Thursday 1 February 2024

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Early Renders Showcase Wider Displays and Slimmer Design

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 are only a couple of months old, but speculations about their successors are already emerging on the Web. Most recently, early renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 based on one of Samsung's newest patents have leaked online. The renders suggest major design improvements for the book-style foldable device. The handset appears to have a slimmer design with a larger external display. Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy Z Fold 6 alongside Galaxy Z Flip 6 in the second half of this year.

Tipster David Kowalski (@xleaks7), in collaboration with Pigto, shared supposed renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. The renders, based on Samsung's recent patent filing, suggest bigger inner and outer displays for the upcoming foldable offering more room for users to perform daily tasks. The smartphone could also offer a slimmer and wider design than the current iteration.

Samsung is expected to introduce a novel hinge module for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6. It is said to sport a different aspect ratio as well.

While not much is known about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at this point, early leaks about the Galaxy Z Flip 6 suggest that Samsung is testing a larger screen for the next-generation flip. It is expected to get a 3.9-inch cover panel, instead of Galaxy Z Flip 5's 3.4-inch cover screen. The Galaxy AI features that debuted on the Galaxy S24 series are also expected to land on the new foldables as well.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are expected to go official in either July or August. With just around six months to go for the potential launch, we can expect more new rumours and leaks about the devices to pop up online in the coming weeks.


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Wednesday 31 January 2024

HMD Global Drops Nokia Branding From Official Website, X Account; Company Says HMD Devices Coming Soon

HMD Global, which has been making Nokia-branded smartphones for the past seven years, will sell its own line of HMD-branded devices soon. The latest move by the Finnish company is expected to mark an end to Nokia branded smartphones. HMD is currently teasing its upcoming product portfolio offering a few clues on what you can next expect from HMD phones. One notable change is the change in the X service user ID and website address. The first HMD-branded smartphone is expected to debut during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 event in Barcelona.

Nokia.com/phones website now redirects to HMD.com. Its X ID has now shifted to @HMDglobal instead of @nokiamobile signifying the company's transition. HMD's official website states that the company is establishing an original HMD brand alongside bringing phones from all-new partnerships.  "We're still makers of Nokia smartphones and Nokia dumbphones, but we're getting warmed up to bring you even more, including original HMD devices, and phones from all-new partnerships" the website reads. The portfolio will include smartphones, tablets, and feature phones. 

In a teaser video shared on the company website, HMD Global highlights the currently emphasised Human Mobile Devices name behind its abbreviation. It states that HMD is the "manufacturer of Nokia phones".

HMD Global was established in 2016 after Microsoft sold its rights to the Nokia brand for ten years. The Nokia 6 was launched as the first handset by HMD Global back in 2017.

Details about the name of the first HMD smartphone and its launch date are unknown at this moment. As per past leaks, the handset is said to be codenamed N159V and includes a dual rear camera unit, led by a 108-megapixel primary rear sensor with support for optical image stabilisation (OIS). It is expected to come in black and cyan colour options with plastic frames. It is anticipated to be launched at the MWC event in Barcelona scheduled to take place in February last week. The HMD brand is expected to co-exist alongside its Nokia phones.


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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OnePlus 12 Receives First Software Update in India; Includes Master Mode With Hasselblad Colour Tuning

OnePlus 12 was recently launched in India, as well as globally, alongside the OnePlus 12R. The flagship model was initially unveiled in China in December 2023. The OnePlus 12 ships with Android 14-based OxygenOS 14, is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, and carries a 5,400mAh battery that supports 100W SuperVOOC charging. Now, the Indian variant of the OnePlus 12 has received its first software update that offers users a few new features and some system improvements.

The OnePlus 12 update comes with the firmware version CPH2573_14.0.0.404(EX01) and a 6.48GB size. As per the changelog, this update brings the OnePlus Master Mode feature to the handset, which includes Hasselblad colour tuning that is claimed to offer accurate skin tones and natural-looking colours in photographs. The mode also lets users click in RAW format and allows room for more manual adjustments of ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus, etc.oneplus 12 oneplus software update inline op12

Notably, the OnePlus 12 is equipped with a Hasselblad-tuned camera system which includes a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 primary sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom. The front camera carries a 32-megapixel sensor.

