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ZTE President Xu Ziyang confirms launch of 5nm chipset next year

Current flagship smartphone chipsets are based on the 7nm node process but the manufacturers are now shifting towards 5nm and even 3nm process for the upcoming next-generation chipsets.

Joining the list of those companies in China-based ZTE. The company held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at its headquarters in Shenzhen where the company revealed its plan for the smartphone chipset.

ZTE Logo

Xu Ziyang, President of ZTE Corporation, revealed that the company is already working on a 7nm chipset which has entered mass-production. He further added that the company has started working on a 5nm chipset and revealed that it’ll be launched next year.

He further goes on to add that while ZTE has done the front-end and back-end design for the chipset, it has to rely on global partners for production and manufacturing.

The development comes as ZTE has been heavily investing in its Research and Development (R&D) department, especially for chip development. The company has spent around 12.1 billion yuan (~$1.7 billion).

ZTE isn’t the only Chinese company working on the next-gen chipset. Huawei, currently the leading smartphone brand globally, is reportedly working on its Kirin 1020 and Kirin 1000 chipsets, which are said to be based on the 5nm process.

With the on-going US-China trade war, the Chinese companies are now stepping up their game in the semiconductor business. After recent US sanctions cutting off chip supply from TSMC to Huawei, the Chinese giant is also heavily investing in local semiconductor firms.

Last month, Samsung announced a new 5nm chip production plant in South Korea which is expected to be operational by next year. TSMC, on the other hand, has already started mass production of 5nm chipset — Apple A14.

Earlier this month, TSMC officially revealed the existence of a new 4nm manufacturing process which falls between the 5nm and 3nm nodes that are already on the company’s roadmap. The “N4” process is said to be an enhanced version of the “N5P” process and is expected to enter mass production by 2023.

 

Huawei MateBook 13 AMD Edition debuts in the UK

Huawei has unveiled the MateBook 13 AMD Edition in the U.K. As the name goes, it is an AMD processor variant of the existing MateBook 13 that features an Intel processor. The MateBook 13 AMD Edition is driven by AMD Ryzen 5 series chipset. It has arrived with a starting price of 699 pounds (~$868).

Huawei MateBook 13 AMD Edition specifications

The MateBook 13 AMD Edition comes with an aluminum chassis and it weighs 1.31kg. The laptop is equipped with a 13-inch IPS LCD panel that offers a 3:2 aspect ratio and a high-resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels. The display supports 100 percent sRGB color gamut. For video calling, the device is equipped with a 1-megapixel camera.

Huawei matebook 13 AMD edition

The laptop is equipped with a backlit enabled full-sized chiclet keyboard. It features a fingerprint reader. When it comes to connectivity ports, the notebook offers a pair of USB-C 3.1 ports and a 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack. The dual speakers of the notebook are powered by Dolby Atmos.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor fuels the device along with Radeon Vega 3 graphics. The processor is assisted by 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. For storage, the notebook offers NVD SSD options like 256 GB and 512 GB.

Huawei matebook 13 AMD edition 2

The Huawei MateBook 13 AMD Edition boots to Windows 10 Home. It has Huawei Share feature for seamlessly transferring data between Huawei phones. The 42Wh rated battery of the MateBook 13 AMD edition can be fueled using a 65W USB-C charger.

Huawei MateBook 13 AMD Edition pricing

The 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage is available at the Huawei Store in the U.K with a price tag of 699 pounds (~$868). Select retailers will also sell the higher 8 GB RAM + 512 GB storage edition of the laptop with a price tag of 749 pounds (~$931).

 

(source|via)

Honor 30 Lite 5G full specifications leaked; Launch seems imminent

Honor is expected to announce three new phones in the coming weeks such as Honor 30 Lite 5G (Youth), Honor X10 Max, and Honor X10 Pro. It speculated that the Honor 30 Lite 5G and Honor X10 Max will go official together on July 4 or July 5. However, the X10 Pro’s launch date is yet to be finalized, claimed a leakster. Another tipster today shared a specs sheet of the Honor 30 Lite 5G phone.

Honor 30 Lite 5G Specifications

The Honor 30 Lite 5G has a 6.5-inch display. It could be a punch-hole display like the 6.5-inch screen found on the Honor 30S smartphone. The Honor 30 Lite 5G supports a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a tall aspect ratio of 20:9, and a refresh rate of 90Hz.

The MediaTek MT6873 SoC (Dimensity 800) is present under the hood of the device. The RAM and storage capacities of the phone are not mentioned in the leak. The device is packed with a 4,000mAh battery that supports 22.5W fast charging.

Honor 30S
Honor 30S

The Honor 30 Lite 5G is loaded with Android 10 OS along with EMUI 10.1 skin. It has a selfie camera of 16-megapixel. The 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera system can be found on the backside of the phone.

