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Redmi Launches Two Elegantly Designed Affordable Power Banks
In the Q1 of 2019, Xiaomi turned the Redmi lineup of smartphones into a separate sub-brand. Since then, the company has been populating the newly formed Redmi brand with a variety of smartphones and accessories. On the 18th of July, it launched two high capacity Redmi power banks for the Chinese market that have a minimalist design and are priced aggressively.

Redmi Power Bank Design and Features

Right of the bat, the Redmi power banks are offered in two battery capacities which include 10,000 mAh and 20,000 mAh. In terms of build and design, both the devices are made out of hard white plastic and have rounded corners which will allow them to easily slide into the user’s pocket if need be.

The front of both the Redmi power banks is marked with the company branding which looks very neat yet elegant. The rear of the device carries the regulatory information, disposal guide, battery capacity and other vital details. The placement of ports and buttons on both variants is also heterogeneous.

The right side of the Redmi power banks houses a power button which can be used to the turn on or turn off charging on connected devices. Besides, it can also be used to display the amount of charge left via the four LED indicators mounted on top. Speaking of the top side, it is occupied by dual USB A output ports, a micro USB port and USB Type C port. Surprisingly, the power banks feature two different types of charging ports which makes it a versatile option for users who already own smartphones with either a micro USB port or USB Type C port.

In term of charging speed, the two USB output ports support different charging speed which is listed below:
- 5.1V, 2.4 A: 12.5 W
- 5.1V, 2.6 A: 13.5 W
While the built-in battery can be charged at a maximum rate of 5V,2.1A or 10 W. Therefore, the Redmi power bank with 10,000 mAh battery will take upto 4 hours to fully replenish, while, the variant with 20000 mAh battery will take close to 8 hours.

Redmi Power Bank Price And Availability

Also Read: Nokia Feature Phone Running Android OS Leaked In Images

The Redmi Power banks are currently limited to the Chinese market but they are soon expected to be launched in India as well. The price of two different variants are as follows:
- 10,000 mAh: 59 CNY (around Rs 599)
- 20,000 mAh: 99 CNY (around Rs 990)
What are your thoughts on the two newly launched accessories from Redmi? Let us know in the comments below.
July 19, 2019
Nokia Feature Phone Running Android OS Leaked In Images

Despite the rise in popularity of smartphones in the last few years, many people in developing countries still use feature phones. Numerous countries in Asia, South America and Africa are still the predominant market for the feature phones. Now, images have leaked online which reveal Google, who is known for making Android OS (Operating System) for smartphones is developing a new version of its software for feature phones. The images showcase a Nokia feature phone running a specialised version of Android.

Android For Feature Phones

It has been claimed multiple times in the past that Google is developing a version of Android OS for feature phones. This is to capture the market that has been missed by the company until now. The latest leaks reveal that HMD Global’s Nokia, which is one of the few companies making feature phones, will be the first to launch a device with the new version of Android. In the images, a feature phone in development from Nokia is showcased. The home screen of the upcoming mobile phone features an all-new design for Android. Since the OS was originally designed to work for touchscreen devices, the interface seems to be adapted for use with just buttons.

Also read: Huawei’s Mid Range Nova 5i Pro With Kirin 810 And Five Cameras Leaked

On the home screen of the new version of Android, a microphone icon, similar to one seen in Google Assistant is visible. This insinuates that the Nokia feature phone will have the digital voice assistant built-in. Also present on the handset are multiple Google apps like Chrome and YouTube; which seem to be designed to run on a small-sized display without touch input. The rest of the User Interface (UI) is similar to what feature phones from Nokia had in the past. While the images provide authenticity to the claim that Google is working on bringing Android to feature phones; the source claims to take the aforementioned information with a grain of salt, as the images could very well be of a Nokia handset running a new version of KaiOS, another popular OS for feature phones.