The new software update also introduces the ProXDR feature for Google Photos on OnePlus 12. The update also claims to improve system stability and fingerprint unlock success rate. It is also said to enhance WiFi, NFC, and Bluetooth stability and compatibility. Users can find the update in About Device within Settings.

OnePlus 12 price in India starts at Rs. 64,999 for the 12GB + 256GB option, while the 16GB + 512GB variant is priced at Rs. 69,999. It is offered in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black colour options. The handset is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It has a 6.82-inch quad-HD+ (1,440 x 3,168 pixels) LTPO 4.0 AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The phone is backed by a 5,400mAh battery with support for 100W wired SuperVOOC charging, as well as 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging. 


OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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OnePlus 12 Receives First Software Update in India; Gets Master Mode With Hasselblad Colour Tuning and More

OnePlus 12 was recently launched in India, as well as globally, alongside the OnePlus 12R. The flagship model was initially unveiled in China in December 2023. The newly-launched OnePlus 12 ships with Android 14-based OxygenOS 14 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and carries a 5,400mAh battery which supports 100W SuperVOOC charging. Now, the Indian variant of the OnePlus 12 has received its first software update which offers users a few new and some improved features and functions.

The OnePlus 12 update comes with the firmware version CPH2573_14.0.0.404(EX01) and a 6.48GB size. As per the changelog, this update brings the OnePlus Master Mode feature to the handset, which includes Hasselblad colour tuning that is claimed to offer accurate skin tones and natural-looking colours in photographs. The mode also lets users click in RAW format and allows room for more manual adjustments of ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus, etc.oneplus 12 oneplus software update inline op12

Notably, the OnePlus 12 is equipped with a Hasselblad-tuned camera system which includes a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 primary sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens and a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom. The front camera carries a 32-megapixel sensor.

The new software update also introduces the ProXDR feature for Google Photos in OnePlus 12 and claims to improve system stability and fingerprint unlock success rate. It is also said to enhance WiFi, NFC, and Bluetooth stability and compatibility. Users can find the update under the About Device tab within the Settings menu.

The OnePlus 12 starts in India at Rs. 64,999 for the 12GB + 256GB option, while the 16GB + 512GB variant is priced at Rs. 69,999. It is offered in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black colour options. The handset is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It has a 6.82-inch quad-HD+ (1,440 x 3,168 pixels) LTPO 4.0 AMOLED 120Hz display with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The phone is backed by a 5,400mAh battery with support for 100W wired SuperVOOC charging, as well as 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging. 


OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Tuesday 30 January 2024

Reliance Jio Urges Government to Frame Policy to Shut Down 2G and 3G Services

Reliance Jio, in response to a consulting paper published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), titled Digital Transformation through 5G Ecosystem, suggested that the government should frame a policy to shut down the 2G and 3G networks in India and move the existing users to 4G and 5G networks. In a separate response, Vodafone Idea (Vi) also made the same suggestion and highlighted that the existence of such barriers lead to a digital divide and impacts the ecosystem for 5G use cases.

The regulatory body sought opinions on the barriers to the development of the ecosystem for 5G use cases, which need to be addressed and the possible policy and regulatory interventions that can overcome them. Responding to this, Reliance Jio stated, “The Government should come out with a policy and glidepath for closing down the 2G and 3G networks completely so that unnecessary network costs should be avoided, and all customers can be migrated to 4G and 5G services.” The telecom operator added that this will also boost the developing ecosystem to 5G use cases.

Separately, Vodafone Idea also submitted its suggestion highlighting a similar measure. “The inability of users to switch to smartphones on account of the cost of these devices also leads to the users continuing on older technology and hence, not using digital services and most likely ending up being not updated on latest digital technologies and services,” it added.

