In a year filled with minor upgrades across the premium TV market, TCL has introduced a major shift with its new SQD-Mini LED technology. Debuting on the flagship X11L series, this proprietary backlight solution moves beyond the limitations of traditional Mini LED and RGB-Mini LED setups. TCL positions SQD-Mini LED as a long-overdue evolution that resets the standards for brightness, color accuracy, and slim form factors.

What is SQD-Mini LED?

SQD-Mini LED stands for Super Quantum Dot Mini LED. It is TCL’s next-generation Mini LED backlight system that uses a single-chip pure white light source in combination with its custom Super Quantum Dot materials. The company also pairs this with a new “Butterfly Wing Huayao” LCD layer that enhances viewing angles, controls reflections, and improves panel durability.

Instead of combining red, green, and blue LEDs to simulate white light like RGB-Mini LED does, SQD-Mini LED emits pure white light directly through quantum dot conversion. This change simplifies the light source structure, reduces optical interference, and results in cleaner, more stable output across all colors and brightness levels.

Decade-Long Bottleneck Solved

RGB-Mini LED technology has typically achieved around 94-97% BT.2020 color coverage. That limitation has been in place for nearly a decade. SQD-Mini LED moves past this barrier with 100% BT.2020 global color coverage. This ensures that content appears with full saturation and fidelity regardless of brightness or color mix, solving issues like color shift and haloing that often affect RGB-based backlights.

TCL claims that its SQD-Mini LED tech reproduces scenes with richer detail and more consistent tones, even in fast-moving or high-contrast visuals. The technology is designed to maintain color accuracy whether users are watching HDR movies, animations, or dynamic sports content.

Precision Light Control and Brightness

TCL uses a single white-light LED per local dimming zone in its SQD-Mini LED structure. This allows the company to fit more backlight zones into the same space without increasing heat or power requirements. The 98-inch X11L TV features 20,736 dimming zones, currently the highest among Mini LED TVs in its class.

The design also improves contrast precision. TCL pairs the hardware with its in-house Mosaic backlight control algorithm, which enhances frame-by-frame dimming accuracy. A new light-field tower structure helps avoid light leakage and creates uniform illumination across the screen.

TCL’s implementation enables the panel to achieve a peak brightness of 10,000 nits using its Brilliant XDR tech. This makes the display suitable for all high-end HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and IMAX Enhanced, with tone mapping handled at full luminance.

Engineering an Ultra-Thin Display

TCL has reduced the optical distance (OD) required for backlight diffusion by using its optimized white-light path and Super Quantum Dot conversion layer. This allows the panel to reach a thickness of just 2 cm, making it the thinnest Mini LED TV TCL has produced.

The company partnered with industrial designer Chris Lefteri to create a minimalistic, clean chassis with concealed cable routing and a symmetrical rear design. The ultra-thin frame supports both flush wall mounting and tabletop setups.

Why This Matters

SQD-Mini LED gives TCL a technical lead in display backlighting. The simplified white-light structure enables higher color fidelity, better brightness control, and thinner designs, all while keeping manufacturing complexity lower than RGB-based alternatives.

For users, this translates to more accurate visuals, cleaner HDR reproduction, and modern design. For the industry, SQD-Mini LED sets a new benchmark that may pressure competitors to rethink how they approach Mini LED architecture.

TCL has not just introduced another flagship display; it has challenged a decade-long status quo in backlight technology. SQD-Mini LED marks a clear move away from incremental changes and signals TCL’s intent to lead the next phase of premium TV development.

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Smartphone launches have become a year-round affair, but timing is everything if you’re planning to upgrade. While it’s tempting to grab the latest shiny device, right now might actually be the worst time to buy a new phone. From upcoming major launches to falling prices on current models, there are several reasons why holding off for just a few months could get you a far better deal.

The Next Wave of Flagships Is Around the Corner

Every year, the smartphone industry works on a predictable cycle. Brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google drop their biggest flagships in the second half of the year. Google just unveiled the Pixel 10 series of premium phones, but there’s plenty of next gen smartphones arriving soon. In just a few days, Apple will announce the highly anticipated iPhone 17 series.

Chinese brands push the boundaries of smartphone innovation every year, and the next wave of flagships will start rolling out soon. Starting from October, companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo will start releasing their flagship Xiaomi 16, Oppo Find X9, and Vivo X300 series, respectively. If you can wait till the new year, Samsung will bring the Galaxy S26 series, which will have a more global release.

Prices of Current Models Are About to Drop

When new phones launch, last year’s flagships see dramatic price cuts. For example, when Apple announces its Galaxy iPhone 17, the iPhone 16’s price will almost certainly fall. The same trend happens with Samsung Galaxy smartphones once the latest model hits shelves. If you’re patient, you can save big while still getting a premium device.

Tech Upgrades Coming Soon

The second half of 2025 is shaping up to be packed with big changes. Snapdragon’s next-gen 8 Elite 2 chipset is on the horizon, bringing performance and efficiency improvements. Pairing this with impressively large battery packs, some models like the OnePlus 15 are going to easily offer more than two days long battery life. In other words, the endurance upgrade is quite substantial over generations. AI is getting smarter with deeper integration, improving camera tech, latest software features, and much more.

