Last week, we witnessed the launch of new models in one of the best-selling budget smartphone series worldwide. Further, we learned that the global smartphone market grew for the first time in four years. Then, out of nowhere, two brands released shameless iPhone clones. At the same time, another company launched a Galaxy S21 Ultra-lookalike phone. All this and more happened in the last few days. Let’s take a look at them one by one in no particular order.

Before proceeding, we would like to let you know that the top stories listed here are based on our opinion. As your choices may vary, we would like to know your picks in the comment section below.

Top Stories from Last Week

New Redmi Note 11 series for international markets

After debuting the Redmi Note 11 lineup in China in November, Xiaomi finally brought the family to international on January 26. However, the series for global markets include totally different devices, namely Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11S, Redmi Note 11 Pro, and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.

Out of these four, the Redmi Note 11S offers the best value for its asking price. Although it looks and has the same display as the vanilla model, its specs are more comparable to the Pros.

The entire series comes with features like a high-refresh display, dual stereo speakers, IR blaster, MUI 13, a 5,000mAh battery, and more. You can learn more about them by visiting this link.

Smartphone market observed multiple records

The global smartphone market grew for the first time in 2021 since 2017. Counterpoint Research revealed that the shipments reached 1.39 billion units by growing 4% YoY.

The Indian smartphone, in particular, grew 12%YoY last year by registering 162 million units in shipment. On the other hand, the Chinese market shipped 333 million units and incremented by only 1%.

Finally, pivoting to the budget segment at the right time (ahead of LG’s demise), OnePlus saw an insane 524% YoY growth in the US in Q4 2021.

iPhone clones from Gionee and Blackview

Gionee 13 Pro went official last week with an uncanny iPhone 13 resemblance and HarmonyOS. However, it has entry-level specs like an HD+ display (LCD) and a UNISOC T310 chipset. For just  ¥529 (483), it doesn’t sound like a bad deal after all.

At around the same time, Blackview A95 also got announced with an iPhone 13 Pro-like design. Its main highlights other than design include a MediaTek Helio P70 SoC, 6.5-inch HD+ display (LCD), and a 4,380mAh battery.

Face ID now works with a mask 

After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, iPhones can be finally unlocked with masks on. However, this feature is currently only available in the beta channel. Also, it requires iPhone 12 or newer models.

Additionally, Apple is working on a new feature that will turn iPhones into POS machines. This feature will be reportedly useful for micro-merchants.

MediaTek Kompanio 1380 is a new chip for Chromebooks

MediaTek announced a new SoC called Komapnio 1380 for premium Chromebooks on January 26. This 6m chip arrives with an octa-core CPU consisting of four ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 3GHz and a five-core ARM Mali-G57 GPU.

It supports up to 4K 60Hz display, AV1 decoding, WiFi 6//6E, and Bluetooth 5. The chipset will make its global debut inside the Acer Chromebook Spin 513, which is scheduled to hit the shelves in June.

HUAWEI P50 Pocket reaches global markets alongside HUAWEI P50 Pro

On January 26, Huawei announced the arrival of HUAWEI P50 Pro and HUAWEI P50 Pocket to multiple international markets like Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South America.

The 4G-only premium handsets from the once world’s largest smartphone brand sport the same set of features as the variant sold in China, except for software. The global editions of these devices run EMUI 12 without GMS (Google Mobile Services) instead of HarmonyOS.

Despite their shortcomings in terms of software, Huawei is charging a whopping €1,199 for the HUAWEI P50 Pro (8GB + 256GB) and €1,299 for the HUAWEI P50 Pocket (8GB + 256GB). There’s also a Premium Edition of the latter phone with a unique design and 12GB + 512GB memory configuration for €1,599.

JioPhone 5G could be Jio’s first 5G smartphone

A report on January 25 disclosed that the Indian carrier Jio is working on its first 5G smartphone called JioPhone 5G. This device is expected to go official in June with much better specs than the poorly received JioPhone Next.

The handset is said to come with a 6.5-inch HD+ display (HD+), 13MP (wide) + 2MP (macro) dual camera setup, 8MP selfie camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 SoC, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, 5,000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging.

OnePlus phones might run H₂OOS in the near future

On January 27, popular Indian tech influencer Mukul Sharma tweeted that the unified operating system of OPPO and OnePlus could be called H₂OOS. Since his claim is based on a trademark filing by OnePlus, he could be wrong.

