If you are one of those people who loved playing Pokémon as a kid, chances are that your brain is wired in a certain way that enables you to respond more intuitively to cartoon characters than other pictures. As per the latest investigation performed by researchers at Stanford reveals that people who played Pokémon in their childhood exhibit preferential activation to Pokémon characters. The game may have affected the human brain after all.
Scientists found out that a certain area of the brain behind the ears responded more in case of avid Pokémon fans than those who did not play the game at all. It is already known that humans have specific areas of the brain dedicated to recognizing numbers, words, images and faces. For instance, the human brain responds differently to celebrities like Morgan Freeman, Tom Cruise than it does to other people. Scientists at Stanford decided that to confirm the same study at a younger age, Pokémon fans are the most suited options, as they were already exposed to the game when they were quite young.
The existing theory was confirmed in terms that childhood exposure is in fact necessary in order to develop the regions of brain dedicated to recognition and experiential learning. The fold behind the ear, which is called the occipitotemporal responds to images of Pokémon in the same way as it responds to images of animals. Furthermore, researchers believe that the brain acts in a certain way that enables it to decide how to respond to a specific image.
Researchers state that the reason they chose Pokémon was not only because they are loved by kids, instead, owing to a multitude of characters associated with the universe, the Pokémon family was more suited to the same. Since the game rewards its players with in-game items, it creates a memory associated with the same that is tough to eradicate. Additionally, the researchers said that all the test subjects grew up to be very successful people. They all had PhDs, indicating that the game had no adverse effect of any kind on young brains during childhood.
Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi has been long awaited to launch a high-end smartphone that will pack flagship grade features. Past leaks claimed the handset would be called Redmi X. But, a fresh leak suggests that the previous leaks were offbeat and it might actually be called the “Redmi K20 Pro”. The protective sticker for the display of the device has been exposed which exhibits its key specifications that correspond to a flagship smartphone.
Redmi K20 Pro Features
The legitimacy of the leak cannot be verified, as the image was not shared by a renowned leakster. However, the quality of the leaked document states that it is indeed authentic. Subsequently, the Redmi K20 Pro runs on the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is also present devices like the Lenovo Z6 Pro, Xiaomi Black Shark 2 and Galaxy S10 (US variant). For photography, it sports a triple camera module which is comprised of a 48 MP sensor, a 20 MP sensor. While the details of the third sensor are unknown, it is likely to be a depth sensor or a TOF (Time Of Flight) sensor similar to one found on the Honor V20.
Leaked Redmi X
Talking about the display, the Redmi K20 Pro sports a 6.39 inch AMOLED display which is destined to have Full HD+ resolution. The leaked document reveals that the device is powered by a large 4,000 mAh battery. Noteworthy, it also supports 27 W fast charging which can speedily charge the device from zero to full. Other details including the price, resolution of front-facing selfie camera and storage variants will be publicised once it officially launches.
The highly anticipated OnePlus 7 lineup is all set to debut on May 14 2019. Amidst leaks and rumours, the devices have been speculated to have flagship-level specifications at competitive price points. On May 3 2019, two colour variants of the OnePlus 7 Pro were leaked, which were Mirror Grey and Nebula Blue. Allegedly, the smartphone was rumoured to have one more colour variant, known as Almond. In latest news, the aforementioned colour variant has been leaked in all its glory.
OnePlus 7 Pro: Specifications, Features & Availability
The Almond-coloured OnePlus 7 Pro resembles a “gold” shade and features similarly coloured accents on the edges of the smartphone. It will sport an all glass design on the front and back. Former leaks suggest that the smartphone will have a 6.7-inch Optic AMOLED display with 3120 x 1440 px resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. Eliminating the “notch”, the smartphone will use a pop-up camera mechanism to house the selfie camera. For security detail, it will feature an in-display fingerprint scanner along with face unlock technology.
On the inside, the OnePlus 7 Pro will pack the 7nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC, which is featured on other flagship devices like LG G8 ThinQ and Samsung Galaxy S10+(US). It will have a triple rear camera module, consisting of a 48 MP (f/1.7) sensor, 16 MP (f/2.2) ultra wide sensor and a third 8 MP (f/ 2.4) sensor. For selfies, the device will boast of an f/2.0 aperture equipped 16 MP camera housed in the elevating pop-up mechanism. Noteworthy, the device will have Ultra Fast Storage (UFS) 3.0 standard and a USB Type-C port.
