The Redmi Note 13 series debuted in India earlier in January this year. The lineup comprises the standard, pro, and pro plus models. Now, three months after the launch, all three devices have received a silent price cut in the country. The revised prices are across all variants of the Note 13 trio and they are yet to be reflected on Xiaomi‘s official website, Flipkart, and Amazon. Read on to take a look at the new prices.
Redmi Note 13 series gets a price cut
Before we get to the revised prices, Xiaomi has slashed the prices of all configurations of the Redmi Note 13 5G, Note 13 Pro 5G, and Note 13 Pro+ 5G by Rs 1,000.
The company is offering a bank discount for ICICI Bank customers or an exchange bonus that can be availed on the purchase of smartphones. On the Redmi Note 13 5G, interested customers can avail Rs 1,500 ICICI Bank discount or Rs 1,500 exchange bonus. There’s a Rs 3,000 instant ICICI Bank discount or a Rs 3,000 exchange bonus on the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G and Note 13 Pro+ 5G.
From the above table, whether you avail of Rs 1,500 instant discount or exchange bonus, the Redmi Note 13 5G will start at Rs 15,499 for the base variant. The 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB can be purchased at Rs 17,499 and Rs 19,499 respectively. The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G’s 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, and 12GB + 256GB configurations will be available for Rs 21,999, Rs 23,999, and Rs 25,999 respectively after availing the Rs 3,000 instant discount or the exchange bonus. Meanwhile, the top-end Note 13 Pro+ 5G model carries a post offers price tag of Rs 27,999, Rs 29,999, and Rs 31,999 for the 8GB + 256GB,12GB + 256GB, and 12GB + 512GB variants respectively.
Poco has dropped the curtain on the deal details on its smartphones for the upcoming Flipkart and Amazon sales. Starting from May 1, there will be heavy discounts on most of the Poco Smartphones, and customers can enjoy the benefits up to May 10.
Poco Smartphones Deals Decoded
Ranging from Poco X6 Pro to the affordable Poco C61, there will be great discounts across the whole lineup. Let’s decode the Deals on Poco Smartphones below:
POCO Phone
Variant
Launch Price
Sale Discount
Sale Price
POCO X6 Pro
8+256GB
26,999
4000
22999*
POCO X6
8+256GB
21,999
4000
17999*
POCO X6 Neo
8+128GB
15,999
2,000
13999*
POCO M6 Pro 5G
4+128GB
11,999
3,000
8999*
POCO M6 5G
Airtel (4+128GB)
10,499
2,750
7749*
POCO C65
4+128GB
8,499
1700
6799
POCO C61
4+64 GB
7,499
1000
6,499
Poco X6 and Poco X6 Pro
The Poco X6 Pro and Poco X6 will get a Rs 4000 discount on the normal retail price of Rs 26,999 and 21,999, respectively. The base variant of Poco X6 and Poco X6 Pro will be available for Rs 17,999 and Rs 22,999.
Poco X6 Pro features MediaTek 8300 Ultra SOC, while the Poco X6 comes with Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC. The Pro variant comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display and 120Hz refresh rate, while the Poco X6 comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED with 1.5K resolution.
Poco X6 Neo will also be on sale for the discounted price of Rs 13,999. There’s a maximum discount of Rs 3000 on the 12GB RAM variant, and Rs 2000 discount on the 8GB RAM variant. The smartphone seems to feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, features MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC, and packs a 108MP primary sensor on the rear.
Poco M6 Pro 5G is also on sale, and users can grab the base variant with 4GB RAM for Rs 8,999. There’s a total of Rs 3500 discount on the 8GB RAM variant, while the 4GB and 6GB RAM are available with Rs 3000 discount.
At such an affordable price, the user gets Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, a 6.79-inch display, IP53 splash, and dust resistance along with Corning Gorilla Glass.
It is another affordable smartphone available for the price of Rs 67,99 with a Rs 1700 discount. Meanwhile, the 6GB RAM variant is available for Rs 7799, and the 8GB RAM will retail for Rs 7999.
Poco C65 ships with MediaTek Helip G85 SoC, 6.74-inch HD+ 90Hz display, 5000 mAh battery with the ability to sustain the whole day.
Google’s Pixel 8a is expected to launch at the upcoming I/O annual developer conference that begins on May 14. Leaks and rumors have left nothing to the imagination about the upcoming smartphone. The device recently surfaced in leaked promo materials. Now, the Pixel 8a’s pricing has leaked out two weeks ahead of launch thanks to tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka Onleaks) who has an excellent track record.
Google Pixel 8a pricing leaks courtesy of reliable tipster
The recently leaked full promo material has increased the hype for the Google Pixel 8a. This is because, the smartphone will be eligible for seven years of OS update putting it on par with premium Pixel 8 duo. It will come with AI camera features including Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, and Night Sight as well as other features like Live Translate and Circle to Search. The upcoming offering is confirmed to be IP67 rated, have VPN by Google One, and other features.
Now, all these features and significant upgrades compared to the Pixel 7a suggest that the Pixel 8a will also get a price hike. It was reported previously that the upcoming offering will be 18 percent expensive than its predecessor. However, that won’t be the case. As per Onleaks, Google will retain the pricing of the Pixel 8a with the base 128GB variant costing $499 and the 256GB option carrying a price tag of $559. This means that it will cost the same as the Pixel 7a. It’s worth noting that this pricing is for the US market and it may vary depending on the region.
