Since the last few days, CMF has been hinting at the release of its next set of devices. Now, the Nothing sub-brand has officially announced the launch date. Additionally, CMF has confirmed that the Buds Pro 2 and Watch Pro 2 will debut alongside the Phone 1. The Buds Pro 2 and Watch Pro 2 are set to succeed their predecessors from last year. Meanwhile, the CMF Phone 1 will be the brand’s inaugural smartphone. Continue reading for the launch details.
CMF Phone 1, Buds 2, Watch Pro 2 Launch Date Announced
The upcoming CMF devices will be unveiled at the next Nothing Community Update event. The event is scheduled for July 8, at 10 am (2:30 pm IST). All three devices, including the Phone 1, Buds Pro 2, and Watch Pro 2, will be available on Flipkart in India.
The latest teasers continue to emphasize the sub-brand’s distinctive rotating dial on the new products. However, we speculate that the CMF Watch Pro 2 might feature a circular dial as opposed to the square one on its predecessor. Further details about the wearables remain undisclosed.
CMF Phone 1 Specifications and Pricing
Key details about the CMF Phone 1 have already leaked. It is rumored to be more affordable than the Nothing Phone (2a), with a box price of Rs 19,999. The phone will feature the sub-brand’s signature Orange color with a leather texture back panel and a Matte Black variant. It is expected to sport a 6.7-inch 120Hz display. Internally, it is tipped to be powered by a Dimensity 7200 SoC, coupled with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. The device may come with a 5,000mAh battery unit supporting 33W fast charging.
boAt has introduced a novel audio product in India called the Stone Lumos. This innovative Bluetooth speaker not only promises immersive sound quality but also features LED projection to enhance the audio-visual experience. Here’s a detailed look at what it offers.
Specifications of boAt Stone Lumos
The upcoming Stone Lumos has been listed on a dedicated Amazon microsite, confirming that it will have a 60W output for delivering high-quality, powerful audio. boAt aims to offer a loud and immersive sound experience in a small and portable design. However, its standout feature is its LED light projection. The device includes a module that projects LED lights in seven dynamic modes, enhancing the party atmosphere.
The company allows customization of the listening experience through light settings, EQ modes, and more via the boAt Hearable app to elevate the audio-visual experience. The speakers are designed to provide up to 9 hours of battery life on a full charge. The boAt Stone Lumos supports Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable wireless connection, and it also has AUX and USB ports for wired connections. A built-in microphone facilitates hands-free functionality. Designed for outdoor use, the speakers come with an IPX4 rating for water and splash resistance.
Availability and Pricing
The boAt Stone Lumos is set to officially go on sale in India on June 25, 2024. It will be available at a special introductory price of 6,999 INR on Amazon India. Buyers can also opt for a no-cost EMI option. This launch follows the recent introduction of the Airdopes Atom 81 Pro and the Airdopes 300 in the Indian market.
We have seen multiple rumors about the Galaxy Buds 3 at this point. The earbuds will ditch the bean-shaped design for a more conventional one with a stem. The latest news is that the earphones will also come with some changes in functionality. Specifically, the swipe gesture will reportedly be replaced with a pinch. However, it is unclear whether the pinch gesture will be available to both the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro or will be exclusive to the Pro model.
Information from the Samsung Members App
Notably, the pinch gesture isn’t entirely new to the product category. In fact, Apple, Nothing, Xiaomi, and several other companies have already used pinch sensors in their products.
The information is revealed through the APK teardown of the Samsung Members app, which suggests the use of pinch sensors in the Galaxy Buds 3 series. AssembleDebug discovered references to pinch sensors in the Samsung Members app version 5.0.00.11. It also includes images showing how to use the gesture.
Functionality and Implementation
It’s not clear from the APK teardown how Samsung may utilize the new sensor. However, the brands that have previously offered the pinch sensor have used it for basic controls like pinching once to pause, pinching twice to skip, and thrice to go back. The earbuds from Xiaomi, Apple, or Nothing also let you enable or disable noise cancellation and transparency modes with pinch gestures.
It’s possible that Samsung will offer a similar implementation of the pinch gestures in the upcoming Galaxy Buds 3 series. Samsung’s shift in functionality could be due to the fact that a pinch gesture feels more natural to use and has a lower rate of false triggers.