The two major issues with shifting users to a higher network bandwidth include the abundance of phones used in India that are only 2G/3G capable, and the pricing of the 4G and 5G enabled smartphones that might be unaffordable for the rural and remote population of the country. Vodafone Idea highlighted the issue as well and stated that the cost of smartphones for low-income groups is a very big challenge.

Reliance Jio also underlined the necessity for the availability and allocation of a “massive amount” of spectrum bands to better implement a robust 5G connectivity. To solve this, the telecom operator urged that the 6GHz band, full C-Band, and 28GHz (on a flexible use basis) should also be auctioned, along with the planned auction of the E-Band and V-Band spectrum.

It should be noted that these are just the suggestions given to TRAI by Telecom Service Providers and other enablers of the ecosystem. The suggestion does not ensure that the government will take active steps to shut down the 2G and 3G networks. In case, the Centre does move ahead with the proposed suggestion, citizens will get an ample amount of time and assistance from the government to make the transition easy.


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Xiaomi 15 Series Tipped to Run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC

Xiaomi 14 series with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and HyperOS operating system was launched in Chinese markets in October last year. They are yet to make their India debut, but ahead of it, rumours about the next-generation flagship smartphones from Xiaomi have already started surfacing online. The Xiaomi 15 series is tipped to be powered by next-generation Qualcomm flagship processor. The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro are said to go official in September.

Tipster Smart Pikachu (translated from Chinese) on Weibo claimed that the Xiaomi 15 series will be equipped with Qualcomm's unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. The displays of the purported devices are said to offer a 1.5K resolution. The Xiaomi 14 series was the first handset to feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC.

Previous leaks suggested that mass production of the Xiaomi 15 lineup will kick off in September. The regular model is expected to retain a flat display and have the same screen size as the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 13. The Xiaomi 15 Pro is rumoured to come with a slightly curved 2K display with 0.6 mm narrow bezels. Since there's no official announcement from Xiaomi about the 15 series yet, these details should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Xiaomi's 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro were launched in China in October. The price of Xiaomi 14 Pro starts at CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 56,500) for the 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage model whereas the Xiaomi 14 is priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 50,000) for the 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage variant. There is no official word yet on their debut in markets outside China.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powers Xiaomi's 14 series. They run on Xiaomi's HyperOS interface and feature up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. They also have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The Xiaomi 14 series has LTPO OLED displays with up to 2K resolution and 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. They have a Leica-tuned triple rear camera setup as well.


Is the Xiaomi Pad 6 the best Android tablet you can buy under Rs. 30,000 in India? We discuss the company's latest mid-range tablet on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Tecno Spark 20 Key Specifications, Price Teased via Amazon Microsite Ahead of Debut

Tecno Spark 20 is set to debut in India soon and the company has started to tease the key specifications of the smartphone via a microsite on Amazon. The firm has also suggested the price of the handset in India and its colour options. The Tecno Spark 20 will also be equipped with the company's Dynamic Port feature — an Android implementation of Apple's Dynamic Island on its latest iPhone models. It has an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance.

A microsite for the Tecno Spark 20 on Amazon claims that the handset will be priced under Rs. 10,499 as the company claims it will offer a set of specifications in that price segment. The phone will be available in Cyber White, Gravity Black, Magic Skin Blue, and Neon Gold colour options. The price of the Tecno Spark 20 is expected to be announced by the company in the coming days, when the phone is launched in the country.

The microsite also teases some of the key specifications of the Tecno Spark 20. It will be equipped with a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of inbuilt storage. The Tecno Spark 20 will also feature an LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and the company's Dynamic Port feature for notifications and other animations, built around the selfie camera.

According to the company, the Tecno Spark 20 will be equipped with a 50-megapixel rear camera and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Both the rear and front-facing cameras are accompanied by an LED flash. The fingerprint and volume buttons are located on the right edge of the phone, while the SIM tray is found on the left edge. 

The handset will also feature a dedicated microSD card slot that allows the inbuilt storage to be expanded up to 1TB. It will have stereo speakers with DTS audio. The Tecno Spark 20 also features an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance, according to the company. 


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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