Regardless, if the latest pricing leak of the Pixel 8a indeed turns out to be true, then Pixel fans are in for a treat. Considering the AI features loaded on the device as well as core upgrades across display, processor, and battery. Additionally, the Pixel 8a is also seen in Mint, Blue, and Black color options in the latest leak.
Motorola is set to enter the TWS earphones segment in India. The Lenovo-owned brand has confirmed the launch date of two new audio devices in the country. The Moto Buds and Moto Buds+ are set to debut next week. The company has also confirmed some key specifications of the upcoming offerings. To recall, both earphones were introduced in the global markets earlier this month.
Moto Buds, Buds+ India launch date, availability, and key specs revealed
The Moto Buds and Buds+ will be announced on May 9, Thursday at 12 noon. Flipkart has put up a microsite of the upcoming offerings confirming their availability from the e-commerce platform. The Buds+ will be the more premium among the two TWS earphones.
As per the microsite, the Moto Buds have a semi-in-ear design with a flat stem and silicone ear tips. They will be offered in four Pantone-validated colours including Starlight Blue, Coral Peach, Kiwi Green, and Glacier Blue. Meanwhile, the storage case on all options will have a White shade. The Buds are confirmed to be equipped with a 12.4mm dynamic driver with studio-quality sound. They are claimed to last up to 9 hours on a single charge and support fast charging.
On the other hand, the Moto Buds+ is said to be developed in collaboration with Bose. It will have dual drivers comprising an 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter for crisp vocals and deep bass. It features Hi-Res audio for more details. The TWS earphone is confirmed to support Dolby Head Tracking for an immersive and multidimensional listening experience. It will be available in Forest Grey and Beach Sand shades.
HMD Global, the maker of Nokia-branded phones and tablets, is launching two devices under its own brand in Europe. These are the HMD XR21rugged phone and the HMD T21 tablet.
You might recognize these names – the XR21 and T21 were previously launched with Nokia branding. However, it seems that the company is now preparing to market them under the HMD brand.
The leak comes from a Finnish source which revealed that the two devices have already been listed in a few Nordic retailers, revealing colors, memory, and tentative price.
The HMD XR21 will be the company’s first 5G offering in Europe. According to the leak, it will be available in a single black color option with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The expected price tag is around €457.90.
Nokia XR21
As far as the specs go, the XR21 is said to have the same hardware specifications as its Nokia counterpart. So we can expect a 6.49-inch IPS LCD screen, a Snapdragon 695 chipset, 64MP dual cameras, and a 4800mAh cell. The phone will also have IP69 and MIL-STD-810H certification, expected of a rugged phone.
The HMD T21 tablet will reportedly come in a sole black variant. The most expensive option will offer LTE connectivity, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage at €302.90. A more affordable LTE variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage is expected to cost €256.90.
Finally, there will be a Wi-Fi-only model with the same 6GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration retailing at €228.90. Similar to the XR21, the T21 is likely a rebranded Nokia tablet (our review) with features like a 10.4-inch display, an 8,200 mAh battery, and stylus support.
We can expect an official launch for both the HMD XR21 and T21 soon. The leak suggests they will go on sale by early June.
Huawei is working hard on HarmonyOS NEXT, its new iteration of the operating system that departs from Android app support entirely. The company is actively collaborating with major Chinese giants to build native apps specifically for HarmonyOS NEXT.
A fresh new leak suggests that the current development build of HarmonyOS NEXT offers a user experience comparable to existing software.
Words for it come from tech tipster Digital Chat Station who revealed that many “commonly used apps” possibly in China are actively being adapted for HarmonyOS NEXT. Huawei is also courting new partners to expand its app ecosystem.
However, according to the insider, these apps still lack some functions, possibly due to ongoing optimizations. Nevertheless, we are optimistic that these features will be added until the software reaches its beta phase.
Speaking of which, Huawei is currently preparing a testing version of HarmonyOS NEXT for user trials. The company will likely unveil the beta variant at the HDC 2024 event that’s happening in June. By then, we might see some significant, currently undisclosed changes.
The leak offers a glimpse into the current development stage of HarmonyOS NEXT. The software has a way to go before its official release, and Huawei will continue to improve its core operating system functionality continuously.
Moreover, previous leaks suggest that HarmonyOS NEXT might debut the upcoming Mate 70 series smartphones. Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, Xu Zhijun, himself hinted at a new software release alongside the Mate 70 flagship later this year, which lines up with the leaks.
While an official launch date for both products remains unknown, rumors suggest that they may be launched sometime in October.
New detail suggests the Huawei Pura 70 series, recently launched in China, might be making its way to the global market soon.
Two models from the lineup, the standard Huawei Pura 70 (model number ADY-LX9) and the Pura 70 Pro (model number HBN-LX9), have been spotted on the SIRIM website in Malaysia.
SIRIM certification is a mandatory requirement for gaining market access in Malaysia. It signifies that the certified products meet safety standards for electrical and digital equipment. The certification process often precedes a product launch in the region.
