Category: Devices

Stay updated on new releases, performance benchmarks, and features of Android devices.

In an attempt to dethrone Samsung, OnePlus launch a foldable device

OnePlus has seen a sudden spike in its popularity due to its affordable range of products. The Chinese-based company has been swiftly rising among the ranks while on the other hand, Samsung has experienced a plunge.

Samsung’s latest venture, the Samsung Galaxy S21 has been a major miss with sales hitting an all-time low. The South Korean tech giant hopes to make a swift recovery after their Unpacked event which showcases the foldable devices. This event is monumental for the company since not only is it a chance for Samsung to get back to the top, it will also determine if foldable devices are indeed the future.

OnePlus is aware of the significance of this event and is hoping to use Samsung’s influence to jump-start its campaign. The Chinese smartphone maker teased a mysterious item on social media and claimed it would unveil more details later today. The ambiguous announcement overlaps with Samsung’s Unpacked event hence a brilliant marketing strategy from OnePlus.

Further Details

According to the teaser, the phone that OnePlus has teased appears to be a dual-screen device, similar to what Samsung is expected to reveal. While the teaser reveals few specifics about the smartphone, we haven’t heard anything about a phone like this being in development. There haven’t been any reports regarding a device similar to this from any source hence if OnePlus is developing such a gadget then it has been kept extremely well hidden.

OnePlus may reveal a dual-screen prototype phone, similar to the Surface Phone, with two distinct displays connected by a hinge. Although the teaser shows two displays, a vertical hinge can also be seen in the center.

Alternatively, it could be a dual-screen attachment, similar to the one LG tried out. The LG Velvet dual-screen accessory wasn’t as thick as the one seen in the OnePlus’ teaser trailer when viewed from the side. Making us think it’s just a gimmick that OnePlus is attempting to pull off.

On Instagram, the Chinese smartphone company recently shared multiple photos of the OnePlus 9 Pro with various fruits. The company attempted to spoof Apple in one such post with a slew of Apples.

Looking at this troll post and the complete absence of details about the next OnePlus product, we believe OnePlus is merely slamming Samsung. And if that’s the case, we’re going to be devastated.

Summing Up

Details about this mysterious device are extremely scarce hence this might be just a marketing gimmick by OnePlus to gain traction from Samsung’s Unpacked event. Over the past year, the Chinese-based company has released some impressive devices and has become a strong contender in the smartphone manufacturer industry. Its devices are capable of carrying out complicated tasks such as file switch without any trouble. We for sure cannot wait to find out what this mysterious device is. Is it a foldable device from OnePlus or just another device? We will have to wait just a little longer to find out if Samsung foldable devices have a serious competitor or was it just an elaborate marketing gimmick to steal the spotlight.

August 11, 2021
Xiaomi Mi Pad 5: What We Know So Far

On August 10th, Xiaomi plans to launch the Mi Pad 5 tablet series in China. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 will be released alongside the Mi Mix 4 in China on August 10th, according to the company’s official Weibo account.

Last month, renders and details for the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 were leaked. The renders revealed the tablet’s design ahead of time. The Mi Pad 5 has now debuted on Geekbench, which is a recent development. The hardware characteristics of the Mi Pad 5 are revealed in the benchmark listing ahead of its introduction tomorrow.

Further Details

The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5’s model number is M2105K81AC, according to rumors. The Mi Pad 5 will be powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 870 chipset with Adreno 650 GPU, according to the Geekbench listing. The Mi Pad 5 will have 6GB of RAM and come pre-installed with Android 11. In the Geekbench test, the tablet scored 997 points in the single-core and 3181 points in the multi-core tests, respectively. The Mi Pad 5 is expected to include a 10.95-inch IPS LCD 120Hz display, according to earlier leaks. The Mi Pad 5 is believed to have a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security.

