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Galaxy M11, M21, M31 color variants leaked

Earlier this month, a report had revealed that Samsung has started working on Galaxy M11 and Galaxy M31 smartphones. A fresh report on Sammobile has claimed that the company has also started developing the Galaxy M21. As the moniker suggests, the phone will be arriving as the successor for the Galaxy M20 / Galaxy M20s smartphones that were unveiled earlier this year.

According to the report, the Samsung Galaxy M21 has a model number of SM-M215F. The handset is expected to come in storage editions such as 64 GB and 128 GB. Since he Galaxy M20 comes in 32 GB and 64 GB storage options, it appears that the one of the major improvements on the Galaxy M21 is that it will be arriving with a larger internal storage space. It will come preloaded with Android 10 OS. The phone could be fueled by Exynos 9609 or Exynos 9611 chipset. Also, the smartphone is expected to flaunt with triple rear cameras.

Galaxy M30, Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M10
Galaxy M30, Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M10

The report further claims that the upcoming Galaxy M-series phones such as Galaxy M11, Galaxy M21 and Galaxy M31 will be available in common colors such as black and blue. However, each of these devices will be available in different third color. The Galaxy M11 is expected to come in a third color of violet whereas the Galaxy M21 and M31 may come in respectively additional colors like green and red.

A report from yesterday had revealed Samsung is also working on Galaxy M51 smartphone. The handset has a model number of SM-M515F. There is no information available on the specs or color variants of the Galaxy M51. There is no word on the Galaxy M41 that may replace the Galaxy M40 smartphone from this year. The M40 had featured a punch-hole display. It is likely some of the other M-lineup phones arriving in 2020 will be also equipped with punch-hole screen.

The Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 smartphones were made official in January in India. Hence, it appears that the new Galaxy M-series smartphones may break cover in the first quarter of the coming year. Hopefully, more details on the new Galaxy M-series will appear in the beginning of the coming year.

 

(source)

Xiaomi launches the MIJIA Latex Neck Pillow made from Thai natural latex

The MIJIA brand is home to several products including smart products and non-smart gadgets. The brand has played host to the MIJIA Natural Latex Neck Support Pillow which uses Thai natural latex and three-curve neck protection design. The neck pillow comes with a price tag of 199 yuan ($28) and is currently on sale in Xiaomi Mall.MIJIA Neck Pillow

Compared with other pillow materials, latex has superior resilience performance, which can provide soft but powerful support to your head and help sleep decompression. The MIJIA Natural Latex Neck Pillow uses a 10-12cm high, middle and low arc neck support design. At the same time, the latex particles are partitioned according to different posture needs during sleep. No matter how the sleeping position changes, it can help you fit the head scientifically unit.

Compared with latex particles, the long block-shaped latex has a larger contact area with the face when sleeping on the side, making it less likely to produce a sense of pressure. The slightly inset edge design is more adapted to the shoulder curve when sleeping on the side, and you can find a relaxing posture no matter you are lying on your back.

Mijia Natural Latex Neck Pillow is made of natural latex from Thailand, with a weight of 1.2kg. The solid high-dose and high-purity formula makes full use of the latex’s soft and elastic properties.

The outer pillowcase is made of DuPont Sorona fiber and cotton Blum color composite textile. Sorona fiber’s natural 3D curl structure characteristic gives the outer pillowcase a more delicate and skin-friendly touch. Even if it is washed many times, it won’t deform or fluff easily.

(source)

 

Xiaomi announces ZMI Smart Alarm Clock Speaker

Xiaomi’s Ecological chain company Zimi has just announced the ZMI alarm clock speaker earlier today (31st December 2019). It is the company’s latest product and supports a variety of functions and Xiaomi support.

Design

The ZMI alarm clock speaker features a round hemispherical design philosophy with a flat front panel for its display. The front is a pure black display that displays information in plain white texts. The main body is seen in white in the pictures but will also be available in other colors as well.

Specifications & Features

According to official notes, the ZMI alarm clock speaker features Bluetooth 5.0 technology for connectivity. It is equipped with a built-in NdFeB internal magnetic horns and has a battery life rated to last for up to 72 hours in a single full charge. The ZMI smart alarm clock is capable of being a program with up to 30 different alarm clocks and can be woken up with one click. Notably, it also supports Xiao AI to enhance the user experience via the speakers.

Xiaomi ZMI
ZMI Smart Alarm Clock Speaker will be available for purchase on Xiaomi’s official Ecological chain website

Price and Availability

The ZMI Smart Alarm Clock Speaker is currently will soon be available with a sale date set on January 15th at sometime around 10 o clock at the official online platform. Unfortunately, pricing details regarding the upcoming smart alarm clock speaker is still at large and have yet to be officially announced. Although, it is expected that the new product will be priced somewhere around 100 Yuan or roughly 15 US Dollars.

 

(Via)

Realme X50 5G (RMX2051) Geekbench listing appears with key specs

Realme will be launching the Realme X50 5G smartphone on Jan. 7. The company has already revealed some of the key information of the smartphone. Recent reports have revealed that the Realme X50 5G has a model number of RMX2051. Now the key details of the phone have surfaced through their Geekbench listing.