While Huawei hasn’t officially announced the global rollout of the Pura 70 series, the SIRIM listing suggests an imminent launch in Malaysia. Huawei might release the smartphones in other regions after that.
However, only two models from the series have been listed so far, and the Pura 70 Pro+ and 70 Ultra are missing from the certification database.
Huawei Pura 70 / 70 Pro Specifications
As far as the specs go, both smartphone features an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and have Kunlun glass protection on the front. But the screen size differs: the Pura 70 has a 6.6-inch display whereas the Pro has a tad bigger 6.8-inch screen.
Huawei Pura 70
Powering the Pura 70 is a Kirin 9000S1 chip, a downlocked version of the Kirin 9000S chip. Whereas, the Pro model has the new Kirin 9010 chip. Regardless of the SoC, you get to choose up to 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.
Talking about the cameras, the standard model sports a 50MP main, 13MP ultrawide and a 12MP periscope telephoto. The Pro model keep the main lens, but has a 12.5MP ultra-wide and a 48MP telephoto shooter.
All this is backed by a 5050mAh cell on Pura 70 Pro with 100W charging support while the Pura 70 has a smaller 4900mAh cell that supports 66W wired charging.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 beats the Kirin 9010 by a good margin in our comparison (read it here). But can Huawei’s flagship chip survive against the 3-year-old Snapdragon 888 chip?
Read this detailed comparison to understand if it’s worth spending on a Kirin 9010 or if getting a Snapdragon 888-powered phone is still a better option.
Overview
The Snapdragon 888 SoC is a powerful chip from Qualcomm. It was found in flagship phones during its early days and is now in premium mid-range phones. Huawei’s Kirin 9010, on the other hand, is said to be a flagship chip but has disappointing benchmarking numbers to put it in the flagship category.
Here’s a quick comparison table to begin with:
Feature
Kirin 9010
Snapdragon 888
Process Node
7nm (SMIC)
5nm (Samsung)
CPU Cores
1 x 2.3 GHz Taishan Big 3 x 2.18 GHz Taishan Mid 4 x 1.55 GHz Cortex-A510
1 x 2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 3 x 2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 4 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55
GPU
Maleoon 910 @ 750 MHz
Adreno 660 @ 792 MHz
RAM
–
Up to 24GB LPDDR5 @ 3200 MHz
5G
Yes
Yes
Download/Upload Speed
–
Up to 7500 Mbps/3000 Mbps
SMIC produces the 7nm Kirin 9010 chipset for Huawei, whereas the Snapdragon 888 uses a 5nm fabrication process. Increased transistor density in Snapdragon 888 allows for lower power consumption for the same level of performance compared to the Kirin 9010.
All the cores in Snapdragon 888 run at a higher clock speed than Kirin 9010’s, which means it can better handle high processing-intensive tasks. However, other metrics, such as thread management, storage speed, and software optimization, also influence the overall performance.
Although the Adreno 660 GPU in Kirin 9010 runs at a lower clock speed than the Snapdragon 888’s, the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark results tell a different story.
Let’s now look at how these two chipsets perform on various benchmarking platforms.
Benchmarks
Kirin 9010 SoC:
AnTuTu v10: 972,547
Geekbench v6 (single-core): 1,446
Geekbench v6 (multi-core): 4,524
3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 1,531
Snapdragon 888 SoC:
AnTuTu 10: 892,658
Geekbench v6 (single-core): 1,498
Geekbench v6 (multi-core): 3,948
3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 1,498
The Kirin 9010 (7nm) is able to beat the Snapdragon 888 (5nm) in multiple benchmarking tests, but the difference is not significant. Keep in mind that the benchmarking tests do not reflect real-world performance.
Kirin 9010 vs Snapdragon 888: Final Thoughts
Kirin 9010 and Snapdragon 888 are high-performance mobile chipsets performing similarly on benchmarking platforms. Both can handle games and high-performance tasks; therefore, picking one becomes difficult.
Things that go in Snapdragon 888’s favor include its use of a 5nm processor node, which is better than 7nm on Kirin 9010. Another critical point to mention here is that Huawei hasn’t revealed the chip details, so many details are under the cover. However, according to multiple reports, the Kirin 9010 is nothing but a slightly modified version of the Kirin 9000s. So, based on these reasons, I’d pick the Snapdragon 888 over the Kirin 9010.
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max comparison table.
In this article, one of the top players in the Android community goes up against the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Both the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are impressive devices in the flagship market. However, a lot of people might wonder how these two devices stand against one another, and this article is set to answer that question.
Aside from performance in terms of their processing power, a major area where these devices go up against each other is in photography. For most people, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better pick among the two in terms of popularity. However, this article isn’t a comparison of which of these devices is more popular, but a comparison of which is better over all.
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Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Design and colours
Xiaomi 14 Ultra:
In terms of its design, this is a good-looking device that boasts some impressive design elements. Some of these elements include the circular camera bump, the leather textured finish, and smooth edges. The rear camera cutout houses four cameras, which we’ll come to in a bit, but up front you’ll find a centre-mounted selfie cutout.