A dual-camera arrangement could handle the optics department of the Mi Pad 5. A 20MP primary camera and a 13MP secondary camera may be found on the back of the phone. An 8720mAh battery might be used to power the entire package. The Mi Pad 5 is expected to feature 65W fast charging. Last month, the Mi Pad 5 with model number M2105K81AC was certified by 3C. The Mi Pad 5’s 65W fast charging support was revealed through the 3C certification. In related news, the Smart Pen that will be included with the tablet has received FCC approval. The Smart Pen’s schematics were revealed via the FCC listing before its release. The device is capable of carrying out functions such as iOS transfers.

Apart from the Keyboard case, Weibo users have seen renders of the forthcoming tablet. The Mi Pad 5 will include a dual-camera configuration, according to the renders. In addition, the Mi Pad 5 will be available in three color variants, according to the image released on Weibo: Black, White, and Green.

Details such as pricing will be known upon release.

Summing Up

Xiaomi has raised expectations for the Mi Pad 5 ever since surpassing Samsung. It has become a worthy contender as a smartphone manufacturer and other tech devices. Users cannot wait for its latest venture. The Chinese-based company has been appealing to the masses with a budget-friendly phone with premium features. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for the tech giant.

August 10, 2021
MagDart magnetic wireless charging devices from Realme

Realme is developing a magnetic wireless charging method for its Android phones, as The Verge reported last week, and the company has now announced a whole line of goods that will employ the new technology.

MagDart

The wireless charging device is known as MagDart by Realme, and it’s essentially a more powerful version of Apple’s MagSafe system for the iPhone 12 series of phones. The 50W MagDart charger, which Realme claims are the world’s fastest magnetic wireless charger, is the star of the show. It features an unavoidably hefty cuboid form to accommodate a cooling fan, but Realme is betting that users will accept this trade-off in exchange for faster-charging speeds.

Realme claims that when plugged into the company’s 65W SuperDart wired charger, the MagDart charger would charge a 4,500mAh phone battery to 100% in 54 minutes. That’s almost as quick as the 50W wired charger from Realme. Realme is also working on a 15W MagDart charger, which looks similar to Apple’s MagSafe puck but is 26.4 percent slimmer and claims quicker charging speeds if you don’t want to have to put a charging brick into a charging brick.

According to Realme, it can charge a 4,500mAh battery in 90 minutes, which is far faster than Apple’s 15W option. Aside from the simplicity of wireless charging, a magnetic design like MagDart and MagSafe opens up the possibility of elegant port-less accessories, and Realme has a slew of them.

The MagDart Power Bank is comparable to Apple’s recently launched MagSafe Battery Pack, except it has a dock that allows you to utilize the battery as a phone stand. The MagDart Shell is a carbon fiber-style case featuring a pass-through USB-C port and headphone jack, as well as built-in MagDart connectivity, for the new Realme GT flagship phone. The MagDart Wallet is a three-card sleeve that looks a lot like Apple’s MagSafe wallet. This one, though, features a kickstand.

The MagDart Beauty Light, a selfie-ready flip-up ring light powered by reverse wireless charging, is perhaps the best of the bunch. It contains 60 tiny LEDs and a separate control button for adjusting brightness and color temperature, among other things.

Availability and Price

Realme hasn’t announced a release date or price for any of these goods, and the Realme GT is the only phone that has been confirmed to operate with a MagDart gadget that is capable of carrying out iOS transfers as well- and that’s only if you buy the specific case

For what is essentially the debut of a large new ecosystem of products, that’s a fairly big catch. However, if Realme incorporates MagDart into future phones, that might be a significant distinction.

What can we expect?

Wireless charging is one of the most common exclusions from Chinese phones with otherwise outstanding spec sheets – Oppo was one of the first to adopt the technology, and Vivo has yet to follow suit. And, given that Oppo’s VOOC fast-charging mechanism was ported to OnePlus and Realme phones thanks to the firms’ shared ownership and supply chain, MagDart may follow suit.

August 8, 2021
Redmi Note is now waterproof

In 2021, Xiaomi’s Redmi sub-brand produced a slew of Redmi Note 10 series phones, including the Redmi Note 10, Note 10S, Note 10 5G, Note 10 Pro, Note 10 Pro for China, and Note 10 Pro for India. All these variants are affordable mid-rangers with premium features staying true to the Redmi line.