A previous leak revealed that the model number of the Honor 30 Lite 5G is MXW-AN00 and its codename is Maxwell. The handset is likely to be priced around 1,600 Yuan (~$225).

 

 

OPPO Find X2 vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10: Specs Comparison

A lot of interesting flagships belonging to different price ranges went on sale in India and several other regions. The recent Xiaomi Mi 10 can be considered a flagship killer, while devices such as OnePlus 8 Pro and Oppo Find X2 are more expensive and they seem more like top-tier flagships. There are several kinds of flagship phones, but which one should you buy? It mostly depends on your actual needs and in this specs comparison between Oppo Find X2, OnePlus 8 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 10 sold at different prices, we will try to let you understand which device is worth going for.

OPPO Find X2 vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10

Xiaomi Mi 10 OnePlus 8 Pro Oppo Find X2
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 162.6 x 74.8 x 9 mm, 208 g 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm, 199 g 164.9 x 74.5 x 8 mm, 196 g
DISPLAY  6.67 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED 6.78 inches, 1440 x 3168p (Quad HD+), Fluid AMOLED 6.7 inches, 1440 x 3168p (Quad HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz
MEMORY  8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 10, MIUI Android 10, Oxygen OS Android 10, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS
CAMERA  Quad 108 + 13 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
20 MP f/2.0 front camera
Quad 48 + 8 + 48 + 5 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 + f/2.4
16 MP f/2.5 front camera
Triple 48  + 13 + 12 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.4 + f/2.2
32 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY  4780 mAh, fast charging 30W, Fast wireless charging 30W 4510 mAh, fast charging 30W and fast wireless charging 30W 4065 mAh, fast charging 65W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging 10W, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G, IP68 waterproof, reverse wireless charging Dual SIM slot, 5G, IP54 splash proof

Design

OPPO Find X2 gives you more choices. You can get it with either a ceramic body or a glass body paired with an aluminum frame, and in both cases, it has a premium design. It is also splash resistant with the IP54 certification. OnePlus 8 Pro has an amazing design as well, with a high screen-to-body ratio, a glass back, and an aluminum frame. Further, it is waterproof with the IP68 certification. Xiaomi Mi 10 is another beautiful phone just like Oppo Find X2 and OnePlus 8 Pro, but it does not offer any protection against water and dust.

 

Display

If you need the most advanced display, you should go either for the Oppo Find X2 or the OnePlus 8 Pro. They feature a 10-bit panel that can display up to one billion colors with the HDR10+ certification, a high 120 Hz refresh rate, and very high peak brightness. The Oppo Find X2 convinces me the most, despite it has a slightly smaller display. They all feature a high Quad HD+ resolution. The Xiaomi Mi 10 loses the battle with its average Full HD+ panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate.

 

Hardware/Software

Oppo Find X2, OnePlus 8 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 10 feature the best hardware you can get in 2020. They are fueled by the Snapdragon 865 mobile platform paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and UFS 3.0 native storage. Note that the Xiaomi Mi 10 only comes with 8 GB of RAM in India, you do not get the 12 GB RAM version. Given they got the same astonishing hardware department, it is essentially a draw if we talk about hardware. Instead, they feature different UIs. With the Oppo Find X2 and the Xiaomi Mi 10 you get customized user interfaces (ColorOS and MIUI, respectively), while with the OnePlus 8 Pro you get a UI closer to stock Android (Oxygen OS).

 

Camera

On the paper, OnePlus 8 Pro offers the most advanced cameras. It is equipped with two 48 MP sensors including an ultrawide lens, a telephoto lens with OIS and optical zoom, and a depth sensor. It also features omnidirectional autofocus. Xiaomi Mi 10 supports 8K video recording, but its camera department is inferior due to its inferior secondary sensors (it even lacks a telephoto lens). In the middle, we got the Oppo Find X2 with a 48 MP main sensor, a 13 MP telephoto lens, dual OIS, and a 12 MP ultrawide sensor, as well as a great 32 MP front camera.

 

Battery

Xiaomi Mi 10 is the longest-lasting phone on a single charge not only because it features a bigger battery, but also because it has a more efficient display due to its lower resolution and refresh rate. It even supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging (just like the OnePlus 8 Pro). Oppo Find X2 lacks wireless charging, but it has the fastest charging technology with a 65W power.

 

Price

You can get the Xiaomi Mi 10 8/128 GB for Rs. 49,990 in India (€899 globally, but there are a lot of more affordable street prices), OnePlus 8 Pro 8/128 GB starts from Rs. 54,999 (€900 globally), and Oppo Find X2 costs Rs. 64,990 in its 12/256 GB configuration (about €1,000 in the global market). With the Xiaomi Mi 10, you can save a bit of money, but despite you get a longer-lasting battery, you lose the waterproof design, the amazing display you can find on Oppo Find X2 and OnePlus 8 Pro, and impressive cameras. We think it is worth spending more on the OnePlus 8 Pro and the Oppo Find X2. The former offers a more convincing rear camera and a larger battery than Find X2, while the latter has faster charging, a more attractive design, 12 GB RAM, and still amazing cameras.

