Lenovo’s first gaming smartphone under its Legion branding for gaming products — Lenovo Legion, has been in the news for months. Now, we finally know when the smartphone will go official.
The company has confirmed that the Lenovo Legion gaming smartphone will be officially launched on 22nd July. This is the same day when ASUS is set to launch its third-generation gaming smartphone ASUS ROG Phone 3.
Further, Lenovo has also confirmed that the smartphone will come powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset, clocked at 3.1GHz, and promised to deliver 10 percent better performance compared to SD865.
With this, Lenovo Legion is among the first smartphones to come powered by the SD865 Plus SoC. ASUS ROG Phone 3 is the other smartphone confirmed to pack this new chipset. But the upcoming Samsung Galaxy flagships are expected to be powered by the same.
The company has also revealed that the smartphone will come with a newly designed heat dissipation architecture, along with 14 temperature sensors. It will also have dual X-axis linear motors and an additional USB Type-C port on the side for gaming.
The smartphone was recently spotted on the AnTuTu benchmarking platform, which revealed that the phone will come packed with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage but we expect other memory variants as well.
It recorded 114,314 scores in the memory test of the benchmarking platform. In the CPU and GPU tests, the Lenovo gaming phone scored 187,401 and 246,980 benchmarking scores, respectively. Overall, the device managed to score 648,871 points.
The Lenovo Legion is expected to come with a Full HD+ display with 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. There could also be an in-display fingerprint sensor for added protection.
In the camera department, the smartphone is expected to have a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 64-megapixel primary sensor and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide secondary camera sensor. As per the reports, the phone has a side-facing 20-megapixel pop-up selfie camera.
Coming to the software department, the smartphone is expected to be running the Android 10 operating system with the company’s own gaming-focused Legion UI on top. The company has already confirmed that the device will come with dual 45W (90W) fast charging support.
ASUS has so far launched two gaming smartphones under its ROG Phone lineup and the company is now all set to unveil its third-generation gaming smartphone — ASUS ROG Phone 3 in India on 22nd July.
Online marketplace Flipkart has now started teasing the launch of this new smartphone, suggesting that the device will be available for purchase in India exclusively through its platform. Further, it seems that the company has hired YouTuber CarryMinati as an ambassador for this new smartphone.
The virtual launch event will take place on 22nd July at 8:15 PM. The company is also set to launch the smartphone in three other markets on the same day — Taiwan, Milan (Italy), and New York (USA).
It has also been confirmed that the ROG Phone 3 will come powered by the newly announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus, making it one of the first devices to come powered by this chipset.
As per the reports, the smartphone will come with a 6.59-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with support for a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It will offer a 144Hz refresh rate and is expected to come embedded with a fingerprint reader.
The device is said to have up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. In the camera department, the phone will feature a triple-camera setup on the back where the primary sensor will be of 64-megapixel.
On the front side, the smartphone will have a 13-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling. As for the software, the device will be running the Android 10 operating system with the company’s own ROG UI on top. The phone will be powered by a 6,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support.
The Xiaomi Mi TV Stick has been in the news a lot lately but the streaming stick is yet to get an official launch. A few weeks ago, we reported that the device is available for pre-order on AliExpress. Now, a listing has been spotted on the Xiaomi Portugal online store.
The listing shows the Mi TV Stick will retail for €39.99 in the Old Continent. The price tag is for the 1080p version which has 1GB RAM and 8GB of storage. Unfortunately, you still cannot order it but you can signup to be notified once it is available.
The Mi TV Stick runs Android TV 9.0 and is powered by a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor. The spec sheet shows it has Bluetooth 4.2 and dual-band Wi-Fi. There is Dolby Audio and DTS and it supports MP3, WMA, AAC, Flac, and OGG audio formats.
The Xiaomi Mi TV Stick has an HDMI port and a MicroUSB port for power. The description says it will come with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video out of the box. The remote is also shown to have dedicated buttons for the two streaming platforms.
According to the listings on AliExpress, the Mi TV Stick will begin shipping from July 20. Based on this info, the launch should happen soon.
The European market finally has good affordable 5G options in the smartphone market. You can actually find four last-generation 5G phones with price tags inferior to €400 in the European market. In this article, we will compare three of them: Moto G 5G Plus, Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G, and Realme X50 5G. We excluded the Huawei P40 Lite 5G because we expect it to be less popular as it lacks Google services out of the box. Note that the Realme X50 5G sold in the European market is actually the device known in China as the Realme X50m 5G, while the Chinese Realme X50 5G has different specifications.