With the Redmi Note 10 Japan Edition, the brand is now bringing another model to the lineup. This is simply a Redmi Note 10 5G with a few significant changes.

Further Details

The Snapdragon 480 5G chipset replaces the inexpensive Dimensity 700 5G SoC in the regular 5G model of the Redmi Note 10. The Qualcomm processor has an Adreno 619 GPU instead of the Mediatek chip’s Mali-G57 MC2 graphics, while the two chipsets have a fairly identical CPU arrangement (2x Cortex-A76 and 6x Cortex-A55).

Another significant upgrade is the Redmi Note 10 Japan Edition’s water and dust resistance, which is rated at IP68. Splash resistance had already been spotted on low-cost Xiaomi phones, but this is the first time we’ve seen a full-fledged IP68 designation. Finally, the phone has a 4,800mAh battery vs the 5,000mAh battery of the Redmi Note 10 5G.

A 6.5-inch 90Hz LCD panel (FHD+), 18W wired charging, a 48MP+2MP+2MP back camera system, an 8MP camera in a center-mounted punch-hole cutout, IR blaster, 3.5mm jack and side-mounted fingerprint scanner appear to be the only differences between the two phones. Both devices have the capability to carry out everyday tasks such as file switch.

Expected Price Range

Pricing has yet to be announced, however, Japanese customers should expect a 4GB/64GB variant at launch. We’d place the Redmi Note 10 Japan Edition in the same pricing range as the ordinary Redmi Note 10 5G, which launched at $199.

Summing Up

Overall, the Redmi Note 10 is an impressive device for a budget phone. It has upgraded specs from its predcessors hence we are looking forward to some vast improvement. We’ll have to wait for the release to fully test out the phone.

August 4, 2021
Nokia XR20 5G: Everything we know

The Nokia XR20 is a Qualcomm-powered, 5G-enabled, shockproof, and water-resistant smartphone that wants to be more than a ruggedized device. It stands out as a solid all-rounder with above-average after-sales service and warranty, making it a clear favorite among those seeking for a business smartphone that can take more than a few knocks.

Release Date and Expected Price

The XR20 will be available in two color schemes and two versions in the UK (4GB RAM/64GB storage and 6GB RAM/128GB storage) (Ultra Blue and Granite). The first model will cost £399 (about US$549, AU$749), while the second will cost £449 (around AU$839, 499 Euros). The phone will be available in the United States starting August 24th for $550.

Design

At a glance, the XR20 doesn’t appear to be as well-made as some of the bulkier smartphones we’ve seen in recent months. It weighs only 248g and has a slim 10.6mm profile – the thinnest in its category – with a footprint of 171.6 x 81.5mm.

The device’s front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which Nokia claims is the strongest screen it has ever seen on a Nokia smartphone. Near the top edge, there’s a tiny pinhole camera, as well as a red emergency button and a SIM slot. A lanyard attachment loop, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, a Type-C connector, and a downward firing speaker occupy the opposite side.

A dedicated, non-customizable Google Assistant button is located on the left edge, while a rocker volume button and a slightly depressed power button that acts as a fingerprint scanner are located on the right side. A prominent bulge on the textured plastic back has two camera sensors (48-megapixel and 13-megapixel UW), as well as two, LED flashes.

The XR20 is MIL-STD-810 certified, featuring a thick rubber bumper and metal frame that should keep it usable in most conditions. The device has also been given an IP68 rating.

Specifications

The Nokia XR20 is a special edition of the Nokia X20. Both have the same 6.67-inch display, 1080 x 2400 pixels, an octa-core SoC. The latter is constructed using an 8nm technique, which allows it to run cooler and more efficiently. A Snapdragon X51 5G modem-RF system with Wi-Fi 6/Bluetooth 5.1, Kyro 460 CPU cores, and a Qualcomm Adreno 619 GPU are all found inside the chip. It can carry out tasks such as file switch easily.

Wind-noise cancellation technology, 2×2 MIMO antenna technology (for enhanced Wi-Fi reception), 15W Qi wireless charging technology, and 18W fast charging capability for the 4.63Ah battery are also included. However, as par with the latest trend, it does not come with a charger but just a Type-C USB cable.

