Category: Phones

  • Vivo V40 Revealed in Renders with Zeiss-Branded Cameras

    Vivo V40 Revealed in Renders with Zeiss-Branded Cameras

    The Vivo V series is set to expand globally with the upcoming launch of the Vivo V40 and V40 Pro. Official renders and key specifications for the V40 have surfaced recently.

    The V40 introduces a completely new design compared to its predecessor, the V30. The rear features a large, oval-shaped camera module with two smaller circular housings for dual camera sensors, prominently branded with Zeiss.

    Design and Colors

    Below the main camera setup, there's another oval cutout containing Vivo’s signature Aura light and an additional sensor, whose function is still unknown. The renders reveal two color options for the phone: purple and grey/silver.

    The front of the device keeps the curved-edge display, minimal bezels, and centered punch-hole cutout seen on the V30.

    Specifications

    In terms of specs, the Vivo V40 is believed to come with a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, boasting a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. It will likely be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

    The camera system is expected to be similar to the V30, featuring a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP front-facing camera for selfies.

    Battery and Connectivity

    A significant upgrade might be the battery life. The Vivo V40 is rumored to come with a 5,500mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging, an improvement over the V30's 5,000mAh battery. Standard connectivity options include dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, and a USB Type-C port.

    On the software front, the Vivo V40 will likely run the latest Android 14 operating system out of the box. Additionally, it is expected to have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

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  • Vivo X Fold 3 Pro Launches in India: 2K Display, Flagship Chip

    Vivo X Fold 3 Pro Launches in India: 2K Display, Flagship Chip

    The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro was initially introduced in China, the brand’s home market. Now, this high-end flagship phone has made its debut in the Indian market. It boasts premium specifications and features wrapped in a slim and lightweight design. Here’s a comprehensive look at this smartphone.

    Vivo X Fold 3 Pro: Design & Display

    Vivo’s latest foldable phone is the slimmest in India, measuring just 11.2mm thick when folded and 5.2mm when unfolded. Weighing in at 236 grams, it is also quite light. The device comes with an IPX8 water resistance rating, and the hinge mechanism has been enhanced to endure 100 folds daily for 12 years, according to Vivo.

    The main display is an 8.03-inch E7 AMOLED screen with LTPO technology, offering a 2K+ resolution, a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, UTG glass, and a peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits. The cover display is a 6.53-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with an FHD+ resolution, a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, Armor Glass, Dolby Vision, and a peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits.

    Specs

    The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro arrives in India as the latest flagship device featuring top-tier specs like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The device is powered by a substantial 5,700mAh battery, supporting 100W wired fast charging, 50W wireless fast charging, and reverse wireless fast charging.

    In terms of optics, the phone features a 50-megapixel primary camera (OV50H sensor) on the rear, which supports OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and Zeiss T* coating, powered by the V3 imaging chip. This is complemented by a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens (Samsung JN1) and a 64-megapixel (OV64B) telephoto lens. For selfies and video calls, there are 32-megapixel cameras on both the primary and secondary screens.

    Running on Android 14 OS with Funtouch OS 14 custom skin, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro also includes notable features such as an in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.4 LE, dual-band Wi-Fi, and dual SIM support with 5G SA/NSA support.

    Pricing and Availability

    The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is priced at 159,999 INR (approximately 1,917 US Dollars) for the 16GB + 512GB variant, positioning it in the ultra-premium flagship category alongside devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. It is available in a single color option, Celestial Black. The phone can be purchased via the brand’s official webstore, Amazon, Flipkart, and offline channels.

    First sales are scheduled to begin on 13th June 2024, with pre-bookings already live as of today (6th June 2024). Vivo is also offering a 50W wireless fast charger for 5,599 INR, which will be available for sale starting 17th June 2024 through the Vivo India eStore and offline retailers.

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  • Redmi 13 5G & POCO M6 Plus 5G Appear on Google Play Cert.