Motorola Moto G 5G Plus vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G vs Realme X50 5G Global
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite Zoom
Realme X50 5G
Motorola Moto G 5G Plus
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
164 x 74.8 x 7.9 mm, 192 g
163.8 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm, 202 grams
168 x 74 x 9 mm, 207 grams
DISPLAY
6.57 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
Quad 48 + 8 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/3.4 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
16 MP front camera
Quad 48 + 8 MP + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4
Dual 16 + 2 MP f/2.0 and f/2.4 front camera
Quad 48 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP f/1.7, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.2
Dual 16 + 8 MP f/2.0 and f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY
4160 mAh, fast charging 22.5W
4200 mAh
Fast charging 30W
5000 mAh, Fast charging 20W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Dual SIM slot, 5G
Design
The front panel of the Moto G 5G Plus looks very attractive because instead of sporting a pill-shaped punch-hole for the dual selfie camera (like the Realme X50 5G) it sports separate holes. And it is even splash resistant. But the Moto G 5G Plus has a plastic design, that is why I personally prefer the Realme X50 5G and its glass back. I do not like the big camera module of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G and it comes with a classic waterdrop notch instead of a punch hole. But it is thinner and lighter than its two rivals, so do not underestimate it.
Display
High refresh rate or AMOLED: this is the question. Realme X50 5G gives you an amazing 120 Hz refresh rate, something you can not even find on a lot of flagships. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G sports an AMOLED display with the HDR10+ certification for an amazing image quality even on streaming platforms. So, do you prefer having a smoother viewing experience or a higher image quality with brilliant colors and deeper blacks? The choice is up to you. The Moto G 5G Plus has an IPS display and a 90 Hz refresh rate, so you should discard it.
Hardware/Software
Motorola Moto G 5G Plus, Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G, and Realme X50 5G are powered by the Snapdragon 765 (Moto G) and 765G (X50 and Mi 10 Lite) mobile platforms. It is an amazing upper-midrange chipset with an integrated 5G modem supporting fifth generation networks in all their frequencies. Motorola Moto G 5G Plus offers max 6 GB of RAM but it has a micro SD slot. Realme X50 5G and Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G lack the expandable storage, but they feature a higher amount of RAM in their higher-end versions: up to 8 GB. Android 10 is naturally out of the box, but on the Moto G 5G Plus you do not get a highly-customized user interface: instead, it has a nearly-stock Android version.
Camera
On the paper, Motorola Moto G 5G Plus is equipped with the most advanced cameras. On the rear side, it has a main sensor with a brighter focal aperture, as well as a better macro camera. Further, it is the only one with an ultrawide dual front camera (the resolutions are 16 and 8 MP respectively for the main front snapper and the ultrawide lens). Right after, we got the Realme X50 Pro 5G which still comes with a dual front camera, but it has a depth sensor instead of the ultrawide lens found on the Moto G 5G Plus.
Battery
The battery of the Motorola Moto G 5G Plus is a lot bigger than the ones found on the Realme X50 5G and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G. So it will surely last more on a single charge. With the Realme X50 5G, you get a faster charging technology with a 30W power.
Price
All these handsets are priced just €350 in the global market, but you can actually find the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite at very interesting street prices: its price dropped below €300. But if we exclude the display, the winner of this comparison is the Moto G 5G Plus due to its much bigger battery and better cameras. Just note it has a slightly weaker chipset.
Are you looking efficient and powerful laptop? Then make sure to check Jumper EZbook X3 Pro. Due to global lockdowns and work from home advisories, the reliability of laptops has increased in the past few months. Jumper EZbook X3 Pro 13.3-inch laptop is an affordable yet powerful laptop option for the users looking to buy a new laptop. You will get free shipping within a week across Europe.
Jumper EZbook X3 Pro laptop offers a 13.3-inch Full HD display, Intel N4100 Celeron CPU coupled with 8GB LPDDR4 and 128GB SSD. The laptop houses a backlit keyboard for ease of typing while using it in the low-lit environment. Here are the detailed specifications of the highly-affordable laptop.
Display
Jumper EZbook X3 Pro features a 13.3-inch HD display featuring a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. The narrower bezels offer a better viewing experience while gaming, watching videos or even working.
Performance
It is powered with an Intel Gemini Lake N4100 SoC featuring an octa-core processor with clocking speed of 1.1GHz to 2.4GHz. The processor is built on 14nm technology and offers highly-efficient and smooth performance while doing extensive work and even while playing games. It is bundled with 8GB DDR4 RAM for better multitasking and improved gaming experience.