Anyway, the H₂OOS (Water OS) trademark is interesting as it combines the names of OxygenOS (O₂) and the discontinued HydrogenOS (H₂OS). The name has no mention of ColorOS, which the software will be actually based on.

Furthermore, a couple of days before this tweet, a tipster stated that the OnePlus 10 Ultra could debut in H2 2022 as the brand’s first superphone or ultra-premium smartphone. The device is said to house OPPO’s MariSilicon NPU.

HONOR to showcase new products at MWC 2022

HONOR has confirmed to attend MWC 2022. The company has scheduled a launch conference for February 28. The event will kickstart at 1 PM CET.

The brand is teasing the launch of the new Magic series with a quote ‘The Power of Magic’. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the upcoming lineup of handsets.

Micromax IN Note 2 and vivo Y75 5G  debut in India

Micromax launched the IN Note 2 on January 25 as the successor of IN Note 1 for ₹13,490 (4GB + 64GB). The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra-lookalike phone arrives with a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, MediaTek Helio G95 chipset, 48MP (wide) + 5MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth) quad-camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, side-mounte fingerprint sensor, Android 11, 5,000mAh battery, and 30W fast charging.

Chinese handset maker vivo debuted a new budget 5G smartphone called vivo Y75 5G in India on January 27. For ₹21,990 (8GB  +128GB), the phone offers a 6.58-inch FHD+ display (LCD), MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, 50MP (wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth) triple camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Android 12, 5,000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging.

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The post iPhone clones from Gionee/Blackview, H₂OOS for OnePlus, Face ID with mask, and more from Last Week appeared first on Gizmochina.

Micromax on Tuesday has officially launched the all-new Micromax In Note 2 in India. The smartphone is a successor to the In Note 1 launched back in 2020 and brings major design and internal upgrades. Some of its highlights are punch-hole AMOLED panel, 30W fast charging, and 48MP cameras.

The Micromax In Note 2 is priced at Rs 13,490 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant. However, as an introductory offer, the device will be available for Rs 12,490 for a limited period. The smartphone comes in Black and Brown(Oak) colors and will go on sale starting from January 30 at 12PM on Flipkart and Micromaxinfo.com.

Micromax In Note 2 Specifications 

The In Note 2 comes with a new design over its predecessor. But, the design isn’t something you would call original. It has a Galaxy S21 series-inspired design at the back with a similar camera island and sensor placements. On the front end, the smartphone boasts a punch-hole display. It is a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel with a Full-HD+ resolution. It has 550 nits of peak brightness and Gorilla Glass protection.

The device has a 16MP selfie snapper at the front top and features a quad-camera system at the rear. It has a 48MP primary lens, a 5MP ultra-wide sensor, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth lens.

Inside, the smartphone draws power from the MediaTek Helio G95 octa-core SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The device has a 5,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. Micromax claims that the phone can go from 0% to 50% in only 25 minutes. The phone has a side-facing fingerprint scanner for security. As for connectivity, it has 4G LTE, Bluetooth v5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and GPS. It has a USB Type-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio needs.

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Micromax recently revealed that the Micromax In Note 2 will be launching in the Indian market tomorrow (Jan 25). The phone will be the successor to the Micromax In Note 1 which was released back in 2020. So let’s take a look at what this upcoming device has to offer.

Design and Display

Design-wise, the back panel heavily borrows from the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as the camera island design and quad-camera setup resemble the current Samsung flagship.

The device has a pleasant design with flat edges and rounded corners, and on the right side, it has a volume rocker and a power button. Apparently, the power button doubles up as a fingerprint scanner. The company confirms that the phone has a glass finish at the rear.

The smartphone has a punch-hole panel at the front with thin bezels on three sides except for the bottom which has a noticeable chin.

The device is rumored to host a 6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ display. It is unclear whether it supports a 60Hz or a higher refresh rate.

Camera

The rear camera setup of the device features a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 5-megapixel secondary lens, and a pair of 2-megapixel snappers which could be a depth sensor and a microscope. For selfies, the In Note 2 will feature a front camera of 16-megapixel.

Performance

The Micromax In Note 2 will come housing a MediaTek Helio G95 SoC. It is rumored to come in 6 GB and 8 GB RAM variants and storage choices like 64 GB and 128 GB. The handset will come preinstalled with Android 11. Like the predecessor In series of smartphones, the In Note 2 is also expected to run on a near-stock version of Android.