July 19, 2019
Huawei’s Mid Range Nova 5i Pro With Kirin 810 And Five Cameras Leaked
Amidst the trade ban imposed by the US Commerce Department, Huawei launched the Nova 5 and Nova 5 Pro. While the company was also expected to unveil the mid-range oriented Nova 5i Pro which was nowhere to be found. Now that the US ban has been lifted, the company might be planning to launch the Nova 5i Pro. To further strengthen the claim, the promotional material of the smartphone has also been leaked which is detailed enough to reveal both the features and design of the handset.

Huawei Nova 5i Pro Featurs and Design

According to the leaked documents, the front of the Huawei Nova 5i Pro is dominated by a 6.26 inch display which features a punch hole selfie camera. The display is surrounded by thin bezels on all sides which provide the smartphone with an impressive screen to body ratio of 90.7 percent. The rear of the device has gradient style 3d design is highly reminscent of the flagship grade Mate 20 X from the year 2018.

The rear gradinet panel of the Honor Nova 5i Pro is made out of glass which houses a quad camera setup, fingerprint sensor and company branding. The rear camera setup consists of 48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP sensors while the punch hole housed front camera has a resolution of 32 MP. The device is powered by a 4000 mAh battery which supports 20 W fast charging.

Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 5i Pro features the Kirin 810 which is the company’s answer to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730. It is the first chipset that is designed and developed by the Huawei in house and is based on Darwin architecture. In terms of storage, it will be offered in two variants include 8 GB RAM which can be configured with 128 GB or 256 GB ROM.

Huawei Nova 5i Pro Quick Specs
- Display: 6.26 inch, 2340 x 1080 px
- Front Camera: 32 MP
- Rear Camera: 48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP
- Battery: 4000 mAh, 20 W Fast Charging Support
- Chipset: Kirin 810, Octa Core, 7 nm
- Security: Rear Mounted Fingerprint Sensor
- Colours: Blue, Black, Green
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A80 With A Fancy Rotating Camera Launched In India

All in all, the Huawei Nova 5i Pro seems like a capable midrange handset. If the company is able to price the device under Rs 20,000 in India, it holds the potential to be huge hit. The main devices that it will compete against include the Redmi K20 and the Realme X which are value for money smartphones in their very own price brackets.

Which feature do you think is the most impressive on the Nova 5i Pro? Let us know in the comments below.
July 18, 2019
Huawei Mate 30 Pro Will Feature Cinema Lens On A Quad Camera Setup

Huawei is still reeling from the after shocks after being relieved from the ban that was designated by the US Department of Commerce. However, business is still in full swing with rumours and leaks regarding the upcoming Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro increasing in numbers. A fresh leak sheds some light on the camera of the highest DxOMark scoring smartphone ever.

Huawei was spotted applying for two trademark applications to the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office). The trademark carried the names Cine-Lens and Camera Matrix. It indicates that the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro feature a cinema lens for high quality video recordings. The application for Huawei Cine-Lens carries a description for “cinema photography; optical lenses for recording, reproduction and processsing of sound, images and/or data; smartphones; camcorders; cameras.”

It is being speculated that both the trademarks are for Huawei’s Mate 30 and 30 Pro. Both smartphones are premium grade flagships and are expected to arrive in October. The application for Cine Lens is big deal considering Huawei has already introduced matrix camera in the Mate 20 series of 2018. Cine Lens seems to refer to camera lens which are specifically developed for high quality videography. Interestingly, actual cinema lens are rather expensive and a mobile version optimized for video recording will be quite innovative.

Also Read: This Tiny Android Go Phone, Made By Xiaomi Makes Perfect Sense For Indians

Leica is one of the manufacturers for such cine lenses and has frequently collaborated with Huawei. Hence, it is probable that the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro could feature the new lens technology; generally the Pro variants carry a better camera, so the feature may skip the standard variant. Unfortunately, finer details regarding the upcoming flagships from Huawei is still unavailable. An official company announcement is expected to be available in the arriving weeks; updates will be provided soon after.

July 18, 2019
Samsung Galaxy A80 With A Fancy Rotating Camera Launched In India
In the month of April, Korean electronics giant, Samsung launched the apex predator in its Galaxy A lineup. Dubbed the Galaxy A80, it has now been launched in India as well. The key highlighting features of the smartphone include an immersive edge-to-edge display and a fancy flip camera system that caters the needs of capturing both photos and videos from the front and back.