The power and volume rocker keys sit on the right-hand side of this device’s frame. At its base sits the USB-C charging port and speakers, there is not much change in terms of design between this device and its predecessor. The available colour options this device offers are Black, Blue, White, Titanium Gray.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Over the past few years, Apple has been notoriously bringing the same design language to their devices. Under close observation, the major difference between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and its predecessor is the Titanium frame. Aside from this, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a triple rear camera setup and a Dynamic Island upfront which houses the selfie camera and other sensors.
The power button on this device sits on the right-hand side, while the volume rocker keys and the flip to mute button sit on the left-hand side. Its USB-C charging port, microphone, and speakers sit under the device and the screen features sleek bezels all round. Just like with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, there are not many changes in this device in comparison with its predecessor.
Major differences:
A flip to mute toggle is present on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Titanium frame as standard on all iPhone 15 Pro Max devices.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
Xiaomi 14 Ultra:
Users of this device get a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen panel that supports 120Hz refresh rates. This screen boasts 3000 nits peak brightness and is protected by the Xiaomi Shield Glass protection technology. The display on this device supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for a more immersive viewing experience. Lastly, the bezels on this device are slim, giving the user an 89.6% screen to body ratio.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
The 6.7-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED screen panel on this device is great for everyday usage. It supports 120Hz refresh rate with Ceramic Shield glass for protection against drops and scratches. As standard, this device features a 2000 nit peak brightness which is great for both indoor and outdoor usage. Some display technologies you can find on this screen are HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
Major differences:
Overall better display on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras
Xiaomi 14 Ultra:
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was built for a specific reason in mind, to help users to “capture the moment.” This reveals that this device is a camera centric entry with a quad 50MP rear camera sensor. Up front is a 32MP selfie camera sensor which takes impressive photos. Thanks to the Leica photography partnership, this device is one of the best you can get for taking pictures. In fact, Xiaomi retails a ton of photography accessories with this device.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Apple devices are known for their great cameras, and the top of the range Pro Max model in the 15 series is as good as Apple photography prowess goes. On the rear, this device features three cameras, a 48MP main sensor and two 12MP lenses. Up front, users get a 12MP selfie lens for taking great pictures. Apple also did well to add 5x optical zoom on this device to help users take clear pictures from a distance.
Major differences:
8K video recording on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra rear cameras.
Cinematic mode for video recording on the iPhone.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Performance
Xiaomi 14 Ultra:
This device features Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Joining this processor is up to 16GB worth of RAM as the highest option, and 12GB of RAM for the basset model. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers up to 1TB worth of storage, but buyers can still get 256GB and 512GB storage options. With this processor and the various RAM options, this device is more than suitable for everyday usage and intense gaming.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Apple iPhones are generally very performance-oriented devices, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max featuring the A17 Pro chip. However, this device heavily falls behind in comparison with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra on RAM options it provides. The iPhone 15 Pro Max only offers 8GB worth of RAM and up to 1TB storage capacity. Despite not having as much RAM as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, real life usage will show that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will match up the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in terms of everyday performance.
Major upgrades & differences:
12GB and 16GB RAM on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
iPhone 15 Pro Max runs on an Apple A17 Pro chip.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Software
Xiaomi 14 Ultra:
This device runs on Android 14 and Xiaomi’s HyperOS out of the box. Users are getting 4 years of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Just like most other iPhones, this device runs iOS 17, and it offers users up to 7 years OS upgrade.
Major differences:
HyperOS on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
iOS 17 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Battery life and charging
Xiaomi 14 Ultra:
Those buying this device outside China will get a 5000mAh battery capacity. This is followed by 90W fast wired charging, which can charge the device from 0-100% in 33 minutes. For wireless charging, users get 80W fast wireless charging on this device. Lastly, is the 10W reversed wireless charging that this device comes with.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Apple gives buyers of this device, 4441mAh battery capacity as standard. To power this battery capacity, users will have to rely on the 15W wired charging speed that it comes with. Wireless charging here is also 15W but reversed wireless charging down to 4.5W. There are a ton of wireless charging gadgets that this device comes with that users can try out.
Major differences:
Faster wired, wireless, and reverse wireless charging on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Larger battery capacity on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Final Verdict
Like we stated earlier in this article, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will win this comparison in terms of popularity. However, a close look at the stats will show a ton of areas where the Xiaomi 14 Ultra outshines the iPhone. Based on popular opinion, most people might tilt in favour of the iPhone for a few reasons, but if you’re looking for a true performance device, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the right way to go.
Samsung is one of the early manufacturers of foldable devices and is also a company that made the form factor mainstream. China was initially one of the big markets for the company’s foldable devices. However, the recent foldables from the company are facing intense competition from the Chinese OEMs as revealed by a latest report from IDC.
Many Chinese OEMs started working on the form factor relatively later and it gave Samsung an edge in the experience it had already gathered. However, foldable from Huawei, Honor, Vivo, and Oppo are now reportedly outperforming Samsung’s offerings in market share. Surely, the Chinese OEMs have managed to overcome a lot of problems with the form factor and have also developed reasonably good software experience for their users, but is it enough to replace the South Korean company so quickly?
