Redmi Note 10 Pro Max said to join the vanilla Note 10 and Note 10 Pro at March 4 launch

Xiaomi has managed to keep a surprisingly tight lid on Redmi Note 10 details thus far. As far as official info goes, we know that the announcement date is set for March 4 and we have a short and basic list of some things to expect. Notably - Gorilla Glass protection, IP52 rating, and at least on one of the models - a flat display, with a punch hole selfie, a curved back and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. As per some new industry insider info, we now believe that the Redmi Note 10 series will include at least a trio of devices - the vanilla model, which is likely the one on the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_note_10_pro_max_said_to_join_the_vanilla_note_10_and_note_10_pro_at_march_4_launch-news-47854.php

Redmi K40 banners reveal the series will feature 120Hz Samsung E4 material OLED panels

As we draw closer and closer to Xiaomi's February 25 unveiling event for the Redmi K40 series of devices, more and more official posters are popping-up online to serve as nifty little teasers. Yesterday we got a close-up look at the AI triple camera setup on the back of what we can only assume will be the Redmi K40 Pro. Today brings another official poster, this time revealing that the K40 family uses Samsung's new E4 material OLED panels. Redmi K40 banner For those of you wondering exactly what this means, simply-put, E4 denotes a new generation of materials Samsung is using to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_k40_banners_reveal_the_series_will_feature_120hz_samsung_e4_material_oled_panels-news-47850.php

Realme Narzo 30A key specs revealed by Geekbench

Realme is set to introduce the Buds Air 2 TWS earphones, Narzo 30A, and Narzo 30 Pro on February 24. The company has already confirmed the Narzo 30 Pro will be powered by the Dimensity 800U SoC but didn't reveal what chipset the Narzo 30A will have under the hood. However, thanks to Geekbench, we now know the Narzo 30A will come with the Helio G85 SoC - the same chip that powers the Narzo 20, sold as Realme 7i in Europe. The benchmark database also reveals that Narzo 30A (RMX3171) will run Android 10 out of the box and have 4GB RAM onboard. Although there could be other memory options as...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_narzo_30a_specs_geekbench-news-47849.php

Realme GT 5G tipped to come in Bumblebee leather variant, AnTuTu confirms 120Hz screen

The Realme GT 5G is coming on March 4, which the company today confirmed will pack a Snapdragon 888 SoC, LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 storage. Realme confirms SD888, LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 storage on GT 5G While Realme hasn't detailed the GT 5G's specs, its VP Mr. Xu Qi Chase posted a screenshot of the phone's AnTuTu results on Weibo with a score of 770,221, which is about 35,000 more than what Qualcomm's reference device with Snapdragon 888 achieved. Realme GT 5G's AnTuTu results shared by Realme VP Mr. Xu Qi Chase However, soon after Mr. Chase shared the benchmark results,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_gt_5g_key_specs_antutu-news-47848.php

Deal: the Galaxy Note20 5G is a whopping £400 off in the UK

The non-Ultra Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G was a very weird device when it launched last year, downgrading a lot of components compared to the Note20 Ultra 5G, but keeping the price very high, if not quite as high as that model. We're not sure how many people have, in the UK for example, chosen to shell out a whopping £949, which is what the initial price for the Note20 5G was. If you aren't one of those people, but still would consider the Note20 if it was cheaper, well then here's the deal of the year for you. Right now, you can pick up a brand new and unlocked Note20 5G for a mere £549.17...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_the_galaxy_note20_5g_is_a_whopping__pound400_off_in_the_uk-news-47847.php

WhatsApp explains what happens to people who won't agree to its privacy changes

Back in January, WhatsApp stirred up a huge backlash after announcing that it would be forcing its users to agree to new terms and conditions for its privacy policy. The updated wording made people think Facebook would get the contents of their chats, or something like that - which is funny because while that's not true for WhatsApp, it is for Facebook Messenger, and there was never a backlash about that service, was there? Anyway, after the internet exploded and people started moving to services like Telegram, which are actually less privacy-secure than WhatsApp (if we're talking access...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_explains_what_happens_to_people_who_wont_agree_to_its_privacy_changes-news-47846.php