There’s an inbuilt 9-Gen HD graphics for smoother gaming performance with 600mHz operating frequency.
Software
THe Jumpeer EzBook X3 Pro comes with Windows 10 pre-installed. You need not purchase an operating system as it is already present on the laptop.
Design
It is a compact laptop designed with Deep CNC Precision Diamond cutting process for smooth and shiny edges across all its visible components. The slim designed-laptop weighs around 1.3Kg in weight. There’s a standard 13.3-inch standard ergonomic keyboard for accurate and fast typing experience.
You will get a Type-C port, DC charging port, a headphone jack, TF card slot and a USB 3.0 port.
Storage and Battery
There’s a 128GB SSD present inside the laptop for better transfer speeds. It helps in faster response rates while opening a different program, and even while booting. You can even expand the storage by adding 128GB TF card in the expansion slot.
It houses a 5000 mAh/7.4V polymer battery which can withstand for long hours using its long standby time and low power consumption hardware.
Other Features
Jumper EZbook X3 Pro offers a 1.0 MP front camera for video calling and capturing memorable moments with friends. It houses Bluetooth 4.0 for easy file transfer and connectivity with music handsets and other accessories.
Technical Specs
13.3-inch FHD IPS Display, 1920 x 1080 pixels
8GB LPDDR4 RAM
1.1GHz, Quad-Core Intel Celeron Gemini Lake N4100 Processor
9th Generation HD Graphics
1.0MP Video Webcam
120GB SSD storage
Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 + 5.0 GHz)
Up to 6 Hours Video Playback
Inbuilt Windows 10
5000 mAh Li-Po Battery (7.4V), 38 Wh
It is available in grey colour from Jumper Mall online Store for a limited time discounted price of $239 with this coupon:JUMPERX3PRO8128 . However, it usually retails for $299.
Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Roidmi made its debut on the global scene recently with the launch of the Roidmi X30 Pro vacuum cleaner. The success of the crowdfunding campaign has prompted the company to launch a second product on the crowdfunding platform. The product is dubbed MOJIETU Lightning-A Smart & Portable Tire Inflator with the perks starting at $49.
Roidmi MOJIETU Smart & Portable Tire Inflator is a super portable and handheld inflator for different kinds of tires be it car, bicycle, or motorcycle. The tire inflator is also useful for other inflatable objects like sports ball, air mattresses, inflatable swimming pool etc.
As a car owner, some of us may have had the experience of getting a flat in the middle of nowhere. ven when it happens right in your driveway, it is usually difficult changing a spare or getting the car to the gas station. The MOJIETU Smart & Portable Tire Inflator provides a fitting solution for such “air” emergencies.
The tire inflator can conveniently pump even a car tire as it delivers up to 150 psi. The company claims it can fill up a car tire of size 195/55/R15 in just 9 minutes and with an accurate, easy-to-read built-in pressure gauge, you don’t have to worry about under or over inflation. The gadget has an LCD indicator that displays the reading and since it is an LCD display, the pressure reading can be seen in the dark. There LCD is bright enough to illuminate the tire and also there is an SOS Emergency light should you need help. Also included in a warning light mode which warns other motorists.
The Roidmi MOJIETU Smart & Portable Tire Inflator features four intelligent modes of inflatable special scene: bike, motorbike, car and ball. Each mode has a preset pressure value. Simply press the power button to start inflating. You can even leave it unattended to and it will automatically stop at the preset level.
In terms of the build, the Roidmi tire inflator is the size of a can. It is lightweight, durable, compact, extremely portable to carry around, and only requires little storage space. It is small enough to fit in your car glove box, fit easily in the motorbike storage compartment, attach to your bike, and easy to pack in your bag. So you’ll have easy access to it during a roadside emergency. Also, it is designed to be simple to operate with one hand and handy to inflate anywhere anytime.
The device crams a rechargeable 2600mAh high capacity lithium-ion battery. The battery won’t drain if left in standby for a year. Thus, you won’t have to worry if there is still battery power left when not used for a long time.
For easy usage, the Roidmi MOJIETU Lightning Tire inflator comes with 3 extra nozzle attachments to serve multiple purposes. The nozzles can fit most tires and balls on the market, as well as recreational inflatables.
As stated earlier, the perks start at $49 for the super early bird offer and $59 for the IGG special. There are a limited number of units available. The product is expected to start shipping to backers in August 2020. It ships worldwide free of charge.
