Asus has introduced the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Dhahab OC Edition at a special event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This graphics card showcases an arabesque design highlighted with golden touches, merging classic Arabic calligraphy with contemporary style.
Cultural Symbolism
The backplate of the card features impressive skyscrapers, representing the way the Middle East fuses its rich cultural past with modern technology.
Regional Availability
This product will be available only in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.
Advanced Technology
Built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, the GeForce RTX 50 series brings innovative AI-driven features:
Currently, there is no information on the pricing. Given that its less glamorous counterpart, the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB GDDR7 OC Edition, is sold for $3,079.99, and considering how much demand these new cards have from resellers, it’s likely that not many customers will be able to buy the Dhahab OC edition.
Motorola has launched a new set of features powered by AI, all of which are grouped under the name Moto AI. These innovations are designed to improve the smartphone experience, making daily tasks more user-friendly. The company is concentrating on three main areas, with "Assist" being one of them.
Moto AI’s Understanding Capabilities
The Moto AI system is capable of comprehending user commands and adapting to their habits to provide personalized recommendations. This is accomplished through the use of Large Action Models (LAMs). Naturally, privacy can be a worry, but Motorola assures users that all information is stored securely and locally. Users can easily manage and access their data when they need to.
Enhancing Creativity
Another important focus area is "Create." The new AI suite aims to boost users’ creativity. Moto AI can generate summaries of conversations, photos, and documents using AI technology. It also claims to make photo and video editing easier through advanced editing options.
Improving Photo Quality
The final area of focus for Motorola is "Capture," where Moto AI seeks to simplify the process of taking high-quality pictures. It includes features like automatic scene detection, which enhances the quality of images taken. Additionally, the AI suite aids in capturing documents and converting them into various digital formats effortlessly.
Motorola also aims to provide a smooth experience across multiple devices with Moto AI. This is facilitated by Smart Connect, which enables users to control and connect to different devices using natural language commands. Data sharing between connected devices is also straightforward.
Motorola has not specifically listed which phones will support Moto AI yet. However, the company has indicated that these features are currently being tested in beta and will gradually be made available via invitations. The latest Motorola flagship models are expected to gain access sooner, such as the 12/256 GB 2024 Razr+ currently priced at $799.99 on Amazon.
Global smartphone shipments surged by 12% year-over-year, reaching 288.9 million units in the second quarter of 2024. This marks the third consecutive quarter of growth. Canalys, a market research firm, attributes this resurgence to innovative product launches and improving economic conditions.
Samsung Solidifies Lead as Market Exceeds Expectations
Samsung maintained its market leadership with an 18% share, shipping 53.5 million units. The company’s high-end devices continue to drive revenue growth. Apple held onto the second spot, shipping 45.6 million units, showcasing strong performance in North America and the Asia-Pacific region.
Xiaomi is catching up with Apple, securing third place by shipping 42.3 million units. The Chinese tech giant’s competitive product lineup has fueled its rapid growth. Xiaomi also reclaimed the top spot in India’s smartphone market in Q2 2024, with an 18% market share. Vivo took the fourth spot with 25.9 million units, while Transsion, the maker of Tecno and Infinix branded smartphones, rounded out the top five with 25.5 million units shipped.
Component Shortages and Future Challenges
Despite the overall market’s upward trend, challenges remain. Component shortages, particularly for high-end features like large displays and advanced cameras, are impacting production costs. This could pressure brands targeting the mass market. Additionally, maintaining a competitive edge will become more difficult as the market matures.
To stay ahead, industry leaders are differentiating their offerings. Samsung and Apple are prioritizing long-term strategies in established markets while emphasizing generative AI features in their flagship devices. Chinese brands are also heavily investing in AI technology to compete in the high-end segment.
Oppo has recently launched the Reno 12 series smartphones globally, following their initial release in China about a month ago. The Reno 12 series focuses on design and incorporates various AI-powered features. Below are the details regarding its specifications, pricing, and more.
Oppo Reno 12 Pro (Global) Specs
The Reno 12 Pro showcases a unique wavy design on the back of its Nebula Silver variant, resembling ripples in liquid metal. The Space Brown and Sunset Gold variants feature matte and glossy sections separated by a ribbon. The Nebula Silver model has a thickness of 7.45 mm and weighs 181 grams, while the other two options are slightly thinner at 7.40 mm and weigh 180 grams.
The front sports a 6.7-inch OLED FHD+ (2412 × 1080 pixels) curved Infinite View Screen, blending curved and straight screens for an impressive 93.5% screen-to-body ratio. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1200 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ support, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Underneath, the device is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy 4nm processor paired with a Mali-G615 MC2 GPU. It comes with up to 12 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 512 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, along with a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of additional storage.
For photography, the Reno 12 Pro features a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.95″ Sony LYT-600 sensor, an f/1.8 aperture, and optical image stabilization. It also includes an 8MP 112º ultra-wide camera with a Sony IMX355 sensor, an ƒ/2.2 aperture, and a 50MP 2x telephoto camera with a Samsung JN5 sensor, offering up to 20x digital zoom. The front camera is a 50MP Samsung JN5 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture.
