Huawei’s teaser points to the imminent launch of the FreeBuds 3i in India

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Jul 21, 2020

Google Pixel 4A is one of the most leaked smartphones in recent years. However, the company is yet to launch it. Additionally, a report from earlier this month revealed the search giant to be working on two 5G phones, one of which is said Pixel 4A 5G. This handset has been now likely listed by Boom! Mobile, an MVNO carrier on its 5G compatible list.

Since Google Pixel 4A has leaked multiple times over the past few months in such a quantity that we know almost everything about it. Late last month, the phone was spotted on FCC with the following model numbers – G025J, G025M, and G025N.

Now, a Google smartphone with a similar model number – G025E was spotted by cstark27, an XDA Senior Member on Boom! Mobile’s “List of 5G Compatible Phones”. Hence, XDA Developers believe it to be the Pixel 4A 5G codenamed “bramble”.

If that is the case, then this handset will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G similar to Pixel 5. But it may have cheaper plastic build just like Pixel 3A/3A XL and Pixel 4A. Further, it will have a punch-hole AMOLED display, dual-camera setup, and will be larger than the Pixel 4A 4G as per the renders.

Samsung Galaxy A01 Core launched in Indonesia for $74

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 21, 2020

Samsung has launched the Galaxy A01 Core smartphone in Indonesia without much fanfare. The smartphone is an entry-level model and it comes as the brand’s most affordable model. Samsung and affordable phones usually don’t fit in the same sentence but this model should alter that notion.

The Galaxy A01 Core presents with a 5.3-inch PLS LCD screen with HD+ resolution and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The phone offers just a single rear camera which is an 8MP camera and LED flash. For selfies, there is a 5MP front camera housed under the top bezel. The back panel of the phone is designed with a ridge-like pattern on the back which not only adds aesthetics but also ensures the phone doesn’t slip off the hand easily.

Coming to the processor, the Galaxy A01 Core is powered by a Quad-core Mediatek MT6739 chipset paired with 1GB RAM. There are 16GB and 32GB storage options available. Keeping the lights on is a decent 3000mAh non-removable battery. The A01 Core also features a 3.5mm audio jack and hybrid SIM slot.

As for the pricing and availability, the Samsung Galaxy A01 Core is priced at IDR 1,099,000 ($74). However, Samsung Indonesia is offering buyers the option of getting it for IDR 999,000 ($67) as part of the first flash sale event which ends on July 23. The phone is available in Black, Blue and Red colours.

(source)

Google Lens now available on KaiOS for reading and translations

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Jul 21, 2020

Currently, Android and iOS are the only two major platforms for smartphones. As for feature phones, there is KaiOS, which is trying to bridge the gap between smartphones and feature phones since its release. Google has been a long partner of this platform and has even invested $22 million in it. The search giant’s most used services such as YouTube, Google Assistant, and Google Maps are already available on KaiOS. Now, the company is also bringing Google Lens support for this rising feature phone OS.

KaiOS is one of the unique operating systems, which run on feature phones providing smart functionalities. It is mostly found on Nokia handsets as well as devices from carriers like Jio. Apart from Google apps, these phones also support Facebook and WhatsApp.

Google has been closely working with this platform to bring its services so that people from all walks of life can experience the services provided by the Mountain View-based tech giant.

In a post on Google India Blog, the company officially confirmed the availability of Google Lens built right into Google Assistant on KaiOS phones. To access it, users will have to long-press the center button with mic icon to launch the Google Assistant and select the camera icon.

Then, users can point their phone’s camera at any text to read it aloud or translate it to a number of Indian languages. Here’s the complete list of languages that are supported right now.

English
Hindi
Bengali
Telugu
Marathi
Tamil

Apart from the above-mentioned languages, Google will be soon adding the below-listed two languages as well.

Kannada
Gujarati

Last week, at the Reliance AGM (Annual General Meet), Google also announced to invest ₹33,737 crores ($4.5 billion) in Jio Platforms Ltd for a 7.73% equity stake. As part of the deal, it is partnering with Jio to develop an entry-level smartphone.