Festive Sales & More Affordable Phones

As we near the end of the year, there are a number of festive sales coming up. This includes deals on e-retailer giants like Amazon, regional giants like Flipkart, or major global sales like the Black Friday Sales and Holiday Sales near Christmas and New Year’s.

Not everyone needs the latest and greatest or plans to get an older flagship phone. So this sales period also brings great deal for affordable entry level smartphones, mid range devices, and flagship killer/budget flagship models. Meaning, you can expect to see big discounts on smartphones that you were already planning on buying right now.

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The wireless charging game is finally getting a meaningful upgrade. While the wired fast charging speeds have seen great improvements, the wireless counterpart only saw practical speeds on Chinese smartphones. But the standard for wireless charging as a whole is seeing an upgrade with the Qi2 update. Next-gen smartphones will soon be able to charge up at 25W. So here’s everything you need to know.

Note: Chinese smartphones are typically Qi certified, so they do support the charging standard. But these offer faster charging speeds from their respective accessories (wireless chargers/pads). At the moment, Qi2 isn’t as widely supported on the Android market.

What Is Qi2 Wireless Charging?

Qi2 is the next evolution of the Qi wireless charging standard, developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Officially introduced in 2023 and rolling out more widely in 2024–2025. Qi2 improves on the original Qi spec by offering faster charging (up to 25W) and magnetic alignment similar to Apple’s MagSafe. Thanks to this magnetic alignment, your device can perfectly line up with the charger every time, reducing power loss and heat. Both of these were common issues with older Qi pads.

25W Wireless Charging

The headline upgrade with Qi2 is 25W charging support. This is a welcome bump from the older 15W limit found in many Qi-compatible devices. While this still won’t beat the crazy-fast 50W+ wired charging speeds on some Chinese Android phones, this is still a lot more practical than its predecessor. Realistically, one can charge an average phone in a little over an hour.

Built on Apple’s MagSafe Tech

Apple isn’t quite known for its crazy charging tech, but its MagSafe was undoubtedly a notable advantage in wireless charging. Qi2 borrows from Apple’s MagSafe system, using a Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) that ensures better contact between the charger and device. So the new Qi2 standard means that this isn’t locked to Apple anymore. Meaning, even Android devices can adopt the same precise, snap-on alignment tech. We can expect a future where a single Qi2 compatible charger can juice up your iPhone, Android, TWS earbuds, and more.

When Will Qi2 Devices Be Available?

Adoption of the Qi2 wireless charging standard is still a bit slow on the Android side. While Apple’s latest iPhone supports this standard, it is still limited to 15W charging rates. Samsung’s current flagship Galaxy S25 series also features Qi2 charging standard, but with the same slower 15W speeds. However, these models arrive are only “Qi2 Ready”, meaning the phone lacks built-in magnets and requires a compatible case with a magnetic ring for magnetic alignment and the full Qi2 experience. The next generation of smartphones are rumored to bring support for this standard, which could include brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and others. Meanwhile, the accessories makers have already begun rolling out Qi2 certified products.

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Battery innovation doesn’t always get the spotlight, but maybe it should. After all, it’s one of the few things that truly defines the day-to-day user experience. Over the years, smartphone processors got faster, displays turned fluid and vibrant, and cameras reached near-DSLR quality. But battery life? Mostly stagnant. Until now. A quiet revolution is unfolding in battery chemistry, and it’s called silicon-carbon.

The Limits of Lithium-Ion

Modern smartphones, laptops, and EVs have relied on lithium-ion batteries for decades. The technology is built around a graphite anode, a safe, stable material with one critical downside: it’s maxed out.

Graphite holds lithium ions well, but its theoretical capacity (372mAh/g) is a hard ceiling. Over the past few years, we’ve only seen incremental gains, maybe 3-5% per generation. That’s not enough when users want thinner devices and longer runtimes.

Silicon-Carbon Steps In

Silicon changes the game. It can absorb nearly 10 times more lithium than graphite, theoretically enabling 4,200mAh/g. But the catch is brutal: silicon expands 300-400% when charged. That’s a recipe for cracked electrodes, broken internal structure, and batteries that degrade in months. No one wants a swollen phone after six months.

That’s where the silicon-carbon (Si/C) composite comes in, a hybrid solution that mixes small amounts of nano-silicon into a conductive carbon matrix. The carbon scaffold gives structure and stability. The silicon delivers a bump in capacity. Instead of 100% silicon, most Si/C anodes use 5-15% silicon, enough to boost energy density by 10-20% without the destructive swelling.

How It Actually Works

In traditional lithium-ion batteries, lithium ions move between the cathode and anode during charge and discharge cycles. Silicon-carbon (Si/C) batteries follow the same process, but the anode’s improved structure stores more ions within the same volume. That means a 5,000mAh battery can now deliver 5,500 or even 6,000mAh, without any increase in physical size.

Alternatively, you can shrink the battery to make the phone slimmer without compromising on battery life.

It’s not just about size. Silicon-carbon batteries also charge faster, perform better in the cold, and retain more usable power at lower voltages. In one case, Honor’s tests showed 240% more remaining capacity at 3.5V compared to standard Li-ion batteries. That translates to more screen-on time near the end of a battery cycle.