Apple may launch a MagSafe battery pack for iPhones

According to Bloomberg sources, Apple is working on a new MagSafe accessory for the iPhone 12. A magnetically attached battery pack would let iPhone users easily piggyback a battery pack to juice up the battery. The advantage with MagSafe is that magnets would easily align the charger pack to the back of the phone. With the iPhone 12, Apple brought back the MagSafe name sake to use on a new ecosystem of iPhone accessories from wireless charging pads, to cases and wallets that are held to an iPhone by magnets. All four iPhone 12 variants support MagSafe. According to the source,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_may_launch_a_magsafe_battery_pack_for_iphones-news-47844.php

Android 12 Developer Preview arrives with a bunch of UI changes, new features, and improvements

As of Thursday, the next version of Android has official begun its cycle, though it’s still in the earliest stage: the first Developer Preview build of Android 12 has arrived and it reveals much about the next major update to Google’s smartphone OS. Frankly, there are too many new features to cover in a single post, but we’ll make some notable mentions here. There’s a one-handed mode that’s not enabled just yet, but the feature seems to be on its way to the final version of Android 12. First look at One-Handed Mode settings on Android 12 - confirmed it's in the works!...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_12_developer_preview_arrives_with_a_bunch_of_ui_changes_new_features_and_improvements-news-47845.php

Nikkei: Huawei will cut phone production by more than half in 2021

Huawei is resolved not to sell its phone division, but it will not be easy going – the company is preparing for tough times ahead. Nikkei reports that the telecommunications giant has notified its component suppliers that it will build far fewer phones this year than it did in 2020. Huawei will reportedly order enough components for 70-80 million for the whole year. That’s a 60% drop from the 189 million units it shipped last year, which was already a sizable decrease from the 240 million phones sold in 2019. The product mix will be affected as well, skewing away from the high end....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nikkei_huawei_will_cut_phone_production_by_more_than_half_in_2021-news-47843.php

YouTube for Android now giving 4K playback option even if don't have a 4K screen

An interesting change in the YouTube Android app now lets some users playback videos at up to 4K resolution at 60FPS with HDR on devices with lower res-displays. The new feature is seemingly a server-side update as I’m using version 15.05.35 of the YouTube app and not the latest 15.06.35 build which released on February 13. Last year the iOS YouTube also app gained 4K playback with the rollout of iOS 14. Newly added 2160p playback option in YouTube app In my personal testing with a Galaxy S10e playback at 2160p worked well though when I switched to a Galaxy Tab S5e playback fared...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_for_android_showing_4k_playback_option_for_some_users-news-47842.php

Microsoft Office 2021 is coming for Windows and macOS later this year

Microsoft has announced that its next installment of Office is coming later this year. Microsoft Office 2021 is coming to Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) and macOS devices and is the pay-once-and-have-for-life office suite, not the subscription-based Office 365, where Microsoft invests most of its time and energy. While Microsoft didn't detail all the changes to Office 2021 just yet, it did mention that Dark Mode will be supported and it will add Dynamic Arrays and XLOOKUP to Excel. Both Office 2021 and Office LTSC (long-term servicing channel) for businesses will be supported just 5...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_office_2021_is_coming_for_windows_and_macos_later_this_year-news-47839.php

vivo iQOO Neo5 live image leaks, reveals a waterdrop notch

The vivo iQOO Neo5 smartphone was said to arrive next month with a Snapdragon 870 chipset, and today a live image of the phone appeared online. The device runs Origin OS, based on Android 11, and will have an 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The image also reveals the selfie camera on the flat front is mounted on a waterdrop notch. The image also says the iQOO Neo5 will have "8+3GB RAM". Sources claim vivo managed to develop a so-called “fusion technology” that is dumping some of the RAM-allocated memory to the storage chip, freeing up space when needed without losing the state of the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_iqoo_neo5_live_image_leaks_reveals_a_waterdrop_notch-news-47834.php

Apple TV app now available on Google TV

Google has announced that the Apple TV app is coming to the Google TV platform. The app is currently available on the recently launched Chromecast with Google TV media player, along with Google TV models from Sony and TCL. Android TV models will get it in the future. The Apple TV app includes all of Apple's online video streaming content, including movies and TV shows purchased from the iTunes store as well as the Apple TV+ streaming service. If this app is anything like on other non-Apple devices, then you won't be able to purchase any new content but you can access everything in your...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_tv_app_now_available_on_google_tv-news-47835.php