If you own this year’s flagship phones from Xiaomi, OPPO, and POCO, you are probably running a beta version of Android 11 already. The rest of us on the other hand have to wait for the stable update to be available. If you are wondering when the stable update will be officially announced by Google, then you are in the right place.
At yesterday’s “Hey Google” Smart Home Summit, a video was shown that contained a slide that is presumed to point at the launch date of Android 11 stable.
The slide has the heading “Checklist for September 8th Android 11 launch” which means the new version of Android should be announced on that day. Android 10 launched on Tuesday, the 3rd of September last year. This year’s date also falls on a Tuesday.
It is too early to say which phones will get the stable update on day 1 other than the Google Pixel line. Essential no longer makes phones and the PH-1 received its last update in February. However, Xiaomi/Redmi may surprise us again like it did last year and make the update available for one of its phones.
Realme‘s CEO Madhav Sheth has taken to Twitter to announce that the company’s budget series – Realme C series smartphones now has over 7.5 million users in India alone. This is a huge feat for a budget series which first made its entry in September 2018 when the Realme C1 was launched.
The CEO also hinted that the brand is looking to expand the line in India with the launch of a new model. Although the Realme exec is yet to mention the name of the upcoming model, it is believed to be the Realme C11. The C11 has already been launched in Malaysia.
We have reached out to the masses with #realme C series smartphones & user trust is evident with 7.5 Million+ users & highest satisfaction ratings on Flipkart.#realmeC1 – 4.4/5#realmeC2 – 4.4/5#realmeC3 – 4.5/5 Adding another stylish product to this series! RT & reply to guess pic.twitter.com/gkrjO0AgKu
Furthermore, Realme Mobiles have shared two teaser posters on its Twitter page which also confirm the company will be launching an entry-level C series model. The two separate teasers utilise a feature phone with a sketch which suggests a bigger display. We can guess this also refers to the C11 which starts at RM 429 (~$100) in Malaysia.
The C11 features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with a waterdrop notch design. The display utilises the 20:9 aspect ratio display and has an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and 88.7% screen-to-body ratio.
The model is powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 SoC with processing speeds of up to 2.3GHz paired with 2 GB of RAM. The phone has an internal storage of 32 GB and a microSD card slot for additional storage. It is preinstalled with Android 10 OS and Realme UI.
Samsung is planning on launching a successor to the Galaxy S10 Lite. Reports have said the upcoming phone will go by the name Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition). Now, more details of the phone have surfaced in a fresh leak.
Galaxy S10 Lite’s successor may launch as the Galaxy S20 FE
According to Twitter user @Boby25846908, the Galaxy S20 FE is “confirmed”. This should mean the device has been greenlit and will enter into production. He goes on to reveal that Samsung is considering using the Snapdragon 865 processor rather than the Snapdragon 855 or Snapdragon 765G.
The Snapdragon 855 is the chipset inside the Galaxy S10 Lite and it is surprising Samsung even considered it for its successor in the first place. The source says Samsung is considering the more-powerful Snapdragon 865 for the Galaxy S20 FE so that it can be positioned as a competitor to the upcoming OnePlus 8T.
Launch somewhere between Sep and Oct
— Your favourite Chun is back (@Boby25846908) July 7, 2020
Other than the chipset, the Galaxy S20 FE will also have a flat sAMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The refresh rate is not certain according to the source.
The phone will also have the 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN1 (not GD1) as its primary rear camera. The launch date for the Galaxy S20 FE is said to be between September and October. Sadly, there is no info on how much the phone will cost when it launches.
We advise you to take the info with a grain of salt as it is not verified and Samsung may decide to change some of the features of the phone.
Xiaomi today unveiled the RedmiBook 16 Intel version with the 10th generation Core-i7 processor at the heart. The Chinese company equally took the wraps off a new RedmiBook 14 II. The model is also an Intel SoC-powered version of the RedmiBook 14 which was announced earlier this year also powered by AMD’s Ryzen 4000 CPU.
As the name implies, the RedmiBook 14 II sports a 14-inch full-screen FHD display with a 90.6% screen-to-body ratio, 3mm narrow bezel. The laptop also comes with an ultra-thin all-metal body with a thickness of 16.85mm and weighing in at 1.3Kg.
As stated, the RedmiBook 14 II is powered by the 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 and Core i7-1065G7 processors. The processors are paired with 8GB and 16GB RAM versions, all having 512GB of internal storage. All models also come with the NVIDIA MX350 GPU.
