Asus ROG Phone 5 receives its first software update

The Asus ROG Phone 5 was only unveiled a couple of days ago, but it is already receiving its first software update. The new build is rolling out for ROG Phone 5 bearing model code ZS673KS and has firmware version 18.0830.2101.73. It adds a new Esports Mode and ROG Akira Character theme pack to the phone and a new animation editor for ROG Vision in Armoury Crate. Asus ROG Phone 5 Additionally, the update optimizes the phone's camera experience and system stability and brings along multiple theme packs developed in partnership with famous game publishers. You can check out the...

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Google shifts its strategy in India for Pixel smartphones, may begin manufacturing some Pixels locally

Indian smartphone buyers can expect to see more Google Pixel devices in the near future. A Google executive tells Economic Times that the company plans to bring larger quantities of the Pixel 4a’s successor when it launches later this year, possibly in June. Google Pixel 4a ET also reports that Google is entertaining the idea of moving some of the Pixels’ production to India for domestic sales and export. Google doubled inventory for Pixel for India last year and this year the intention is to further increase the focus and get larger share from global inventory for the India...

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Oppo to launch its first foldable phone by the end of June

We've already heard that we should expect a lot more foldable smartphones this year from a bunch of different companies, and Oppo was name-checked in such leaks every single time. Now a new rumor from China says the company is expected to unveil its first such device in Q2, which starts in April and ends in June. Sadly it will be a folding device and not a rollable like the Oppo X 2021 concept pictured below and showcased last year - this one isn't going to become an actual product anytime soon. Alongside Oppo, Xiaomi, vivo, and even Google have been rumored to join the fray of the...

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Oppo Reno 10x zoom and Reno2 F receive final Android 11 update, Reno2 gets a beta

Looks like today was Oppo day. The Chinese company has made the Find X3 Pro, Find X3, Find X3 Neo, and Find X3 Lite official, but it didn't forget some older devices either. Oppo decided to release the update to ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 for two more devices today, to make it a full day indeed. We're talking about the Oppo Reno 10x zoom and the Reno2 F. Back in January, the company opened up public betas for both, and now the finalized updates are fully baked. Oppo Reno 10x zoom The Reno 10x zoom update is version CPH1919EX_11_F.40 and is already rolling out in India and...

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Oppo Find X3 Pro in for review

It's here! The Oppo Find X3 Pro that was announced earlier today has made it to our office. The latest Oppo flagship is a feast for the eyes coming with a futuristic glass design, waterproofed at that. It is going all in with the 10-bit color with a 10-bit OLED screen and a duo of 50MP 10-bit camaras. The Oppo Find X3 Pro specs sheet is long and impressive, but undeniably the design will be the first thing anyone will notice. Sure, the Find X3 Pro is a glass sandwitch phone like many others, but the rear camera is seated on a seamless curve, fitting with the overall design -...

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Stable Android 11 update for OnePlus Nord on pause after users report bugs

The stable Android 11 update for the OnePlus Nord started rolling out just over a week ago, but that rollout has now been paused. It turns out that several bugs have slipped through the three open beta testing stages. The OnePlus team is working on fixes and once they are done the update process will resume. If you have already installed Android 11 on your Nord, you will receive a separate update with the fixes. OnePlus' out a message to Nord users (image credit) There’s no official list of bugs, but users have complained about various issues after installing the update. There...

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Motorola Moto G50 (Ibiza) price revealed by Spanish retailer

The Motorola Moto G50 had a busy day. The phone went through 3C then leaked on a Spanish retailer, which revealed its price – €230. This phone, XT2137, is code named “Ibiza” and has leaked a few times before (though it was originally thought to be the G40). This price is for the 4/128 GB version, but a Geekbench result showed that there will be a 6 GB version too. Unfortunately, the retailer’s page is pretty bare bones and doesn’t list an availability date. Anyway, the Moto G50 will be powered by Qualcomm’s first entry level 5G chipset, the Snapdragon 480. The display is expected to...

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Nokia and Samsung sign video patent licensing deal, Nokia will receive royalty payments

Nokia and Samsung have signed a patent licensing agreement for video standards. Under this agreement Samsung will pay royalties to Nokia for use of video innovations patented by the Finns. To be clear, this is about Nokia, HMD Global is not involved. Nokia has earned multiple awards for its video technology, including four Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards. The company has invested over €129 billion in R&D over the last twenty years and has amassed over 20,000 patent families (more than 3,500 of which relate to 5G). The two companies have a long history. In 2013 Samsung signed a...

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iQOO Neo5 video ads tout its high-quality screen, protective cases unveiled

vivo will unveil the iQOO Neo5 on March 16 or rather that is when it will finish unveiling the phone. The company has already confirmed many of the key features, including the 120Hz display with 1,000 Hz touch sampling rate. It will be an HDR10+ certified OLED panel with a peak brightness of 1,300 nits. A new series of video ads for the phone stars cute animals, all three videos share a theme – things on the screen look indistinguishable from real life. Of course, a macaw or a couple of hamsters are probably not lab-quality tools to measure color deviation. They do look adorable,...