Why You’re Seeing It Now

Honor was the first to introduce a Si/C battery in a smartphone back in 2023. Since then, brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, and even Huawei’s budget lineup have adopted the technology. And then came the foldables, which saw the most dramatic gains. Devices like the Honor Magic V2 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro began offering all-day battery life in sub-10mm bodies, something that felt out of reach just a few years ago.

By 2025, mainstream flagships such as the OnePlus 13 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra packed 6,000mAh silicon-carbon batteries without any increase in thickness. Huawei surprised the market with a $170 phone housing a massive 6,620mAh Si/C cell, while Honor’s Power series managed to squeeze in 8,000mAh into a body under 8mm.

The trend has only accelerated. Xiaomi’s Mix Flip 2 ships with a 5,165mAh battery, the Honor Magic V5 includes a 6,100mAh unit, and the Vivo X Fold 5 packs in 6,000mAh, all while pushing foldable thickness to record lows. Thanks to silicon-carbon tech, the old trade-off between slimness and battery life is finally being rewritten.

So Why Aren’t Apple and Samsung Onboard?

In short: caution. Apple and Samsung prioritize long-term reliability, and early Si/C cells degrade slightly faster than traditional Li-ion. There’s also logistical overhead: large single-cell batteries over 20Wh are tricky to ship globally. Most Si/C phones today are China-first or split into dual-cell configurations to dodge regulation headaches.

That’s changing, though. Samsung is reportedly testing the tech for the Galaxy S26. Apple, meanwhile, is likely waiting until Si/C batteries hit its benchmark of 80% capacity after 500 cycles. Once that happens, you can bet they’ll rebrand it as a breakthrough.

The Road Ahead

Silicon-carbon isn’t the final form. Solid-state and sodium-ion batteries are coming, but they’re not ready yet. Right now, Si/C is the best blend of innovation and practicality. It supercharges lithium-ion without rewriting the rulebook. In a world of foldables, ultra-thin phones, and AI-powered features that drain batteries fast, this tech couldn’t have come at a better time.

For users, it means this: slimmer phones, longer battery life, and a lot less anxiety about hitting 10% by dinner. It’s not magic. It’s chemistry, refined. And it’s already changing what smartphones can be.

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MediaTek has carved out a dominant space in the mobile chipset industry, powering everything from flagship smartphones to budget-friendly devices. Its Dimensity lineup continues to evolve, offering a range of processors tailored to different performance tiers. Here’s a closer look at what each series brings to the table in 2025.

Dimensity 9000 Series (Flagship)

Sitting at the top of MediaTek’s portfolio, the Dimensity 9000 series delivers cutting-edge performance for high-end smartphones. The latest in the lineup, the Dimensity 9400, is built on TSMC’s 3nm N3P process, pushing efficiency and power to new heights.

At its core, the octa-core CPU features a beastly Cortex-X925 core clocked at 3.63GHz, flanked by three Cortex-X4 cores at 3.3GHz and four Cortex-A720 cores at 2.4GHz. The result? Blazing-fast performance, whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or pushing demanding apps.

The Immortalis-G925 GPU ups the ante with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, delivering console-like visuals for mobile gamers. Camera capabilities are equally impressive, with support for 320MP sensors and 8K video recording at 60fps. On-device AI gets a boost from the NPU 890, enabling real-time enhancements and smarter processing.

Connectivity isn’t left behind—sub-6GHz and Wi-Fi 7 standards ensure next-level speeds, making the 9400 a future-proof choice for flagship devices.

Dimensity 8000 Series (Upper Mid-Range)

For users who want flagship-grade power without the premium price, the Dimensity 8000 series is the sweet spot. The Dimensity 8400 is built on TSMC’s 4nm N4P process, striking a balance between efficiency and raw performance.

The CPU architecture includes eight Cortex-A725 CPU cores, clocked at up to 3.25 GHz, ensuring smooth performance across apps and multitasking. It features a Mali-G720 MC7 GPU, clocked at 1.3GHz that keeps gaming fluid and responsive.

This series supports LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4, offering faster memory speeds and lower latency. Camera capabilities include 320MP sensor support and 4K video recording at 60fps, while the integrated AI Processing Unit (APU) enhances real-time image and voice processing. Of course, 5G connectivity is a given.

Dimensity 7000 Series (Mid-Range)

The Dimensity 7000 series is all about delivering reliable performance without breaking the bank. The Dimensity 7350, built on TSMC’s 4nm process, features a mix of power and efficiency with two Cortex-A715 cores at 2.8GHz and six Cortex-A510 cores handling background tasks.

Graphics duties fall to the Arm Mali-G610 MC4 GPU, running at 1.3GHz, offering enough power for gaming and multimedia. The chipset supports LPDDR4x/LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 for smoother performance, while camera features include 200MP sensor support and 4K video recording at 60fps.

AI-driven enhancements improve everything from photography to power management, while full 5G support ensures fast, low-latency connections.

Dimensity 6000 Series (Budget)

MediaTek’s Dimensity 6000 series brings 5G to the budget segment without sacrificing essential features. The latest Dimensity 6400, built on 6nm, pairs two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.5GHz with six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz, delivering decent everyday performance while keeping power consumption in check.