The laptop also comes with the Fn+K performance smart selection mode, intelligent interconnection and 65-watt mini power adapter which is the size of a matchbox. The laptop packs a 40WHr battery which is said to last up to 10.5 hours and can be charged up to 50% in just 20 minutes.
In terms of connectivity, there is a USB 2.0, a USB 3.1, full-featured USB-C as well as USB-C data port. The laptop also has an HDMI port and 3.5 headset jack.
Other highlights worth mentioning are the internal dual heat pipes, 30% increase in fan volume, Wi-Fi 6, DTS sound effects, Mi Smart Band unlocking and pre-installed genuine Microsoft Office, among others.
As for the prices, the RedmiBook 14 II entry model with Core i5 SoC, 8GB RAM is priced at 4,700 yuan ($670). The Core i7+16GB RAM model costs 5,700 yuan ($810). These prices are notably higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U-powered version which offers almost similar performance.
The new laptop will join the RedmiBook 16 to go on sale in China from July 15.
Vivo launched X50 Pro Plus as its new flagship smartphone in June. The handset will go on sale starting July 11 in China. Ahead of it, the brand teases an Alexander Wang Limited Edition on Weibo.
That said, the company now teases X50 Pro Alexander Wang Limited Edition in collaboration with the American designer. Unfortunately, the brand did not reveal the design of this variant.
This is not the first time Vivo is partnering with the said designer. Just a few months back in March, the brand launched X30 Pro in association with him.
That variant has similar specifications as the regular X30 Pro but features a distinct mirror finish. As for X50 Pro Plus, we can expect the limited edition to feature artificial leather finish like the Camel color variant but with some design tweaks.
Though it is expected to be no different than the regular version, there are certain customers who would like to buy it. In fact, Vivo X series is targeted at fashion-loving customers and it makes sense for the company to cooperate with a celebrity designer to launch a special variant.
Qualcomm has announced a new flagship processor today. The Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G Mobile Platform (SM8250-AB) is an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 865 that powers a lot of this year’s flagship phones. The new processor will be found in quite a number of flagships scheduled for launch in the second half of this year.
What is new?
Increased performance: The new chipset has its Kryo 585 prime core clocked at 3.1GHz and it brings a 10% increase in CPU performance over the Snapdragon 865 5G according to the San Diego-based company. The Adreno 650 GPU also gets a 10% performance boost.
WiFi 6E: The new processor has support for the new Wi-Fi 6E standard thanks to FastConnect 6900. This means phones powered by this new processor can operate on 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz spectrums. You can read our explainer article on Wi-Fi 6E here.
Bluetooth 5.2, Dual Bluetooth Antennas, aptX suite, and new LE audio features.
4-stream (2×2 + 2×2) Dual Band: allows for simultaneous harnessing of multiple antennas and bands to provide faster speed or latency performance.
Confirmed Devices
The official press statement released by Qualcomm confirms that the upcoming ASUS ROG Phone 3 and the Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G. The general manager of ASUS’s smartphone business unit said the full specifications of the ROG Phone 3 will be announced in the coming weeks. We already know the phone will launch on July 22.
More devices powered by the processor will be announced too. Surprisingly, there is no confirmation that the chipset will appear in Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note20 series flagship.
If you’ve been following OnePlus since its inception, you’d see that the company has grown steadily, step by step, over the past few years. OnePlus started off its journey as a startup focused on a single flagship smartphone in a year. But within three years of its formation, the company changed the strategy to two flagship smartphones in 12 months. And a year later, in 2017, OnePlus released a special edition model – the OnePlus 5T Star Wars edition, in addition to the regular OnePlus 5 and 5T.
OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition – Gizmochina
In 2018, the company partnered with the British Motor Racing company, McLaren for the special McLaren edition of the OnePlus 6T. And in the following year, i.e. within six years of its inception, OnePlus released a total of six smartphones in 12 months including the OnePlus 7 duo, 7T duo, 7 Pro 5G, and the 7T Pro McLaren Edition. Finally, in 2020, OnePlus hit another key milestone with the launch of the Verizon branded OnePlus 8 (OnePlus phones were previously exclusive to carrier T-Mobile in the US). It also started selling directly through Amazon US this year.
As you can see already, OnePlus has been gradually expanding its operations ever since its inception. But after a period of slow and restrained growth, it looks like the Chinese smartphone maker is all set to spread its wings this year. In the past few months, OnePlus has launched a set of premium QLED Q series TVs along with a number of cheaper LED TVs in the Y and U series lineup.
But what’s next for OnePlus?