Verdict

Expect a little short of miracles in terms of raw performance, though we did observe that our browser-based tests generated the best results among the 5G tough devices to date, outperforming even the most mainstream Dimension 800 smartphones. The storage performance was average, with random/sustained writes being the standouts.

If you want the best network connections, a tough smartphone without the tough look, the cleanest Android, and a well-known brand with assured after-sales assistance, you should acquire this device.

July 31, 2021
Motorola Edge 20 5G series: All You Need to Know

Motorola Edge 20 Pro, the most costly handset in the series, is said to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 865 found in the original Edge+. It comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as standard, but no support for micro SD cards. Owners will also get access to a 6.7-inch Full-HD+ screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, according to the report. The Motorola Edge 20 Pro, however, does not have a curved-edge display, as evidenced by the leaked press renders below. A flat panel with a centred punch-hole has been substituted for that aesthetic element.

A rectangular camera bump sits on the back, housing an LED flash, some branding, and three sensors. The main camera is a 108-megapixel sensor, but there’s also a 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and an 8-megapixel 5x periscope zoom camera. A 4,500mAh battery with 30W fast charging capabilities completes the Edge 20 Pro’s kit. Android 11 is most likely pre-installed as well, with Android 12 apparently on the way. In Europe, the Motorola Edge 20 Pro is projected to cost €699 at launch. Midnight Blue and Blue Vegan Leather will be the two colours offered. The official announcement is set for August 5, and shipments are expected to begin soon after.

Motorola Edge 20 is a 5G smartphone.

In addition to the high-end Edge 20 Pro, Motorola is developing the Motorola Edge 20 5G, which will employ the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset. In this case, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage are combined. It can’t be expanded using a micro SD card, so if you run out of space, you’ll have to rely on cloud storage to keep papers and photographs.

When it comes to photographs, the Edge 20 5G’s cameras are still rather good. The main and ultra-wide sensors are taken from the Pro model, and previous rumours suggested that an 8-megapixel 3x telephoto zoom camera would be included as well. The phone also has the same 6.7-inch 144Hz display as the Pro model, a flat iPhone 12-like aluminium frame, and a 4,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging capabilities. Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and WLAN 6 are among the connectivity standards supported.

The Motorola Edge 20 5G, as well as the Pro model, should be introduced next week. It will be available in Frosted Gray and Frosted White finishes and will retail for €499 in Europe. A specific North American version with a larger display and a downgraded camera system is in the works, however, details have yet to be revealed. The devices will be able to carry out tasks such as file switch with ease.

Motorola Edge 20 Lite.

We have no idea how much the Motorola Edge 20 Lite will set you back. However, we do know that it will be the most cost-effective phone in the series, and one of the top budget 5G phones in 2021. Motorola has chosen the Dimensity 720G 5G chipset, which includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Edge 20 Lite, unlike the other smartphones, will accept micro SD cards, allowing you to take as many images as you want without worrying about running out of space.

The 6.7-inch display with the centred punch-hole is still there, but the refresh rate has been reduced to 90Hz, which is still acceptable. On the rear, there’s a triple-camera array as well as a 32-megapixel selfie sensor. A 108-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 2-megapixel depth camera for greater bokeh make up the latter.

The Edge 20 Lite is essentially a glorified dual-camera system. A 5,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support, a 3.5mm headphone jack for hard-core users, Android 11, and Bluetooth 5 connectivity round out the remainder of the specs.

July 29, 2021
OPPO A93S 5G released in China

The Oppo A93s 5G, which is an incremental update of the Oppo A93 5G, was just released. The biggest difference is the processor, which is a Dimensity 700 in the new phone, with everything else remaining largely unchanged.

In China, Oppo has released the A93s 5G smartphone, which comes with adequate specifications and features. The new phone can be classified as an entry-level phone based on this information. It’s also worth noting that the Oppo A93s 5G is an improved version of the Oppo A93 5G.