ZTE will debut second-gen under-display camera at MWC Shanghai

After bringing the first mass-market smartphone with an under-display camera, ZTE is gearing up to showcase its second-gen implementation at the upcoming MWC Shanghai. The conference will take place between February 23 – 25 and ZTE’s rumored Axon 30 Pro could very well be the device to showcase the new UD development. Ni Fei post on Weibo The news was announced via a Weibo post by ZTE's President of Mobile Devices Ni Fei and also mentions that ZTE will present the world’s first under-screen 3D structured light technology. It remains to be seen how this implementation will be used...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/zte_will_debut_secondgen_underdisplay_camera_at_mwc_shanghai-news-47837.php

Key OnePlus 9 specs confirmed in AIDA64 screenshots

There are OnePlus 9 units out there and that has been the cause of constant leaks. The latest comes from @TechDroider who posted screenshots of AIDA64 running on one of those units, which confirms the key specs of the phone. The vanilla OnePlus will feature a 6.55” display with 1080p+resolution (20:9). The screen will support 120 Hz refresh rate – basically, not much will change compared to the 8T. The chipset will change though, it’s the brand new Snapdragon 888 (code name “Lahaina”). This particular unit was equipped with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage. The Pro model is expected to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/key_oneplus_9_specs_confirmed_in_aida64_screenshots-news-47836.php

Samsung may be making an Android Wear smartwatch

A controversial new rumor has been shared by typically reliable tipster Ice universe that Samsung's next watch will replace Tizen with Android. This isn't the first time we're hearing of Samsung using Android Wear OS in place of Tizen - Evan Blass reported Samsung employees using Wear OS watches back in 2018. But all the watches that have come from Samsung since have been Tizen-powered and the consensus has been that they're better than their Android counterparts. So we are seriously doubting that Samsung is working to replace its successful Tizen OS for Wear OS. Samsung's new watch...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_may_be_making_an_android_wear_smartwatch-news-47832.php

Huawei P50 supply reduced and delivery delayed, reports reveal

Huawei traditionally unveils the P series in the first quarter of the calendar year, but according to recent reports, this might not be the case in 2021. An insider from the Huawei supply chain revealed orders for components are lower this time, and also there are delays in supplying them, which will affect the overall availability of the devices. Huawei P40 Pro, P40 Pro+, and P40 The Huawei P50 lineup is going to include at least three phones - a vanilla P50 with a Kirin 9000E chipset; a P50 Pro and a P50 Pro+, both running the Kirin 9000 chip, manufactured with Arm...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p50_supply_reduced_and_delivery_delayed_reports_reveal-news-47831.php

DxOMark: ZTE Axon 20 5G selfie cam is a big letdown

ZTE made headlines last year when it announced its Axon 20 5G - the first commercially-available phone with an under display selfie camera. Being a first-gen product one could imagine that the implementation is far from perfect when it comes to image quality and the latest DxOMark review certainly confirms this. The Axon 20 5G scored a measly 26 points, the second-lowest score seen in DxO’s database. ZTE Axon 20 5G scorecard The only bright spots for the Axons 20’s 32MP f/2.0 selfie snapper are that it delivered stable exposure and focus. Everything else was various levels of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/dxomark_zte_axon_20_5g_selfie_cam_is_a_big_letdown-news-47830.php

Realme Buds Air 2 specs confirmed: 25 dB ANC, 25-hour battery, low latency mode

Realme is drumming up a lot of buzz for the February 24 launch of its Buds Air 2 TWS headset. They will be tuned by electronic DJs The Chainsmokers and promise the best in class active noise cancellation (ANC). Here’s an overview of the headset from the event page. Realme Buds Air 2: 25 dB ANC and 88 ms low latency mode • 25 hour battery life and 10 mm drivers The ANC is rated at 25 dB, compared to 35 dB for the Realme Buds Air Pro. Of course, the Pro are priced INR 5,000/€90 and the Air 2 will be more affordable (the actual price will be announced at the event). The original Air...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_buds_air_2_specs_confirmed_25_db_anc_25_hour_battery_life_88_ms_low_latency_mode-news-47833.php