On Geekbench, the Realme RMX2051 has scored 2907 points in the single-core test. It recorded a score of 7017 in the multi-core test. The smartphone is loaded with Android 10 OS. The device is expected to come with the latest ColorOS 7 UI.

Realme X50 Geekbench

The name of the processor is not mentioned in the Geekbench listing. However, the company has already confirmed that the Realme X50 5G is powered by Snapdragon 765G chipset. The SoC is coupled with 8 GB of RAM. The smartphone has been also spotted at CMIIT in the recent past which revealed that it is a 5G-ready device. The 3C certification of the device had revealed that it will be arriving with a 30W fast charger.

Realme X50 5G Specifications (Rumored)

A recent leak had revealed the entire specifications of the Realme X50 5G smartphone. It may sport a JDI-made 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with dual punch-hole design. The phone is expected to arrive with 32-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual front-facing cameras. The rear side of the phone has a quad camera setup. It is expected to include a 64-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 13-megapixel telephoto lens and a 2-megapixel macro lens.

Realme X50

The Snapdragon 765G powered Realme X50 5G may come in 6 GB / 8 GB RAM variants and UFS 2.1 storage options like 128 GB and 256 GB. The device could be housing a 4,500mAh battery that will be equipped with enhanced version of VOOC 4.0 Flash Charge technology. The new charging technology will let the phone reach 70 percent capacity by charging for only 30 minutes. The device is fitted with a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

The leak had claimed that the Realme X50 5G could be arriving with a starting price of 2,199 Yuan. Realme has confirmed that it will be also announcing the Realme Buds Air alongside the Realme X50 5G in China on Jan. 7.

 

 

Smartisan’s 20,0000mAh Nuts Fast Charge Power Bank with 45W output power launched

Most smartphones today come with pretty impressive performance and aesthetic build. But one problem has consistently persisted is the issue of battery life. With increased performance comes an increased strain on the battery regardless of power-saving and low energy consuming features the modern SoC and latest OS bring. Thus, mobile power pack have remained important accessories for most phone users. Smartisan has released a new power bank that brings fast charging.

The Nuts Power bank has a large 20000mAh battery capacity with a maximum charging power of 45W. The outer casing is manufactured from a fire-resistant and flame-retardant PC+ABS material which to a large extent ensures it is safe for use.

The power bank presents with two USB-A ports and one USB-C interface which has a maximum power output of 45W. The USB-A interfaces have 18W output each bt when all three ports are in use simultaneously, the USB-A outputs 30W max and the USB-A delivers 15W output respectively.

The Nuts Fast charge power bank comes with a price tag of 249 yuan ($35). It is currently available for pre-sale in Jingdong Mall with a deposit of 1 yuan.

 

(source)

 

Xiaomi GM explains the Watch Color wearables strategy

Xiaomi had just recently unveiled its latest smart wearables product dubbed the Xiaomi Watch Color which is known for its impressively long battery life. And today (31st December 2019), the General Manager of Xiaomi’s Ecological Chain, Qu Heng, explained the strategy behind the Xiaomi Color Watch and the wearables/IoT devices as a whole through Weibo.

Xiaomi Watch Color live photo

According to Qu Heng, many people did not expect a New Year release of a new wearable product. Furthermore, the Xiaomi Watch Color is a new start for the company which is now focusing on a new category that intends to deliver smart bands with a long-lasting battery life that is useful at work, exercising and even when relaxing.

True Smartwatches and Long lasting Smartwatches

One of the core ideas the General Manager wanted to get across is that he hopes the industry distinguishes between a “true smartwatch” and a “long battery life smartwatch.” He states that the difference between the two categories should be clear, offering the user more knowledge and the right to choose between both of them. Hu Qeng mentions that a true smartwatch should use eSIMs and have the ability to make calls and download apps, and function independently from a smartphone to some degree.

Xiaomi Watch Color live photo

Customizability

Going forward, Xiaomi with the Watch Color also wanted to make the wearables a more sought after and attractive product; One that a person might wear fashionably as well as for utility. It needed to be trendy and yet maintain strong cultural attributes as well. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer apparently took cues from the Mi Band 4 and brought all the popular functions, themes, and UI functions to the Watch Color.

Additionally, the company added a larger screen, more color options and also offered multiple dials themes to choose from (options for leather bands for formal wear is a welcomed option too). All of this translates to a freely customizable experience so the user is never bound to a particular look that an OEM dictates.

Xiaomi Watch Color live photo

Making wearables more essential

Xiaomi had intended to make the Watch Color a more accessible and go to product from the company. It was meant to be more supplementary to a user’s life and not just a luxury tech product offered alongside its smartphones. In other words, it is not just an accessory but aims to be a part of one’s life. With the launch of the Xiaomi Watch Color, the company plans to target the individualistic needs of a user that may require a true smartwatch or a long-lasting smartwatch.