Galaxy A80 Specs and Features

The front of the Galaxy A80 features a massive 6.7 inch Super AMOLED display that is devoid of any notch. Samsung is calling this obstruction-free display as the “New Infinity”. The display panel has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 px and an aspect ratio of 20:9. For rapidly and securely logging into the UI, the handset features an indisplay fingerprint sensor, which is also present on the Galaxy A70 and the Galaxy A50.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A80 features the Snapdragon 730G SoC which is manufactured using 8 nm fabrication process. The chipset consists of an Octa-core CPU along with Adreno 618 GPU. To provide the best both worlds i.e power and efficiency, the eight core CPU is divided into two seprate clusters which are as follows:
- 2x 2.2 GHz
- 6x 1.8GHz
For capturing photos and videos, the Galaxy A80 has a rotating triple camera system that consists of an f/2.0 aperture equipped 48MP sensor, f/2.2 aperture equipped 8MP sensor and a 3D Time of Flight (ToF) along with an LED flash. As previously mentioned the same camera module can be used for photography from both the front and rear. As soon as the user taps the front camera button in the UI, the inbuilt motors come into play which with the help of a complex mechanism makes the camera setup rise and manifest itself for clicking selfies or making video calls.

The Galaxy A80 is powered by a 3700 mAh battery which supports 25W fast charging. The device runs on Samsung’s OneUI which is built on top of the latest Android 9 Pie. Connectivity options on the smartphone include Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, 4G VoLTE, GPS and USB Type C port for charging and data transfer.

Galaxy A80 Price, Storage Options, Colours and Availability

Also read: This Tiny Android Go Phone, Made By Xiaomi Makes Perfect Sense For Indians

The Samsung Galaxy A80 is offered in three colour options which include Angel Gold, Ghost White and Phantom Black. It is offered in a single storage variant for which the price is as follows:
- 8 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM: Rs 47,990
Similar to various other flagship smartphones, the Galaxy A80 also lacks support for memory expansion. It will be available for pre-booking from July 22 to July 31 and will go on sale from 1st of August across all retail stores, e-Shop, Samsung Opera House and all major leading online channels.

To conclude, the Galaxy A80 seems like a fantastic handset which looks appealing and is packed with worthy features. However, we feel the price that it is being offered is a bit steep and will be the only factor that keeps customers away from it. Nevertheless, the unique camera system may be able to justify its price tag and is one features that makes it stand apart from the crowd.

What do you think about the newly launched Galaxy A80? Let us know in the comments below
July 18, 2019
Samsung Starts Production Of 12GB LPDDR5 RAM For Smartphones

Earlier this year, Samsung had launched its highest capacity DRAM (Dynamix Random Access Memory) modules for smartphones. It was a 12GB LPDDR4X model which was aimed for top end handsets. However, jump a few months forward and Samsung has already started producing its faster and newer version. The South Korean company is starting the mass production of the worlds first 12GB LPDDR5 DRAM module aimed for smartphones.

Samsung had introduced the LPDDR5 chip back in 2018 to enable 5G capable devices with efficient and effective RAM. It was aimed to better support AI softwares and machine learning capabilities for smartphones. Similar to the previous version RAM module, the newer iteration is also built on Samsung’s second generation 10nm chipset. The upcoming RAM offering from the company is claimed to boast an overall improvement of 30% in speeds in data transfer and operating through the User Interface (UI)

The 12GB package with 12GB chips is capable of data transfers of up to 44GB/s or around 12 FullHD movies in a single second. Furthermore, the LPDDR5 DRAM is also claimed to consumes 30% less power in comparison to the LPDDR4X. Samsung is planning to “fully leverage the 5G and AI capabilities like ultra high definition video recording and machine learning, while greatly extending the battery life.”

Also Read: This Tiny Android Go Phone, Made By Xiaomi Makes Perfect Sense For Indians

The move arrives after Samsung has seen a noticeable drop in prices and sales in the past quarter. Hence, it is to be expected that the company is banking on newer technology to get ahead of its competitors. Notably, compatibility with the new RAM module with existing chipsets is questionable. What can be gathered is that OEMs will probably ship the new RAM with their premium flagships smartphones starting next year.