OnePlus was already the number one premium brand in India by the end of 2018 and for the entire 2019 with a YoY growth of 28%, capturing one-third of India’s premium segment. According to Counterpoint, OnePlus was also one of the top 5 premium smartphone makers in most of the global smartphone markets (except for Latin America and China) in Q1 2020.
OnePlus 8 Pro (Left) vs iQOO Neo 3 (Right)
So can it further grow in the premium smartphone segment?
Compared to the record-breaking shipments registered by phones in the budget category, the premium and ultra-premium segments where the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro belong to respectively don’t pull those kinds of numbers. The sales in this segment would further decline due to the ongoing pandemic as consumers are restricting nonessential purchases.
So, for a smartphone maker that’s completely focused on the premium segment, a cheaper and affordable mid-range smartphone was inevitable.
Increasing Prices created a void in the Affordable Smartphone Segment
The first OnePlus smartphone, the OnePlus One was priced at just $300. The next couple of iterations, the OnePlus 2 and the OnePlus 3 were still priced under $400 (Rs. 30,000). If you remember, the OnePlus 3 series was the one to bring the company into the spotlight globally with an invite-free sales strategy. And the phone offered flagship specs for an unbeatable $400 price tag!
The Oneplus 8 pro starts at Rs. 54,999 in India!
But if you look at the latest OnePlus 8 and the 8 Pro models, the cheapest variant starts at $700! In India, the same base variant starts at Rs. 44,999.
So, OnePlus, which traditionally sold phones in the sub-$400 price segment, has no product catering to the price segment where it started off – leaving a subset of its fanbase disappointed.
Lite Variants are the New Trend in the Market
OnePlus’ strategy to release the Nord series is in line with the current trend. The two other brands focused on the premium segment – Apple and Google have tweaked their strategies recently.
Both these brands have released a mid-range, affordable model in the market in the past 12 months – a deviation from their traditional focus on the premium segment. And the mid-range models from both these brands have done exceptionally well.
Apple is tapping into a new market segment with the iPhone SE 2020
When big brands like Apple and Google, which were premium-only for the past few years, have launched affordable models to drive more sales from the mid-range segment, it was only natural for OnePlus to follow suit.
Mid-Range Phones are exceptionally good this year!
If a premium brand was looking to launch a mid-range smartphone, for a cheaper price tag, 2020 would probably be a good year.
Why?
Because of the Snapdragon 765G.
The new chipset from Qualcomm comes delivers flagship-like experience in the mid-range market. You get premium features on an upper mid-range chip like an integrated 5G modem, the latest 7nm manufacturing process, 120Hz display support, Wi-Fi 6, Quick Charge 4+, and 4K 30 fps video recording.
This means, even though the Snapdragon 765G is cheaper than the flagship Snapdragon 865, you don’t have to sacrifice on the premium features. This is also what OnePlus’ founder Carl Pei mentioned in the interview with Android Authority last week.
He said, “We wanted to do the right thing for the consumer, and we really believe that putting this 765G processor here is the right thing for a product at this price point. It can now deliver the experience we wanted to deliver.”
For a fan base that’s not ready to ‘Settle’, the Snapdragon 765G is a competent processor to power the OnePlus Nord.
OnePlus needs to rope in More Users into its Ecosystem
OnePlus is no longer just a smartphone maker. It’s a headset and TV manufacturer as well, and in the coming years, its likely to diversify its product portfolio with wearables and smart products.
OnePlus’ new TV series ropes in a new set of users to its ecosystem
With a cheaper device like the OnePlus Nord, it will be able to sell more units and get the OnePlus experience in the hands of more users. With this, OnePlus wants users to be hooked to its OxygenOS ecosystem. After all, if you like a particular ecosystem, you are likely going to experiment with its other products too. For example, if you are a OnePlus smartphone user, you are likely to check out and get the brand’s TV lineup as well for a seamless experience. This is exactly what Xiaomi has been doing for the past few years in China and India.
While launching the mid-range OnePlus Nord makes perfect sense, whether it’ll be a successful launch is a different story altogether. The OnePlus Nord is all set to face stiff competition in the sub-$500 segment in India as well as Europe. There are a lot of competitive devices in this price range like the Mi 10 lite, Mi Note 10, Realme X2 Pro, and even the Poco F2 Pro (€499) with the flagship Snapdragon 865. So it won’t be an easy road for the brand’s new mid-ranger.
But history reveals that OnePlus has had a sound product strategy so far and it’s very likely that they have a solid plan in place for an important device like the OnePlus Nord too.
