those unaware, US sanctions have cut off the Chinese tech giant’s chip supply from TSMC and, to make matters worse, further regulations have banned Huawei from obtaining chips from other companies since they utilized American technology.

Previously, we had reported on HiSilicon facing issues as engineers were walking out of the company. So, it is clear that the company is facing a crisis. In an article titled “Don’t waste an opportunity in a crisis,” the Chairman gave his views regarding the entire situation revolving around the US crackdown, chip supply, future development, and more.

The senior official also said that the suppression of Kirin chips have caused difficulties for Huawei, but he believes the issue will be resolved. He even stated that “it will not be the United States that can defeat Huawei, but Huawei itself can defeat Huawei. A firm right direction, a vibrant organization, and culture are the real challenges we face. These problems are not handled properly. Will fail and die.”

China’s wireless headsets market sees 49% year-on-year growth in H1 2020

By

Jeet

-

Sep 3, 2020

After publishing a Smart TV shipment forecast report for the Chinese market, IDC has today released a report on China’s Wireless Headset Equipment Market. It reveals that shipments of wireless headsets in China reached 42.56 million units in H1 2020.

The numbers represent a 24 percent year-on-year increase. The report claims that the true wireless earphones accounted for 64 percent in the shipment of 42.56 million units, which shows a 49 percent year-on-year growth.

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The leading brands for wireless headsets in China include Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, Amoi, and Meander. While Apple accounted for 18.1 percent market share, Huawei and Xiaomi managed to grab 10.1 percent and 8.3 percent market respectively.

Amoi accounted for 8.3 percent of the market share while Meander managed to grab around 5.6 percent of the wireless headsets market in China. The report further adds that the growth of active noise cancellation earphones is noticeable and the category could see rapid growth in the near future.

It’s noteworthy that the top three manufacturers of China’s Bluetooth headset market in the first half of this year accounted for only 37 percent of the overall market share, indicating that the market is quite diversified, mainly because of low entry barriers.

Offline retailers in India counter Xiaomi’s claim on inventory allocation

By

Jeet

-

Sep 3, 2020

Xiaomi India Managing Director and Xiaomi Global Vice President Manu Kumar Jain recently commented that offline inventory issues were largely related to the supply shortage. In response to that, Offline mobile retailers have countered the claim.

The offline smartphone retailers in India are claiming that the company deliberately related inventory of newly launched products and is diverting them to its own channel and e-commerce partners to save margins.

Arvinder Khurana, the national president of All India Mobile Retailer Association (AIMRA) told Economic Times that “Xiaomi promised to provide inventory offline within a week but the situation hasn’t changed in the last few months. They don’t provide inventory of latest models to offline partners and delay it for almost a month and largely give inventory of older models.”

He also added that there’s a price disparity as the company is selling smartphones ₹500 cheaper in the online channel compared to the offline market. The development comes at a time when Xiaomi claims that offline channels will contribute around 50 percent of its overall sales by the end of this year.

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Allegations by AIMRA, which represents around 150,000 mainline mobile retailers of India, doesn’t stop with Xiaomi. It also claimed that Samsung is involved in a similar practice, and isn’t providing certain in-demand models at all to offline partners.

Further, it has accused OPPO of selling “end of life” smartphone models at deep discounts on online channels, which diverts customers from offline to online. AIMRA has asked OPPO India President Elvis Zhou to discontinue deep discounts on online channels.

Moto Razr 5G foldable smartphone teased to launch in China on September 10

By

Jeet

-

Sep 3, 2020

Motorola launched its first foldable smartphone last year — Motorola Razr and now the company is gearing up to launch its successor, the second-generation foldable Moto Razr flagship phone with 5G connectivity support.

The company had recently sent out teasers, revealing that the phone’s launch could take place on 9th September. Now, the Lenovo-backed company has released a new poster which indicates that the same phone could launch in China on 10th September, just a day after its global launch.

While the company has not revealed anything about this upcoming smartphone, some details have leaked online. It is claimed that the upcoming Moto Razr 5G, or whatever the company ends up calling it, features the same design style as the original Motorola Razr.

The smartphone will be slightly thicker than the previous-generation model and will have more rounded edges. There’s also a fingerprint scanner hidden into the logo at the back, along with a smaller notch on top of the display.

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As for the specifications, the Moto Razr 5G is expected to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The device will support dual-mode 5G and will be powered by a 2,633mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging technology.

In the camera department, the phone will have a 48MP primary sensor on the backside and a 20MP snapper on the inside or the front panel, for taking selfies and video calling. It seems that Motorola has partnered with China Telecom to roll out the device in China.

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