    Redmi 13 5G & POCO M6 Plus 5G Appear on Google Play Cert.

    Redmi 13 5G was recently launched in China as the Redmi Note 13R, and it is anticipated to make its way to India soon. Many are curious about the reception of the Redmi 13 5G, which bears a close resemblance to its predecessor, the Redmi 12 5G. In India, two devices with the codename “breeze” have been identified: the Redmi 13 5G and the POCO M6 Plus 5G. Both smartphones are expected to share similar features with minor differences in their camera systems. With these devices appearing on the Google Play Certificate, their official unveiling seems imminent.

    Redmi 13 5G & POCO M6 Plus 5G Google Play Certificate

    The Google Play certificate has listed two distinct model numbers: 24066PC95I and 2406ERN9CI. The former corresponds to the POCO M6 Plus 5G, while the latter is associated with the Redmi 13 5G. Enthusiasts are keen to see the performance of these models, which will be powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset.

    Breeze Models

    Although the exact launch date for these smartphones remains unclear, their release is anticipated soon. As previously discussed, the primary difference between the two devices lies in their camera specifications. With the Redmi 13 now unveiled, the introduction of the Redmi 13 5G is likely to follow shortly.

    Redmi 13 5G & POCO M6 Plus 5G Appear on Google Play Cert.
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  • OnePlus 11R Update: New Animations, May 2024 Security Patch

    OnePlus 11R Update: New Animations, May 2024 Security Patch

    OnePlus has recently released a significant update for its devices, bringing numerous changes and enhancements to the operating system and UI. This update, named OxygenOS 14.0.0.800, is currently being rolled out to Indian users of the OnePlus 11R. The detailed list of changes is provided below.

    OnePlus 11R OxygenOS 14.0.0.800 Update Changelog

    New Smooth Animations

    • Introduces wallpaper zoom and seamless icon transitions during app launch and exit for an enhanced visual experience.
    • Adds a bounce animation effect at the bottom of the notification drawer and optimizes the layer effects of Quick Setting icons and widgets for a more natural and delicate visual effect.
    • Enhances transition animations for Home screen icons and widgets and adds wallpaper zoom animations upon device unlock.
    • Adds wallpaper zoom animations and gradual brightness transitions when the screen is turned on or off.
    • Optimizes background colors and Gaussian blur effects in Quick Settings, Notification drawer, Home screen drawer, and Global Search.
    • Improves transition animation when the Lock screen clock and buttons disappear upon device unlock.
    • Optimizes animations for entering and exiting Global Search for a smoother and more consistent visual experience.

    New Touch Control Experience

    • Adds a transition animation when swiping in from one side of the screen to exit an app before it starts up.
    • Introduces a transition animation when swiping in from one side of the screen to go back to the previous page before a new page is opened.
    • Adds a transition animation when swiping inward from a side of the screen or swiping up to exit an app in landscape mode.
    • You can now tap the lower right corner of a large folder to view more apps.
    • Allows you to pull down app icons in large folders and then open an app in just one move.
    • Improves touch control responsiveness, making tapping and swiping on the Home screen and Recent tasks screen faster and more stable.
    • Enhances touch responsiveness for app usage scenarios, such as when opening and closing apps, entering and exiting recent tasks, or swiping on the gesture guide bar to switch between apps.
    • Optimizes animations when using large folders, making dragging apps on the Home screen smoother.

    System

    • Adds a horizontal layout for the Lock screen clock.
    • Volume adjustment is now possible in Quick Settings.
    • You can choose not to show the track when drawing the Lock screen pattern to unlock your device.
    • Fingerprint unlock can now be used without waking up the screen.
    • You can now create photo collages without frames in Photos.
    • Adds a “Partial screenshot” option in the Smart Sidebar.
    • Pressing and holding the Volume Down button now turns the flashlight on when the screen is off.
    • Introduces the “app-specific volume” feature to adjust the volume for individual apps based on your needs.
    • You can adjust the size of a floating window by dragging its bottom and swipe up to close a mini window.
    • Improves the volume bar’s design for ease of use and visual consistency.
    • Integrates the May 2024 Android security patch to enhance system security.