The OnePlus 7 Pro will pack a 4000 mAh battery with support for 30W Warp charging. Rumours suggest that that the device may be launched alongside a 5G variant, which will mark the next generation of connectivity standard for the smartphone. As mentioned previously, the device will make its way into markets on May 14, 2019. The device will be available in three RAM and storage variants. Prices for the same were leaked beforehand, which are given below:
Xiaomi launched the Black Shark 2 gaming smartphone at an event in China on the 18th of March. The device succeeds the Black Shark Helo launched last year as the top end handset from the company made for mobile gaming. Now, fresh leaks claim it is launching the device in the Indian market soon. The smartphone has passed the mandatory BIS certification in the country which suggests it may be announced later this month.
About the BIS Certification
The Bureau of India Standards (BIS) has certified the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 with the model number SKW-HO. BIS is a national standard body of India which is responsible for providing certification to certain products. It is often seen as a means for providing a third-party guarantee of quality and reliability of the products. While the BIS certification is voluntary in nature, the government of India has made it mandatory for certain products citing public health hazards.
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
The Xiaomi Black Shark 2, like its predecessors, has an unconventional design language with a distinctive pattern on the rear and a large screen display on the front. It measures 163.61 x 75.01 x 8.77 mm from all sides and weighs in at a hefty 205 grams. It sports a 6.39 inch AMOLED display which is surrounded by minimal bezels on all sides. The smartphone’s display has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px and a pixel density of 403 ppi. The display panel can reach brightness levels of up to 430 nits and has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Noteworthy, the AMOLED display also supports pressure sensitive controls which means the amount of pressure applied to the screen while playing games would affect the on-screen controls. For securely and swiftly unlocking the device, it features an in display fingerprint sensor.
Under the hood, the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 is kitted with the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is comprised of an Octa-Core CPU and the Adreno 640 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone has a dual rear camera setup which consists of a 48 MP sensor combined with a 12 MP sensor and an LED Flash which can capture 2160p videos at 30 fps. It also has a 20 MP front-facing selfie camera which is placed in the bezel above the display. The front camera can capture 1080p videos at 30 fps. For memory and storage, the device is expected to be available in the following variants.
6 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM
8 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM
12 GB RAM + 256 GB ROM
The Xiaomi Black Shark 2 is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery which supports up to 27 W wired fast charging. Connectivity options on the handset include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Dual 4G VoLTE and GPS. To keep the temperature of the device under check while running heavy games, it also has a vapour cooling chamber.
Since the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 has passed the mandatory BIS certification, the Indian launch of the smartphone seems imminent. Furthermore, the company started its operations in the country a while ago; which may be another indication of the approaching announcement. Unfortunately, details about its pricing are not known yet, but taking the price of the Chinese variant into consideration, it is expected to start at Rs. 33,000.
Google will host the Google I/O 2019 event from May 7-9 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View in California, USA. It is the company’s annual developers event where it showcases its software prowess to the world. While the schedule for the three-day event has been released, it is anyone’s guess what Google has in store for us. Here is what to expect from Google I/O 2019.
Android Q
One of the highlights of the Google I/O 2019 is expected to be the next generation of Android, the Android Q. As two beta versions of the mobile operating systems have already been released, Google may announce the third beta on the first day of the event. Like it did last year, smartphones from more companies than before may be added to the list. While what devices will be added is not known yet, it is reported that handsets from Samsung, LG, Motorola and Huawei may be the lucky ones to get Android Q Beta 3.
Android Q is alleged to be a major change over its predecessor, Android Pie. The first two beta builds of the software insinuate it will bring over many highly anticipated features like dark mode, new navigation gestures and a new update delivery system. However, no major design overhaul is expected from the upcoming version of Android. It is also reported that Google will launch the final, stable build of the software for compatible smartphones starting the month of August later this year. Maybe then we will finally know which desert starts from the letter Q; Android Quiche maybe?