Xiaomi Watch Color Poster

The Xiaomi Watch Color also fills in the gap between Mi Band 4 and Xiaomi Watch. The release was from a core strategic point of view and the new Xiaomi wearable product only seeks to boost its AIoT lineup. Lastly, this entry from the company might also end up encouraging other OEMs to offer long lasting smartwatches as well.

 

(Via)

First homemade car from Turkey is a TOGG electric crossover SUV

Historically, Turkey has been largely dependent on foreign automobile manufacturers. However, recently the country has made a step away from reliance and to independence in the industry. TOGG which is a collaboration of various Turkish companies has just unveiled an electric crossover SUV that is the country’s first completely indigenous car.

Notably, the only foreign impact on the vehicle is the Italian design firm Pininfarina so it is safe to still call it homegrown. The vehicle isn’t simply an electric vehicle as its base versions arrives with a singe 200 horsepower rear-axle moto. This means that the car is capable of 0-60MPH in about 7.6 seconds, which is commendable. On the other hand, its most beefed up version goe up to a 400 horsepower dual motor setup that can achieve o-62MPH in 4.8 seconds flat.

TOGG
TOGG EV Crossover SUV

The operational range of the TOGG EV SUV’s battery is about 300 miles (482 kilometres) that is capable of reaching an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. It achieves this with a (rough estimate) 150kW charger. The car features a bunch of useful functions and follows a futuristic and tech-savvy design philosophy. It offers a “Sow Traffic Pilot” that will offer Level 2 semi-autonomous that could go with Level 3 autonomy and higher.

The Turkish EV SUV’s interior controls are primarily digital carry a Porsche style passenger display. It is also claimed to have a holographic assistant that will utilize eye-tracking to better provide information so the driver need not take his eyes off the road. The vehicle is also connected to the internet so it will link the SUV to the grid and deliver OTA updates periodically.

TOGG

Although the crossover is clearly directed and marketed with nationalistic ideals, it also draws attention to Turkey’s inequality. According to a report from TurkStat, the average yearly income within the country is under 5000 US Dollars (roughly 34,812 Yuan) while people in Istanbul make a bit over 6000 US Dollars (roughly 41,775 Yuan). So, even if TOGG prices the EV SUV reasonably or affordably, it won’t be as easily accessible considering the features the car offers. Thus, it might be a good start for the country, but one that might not hit it off with the masses.

 

OPPO Reno3 vs Reno3 Pro 5G: What’s the Big Difference?

Over the past couple of years, smartphone companies have made a habit of releasing two variants of its devices in a lineup. Almost all major devices this year, got a higher-end ‘Pro’ variant including the OPPO Reno3 series. OPPO announced the new series last week featuring two devices, the OPPO Reno3 and the OPPO Reno3 Pro. We are not specifically adding 5G to their names because they both support 5G, unlike the Redmi K30 which has got a 4G as well as a 5G variant.

These two devices have a lot of similarities as well as differences. But are they like the OnePlus 7T and the 7T Pro with just a couple of major changes?

Or is it like the Redmi K20 and the K20 Pro where things are a lot more different? Let’s find it out in this OPPO Reno3 vs Reno3 Pro comparison.

 

OPPO Reno3 vs Reno3 Pro: DESIGN

The Reno3 duo share a basic design which includes a gradient back finish and a vertically arranged quad-camera setup. At first glance, the rear setup looks identical, but on closer inspection, we can see that the two lower cameras on the Reno3 get their own sub-housing. On the other hand, the OPPO Reno3 Pro has a single housing featuring all four cameras one below the other.

Things are a lot different when you compare OPPO Reno3 vs Reno3 Pro upfront. The cheaper Reno3 uses a more traditional waterdrop flat display. On the other hand, the Reno3 Pro comes with a curved AMOLED panel with a single punch-hole camera on the top-left corner. It’s evident from the front that the Reno3 Pro is the more premium device in the series.

From the curved display and the more premium appearance, you would have assumed that the Reno3 Pro would be heavier and bulkier than the Reno3, right? But its the exact opposite. The Reno3 Pro features a slim 7.7mm form factor, weighing just 171 grams. On the other hand, the Reno3 features an 8mm body and is heavier at 181 grams. Note that both the phones have the same 4025mAh battery on board.

It is also worth adding that the OPPO Reno3 Pro gets a special Pantone Color of the Year edition called Reno3 Pro Classic Blue.

reno3 pro 5g classic blue

 

OPPO Reno3 vs Reno3 Pro 5G: Specs

Things get a lot more interesting when you take a look at their hardware. The OPPO Reno3 vs Reno3 Pro differences are quite stark, justifying its pricing difference. The Reno3 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000L octa-core 5G integrated chipset while the Reno3 Pro is powered by the new Snapdragon 765G chipset. The 6.4-inch AMOLED display on the Reno3 is flat while the Reno3 Pro has a curved AMOLED panel with a high 90Hz refresh rate. You get up to 12GB of RAM and 128G GB of storage on the Reno3 while the Pro version takes the storage up to 256GB along with 12GB of RAM.

Their cameras are quite different as well.