vivo is entering the Romanian and Czech markets, Serbia and Austria to follow

Late last year vivo announced that it is entering six European markets, the plan for 2021 is to double that and have official vivo presence in 12 countries. Romania and Czechia are first in line and will be followed by Serbia and Austria before the end of June. The company is promising to bring premium smartphones, ones with advanced camera systems co-designed with ZEISS. No names were named in the press release, but there are really only three options – the vivo X60 and X60 Pro and the X60 Pro+. vivo X60 5G • vivo X60 Pro 5G • vivo X60 Pro+ 5G Of course, there’s no guarantee...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_is_entering_the_romanian_and_czech_markets_serbia_and_austria_to_follow-news-47829.php

Oppo Find X3 Pro to have two Sony IMX766 sensors, Find X3 incoming with SD870

Oppo is going to introduce the Find X3 lineup next month. Latest rumors from China claim the Find X3 Pro flagship will have two custom-made IMX766 sensors by Sony - one for the main wide-angle camera, the other for the ultra-wide-angle shooter. The phone will also boast some impressive macro photography credentials, a leaked image suggests. The Find X3 Pro, hidden behind the model number PEEM00, appeared on Geekbench, revealing a 12GB RAM option - nothing extraordinary, since the Find X2 Pro also had it. Oppo Find X3 Pro on Geekbench At the same time, what is likely the Find X3...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_find_x3_pro_to_have_two_sony_imx766_sensors_find_x3_incoming_with_sd870-news-47827.php

Xiaomi Mi 11 to hit its first overseas markets on February 25

Originally announced in December of last year for the Chinese market and then globally earlier this month, Xiaomi’s Mi 11 flagship will go on sale in the first wave of Asian countries next wek. Xiaomi’s Facebook pages in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam confirmed first sales will commence on February 25. Each country’s page will hold an online conference which you can tune in and follow live. Xiaomi Singapore post In the meantime, you can check out our Xiaomi Mi 11 written review for our detailed impressions of this year’s Xiaomi flagship. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_11_to_hit_its_first_overseas_markets_on_february_25-news-47828.php

Motorola Moto E7 Power announced with 6.5" screen and 5,000 mAh battery

The Motorola Moto E7 Power we've been hearing about for a few weeks made its debut today in India. The Moto E7 Power is built around a 6.5" 20:9 HD+ display with a waterdrop notch for the 5MP selfie camera. It is powered by the Helio G25 SoC, boots to Android 10, and has two memory options - 2GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB. It also has a microSD card slot which allows storage expansion by up to 1TB. The Moto E7 Power's rear panel is home to a fingerprint reader and a dual camera setup comprising a 13MP primary and 2MP macro units. The Moto E7 Power also has a dedicated Google Assistant...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_e7_power_specs_price_sale_datenews-news-47826.php

Asus ROG Phone 5 is coming on March 10

Yesterday Asus confirmed its upcoming ROG phone will be called ROG Phone 5 skipping the number 4, and today the company revealed the ROG Phone 5 will be unveiled on March 10. Asus has set up an event page on its website with a countdown to the launch event. It will begin at 7PM (UTC+8) in Taipei and 12AM (UTC+1) in Berlin. And if you are in New York, it will start at 6AM (UTC-5) on March 9. The event page doesn't divulge anything about the ROG Phone 5, but Geekbench revealed the smartphone will run Android 11 and have a Snapdragon 888 SoC at the helm with two RAM options - 8GB and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_rog_phone_5_launch_date-news-47824.php

Redmi K40 will have a triple camera, official poster confirms

The Xiaomi Redmi K40 series is scheduled to arrive on February 25, and today the brand has posted a new teaser of the launch, revealing the camera setup of the phones. We’re looking at an “AI triple camera” that comes with two big cameras, positioned vertically, nestling two smaller horizontal holes in between them - one for a camera, the other for a microphone, but it could also be nothing, like one of the holes on the back of the Mi 10T series. The Redmi K40 phones were confirmed to run on Snapdragon 888 chipset, however, one leak suggested the flagship platform is reserved for the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_k40_will_have_a_triple_camera_official_poster_confirms-news-47825.php