LG may launch an ultra light AR glasses in 2021

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Jul 21, 2020

LG is apparently gearing up for the launch of a new wearable device. This gadget is reportedly a new ultra light AR glasses, which might be launched sometime in 2021.

According to a new ETNews report, sources have claimed that the South Korean tech giant is teaming up with Japan’s NTT DoCoMo. This collaboration will be to build AR glasses that are “very light.” Apparently, the new glasses would weigh in just 79.38 grams. Although this is still heavier than a typical pair of eyeglasses, it is still a lot lighter than AR or VR headsets that are currently available in the market.

The report suggested that both LG and NTT DoCoMo are in the process of discussing and finalizing features. Notably, the two companies have partnered up in the past as well to work on both 5G and LTE networking. Unfortunately, LG has declined to comment on the matter at this moment, but if the reports are true, we can see these new AR glasses sometime in 2021.

While the idea of a light AR glass sure is attractive, there are still too many unknown factors. With the weight of the wearable being so light, we can expect that most of the processing power and calculations being done through a smartphone or another secondary gadget, with connectivity made through a custom specialized software. Although, that is just a speculation, so take it with a pinch of salt.

LG recalls certain OLED TVs that are affected by overheating

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Jul 21, 2020

LG Electronics is recalling close to 60,000 units of OLED TVs in South Korea. The company is making such a large recall due to an apparent overheating issue that requires a replacement in their power boards to fix.

According to official notes from the company, 18 OLED TV models are affected by this issue, which were sold between February 2016 and September 2019. The components that are affected are within the power boards and are used to minimize current noises. The company stated that a few of the components used have shown performance drop over a period of time, which caused the current increase that could potentially lead to overheating.

Here is the list of the affected models:

2016 – OLED65E6, OLED65G6, OLED65G6
2017 – OLED65B7, OLED65C7, OLED65E7, OLED65W7, OLED77G7, OLED77W7
2018 – OLED65G8, OLED65W8, OLED77C8, OLED77W8
2019 – OLED65W9, OLED77B9, OLED77C9, OLED77W9

An LG official said that, “The overheating issue occurred only in very few models out of the total that used the component, but we will provide free component swaps for all of them for customer safety.” So, if you’re OLED TV is any one of these models in South Korea, do make sure to get it sent to avoid any possible harm.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) key specifications leaked through Google Play Console appearance

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Jul 21, 2020

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series is expected to go official as early as tomorrow. Recent reports have revealed that the South Korean company may launch a few other tablets in the coming months. One of them is the Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) tablet that was recently approved by different authorities such as Bluetooth SIG, Wi-Fi Alliance, China’s 3C authority, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. These listings did not reveal the main specs of the tablet. The device has surfaced in the database of Google Play Console (first spotted by 91mobiles) through which some of its key specs have been revealed.

The Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) is powered by the new Snapdragon 662 mid-range chipset that went official at the beginning of this year. The chipset includes Adreno 610 graphics. The SoC is coupled with 3 GB of RAM. Its screen supports 1200 x 2000 pixels resolution and a pixel density of 240ppi. The tablet runs on Android 10 OS.

Editor’s Pick:Samsung announces plans for 6G – Launch Expected By the End of the Decade

The source code of the Google Play Console listing of the Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) revealed that it has a 10.4-inch display. It also revealed that the tablet could be made available in 32 GB and 64 GB storage choices.

The FCC listing of the Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) had revealed that it measures 247.6 x 157.36 x 293.37mm. The rear diagram of the device that was found in its FCC listing revealed that it has a single rear camera. The Tab A7 (2020) will be available in Wi-Fi only and LTE versions. It could be housing a 7,040mAh battery and it may come with a 7.5W charging support.

Nubia Red Magic 5S listed on JD.com for registration, new grey color teased

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Jul 21, 2020

Earlier today (21st July 2020), the Nubia Red Magic 5S was officially revealed to launch on 28th July 2020. Although, despite being a week away from launch, the device was spotted for registration on JD.com, which also teased a new Silver/Grey variant.

