Huawei employee reveals Huawei's Harmony OS 3 is coming soon

IT Home News reported that a Huawei employee revealed in a social post that Huawei would be unveiling HarmonyOS 3.0 very soon. According to the report, the Chinese phone maker will be holding the Huawei Developer Conference on October 24. At said conference, Huawei will outline the updates coming to HarmonyOS 3.0. Huawei has had to rely less so on Google services and re-invented it's smartphones' operating system (though its still heavily based on Android). HarmonyOS 2.0 launched during last year's Huawei Developer Conference in September of 2020 with the OS arriving to devices on...

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See the iPhone 13 Pro Max go up against the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in a speed test

Surprisingly enough, the side-by-side timed speed test thing is, well, still a thing. And now that a new top dog iPhone launched, you'd naturally expect that to be pitted against the best Samsung has to offer for 2021. And you'd be right. So here's a speed test comparing the iPhone 13 Pro Max to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. And unlike most such tests, this one doesn't use pesky human hands and fingers, as those could introduce a few milliseconds of difference in the timing of the taps, and we just can't have that for such a level of scientific pursuit. So what do we get? Robot hands! And, in a...

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Counterpoint lowers its forecasted annual smartphone growth for 2021 due to component shortage

A new research report from Counterpoint announces that its forecast for the number of smartphone shipments has been lowered. Previously, the research firm forecasted that (global) annual industry growth is expected to grow by 9% with 1.45 billion units shipped during 2021. The new adjusted forecast calls for just 6% growth, with an estimated total of 1.41 billion unit shipped. Based on the firm's research, "some smartphone OEMs and vendors are reporting they had only received 80% of their requested volumes on key components during Q2 2021, and the situation seems to be getting...

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USB-IF announces new certified Type-C power rating logos for cables and chargers

USB Implementers Forum, the people in charge of deciding how many times you rotate the cable before it plugs in, have announced a new certified logo program based on USB4, USB Type-C, and USB Power Delivery specifications. Cables that now feature the new USB PD 3.1 standard of 60W or 240W will feature the new logo that clearly identify the power rating that the cable is capable of. While the image below shows the 240W logo, a similar logo will also be visible for cables rated for just 60W. Similarly, USB4 cables that support either 20Gbps or 40Gbps speeds will feature a new logo...

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The iQOO 8 Pro Pilot Edition comes bundled with a 55W Flash Car Charger

The iQOO 8 Pro launched in August with BMW M Motorsport branding. Now iQOO is offering a special Pilot Edition bundle with an iQOO 55W Flash Car Charger. The version of the charger sports the M stripe, of course, to match the phone’s branding. Speaking of the phone, this is the top version with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB storage. It is specifically the white version with the BMW M stripe on the back. Note that there is already a 120W Flash Charger in the box that you can use at home (it does a full charge in 18 minutes). iQOO 8 Pro Pilot Edition with a bundled iQOO 55W Flash Car...

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Samsung Galaxy A02's Android 11 update is rolling out

The Samsung Galaxy A02 announced in January with Android 10 is finally receiving the Android 11 update with One UI 3.1. The update comes with firmware version A022GDXU2BUI3 and new UI and features, including chat bubbles, one-time permissions, and improved stock apps. It also bumps up the Android security patch level on the Galaxy A02 to September 2021. The new build is currently seeding in Russia and should hopefully expand to other regions soon. If you live in Russia and haven't received Android 11 on your Galaxy A02, you can go to the phone's Settings > Software update menu to...

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Oppo plans to launch a tablet next year, work on rollable and fodable phones is still ongoing

Last year Oppo unveiled a concept rollable phone, but that was just a tech showcase – the company had no plans to mass manufacture and sell such devices at that point. It was reportedly more willing to try a foldable phone first, but that hasn’t come yet either (despite a rumor saying that it will launch this June). Oppo has not given up on the changeable form factor phones, however. At a recent event VP Liu Bo hinted that the company is working on both foldable and rollable designs, but mentioned no specific plans to launch either. The company will be entering a new market soon,...