However, the leaked real-life images of the Galaxy Buds 3 packaging box reveal a rather underwhelming design. It could be especially disappointing for those familiar with the previous design.
iQOO, a sub-brand of Vivo, has launched its inaugural over-ear gaming headphones in China. Priced at 349 yuan (around $48), these headphones are now available for purchase on Vivo’s official store. Let’s explore their main features.
The headphones boast large 50mm full-range composite diaphragm speakers, ensuring clear and detailed sound quality. iQOO has collaborated with Monster Sound to provide custom gaming audio effects, enhancing the immersive experience by replicating the sound environment of competitive gaming.
They include a detachable, fully directional noise-canceling microphone, which ensures clear communication with teammates while reducing background noise.
Comfort and Design
The headphones feature memory foam ear cushions that adapt to the user’s facial contours, promoting a snug fit and better noise isolation. Weighing in at 330 grams, they offer a lightweight design, ergonomic curvature, and temperature-matched leather for prolonged comfort.
Sporting iQOO’s distinctive yellow and black color scheme, these headphones have a stylish gamer look. An anodized aluminum alloy clip arm adds a premium touch and allows for adjustments to fit various head shapes.
Connectivity and Controls
These headphones forgo the traditional 3.5mm jack in favor of a versatile Type-C connection, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and PCs, making them ideal for gamers.
Additionally, the headphones come with a 2-meter cable and have convenient inline controls, enabling gamers to adjust the volume and mute the microphone effortlessly during gameplay.
JBL is poised for a thrilling launch in India with its newest wireless earbuds, the JBL Live Beam 3, scheduled to release on June 18th. After being revealed at CES 2024 and showcasing its microsite on Amazon, JBL India, and JBL Malaysia platforms, the brand has announced that these earbuds are priced at Rs. 13,999. The JBL Live Beam 3 is designed to deliver exceptional audio quality along with a host of cutting-edge features.
JBL Live Beam 3 Specifications
The earbuds are fitted with 10mm dynamic drivers powered by JBL’s Signature Sound, ensuring superior audio performance. They come with a customizable SmartCase that lets users control JBL Spatial Sound, manage their music and calls, and personalize the screensaver. The earbuds support Hi-Res audio with LDAC and feature True Adaptive Noise Cancellation along with a smart ambient mode, offering users either an immersive listening experience or situational awareness.
Equipped with six microphones, these earbuds promise clear and crisp call quality. The battery life is notable, providing up to 48 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) off, and up to 40 hours with ANC on. Additionally, Speed Charge technology gives 4 hours of playtime with just a 15-minute charge. The earbuds also support wireless charging for added ease.
Connectivity and Customization
The JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable and efficient connection. They are compatible with the JBL Headphones app, enabling users to customize EQ settings and switch between Smart Audio and Video modes. Available in Black, Blue, and Gray, these earbuds cater to different style preferences. Starting June 18th, the earbuds will be available for purchase on Amazon India.
Audio-Technica has launched the ATH-S300BT wireless headphones, offering up to 90 hours of playback. These headphones include noise-canceling technology with options for hear-through, active noise cancellation, and off modes, enabling users to adjust the level of ambient noise they hear.
Exceptional Battery Life
One of the key features of the ATH-S300BT is its impressive battery life. It can last up to 90 hours on a full charge. Additionally, a quick 3-minute charge provides an extra 2.5 hours of playback if the battery is running low.
Design and Comfort
The headphones are crafted for comfort, featuring soft earpads and an ergonomic fit suitable for prolonged use. Available in beige and black, they also boast a terrazzo-marbled design for added aesthetic appeal.
Connectivity and Sound Quality
Utilizing Bluetooth 5.1, these headphones ensure a stable connection up to 33 feet and can connect to two devices simultaneously, making it easy to switch between them. They support SBC and AAC audio codecs to deliver high sound quality. The 40 mm drivers offer clear audio, and built-in MEMS microphones ensure clear calls, even in noisy environments. A low-latency mode reduces audio delay, enhancing the experience for gaming or video watching. Compatible with Siri and Google Assistant, the headphones can also be used wired with the included 3.5mm cable, which features a mic for calls.