The In Note 2 will be packed with a 5,000mAh battery, which will be coupled with a 30W charger. According to Micromax, the fast charging tech will allow the smartphone to gain 50 percent battery in just 25 minutes.

Micromax In Note 2 price in India

Although no leaks regarding the In Note 2’s pricing have surfaced as of yet, industry experts have speculated the device to have a starting price of Rs. 10,999. Exact details about the price, color variants, and memory configuration is expected to be revealed in tomorrow’s launch event, so stay tuned.

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The post Micromax In Note 2 Roundup: Design, Specs, Release Date & More – What to Expect! appeared first on Gizmochina.

Micromax has recently confirmed that it will be announcing the Micromax In Note 2 on Jan. 25 in India. Its microsite is now live on Micromax India’s website and Flipkart. These listings have revealed the key specs of the smartphone. Now, a fresh leak by Sudhanshu Ambhore has revealed more information on the specs of the In Note 2.

Micromax In Note 2 specifications (rumored)

According to a report by My Smart Price that cites tipster Yogesh Brar as the source has revealed that the device has a 6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ display that has a centrally aligned punch-hole. It is unclear whether it supports a 60Hz or a higher refresh rate.

For selfies, the In Note 2 will feature a front camera of 16-megapixel. The rear camera setup of the device features a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 5-megapixel secondary lens, and a pair of 2-megapixel snappers. For security, it features a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The Micromax In Note 2 is powered by the Helio G95. The leak reveals that the device will come in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM variants and storage choices like 64 GB and 128 GB. The handset will come preinstalled with Android 11. Like the predecessor In series of smartphones, the In Note 2 is also expected to run on a near-stock version of Android.

The In Note 2 will be packed with a 5,000mAh battery, which will be coupled with a 30W charger. According to Micromax, the fast charging tech will allow the smartphone to gain 50 percent battery in just 25 minutes. The leak has no information on the pricing of the device, but it is likely to arrive in black and brown colors.

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Next week will be big for Xiaomi. Because the company will be holding its first global launch event of 2022. However, unlike last year, we won’t see flagship smartphones. Instead, the firm will be debuting new models in its best-selling lineup – the Redmi Note series. At the same time, Micromax will release a new phone in India after a long time. Let’s check out these handsets in detail.

Upcoming Smartphones Next Week

Redmi Note 11 Series

Xiaomi is known for offering smartphones at various price points. But the company’s most popular lineup worldwide is arguably the Redmi Note series. This family of phones is known for offering bang for buck products.

Last year’s Redmi Note 10 series set the bar high for the lineup. Hence, it will be interesting to see how Xiaomi plans to top it. Perhaps, it won’t, as the leaked details point towards an almost similar set of features.

The international Redmi Note 11 series may include at least five models, namely Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11S, Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G, Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G. But unfortunately, it’s not known surely known which of these models will be announced at the event. Maybe, all of them will go official at once.

Xiaomi’s first-ever global launch event for 2022 is scheduled for January 26. The live stream will kickstart at 8 PM (GMT+8) on the company’s official YouTube channel. The global launch of MIUI 13 may also happen at this conference.

Having said that, here are the details we know so far.

Redmi Note 11

The vanilla Redmi Note 11 is expected to come with a 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chip, 50MP quad-camera setup comprising ultra-wide and macro shooters, dual stereo speakers, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.

It could retail at around $175 for the 4GB + 64GB memory configurations. There could be other memory variants as well.

Redmi Note 11S

The Redmi Note 11S is said to come with a 90Hz AMOLED display, a MediaTek chipset, 108MP (wide) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth) quad-camera setup, 13MP selfie camera, MIUI 13, and up to 8GB RAM as well as 128GB storage.

This device is also being teased to launch in India on an unspecified date. [Update: February 9]

Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is tipped to feature a 6.6-inch 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 SoC, 6GB/8GB LPDDR4x RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 storage, 108MP + 8MP + 2MP triple camera setup, 16MP selfie camera, dual stereo speakers, IR blaster, 3.5mm headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 5,000mAh battery, and 67W fast charging.

The handset could arrive in three colors, such as Graphite Gray, Polar White, and Diamond Dazzle.

Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G is rumored to have the same design and colors as the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. It is also tipped to have a similar set of features, except that it will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 chipset.

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G

Finally, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is expected to be the same model that’s sold in China. This phone was recently released in India as Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge.

The main highlights of this device include 120W fast charging, 4,500mAh battery, 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC, dual stereo speakers, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and more.