    The update is initially being rolled out to a limited number of devices in India, with a broader release expected soon. If you haven’t yet received the OTA update notification on your device, you can manually check for it by navigating to Settings > About Device > OxygenOS and tapping on Check for Update.

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  • Qualcomm Eyes Dual-Sourcing Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 with Samsung, TSMC

    Qualcomm Eyes Dual-Sourcing Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 with Samsung, TSMC

    Qualcomm is reportedly contemplating a "dual-sourcing production strategy" for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. The production will involve both Samsung Electronics and TSMC. According to Businesskorea, during a media briefing at the W Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, on June 4th, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon disclosed this information in response to a question.

    Qualcomm is weighing a dual-sourcing strategy crucial for its business

    The inquiry pertained to the risks of relying solely on one manufacturer for all its chips. Amon indicated that he is considering partnering with Samsung in addition to TSMC for chip fabrication. Interestingly, the forthcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be fully produced by TSMC. However, changes to the strategy might begin with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. "The current focus must be on the foundry production at TSMC," he confirmed.

    The idea of a dual-sourcing strategy for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 has been a frequent topic recently. Additionally, Qualcomm internally values Samsung’s 2nm SF2 process, which is anticipated to offer significant enhancements in both performance and power efficiency.

    Previous collaboration with Samsung Foundry fell short

    Qualcomm has previously collaborated with Samsung for chip fabrication (the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1). However, both chips failed to meet expectations regarding stable performance. Due to overheating issues, Qualcomm had to revert to TSMC starting with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which was adopted by the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The refreshed Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with TSMC’s 4nm process node showed notable improvements in power efficiency and sustained performance.

    On the other hand, Samsung has significantly improved the power efficiency of its recent generations of Exynos chips (Exynos 220 and Exynos 2400) that are also fabricated by Samsung Foundry. The Exynos 2400 version of the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus does not exhibit a performance gap as wide as it did a couple of years ago. Nonetheless, we will have to wait to see how successful Samsung will be with its 3nm process, and more importantly, with the 2nm and smaller nodes that might be used to fabricate future Snapdragon chips.

    Lastly, the CEO mentioned the dual-sourcing strategy but did not detail its implementation. Samsung offers different chipsets in its flagships based on regions. Will Qualcomm’s dual-sourcing strategy be similar? The only clarity at this point is that Qualcomm is considering the new partnership with Samsung as a backup while keeping the primary focus on collaboration with TSMC. More details will be shared as they become available.

    Qualcomm Eyes Dual-Sourcing Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 with Samsung, TSMC
    Qualcomm Eyes Dual-Sourcing Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 with Samsung, TSMC
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  • Leaked Promo Image Reveals Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Z Flip 6

    Leaked Promo Image Reveals Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Z Flip 6

    Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 surfaced in leaked renders a few months ago. Now, the first official promo image featuring the upcoming offerings has leaked out. It was first spotted on Samsung’s Kazakhstan website (now deleted). The marketing poster gives us our best look at the sixth-generation foldables. The South Korean brand is rumoured to unveil a slew of devices at the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10.

    Leaked promo image of Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 reveal design

    The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6’s design in the marketing poster is largely in line with the leaked CAD-based renders. The former has a boxy design with sharp corners and a pill-shaped protruding camera island on the rear. The edges are also less rounded compared to its predecessor. The Z Fold 6 is seen in a Grey color option that will likely be marketed as Silver Shadow. Another unnoticeable change on the upcoming offering is that the camera sensors have a ring with a grooved texture.

    As for the Galaxy Z Flip 6, it won’t have any major cosmetic changes and will retain the same design as its predecessor. It will feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner embedded in the power button and the same folder icon-shaped cover display on the back. The camera placement is also horizontal but it seems that the sensor ring will be accentuated by the color of the device. In the promo image, it is seen in Light Blue color and so is the Galaxy Z Flip 6.