Microsoft announces its next 21H1 update for Windows 10

In a blog post written by John Cable, Vice President, Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery, the next features to arrive in the next major Windows 10 update are briefly outlined. The focus for the 21H1 update is to improve on security, remote access, and quality. The most significant feature arriving to Windows 10 is the ability to set an external webcam as the default for Windows Hello facial authentication. This is particularly useful when using a mobile computer that already has a Windows Hello webcam built-in but you may have it docked to a desktop monitor and would like...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_announces_its_next_21h1_update_for_windows_10-news-47823.php

Realme GT 5G appears in 3C listing with 65W charging

The hype surrounding Realme's upcoming GT 5G (aka Realme Race) is growing by the day as we await its March 4 announcement. We first reported on the Snapdragon 888-powered device back in December and now we have a listing that confirms the phone will ship with 65W charging capabilities. Realme RMX2202 listing on 3C database The info comes from China’s 3C certification agency revealing a Realme device with the same RMX2202 model number seen in previous TENAA listing from earlier this month. This info comes after previous speculations suggested the GT 5G would debut with Realme’s...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_gt_5g_appears_in_3c_listing_with_65w_charging_-news-47822.php

Infinix Note 10 Pro pops up on Geekbench

Hong Kong-based smartphone maker Infinix Mobile is about to add a new phone to its Note lineup. The Infinix Note 10 Pro was spotted on Geekbench with MediaTek’s Helio G90T chipset and 8GB RAM. The phone managed 433 points in the single-core department and 1,125 points on the multi-core test. The listing also revealed the device boots Android 11. Infinix Note 10 Pro Geekbench listing The upcoming phone was also spotted on the FCC database a while ago bearing the X695 model number. That listing revealed it will pack dual-band Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity, 256GB storage and 33W...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/infinix_note_10_pro_pops_up_on_geekbench-news-47820.php

Caviar custom PlayStation 5 will cost $500,000, will be covered with 4.5 kg of gold

Late last year Caviar decided to get out of its comfort zone of making bejeweled smartphones and announced a gilded PlayStation 5 console dubbed “Golden Rock” because of its characteristic appearance. Nine consoles will be made with a starting price of $499,000. No, not a typo, that’s half a million dollars. And if you’re thinking that no one will pay that much, you’d be wrong – apparently, the company has received 1,342 applications to buy one. Among those interested are basketball superstar LeBron James as well as “a well-known Russian businessman living outside Russia and an...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/caviar_custom_playstation_5_will_cost_500000_will_be_covered_with_45_kg_of_gold-news-47816.php

OnePlus Nord N10 gets February security patch with latest OxygenOS update

The latest OxygenOS update for the OnePlus Nord N10 5G brings network stability improvements, an updated GMS package which now sports version 2020.12 as well as the February security patch making it the first OnePlus device to do so. OxygenOS 10.5.10 update changelog The OxygenOS 10.5.10 update is rolling out to Global and European variants of the N10 5G and weighs in at 505 MB. The biggest change is the improvements to 5G connectivity and stability which was plaguing users. Unfortunately, the phone still boots Android 10 and there’s no info when we’ll see the promised Android 11...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_nord_n10_gets_february_security_patch_with_latest_oxygenos_update-news-47817.php

Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G is now receiving stable Android 11 update (still based on MIUI 12)

Earlier this month Xiaomi started rolling out the stable Android 11 update for the Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro, now their Mi 10T Lite 5G sibling is joining the party with a release on the Global Stable channel. This means that the Mi 10i 5G, which is essentially the same phone, should get the OTA update soon as well. This update – V12.0.2.0.RJSMIXM – pushes the Android version up to 11, however, MIUI remains at version 12.0. MIUI 12.5 is coming to the device, the official schedule shows that it will arrive in late Q2. Anyway, back to the current update. Its changelog is pretty laconic –...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_10t_lite_5g_is_now_receiving_stable_android_11_update_still_based_on_miui_12-news-47814.php