Micromax IN Note 2

Apart from the Redmi Note 11 series, we will be also witnessing the launch of Micromax IN Note 2 next week. In fact, this handset will go official a day earlier on January 25 in India.

Though the smartphone has been confirmed to offer an interesting set of features, we cannot deny the fact that it looks like a cheap knock-off of the popular Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Talking about specifications, it will arrive with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display, MediaTek Helio G95 chip, 30W fast charging, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Finally, it will sport a glass panel on the rear.

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Yesterday, Micromax announced that it will unveil the Micromax In Note 2 on January 25 in India. Ahead of its launch, the phone’s key highlights have been revealed, thanks to the landing page on Flipkart.

The micro-site on Flipkart confirms the key specifications of the smartphone. The Micromax In Note 2 will come with a 6.43-inch punch-hole display. Interestingly, it will be a flat-screen AMOLED panel unlike the predecessor, which has an LCD screen. Unfortunately, the display resolution is not mentioned on the page.

As for the cameras, the smartphone will feature a quad-camera system. The rear camera island will be similar to the Galaxy S21’s module. It has the first three lenses placed vertically one after another and the fourth lens beside the sensors. The smartphone also has an LED flash. The camera specs are unknown, but the predecessor had a 48MP main lens, that being said, we can expect an improved sensor on the In Note 2.

Moving ahead, we finally get to learn about its chipset. The smartphone will be powered by the MediaTek Helio G95 SoC. For starters, this chipset has powered many budget phones in early 2021. Currently, we can see this chipset in the Infinix Note 10 Pro and Motorola Moto G60S phones. Both retail at around $200 – $300 price tag.

Coming back to the specs, one of the major highlights of the Micromax In Note 2 will be 30W fast charging. The smartphone is advertised to go from 0% to 50% in 25 minutes. Lastly, it has a side-facing fingerprint scanner for security, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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(via)

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It’s been a while since we last heard from Micromax in the Indian market. The company’s last In Note phone was launched back in 2020, and since then, fans are waiting for its successor. Now, Micromax took it to Twitter for teasing the launch of its upcoming Micromax In Note 2.

Micromax has officially revealed that the much-awaited In Note 2 will launch on January 25 in India. The company has shared a short teaser video showcasing its design. To our surprise, the phone will flaunt a refreshed design and it will be similar to the Galaxy S21 series phones.

The smartphone has a punch-hole panel at the front with thin bezels on three sides except for the bottom. The device has a noticeable chin at the bottom. Moving to the rear, it has the Galaxy S21-like camera island. It has a quad-camera system at the rear with three lenses positioned vertically and the fourth lens slightly off set. There’s also an LED flash beside the first lens.

At the back, it has the “In” branding, and on the sides, it seems to have a volume rocker and a power button. Apparently, the power button doubles up as a fingerprint scanner. The company confirms that the phone has a glass finish at the rear.

Lastly, we get to learn the colors of the phone. The smartphone has two colors – Blue and Brown. It will be sold via Flipkart in the market.

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Earlier this year, Micromax launched its new IN series of smartphones, debuting the IN 1 smartphone in March. Now, the company is gearing up to launch its successor in the Indian market and has already scheduled an event for the same on 30th July.

Now, just days ahead of the launch event from India’s homegrown firm, a smartphone with codename E7446 has surfaced on benchmarking platform Geekbench, which is believed to be the upcoming Micromax IN 2 or IN Note 2.

As per the Geekbench listing, the smartphone is powered by MediaTek Helio G95 chipset clocked at 2GHz and packs 4GB of RAM. We expect the device to have a couple of more memory variants when it gets launched.

It also reveals that the device will be running the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box, likely with the brand’s own custom user interface on top. The listing shows a single-core score of 500 and a multi-core score of 1,546 on Geekbench.

A recent leak revealed that the Micromax IN 2 will come powered by Unisoc T610 SoC, so the phone which appeared on Geekbench could be the IN Note 2. To know for sure, we will have to wait for the official launch event in a couple of days.

If the leaks are to be believed, then the upcoming IN 2 smartphone from Micromax will feature a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD display and a waterdrop notch and have a dual-camera setup on the back consisting of a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary lens. On the front, it will feature an 8-megapixel snapper for taking selfies.

The device is said to be powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging support. The Micromax IN 1B was introduced with a starting price of ₹6,999 (~$94) and we expect its successor to launch in the Indian market with similar pricing.

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