It supports 108MP cameras, dual 16MP sensors, and FHD+ displays (2520 × 1080) with refresh rates up to 120Hz. Battery life gets a boost from UltraSave 3.0+, which cuts 5G power consumption by up to 20% compared to competing solutions. Connectivity options include dual 5G, VoNR, and full GNSS support, making this a strong contender in the entry-level market.

You should also take a look at the Snapdragon chipset guide to understand Qualcomm’s smartphone processors better.

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Marques Brownlee, widely recognized as MKBHD, is facing backlash over the launch of his new wallpaper app, Panels. Introduced during his much-anticipated iPhone 16 review, the app quickly became a topic of controversy due to its subscription model and privacy concerns. Panels offers high-resolution wallpapers curated from digital artists, but the price – $49.99 per year or $11.99 per month – has left many fans disgruntled, calling it a “cash grab.”

Pricing Controversy

While the app promises stunning wallpapers, many users expressed disappointment that someone like Brownlee, known for his consumer-focused and quality-driven reviews, would charge such a high fee for something as simple as wallpapers. Critics highlighted that similar content is readily available online for free, making the premium model difficult to justify.

Brownlee’s comment sections were flooded with reactions, with one particularly harsh user on social media sarcastically suggesting to just “download a jpeg from the internet.” In a notable turn of events, one frustrated user even reverse-engineered the app and wrote a script to download all the wallpapers for free, sharing it publicly on GitHub within hours of the app’s release.

Data Collection Concerns

In addition to the cost, users voiced concerns about data collection. The app asks for various permissions, including location data and other personal identifiers, prompting worries over privacy. Screenshots showing the app’s data disclosures quickly circulated online, further fueling the outrage. For someone with a reputation like Brownlee, this move seemed out of step with his previous recommendations of straightforward, user-focused products.

Brownlee’s Response to Criticism

Facing this wave of criticism, Brownlee responded publicly on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging the feedback. He assured users that his team is working to address the privacy concerns, clarifying that the data disclosures were likely too broad and largely influenced by ad networks. He emphasized that they would never actually request sensitive information like location or internet history, and adjustments were already in progress to fix the issue.

Brownlee also promised to reduce the frequency of ads in the free version of the app and to continue delivering value to those subscribing to the premium model. He highlighted that the app is a collaborative effort with digital artists, with revenue being split 50/50, and that Panels is only starting as a wallpaper app, with more features likely to come.

Despite the backlash, Panels has already gained significant traction, with over 50,000+ downloads on Android and a strong showing in Apple’s App Store. Brownlee, undeterred by the initial criticism, remains committed to improving the app and its user experience, but it’s clear that his audience expects more from the tech influencer who built his brand on trust and quality reviews.

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The Nothing Phone (2a), launched in March 2024, has quickly gained attention for its unique design and transparent back. But beyond the transparent shell, Nothing offered a surprising amount of variety in terms of colors and editions. Let’s delve into all the Nothing Phone (2a) colors and editions available so far.

Classic Colors: Black and White

The initial launch of the Phone (2a) offered two classic and safe color options – Black and White. These colors complemented the phone’s transparent design, allowing a subtle glimpse of the phone’s internal components. Both Black and White editions came in three configurations: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GB RAM + 256GB storage, and the top-of-the-line 12GB RAM + 256GB storage.

The Phone (2a) Blue Edition

In April 2024, Nothing introduced a new India-exclusive color variant – the Phone (2a) Blue Edition. This edition retained the same design and specifications as the Black and White models, with the only difference being the color of the back panel. The Blue Edition offered a refreshing change and catered to users who preferred a more vibrant option. Similar to the Black and White models, the Blue Edition came in all three storage configurations.

The Phone (2a) Special Edition

Nothing took a bold step in May 2024 with the launch of the Phone (2a) Special Edition. This edition marked a significant departure from the previous monochrome options. As the name suggests, the Special Edition celebrates primary colors – red, yellow, and blue. These colors, previously used individually in other Nothing products, were creatively integrated into the Phone (2a) Special Edition.

However, the Special Edition doesn’t compromise on transparency. The core design philosophy remains intact, with the primary colors creating vibrant highlights throughout the transparent back. This unique color combination makes the Special Edition a true collector’s item and a conversation starter. The Special Edition is currently only available in the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration.

Availability and Pricing

Pricing for the Nothing Phone (2a) varies depending on the storage capacity and doesn’t change across the color options (except the Special Edition). The base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage starts at Rs. 23,999, while the 8GB RAM with 256GB storage bumps it up to Rs. 25,999.

The top-end option with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage sits at Rs. 27,999. The Special Edition, however, comes solely in the 12GB RAM + 256GB configuration and carries the same price tag of Rs. 27,999 (€379/£349).

Availability is spread across online and physical stores. In India, Flipkart serves as the primary online retailer, while the Special Edition has limited online availability through Nothing’s website for select regions. For a physical purchase experience, the Special Edition will be available in limited quantities at Nothing’s London store. The Blue variant is exclusive to India only.

Conclusion

The Nothing Phone (2a) surprised many with its approach to colors. While it started with classic and safe options, it gradually introduced the Blue Edition and the vibrant Special Edition. This range of colors caters to diverse user preferences, offering a choice between a subtle and a statement-making look. With more color options potentially on the horizon, Nothing is keeping things interesting in the smartphone design space.