 

 

OPPO Find X2 vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10: PRO and CONS

Oppo Find X2

PROS

  • Amazing display
  • Optional ceramic design
  • Fastest charging technology
  • IP54 splash proof

CONS

  • Price

 

Xiaomi Mi 10 

PROS

  • Good price
  • Bigger battery
  • Wireless charging
  • 8K video recording

CONS

  • Inferior cameras

 

OnePlus 8 Pro

PROS

  • Wider display
  • Awesome display
  • IP68 waterproof
  • Great cameras
  • Wireless charging

CONS

  • Nothing particular

Zhiyun Smooth X smartphone gimbal launched to aid smooth video creation for $59.99

Zhiyun is popularly known for its different gimbal and accessories to aid video making. The affordability and quality are two main aspects behind the ascent of the company within a few years. To further improve its product wardrobe, the company has introduced Zhiyun Smooth X smartphone gimbal with various new design improvements and operational advancements over the old products. It is a foldable smartphone gimbal that can be folded onto the size of the palm.

smooth x

Smooth X Gimbal features

It enables gimbal users to get a wider or broader perspective with the smartphone camera. It is carved out of aluminum and can extend up to the height of 260mm and weighs 9 ounces (246g). Zhiyun Smooth X smartphone gimbal can easily fit into the bag or pocket for easy portability. the new gimbal enables to record stable and steady video without the need of any additional accessory.

The Smooth X is easy-to-use gimbal with only three buttons to effectively control it. The rotatable axis easily folds and holds the camera position at different angles. It can smoothly shift between horizontal and vertical positions using Smooth-X Quik ROll function.

Intelligent Gestures and Motion Tracking

Zhiyun Smooth X features a motion-tracking sensor as it can move along with the object aka it follows the desired object.

The support for gesture control allows you to easily capture moments even without touching the gimbal. The V gesture or waving gesture can quickly capture the picture.

App for Extensive Features

The Zhiyun Smooth X has its smartphone app which further improves the possibilities. Users can unlock smart filmmaking after downloading the app on their respective Android or iOS device. It reduces the tedious editing or processing work and integrates custom filters, effects, music, and movements. Other features of the ZY Cami app are as follows:

Slow Motion Video Recording – Moreover, the user can clear exciting slow-motion videos.

Timelapse Video Support– The gimbal can easily create impressive timelapses by moving in the desired direction.

Panorama Support– It can capture 180° stunning panoramic view with a single click on your app.

Battery Backup

The new gimbal can easily work for 8-10 hours upon a single full charge of its 1000 mAh battery. However, the Battery backup depends upon the usage pattern.

Specifications:

  • Weight: 400 Grams
  • Dimensions: 65 x 56 x 154mm
  • Roll mechanical Range: 285 degree
  • Pan Mechanical Roll: 200 degree
  • Battery capacity: 1000 mAh
  • Charging Time: 2 hours
  • Bluetooth: 5.0

Pricing and availability

The Smooth X is available at a super affordable price of $59 from Aliexpress across the globe. A USB Type-C port is available for charging and some other purposes. For more information, head over to the official website.

 

Blackview BV6300 Pro rugged smartphone available at discounted price of $199

The Chinese smartphone manufacturers are hosting a massive 618 discount festival to celebrate the Mid-Year eve. Blackview is also offering huge discounts on its popular smartphone and accessories. Blackview posted 618 Sales page detailing about the offers and discounts on all the selected Blackview devices. Interestingly, the company is offering a limited-time discount of 31% on its popular BV6300 Pro rugged smartphone for the next three days.

blackview bv6300 pro

Blackview BV6300 Pro features slim design despite the fact that it is a rugged smartphone. The latest rugged smartphone from Blackview offers protection from dust, water, drop and can resist extreme temperatures easily. It is purely IP68, IP69K and military-grade MIL-STD-810G certified smartphone.

Unlike other rugged smartphones, the Blackview BV6300 Pro features a slim body measuring 11.6mm and weighs over 230 grams. The simple yet intuitive look and slender body of the smartphone make it more pocket friendly.

blackview bv6300 pro

Blackview BV6300 Pro features a 5.7-inch in-cell display for immersive and vibrant view. It is powered with MediaTek Helio P70 Octa-Core processor featuring 4x ARM Cortex-A73, 4x ARM Cortex-A53 cores. The ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU handles the graphics processing with 900 Hz clocking speed. There is a 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage coupled to offers seamless multitasking and storage.