Pixel 3a, 3a XL
While Google is not known to launch any hardware at the Google I/O event, it is almost confirmed the company is all set to change the unwritten rule. Two new mid-range Google smartphones, allegedly called the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are expected to be announced on the first day of the event. These devices will be the watered down variants of the flagship Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL handsets respectively. The upcoming smartphones will be significantly affordable than their siblings which may make them more desirable.
Leaked details about the Pixel 3a, 3a XL direct towards a polycarbonate body instead of a glass and metal construction as seen in their siblings. Like the Pixel 3 XL, none of the smartphones will feature a notch in their displays. Surprisingly, the devices may also bring back the 3.5mm headphone jack, which was removed starting the Pixel 2 lineup. Other leaked specifications of the handsets include the Snapdragon 670 SoC, 4 GB RAM, 64GB Internal Storage and clean, a stock build of Android with guaranteed software updates for three years.
Google Nest Hub
Google Home, Home Mini
Google acquired the smart home company Nest in the year 2014. And since last year, it has started branding itself in the company’s products lineup. It is expected that with the Pixel 3a series, a new smart speaker with a display may also be announced. This device is allegedly called the Google Nest Hub and it will an upgrade to the Home Hub smart speaker announced last year. It may have an 8 inch or bigger display which will support touch input and will feature the Google Assistant. Unlike the Home Hub, the Nest Hub is expected to have a front facing camera which will help in video calls and facial recognition features.
Google Stadia
Google bowled everyone over when it showcased Stadia, a cloud gaming service for every smart device available on the market. While the concept of the service was innovative and never seen before, no details were provided at the previous event. It is thus expected that the technology giant will finally elaborate on its take on the future of gaming. Google Stadia was announced to be ready by the end of this year, so the company might finally have some answers to the plethora of questions that the sceptical audiences have about the service.
Each year, senior Google executives get on stage and discuss the things the company has improved with the Google Assistant. The digital voice assistant from the company saw the addition of the Duplex feature last year. It let the smartphone make dinner reservations or book an appointment for the user with an eerie, human-like voice. The concept worked great in the demos and was later rolled out to selected users in the US and Canada. It is thus expected that the company will either announce the expansion of the service to more countries around the globe; or blow everyone’s mind once again with a similarly innovative offering.
Apple is set to kickstart its developer’s conference, called WWDC on the 3rd of June this year. Like previous years, the company will announce the latest version of iOS, the operating system used in the iPhones and iPads. Likely to be called iOS 13, it is supposed to bring about a ton of changes to the software. A freshly shared report by Bloomberg, details what alterations and additions to expect from the new OS.
iOS 13: Expectations?
The upcoming iOS 13 as previously mentioned, will include a variety of changes in the operating system. One predominant change that the update will introduce is support for dark mode. However, this mode will be called ‘Black and Grey’ and the control for toggling the mode will reside in the control center. Other notable changes are expected to be as follows:
Updated Health App- With the upcoming iOS 13, the Health app will get a new screen that displays the daily health of the user. In addition, the application will also track new metrics including the loudness of the music the users listens and bring extensive support for menstrual cycling tracking.
Updated Reminders App- A simple addition yet an important one. The updated app will be redesigned to add a grid layout with sections which will reflect tasks for the day, flagged tasks and scheduled tasks.
iMessage Update- Even though Whatsapp, owned by Facebook is one of the largest internet messaging (IM) platform, the iMessage exclusive to Apple maintains its dominance. With iOS 13 update, the application will allow users to set a profile picture to their account which is unavailable as of now.
Other notable features include sticker versions of Animojis and Memojis, block incoming email from certain contacts in the Mail app, option for frequently visited locations in Maps.
The report also highlights that the company will launch a new sleep mode that will automatically darken the lock screen as the night falls. The clock alarm will get the new option for bedtime alarm which as the name suggests will work as a sleep reminder.
Apple Home app will have better integration with security cameras and allows users to view the past recording. Limited to the iPad, the iOS update may redesign the multitasking screen and multi-window support on the tablet. Noteworthy, iPhone’s inbuilt browser, Safari will get support for a dedicated download manager.