OnePlus ventured into smart TV category with the launch of OnePlus TV Q1/Q1 Pro. A few days back, the brand introduced three new TV models – OnePlus TV 55U1, 43Y1, and 32Y1. Now, the brand is rolling out OnePlus TV OTA 5 update for Q and U series with the features promised at the virtual launch last week.
OnePlus finally launched its budget TV models after teasing it for a while. At the launch event, the brand introduced a number of new features. It said that they will be made available for both the new 55U1 and the old QLED-equipped Q1/Q1 Pro.
Keeping up with its words, it has begun to seed these features to the mentioned TV models in the form of OnePlus TV OTA5 update. Here’s the official changelog provided by the company on OnePlus Community.
OnePlus Connect support for iOS devices.
Data Saver Plus: An enhanced version of the Data Saver feature, this will help keep a check on data usage through bandwidth control. This will also enable data usage alerts and will monitor monthly usage.
Kids Mode: With this we introduced parental control on apps, limited watch times, and an eye protection function to provide a more kids-friendly experience on the OnePlus TV.
OxygenPlay: You can now long press any poster in the OxygenPlay homepage to see a pop-up window with information; enhanced UI
As you can see from the changelog, all the listed four points are sort of major update. And all of them, improve the overall experience of the users. That said, the update is being rolled out in a phased manner and thus, may take time to reach all the units
Apart from smartphones, Realme is also known for accessories like power banks. The brand currently sells two models in India and both are capped at 18W. But, in May, it launched a new 30W Dart Charge power bank in China. Now, the same has been spotted on the brand’s support page in India suggesting an imminent launch in the region.
Realme ventured into a number of product categories sooner than any other new brand. At present, it sells products like smartphones, TWS, fitness trackers, power banks, smart TVs, earphones, and backpack.
Since the brand began its operation in India, it still continues to debut some of its products first in the country. But the same cannot be said for this 30W Dart Charge power bank, which launched first in its home country China.
But now, it seems this accessory will be soon launching officially in India as it was briefly listed on Realme India support page (spotted by FoneArena). However, it is not known when the bran will unveil it in the country.
Realme’s next Indian launch is expected to be the entry-level Realme C11. The brand has even begun to tease the same. Maybe, this power bank will be announced alongside it or will launch separately.
If you live in Europe and you are on the search for a new mid-range phone with support for 5G, you just got one more option to choose from. The Realme X50 5G is now official and it has the same price tag as the Moto G 5G Plus that launched yesterday.
Realme X50 5G specifications
The Realme X50 5G is actually the same device as the phone sold as the Realme X50m 5G in China. So you get a 6.57-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch hole for dual-selfie cameras. There is Gorilla Glass 5 for protection against scratches.
There is a Snapdragon 765G processor under the hood along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is also a variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is no support for storage expansion.
For selfies, you get a 16MP Sony IMX471 primary camera paired with a 2MP portrait lens while on the back of the phone is a 48MP + 8MP ultrawide + 2MP macro lens + 2MP portrait lens quad camera setup.
The camera app has an Ultra 48MP mode, Super Nightscape mode, Pro mode, Portrait mode, Ultra Macro mode, and Chroma Boost. The phone can record in 4K at 30fps and has UIS and UIS Max video stabilization.
The Realme X50 5G has dual nano-SIM slots but only one SIM slot can use 5G. The device also has support for Bluetooth 5.1, dual-band Wi-Fi, and NFC. There is no audio jack but you get Dolby Atmos Hi-Res Audio. A fingerprint scanner is buried under the power button.
The phone packs a 4200mAh battery and supports 30W Dart Charge that allows you to charge the phone from empty to 70% in just 30 minutes. Realme includes a 30W adapter along with a protective film and case in the box. The Realme X50 5G also has liquid cooling and ships with realme UI based on Android 10.
Realme X50 5G price and availability
The phone is already available for purchase on Realme.com in Ice Silver and Jungle Green for €349 for the 6GB RAM version. The 8GB RAM version is not yet available for purchase.
If you order the phone along with the realme Buds Q earbuds that also launched today, you can get the earbuds for €19.99 instead of €29.99. The Buds Q is only available in Quite Black in Europe.
In addition, if you are a student, you can also get 5% off any order. Just make sure you have a StudentBeans account and apply the code you get when you make your purchase.
Realme says it is only shipping to Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Portugal and delivery takes 7 to 10 working days.