The OPPO Reno3 comes with a 64MP primary shooter with an 8MP wide-angle lens, 2MP monochrome camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the other hand, the Reno3 Pro comes with a more flagship-like camera setup which includes a 13MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom along with a 48MP primary shooter, 8MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. So, it skips on the depth sensor in favor of a powerful telephoto lens. For selfies, both the phone have the same 32MP f/2.4 shooter up front.

As mentioned above, the OPPO Reno3 and REno3 Pro have the exact same battery capacity: a 4025mAh battery with 30W VOOC 4.0 fast charging technology.

Both support 5G networks and come with USB-C ports at the bottom.

OPPO Reno3 vs Reno3 Pro 5G: Pricing

The OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G starts at 3999 yuan ($571) for the 8GB +128GB variant and goes up to 4499 yuan ($643) for the 12GB + 256GB variant. The 8GB RAM model goes on sale on December 31 while the 12GB model goes on sale on January 10, 2020. The special Class Blue edition costs 4199 yuan ($600) (8GB+128GB) and goes on sale on January 10.

The OPPO Reno3 5G starts at 3399 yuan ($486) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM variant and goes up to 3699 yuan ($528) for the 12GB RAM and 128GB variant.

 

The Reno3 Pro clearly has an advantage when it comes to its specs and design. But is it worth shelling out $100 more for the Pro version? Personally, I think it makes sense to go for the Pro version despite Dimensity 1000L having a slight advantage over SD765G in terms of performance.

 

Xiaomi R&D production line kicks off today, Mi 9 Pro 5G manufactured

Earlier today (31st December 2019), Xiaomi Group’s co-founder and Vice-Chairman, Lin Bin, had arrived with a big announcement. He announced that after more than a year of hard work, Xiaomi’s very own research and development production line is finally ready.

According to the Senior Executive, the R&D line is ready to start production and that he is currently in possession of the first Mi 9 Pro 5G variant that was made within the facility. Lin Bin also stated that the newly readied facility will pave the way for intelligent manufacturing and will be used in future collaborations as well.

Xiaomi New R&D Facility
Lin Bin from Xiaomi Group inaugurating the event in the new R&D facility

Reportedly, the facility being in charge of research and development for the Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones is just one of its diverse roles. It will also house the Chinese tech giant’s partners that will help develop both software and hardware for the large automation equipment. In other words, a truly smart factory that does not require human intervention or input for a majority of the cases.

In the last couple of years, Xiaomi has seen an increase in investments of its research and development department. At a business conference on 24th December 2019, Lei Jun, Co Founder and Chairman of Xiaomi Group, stated that the company has invested heavily in research and development alone. According to him, the company had invested 5.8 billion Yuan last year while this years investment is expected to surpass the 7 billion Yuan. For the next year, Lei Jun predicts the number will exceed even 10 billion Yuan.

Xiaomi New R&D Facility
Xiaomi’s latest R&D Facility that is ready for production and has started making Mi 9 Pro 5G

He believes that the company needs to heavily invest in R&D as it is where the future is uncovered. Innovation is what keeps the company ahead of the curve and with talent and innovation will it lead to success, according to Lei Jun.

 

(Via)

Xiaomi WalkingPad R1 Pro: A Compact, Foldable Treadmill For Your Home (Video)

In this era of smart devices, consumers are always looking for gadgets that are convenient and easy to use. And as we lean towards a sedentary lifestyle, we have to actively take care of our health.

Treadmills are an excellent option for staying fit, but they need a dedicated space as well as a significant upfront investment. This is where the Xiaomi Youpin backed WalkingPad R1 Pro comes to your rescue. It solves two major issues associated with traditional treadmills: bulky and heavy form factor and expensive price tag.

WalkingPad R1 Pro Hands-on: Design

The WalkingPad R1 Pro is a foldable new-age treadmill that’s super-portable too. Yes, I said portable, because the R1 Pro folds in two stages to convert itself into the size of a long but extremely thin suitcase. It’s so thin that storing it under your sofa or beside your cupboard is a cakewalk. It will even fit inside your car boot, which can be extremely handy if you travel often.

WalkingPad R1 Pro

The WalkingPad R1 Pro features an aluminum alloy frame with EVA cushioning that softens the impact on your knees while walking/ running. The treadmill is comprised of two major parts: Deck & Handle. The deck is the heart of the treadmill which features the anti-slip running belt and the motor. The handle is added for balance and safety. You can fold the deck in half in the middle and lift it up to line up with the handle. The handle is further retractable and the treadmill folds down into a suitcase-sized device. WalkingPad team claims that this design saves space by nearly 90 percent! Plus, the treadmill comes with rolling wheels which makes it very easy to move it around the house.

Thanks to this design, the WalkingPad Pro R1 can be used practically anywhere right from your small bedroom, office, balcony, or even a yard. You should have no trouble using it outdoors provided you have a power outlet nearby.

 

WalkingPad R1 Pro Hands-on: Features

Despite its super-compact form factor, the WalkingPad Pro doesn’t compromise on traditional treadmill features. The treadmill has two modes: Walking & Running and the company offers several ways to control it.