July 18, 2019
This Tiny Android Go Phone, Made By Xiaomi Makes Perfect Sense For Indians
Xiaomi with it ever-expanding portfolio of products never ceases to amaze us. Earlier this week, it announced the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro smartphones for the Indian market which were originally launched in China. Likewise, the company is crowdfunding a tiny Android Go smartphone in its home country, which we would love to see in India as well. The handset is a part of Xiaomi’s sub-brand Qin and it is dubbed the “Multi Parent AI Assitant/ 4G phone” [literal translation ;)]. Nevertheless, the device has a distinguishing design and is offered in a multitude of attractive colours.

Xiaomi Qin Android Go Smartphone

The front of the Xiaomi smartphone features a 5.05-inch display that has negligible bezels on all sides except for the chin which is comparatively thicker. Surprisingly, the display of the handset has an aspect ratio of 22.5:9 which is slowly gaining popularity in mid-range and high-end devices like the Sony Xperia 1 and Motorola One Vision. Besides, the display has resoultion of 1440 x 576 px.

In terms of dimensions and weight, the Xiaomi Qin smartphone measures 132.6 x 55.4 x 8.6 mm and tips the scale at a meagre 105 g. The rear panel of the smartphone is made out of hard plastic and the users have the choice to opt for their favourite colour out of four different vibrant options. The rear panel has a neat layout as it only houses the company branding and a single camera along with an LED flash.

The left side of the Xiaomi Qin Android Go smartphone houses the power button and volume rocker as seen on various modern handsets. Additionally, it also has a small button on the left which can be used to toggle the built-in AI voice assistant. It is powered by a 2100 mAh battery which can be charged via the bottom-mounted USB Type C port.

Another notable feature of the smartphone is the presence of an IR blaster that can be used to control different appliances wirelessly in an office or personal living space. Connectivity options on the device include 4 G VoLTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. Details about the chipset or processor on the smartphone are currently available.

In terms of operating system, it runs on Go variant of Android 9.0. For readers who do not know, Android Go is a scaled-down variant of standard Android and it is purpose-built for devices with less powerful hardware. According to substandard Chinese translation, it can run a total of 6 applications including WeChat and has a customised UI which helps for easy navigation.

Xiaomi Qin Quick Specs
- Display: 5.05 inch, 1440 x 576, 22.5:9 aspect ratio
- Dimensions: 132.6 x 55.4 x 8.6 mm
- Weight: 105g
- Battery Capacity: 2100 mAh, 5V2A
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB C
- OS: Android 9 GO
- Other Features: IR Blaster, AI Assistant
- Rear Camera: Single Sensor, LED Flash
- Front Camera: N/A
- Storage: 32 GB
- Price: 499 CNY (around Rs 5000)
Why This Device Makes Perfect Sense For Indians?

Taking the fact into consideration, more than half of the mobile owners in India still own a feature phone that is usually limited to 2G connectivity. With the rapid adoption of 4G, the said user base undoubtedly would want to move on to smartphones that have better connectivity options and a lot more features at an economical price point. This is where the Xiaomi Qin smartphone can settle and bridge the gap.

Noteworthy, another smartphone from Xiaomi, the Redmi Go that features a front camera, bigger battery and a lower price tag than Qin is already available in India. Therefore, in order to see worthwhile sales performance, the latter needs to be priced aggressively. We feel Rs 2500 to Rs 3500 would be the sweet spot for it, given Xiaomi decides to bring it to India.

Readers interested in checking the official website can do so by clicking here.

What according to you should be the right price for this smartphone? Let us know in the comments below!
July 18, 2019
Future Apple iPhones Will Feature A ToF 3D Depth Camera

Apple is yet to launch the 2019 iPhones which will allegedly be called the iPhone XI, iPhone XI Max and iPhone XR 2019 or XI R. However, news regarding its 2020 smartphones have already started popping up. According to a new report, the American company has asked its supply chain partners to supply VCSEL components for a rear ToF camera lens. The sensor is said to be incorporated in its 2020 lineup of flagship smartphones.