Just a couple of years ago, Samsung used to hold a 30% quarterly market share of foldable phones in China, which is the home country of most other foldable smartphone manufacturers. But in Q1 2024, the company is ranking in the fifth position in the country in terms of its foldable market share.
Huawei ranks on top with a market share of a whopping 44.1% in its home country. Honor comes in the second position with a market share of 26.7%. The third and fourth positions are occupied by Vivo and Oppo with 12.6% and 9% market share. Just last year, Samsung’s market share was at 11%.
Reportedly, this decline in market share was not only caused by Chinese OEMs catching up with Samsung in product quality, but also by a shift in consumer preferences. Amidst US trade restrictions preventing Huawei and other companies from accessing overseas technologies, buyers in the country now seem to prefer products from Chinese manufacturers.
Meizu, despite announcing its exit from the smartphone market, seems to be continuing with phone development. Following the launch of the Meizu 21 Pro in February, rumors suggest that another phone, the Meizu 21 Note, could be coming soon.
Now, real-life images of the smartphone surfaced on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. The phone sports an iPhone-like triple-camera setup on the back, along with a back panel featuring a gradient matte finish with wavy patterns. It comes in Black and Purple variants.
However, the authenticity of these images remains unclear, so it’s best to take the leak with a pinch of salt.
In terms of specs, the Meizu 21 Note is expected to feature a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1.5K resolution, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and eye-care-friendly 2160Hz PWM dimming.
Under the hood, it’s rumored to pack a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Keeping the lights on will be a sizable 5,500mAh battery that will support 66W fast charging for quick power-ups.
Camera details suggest a 16-megapixel front-facing sensor and a rear setup comprising a 50-megapixel Samsung GN5 primary sensor with OIS (optical image stabilization) for improved low-light photos, along with an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens.
Moreover, the device is said to have a metal frame sandwiched between glass front and back panels. It will also have an IP53 rating protecting it against dust and water splashes.
Based on these rumored specs, the Meizu 21 Note could be positioned as a sub-flagship smartphone that will compete against devices like the OnePlus Ace 3 and Redmi K70.
It was reported last year that Samsung was working on a new battery technology that would increase the energy density of the battery without changing the chemical contents of the cells. So, the batteries will be able to pack more capacity within a more compact volume. The change is in the arrangement of the cells and it is called the stacked battery technology.
Samsung was expected to offer this new tech to the world of smartphones with this year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, the company decided to push back the production of the new stacked batteries. Then the Galaxy S25 Ultra was expected to offer the new battery tech, along with a faster 65W charging.
Samsung reportedly wants to cut costs
However, tipster Sawyer Galox claimed that the company will launch the Galaxy S25 Ultra with the same 45W charging and 5000 a mAh battery based on the traditional Li-Ion technology. According to him Samsung changed its mind and decided to save some cost. He further adds that the new stacked battery may come with the Galaxy S26 Ultra in 2026 along with the faster charging.
While the battery life of the last few generations of Samsung’s Ultra flagships has been reasonably good, the charging speed definitely lags behind the competition when compared to Chinese smartphone makers.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip could be a reason behind Samsung’s delaying improvements in other aspects. Qualcomm has confirmed that the next generation flagship chip will be more expensive than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra already costs $1300. It could be a reason behind Samsung’s decision to push back the battery and charging improvements to the 2026 flagship. However, this might not be the actual reason behind Samsung delaying the battery and charging improvement, as there is no confirmation that Qualcomm will stick to the price of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for the successor SoC.
Nonetheless, we have seen battery improvements with the Galaxy S24 Ultra with the same battery capacity, thanks to the efficiency improvements of the current Snapdragon flagship. Given Qualcomm manages to follow its track record with energy efficiency improvements, and Samsung powers the Ultra flagship exclusively with Qualcomm chip, the S25 Ultra will also offer a relatively longer battery life as compared to the current generation Ultra flagship.
The Redmi Display G27Q 2025 model has been unveiled in China. The new Xiaomi product with model number P27QCA-RG has a 27-inch IPS display. It has a thin and light body design with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The new monitor has a 100% sRGB wide color gamut coverage, and a 185 Hz display refresh rate, which makes it a prime product for gaming and other high-octane applications.
The new Xiaomi Redmi G27Q 2025 display highlights some improvements from its previous iterations. Connectivity options for the new monitor include DisplayPort (DP) and HDMI. The previous G27Q display offered a 2K resolution and was based on a FAST IPS panel. It has a lower display refresh rate (165 Hz) than its successor and a grayscale response time of 1 ms. It also features 100% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. The older Xiaomi Redmi G27Q monitor has an 8-bit color depth and comes with DisplayHDR400 certification. The model’s connectivity options include a multi-functional USB-C interface, DP1 4, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Pricing & Availability
The Xiaomi Redmi Display G27Q 2025 monitor is now available on retail platforms in China such as JD.com on pre-order. The launch price of the new monitor is 899 yuan ($124). Xiaomi is offering a 3-year quality guarantee for the G27Q 2025 monitor in the Chinese market. More optics about the new Xiaomi Redmi Display G27Q, as well as its global availability details, are still expected at this time.
MediaTek recently launched its latest automotive platform, the Dimensity CT-X1. The SoC is particularly important for two reasons: it’s MediaTek’s first chip built on a 3nm manufacturing process, and it features ARM’s next-generation Cortex-X5 CPU core.