WalkingPad R1 Pro

For example, you can connect your smartphone (via KS Fit app) to the treadmill to use it as a control panel. This would make for a solid setup especially when you place the phone or the tablet in the holder provided on the handle. Or you can use the provided remote button to control the speed. Finally, the WalkingPad Pro also comes with feet control, wherein you can simply change the position of your feet on the belt to increase, decrease, or maintain your speed.

WalkingPad R1 Pro LED

The treadmill also comes with an LED display on the front will show you essential features such as running speed, distance covered, and workout time. It’s nothing fancy but gets the job done. The maximum speed in the running mode is 6.2 miles per hour (10kmph) and in the walking mode, it is 3.75mph (6kmph). The handle helps you keep your balance and there’s a safety clip too (just like a regular treadmill) that acts as an emergency stop in case you lose your balance.

 

WalkingPad R1 Pro Hands-on: Price

The WalkingPad R1 Pro is currently available on IndieGoGo for $429 with worldwide free shipping. The project has already crossed 6743% of its initial goal with a few hours left. That’s an extremely competitive price, so make sure to check out their project for more details.

WalkingPad R1 Pro

Meanwhile, would you like to see us check out more such smart gadgets from China? We would love to hear your opinion.

 

 

Huawei plans to fire 10% worst performing managers in 2020

As the Chinese telecom giant Huawei is battling restrictions from the United States, the company has now warned about the slower growth and management cutbacks ahead in the year 2020.

Eric Xu, the rotating chairman of Huawei, said in an year-end letter that “it’s going to be a difficult year for us.” The message comes ahead of a new year that will test how well the company can compete for global 5G business and smartphone customers under pressure from the U.S.

Given that the company is still under the U.S. trade blacklist and the issue resolution isn’t in sight, he said that “we won’t grow as rapidly as we did in the first half of 2019” and added that the U.S. will create a challenging environment to survive and thrive.

To ensure the company’s growth, Huawei will toughen its stance on lagging units and managers. In the memo, Eric Xu talked about the need to weed out as many as 10% of the company’s worst-performing managers in 2020. Some support or even operational units will be merged or downsized, and employees could get re-assigned to other divisions.

Xu also said that the company will prioritize supply chain security and go “all out” to build its own mobile software system — Huawei Mobile Services — designed to replace many popular applications such as Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail.

Huawei has shown resilience amid the crackdown that began in May earlier this year. The company’s revenue grew 18 percent to 850 billion yuan (~$121 billion) in 2019, although the company missed its initial goal of $125 billion to $130 billion.

The smartphone business became the company’s biggest revenue contributor in the first half of this year. Shipments reached 240 million units for all of 2019, up 16.5 percent from 206 million last year. The company is expected to remain ahead of Apple and behind South Korea’s Samsung Electronics.

 

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra might be the new flagship smartphone, not Galaxy S11

So far, we have all been calling Samsung’s upcoming 2020 flagship Galaxy series as Galaxy S11. However, according to a new report, the newest smartphone lineup from the smartphone manufacturer is skipping ahead in years to arrive at the Galaxy S20 series. This has yet to be announced officially but jumps in numeric naming are not unheard of in the industry.

Samsung
Render of Samsung Galaxy S11 (Image via LetsGoDigital)

The report has yet to be confirmed but also offers some interesting insight about Samsung’s latest premium grade smartphone lineup. Reportedly, the South Korean tech giant will launch 3 variants with there not being a Galaxy S20e but rather a Galaxy S20; followed by Galaxy S20 Plus and Galaxy S20 Ultra. This is quite similar to Apple’s decision on not launching an iPhone 11R but having the entry level start with iPhone 11 and offered a Pro and Max Pro variant.

Furthermore, the information gathered from a Twitter leak also arrived with a few minor details alongside it. Samsung Galaxy S20 will feature a 6.2 inch display while the Galaxy S20+ will arrive with a 6.7 inch display. The Galaxy S20 Ultra, on the other hand, arrives with a large 6.9 inch display. This makes it clear that the three smartphones are large in size and are likely to feature minimal bezels on every side.

Samsung’s Galaxy S10 series arrived in 4 variants with the S10e, S10, S10+ and a 5G variant; not including the speculated upcoming Galaxy S10 Lite. However, 5G is going to be an integral part of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 SoC, so each model will arrive with the faster bandwidth compatibility.

 

(Via)

Realme Buds Air Review: The budget wireless earbuds with low latency

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awTT6AQlEDo[/embedyt]

Realme Buds Air

Realme just released its first true wireless earbuds, the Realme Buds Air. The wireless earbuds market was rapidly heated in 2019. No wonder almost every smartphone brand wanted to join the ‘wireless hearables’ trend. Another reason is that wireless earbuds technology has been widely developed among the whole supply chains. And the up-and-coming Realme always seems to bring surprises, which is also the reason why we are bringing the Realme Buds Air as the closed review of 2019 earbuds series.

 

Realme Buds Air Package

Design

When we received the Buds Air, the white earbuds on the surface of the yellow earbuds reminded me that they just look like Apple AirPods. However, if I tell you that you can cost only double digits in US Dollars to have such clean design but with the similar quality, will you turn to the Realme Buds Air? Especially since we saw much that design of digital products converged to a final solution. for those who care about their receipts, it probably could be a better option.