VCSELs stands for Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers which are a critical component of Apple’s TrueDepth camera. It is found in the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max and enables features such as Face ID, Animoji and Portrait selfies as well as proximity-sensing capabilities of AirPods. The incorporation of a ToF camera system will be a significant improvement from TrueDepth owing to more advanced laser technology. Basically, Apple is upgrading the components housed in the current generation of iPhones allowing for added functionality.

iPhone XS Max

TrueDepth utilizes tens of thousands of laser dots to accurately map a users’ face that offers a secure authentication process. Contrastingly, ToF sensors measure the time taken for a laser to bounce off surrounding objects to create a 3D image; it is similar to how RADARS detect objects by bouncing signals of varying wavelengths. Hence, the ToF provides a more accurate depth perception and better measurement of virtual objects placements. It will essentially allow depth being captured in photos with greater quality.

Apple iPhone XR

Apple iPhone 2020 could be able to scan areas up to 15 feet from the device. Current generation iPhones with TrueDepth only work at distances up to 25 to 50cms in comparison. With this, the tech giant is reportedly two years ahead of its competition in the region of 3D sensing technology. Sony is claimed to be the supplier for the ToF technology as Apple is rumoured to be in talks with the Japanese company. However, the company had also invested $390 million (approx. INR 2687 crores) in Finisar Corp which also supplies VCSELs.

Also Read: Sony Is Working On A Foldable Phone With A Host Of New Sensors

Earlier reports had claimed that the 2019 iPhones would also incorporate the new feature. However, Apple has put its plans for AR/VR based technology development on hold for now. The 2020 iPhones could have Apple again incorporating a major distinctive feature that sets it apart from its competitors. Unfortunately, no official statement from the company has been given out yet. Updates will be provided once more information is available, so stay tuned.

July 18, 2019
Asus ROG Phone 2 Specs Leaked, To Feature A Massive 5800mAh Battery

It was revealed a while ago that Taiwanese electronics giant Asus is working on the second generation of its gaming smartphone, the ROG Phone 2. The upcoming device is expected to be a notable improvement over its predecessor, the ROG Phone in terms of specifications and features; while costing significantly less. The handset will be launched on the 23rd of July in China but the design of it has already been leaked. Now, the smartphone has been listed on Chinese certification website TENAA which confirms key details about the device.

Asus ROG Phone 2

The latest leak on TENAA’s official website, the upcoming gaming smartphone from Asus; the ROG Phone 2 will have the model numbers I001DA and I001DB depending on the markets they will be available in. According to the listing, the device will measure 170.99 x 77.6 x 9.78mm and will have a similar design to its predecessor, albeit with a few changes. The fingerprint sensor, which was present on the back on the ROG Phone may be moved under the display in the ROG Phone 2. This will mean that the handset will be the first mobile device from Asus to have an In-Display fingerprint sensor.

Other specifications of the Asus ROG Phone 2 include a 6.59-inch display. While it is not clear what type of display will be used in the smartphone, since the predecessor has an OLED display, the upcoming device may also use the same kind of display technology. One notable aspect of the handset will be the display’s refresh rate, which has been revealed to be 120Hz. It is claimed that the ROG Phone 2 will be first in the world to have a 120Hz OLED display.

ROG Phone

Also read: Sony Is Working On A Foldable Phone With A Host Of New Sensors

The Asus ROG Phone 2 has also been revealed to be powered by a massive 5800mAh battery according to the TENAA listing. This would make it one of the largest battery capacity sporting smartphones, and the biggest cell in any gaming device on the market. Along with the mammoth battery size, the handset will also support 30W fast wired charging. It is also known that the upcoming smartphone will run on the latest chipset from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 855 Plus. Unfortunately, more details about the device are not available yet. However, as the launch of the handset is just around the corner, we will not have to wait too long to find out.