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Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max proves its durability in latest test

If you had any doubts that the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is a durable phone, go ahead and cast those away. JerryRigEverything's latest video shows the top iPhone being scratched, burned and bend-tested and in keeping with its peers and predecessors, the iPhone 13 Pro Max survived. There were no surprises. If you're familiar with the JerryRig durability test then the iPhone's screen scratched at a level 6 like any other glass display on a current smartphone, the stainless steel frame's glossy coating scratched with a razor, the phone didn't nudge when bend tested. The burn test was...

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Fairphone TWS bring ANC, IPX4 rating and use recycled materials

Alongside the recently announced Fairphone 4, the Dutch-based company is entering the TWS earphone market with its own offering. Like its phones, Fairphone TWS are made from fair and recycled materials with the earbuds and the charging case encompassing 30% recycled plastics. Fairphone TWS (images: Fairphone) The earphones bring hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) over Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP, HFP and AVRCP profiles. They are IPX4 splash resistant and utilize 10mm drivers with each bud housing two microphones. There are touch controls and in-ear detection too. Each earbud...

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The Realme Q3s will allegedly use the Snapdragon 778G, gets certified with 30W charging

A week ago two Realme devices were surfaced on TENAA – the RMX3461 and RMX3463, which seemed to be two variants of the same device. Now they are back in the news again since sources on Weibo claim that these two are the Realme Q3s. Realme Q3s (RMX3461), photos by TENAA A mid-season upgrade to the popular Q3 series from April, this one is said to use the Snapdragon 778G. The original Q3 was powered by a 750G chip instead, the Q3 Pro Carnival used the 768G (the other two used Dimensity chips). The 778G is an advanced 6 nm chip (TSMC) with four big Kryo 670 cores and a premium...

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vivo X70 Pro in for review

Even before you open the vivo X70 Pro box you are greeted with a “Co-engineered with ZEISS” label on the front. The box itself is somewhat small, but it is actually one of the better-stocked retail packages we’ve seen recently. Once you lift the lid you see the phone itself and another label: “Photography. Redefined”. It’s quite clear what the main selling point of the X70 series is and we will get to that in a moment. First, lets us rifle through what’s inside the box. The first thing to note is the FlashCharge 44W power adapter. It offers a USB-A port that can deliver up to 11V and...

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Honor 50 confirmed to arrive in Europe on October 26

The Honor 50 was introduced in China back in June, and quickly became а big part of the brand’s revival at the domestic scene. The company CEO hinted the series is scheduled for a global rollout in Q4, and today we got a more specific date - October 26. According to the PR department of Honor, the Snapdragon 778G-powered phone will first hit the United Kingdom and markets in the European Union. Other markets like Russia, UAE, Latin America, and Malaysia will get it at a later date, with specific region availability to be detailed later on. The Honor 50 has a 6.57” OLED display with...

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Fairphone 4 announced: Snapdragon 750G, modular design and 5-year warranty

The latest phone from Dutch-based Fairphone brings 5G connectivity, dual 48MP cameras and a 9.2 out of 10 repairability score on the French Repairability Index. In true company fashion, the latest Fairphone is produced in an ethical way with recycled materials and fairtrade gold and ethically sourced cobalt and lithium. It’s fairly easy to repair and you can purchase spare parts from Fairphone if something breaks down. A brand new battery costs €29.95, the dual rear cameras go for €79.95 while the selfie cam will costs you €29.95. Fairphone 4 in grey, green and speckled green...

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Xiaomi is recruiting Android 12 testers for Mi 11, 11 Ultra and 11i

In a community forum post, Xiaomi announced the start of its beta testing program for Android 12 on some of its flagship devices, namely the Mi 11, Mi 11 Ultra and Mi 11i. This is for the global version of Xiaomi's MIUI, though, keep in mind. The company is recruiting a limited number of users to participate in the testing of the Global Stable ROM and the seats are limited to 200 for each device so you better hurry. You will find a detailed instructions of how to apply and install the ROM at the source link below. Keep in mind that Xiaomi's staff expects you to be active on its...