Realme Buds Air Package

But when we look close to what’s in the box, the minimalistic design of the charging case is a bit different. The case of the Buds Air is entirely plastic but the lid is quite firmly. The case weighs just 42 grams, and each earbud just contributes about 4 grams, which is pretty lightweight. There is a USB-C port on the bottom for charging, but surprisingly the case supports wireless charging up to 10W on every basic Qi charger. The included wireless charging capabilities of the Realme Buds Air just challenged those competing earbuds which would ask you for an extra charge. And the Buds Air only costs you around 60 US dollars.

Realme Buds Air

If you were afraid that the case breaks, Realme will allow you to buy just the case or even just a separate earbud. The earbuds are also made of plastic with a clean design, and three-color versions are available, yellow, white, and black.

Low latency-realme buds airLow latency

Both earbuds have a touch-sensitive button for multiple commands, like double-tap to pauses the track or answer a call, triple tap to skip to next song. And the Buds Air features a gaming mode which would reduce connection latency. You can press both buds for two seconds to enter the low-latency gaming mode.

Gaming Mode-Realme Buds Air

 

Sound

Let’s get back to the sound and the overall performance of the earbuds. There are two microphones in each bud – one for conversations and one for talking noise canceling.

As budget wireless earbuds, the Realme Buds Air sounds good. To be more specific, I would say the sound is pretty pure and crisp. They reserve good detail of vocals and high-pitch sounds. relatively, the bass is good but not as impressive as the vocals.

Realme Buds Air

Battery & wireless charging

As for their battery life, The Realme Buds Air case has a 400 mAh battery. It helps expand the earbuds’ 3 hours battery life to 17 hours. There is an indicator lighting up and letting you know when the power is going to run out. There are different modes and three colors for the different levels of charge, but relying on your android phone to tell you the exact power seems more convenient.

wireless charging-Realme buds air

The most surprising feature of the realme Buds Air is the super-low latency. It’s really better than most wireless earbuds that even are more expensive than the Realme buds Air. So, if you are looking for a wireless earbud for playing games, besides the expensive AirPods, the Realme Buds Air absolutely is the best choice. It’s really difficult to notice the latency when play gaming.

BATTERY-realme Buds Air

Conclusion

Throughout the several days of listening, the Realme Buds Air is definitely one of the most surprising earbuds in our workshop. Although they’re not a pair of high-pricing earbuds, we are confident to say that it’s able to challenge the big players in the wireless earbuds market. Realme is still the Realme that is always pricing aggressively while providing impressive performance. Based on what we tested above, we are looking forward to seeing how it challenges the market.

Realme buds air

OPPO Reno3 and Reno3 Pro available for purchase in China

Few days ago, OPPO had launched the OPPO Reno3 series of smartphones in China. The Reno3 and Reno3 Pro phones were made available on reservations until today in China. On Dec. 27, the company had confirmed that the Reno3 series had met with 1.5 million registrations. Starting from today, the Reno3 and Reno3 Pro phones are for available for purchase in the home market.

OPPO Reno3 and Reno3 Pro Specifications

The OPPO Reno3 and Reno3 Pro are respectively equipped with a 6.4-inch and 6.5-inch AMOLED displays. The Reno3 has a waterdrop notch whereas the Pro edition features a punch-hole on the display. The Reno3 and Reno3 Pro offer full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and 20:9 aspect ratio. Both phones posses front-facing cameras of 32-megapixel. The ColorOS 7 based Android 10 OS runs on both devices.

Reno3 Pro 5G header

The rear side of the OPPO Reno3 Pro has a quad camera setup that includes an OIS assisted 48-megapixel Sony IMX586main lens, a 13-megapixel telephoto with 2x optical zoom, an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. The Reno3 Pro is driven by Snapdragon 765G mobile platform.

The OPPO Reno3 has a quad camera system featuring a 64-megapixel main lens with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 2-megapixel monochrome lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The smartphone draws power the from the MediaTek Dimensity 1000L chipset. Both devices are packed with 4,025mAh batteries that carry support for VOOC 4.0 Flash Charge technology. Both smartphones come with dual mode 5G, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, GPS and USB-C. Both phones lack support for 3.5mm audio jack.

OPPO Reno3 and Reno3 Pro Pricing

The Reno3 comes in two flavors such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. These models can be respectively availed for 3,399 Yuan (~$487) and 3,699 Yuan (~$530). Its color editions are Sunrise Impression, Moonlight White, Moonlight Night Black and Blue Starry Night.

The Reno3 Pro has two variants like 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. Both variants are respectively priced at 3,999 Yuan (~$573) and 4,298 Yuan (~$616). Sunrise Impression, Misty White, Moonlight Night Black and Blue Starry Night.

 

 

 

Smartphone maker Oppo is rumored to launch a Smart TV named Oppo TV

Oppo, one of the leading smartphone brand from China, has been actively trying to diversify its portfolio of products. Recently, at a conference held by Oppo, the theme was set as “integrating the ecological and intelligent future”, hinting that the company plans to enrich its own product line.