Oppo Find X3 Neo leaks in renders, might actually be the Reno5 Pro+

Oppo is expected to bring the Find X3 Lite and Find X3 Neo alongside the Find X3 Pro, and it looks both non-flagships are already out on the market under different names. The Find X3 Lite was discovered to be a rebranded Oppo Reno5 Pro, and today leaked renders of the Find X3 Neo confirmed it might well be a rebadged Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G. Oppo Find X3 Neo According to the Dutch source, these are the official press renders and they are pretty much the same as the Reno5 device, sans the wallpaper. We’re looking at a quad-cam setup on the back with a telephoto cam with optical zoom...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_find_x3_neo_leaks_in_renders_it_is_actually_the_reno5_pro_-news-47815.php

Microsoft gives older games FPS Boost on Xbox Series S and X with

Starting today, Microsoft has enabled FPS Boost for five popular titles on the new Xbox Series X and S consoles - Far Cry 4, New Super Lucky’s Tale, Sniper Elite 4, UFC 4, and Watch Dogs 2. FPS Boost will do what its name suggests - boost the frames per second anywhere from twice to four times. That means that a game like UFC 4 can now run at 60fps, while New Super Lucky’s Tale will be able to hit 120fps. What's most impressive is that the FPS Boost feature doesn't require a game update nor any work from the game developer. In practice the game believes it's still running at its older...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_makes_older_games_run_faster_on_xbox_series_s_and_x_with_fps_boost_-news-47812.php

The OnePlus 9 Pro will have an LTPO display, claims leakster

From previous leaks we know that the OnePlus 9 Pro will have a 6.78” 1440p+ display with 120Hz refresh rate. Hands-on photos of the phone even showed the mode selection screen, which allows you to pick the resolution and refresh rate. But it turns out this isn’t everything there is to know about the 9 Pro’s screen. OnePlus 9 Pro display settings (source Dave2D) Leakster Max J. hints that the display will use an LTPO panel. You should have heard about LTPO by now – Samsung used it on the Note 20 Ultra and S21 Ultra, Apple is expected to use LTPO displays on the iPhone 13 Pro...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_oneplus_9_pro_will_have_an_ltpo_display_claims_leakster-news-47818.php

New Huawei Mate X2 image confirms inward fold

Huawei will introduce the Mate X2 on February 22. A rumor suggested the company is moving away from the outward fold and the new device will have an inward fold, and now a leaked teaser once again confirms it - Huawei will indeed adopt the design that Samsung Galaxy Fold initially brought to the world. The poster is accompanied by a famous Albert Einstein quote “Knowledge is limited, imagination embraces the entire world”. There are also the words “Huawei Mate X2 in a new body” on the bottom, obviously pointing to the fact we’ll see the new form factor. The Huawei Mate X2 will be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_huawei_mate_x2_image_confirms_inward_fold-news-47813.php

Asus confirms ROG Phone 5 moniker as it celebrates Tencent partnership

The ROG Phone line from Asus has established itself as the leader in the gaming phone world and after several leaks and listings, we finally get official confirmation of the next ROG model’s name. As expected Asus will skip the number 4 which holds bad homage across Asia and will instead release the ROG Phone 5 towards the end of next month as revealed by to a teaser poster. ROG Phone 5 confirmation The ROG Phone 5 name was confirmed in a Weibo post which celebrates the three-year partnership between Asus and Tencent. The announcement itself is a clear indication that we’ll likely...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_confirms_rog_phone_5_moniker_as_it_celebrates_tencent_partnership-news-47811.php

Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ update will add Pen to text feature, support for Buds Pro's 360 Audio

An upcoming update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ will significantly improve the experience of using the S Pen and Galaxy Buds Pro with the Android slates. This update will allow you to enter handwritten text in apps that usually expect keyboard input – for example, you can write a URL in the browser and a query in the search field, the software will take care to translate that to digital text. Also, Samsung Notes will be able to the same automatic conversion with the ‘Pen to text’ option. It supports over 80 languages (any language supported by the Samsung Keyboard) and it...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s7_and_s7_update_will_add_pen_to_text_feature_support_for_buds_pros_360_audio-news-47809.php