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iPhone 13 Pro Max supports up to 27W fast charging, the regular Pro goes up to 23W

Even though Apple doesn't advertise it, the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max got an upgraded charging this year. According to ChargerLAB's tests, the iPhone 13 Pro Max can go up to 27W while the standard Pro peaks at 23W. This means that with appropriate USB Power Delivery charger with at least 30W output, the Pro Max can charge at 27W for a while before temperature constraints lead to throttling. And since the device doesn't ship with a charger at all, Apple is happy to sell you a $50 30W USB PD charger. The iPhone 13 Pro received some love as well and ChargerLAB says it can get up to...

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Motorola Moto Tab G20 launched with 8-inch LCD, Helio P22T chipset

As expected Motorola announced its Moto Tab G20 Android tablet earlier today. The device carries an 8-inch LCD with HD+ resolution, Helio P22T chipset and a 5,100 mAh battery. These specs sound familiar as they match Lenovo’s third-gen Tab M8 slate. The Moto Tab G20 comes in a single 3GB RAM and 32GB storage trim and it also has a microSD slot for expansion. Android 11 covers the software front and Motorola is also bringing a Kids Space mode. You get a 2MP front-facing cam and a 5MP sensor around the back. There’s also Dolby Atmos coming from the single bottom-mounted speaker. The...

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Nokia G300 5G leaks with Snapdragon 480 chipset, 720p+ display, 16 MP main camera

There is another affordable 5G Nokia phone on the way – two, in fact, but today the rumor mill surfaced detailed specs for only one of them. The Nokia G300 5G will be based on the same Snapdragon 480 that was used in the recent G50 as well as the X10 and X20 (speaking of, the other upcoming phone we mentioned is the Nokia X100). HMD Global never released a Nokia G30, so this isn’t a sequel. It’s not exactly an upgrade over the G20 either, at least as far as cameras and batteries are concerned. Though this one has a much more powerful chipset (it’s not hard to beat a Helio G35) and 5G...

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Poco C31 arrives with Helio G35 and 5,000 mAh battery

Poco launched the C3 last October as its most affordable smartphone and sold 2.5 million units in India. Today, Poco followed it up with the C31 - the second member of the C-series. The Poco C31 is powered by the Helio G35 SoC and comes with up to 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage onboard. It also has a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion by up to 512GB. The C31 runs the dated Android 10 out of the box, and Poco takes pride in offering the phone to its customers without any advertisements in the UI. The smartphone's built around a 6.53" 20:9 HD+ screen with TUV...

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Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 are the latest phones to get October 2021 Android security patch

Samsung once again became the first company to release a new Android security patch ahead of schedule as it rolled out the October 2021 patch for the Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra a few days ago. And now, it's the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 that are getting the latest Android security update. The new build for the Galaxy Z Fold3 comes with firmware version F926NKSU1AUID, and F711NKSU2AUIE for the Galaxy Z Flip3. A detailed changelog of the update is unavailable, but it should bring more to the smartphones than just a new security patch. The update for both smartphones is seeding...

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vivo X70 Pro, X70 Pro+ global rollout begins

The vivo X70 series was announced on September 9, and three weeks later the manufacturer brought the lineup to the global audience. During a launch event, the vivo X70 Pro and vivo X70 Pro+ were introduced to the Indian audience, and we know they will arrive in other countries as well. vivo X70 Pro The flagship vivo X70 Pro+ is powered by a Snapdragon 888+ and has a tremendous camera setup, while the vivo X70 Pro is a tad more affordable but still running on the mighty Dimensity 1200 chipset. The vanilla vivo X70 was missing from the event, as we received a confirmation from company...

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Follow the Poco C31 launch live here

Poco announced the Poco C3 last October, and today the company will add a new member to the C-series with the C31. The launch event will be streamed live on Poco's official YouTube channel starting at 12PM IST, and you can follow it with us by tuning to the stream below. The C31 is touted by Poco as a strong, secure, and fast smartphone. The company has confirmed it will have a Helio G35 SoC at the helm with 4GB RAM, but we hope there will be a 6GB RAM model as well. The C31 will sport a waterdrop notch display and come with a fingerprint scanner for password-less unlocking. The...

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