Release Date, Expected Price & Availability

The Oppo A93s 5G phone with 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM costs CNY 1999 (about $308). Early Summer Guanghai, Summer Night Galaxy, and White Peach Soda are three of the phone’s eye-catching color options. These are Chinese names that have been translated into English. On July 30, the smartphone will be available for purchase throughout China. Black, Blue, and White are the available colors.

Specifications Worth Mentioning

The Oppo A93s 5G features a 6.5-inch Full-HD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) display with a punch-hole design. The phone has a high refresh rate of 90Hz and supports the DCI-P3 color gamut. Aside from that, the display has a maximum brightness of 600 nits. The phone is equipped with a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC and 8GB of RAM. It comes with 256GB of internal memory. A microSD card slot allows you to expand the built-in storage up to 256GB. The device is capable of carrying out iOS transfers as well.

The phone has a 48MP main camera with an f/1.7 aperture, a 2MP portrait lens with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 2MP macro sensor with an f/2.4 aperture on the rear. Cute shooting, AI ID photos, ultra-clear image quality, super text, panoramic, time-lapse photography, and a boatload of other impressive capabilities are all supported by the rear-mounted cameras.

According to GSM Arena, the phone has an 8MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.0. Multiple shooting modes are supported by the front camera, including adorable shooting, night scene, snapshot, video, panoramic, and more. In addition, the phone boasts a 5,000mAh battery with 18W rapid charging capabilities. It has a 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth v5.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, and a USB Type-C port for communication. A fingerprint sensor is located on the side. The phone weighs 188 kilos and is 162.974.78.4mm in length and width.

The Bottom Line The OPPO A93S 5G is a decent device with premium features. It is one of the impressive devices that contain 5G capability. If you are looking for a device for everyday use but with top-notch features then this is the one for you.

July 27, 2021
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE may make a comeback

Last year, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE struck the sweet spot for a low price and great features, and it appears that a speculated Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will try to replicate that success. The smartphone could make its debut at Samsung’s forthcoming Unpacked presentation on August 11. More costly foldable phones, such as sequels to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, are anticipated to be the main attractions, but a more inexpensive phone could also steal the show.

Ever since the indications that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE might make a comeback, numerous rumors and speculations circulating the digital world have circulated. This article will shed some light on some of the credible rumors.

Further Details

The specifications for the Galaxy S21 FE have been published on China’s TENAA certification website. According to the listing, the phone will have a 6.4-inch screen with a resolution of 2,340×1,080p, a 4,370mAh battery, three cameras with a 32-megapixel main lens, 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel secondary lenses, a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and 45W fast charging support. The device will be available in two storage options. Overall, the device is perfect for carrying out tasks such as file switch.

According to renders from a credible source, the phone could look similar to the Galaxy S21, with a punchout for the front-facing camera and three cameras on the back. The resemblance to the S21 is understandable: the Galaxy S20 FE preserved much of the S20’s design language while lowering the price by reducing the screen resolution and cameras. The S21 FE will be available in at least five colors, according to a leak posted by SamMobile.

Expected Price

In the United States, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE started at $699, a significant decrease from the Galaxy S20’s $999 beginning price. While we don’t have any firm pricing information, sources suggest that the S21 FE line will begin at $699, which is the same starting price as the Galaxy S20 FE. It would be roughly $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S21, making it a higher-end value alternative even at that price.

Release Date

It’s possible that the Galaxy S21 FE could be unveiled at the August foldable event, it’s also feasible that it may be announced separately like it was last year. In September 2020, the Galaxy S20 FE had its Unpacked event, which was billed as a “tribute to its Galaxy devotees.”

However, the announcement and release of that phone coincided with the release of the Z Fold 2, which also occurred in September. Maybe they’ll be blended or given the same amount of space.

Summing Up The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is sure to be a big hit among, “Galaxy Devotees”. It provides consumers with a much cheaper and affordable model hence budget buyers will surely be pleased. It seems we will have to wait a bit longer for concrete details to be released. However, according to multiple reliable sources, we won’t have to wait that long and may catch the first official glimpse in August.

July 27, 2021