The post All Nothing Phone (2a) Colors and Special Edition Explained appeared first on Gizmochina.

For years, Apple iPads have been praised for their stunning Retina displays. But with the latest iPad Pro lineup, Apple has taken things a step further by introducing a new display technology – the Tandem OLED. Although, this technology isn’t entirely new – the Honor Magic 6 RSR Porsche Design holds the title of the first smartphone with a Tandem OLED display. But Apple, true to form, has rebranded it as their own “Ultra Retina XDR” technology. This article dives into the inner workings of this new display, explores its benefits, and explains why it represents a significant leap forward for the iPad Pro.

Traditional OLED vs. The Tandem Advantage

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays have become increasingly popular in smartphones and TVs due to their inherent advantages. Unlike traditional LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels that require backlighting, OLED pixels generate their own light. This allows for superior contrast, deeper blacks, and incredible viewing angles. However, conventional OLED displays have a limitation – brightness.

The amount of light an OLED pixel can produce is limited by the materials used. Pushing them too hard for higher brightness can lead to reduced lifespan and potential burn-in issues. This is where Apple’s Tandem OLED technology comes in.

How Tandem OLED Works

The secret behind Tandem OLED lies in its name. Unlike a single layer of OLED pixels in traditional displays, the Tandem design stacks two OLED emitters on top of each other. Each layer can be individually controlled to optimize light output. This allows the display to achieve significantly higher brightness levels without compromising lifespan or introducing burn-in risks.

Think of it like having two light sources working together. When you need a brighter image, both layers fire simultaneously, generating a powerful and uniform light. For darker scenes, one layer can be dimmed or deactivated entirely, preserving deep blacks and maintaining excellent contrast.

Benefits of the Tandem OLED Display

Apple claims the Tandem OLED display in the new iPad Pro offers a multitude of advantages, making it a significant upgrade over previous iPad displays and even rivaling OLED technology in other devices. Here’s a breakdown of the key benefits:

Unmatched Brightness: The biggest advantage is the phenomenal brightness levels. The iPad Pro boasts a staggering 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness for both Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) content. It can even reach peak brightness of 1,600 nits for HDR content.

This surpasses the typical brightness limitations of OLED displays and rivals the brightness of mini-LED displays used in previous iPad Pros. With such high brightness, the iPad Pro offers a superior viewing experience, especially in brightly lit environments or when displaying HDR content with vivid highlights.

Enhanced Contrast: Since each pixel in a Tandem OLED display can be completely turned off, the contrast ratio remains exceptional. This translates to deeper blacks, richer colors, and sharper images. This benefit is crucial for tasks like photo and video editing, where accurate color representation and deep blacks are essential.

Improved Response Time: The Tandem OLED display boasts incredibly fast response times, measured in milliseconds. This translates to smoother visuals with minimal ghosting or blurring, especially noticeable in fast-paced content like games or action movies.

Power Efficiency: While OLED displays are generally known for being more power-efficient than traditional LED backlighting, the efficiency of the Tandem OLED display is further optimized. It is expected that the intelligent power management of the M4 chip will complement the display’s efficiency, leading to a long battery life despite the increased brightness capabilities.

True Tone and Wide Color Gamut: The Tandem OLED display retains the True Tone feature from previous iPads, which automatically adjusts the display’s color temperature to match the ambient light. This reduces eye strain and provides a more natural viewing experience. Additionally, the display supports a wide color gamut (P3), ensuring vibrant and accurate colors for photos, videos, and other content.

Potential Drawback

While the Tandem OLED display appears to be a significant leap forward, there is a potential drawback to consider:

Burn-in Risk: A potential concern with OLED displays, including Tandem OLED, is the risk of burn-in. This occurs when static images are displayed on the screen for extended periods, potentially leaving a faint ghost image. We hope Apple has implemented measures to mitigate burn-in, such as pixel shifting, it’s still a factor to keep in mind, especially for heavy users.

The Future of Displays with Tandem OLED

The introduction of the Tandem OLED display in the iPad Pro signifies a significant advancement in display technology. With its exceptional brightness, improved contrast, and faster response times, this display sets a new standard for mobile devices. While potential drawbacks like burn-in risk exist, the benefits seem to outweigh them for most users. As the technology matures and production costs decrease, we can expect to see Tandem OLED displays becoming more prevalent in future Apple devices and potentially even across the broader mobile device industry.

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The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (unboxing & hands-on) boasts a revolutionary feature: a retractable main camera. This isn’t the first phone though to feature a retractable lens.

The first commercial phone that came with this feature was the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro. Well, this innovative design offers a unique solution to the age-old challenge of balancing large sensor sizes with a sleek phone profile.

Let’s delve into the fascinating mechanism of this camera and understand how it works.

What is a Retractable Camera?

A retractable camera is a type of camera that hides its lens within the device when not in use. This allows for a sleeker design without the typical camera bump on smartphones or other devices.

These cameras can extend when needed for capturing photos or videos.