July 18, 2019
Sony Is Working On A Foldable Phone With A Host Of New Sensors

After a decade of smartphones with a rigid form factor, the year 2019 saw the launch of two visionary devices, the Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X 5G. Although both the smartphones aim towards achieving the same goal i.e is packing a large screen display on a compact device, they have a completely different approach. The Galaxy Fold has dual displays, out of which one is present on the outside aka “cover display” and a larger foldable display which is concealed with a unique folding mechanism. On the other hand, the Mate X has an outer folding display which the company refers to as “falcon wing” design. Unfortunately, the commercial availability of both handsets has been pushed to a future date (1,2). However, by the time the two devices make a comeback, they might not be the only competitors in this segment, as Sony is also working on futuristic device claim patents (1).
Besides having a foldable display, the alleged Sony smartphone will have a few other nifty tricks up its sleeve. The patent discovered by a Netherland based website, Letsgodigital reveals that foldable Sony smartphones which are expected to launch in the near future will have an array of new generation sensors. Accordingly, the drawings in the document exhibit three different sensors in a foldable device which include a temperature sensor, pressure sensor and acceleration sensor. As the name suggests the pressure sensor will be able to sense the force applied on the display, this could something be similar to 3D touch seen on Apple iPhones which prompt different options based on the pressure applied to the display.

Furthermore, the temperature sensor will likely measure the temperature of the users from their finger. Though not many details about this type of sensor are available, this could very well be targetted towards the health and fitness domain. The accelerometer sensor is common sighting on most modern smartphones and it is mainly used to track the orientation of the device.

Also Read: PUBG Kicks Off Season 4 With A Story Trailer And Better Visuals

The patents also divulge that the device from Sony will have just one display which will fold on the outside. The design is similar to that Huawei Mate X, that we, fortunately, got to have a close look at. The patents do not reveal any specifications about the Sony handset but it is expected to be laden with high end features.

To sum it up, Sony holds the technical prowess required to fabricate such a device. However, we will have to wait for some concrete details in order to verify the existence of the handset.

July 18, 2019
PUBG Kicks Off Season 4 With A Story Trailer And Better Visuals

The battle royale genres explosive success can be credited to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds single handedly. PUBG took note of other games that featured similar game mechanics and made its own formula which is successful till this day. The game launched on May 2018 and has since become one of the most popular online multiplayer game with millions of active players. PUBG Corp, the company behind PUBG, is now kicking off its 4th season which was announced via a trailer on YouTube which also hints at the back story and in-game lore which was also teased previously.

What’s New?

Eragnel, the map that started it all receives additional love from the developers. PUBG PC’s first map is receiving major design refresh with season 4. PUBG Corp has stated that the update brings Eragnel more in line with the other maps that were offered later. In the new update, Eragnel will receive new buildings, a revamped terrain and improved graphical fidelity. A new car radio is also being added for improved driving experience. The update will carry balancing changes and tweaks to its various weapons and vehicles. The biggest change arrives with gamers now being able to heal and boost when they are moving.

Before (L) and After (R)

The new changes will now carry the history of the island which was turned into a battlefield. The map now carries abandoned tanks, artillery, trenches, shoreline barriers and came netting spread across the landscape. Notably, structures on the map show more damage indicating of battles fought in the past. Furthermore, the company is also reducing grass density in the map alongside saturation and overall brightness after listening to player feedback.

Story & Narrative Stand Point

We have all wondered as to the backstory behind the famous battlegrounds. Why must 100 people drop in with nothing and scour for weapons? Why must they fight and win? Is it a sport or a game? These questions will naturally arrive. PUBG seems awfully similar to movies like Hunger Games, however, the creator of the game has stated that he specifically took notes from a Chinese movie named Battle Royale. Similar to the game, the movie had a bunch of people fight it out on an island, only twist, they were all students trapped by their sadistic teacher.

The latest trailer sees the game moving towards a cinematic story narration, a first for the franchise. Previously, we had covered rumours on a standalone story driven PUBG game; but the feature might just end up in the main PC game. According to the trailer, the narrator is the one behind his, “BattleGrounds.” Apparently, the antagonist or mastermind behind the brutal blood sport is a man who originated from Eragnel.