Currently, the company’s lineup of products include smartphones and wearable devices, and to achieve ecological integration, the company needs to launch a few other products. It is being speculated that the Chinese company could soon launch a smart TV.

oppo logo

While the company has not yet announced anything related to launching its own smart TV line, rumors indicate that it could soon enter this space with the launch of Oppo TV, which makes perfect sense.

Currently, demand for the large-screen smart TVs in the market is growing and many smartphone brands have entered this segment to meet the demand. The likes of Xiaomi, Huawei, Honor, Motorola, and OnePlus have already launched their Smart TV line and Nokia branded TVs have also been launched in India.

Xiaomi Group recently announced that its smart TV shipments have crossed 10 million units in the year 2019; this breaks previous records in the history of Chinese television sales in just one year.

As for the Indian market, Xiaomi is leading the Indian Smart TV market and a report from IDC claims that Xiaomi’s Mi TV holds about 33 percent of the market share when it comes to Smart TVs in India. The second spot is grabbed by Samsung India with a market share of 14 percent while LG sits at third with a share of 13 percent.

(Via)

ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G full specifications revealed through TENAA listing

Yesterday, the forthcoming Axon 10s Pro 5G smartphone that has a model number of ZTE A2020 SP had surfaced on the database of TENAA. The listing had revealed the preliminary specs of the Axon 10s Pro 5G smartphone. Today, the handset has appeared with its entire specifications on TENAA. This indicates that the smartphone may go official in January in China.

ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G Specifications

The TENAA listing of the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G states that its dimensions are 159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9mm and it weighs 175 grams. The smartphone is fitted with a waterdrop OLED display that is integrated with a fingerprint scanner. The display neatly curves towards its left and right edges. The screen offers 19.5:9 aspect ratio as it produces full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.

ZTE Axon 10 Pro 5G TENAA

The Snapdragon 865 mobile platform is present under the hood of the device. The phone comes in three RAM variants like 6 GB, 8 GB and 12 GB. The storage editions of the smartphone are 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. The Android 10 OS comes preinstalled on the device. As the company has already confirmed, the Android 10 OS will be skinned with its latest MiFlavor 10 UI.

The Axon 10s Pro has a 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera setup. It has a front-facing camera of 20-megapixel. The phone is backed by a 3,900mAh minimum capacity battery. It carries support for fast charging. The Chinese firm has already confirmed that the ZTE Axon 10s Pro will come in Black color. The other color variant dubbed as Ochre is also listed on TENAA. Apart from these specs, the Chinese firm has already confirmed that the Axon 10s Pro 5G will arrive with LPDDR5 RAM and the latest Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.

ZTE is yet to confirm on the launch date of the Axon 10s Pro 5G. The TENAA appearance of the smartphone at TENAA is a good sign that it will go official soon in China. It remains to be seen whether ZTE will become the first brand to launch the Axon 10s Pro 5G as the Snapdragon 865 SoC powered device. As of this writing, there is no word on the pricing of the smartphone. The Chinese firm is slated to showcase the device at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 tech exhibition in February.

 

 

 

(source)

Goodix Technology aims mass production of LCD in-display optical fingerprint solution in 2020

Smartphone industry has seen a lot of innovations in the past couple of years, including in-display fingerprint sensors, different display types and designs, and innovative camera solutions, among others.

While the technology for the under-display fingerprint sensor has seen active advancement, it is still limited to OLED display. Zhang Fan, CEO of Goodix Technology has stated in his 2020 New Year’s speech about “Getting ready to innovate and broaden new channels” that the company will actively promote the large-scale commercialisation of ultra-thin screen optical fingerprint solutions.

vivo

The company is also planning to provide 5G terminals as well as biometric identification solutions with better performance. However, the major advancement will come with the company’s plan for the implementation of optical fingerprints under LCD screens.

Along with the mass production of the in-display fingerprint sensor for the LCD screens, the company also plans mass production of a new generation of On-Cell touch chips adapted for the new flexible OLED display. The company has also stated that it will launch a ToF solution in due course in 2020.

Further, the company has added that in the year 2019, a total of around 101 commercial models in the market, including Huawei Mate30 Pro, Xiaomi CC9 Pro, and OnePlus 7T Pro comes equipped with its under-screen optical fingerprint solution.

So far, the technology of under-display fingerprint sensor has been limited to OLED panels because their thinness allows light to pass through easier. Apart from Goodix Technology, companies like BOE and AUO Optronics are also working on LCD displays that support an optical in-display fingerprint scanner.

(Via)

Lenovo’s vice president Chang Cheng announces he is leaving the tech giant

Lenovo‘s vice president and head of Lenovo Mobile China, Chang Cheng has officially announced that he would be leaving the company which he joined 19 years ago. Before now, it was reported that Chang Cheng had resigned on December 18, the same day Liu Chuanzhi retired.lenovo logo

Mr Cheng was transferred to the company’s MBG (Mobile Business Group) China and was detailed to take charge of product organization, research, and development. Before then, Cheng has been in the news in the past couple of years as the CEO and co-founder of the popular ZUK sub-brand of the Lenovo group. Chang is also popular among tech media especially because he was never shy to talk or reveal renders of ZUK products before launch.