Pura 70 Ultra’s Retractable Mechanism

The Pura 70 Ultra’s main camera is housed in a hidden compartment within the phone’s body. When you activate the camera app, a precisely engineered mechanism springs into action.

Stepper Motors: The driving force behind the camera’s movement lies in a pair of stepper motors. These motors use controlled electrical pulses to rotate, smoothly extending or retracting the camera module. The stepper motor is equipped with noise-suppressing foam.

Telescopic Lens Cover: The lens itself is protected by a telescopic cover. This cover extends alongside the camera module, shielding it from dust and scratches when not in use.

Sensor Stabilization: To ensure sharp images even when the camera is moving, the Pura 70 Ultra utilizes sensor-shift stabilization. This technology moves the sensor itself to compensate for hand movements, minimizing blur.

Advantages of a Retractable Camera

The retractable design offers several key benefits:

Larger Sensor: Using this tech Huawei is able to place a large 1-inch sensor in a small space. This allows for greater light capture, resulting in sharper, clearer images, especially in low-light conditions.

Compact Design: Most phones with large sensors are bulky, and the large camera bump can be uncomfortable to hold. Huawei addressed this by placing the retractable module, eliminating the huge camera bump, and improving ergonomics. This makes Pura 70 Ultra more comfortable to hold and pocket-friendly compared to other phones with 1-inch sensors.

Additional Features and Considerations

Speed and Durability: The retraction mechanism operates swiftly, ensuring a seamless transition between camera modes. Huawei claims the system is designed to withstand over 100,000 cycles of extension and retraction.

Water Resistance: Despite the moving parts, the Pura 70 Ultra boasts an IP68 water and dust resistance rating. This is achieved through a sealed telescopic cover and careful internal engineering.

Potential Drawbacks: The moving parts introduce a potential point of failure. How well the mechanism will withstand long-term use and potential drops remains to be seen. Also, the complex engineering behind the retractable camera likely contributes to the phone’s premium price tag.

Conclusion

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s retractable camera represents a significant leap forward in mobile photography. By prioritizing a larger sensor and a compact design, this technology opens doors to improved image quality and a more refined user experience.

While durability and potential points of failure require further observation, the Pura 70 Ultra’s retractable camera marks a bold step towards the future of smartphone photography.

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The post Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Retractable Camera Explained appeared first on Gizmochina.

When Apple announces a new chipset, it’s often met with excitement around the world. This year, the spotlight was on the A17 Pro. But how does it fare against its predecessor, the A16 Bionic?

Let’s break it down.

A17 Pro vs A16 Bionic Chipset Comparison

Manufacturing Process

A17 Pro: The standout feature of the A17 Pro is the industry’s first 3-nanometer chip built on TSMC’s latest 3nm fabrication process. This nanometric reduction from its predecessor means the chip can fit more transistors in the same space, resulting in improved performance and energy efficiency. To be precise, the A17 Pro houses approximately 19 billion transistors.

A16 Bionic: The A16 Bionic, which works on a 4nm process and has around 16 billion transistors, was quite impressive in its time. However, with its 3nm process, the A17 Pro represents a major step ahead.

Raw Performance

CPU Cores: Both chips feature a 6-core CPU. However, architectural enhancements in the A17 Pro deliver what Apple describes as “the fastest single-threaded performance in any smartphone.”

Geekbench Insights: Benchmarks indicate a substantial performance boost for the A17 Pro. The single-core performance on Geekbench shows an improvement of around 16%, and the multi-core performance jumps by approximately 13% compared to the A16.

AnTuTu Insights: The iPhone 15 Pro Max scored 1,641,883 points on AnTuTu. In the CPU test, it achieved 392,643 points, and in the GPU test, it scored 597,734 points. It excelled in the memory department with a score of 306,164, surpassing the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s score of 233,925.

Graphical Prowess

GPU: While the A16 Bionic houses a 5-core GPU, the A17 Pro ramps it up with a 6-core GPU. According to Apple, this enhancement results in up to a 20% performance boost.

Real-World Impacts: This isn’t just a numbers game. The added core means better handling of high-res graphics, from gaming to professional graphic tasks.

Moreover, the A17 Pro’s GPU includes hardware-based ray tracing, a significant improvement in rendering realistic lighting and shadow effects. To be precise, the A17 Pro chip offers four times faster ray tracing performance compared to the A16 Bionic.

GFXBench Insights: In GPU benchmark results on GFXBench, it outperformed the A16 Bionic by significant margins. For example, in the Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen test, the iPhone 15 Pro Max with A17 Pro performed about 19% better than the iPhone 15 Plus with A16 Bionic. In the Manhattan 3.1 Offscreen test, the A17 Pro showed improvements of up to 31.5%, with 199.8 fps compared to the A16’s 151.9 fps. While not all comparisons reached the advertised 20% boost, the A17 Pro appears to deliver greater GPU performance improvements.

AI and Neural Capabilities

Neural Engine: Artificial Intelligence (AI) tasks play a crucial role in modern smartphones. While both chips incorporate a 16-core Neural Engine, the A17 Pro’s version is said to be twice as fast, performing up to 35 trillion operations per second. This leads to improved performance for AI tasks and better photo and video optimizations.

Memory and Efficiency

RAM: The A17 Pro boasts 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, outshining the A16’s 6GB. This additional memory will assist in multitasking, allowing smoother app transitions and better performance in memory-intensive tasks.