Though Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S20 series is not doing well, its mid-range devices like Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 are selling like hotcakes across the world. In fact, the former was the world’s best-selling Android smartphone in Q1 2020. That said, to further improve the experience of users, the company is seeding out new system update, which brings a bunch of features from its flagship phones.
Talking bout cameras first, both the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 users can now enjoy a ton of camera features from the Galaxy S20 series. The new update whose build number will vary by regions will bring features like “Single Take”, which allows users to record quick 10 second videos with various modes like Live Focus, Smart Crop, and AI Filter.
Other camera features that come with the new update include more Pro Mode functionalities like Manual Focus as well as Shutter Speed control, Night Hyperlapse, and My Filters.
Further, the update also brings Quick Share and Music Share to seamlessly share pictures, videos and music with other users. Also, it adds features like translations directly from the keyboard, swipe left/right gestures to undo/redo keyboard actions, enhanced search bar in the app drawer, and Clean View as well as Quick Crop in the Gallery app.
Samsung has begun to roll out this update and it will be reaching all the variants of Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 very soon.
OnePlus first made a debut in the smart TV market in India last year but just a few days back, the company unveiled a new U-series and Y-series Android TVs for the Indian market. The 32-inch model went on sale for the first time and it turns out the enthusiasm for the product is pretty high. The smart TVs were sold out in just a minute. This was disclosed by the company via a tweet from its official Twitter handle. However, there is no word on the number of units sold or when the next sales would take place.
The new series is made up of a 55-inch 4K model belonging to the U series, as well as a 43-inch full HD model and 32-inch high-definition model both in the Y series. These TVs all run the Android TV Pie system and have OnePlus’ customized content recommendation interface called OxygenPlay.
Our Community’s love never ceases to surprise us. Owing to the overwhelming response for today’s #OnePlusTV flash sales the TVs were sold out in a minute. But, we’ll be back soon. Stay tuned to know about the next sales. Here’s to achieving new milestones together 🙌#SmarterTVpic.twitter.com/Z5PDPzLXO0
The HD OnePlus TV 32Y1 model is obviously the most affordable out of the three new smart TVs. The 32-inch Y1 model is priced at Rs 12,999 (~$174) while the 43-inch model comes in at Rs 22,999 (~$308). The top-end OnePlus TV 55U1 model is priced at Rs 49,999 (~$670).
A new report from South Korea has revealed that Samsung smartphones in the near future will not arrive with a charger in the box. Chargers being bundled in the box is a norm in the industry but recent rumors may say otherwise.
Samsung is one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world. It ships hundreds of millions of smartphones each year. So, if the South Korean tech giant decided to drop the chargers that were bundled in the box, the company would see a major reduction in cost. This, on the other hand, would enable the company to price its handsets even more aggressively.
According to the report, Samsung might implement this change to select smartphone models. And unfortunately, we may see this change implemented as soon as next year, which is just barely 6 months away. Unlike earphones, which also used to be bundled in the box, a charger is downright essential for a smartphone owner.
At this day and age, charging ports and standards have more or less unified across the board. And it seems Samsung is banking on this uniformity to no longer ship chargers to new devices. Notably, Samsung isn’t the first company that has had this rumor go about as Apple’s upcoming iPhone 12 series was also rumored to drop the charger from the box. Similar to the headphones jack, if Apple does so, Samsung may follow as well.
Visionox has apparently shipped OLED displays worth over 3.5 billion Yuan (roughly 500 million US Dollars) to Chinese vendors, Huawei and Xiaomi, since the second half of 2019. The company’s response to these rumors has also revealed that smartphones with Under Display camera technology will be launched very soon.
According to a recent report, Visionox had shipped OLED displays worth 2.5 billion Yuan to Huawei and over 1 billion Yuan worth of display panels to Xiaomi. When reached out for confirmation, Visionox replied by stating that it has entered into the supply chains of multiple vendors China and overseas customers. Furthermore, delivery is being done in batches and did not disclose the deal due to confidentiality requirements.
Visionox displays have been used by industry giants like Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei, and various others. The company’s response to the rumor also revealed that Visionox is currently in the phase of mass production and will supply a number of other brands for its under display camera solution; and that its smartphones with the new technology should be released soon.
Visionox InV See (Under Screen Camera Display)
Back in June, Visionox unveiled the world’s first OLED display with the new technology. While rumors had also surfaced that Huawei will be the first to launch with the technology through the upcoming Mate series, newer reports said otherwise. However, this news does indicate a separate device from Huawei that may feature the technology. Unfortunately, it is still too soon to tell, so stay tuned for more updates.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