The device is packed with AI features like AI Eraser 2.0 for removing unwanted objects, AI Clear Face for enhancing group shots, AI Best Face for fixing closed eyes, and AI Smart Image Matting 2.0 for quick cutouts. AI Studio allows for adding backgrounds, changing hairstyles, and creating group shots from a single photo.
The Reno 12 Pro is fueled by a 5000mAh battery that supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging. Additional features include an infrared sensor, stereo speakers, and IP65 dust and splash resistance.
Oppo Reno 12 (Global) Specs
The Oppo Reno 12 features a 6.7-inch FHD+ (2412 × 1080 pixels) curved OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1200 nits peak brightness, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy 4nm processor paired with up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage, expandable up to 1TB via microSD.
The rear camera setup includes a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.95″ Sony LYT-600 sensor, an f/1.8 aperture, and OIS, an 8MP 112º ultra-wide camera with a Sony IMX355 sensor and an ƒ/2.2 aperture, and a 50MP 2x telephoto camera with a Samsung JN5 sensor, capable of up to 20x digital zoom. For selfies, it boasts a 50MP front camera with a Samsung JN5 sensor, an f/2.0 aperture, and 4K 30 fps video recording. The device includes all AI camera features present in the Pro model.
The phone is equipped with a 5000mAh battery supporting 80W SuperVOOC fast charging. Additional features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, an infrared sensor, USB Type-C audio, and stereo speakers. It is dust and splash-resistant (IP65).
Pricing & Availability
The Oppo Reno 12 Pro is available in Nebula Silver and Space Brown colors, priced at 599 Euros (US$ 643) or 499 GBP (US$ 633) for the 12GB + 512GB model. The Oppo Reno 12 is available in Astro Silver and Matte Brown colors, priced at 499 Euros (US$ 435) for the 12GB + 256GB model. These models will begin rolling out in Europe and the UK later this month, with a gradual rollout to other markets.
Following a recent surge of leaked images, Google’s Pixel 8a is emerging from obscurity with a fresh set of promotional materials. These new resources provide a more intricate look at what this mid-range smartphone is set to offer.
Pixel 8a Specifications and Features
The promotional content confirms that the Pixel 8a will run on the Tensor G3 chipset, the same powerful processor found in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. This chipset is anticipated to deliver reliable performance for day-to-day activities.
Camera Capabilities
On the photography front, the Pixel 8a boasts an impressive camera system described as "AI-mazing." Features like Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, and Night Sight are all driven by artificial intelligence. Best Take aids in selecting the ideal shot from a burst, ensuring everyone looks their best.
Moreover, Audio Magic Eraser eliminates unwanted background noise from videos, while Night Sight enhances low-light photography.
Additional Features and Durability
Reports hint at the Pixel 8a supporting fast charging and possessing a long-lasting battery, although specific details are pending. Leaks suggest a battery size of 4,500 mAh.
In terms of durability, the Pixel 8a is expected to come equipped with an IP67 rating, making it dust-resistant and capable of surviving in up to one meter of water for thirty minutes.
Software and Updates
The Pixel 8a’s software may steal the show, with indications pointing towards an impressive seven-year stretch of security updates, aligning it closely with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.
Expected Specifications and Launch Date
Rumors suggest that the phone will feature a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of base storage, a 64MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and support for 27W wired charging.
The Pixel 8a is anticipated to be unveiled on May 14th at the Google I/O event, with a potential sale date of May 16th.
Today, Xiaomi hosted an event in China to introduce its latest smartphone, the Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro, and to reveal upcoming software updates for the Xiaomi 14 series and Xiaomi 13 Ultra.
These Xiaomi Phones Will Soon Receive AI-powered Master Portrait Mode
Xiaomi announced that the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro models will receive the “Master Portrait” feature starting in April, while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will have access to it by June. This feature, initially introduced on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, utilizes an AI portrait large model known as Xiaomi Portrait LM. It offers functionalities such as AI wrinkle removal, skin tone evening, and enhancement of teeth and eyes. Additionally, it supports high-resolution recording with 4K 60fps continuous zoom, full-range 8K 30fps video recording, and 4K 120fps high frame rate slow motion.
Exciting Updates in Software Features
In June, another software enhancement will arrive in the form of Xiaomi AISP (Xiaomi AI Image Semantic Processor). Positioned as the primary AI large model computational photography platform, AISP utilizes Xiaomi’s HyperOS to combine the processing power of CPU, GPU, NPU, and ISP, achieving speeds up to 60TOPS. This implementation enables features like ULTRA RAW super negative, providing exceptional color depth and dynamic range, and is compatible with professional editing software. AISP also includes a feature called ULTRA SNAP, which can capture 150 photos using advanced algorithms.
Introducing the Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro
The Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro features a Leica triple camera system and a specially designed Light Fusion 800 sensor. It also benefits from Xiaomi AISP (Imaging Brain 3.0), significantly enhancing overall computing power by 69% and enabling quicker continuous shooting. AISP on the Civi 4 Pro introduces a new AI GAN beauty algorithm, ensuring natural-looking beauty effects tailored to individual facial characteristics. The phone also offers flagship-level video capabilities, including 4K 60fps recording with features like HDR, autofocus, and beauty mode.