Efficiency: The A17 Pro’s 3nm process improves energy efficiency, enabling tasks to be performed with less power consumption. This leads to longer battery life and reduced heat generation, ensuring the device remains cool during demanding operations.

Improved ISP (Image Signal Processor)

Photonic Engine: The A17 Pro features improvements in its Image Signal Processor, including the new Photonic Engine and Smart HDR 5, resulting in improved photo and video quality compared to the A16 Bionic.

Mesh Shading: It also introduces Mesh shading and offers video capabilities such as 2.8K @ 60 fps in Cinematic and Action Modes, surpassing the A16’s 30 fps limit. Additionally, the A17 Pro captures 48MP HEIF images in addition to 48MP Pro RAW images.

Connectivity and Additional Features

USB 3 Performance: The A17 Pro brings USB 3 capabilities to iPhones, allowing for faster data transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps, a significant step up from the 480 Mbps seen in the A16 Bionic.

Media Engines: The A17 Pro also stands out with the addition of an AV1 decoder, expected to improve video streaming on newer iPhones.

The A17 Pro builds upon the A16 Bionic’s foundation with a range of refinements and enhancements, solidifying its position as a formidable contender in the mobile chipset industry.

The importance of these enhancements may vary from user to user, but for those seeking top-tier performance, the A17 Pro establishes a new standard in the continually evolving realm of smartphone technology.

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Today, smartphones can do almost everything, from taking high-quality photos to running powerful applications. But these exceptional handheld devices have a basic problem: they’ve struggled to operate properly when their screens are wet. Most of us have tried to use our phones in the rain or with wet fingers, only to be met with frustration. OnePlus aims to tackle this with its “Rain Water Touch” feature. But what is it, and how does it work?

The Wet Screen Problem

Before delving into OnePlus’s solution, it’s essential to understand the problem. Most smartphones use what’s called capacitive technology for their touchscreens. When you touch these screens, a small electrical charge is transferred from your finger to the screen, which the phone detects and processes as a touch.

However, water also conducts electricity. So, when the screen is wet, the phone often gets confused. It can’t tell whether the electrical charge is coming from your finger, a raindrop, or a mix of both. This is why your phone sometimes acts strangely or becomes unresponsive when the screen is wet.

OnePlus’s Rain Water Touch

With the release of the OnePlus Ace 2 Pro, the company introduced a new technology designed to solve the wet screen issue: the Rain Water Touch feature. This isn’t just about making the screen water-resistant. It’s about ensuring that the touchscreen understands your touch even when there’s water on the screen.

How Does Rain Water Touch Feature Work?

OnePlus’ approach is a combination of smart software and hardware adjustments. They’ve implemented a custom chip and developed special algorithms (or sets of rules) that help the phone differentiate between the electrical signals from water and those from a finger.

To simplify, think of it this way: every time you touch the screen, your phone sees a certain “pattern” of electricity. With this feature, the phone can distinguish the water on the screen as a different pattern. The Rain Water Touch technology is like a smart filter. It can recognize and ignore the patterns from water, only responding to the patterns from your fingers.

The benefits of this technology are clear. For users living in places with frequent rain or those who love the outdoors, this means no more waiting for the screen to dry or wiping it constantly. Your phone remains usable, rain or shine.

Furthermore, as we increasingly rely on our smartphones for everything, from navigation to communication, having a device that can function optimally in all conditions becomes crucial.

What About Other Phones?

The challenge of wet screens isn’t unique to OnePlus. But as of now, most phones don’t handle this problem very well. Without technology similar to Rain Water Touch, they continue to misinterpret or ignore touches on a wet screen. This can be especially problematic in emergencies or situations where quick phone access is necessary.

OnePlus showcased the power of Rain Water Touch by comparing the OnePlus Ace 2 Pro against the iPhone 14 Pro in a simulated rainy situation. While the iPhone struggled with water-induced glitches, the OnePlus device sailed through. This hands-on demonstration highlighted how the Rain Water Touch feature can turn a rainy day from frustrating to functional.

In Conclusion

The Rain Water Touch feature by OnePlus is a step towards making our devices even more reliable and user-friendly. It’s a reminder that while there are always new and exciting features being added to smartphones, sometimes, addressing a simple issue can be just as impactful.

As technology continues to evolve, it’s innovations like these — ones that solve real-world, everyday problems — that make a difference.

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Wearable devices have become a crucial part of our daily lives in a world where technology is connecting us more and more. From fitness trackers to smartwatches, these devices offer a variety of functions. However, a new and fascinating form factor has recently emerged in the world of wearable tech: Smart Rings.

In this comprehensive article, we delve into what smart rings are, how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, and how they differ from other wearable devices.

What Are Smart Rings? How Do They Work?

A smart ring is essentially a miniature wearable computer that fits on your finger. Despite their small size, these gadgets are powerful, equipped with various sensors, and can perform a myriad of functions similar to larger wearable devices.

Smart rings work by connecting to other smart devices like smartphones via wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth or NFC (Near Field Communication). The ring’s sensors collect data, which is then processed and relayed to an app on the connected device. The data, depending on the smart ring’s purpose, can range from tracking your heart rate and sleep patterns to recognizing hand gestures to control smart home devices.