The Cortex-X5 core will also power MediaTek’s upcoming flagship mobile chipset, the Dimensity 9400. Now the Dimensity CT-X1 has surfaced on Geekbench, likely from a test machine, revealing what the Cortex-X5 might be capable of.
The chip scored 1606 points in single-core and 5061 points in multi-core tests on Geekbench. These scores fall short of competitors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and even MediaTek’s own Dimensity 9300.
But it’s likely due to the lower clock speed of the Cortex-X5 core in the CT-X1, which is clocked at 2.12 GHz, according to leakster Digital Chat Station. The leakster also clarifies that this is a test sample of the chipset.
Despite the lower clock speed, reports suggest the IPC (instructions per clock) of the Dimensity 9400 will be close to Apple’s A17 Pro chip and will even surpass to that of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 which will have custom Oryon cores.
DCS further suggests that the Dimensity 9400 might debut first in a Vivo smartphone, followed by an Oppo model.
But keep in mind that the Dimensity CT-X1 performance doesn’t necessarily reflect the final performance of the Dimensity 9400. The final clock speeds and optimizations in the 9400 will significantly impact its benchmark scores.
More information about the Dimensity 9400, including its official launch date and specifications is likely to surface closer to its release.
On Friday, April 26, Oppo India held the Oppo Ambassador Conclave in Mumbai to showcase the Find X7 Ultra and announce the Imagine IF Photography Awards contest. The initiative, with renowned director and screenwriter SS Rajamouli as its Indian ambassador, aims to inspire creativity in mobile photography. Oppo launched the Imagine IF Photography Awards globally in 2023, and this marks its inaugural year in India. The first edition of the awards saw over 700,000 entries from 51 countries.
Imagine IF Photography Awards 2024: Contest details, prizes
Oppo Ambassador Conclave event
Participants can submit their smartphone photographs for ‘Round 1’ until June 15th (midnight IST). From these entries, 50 winners will be announced in the last week of June and proceed to Round 2. The second phase will begin in early July, with the final six winners announced on July 25th, 2024.
The competition is open to all Indian citizens over the age of 18. There are nine entry categories: landscape, portrait, colours, unfading moment, fashion, snapshot, light, travel, and collection. A panel of expert photographers will judge the entries, including celebrity wedding and portrait photographer and Oppo Imaging Expert Joseph Radhik, wildlife photographer Arzoo Khurana, fashion photographer Arjun Mark, and other global judges.
The Gold winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 5,00,000, two Silver winners will receive Rs 2,00,000 each, and three Bronze winners will receive Rs 1,00,000 each. Additionally, all five winners will have the opportunity to attend the 2024 Paris Show, receive the latest Oppo phone, and collaborate with Oppo India on photography-led projects. For more information, visit the official event website at https://imagine-if.oppo.com/en/categories/?dataTab=guide. Oppo India encourages all mobile photographers to seize this exciting opportunity to explore their artistic expression and bring their creativity to life.
Oppo Find X7 Ultra showcased in India
These details were announced during the Oppo Ambassador Conclave in Mumbai, which began with the unveiling of the Find X7 Ultra. Unfortunately, the X7 series, despite being one of the best photography-focused phones of the year, is only available in the Chinese market.
Industry leaders, influencers, and Oppo ambassadors attended the event. Rajeev Masand (COO, Dharma Cornerstone), Anubhav Sinha (Director), Sudeep Chatterjee (DOP), Monaz Todywalla (CEO, PHD Media India), and Raj Kamble (COO, Famous) led discussions on the evolution of smartphone photography, AI advancements, and the rise of content creators.
“As an artist, I’ve always believed in pushing the boundaries of creativity, exploring uncharted territories, and inspiring others to do the same,” said SS Rajamouli. “The Oppo Imagine IF India Photography Awards 2024 represents a bold step towards celebrating innovation and imagination in mobile photography, and I am thrilled to be a part of this initiative. Let’s capture the extraordinary, let’s imagine the impossible, and let’s create a legacy of inspiration for generations to come.”
Sushant Vashistha, Head of Digital Marketing, Oppo India, said, “Oppo India is proud to bring the Imagine IF Photography Awards to the country, providing a platform to showcase the incredible talent of Indian photographers… This year, we can’t wait to see some incredible photographs from India being showcased on the global stage.”
My inputs
I was fortunate enough to attend the Oppo Ambassador Conclave, and it was an inspiring experience. The discussions on mobile photography’s evolution were incredibly insightful. Oppo’s dedication to pushing the limits of smartphone cameras is evident, and the Imagine IF Photography Awards serve as a testament to this commitment. I’m eager to see the stunning images that Indian photographers will submit for this exciting contest.
I have been using the Find X7 Ultra for the past few days and I am impressed by its camera capabilities. It is unfortunate that the X7 series won’t be released in India. However, the discussions about Oppo’s commitment to innovation leave me hopeful that the Find X8 series, rumored to arrive next year, will be available in the Indian market.