Notably, the previously launched Red Magic 5G only featured a Neon, Red, and Black variant. So it would seem that the upcoming launch is also offering a new Silver color variant. Even the promotional image for the device teased the color, although, both the image and the listing do not reveal any specifics in regards to the design. At the moment, we only get a slight glimpse of the new flagship.

For those unaware, the Nubia Red Magic 5S is the latest gaming smartphone from the company. It will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 SoC along with a fast 144Hz refresh rate display on the front with a 240Hz touch sampling rate and support for dual shoulder buttons on the sides for gaming which also has a 320Hz touch sampling rate as well.

Upcoming Vivo S7 5G with largest and thinnest front camera module could be the best selfie smartphone

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Jul 21, 2020

Vivo unveiled the Vivo S6 5G in China in March this year. Vivo is reportedly planning to launch a new S-series smartphone in the home market. The leaked promotional materials of the Vivo S7 5G that surfaced yesterday revealed that it will be a lightweight selfie flagship. A Weibo user has shared some vital information on the selfie camera capabilities of the Vivo S7.

It goes without saying that Vivo will want to offer the best selfie shooting experience on the Vivo S7 5G phone. According to the leak, it has been learned through the camera supply chain that Vivo has been working on a high-resolution front camera module for the S7 5G. Its aperture will be the largest among similar modules. Also, it is said that the module will be the thinnest among the current modules.

The tipster further stated that Vivo wants the Vivo S7 5G to be the benchmark when it comes to selfie performance in smartphones. The Chinese firm is also expected to focus on the software side of selfies. Hence, the Vivo S7 5G may better front camera experience when it comes to front camera video recording, stabilization, and special effects.

Editor’s Pick: Apple Pays a Hefty Sum to Samsung after Missing OLED panel orders

Appearance could be another selling point of the Vivo S7 5G. Vivo has been aiming the fashionable S-series phones towards the younger audience in China. The Vivo S5 from 2018 came with an attractive diamond-patterned camera module and the Vivo S6 5G also managed to impress the audience with its design and gradient color variants. The upcoming Vivo S7 5G may also arrive with a slim and lightweight chassis along with an attractive design.

Except a few flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20, Huawei P40, and OnePlus 8, most of the upper mid-ranger and mid-tier 5G phones available in the market weigh around 200 grams. However, the Vivo S6 was a lightweight 5G phone that weighed 181 grams. It debuted in China as one of the first affordable 5G phones in the Chinese markets. Because of its impressive design, 5G capabilities, and attractive design, the Vivo S6 5G received a good reception in the offline markets of China.

Samsung plans to manufacture 500,000 bean shaped wireless charging Galaxy earbuds per month: Report

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Jul 21, 2020

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series being just around the corner, the company is apparently planning on also launching other peripheral electronics as well. Reportedly, Samsung is planning on releasing new smartwatches and bean shaped truly wireless earbuds as well, both with wireless charging.

According to a new ETNews report, industry sources have claimed that the South Korean tech giant will be strategically launching two new smartphones along with new wearable devices in the second half of August 2020. The two handsets in question are the Galaxy Note 20 series and the company’s Galaxy Z Fold 2. Furthermore, the new TWS earbuds are likely to be a new model within the Galaxy Buds series with a bean shaped design.

The second half of 2020 is very important for Samsung, who is trying to bounce back from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The company’s overall smartphone sales declined during the first half, but it appears to be preparing for a stronger presence in the second half. Interestingly, Samsung is also planning on including a new feature on its upcoming smartwatch and TWS earbuds, with both featuring an RX module, which is for receiving wireless power.

The charging case for the earbuds will feature the wireless charger and so will the upcoming smartwatch. Notably, this is also indicative of the new trend with new wearable generations featuring wireless charging. Apple AirPods Pro was one of the first to support this technology and have seen great success worldwide; so much so, that Apple had to turn to Chinese companies to double the earphone production.

Similarly, Samsung is also reportedly planning on producing 500,000 bean shaped wirelessly charging TWS earbuds per month. Wireless charging has become a new and emerging demand within the market and the suppliers of such technology have been seeing an influx of orders for the relevant components from various vendors. Additionally, Samsung is even hinted at bringing the technology to mid to lower end smartphones as well. Although, this is still an unconfirmed report, so take it with a pinch of salt for now.