WatchOS is the operating system that runs on the Apple watch, which is one of the most popular smartwatches in the world. The WatchOS 6 is also reported to bring a multitude of changes to the smart wearable. It will gain a dedicated App Store which will make it even more independent of the iPhone. The company will be proving a wide number of new apps the Apple Watch including Apple Books, Calculator, Voice Memos, and health apps ‘Dose’ and ‘Cycles’ for tracking medication.
Search engine giant, Google has been long rumoured to launch affordable smartphones in its Pixel 3 lineup. The existence of the anticipated devices soon came after the launch of the standard Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL back in 2018. And the interim may finally come to an end with the upcoming Google I/O which will kick of on the 7th of May. A combination of leaks (1,2)and reports suggest that the company will launch two devices at the upcoming event which will carry the Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL moniker. A day before the event initiate, details about the Pixel 3a XL have surfaced. The teaser posted on the source website reveals both the price and key specifications for the upcoming handset
Google Pixel 3a XL Features
According to the source, the Google Pixel 3a XL sports a 6.0 inch display that has Full HD+ resolution. Under the hood, the upcoming smartphone packs the Qualcomm 710 SoC which consists of an Octa-Core CPU and Adreno 616 GPU. Noteworthy, previous leaks suggest that the device will be kitted with the Snapdragon 670. Therefore, the validity of this feature is yet to be confirmed.
Moving forward, the leak claims that the Google Pixel 3a XL will have a USB Type C port and it will support 18 W fast charging. One key highlighting feature of the Pixel smartphones have always been their camera performance and the upcoming devices will be no exception. The upcoming smartphone is reported to feature a single 12.2 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front-facing selfie camera. In terms of memory and storage, the Pixel 3a XL is claimed to have 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB storage which should be taken a pinch of salt. As even the flagship grade, Pixel 3 XL is not offered with this high capacity of RAM and it maxes out at 4 GB.
The source claims that the Google Pixel 3a XL will have an MRP of Rs 44,999 but the actual sale price is expected to be lower than that. All in all, the exact specifications and price of the Pixel 3a XL and Pixel 3a duo will be unveiled at the Google I/O event which is scheduled for tomorrow. Therefore, we won’t have to wait for long.
As an increasing number of Smartphone OEMs eliminate the 3.5mm headphone jack from their devices, the demand for wireless headsets has risen subsequently. However, a pair of Bluetooth enabled wireless headset is comparatively expensive than its wired counterpart. If you are on the hunt for a pair of affordable truly wireless earphones, we have made the choice easier for you. Here are the best truly wireless earphones available in India under Rs. 2,500.
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X1T Wireless Earbuds
The X1T truly wireless earbuds are available from a range of different manufacturers, each at a different price. The package contains two earbuds which don’t ship with a charging case and instead use an old Nokia style charging port. There is a different version with a charging case available, but it is slightly expensive. If you’re ready to overlook this negative, the pairing mechanism is quick and easy. There are additional eartips inside the box which should make them comfortable to wear for most people. The manufacturer claims a battery life of around 5 hours but in our testing, the music playback time was found to be around 2.5 hours. The sound quality of the earphones is surprisingly good, with balanced sound output and not so punchy bass.
Noise Shots
Noise is a renowned Indian company that makes affordable wearable products. The Noise Shots are the company’s most affordable truly wireless earphones. They ship with a metal charging case that can charge the earphones by connecting magnetically. Each earbud is well built, with metal and plastic design. Noise claims a battery life of 2.5 hours on continuous use of the Shots with an additional 10 hours with the charging case. The earbuds are also IPX4 rated, which makes them a good companion for fitness enthusiasts as they are sweat proof. Additional eartips are provided in the box to maximise comfort while wearing the headsets. Talking about the sound quality, the Noise Shots can push out extremely loud volumes, bass and treble. The clarity is also quite impressive for the price.
Pebble Wireless Earbuds
Next up on our list are the Pebble Wireless Earbuds. Each earbud features a glossy design and is lightweight. Unique in the price range, the Pebble Truly Wireless Earphones have touch controls on each earbud which can be used to control music and calls. The earbuds ship with a charging case which can provide around seven full charges to the headsets. There are interchangeable eartips inside the box adjusting the fit accordingly. In terms of sound quality, the Pebble wireless earphones have a balanced sound output and can get pretty loud at maximum volumes.