Pricing & Availability
The ATH-S300BT will be available in beige and black starting in July, with a retail price of $99 MSRP.retail price of $99 MSRP
Jabra has announced it will discontinue its Elite series of consumer earbuds to focus on expanding its professional audio, video, and hearing product lines. This decision follows the recent launch of the Elite 10 and Elite 8 Gen 2 earbuds.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2
Despite the discontinuation, Jabra reassures customers that the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Gen 2 will remain available and supported. Below are the details of these newly released earbuds.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: The Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 comes with several notable features, including an LE Audio smart case. This technology enables the case to function as a wireless audio transmitter. It allows the case to connect to devices that lack Bluetooth capability, such as airline entertainment systems or gym equipment, by using a cable with a 3.5mm jack or USB-C connector, and then transmit the audio to your earbuds via LE Audio.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 LE Audio Smart Case The model also features enhanced Spatial Sound with Dolby Head Tracking for an improved Dolby Atmos experience. The Jabra Advanced Active Noise Cancellation is now up to twice as powerful as the earlier Elite 10.
Call quality has been upgraded with six microphones and effective noise-reduction algorithms. The new Natural HearThrough feature with better wind-noise detection is now twice as effective. These earbuds come with 10mm drivers and a semi-open design featuring Jabra ComfortFit technology. They offer up to 6 hours of battery life (27 hours with the case) with ANC enabled and have an IP57 rating for splash and dust resistance.
Additional features include Bluetooth multipoint connection, Fast Pair, Swift Pair, and Spotify Tap playback. The Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 is priced at $280 and will be available in mid-June in titanium black, gloss black, cocoa, and two new colors: denim and soft white.
Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2: The Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2 also boasts several updates, including an LE Audio smart case for streaming audio from non-Bluetooth devices. It features enhanced Spatial Sound powered by Dolby Audio and Adaptive Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, which is now up to twice as strong as the preceding Elite 8 Active.
The Natural HearThrough feature now has superior wind-noise detection and is twice as effective. Call performance is improved with six microphones, a wind-protecting mesh, and a noise-cancellation algorithm. These earbuds are fully sweat-proof and waterproof with an IP68 rating for the earbuds and an IP54 rating for the case.
They provide a secure fit with Jabra ShakeGrip technology and up to 8 hours of battery life with ANC on (32 hours with the case). Additional features include stable smartwatch connectivity, Swift Pair, Google Fast Pair, and Spotify Tap playback, along with Bluetooth multipoint connection.
The Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2 is priced at $230 and will be available in mid-June in navy, black, and two new colors: coral and olive.
Remember the days when smartphones weren’t just glass-and-metal slabs? When each model had its own character designed to resonate with different audiences? Those days seem to be fading, but some companies are attempting to revive that spirit. Nothing, for example, made waves with a unique, affordable transparent phone that shunned bloatware—refreshingly distinct in a market full of lookalikes.
Now, Moondrop, renowned for high-fidelity audio gear, has introduced the MIAD 01. Tailored for audiophiles who demand superior sound quality on the go, what sets this phone apart? Let’s delve into it.
Dual DACs and Headphone Jacks
The MIAD 01 is designed with a strong focus on high-fidelity audio. Unlike most modern phones that have eliminated the headphone jack, this device features two: a standard 3.5mm jack and a 4.4mm balanced jack. The 3.5mm jack serves casual listeners, while the 4.4mm jack caters to audiophiles using balanced headphones for superior signal separation and clarity.
The standout feature is its dual Cirrus Logic MasterHiFi DAC chips. These DACs convert digital audio signals into analog signals for headphones. While most phones have a single, basic DAC, the MIAD 01 uses dual high-fidelity DACs with support for 32-bit audio processing, significantly enhancing sound clarity and detail. This theoretically allows for a wider dynamic range and reduced noise levels, offering a cleaner listening experience.
Additional Audio Features
Moondrop doesn’t stop at dual DACs. The audio circuit boasts a 6-layer gold-sinking PCB to dissipate heat and minimize electrical interference. Additionally, an independent Low-Dropout Voltage Regulator (LDO) ensures a clean, stable power supply for the audio components.
The phone includes a 100-level hardware DAC volume control for precise adjustments without sacrificing audio quality. Audiophiles can also customize EQ settings through a dedicated app. However, the true benefits of these features depend on the quality of your headphones or earphones—lower-end products may not fully exploit the MIAD 01’s capabilities.
Mid-Range Specs
Outside its audio capabilities, the MIAD 01 offers a conventional mid-range phone experience. It features a 6.7-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, it handles everyday tasks but may not impress power users. The camera system includes a 64MP main sensor and an 8MP ultrawide sensor, which are decent but not groundbreaking. Moondrop admits the camera is functional but not exceptional.