In the camera department, it features a quad-rear camera featuring a 16-megapixel primary sensor, 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 2-megapixel sensor and a 0.3-megapixel lens. It can easily capture detailed photos even in the low-lit environment. There’s a 13-megapixel Sony selfie shooter on the front. The built-in software tweaks and optimizations make the photos look more vibrant and rich-in-detail.

Blackview BV6300 Pro is available for the price of $199. THe reduced price will be applicable only for the next three days. You can grab it by heading to the Aliexpress.

 

Meizu has no plans to launch new phones in H2 2020

The Meizu 17 series are the only smartphones Meizu has announced this year and they may as well be the only smartphones it will launch this year according to news from China.

Meizu 17 Pro

A summary of a conference was posted on the manufacturer’s Weibo page and one of the points said Meizu will not be announcing new phones in the second half of the year. The reason is that the Meizu 17 series is reasonably priced, thus there is no need to launch other phones.

The Meizu 17 starts at ¥3699 while the Meizu 17 Pro has a starting price of ¥4299. They are definitely not the cheapest Snapdragon 865 phones on the market but pack pretty impressive specs nonetheless.

The summary also mentioned that FlymeOS will eventually get ads but they should not be intrusive. Meizu also plans to launch smart home and smart wearable products which may launch in the second half of the year.

Meizu also revealed it is working on TWS ANC earbuds alongside a Meizu POP3 that is better and more expensive than the previous generation. The Meizu POP3 should launch in time for the Double Eleven shopping festival in November.

 

(Source, Via)

Best 6 reasons to grab Ulefone Armor X7 Pro for $79.99

Ulefone is majorly known for its rugged and affordable smartphones across the globe. Ulefone Armor series is the company’s best performing lineup consisting of purely rugged smartphones. It has recently received a new member aka Ulefone Armor X7 Pro which features competitive specifications under the entry-level rugged smartphone segment. The new smartphone provides legit experience with aggressive hardware at such a price point. It is globally available for the price of $79.9.

ulefone x7 pro sale

Must See: Ulefone Armor X7 proves its metal in extreme temperature test [Video]

Today we are going to list some best reasons to buy Ulefone Armor X7 Pro. However, the primary highlights include dust, drop and waterproof certifications, Android 10, 4GB RAM, 4000mAh battery, and support for NFC. It is quite a useful rugged device in every rough and tough condition.

Best Companion for Outdoor Adventure

Ulefone Armor X7 Pro is a fully certified rugged device that carries IP68, IP69K certifications for being dustproof, waterproof, and drop-proof. It can easily resist any unusual fall as it features military-grade MIL-STD-810G ruggedness. The smartphone works effectively and efficiently in extreme temperatures. It can survive tough, challenging environments with ease.

Large RAM for Endless Multitasking

Android smartphones are bundled with massive RAM chips to improve the multitasking. Ulefone Armor A7 features the 4GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage. The smartphone houses Helio A20 SoC for powerful performance. It can easily offer endless multitasking with abundant RAM.

Optimal Camera Performance

The latest smartphone from Ulefone embeds a 13-megapixel camera module for taking quality photos. The dual rear flash on the rear side enables better photography while in the low light environments. Overall, at a price range of $79.99, such a camera is more than enough.

Large 4000 mAh battery

Like the other rugged smartphones, Ulefone Armor X7 Pro features a massive 4000 mAh battery. It can easily work for a couple of days upon a full charge. The smartphone also supports reverse charging which can aid in charging other smartphones are electronic edges.

Contactless Payments with NFC

Ulefone Armor X7 Pro supports NFC payments via Google Pay or other compatible apps. It can act as your virtual wallet for true wireless payments.

Complete Operating System

The smartphone runs on a stock-like Android 10 operating system. The enhanced privacy and security features help improve the overall stability of the device.

All these features are available with Ulefone Armor A7 for a mere $79.99. You can grab it from the AliExpress at a discounted price till July 21.

Related: Ulefone 618 Sale page goes live, sales to commence soon with big discounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triumph Trekker GT e-bicycle is the motorcycle maker’s first e-bike

In recent times, we have seen several well-established brands shifting to smart products but one common thing is that most usually join the party late. A reference point is Swatch’s recent move to enter the smartwatch market, something that could have been done long before now. UK motorcycle manufacturer Triumph has made its own attempt at the e-bike market. The company has launched the Trekker GT e-bike.