Boult Tru5ive
The Boult Tru5ive is a great option for anyone looking to buy truly wireless earphones under Rs. 2,500 for many reasons. They are the only ones on the list to feature Bluetooth 5.0, which should provide better range and connectivity. For a better and comfortable fit, the earbuds have a lot of earhooks, wing tips and eartips in the box. The user can easily maximise the comfort by attaching the size which fits them the best. Due to a good fit and sweat resistance, the Tru5ive truly wireless earphones are a great buy for fitness enthusiasts. In terms of battery, the headsets last about 5 hours on music playback with an additional 3 charges that can be provided with the bundled charging case. In terms of sound quality, the Tru5ive has a good amount of bass and treble.
Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console is a renowned device for gaming enthusiasts. To ensure users with limited mobility can enjoy the games of their choice, the company launched the Adaptive controller for the Xbox One console last year. According to a fresh patent that Microsoft has been granted, it is revealed the company is working on another type of controller which is specifically designed for visually impaired gamers.
Xbox Braille Controller
Microsoft filed for a patent at the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) for a “Haptic Braille Output for a game controller”. The patent was published on the 2nd of May and showcases an Xbox controller with support for braille input that supports haptic feedback. Images in the patent present a special braille accessory which can be mounted on the rear of existing Xbox controllers which make it possible to input braille characters. The said accessory is comprised of six paddles and a display, which can show texts or audio in braille. So, for example, a visually impaired gamer can still participate in a chat session with other gamers. For those unaware, Braille is a tactile reading and writing language developed by Louis Braille, a French educator. The language is widely accepted as the standard for the visually impaired.
The patented Xbox game controller from Microsoft is also showcased to recognise speech commands and converting them into a text input. Furthermore, the braille controller may also be capable of giving vibration feedback which can be adjusted per game. As previously mentioned, it can be attached to the back of the controller and the functions can be mapped by the convenience of the gamer using the console, smartphone or PC. While the patent for a braille Xbox controller has been granted to Microsoft, when the company actually releases it is anyone’s guess.
For those interested, you can check out Microsoft’s patent here.
In the month of January, Xiaomi turned its Redmi lineup of smartphones into an independent brand. The newly separated company launched its first device in the form of Redmi Note 7 which due to its value for money made seismic waves in the budget smartphone segment. Apart from the not so strong plastic chassis, it scores well in all areas including looks and performance.
Wow! Congrats to the #Xiaomi global team for launching #RedmiNote7 into space and back … 35,000 meters above sea level, with external temp of -56°C, and still working perfectly! ??
A senior Xiaomi executive, Donovan Sung has shared a Tweet which boasts of the reliability and build quality of the Redmi Note 7. The Mi team launched a couple of units of the aforementioned smartphone into space which surprisingly made it’s way back to Earth in an unharmed condition. The whole stunt was performed with the help of a helium balloon which was attached to a contraption holding multiple units of the Redmi Note 7.
The Tweet highlights, the smartphones made their way into space with a recorded elevation of 35,000 metres above sea level. Noteworthy, the temperature the Redmi Note 7 units had to encounter at the height was -56 ° C which is far lower than most units would ever be exposed to. The whole act was performed in order to reflect the durability of the handset which it surely excelled at.
For reference, the Redmi Note 7 sports a 6.3 inch LCD display that has full HD resolution of 2340 x 1080 px and is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Under the hood, it features the Snapdragon 660 SoC that is comprised of an octa core CPU and Adreno 512 GPU. In term of optics, it has a dual rear camera setup which consists of 48 MP + 5 MP sensors (global variant) and a 13 MP selfie camera. It is powered by a large 4,000 mAh battery and runs on latest Android 9 Pie. For biometric security, the smartphone features a rear mounted fingerprint sensor.
Xiaomi launched the original Mi MIX in the year 2016 which is widely believed to have kickstarted the trend for bezel-less displays in smartphones. The series has since seen various design changes in its successors, the Mi MIX 2, Mi MIX 2S and the current Mi MIX 3.All the smartphones have adopted a unique technology to maximise the screen to body ratio. Now, key details of another flagship Xiaomi smartphone have leaked on Twitter. The device has been codenamed ‘Hercules’ and features top tier specifications. Reportedly, it will be the latest entrant in the Mi MIX lineup, purportedly called the Mi MIX 4.