A war tore his home apart and he witnessed much bloodshed and death when he was younger. He is supposedly the only survivor of the violent skirmish and became a powerful person which gave him the inspiration for the last man standing formula in his games. There is a possibility that similar to online streaming, a future exists where fatal sports is viewable online, similar to the movie Death Race.

Also Read: Nubia Will Soon Treat The Red Magic 3 With Snapdragon 855 Plus

Availability

The new update arrives on 24th July for PC and later on in the summer for its Console counterparts. It will bring a much needed breath of fresh air to PUBG’s gameplay and adds on the possibility of story integration. We can soon expect lore related missions being offered in the game. Stay tuned for more related articles and videos.

July 18, 2019
Sony Xperia 1R With A 5K Resolution Display Leaked

Japanese electronics giant Sony launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 back in the month of February earlier this year. The device boasts of being the first in the world with a 4K resolution OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. A while ago, reports of its successor, along with credible renders surfaced online. Now, the latest source code leak of the smartphone reveals that it may be called the Xperia 1R and will have a whopping 5K resolution OLED display.

Sony Xperia 1R

As mentioned above, the Xperia 1R will be the successor to the Xperia 1 and is expected to feature notable improvements over it. The biggest change will be the smartphone’s design, which has been revealed in renders to be different than its predecessors. While the form factor and the basic looks of the Xperia 1R will remain the same, it will have the triple rear camera setup on the left side of the back. This is unlike the more central placement on the Xperia 1. According to the leaked source code of the upcoming device, it will have a display resolution of 5040 x 2160 px. This is equivalent to a 5K display with an aspect ratio of 21:9.

Sony Xperia 1

Also read: Nokia 7.2 With An Elegant Design Leaked Before Launch

Notably, Sony was the first company to introduce a 4K display in a smartphone with the Xperia XZ Premium in the year 2017. The company was also the first to bring the technology to OLED displays with the Xperia 1 launched earlier this year. With the launch of the alleged Xperia 1R, Sony may be planning on adding another world record to its name. Unfortunately, more details like the launch date and pricing of the smartphone are not known yet. However, as the company has done every year, the device may be unveiled at the IFA consumer electronics show in the month of September.

July 18, 2019
Nokia 7.2 With An Elegant Design Leaked Before Launch

Nokia had re-entered the smartphone industry game back in the year 2017. Since then, the company has gone on to release various devices ranging from low to mid specs and price segments. It has been a year since its first-generation launches so we can expect the successors to make an appearance soon. Earlier this month, images surfaced online showcasing a smartphone with a triple camera setup with the model number “TA-1198 “. It is now believed to be the Nokia 7.2 whose case has freshly leaked.

Design

According to the images, Nokia 7.2 has a notched display on the front with negligible bezels on every corner and side. On the rear, the device features a triple camera setup which is placed right above the fingerprint scanner. The camera module houses a total of three cameras whose resolutions are currently unknown. The bottom of the device features a USB Type-C charging port which is flanked by a mic and loud speaker grill on either side. Its top sports a 3.5mm headphone jack and a secondary mic. The renders also detail the volume rockers and power button on the right of the device. An unspecified button is found on the left which is likely to be a dedicated Google Assistant button as seen with the Nokia 3.1 Plus.

TA-1198 is reportedly equipped with the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 SoC and an FHD+ display panel. It is powered by a 3500mAh battery and sports 48MP primary rear camera. Finer details regarding the specifications of the device are still a mystery.

Also Read: Nubia Will Soon Treat The Red Magic 3 With Snapdragon 855 Plus

Nokia is gearing up for various launches in the second half of 2019. The launch of its latest generation of smartphones will seek to capture a better market share over its previous iterations. The upcoming Nokia 7.2 will arrive after the launch of Nokia 9 PureView which received a warm reception. An official statement from the company is yet to be made and more information is expected to be available in the near future and updates will be provided accordingly.