Triumph Motorcycle is an established brand with a history dating back to 1884 but the Trekker GT electric bicycle is the brands first foray into the fast-growing e-bike market. The Trekker GT looks like a well-designed and reliable bike but it won’t come cheap. The e-bike will be sold in Europe, the UK, and the US for £2,950 (~$3,318).Triumph Trekker GT e-bike

In terms of the design, the Triumph Trekker GT adopts a minimalist design and even looks like a regular bicycle. That is because the battery, wiring, and drivetrain are tucked inside the hydro-formed, lightweight aluminium frame. Triumph claims the Trekker GT is “perfect all-road choice for commuting, fitness and everyday riding fun.” Triumph Trekker GT e-bike

The e-bike is equipped with Shimano’s latest torquey powertrain, including a 250W motor that outputs 60 Newton-meters (44 pound-feet) of pulling power. The company also disclosed that the Shimano E8035 504Wh battery gives it a riding range of 93 miles (150 km) between charging. The total electric drivetrain weighs less than 6.6 pounds (3 kg). Also, the integrated battery can be locked to the frame, apparently to prevent theft. Overall, the bike weighs about 53 pounds (24 kg) in the medium frame size.Triumph Trekker GT e-bike

The bike which weighs 24kg is also outfitted with an LCD display manufactured by Shimano. The display allows riders to toggle between four different modes and displays parameters such as speed, distance, trip time, gear, range, and remaining battery power.

Also onboard is a pair of Shimano Deore M6000 brakes with 180mm / 160mm discs as well as Shimano Deore Shadow 10-speed shifter and rear mechanism. The RockShox Paragon forks come with 65mm of travel and turnkey damper with adjustment and lockout.

The e-bike is also fitted with narrow-width handlebars and a posh Selle Royal Vivo saddle which provides “the rider with optimal ergonomics and great rider control.” You also get a fully integrated LED lighting, matte black mudguards and pannier rack, a super-strong 270mm U-lock, and cast aluminium Triumph badging.

There is no word yet on the availability.

 

(source)

 

Is Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 worth buying for ₹14,999 during Flipkart Big Saving Days sale?

Xiaomi launched the Mi Mix 2 in 2017 as its secondary flagship smartphone apart from Mi 6. The speciality of this handset is its 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS LCD panel with minimal bezels all around except for a relatively larger chin. It debuted in India for ₹35,999. Now, after almost 3 years, the phone will be available to purchase for a rock bottom price of ₹14,999 on Flipkart during Big Saving Days sale starting June 23.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Featured

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 was a good phone of its time at ₹36K in India. But is it worth buying now? Let us answer that question in this post.

Hardware

The Mi Mix 2 is one of the well-built phones even today, especially at the price it will go on sale. The handset features a ceramic back and an aluminium frame. None of the phones sold in India under ₹20,000 has a metal frame, let alone ceramic finish.

It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC paired with 6GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. This combination is still powerful in today’s standards.

The screen of the phone is a gorgeous edge to edge 5.99-inch FHD+ (2160 x 1080 pixels) IPS LCD panel with 403 ppi, 1500:1 contrast ratio, and DCI-P3 color gamut. But unfortunately, it is neither HDR compliant nor has a high refresh rate. However, it is still a good display compared to other devices in the segment.

It has all the essentials like USB Type-C, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G, VoLTE, dual SIM, fingerprint sensor, 3,400 mAh battery, and 18W Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging. But it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack and only has a single 12MP Sony IMX386 primary camera with OIS and a 5MP selfie camera.

As far as hardware is concerned, the Mi Mix 2 from 2017 is still a solid phone in 2020.

Software

Coming to the software, Xiaomi launched the Mi Mix 2 with MIUI 9 based on Android Nougat. The handset was later updated to MIUI 10 and MIUI 11, which it currently runs.

The underlying Android was also updated to Oreo and Pie. But it will be not receiving Android 10, however, it is eligible for MIUI 12 update, which will be rolled out in the coming days.

In a nutshell, the device’s official software support will end soon. But if you can deal with custom ROMs, then there are lots of options to try and they are even based on Android 10.

Some of the notable ROMs include Havoc OS, PixelExperience, Paranoid Android, LineageOS 17.1, and more.

Conclusion

In our opinion, the Mi Mix 2 is still a good buy for those users who don’t care about latest Android as MIUI 12 is common on all Xiaomi/Redmi smartphones and has all the features one needs. But it is worth noting that there won’t be any official update thereafter except maybe some critical security patch if needed.

So if you can deal with old software or say custom ROMs, then this handset is still recommended as there’s not a single device in any price range as of now with such unique design and finish.

Last but not least, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is highly recommended for collectors as Mix series of phones played an important role in the development of today’s bezel-less smartphones.

 

Apple may rename iOS to iPhoneOS

Last year, Apple announced iPadOS, a special version of iOS made for iPads. Before then, iPads ran iOS just like iPhones. A new leak has revealed that Apple may soon ditch the iOS name for iPhone OS (will most likely be stylized as iPhoneOS).

The info comes from a tweet by Jon Prosser, a leaker known for Apple-related news. The tweet was corroborated by Max Weinbach of XDA Developers who said he received a mail saying that Apple will rename iOS to iPhone OS.