The phone runs on Android 13, free from bloatware and intrusive data collection, but lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS) certification. Users will need to sideload essential apps like Gmail and Maps. It is powered by a 5000mAh battery supporting 33W USB-PD charging and offers 5Gbps USB 3.1 connectivity.
Design-wise, the MIAD 01 is quite thick, measuring 9.15mm and weighing 202 grams. It has a unique look with a raised bar housing the camera module, MIAD 01 branding, and orange accents, complemented by a textured finish on the lower half.
Price and Availability
The Moondrop MIAD 01 is priced at CNY 2499 (~$349), placing it in the mid-range segment. It is currently available through select e-commerce partners and authorized stores in China, with no global availability details announced yet.
OS & Software: Android 13 (ships without Google Mobile Services, which users can install manually)
Weight: 202 grams
Conclusion: In its Own Niche
The MIAD 01 carves out a unique niche in the smartphone market. For audiophiles, its dual DACs and headphone jacks are highly attractive. However, its mid-range processing power, potentially underwhelming camera system, and lack of pre-installed Google Mobile Services could be drawbacks for some. As a newcomer to the smartphone market, Moondrop’s long-term software support is also uncertain.
Realme is gearing up to launch the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro in India on June 20th, following their recent release in China. The earbuds will be available for purchase starting at 1:30 PM via Flipkart and the official Realme website. Last month, Realme introduced the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro in China along with the Realme Buds Air 6 and Realme GT Neo 6.
Realme Buds Air 6 Pro Specifications
The Realme Buds Air 6 Pro boasts up to 50dB of active noise cancellation (ANC) and LDAC connectivity. Equipped with a six-mic system and Hi-Res Audio, the earbuds feature dual drivers: an 11mm bass driver and a 6mm micro-planar tweeter.
These earbuds are designed to support a 360-degree Spatial Audio Effect for an immersive sound experience. They also allow dual device connections, enabling users to pair them with two devices simultaneously, such as a smartphone and a tablet.
The Buds Air 6 Pro offers up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge and up to 40 hours of total battery life when used with the charging case. Additionally, a quick 10-minute charge can provide up to seven hours of usage.
Pricing and Availability
The price for the Indian market hasn't been disclosed yet. In China, the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro was launched at 469 Yuan (approximately ₹5,500). The earlier model, the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro, was introduced in India at ₹4,999. It's likely that the new model will be priced similarly.
Upcoming Launches
On June 20th, Realme is also set to unveil the Realme GT 6 in India and other global markets. The company has confirmed that the device will feature a 50 MP Sony LYT-808 primary camera with optical image stabilization. Powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, the device promises enhanced image signal processing capabilities. For a preview of some camera samples from this upcoming device, you can click this link.
The Realme GT 6 is scheduled for release in India on June 20. Alongside this smartphone, Realme has also announced the debut of a new TWS earphone, the Realme Buds Air6 Pro. This follows the launch of the Buds Air6 last month, which received a hands-on review. The Pro model is expected to offer slightly enhanced specifications, which have been detailed on the product's microsite.
Realme Buds Air6 Pro to Launch Next Week
The Realme Buds Air6 Pro retains the in-ear design with a stem and angled earbuds featuring silicone ear tips, similar to the Buds Air6. These earphones are equipped with Hi-Fi quality dual drivers, including an 11mm bass driver and a 6mm micro-planar tweeter. They are said to support Hi-Res audio with LDAC codec to ensure streaming of original quality audio.
The Buds Air6 Pro is teased to come with 50dB active noise cancellation and will feature six microphones to ensure clear call quality. These TWS earphones also offer 360-degree spatial audio for an immersive listening experience, along with a personalized audio algorithm. The Buds Air6 Pro are claimed to provide 10 hours of usage on a single charge, with the battery life extending to 40 hours when using the case. Additionally, they support Google Fast Pair and can connect to two devices simultaneously.
Pricing and Availability
Details regarding the pricing and availability of the Realme Buds Air6 Pro will be revealed next week. The earphones will be available for purchase on Flipkart and Realme’s official website.
Meanwhile, the Realme GT 6 will be powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor and will feature a 5,500mAh battery with 120W fast charging support.