As mentioned above, the upcoming Mi MIX 4 will be the next flagship offering from the company. The leaks claim it will be kitted with the current flagship SoC from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 855 which is comprised of an Octa-core GPU and the Adreno 640 GPU. It has been a constant in most flagship smartphones in 2019 such as the LG G8 ThinQ and Xiaomi’s own Mi 9. In terms of optics, the tipster claims the Mi MIX 4 will have a triple rear camera setup and a single front-facing camera. Unfortunately, more details including resolution and aperture size of the camera sensors are unknown at the moment. For biometric security and rapidly unlocking the handset, it is expected to sport an in display fingerprint scanner as seen on its predecessor.
The leak further claims the upcoming Mi MIX 4 flagship smartphone will have support for Near Field Communication (NFC) for data transfers and mobile payments. Like the Xiaomi Mi 9, it will also support wireless charging technology. Although not certain, it can have a hole punch display or a pop up selfie camera to maximise the screen real estate. It may also have the option for a ceramic back for select variants. Like all of its predecessors, Xiaomi is expected to launch the Mi MIX 4 in the Q4 of this year.
Chineses smartphone maker, OnePlus will soon launch its latest flagship smartphones which carry the OnePlus 7 and the OnePlus 7 Pro moniker. As the name suggests, the latter will be a specced up variant of the former. Over the last few weeks, the company has been dropping hints about notable features of the upcoming devices. A fresh Tweet shared by senior company executive reveals that the upcoming devices will have UFS 3.0 storage which is a novelty in the highly crowded smartphone industry. Noteworthy, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is the first handset to incorporate this feature. However, due to technical issues, the commercial launch of the handset has been moved indefinitely.
What Is UFS 3.0 and It’s Benefits
UFS 3.0, short for Universal Flash Storage 3.0 is a memory standard which aims to bring higher data transfer speed and increased reliability to consumer electronic devices like smartphones and digital cameras. Clearly, the higher data transfer speeds of the memory translate into faster data and application load times of devices incorporating it. Talking about the real world performance, UFS 3.0 storage supports bandwidth up to 1450 MB/S per lane. Accrediting to two separate lanes, it can provide a whopping speed of 2900 MB/s. As previously mentioned, UFS 3.0 provides considerably higher read and write speeds, the upcoming OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro will be significantly faster than its competitors.
OnePlus 7 Pro Features And Launch Date
Talking about the features, the upcoming OnePlus 7 Pro is confirmed to have a 90 Hz display which supports HDR 10+ content, a pop up selfie camera, triple rear cameras, and dust/water resistance. Whereas the list of unconfirmed features includes the Snapdragon 855 SoC, 4,000 mAh battery, 30 W warp charge and a stereo speakers.
All in all, the detailed specifications and price of the OnePlus 7 and the OnePlus 7 Pro will be unveiled at the official launch event which is scheduled for the 14th of May.
American electronics giant Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones and updated variants of the iPad Pro tablets later this year. The latest research note from renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, he predicts both the smartphones and tablets will make use of new antenna technology. According to Kuo, who has been notably accurate with his leaks in the past, the iPhones and iPads will shift from using the Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) design to the Modified-PI material antennas when they launch later in 2019. The shift to the new antenna technology is expected to make mobile networks indoors more reliable.
LCP vs. MPI Antennas
As mentioned above, Apple will shift the antenna design in its upcoming devices from LCP to MPI material. LCP or Liquid Crystal Polymer design of the antenna is a low cost organic flexible layer that has some unique electrical properties making it suitable for antennae. It also behaves consistently across the entire radio frequency range, has a very low signal loss, making it useful for the application of 5G, the next generation of mobile connectivity. The LCP material is vastly seen in the application in products like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and mobile phones.
Modified-PI material for antennae, on the other hand, offers the same performance but are significantly more affordable. Interestingly, Apple uses six LCP antennas in its current generation of iPhones, namely the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR. These six antennas will be replaced by two MPI and four LCP antennas in the upcoming iPhones and iPads. However, the analyst claims Apple will make use of the LCP antennas primary in the year 2020. This is because of the advantage of the technology for use in 5G devices, which the company is expected to introduce starting next year. Apple is expected to launch the new iPhones in the month of September later this year, while the iPad Pro is expected to be unveiled at the end of this year or early next year.