Max’s tweet also said the mail mentioned that the iPhone will be renamed Apple Phone. Regarding the renaming of the iPhone, we advise you to take it with a pinch of salt for now.

We expect the announcement will be made at Apple’s WWDC 2020 conference which is scheduled for April 22. The conference is supposed to be for new developments and features coming to iOS 14, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS.

What do you think about the name change from iOS to iPhoneOS, yay or nay?

 

(Sources: 1, 2)

Xiaomi crowdfunds the CATLINK Automatic Litter Box Lite

Xiaomi Youpin has played host to the CATLINK Automatic Litter Box Lite which is up for crowdfunding for 999 yuan (~$141). The product has an original price tag of 1,699 yuan (~$240) which it will revert to after the crowdfunding exercise.CATLINK Automatic Litter Box Lite

The CATLINK Automatic Litter Box Lite has a dimension of 60 cm x 71 cm X 58 cm and weighs 9 kg. The litter box uses a dual design which includes a base and a ball-shaped compartment. There is also a detachable top cover and a stool storage compartment. The round litter box has a triangular base like that of a pyramid. The base is said to be stable, preventing the box from rolling over.

The CATLINK Automatic Litter Box Lite features triple safety protection as well as a 13L collection bin. It also has a double-sealed deodorization chamber.

Talking of the automation, when the smart litter box detects that the cat has left the box for up to 3 minutes, it will automatically clean it up. The bottom of the litter box is equipped with two sets of double-beam high-precision, high-sensitivity gravity sensors which recognise a minimum weight of 1.5kg . With accurate gravity recognition, if the cat suddenly re-enters the box while it has started spinning, it will stop working immediately until the cart leaves the litter box.

 

(source)

 

Mi Flood Detector and Mi Kids Smartwatch 4C receive Bluetooth certification

Two new Xiaomi products have received Bluetooth certifications. The two products are the Mi Flood Detector and the Mi Kids Smartwatch 4C.

Mi Flood Detector

The Mi Flood Detector was certified a few days ago. From the name, one can tell that this is a sensor that alerts you when there is a water leak that can flood your apartment.

Mi Flood Detector

Xiaomi actually launched a similar product back in 2017 called the Aqara Water Leak Sensor (Aqara Flood Sensor). The sensor can be placed on the floor in your bathroom or under your kitchen sink or anywhere there is a chance of a water leak. Two sensors on the back will set off the alarm when a leak is detected and alert you on your device.

With the Bluetooth certification of the Mi Flood Detector, we presume Xiaomi plans to launch an upgraded version of the sensor that may also be sold outside China.

The Aqara Water Leak sensor had a launch price under $15, so this too should be pretty affordable.

 

Mi Kids Smartwatch 4C

Before Xiaomi began making smartwatches for adults, it has been making for kids under the Mi Bunny Kids Smartwatch line. Back in April, it launched the Mi Bunny Watch 4 in China.

Xiaomi is yet to announce any of its kids’ smartwatches outside China but a Bluetooth SIG certification has revealed there may be a new model launching soon in China.

Mi Kids Smartwatch 4C

Listed as the Mi Kids Smartwatch Kids 4C, the smartwatch should be a successor to the Mi Bunny Kids Smartwatch 3C that was announced back in August 2019. The watch has model number MTSB111XUN and will connect via Bluetooth 4.2.

We won’t be surprised if this doesn’t get an international release just like its predecessors.

 

(Sources: 1, 2)

OPPO A52 goes on sale in India for Rs.16,990 (~$222)

OPPO unveiled the A52 smartphone alongside the Enco WII TWS earbuds in India last week with the sale scheduled to begin on June 17. The OPPO A52 has indeed gone on sale in China and is presently available via Flipkart, Amazon.in and offline retailers. The phone adopts a retail price of Rs. 16,990 (~$222) for the 6GB RAM variant which is the only available option.OPPO A52

The OPPO A52 sports a 6.5-inch FHD+ LCD screen with 90.5% screen-to-body ratio and a punch-hole design. There is a 16-megapixel camera inside the punch-hole. The premium model is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC paired with 6GB of RAM. There is equally 128GB of UFS 2.1 flash storage onboard which is expandable up to 256GB with microSD.OPPO A52

The A52 runs Android 10 with ColorOS 7.1 on top. It packs a quad rear camera setup consisting of a 12-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, 2-megapixel macro and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. There is also a side-mounted fingerprints sensor and under the hood is a 5000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging via USB Type-C.