Cheng joined Lenovo in 2000 as the director of research and development of the notebook business unit; in 2011, he was the vice president of Lenovo Group and the general manager of the mobile end-to-end software platform, Lenovo Music Store and Aubergine Express, and also participated in the development of Lenovo Yoga tablet. Computer and Lenovo K900 smartphone; In June 2015, he became CEO of ZUK mobile phone brand.

In recent times, Mr Cheng has often courted a controversial posture for hyping the firm’s upcoming smartphones. We can’t forget in a hurry how we expected a Lamborghini looking flagship in the Lenovo Z5 but ended up getting a different thing. Just like other models the CEO has built hype around, the Z5 wasn’t in any way a disappointment for a mid-ranger and that was what has always pacified fans.

We’ll sure miss his frequent Weibo post which usually gives us the specs of several models before they were released. The tech giant is yet to announce a replacement.

 

(source)

Alleged Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro specifications leaked

The Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro are upcoming flagships from Xiaomi. Both phones will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor along with a 5G modem.

While they won’t arrive until a few months from today, details about the two phones have been circulating the web. Digital Chat Station, a Chinese leaker and blogger with a good track record revealed that the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro will differ with respect to screen (size, resolution, or design), camera lens, fast charge technology, battery capacity, and memory.

Mi 10

Now, another leaker has posted the specs of the two phones along with their prices. Before we dive in, we want to state that these specifications and prices are unconfirmed, hence the reason why you should take them with a pinch of salt.

Mi 10 Specs and Price

According to the source, the standard Mi 10 will have a 6.5-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate but doesn’t mention the design of the display.

The spec sheet says the phone will have four rear cameras – a Sony IMX686 primary camera paired with a 20MP camera which should have an ultrawide lens; a 12MP camera with a telephoto lens; and a 5MP camera which should be a depth sensor or macro camera. It is also stated that the phone will have 30x (digital) zoom.

The Mi 10 will pack a battery capacity that is above 4500mAh and will support a triple fast-charging system that includes 40W fast wired charging, 30W wireless fast charging, and what we presume to be 10W reverse wireless charging. Other features mentioned include dual-mode 5G, NFC, and a linear motor.

The source says the Mi 10 will be available in three configurations – 8GB RAM + 128GB, 8GB RAM + 256GB, and 12GB RAM + 256GB. Their respective prices have been blurred out save for the first digit that is “3” in all cases. This means the Mi 10’s price tags fall under the ¥3999 (~$573) mark.

Xiaomi Mi 10 series spec leak

Mi 10 Pro Specs and Price

The leaked Mi 10 Pro’s specs are fewer. There is no mention of the screen size, type, and resolution. We do not know if to presume they are the same as that of the Mi 10 above or if the source has no info on them.

With respect to cameras, the Mi 10 Pro will also have a quad camera setup. The primary camera is a 108MP sensor and it is paired with a 48MP camera whose function is unknown, a 12MP sensor that probably has a telephoto lens while the fourth sensor is an 8MP camera.

Its battery capacity is also stated as over 4500mAh and it has support for 66W fast wired charging and 40W wireless charging. There is no mention of support for reverse wireless charging.

The Mi 10 Pro is also stated to come in three configurations – 12GB RAM + 128GB, 12GB RAM + 256GB, an 12GB RAM + 512GB. Unlike the Mi 10, the prices for the Pro version have not been blurred out.

The 128GB version has a ¥3799 (~$544) price tag, the 256GB variant is priced at ¥4099 (~$587), while the 512GB version is ¥4499 (~$644)

Both phones should run MIUI 11 based on Android 10 out of the box.

 

(Source)

Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 starts receiving MIUI 11 stable update based on Android 10!

Xiaomi‘s latest MIUI 11 custom ROM is available on almost all known eligible Mi smartphones. The thing is, the update didn’t usher in Google‘s latest Android 10 even though there are several new features inspired by Android 10 onboard. The Mi Mix 3 is one of the early models to get MIUI 11 update based on Android 9. Xiaomi later rolled out beta update of Android 10-based MIUI 11 for beta testers in China late October. Right now, there are indications that the stable version is now being pushed to Mix 3 users in China. Xiaomi-Mi-MIX-3-5G-featured

Xiaomi’s MIUI 11 is a big update that changes up a lot of things for the popular Android skin. Starting with the visual aspects, you get slightly softer icons, a system-wide dark mode, new Mi Lan Pro system font and improved always-on display functionality. There are also new animations, themes, wallpapers and improved notification system.Xiaomi Mi Mix 3

MIUI 11 also delivers an enhanced audio experience with all-new dynamic natural sound effects and alarms. Xiaomi also announced the new Mi Go Travel suite which will help you with booking tickets for a broad range of transport ranging from aeroplane to rail and bus. The update also brings an improved currency converter and an extreme power-saving mode.

 

(source)