US smartphone market sales plunged by 25% in Q2 2020, Samsung was the least affected

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Jul 21, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected smartphone markets around the world including the US. The latest report on the country by Counterpoint Research shows the sell-through volumes to have fallen 25% in Q2 2020. Samsung remained the least affected while Chinese OEMs like ZTE, OnePlus and Lenovo-owned Motorola were hit the most.

Unlike other regions, the US is primarily an offline and postpaid smartphone market. Since most brick and mortar stores were closed as part of lockdowns to curb the spread of coronavirus from mid-March, April was the weakest month for smartphone sell-through.

However, the market began to recover from May till June in such a fashion that the sales were stronger than that of June 2019. This occurred due to the opening of carrier and retail stores supported by pent-up demand.

Talking about OEMs, the sell-through declined for all the major players, however, Samsung remained the strongest with only 10% drop followed by Alcatel at 11%. Whereas, sales of Apple and LG decreased by 23% and 35% respectively.

On the other hand, ZTE was the most affected company with 68% dip. Similar story for Lenovo-owned Motorola (62%) and OnePlus (60%), both of which launched their most expensive flagship smartphones in the second quarter of 2020.

Further, Samsung Galaxy S20 series activations were 38% less than that of Galaxy S10 series in the first four months. But Apple iPhone SE 2020 sold well as over 30% of buyers upgraded from either iPhone 6s or older models. Interestingly, 26% of new users were one who switched from Android, which happens to be higher than normal Android to iOS switching.

Though the US smartphone market is slowly recovering, we will have to wait and see how it responds when Samsung and Apple launch their new products starting next month.

Xiaomi Youpin is crowdfunding an award winning Portable Multi-function Rice cooker

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Jul 21, 2020

The Xiaomi Youpin platform is crowdfunding a new product. It is the Youban Portable Multi-function Rice cooker. The new cooking gadget is currently crowdfunding for 349 Yuan (roughly 50 US Dollars).

According to the product description, the portable rice cooker is aimed at youth and the younger demographic. Since modern life has become hectic and working individuals either have less time to cook or to learn, the new Youban Portable Multi-function Rice cooker helps in getting the job done simply and easily. To operate, one just has to add the necessary ingredients in the required quantity and set the timer.

The design of the Youban Portable Multi-function Rice cooker is inspired by traditional Chinese rice baskets fused together with modern minimalistic aesthetics. Notably, it won an award for its design back in 2019. The compact body has a capacity of 2.1 kilograms with 6 different functions. It can cook rice, soup, porridge, and more, and can even act as a storage box that retains the warmth of the food.

The Youban Portable Multi-function Rice cooker is about 26-36% smaller than traditional rice cookers and operates through an integrated touch system. All one needs to do is, to switch the device on, set a mode and timer, and that’s it. This completely eliminates any hassle one may face and does not require users to even know how to cook or learn a recipe. It is currently available on the Xiaomi Youpin platform and has already reached its crowdfunding target as of today (21st July 2020).

TSMC to start 3nm risk production in 2021 and begin mass production in 2022: Report

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Jul 21, 2020

Despite 5nm just starting to make its way to the commercial market, TSMC has already begun work on the 3nm process. The world’s largest contract chipmaker is already looking into 3nm process for Apple‘s A series of mobile chips or Apple Silicon, which should be mass produced in 2022, since rumors have reported on a risk production of said processors beginning in 2021.

According to a new report from AppleInsider, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company had recently supplied Apple with the A12Z Bionic chipset and is working on bringing the process to even smaller fabrication scales. With the current generation soon making a move to 5nm from 7nm, the next step will have the company achieve the even smaller 3nm process as well.

Previously, we had reported that TSMC had to delay the 3nm process’ trial production to 2021 and mass production to 2022. Although the exact date for the risk production and trial phase is unknown, the company will announce the timeline by the end of this year. Notably, the upcoming 3nm process will bring a number of improvements over the new 5nm chips.