    So far, rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, come with improved batteries, and support for the same 25W fast charging. More details are expected to surface in the coming weeks as we get closer to the launch event.

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  • OnePlus Community Sale India: Big Discounts on Phones, Tablets

    OnePlus Community Sale India: Big Discounts on Phones, Tablets

    The OnePlus Community Sale is kicking off tomorrow and will run for six days until June 11. The brand has announced that various products, including smartphones, TWS earphones, tablets, and more, will be available at discounted prices along with bank offers. Notably, some older devices are seeing significant price cuts. The sale can be accessed both online and offline across the country. Keep reading for details on the regular and sale prices.

    OnePlus Community Sale begins tomorrow with major discounts

    OnePlus products are typically sold on Amazon, the brand’s own website, and through retail stores. As a result, the discounted prices may vary depending on where you purchase them. Additionally, sale prices can fluctuate throughout the sale period.

    OnePlus is providing coupon discounts and larger bank offers on select products, but these are only valid for purchases made on the official website. Other platforms like Amazon and Reliance Digital also offer bank discounts, but not coupon discounts. There are also exchange offers available for older devices.

    DeviceSale PriceLaunch PriceCouponBank Offer
    OnePlus 12Rs 59,999Rs 64,999Rs 2,000Rs 3,000
    OnePlus 12RRs 35,999Rs 34,999Rs 2,000Rs 2,000
    OnePlus OpenRs 1,34,999Rs 1,39,999NARs 5,000
    OnePlus 11RRs 27,999Rs 39,999NANA
    OnePlus Nord CE 4Rs 22,999Rs 24,999NARs 2,000
    OnePlus Nord 3Rs 19,999Rs 33,999Rs 1,000NA
    OnePlus Nord CE 3Rs 18,999Rs 26,999NANA
    OnePlus PadRs 29,999Rs 37,999Rs 3,000Rs 5,000
    OnePlus Pad GoRs 15,999Rs 19,999Rs 2,000Rs 2,000
    OnePlus Watch 2Rs 20,999Rs 20,999Rs 2,000Rs 2,000

    Bank Discounts and EMI Options

    The discounts mentioned are for the base configurations of the devices. Bank discounts apply to transactions made with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, OneCard, BOB, and IDFC First. Additionally, there is up to 12-months of no-cost EMI available on major bank cards. Discounts and offers are also available for OnePlus audio devices.

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  • Oppo A3 Pro nears global launch as it appears on India’s BIS

    Oppo A3 Pro nears global launch as it appears on India’s BIS

    Oppo launched the A3 Pro mid-range smartphone in China this April. Recently, a phone with the model number CPH2667 has appeared on India’s BIS certification platform. This model is identified as the Oppo A3 Pro, corroborated by its listing on the Google Play Console.

    Oppo A3 Pro 5G

    A Global Launch Could Be Imminent

    The Oppo A3 Pro, bearing the model number CPH2639, has already been spotted on UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and Indonesia’s SDPPI certification platform. These appearances suggest that a global launch is likely soon.

    The BIS listing does not reveal the device’s specifications. However, given its availability in China, the global version is expected to be quite similar.

    Specifications in China

    The Chinese variant of the Oppo A3 Pro features a 6.7″ curved AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution. The display achieves 500 nits in manual peak brightness, 800 nits in HBM, and 950 nits in local peak brightness. An in-display optical fingerprint scanner is also included.

    The rear camera setup consists of a 64MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor, while the front houses an 8MP camera for selfies.

    Oppo A3 Pro nears global launch as it appears on India's BIS

    Performance and Battery

    The A3 Pro is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset, paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage in China. The global variant may offer different storage and memory options.

    The Dimensity 7050 includes 2 x Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz and 6 x Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. The phone scores around 900 and 2300 in Geekbench single and multi-core tests, respectively, and features a Mali G68 GPU for graphics.