Redmi, a sub-brand of Xiaomi, is mainly associated with its mid-range Note series smartphones globally. However, it also offers an affordable numbered series lineup, which started introducing 5G devices in 2022. The first 5G device in this series was the Redmi 10 5G, and there are rumors suggesting that the brand is working on another budget-friendly 5G option called the Redmi 13 5G. Here’s what we currently know and what we can expect.
Although no renders or images have emerged of the Redmi 13 5G, either officially or unofficially, the bar has been set quite high by its predecessor, the Redmi 12 5G. As we have mentioned in our review, the Redmi 12 5G is likely the most premium-looking and feeling device in the sub-₹15,000 range of 5G smartphones.
It boasts a glass back finish with flat edges and a sleek camera design. This design played a significant role in the success of the Redmi 12 5G, which sold 300,000 units on its debut day and surpassed 1 million units sold in less than a month in the Indian market alone. It’s likely that the brand will continue to refine and build upon this successful design approach.
2. Same processor as last year
The Redmi 13 5G is rumored to debut with a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor. This is an entry-level 5G chip out of the Qualcomm camp that was also used in the Redmi 12 5G. With that in mind, we expect the device to have a similar performance as last year’s model.
In our assessment of the Redmi 12 5G, we observed smooth performance without encountering any concerns. However, it’s worth noting that the device utilizes LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. While we don’t anticipate an upgrade to LPDDR5x RAM, the inclusion of UFS 3.1 storage in the Redmi 13 5G would represent a significant improvement, potentially leading to faster loading times on the device.
3. Likely an LCD display
Last year’s model had an impressive 6.79-inch display with a 2460 x 1080 pixels resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. Although it used an LCD panel, it still managed to produce punchy colors, making it stand out from its competition in the sub-₹12K price range.
Fitting the Redmi 13 5G with an AMOLED display will be difficult without raising the price, so we expect it to come with another FHD+ LCD display.
That said, a significant upgrade from last year’s model would be adding stereo speakers. Considering stereo speakers are now common in most smartphone ranges, it’s a good opportunity for Redmi to include them in the Redmi 13 5G.
4. Same battery size but faster charging
A report has claimed that the Redmi 13 5G will feature the same 5,000mAh battery as last year’s model. However, the fast charging will be getting a small improvement, bumping it up from 18W to 33W.
Although the battery size remains unconfirmed, the 3C certification listing has confirmed that the device will indeed come with upgraded 33W fast charging.
5. Camera
Unfortunately, there have been no leaks about the camera specifications of the Redmi 13 5G. However, considering that the Redmi 12 5G had a somewhat inconsistent camera (both the 50MP primary camera and the 8MP front camera), the brand could be looking to refine the camera system in the upcoming model. We might not see any hardware changes, but we can hope for better image processing.
6. Pricing & Availability
Unlike flagship devices, budget offerings like the Redmi 13 5G typically don’t raise their prices annually. This is to stay competitive in markets like India, where there’s fierce competition in the budget segment. With this in mind, we expect the Redmi 13 5G to debut at a similar starting price of around ₹12K in India.
Unlike its predecessor, the upcoming Redmi 13 5G is said to only launch in China and India. POCO, which is another sub-brand of Xiaomi is also expected to rebrand the Redmi 13 5G as the POCO M7 5G in the Indian market. Unfortunately, there is no information on a wider availability as of yet.
Several reports have claimed that Poco will announce the Poco F6 and F6 Pro affordable flagship phones in May in different markets. With the expected launch timeframe fast approaching, the global version of the Poco F6 has appeared on Geekbench. As usual, the listing has revealed its chipset, RAM, and Android version well before the launch.
Poco F6 global version appears on Geekbench
Poco F6 global version on Geekbench
The above screenshot shows that a new Xiaomi phone with model number 24069PC21G has emerged on Geekbench. Reports indicate that the Poco F6 will be the device’s official name upon its release.
The Geekbench listing reveals that the Poco F6 features the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, 12 GB of RAM, and Android 14, which will have the HyperOS skin on top. In the single-core test and multi-core test, the device scored 1884 and 4799 points, respectively.
The chipset’s name is not explicitly mentioned in the Geekbench listing, However, the CPU details and GPU information available via source code reveal that it has the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 onboard. The appearance of the Geekbench listing is a good hint the company could be internally testing it before its official announcement.
Earlier this month, Redmi unveiled the Redmi Turbo 3 with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 onboard. The Poco F6 heading to the global market will likely be a rebranded version of the Turbo 3. The F6 is also expected to release in the Indian market.
The Poco F6 may arrive with an IP64-rated chassis featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED display that offers a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The device may ship with up to 12 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It may feature a 20-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel (Sony IMX882, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (IMX355, ultra-wide) dual-camera system. The device may pack a 5,000mAh battery and support 90W fast charging.
Huawei has launched the Pura 70 series as a successor to the Kirin 9000s. The new chip has been tested with both benchmarks and real-life workloads and has performed better than expected with no overheating. The new chip is recognized as the Kirin 9010, which according to TechInsights, is fabricated on SMIC’s second-generation 7nm-class process node, which is also referred to as N+2. Notably, this is the same process technology that the predecessor Kirin 9000s is built on.