It will feature a 15 percent greater transistor density, along with a performance increase of 10 to 15 percent, and even raise energy efficiency by 20 to even 25 percent. Apple has been a major customer for TSMC’s latest processes, so we can expect next gen mobile chips or even the yet to be announced Apple Silicon to be built on the upcoming fabrication method. For those unaware, Apple Silicon will replace Intel on the company’s Mac computers and will be based on the ARM architecture.

Oneplus 8 Pro Crossfire Mobile game gift box goes on sale today

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Jul 21, 2020

Earlier today (21st July 2020), the OnePlus 8 Pro Crossfire mobile game gift box went on sale in limited quantities. The new special gift box arrives just a while after the flagship device supported 120Hz refresh rate in Crossfire.

The gift box is a new promotional offer with the package bringing an OnePlus 8 Pro with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, along with mini figurines, a customized AK47 permanent skin in game and a few trial period for the Black Knight skin for the M4A1 rifle and more as well.

For those unaware, Crossfire is a popular PC title that bears a striking resemblance to CS:GO (Counter Strike: Global Offensive). The game one of the most popular and highest played games of all time and its recent mobile port has been seeing great success in China as well.

Notably, Fortnite and Peace Elite also support the 90Hz refresh rate as well. OnePlus has been betting big on gaming especially for the mobile platform, and collaborations such as this and improved frame rate fidelity support would only solidify its position as a gamer’s choice. The special CrossFire gift box is currently available for a prie of 5,999 Yuan (roughly 858 US Dollars).

Infinix Smart 4 Plus with 6.82-inch display, 6,000mAh battery, Helio A25 and Rs. 7,999 (~$107) pricing launched in India

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Jul 21, 2020

The Smart 4 Plus phone by Infinix has gone official in India. Priced at Rs. 7,999 (~$107), it offers some exciting features like the largest display and biggest battery in its price range. It has been made official to succeed the Infinix Smart 3 Plus from 2019.

Infinix Smart 4 Plus specifications

The Infinix Smart 4 Plus has a polycarbonate body that measures 171.82 x 77.96 x 8.9mm and it weighs 207 grams. It is fitted with a gargantuan display of 6.82 inches that offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1640 pixels and 20.5:9. There is a dual-LED flash enabled 8-megapixel selfie camera in the waterdrop notch of the phone.

Editor’s Pick: OPPO unveils World’s Fastest 125W Flash Wired Charging and 65W AirVOOC Wireless Charging

The rear shell of the Infinix Smart 4 Plus has a triple-LED flash assisted dual camera system that comprises of a 13-megapixel primary lens and a depth sensor. A fingerprint sensor is also available on the backside of the smartphone. The XOS 6.2 based Android 10 OS runs on the device.

The Infinix Smart 4 Plus is driven by the modest Helio A25 chipset and 3 GB of RAM. It comes with a built-in storage of 32 GB. For additional storage, users can add a microSD card to the device. The phone comes with a massive battery of 6,000mAh. The only gripe with it is that it supports only 10W charging. The usual connectivity features like dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, microUSB and 3.5mm audio jack are also available on the Infinix Smart 4+.

Infinix Smart 4 Plus price in India

The Smart 4+ comes in three colors like Midnight Black, Ocean Wave, and Violet and it costs Rs 7,999 (~$107). It will go on sale starting from July 28 in India.

Flyme 8.1 Android 10 Closed Beta live for Meizu 16th/16th Plus & 16s/16s Pro

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Jul 21, 2020

Late last month, Meizu announced the recruitment for Android 10 Closed Beta testers for 10 smartphones. The first build was said to roll out starting July 21. As today is the day, the company has seeded out the update to four devices initially. The remaining six will be getting the update by the end of this month.

Meizu smartphones run Flyme, an Android skin similar to the likes of MIUI, ColorOS, and others. The company announced its latest iteration called Flyme 8.1 alongside Meizu 17/17 Pro. The stable update was rolled out to all the eligible handsets by the end of May itself.

However, unlike the Meizu 17 series, which launched with Flyme 8.1 based on Android 10, the update seeded out to older devices was Android Pie-based. Hence, last month, the company started recruiting closed beta testers for Android 10.

Currently, Flyme 8.1 Android 10 Closed Beta build is available for the following four handsets.