    It comes with a 5000mAh battery that supports 67W SuperVOOC charging. Notably, it has an IP69 dust and water resistance rating, a feature usually seen in flagship devices like the vivo X100 Ultra.

    Pricing

    Pricing outside China is yet to be confirmed, but we will update as soon as it’s available. For reference, the 8GB+128GB, 12GB+256GB, and 12GB+512GB versions are priced at 1,999 Yuan ($275), 2,199 Yuan ($300), and 2,499 Yuan (~$345) in China.

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  • Corning Unveils Gorilla Glass 7i for Mid-Range Smartphones

    Corning Unveils Gorilla Glass 7i for Mid-Range Smartphones

    Corning Incorporated has introduced Gorilla Glass 7i, tailored for mid-range and budget-friendly smartphones. This latest iteration aims to offer superior protection against drops and scratches, surpassing older Gorilla Glass versions found in many current mid-range phones.

    Enhanced Durability

    Gorilla Glass 7i is designed to endure drops of up to 1 meter onto rough surfaces. Corning highlights the widespread use of older Gorilla Glass types, like the 2016-released Gorilla Glass 5, in mid-range smartphones as a key motivation for this new product. They recognize the demand for an updated, cost-effective solution that aligns with the trend of high-quality displays in affordable devices.

    Improved Protection

    Per Corning’s press release, the new glass shows notable advancements in durability. Lab tests reveal that Gorilla Glass 7i can withstand drops up to 1 meter onto rough terrains such as asphalt, while competing aluminosilicate glasses typically fail at lower heights of around 0.5 meters or less.

    In addition to drop protection, Gorilla Glass 7i offers twice the scratch resistance of some other lithium aluminosilicate cover glasses available. This development presents a promising option for mid-range smartphone manufacturers, delivering enhanced protection without significant cost increases.

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  • Realme Narzo N63 in India: Vegan Leather, 90Hz Display, Rs. 7999

    Realme Narzo N63 in India: Vegan Leather, 90Hz Display, Rs. 7999

    Realme has introduced a new addition to its Narzo lineup in India, the Realme Narzo N63. This device is essentially a rebranded version of the Realme C63, which was recently launched in Indonesia. Despite being an entry-level smartphone, the Narzo N63 offers several appealing features, including a sleek 7.74mm design with a vegan leather back, Rainwater Smart touch technology, and a respectable fast charging capability.

    Realme Narzo N63 Specifications

    The Narzo N63 boasts a 6.74-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. It supports a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate, delivering smooth and responsive visuals. The screen can reach a peak brightness of 450 nits.

    Under the hood, the device is powered by a UNISOC T612 Octa-Core processor paired with a Mali-G57 GPU. It comes with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and offers two storage options: 64GB or 128GB, both expandable up to 2TB via a microSD card. The phone is equipped with a 5000mAh battery that supports 45W SuperVOOC fast charging and runs on an Android 14-based operating system.

    Camera and Additional Features

    The rear camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a depth sensor, complemented by an LED flash. The front camera is an 8MP shooter with an f/2.0 aperture.

    In terms of dimensions, the phone measures 167.26 x 76.67 x 7.74mm and weighs 189g for the Twilight Purple variant and 191g for the Leather Blue variant. Additional features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a bottom-ported speaker. Connectivity options include dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS + GLONASS, and USB Type-C.

    Pricing & Availability

    The Narzo N63 will be available for purchase starting June 10 on Amazon and Realme.com. It comes in two configurations: 4GB+64GB with an effective launch price of Rs. 7999, and 4GB+128GB with an effective launch price of Rs. 8499. After the launch offer ends, these models will be priced at Rs. 8499 and Rs. 8999, respectively.

    Realme Narzo N63 in India: Vegan Leather, 90Hz Display, Rs. 7999
    Realme Narzo N63 in India: Vegan Leather, 90Hz Display, Rs. 7999
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