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Find X3 Neo and Find X3 Lite are more affordable yet still capable members of Oppo’s new lineup

It’s a big day for Oppo with the launch of the Find X3 series. We already saw the debut of the flagship Find X3 Pro and the regular Find X3 but that’s not enough as Oppo has two more devices making their grand entrance. Enter the Find X3 Neo and Find X3 Lite – the more affordable yet still quite capable alternatives to the premium Find X3 members. Oppo Find X3 Neo The Find X3 Neo brings a 6.5-inch curved FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The panel is HDR10-certified and hosts a 32MP selfie cam as well as an integrated fingerprint reader. The phone runs on last year’s...

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Facebook finally makes Instagram Lite official

Facebook has been testing Instagram Lite for some time, and finally made the application official. The new app is less data-intensive and uses fewer phone resources to appeal to users with low-end devices who live in regions with spotty connectivity. The new app is just 2MB in size and a lot of “ornate, data-rich” animations and other heavy features were cut off. Instagram developers also removed cube transitions, heavy AR filters, but left the GIFs and stickers that can be applied to Stories. Another key feature that was introduced is a Dark Mode option that switches white...

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Oppo Find X3 is official in China - Snapdragon 870 and 8GB RAM

Oppo just concluded its Find X3 series event at which it announced the Find X3 Pro. But while it didn't say anything about the regular Find X3, the company did make it official as well. The vanilla Oppo Find X3 is nearly identical to its Pro counterpart - the only differences are the chipset and RAM - the Oppo Find X3 uses the 7nm Snapdragon 870 with 8GB of RAM. Otherwise we're looking at identical camera systems - two 50MP Sony IMX766 1/1.56" sensors (wide and ultrawide), 13MP 5x hybrid, 2x optical telephoto and 3MP 60x magnification macro. You also get a matching 32MP selfie camera...

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imoo Ear-care is the first open ear headset designed for kids

BBK Electronics subsidiary imoo has been making child-focused smart wearables since 2012. The latest addition to its product lineup is an open ear headset that beams sound to the area next to your ear tragus so that you’re still aware of your surroundings. The imoo Ear-care headset features two 16.2mm speakers with IR sensors that automatically pause music when you take off the headset. Volume maxes out at 85dB for safe listening experience. The construction is made from lightweight and anti-allergic plastic. The headset is also IP54 water-resistant and dustproof imoo...

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Oppo Find X3 Pro is official with two 50MP cameras and unique design

The new Oppo Find X3 Pro is finally here - the flagship brings two 50MP cameras, a new 10bit screen with adaptive refresh rate, and the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset. Arguably its most impressive feature however is the design of the back, which is manufactured from a single piece of glass that flows seamlessly in a continuous curve. The phone has a 6.7” LTPO AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution that allows the refresh rate to go between 5Hz and 120Hz, giving you extra smoothness when needed and battery savings when not. The Find X3 Pro also has a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The...

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Samsung Galaxy M12 debuts in India, sales begin March 18

As promised, Samsung today introduced the Galaxy M12 in India. The smartphone comes in two memory configurations - 4GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB priced at INR10,999 ($150/€125) and INR13,499 ($185/€155), respectively. You can buy one in Black, Blue, or White colors from Amazon.in starting March 18. The Galaxy M12 is powered by the Exynos 850 SoC and runs Android 11-based One UI 3.1 out of the box. It's built around a 6.5" HD+ 90Hz screen and packs a 6,000 mAh battery with 15W charging. For selfies and video calls, you get an 8MP unit inside the notch, and around the back are 48MP primary,...

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Watch the Oppo Find X3 announcement live here

Oppo is expected to introduce its Find X3 series today. We expect to see a Snapdragon 888-powered Pro flagship and perhaps two or three lower standing members. The event is scheduled for 11:30 GMT (12:30 CET) and will be broadcasted on YouTube, and you can watch directly below: The Oppo Find X3 Pro is expected to arrive with a new LTPO screen with an adaptive refresh rate that goes between 5Hz and 120 Hz. The have QHD+ resolution and 10-bit color depth and should be one of the most impressive in the market. The back of the Oppo Find X3 Pro is also intriguing - we expect a couple...

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Samsung Galaxy M42 to become the first 5G smartphone in the series

Back in November, we came across several certification listings for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy M42 which confirmed a 6,000 mAh battery. Now the same device bearing the SM-M426B/DS model number was spotted in a Wi-Fi Alliance listing. Samsung Galaxy M42 Wi-Fi certification The model number in particular is significant as past international versions of 5G Samsung devices have all sported the B/DS marking which means the M42 will also be a 5G phone. Actually, this will be the first 5G member in the Galaxy M series. Android 11 confrimation The listing itself does not give out...

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OnePlus 9, 9 Pro leak in all colors, CEO confirms IMX789 sensor

The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are expected to arrive after two weeks, but the devices have already been subjected to a major leak, including press images in all available colors. At the same time, Pete Lau, CEO at OnePlus, officially announced the IMX789 sensor that will be exclusive for the company. And if these leaks and announcements weren’t enough, both phones appeared on Geekbench, revealing both the Pro and the vanilla flagship will have a 12GB RAM variant. OnePlus 9 The OnePlus 9 will be available in three colors - Blue, Black, and Purple. It will have three...

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