Meizu 16th
Meizu 16th Plus
Meizu 16s
Meizu 16s Pro

The remaining six phones listed-below will be receiving the update by the end of July.

Meizu 16T
Meizu 16X
Meizu 16Xs
Meizu Note 8
Meizu Note 9
Meizu X8

It is not sure when Android 10 will be available for the above-mentioned Meizu smartphones running Flyme Global build.

(Via)

Next-generation Apple Pencil could sense colors in real life, suggests new patent

By

Jeet

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Jul 21, 2020

If Apple’s newly published patent application by the United States Patent and Trademark Office is to be believed, then the company is working on a new technology for the Apple Pencil that could enable the device to sample real-world colors.

The patent application from Apple is titled “Computer System With Color Sampling Stylus” and it describes a scenario where the Apple Pencil can sensor or detect real-life colors that can then be used in digital arts, drawings, edits, and more.

Apart from drawings, the color sensor can also be used for other purposes, such as calibrating displays, calibrating printers, making health-related measurements, and identifying paint colors for home projects.

As for the design, the patent describes Apple Pencil or a Stylus device having a design with an elongated body, a tip, and an opposing end, where the tip will be able to work with a touch-sensitive display. The color sensor functionality could be located at the end of the stylus, at the tip, or coupled to the tip through a light source.

EDITOR’S PICK: Apple Pays a hefty amount to Samsung Display after missing OLED panel orders

The company says that the color sensor may have more than one photodetectors each of which measures light for a different respective color channel. It may also come with one or more light-emitting devices to illuminate an external object to determine the color.

Do note that most companies patent all kinds of technologies and designs even though they have no plans of launching the same commercially. Since most patents for technology don’t make it to the market, it remains to be seen if this color-sensing Apple Pencil sees the light of the day anytime soon.

Xiaomi launches Mijia Projector 2 Pro in China for 4,599 yuan ($658)

By

Jeet

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Jul 21, 2020

After launching Mijia Projector last year and Mijia Projector 1S 4K version last month in China, Xiaomi has today launched its next-generation Mijia Projector 2 Pro. It is now available for pre-booking in China with a deposit of 100 yuan (~$14).

The Xiaomi Mijia Projector 2 Pro is priced at 4,599 yuan which roughly converts to $658. Those who pre-book the device will need to make payment for the remaining amount on 29th July, the day when the product will start shipping. Those who pre-book this projector will also get Mijia Charging Lamp for free.

The official listing of the Xiaomi Mijia Projector 2 Pro reveals that it comes with 4-channel Luminus LED light source which offers a brightness of up to 1300 ANSI Lumens. This is said to offer such brightness that it can also be used during the daytime.

The color gamut is ≥100% Rec709 and it supports HDR10+ decoding. The projection ratio is 1.1:1 and the device can cast images to a maximum size of 200 inches but the company is recommending a 60- to 120-inch screen.

EDITOR’S PICK: World’s First 120W fast charging unveiled by iQOO; the First phone with this tech could be announced in August

For the distance of up to 2 meters, the company suggests an 80-inch screen and for the distance of around 2.5 meters and 3 meters, the company is recommending a screen size of 100-inch and 120-inch respectively.

It offers two focus modes — TOF Non-Sensing Focus and Camera Focus. Thanks to the six-axis spiral instrument, the device can instantly complete Smart Focus whenever you are starting it for the first time or moving its location.

Under the hood, the Mijia Projector 2 Pro is powered by a 12nm Amlogic T972 processor which is claimed to have 63 percent better performance and 55 percent less power consumption compared to T962.

It packs 2GB of RAM and has 16GB of internal storage. Along with 4K decoding, the device also supports 8K decoding. There are 1.75-inch dual 10W full-frequency hi-fi speakers and the device also comes with XiaoAI Smart Voice Assistant.

As for the support for different projection methods, there’s Miracast, DLNA, and Airplay for photos, videos, and gaming. In the software department, it comes with PatchWall UI, which is found on Xiaomi Smart TVs and can be connected to smart home devices.

Realme C15 variants appear in retailer listing

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