Poco unveils its new brand logo and mascot

Poco today announced its new brand logo and company mascot. The new visual identity, for now, is exclusive to the Indian division of the brand. The company also revealed a new tagline — Made of Mad. The new company mascot, which looks like an emoji mashup, is also part of the new logo. Of course, there's some deep meaning behind its various visual features, which you can find explained in the infographic below. Okay, then Poco started out as a sub-brand from Xiaomi back in 2018, targeted towards enthusiast customers on a budget. The brand went independent last year and is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/poco_india_unveils_its_new_brand_logo_and_mascot-news-47810.php

Samsung will unveil new TVs with "cutting-edge technologies" on March 2

Samsung already unveiled the first models in its 2021 TV lineup with Neo QLED and microLED options. Now the company is inviting everyone to join it at the Unbox & Discover 2021 event to be held (virtually) on March 2. Then “Samsung will share its vision for how the company’s latest innovative products are set to redefine the role of the TV through cutting-edge technologies, beautiful design and impactful partnerships.” Despite the recent push towards microLED, a report from a couple of days ago says that Samsung will introduce QD-OLED TVs as early as next year – these...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_will_unveil_new_tvs_with_cuttingedge_technologies_on_march_2-news-47808.php

Samsung brings One UI 3.1 for older Galaxy flagships and midranges

Samsung has announced its One UI 3.1 which debuted on the Galaxy S21 series is making its way to a series of devices headlined by last year’s Galaxy S20 and Note20 series as well as the foldable Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold2 devices. In addition 2019’s Galaxy S10 and Note10 series phones as well as the original Galaxy Fold and several A-series members from 2020 and 2019 are also getting the update though availability will vary by regions and carrier. The new update brings new camera features, multi-microphone recording, eye comfort shield, private share and auto-switch for your Galaxy Buds....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_brings_one_ui_31_for_older_galaxy_flagships_and_midranges_-news-47807.php

LG is developing a foldable display for Apple

LG’s smartphone division may have an uncertain future but it's got no shortage of ideas or development potential. Reports from Taiwanese media DigiTimes said Apple has commissioned LG Display to develop a foldable panel for a future iPhone. According to industry sources, the division at LG, responsible for the development and manufacturing of display panels, is only working with Apple on a prototype. It is not yet confirmed whether future iPhones will have foldable OLEDs made by LG, or Cupertino will turn to other makers once the design is finalized. Reports from earlier this week...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_is_developing_a_foldable_display_for_apple-news-47806.php

Samsung Galaxy A72 4G moves a step closer to launch as it gets NBTC certification

The Samsung Galaxy A72 4G (SM-A725F/DS) we've been hearing about for a long time has moved a step closer to launch as it has been certified by Thailand's NBTC. The listing on the Thai certifying authority's website doesn't include any specs of the Galaxy A72 4G, but a recent leak revealed its design and full specifications. According to that leak, the Samsung Galaxy A72 4G will be powered by the Snapdragon 720G SoC paired with 6GB or 8GB RAM. The smartphone will run Android 11 out of the box and have two storage options - 128GB and 256GB. It will also have a microSD card slot for...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a72_4g_nbtc_certified-news-47805.php

Realme GT 5G with Snapdragon 888 is arriving on March 4

Last December, we exclusively reported about the Realme Race (RMX2202) powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC, which is going to put the start of the new GT series. Today Realme announced it will unveil the GT 5G on March 4 in China at 2PM local time. Realme confirmed that GT 5G will be powered by the Snapdragon 888 but didn't reveal any other details. The GT 5G is likely the retail name for Realme Race, and it will come with Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage. Realme GT 5G is coming on March 4 The GT 5G was spotted in TENAA's database recently, revealing it...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_gt_5g_launch_date-news-47803.php

Realme Narzo 30A, Narzo 30 Pro 5G, Buds Air 2 officially coming on Feb 24

Realme has officially confirmed the launch date of the Narzo 30 series - February 24. An invitation for a digital launch came in our inbox, telling us we’ll see the Narzo 30A, Narzo 30 Pro 5G, and the Buds Air 2 wireless earphones. The event on Wednesday will occur at 12:30 PM IST / 07:00 UTC and will be live-streamed on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The Narzo 30 Pro will be the first phone from the affordable lineup with 5G connectivity. Realme is touting the device as “the most powerful gaming mid-ranger” due to its Dimensity 800U chipset. The Narzo 30A will be “a powerful...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_narzo_30a_narzo_30_pro_5g_buds_air_2_officially_coming_on_feb_24-news-47804.php