Huawei improving its chip supply chain with in-house manufacturers
For those unfamiliar, SMIC is China’s largest contract chipmaker like TSMC for the global market. Based on the limited supply of the Pura 70 series devices, it is expected that the production capacity of the new Kirin chip is likely still limited. However, a new flagship model with a successor chip is a sign that Huawei is slowly solving bottlenecks in its chip supply chain amidst all the US sanctions with in-house alternatives to overseas components. But how SMIC manages to fabricate the chips without access to overseas tools and technologies is still shrouded in mystery.
According to reports, the new Kirin 9010 chip boasts a similar core cluster to its predecessor – an “ultra-high performance” TaiShan Prime Core, three TaiShan mid cores, and four efficiency-focused Arm Cortex-A510 cores.
The successor actually runs the ultra-high performance core at a lower 2.3GHz clock speed as compared to the 2.62GHz of the Kirin 9000s. It equips the Maleoon 910 GPU. The Kirin 9010 can also be considered a variant of the Kirin 9000s that has a higher yield rate as compared to the predecessor.
Nonetheless, the Kirin 9010 appears to have better computing power despite a lower clock speed of the performance core. The new chip scored 1440 and 4436 in single and multi-core GeekBench tests respectively. For reference, the Kirin 9000s scored 1350 and 4200 in the respective tests.
HMD recently unveiled three new smartphones in the global market, the HMD Pulse, Pulse+, and Pulse Pro. The three phones come with “Gen 1 repairability,” making them extremely repair-friendly smartphones.
Gen 1 repairability means that users can get extra parts from sites like iFixit and fix their own devices, such as by replacing the screen or battery.
While this is an excellent feature, when these phones went on sale, the first customers noticed a small issue. Much to their surprise, the bottom bezel on the real model turned out to be way thicker than the promo images.
Promo image bezel on the left vs the real device bezel | source: twitter user @dorso10
HMD has since apologized and updated its website with accurate renderings. But do you think HMD engaged in deceptive advertising?
Chinese EV giants Xpeng and its affiliate AeroHT are set to transform city transportation with their ambitious entry into the flying car industry. AeroHT is close to achieving airworthiness certification for its innovative flying car, marking a major advancement in urban air technology.
More details about the flying car and its status are in our story here.
Nothing has introduced a new India exclusive Blue color variant for the Phone (2a). The addition expands the available choices for users, who can now opt for the Black, White, or Blue version per their preferences.
The Nothing Phone (2a) Blue will be available exclusively in India via Flipkart starting May 2nd at 12 PM IST.
A report from China claims that the Dimensity 9400 will outperform Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Apple’s A17 Pro in terms of instructions per clock (IPC) performance.
China‘s automobile industry has reached a historic milestone, surpassing 30 million units in both production and sales for the first time in 2023. This significant achievement solidifies China’s position as the world’s leading auto market and paves the way for even greater dominance in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
Amazon’s super-fast shipping is getting even faster, apparently. The company recently announced breaking their record by delivering over 2 billion items to Prime members in the first quarter of 2024, with either same-day or next-day service. This means nearly 60% of Prime orders in major US cities arrived within one or two days.
But now, more products are going to get faster delivery soon.
One UI 6.1 is an exciting upgrade, as it brings some really cool AI features, such as AI wallpaper, circle to search, generative edit, chat assist, and live translation. It brings lots of non-AI features and improvements as well. Sadly, many Galaxy devices will miss out on these new features as One UI 6.1 will be rolled out to select devices.
This 27-inch Fast IPS display boasts a sharp 2560 x 1440 resolution with vibrant colors thanks to 95% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB wide color gamut. To ensure color accuracy, it offers professional 8-bit color depth and a Delta E of less than 2. Brightness reaches 300 nits, and the monitor is TÜV Rheinland low blue light certified for comfortable viewing.
In March, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a toned-down version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which debuted in October 2023. A couple of smartphones featuring the 8s Gen 3 chip, such as the Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro, the Redmi Turbo 3, and the iQOO Z9 Turbo, have already launched in the Chinese market. It seems that the Realme GT Neo 6 will be the next phone to arrive with the 8s Gen 3 chip in the Chinese market.
Realme GT Neo 6 chipset, fast charging details tipped
According to reliable leaker Digital Chat Station, the upcoming Realme GT Neo 6 is the only model among the phones featuring the 8s Gen 3 chip to feature a super-fast charging solution of over 100 watts. He added that this combination of a large battery and over 100W fast charging is likely to appeal to many users.
The Civi 4 Pro has a 4,700mAh battery with 67W fast charging support, whereas the Redmi Turbo 3 packs a 5,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging. The Z9 Turbo houses a massive 6,000mAh battery and supports 80W charging. The 3C authority in China recently approved a Realme phone with the RMX3852 model number. The device was spotted with a 121W fast charger.
Rumors suggest that the Realme GT Neo 6 will be quite similar to the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3-powered GT Neo 6 SE, which recently debuted in China. Hence, it is likely that the GT Neo 6 may pack a 5,500mAh battery and support 121W fast charging.
There is a possibility that the GT Neo 6 could be similar to the SE variant in other departments. To recall, the Realme GT Neo 6 SE offers a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED display that offers a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 phone ships with up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It has a 32-megapixel front camera, and a 50-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) dual-camera system.
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