Chinese manufacturer OnePlus is gearing up for the launch of the OnePlus 7 lineup on May 14, 2019, and rumours surrounding the pricing of the smartphone are in full swing. The device will be unveiled at simultaneously occurring events in the United States, United Kingdom and India. A major chunk of all specifications have already been leaked for the same, and as per latest reports, the Indian pricing for the same has been leaked on Twitter.
Sources reveal that the OnePlus 7 Pro will be available in three different variants, and the prices of the same are listed below:
6GB/128GB: INR 49,999 ($723)
8GB/256GB: INR 52,999 ($766)
12GB/256GB: INR 57,999 ($838)
OnePlus 7 Pro: Features And Specifications
The OnePlus 7 Pro will be the specced up variant of the regular OnePlus 7, sporting an all glass design on the front and back with a metal chassis to provide reinforcement. Previous leaks suggest that the smartphone will have a 6.7-inch Optic AMOLED display with a resolution 3120 x 1440 px and a 90Hz refresh rate. The OnePlus 7 Pro will use a pop-up camera mechanism which will house the front camera. Regarding biometrics, it will feature an in-display fingerprint scanner along with the support for face unlock technology for additional security.
The OnePlus 7 Pro will run on the 7nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC. It will have a triple rear camera module, comprised of an f/1.7 aperture equipped 48 MP sensor, an f/2.2 aperture equipped 16 MP ultra wide sensor and an f/ 2.4 aperture equipped 8 MP sensor. For selfies, the device will boast of a f/2.0 aperture equipped 16 MP camera housed in the aforementioned pop-up mechanism. Reportedly, the device will have Ultra Fast Storage (UFS) 3.0 standard and a USB Type-C port.
The OnePlus 7 Pro will pack a 4000 mAh battery with support for 30W Warp charging. It is also speculated that the device may be launched alongside a 5G variant, which will mark the next generation of connectivity standard for the smartphone. Additionally, on May 3, 2019, the company held a OnePlus 7 Pro pre-booking event for interested customers on popular e-commerce website, Amazon.
Chinese electronics giant Huawei was earlier reported to be working on a smartphone with a pop-up selfie camera. The device allegedly called the P Smart Z is supposed to be the first smartphone from the company to have a mechanical pop-up mechanism to house the front camera. The specifications of the device indicated that it will target the midrange smartphone segment. Recent leaks point towards the fact that the company will release another smartphone with similar hardware specifications to the P Smart Z, and it is called the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019.
Huawei Y9 Prime 2019: Specifications, Features
Regarding the rumoured specifications of the the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019, it features a 6.59 inch LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The device will have a screen-to-body ratio of 91.006% which is achieved due to the pop-up camera mechanism. The leaks further state that its display panel has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px and pixel density of 391 ppi.
Huawei P Smart Z Render
Under the hood, the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 packs the 12nm HiSilicon Kirin 710F chipset, which consists of an octa-core CPU and the Mali-G51 MP4 GPU. The smartphone will be available with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM, which will further be expandable up to 512GB via microSD card. It will powered by a massive 4,000 mAh battery. In terms of biometric security options, it will feature a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Furthermore, Huawei has included the 3.5mm headphone jack in the Y9 Prime 2019.
Huawei P Smart Z Renders
In terms of optics, the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 differs from the P Smart Z in the aspect that it features a triple rear camera module instead of the dual camera setup in the latter. It comprises of a 16MP (f/1.8) main sensor, a wide 8MP (f/2.4) sensor and a third 2MP (f/2.4) depth sensor. The smartphone has a 16MP (f/2.2) selfie camera which is housed in the aforementioned pop-up camera mechanism. Additionally, the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 will feature a USB Type-C connector.
The rumoured price of the smartphone is below US$ 300, which pitches it against devices like the Oppo F11 Pro and Vivo V15 Pro. The exact release date of the smartphone is not available as of now, but the Chinese company is expected to make an announcement regarding the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 very soon.