July 18, 2019
Galaxy Tab S6 With Magnetic S Pen Leaks
Korean electronics giant, Samsung seems to be on a tablet launching frenzy as of late. Not long ago, it unveiled three new devices which include the Galaxy Tab S5e, Galaxy Tab A 10.1 and Galaxy Tab A 8; according to a fresh leak, the company will soon launch the Galaxy Tab S6 which will pack high end specifications. Noteworthy, the future tablet will be shipped with an S Pen which can magnetically stick to the back of the former.

In terms of design, the Galaxy Tab S6 has a glass and aluminum construction which looks very premium. The front of the tablet accommodates a large screen display which is surrounded with thin bezels on all four sides. The rear aluminum panel of the device has a matte finish and it house the company branding, AKG logo and dual rear cameras. To provide better LTE reception, it also has dual antenna strips on the rear.

For readers who are unaware, AKG is an Austrian company which is recognised for manufacturing quality audio systems and accessories. It was incorporated in the year 1947 as an independent company but has now been taken over by Samsung. Therefore products branded with AKG logo are bound to have worthwhile audio performance and similar will be the case with the upcoming Galaxy Tab S6.

Talking about ports and buttons, the right side of the tablet is occupied by the power button, volume rockers and SIM card slot while the left side houses pogo pins which can be used to connect accessories like a detachable keyboard with kick back stand. The bottom of the Galaxy Tab S6 harbors the USB Type C port which is flanked by dual speakers on either side whereas top top side is assumed to be devoid of any seams.

Besides, the S Pen that accompanies the Galaxy Tab S6 has also been redesigned into a cylindrical chalk like peripheral. The upgraded accessory has a dedicated button which is likely to support multiple control options with different tap configurations. Even though the current leak does not reveal any specifications of the tablet, they can be derived from prior leaks which are as follows:

Galaxy Tab S6 Rumoured Specs
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- CPU: Octa Core
- GPU: Adreno 640
- Display: 10.5 inch, Super AMOLED
- RAM: 6 GB
- ROM: 128 GB
- OS: Android 9 Pie
Also Read: Realme X Vs Redmi K20 : Which One Should You Pick?

To sum it up, the Galaxy Tab S6 seems like a powerful tablet that will directly compete against the likes of the Apple iPad. In order to get the confirmed details including the price and specs, we will have to wait for the official announcement which is expected to happen in the coming weeks.
July 18, 2019
Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphone Launched For Rs 1599
On the 17th of July, Xiaomi India held a launch event in New Delhi where it unveiled the Redmi K20 and the Redmi K20 Pro smartphones. Besides, the company also launched a pair of wireless earphones which are dubbed the “Mi Neckband Bluetooth”. As the name suggests, the newly launched accessory is a pair of wireless earphones with a thick band that sits around the user’s neck.

Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphone Features

The newly launched Bluetooth accessory from Xiaomi has a stylish design with flat noodle type neckband that has wires on either side that lead to the left and right earbud. The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones measure 445 x 80 x 26 mm and weigh only 13.6 g. Noteworthy, the earbuds have a magnetic back which can be used to lock them together when not in use.

The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones have 120 mAh battery which is claimed to provide a battery backup of upto 8 hours with 80 percent volume. The built-in battery can be fully replenished in two hours via the built-in USB port. To attain wireless capabilities, the earphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 technology. As the audio accessories are compatible with Bluetooth the can be used with a wide variety of devices including smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops and many more. Another notable feature of the wireless earphones is the support for voice assistant which can be used to take phone calls or even play music via verbal commands.

Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphone Quick Specs
- Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
- Dimensions: 445 x 80 x 26 mm
- Weight: 13.6 g
- Battery Capacity: 120 mAh
- Charge Time: 2 hours
- Battery Life: Upto 8 hours on 80 percent volume
- Standby Time: Upto 260 hours
Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphone Price And Availability

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Unboxing And Hands-On Video

The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphone is offered in a single colour option which is black. The wireless headphones are priced at Rs 1599 and will go on sale on MI.com starting from July 23rd.

All in all, the newly launched earphone seem like a worthwhile pair of aggressively priced wireless earphones and they are a significant step up over the previously launched Mi Bluetooth Headset Wireless.
July 17, 2019