MWC Barcelona expects to host 50,000 attendees with Covid-19 testing and restrictions

The last major electronics tradeshow in our industry that was held in person prior to the Covid-19 outbreak was CES 2020. If you recall the timeline, you’ll know that Covid-19 began spreading in December and CES was likely to have caused a major spread of infections in Las Vegas. MWC would have taken place in February 2020, but the tradeshow was totally cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mobile World Live reports that the CEO of the GSM Association that organizes the annual MWC tradeshows intends on holding in-person shows this year. John Hoffman, GSMA Limited’s CEO offers that...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/mwc_barcelona_pushed_back_to_summer_expects_to_host_50000_attendees_in_2021-news-47802.php

YouTube Shorts launching in the US soon, YouTube videos to add automatic video chapters

In a blog post, YouTube announces some new features coming soon to its product offerings. The first one mentioned in the post is video chapters – which will soon be applied to YouTube videos automatically. Video chapters segment a YouTube video into chunks, making it easier for viewers to find the information that’s relevant to them more quickly without having to skim through the video. We’ve been using video chapters for a while on our YouTube channel, which are seen by the time stamps that we place in our video descriptions. Next up, YouTube is going to launch a redesigned YouTube VR...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_shorts_launching_in_the_us_soon_youtube_videos_to_add_automatic_video_chapters-news-47801.php

Three new Motorola phones are now available at Google Fi

In a new blog post. Google Product Manager announces that the company’s wireless carrier Google Fi will begin offering three new Motorola handsets. All three devices are under $300, one of which supports the carrier’s 5G signal. Motorola One 5G Ace The Motorola One 5G Ace starts at $279 and is Google Fi’s most affordable 5G offering. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 750G 5G chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 64BG of storage. A generously sized 6.7” Max Vision display features FHD+ resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio. There’s a 5,000 mAh battery for extended use and it comes...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/three_new_motorola_phones_are_now_available_at_google_fi-news-47800.php

Deal: grab a Nokia 8.3 for just $379.99

HMD Global launched the Nokia 8.3 5G in the US last year for a whopping $699.99, which is definitely not a price that would make this sell like hot cakes. Fast forward a few months and today you can take advantage of a new deal over at B&H which brings down the phone's price to a much more palatable level. We're talking $379.99, unlocked. This offer is limited-time, however, as it ends on February 20 at 11:59 PM EST, so if you're interested make sure you act fast. The Nokia 8.3 5G boasts a 6.81-inch 1080x2400 IPS touchscreen, the Snapdragon 765G chipset at the helm, 8GB of RAM,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_grab_a_nokia_83_for_just_37999-news-47799.php

Google Maps gains built-in parking payments for over 400 US cities

Back in September, Google Maps announced the option to pay for parking fares from within its Android app. The payments went through Google Pay and the whole process was done in cooperation with Passport Parking. In a new blog post, Google announced the “Pay for Parking” feature within Maps is now available in over 400 US cities including Boston, Cincinnati, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C and coming to iOS users soon. In addition, Google Maps users will be able to pay for transit fares in 80 more transit agencies globally via GPay. Public transport users in select...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_maps_gains_builtin_parking_payments_for_over_400_us_cities-news-47798.php

OmniVision's new OV50A sensor has 100% phase detection autofocus coverage

OmniVision unveiled its first camera sensor with 100% phase detection coverage. It uses Quad Phase Detection (QPD) technology where all pixels (in groups of 2 x 2) are used for focus detection. This is similar to Sony’s 2 x 2 on-chip lens system and might prove superior to the Dual Pixel tech used by Samsung (this sensor clearly wants to take on the ISOCELL GN1). QPD enables faster autofocus, especially in the dark. It also improves distance calculations (so bokeh and similar effects will be more accurate). The chip has on-board hardware to do remosaicing of the QPD color filter array,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/omnivisions_new_ov50a_sensor_has_100_phase_detection_autofocus_coverage-news-47797.php