 

Xiaomi Smartmi dual-purpose DC Inverter wireless fan launched for ¥799 (~$112)

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company SMartmi ahs launched a dual-purpose DC inverter fan in China. The fan which can be used as a floor and table fan is presently on sale in Jingdong (JD.com) for 799 yuan (~$112). SMartmi fan

The Smartmi dual-purpose DC inverter fan still uses the unique natural wind function but brings silent operation and is a wireless fan. The main highlight is the detachable pillar which allows for adjustment of the height such that it can be used as a floor or desk fan. The neck can be turned upwards up to 100° and it can also rotate up to 120° in the left and right direction. The fan can also be set to achieve three-dimensional (3D) swing by moving in all directions.Smartmi dual-purpose DC Inverter floor & table fan

The fan is equipped with a Japanese Nidec DC brushless motor as well as a noise reduction wind path system. The wind is strong and the wind noise is extremely low. The streamlined diversion wind hood makes the air supply more stable.Smartmi dual-purpose DC Inverter floor & table fan

The Smartmi DC inverter fan features 7 feather fan blades and a large wide-angle powerful air supply, which fully agitates the indoor air and realizes 24 times/h ventilation of the entire house. The wind power can reach a distance of 9 meters and the fan has a 24.8m³/min large wind output.

There is a built-in lithium battery onboard that can be used for up to 20 hours without plugging in. The fan weighs just 3.7 kg making it easy to be lifted with just one hand. Apart from the control buttons located on the body of the fan, it comes with remote control.

We don’t know when this product will be available outside China.

UP NEXT: Download Google Camera Ultra CVM MOD for all Android devices

 

(source)

 

Snapdragon 865 Plus scores high on Geekbench

Exactly a week after the AnTuTu result of the Snapdragon 865 Plus was published, the upcoming flagship processor has now made its way to Geekbench to show us how powerful it is.

The Geekbench result shows the chipset inside an ASUS phone benchmarked as the “asus ZF”. The device scored 973 points in the single-core test and 3346 points in the multi-core test.

Snapdragon 865 Plus Geekbench

When compared to the benchmark result of a Snapdragon 865-powered phone such as the Galaxy S20+ 5G, we can see the major improvement is in the single-core score.

Galaxy S20+ 5G Geekbench
Galaxy S20+ 5G Geekbench

The ASUS device is shown to have 16GB of RAM and runs Android 10. The identity of the phone is unknown but there is a possibility it is the upcoming ROG Phone 3. The ROG Phone 3 may be the first Snapdragon 865 Plus phone to hit the market. It has already been certified by China’s TENAA.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 Plus will have a clockspeed of 3.1GHz. This is the clockspeed of the prime core. The other CPU cores have the same clockspeed as those of the Snapdragon 865.

 

(Source, Via)

Oppo Watch now supports WeChat replies, access control cards, and more

Oppo launched its first-ever smartwatch called Oppo Watch in March. It runs ColorOS Watch, an Android fork rather than proper Wear OS. Now, after three months from its release, the wearable is receiving a new system update, which brings WeChat replies, support for more boarding passes, access control cards and more.

Oppo Watch Update WeChat Replies

Though Oppo Watch is a great piece of hardware, it lacks some of the common functionalities found on the competitors. Thankfully, the company is slowly adding them via software updates.

The new system update for the wearable comes with build number A.38 and it requires Oppo Health companion app v2.6.2 or above to utilize all the newly added features.

The main highlight of this update is the support for WeChat replies directly from the smartwatch. Previously, users were limited to view messages as notifications but now they can respond via Xunfei voice input. 

This feature is only available on smartphones running Android 6.0 or above with Android Auto app installed. That means it cannot be used with Apple iPhones.

Another major addition is the support for access control cards and more boarding passes for local transportation services in China. Also, the company promises to publish 10 new useful applications in the app store by the end of June.

Last but not least, the latest system update for Oppo Watch also brings 10 new watch faces and automatic fitness tracking feature.

 

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 NFC version quickly sold out in first sale

Xiaomi‘s Mi Band 5 was announced in China last week but went on its first sale today. The MiBand 5 which is expected to launch for the global market as Mi Smart Band 5 comes in a regular version as well as an NFC version. Unlike previous years, both the regular version and the NFC version were made available at the same time. Reports indicate that the Mi Band 5 NFC version was sold out rapidly after the sales opened. Xiaomi Mi Band 5 NFC version

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 arrived with a price tag of 189 Yuan (~$27) while the NFC version is priced at 229 Yuan (~$32). Apparently, most fans are willing to pay a little more to get the NFC version. The presence of NFC is the only difference between the two models. The NFC feature enables contactless payment supporting transportation card, AliPay and UnionPay in China. Outside China, there are rumours of the global variant coming with sport for Google pay and Amazon Alexa.

The Mi Band 5 NFC features a 1.1-inch AMOLED dynamic color display. The device also comes with support for a number of exercise modes now including cycling, jump rope, yoga, elliptical and rowing machine.Mi Band 5 featured

The smart band equally features a new pressure assessment, breathing training, PAI index (Personal Activity Intelligence), women’s health tracking and remote shutter control. These features are all absent on the Mi Band 4 and are tailored towards improving our health and lifestyle. In addition, the new wrist band now supports 24-hour sleep monitoring and REM (Rapid eye movements) detection. There is also a new magnetic charging feature onboard.