What Does a Smart Ring Do?

Smart rings have a wide range of functionalities, which are primarily based on the sensor types and software algorithms they use.

Here are some common uses:

Health and Fitness Tracking: Like other wearable fitness trackers, smart rings can monitor physical activity, heart rate, sleep patterns, blood oxygen levels, and stress levels.

Smart Home Control: Some smart rings are capable of controlling other smart home devices, enabling users to adjust their thermostat, turn off lights, or even change TV channels with a simple hand gesture.

Contactless Payments: Certain smart rings come with built-in NFC that allow users to make contactless payments, adding to their convenience.

Notification Alerts: Many smart rings have the capability to alert you to incoming calls, messages, or other important notifications.

Smart Ring Advantages

Discreet and Convenient: Smart rings are less obtrusive than smartwatches or fitness bands. Their compact form makes them a convenient and discreet wearable tech option.

Extended Battery Life: Due to their smaller size and specific functionalities, smart rings often offer extended battery life, with some models lasting up to a week on a single charge.

Fashionable Accessory: Smart rings blend technology with fashion. They come in a variety of designs, often indistinguishable from regular jewelry, allowing users to flaunt their tech without compromising style.

Smart Ring Disadvantages

Limited Display Capabilities: Due to their compact size, smart rings typically don’t have screens. This means users must rely on a connected smartphone for any data viewing or interaction.

Limited Storage and Processing: Given their size, smart rings don’t have the extensive storage or processing capacities of other wearables. They rely more heavily on paired devices for data processing and storage.

Price: Smart rings can be more expensive than other wearable devices due to the advanced technology packed into a tiny form factor.

Adaptability: As a relatively new technology, some users might find it challenging to incorporate smart rings into their routine or to find the right size and style for their preferences.

How are Smart Rings Different from Other Wearables?

While smart rings and other wearables like smartwatches and fitness bands share similar functionalities, there are several aspects that set smart rings apart:

Form Factor: Smart rings are significantly smaller and less noticeable than other wearable devices. Their compactness and subtlety can be a selling point for those who prefer minimalistic devices.

Purpose-Specific Uses: While smartwatches and fitness bands strive to be all-in-one devices, smart rings tend to focus on specific functionalities. Whether it’s tracking vital signs, making contactless payments, or controlling smart devices, each smart ring caters to particular user needs.

Fashion Factor: In the aesthetics department, smart rings score higher. They fit right in with other jewelry and can be worn for fashion as well as function.

Comfort and Ease of Use: For those who find wristbands irksome or distracting, smart rings offer a comfortable alternative.

Discretion: Smart rings offer a level of discretion that larger wearables can’t match. Their alerts are subtle, and their ability to blend in as regular jewelry makes them less conspicuous.

Smart rings create a fascinating fusion of fashion, functionality, and subtlety, establishing a distinctive position among wearables. They embody the true essence of wearable technology, seamlessly integrating into our daily routines.

Smart Rings are Gaining Popularity as a Category

Several brands, both established and emerging, are venturing into this space, offering innovative products and solutions. Each smart ring tries to set itself apart. For example, the Oura ring has been on the market for a while and is a pretty well known name in the industry right now. But there are emerging ones too, like Ringconn, which is reportedly designed by a medical professor and also provides detailed and accurate sleep tracking and other health metrics. Some smart ring brands even focus on specific functions, like payments.

So let’s look at some of the popular rings.

Popular Smart Rings

Oura Ring: Known for its sleep tracking and health insights, providing detailed information about sleep quality, readiness, and activity levels.

Ringconn: Designed by a medical specialist, providing detailed and accurate sleep tracking and other health metrics in this industry.

Motiv Ring: A fitness tracking ring that monitors heart rate, steps, and even has security features for online accounts.

McLEAR Ring: Popular for its contactless payment feature, allowing users to make transactions with a simple tap.

Ringly: Designed mainly for women, Ringly offers notifications and tracks basic activities, merging style with functionality.

Noise Luna Ring: A recent entrant in India, the Luna Ring offers over 70 health metrics, including heart rate monitoring, temperature sensors, and more.

boAt Smart Ring: Indian brand boAt is also set to release the boAt Smart Ring with health-related functions. Made from metal and ceramic, it includes sensors for heart rate, SpO2 levels, sleep monitoring, and more.

Another popular ring is currently in its development phase, and since the company is a tech giant, it is likely going to make the smart ring category mainstream.

We are talking about none other than the Samsung Galaxy Ring. According to recent reports, Galaxy Ring’s development stage is almost at its end, and it is likely to go into mass production very soon. But since these wearables need a lot of certifications, the Galaxy Smart Ring is expected to launch in 2024, probably alongside the Galaxy S24 series.

A World Turning Smart

Smart rings are just the tip of the iceberg in the rapidly expanding arena of smart devices. From smart glasses that provide real-time information overlays to smart shoes that track your steps and running posture, everything is becoming ‘smart.’ These devices not only offer convenience but are also paving the way for a future where technology is seamlessly integrated into our daily routines.

As we enter a world where everything is connected, expect more smart categories like smart rings to evolve in the coming years.

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