 

(source)

 

Tesla Model 3 suddenly picked up speed uncontrollably, crashed and caught fire in China

The safety of electric vehicles has over the years been called to question in some quarters especially after reports of a few EVs going up in flames. A new report from China hints at a recent accident involving a Tesla Model 3. Tesla Model 3 crash and fire

Tesla Model 3 clinched the 2019 Top Safety Pick+ award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after achieving a “good” performance in all six IIHS crash tests. However, the report first carried by Sina News Media claims the Model 3 accident occurred in Jiangxi after the car suddenly accelerated to 127 km/h while the owner was driving. All efforts to reduce the speed proved abortive as the brakes failed. The car then crashed and burst in flame.

The highly graphic image of the fire scene suggests the fire apparently started from the engine bay after the crash and spread to the rear of the car, resulting in thick black smoke rising into the sky.

Tesla did issue an official response a few days back. The US company stated that the accident is being investigated in coordination with the relevant government agency in China. Since all Tesla is connected, data including videos before the crash will be analysed to determine what went wrong. The crash is likely caused by a defective autopilot system which is increasingly becoming a concern on Teslas.

In January this year, The Associated Press reported on three crashes involving Teslas in December in which three people were killed. The crashes further heightened scrutiny of the company’s Autopilot driving system.

A crashed Tesla

One of the crashes reportedly occurred on December 29, 2019 and involved a Tesla Model S sedan which left a freeway in Gardena, California, at a high speed, ran a red light and struck a Honda Civic, killing two people inside. On the same day, a Tesla Model 3 hit a parked firetruck on an Indiana freeway, killing a passenger in the Tesla. On December 7 last year, yet another Model 3 struck a police cruiser on a Connecticut highway but thankfully, no one was hurt.

In 2016 a Tesla crashed in Florida killing the driver after neither Tesla’s Autopilot system nor the driver had braked before the car went underneath a semi-trailer that had turned in front of the car.

 

(source)

 

Elephone Summer Sale brings upto 40% discount on E10 Pro, PX Pro, E10, A7H and W6 smartwatch

Major Chinese companies are offering massive discounts on popular products via Mid-Year sales. After Ulefone and Blackview, the Ulefone is here with its Summer Sale offering extensive discounts on its premium devices. Ulefnoe is offering upto 40% discount on newly launched products like Elephone E10 Pro, and PX Pro. However, you can also grab an Elephone E10, Elephone A7H, and W6 at reduced prices.

Elephone always stuns the users by bringing useful yet powerful devices at an affordable price. The interested users can grab upto 40% discount on these devices if you’re among the first 100 users of the day. Below we are listing the devices that are available under Elephoen Summer Sale.

Elephone A7H 

The smartphone features a 6.41-inch Full HD+ display, an Helio P23 Octa-Core processor, a 13-megapixel triple rear camera, and a 3900 mAh battery. Elephone A7H is coupled with 4GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. It houses a rear fingerprint scanner and runs on Android 9. Pie. It is available for the discount price of $79 for the first 100 buyers of the day.

Grab it

Elephone E10

ElePhone E10 is a popular smartphone with a 6.5-inch HD+ display. It features a true Quad-rear module with 48-megapixel primary camera. The smartphone is powered with MT6762D Octa-core chipset with 4GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. It houses a side fingerprint sensor for improved accessibility and runs on Android 10. You can grab it for the reduced price of $99.99 $139.99.

Grab it

ElePhone W6 Smartwatch

The users can grab a beautiful and useful Elephoen W6 smartwatch at the discount price of $19. Elephone W6 smartwatch houses a 1.54-inch display, real continuous heart rate monitor, SImple and STylish UI, and metal body. It can effectively monitor Blood pressure and blood oxygen levels easily using the VC31 true heart rate sensor.

Other useful features such as sleep monitoring, activity tracking, notifications support, and sedentary reminders are part of the package.

Grab it

Elephone E10 Pro

E10 A

The smartphone was recently launched with tons of improvements. It houses a quad-rear camera with 48-megapixel primary sensors. Other sensors include a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. there’s a massive 6.55-inch punch-hole LCD display. It also supports NFC for contactless payments.

Elephone E10 Pro is powered with MediaTek octa-core processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, and support for 512 GB expandable storage. There’s a 4000 mAh battery and runs on Android 10. It is available in two color options of Grey and Blue.

Grab it for $129

There are many other useful products that are available at Elephoen Summer Sale at reduced prices. You can know more about the Elephone SUmmber sale by heading to the official offers page.