Sunday, December 31, 2023

ISRO Successfully Launches X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite; Will Study Black Holes, Other Celestial Objects

ISRO on Monday successfully launched its maiden X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite that would offer several insights into celestial objects like black holes.

ISRO's ever reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in its C58 mission, placed the primary X-Ray Polarimeter satellite XPoSat into a 650 km Low Earth Orbit as intended after lifting off at the pre-fixed time of 9.10 am from the first launch pad in Sriharikota.

As the 25-hour countdown concluded, the 44.4-metre-tall rocket lifted off majestically with thunderous applause from spectators who had descended here in large numbers at this spaceport situated about 135 km east of Chennai.

The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is aimed to investigate the polarisation of intense X-ray sources in space.

According to ISRO, it is the first dedicated scientific satellite from the space agency to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.

The X-Ray polarisation serves as a crucial diagnostic tool for examining the radiation mechanism and geometry of celestial sources.

The primary payload of XPoSat is POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-Rays) which is designed to measure polarimetry parameters by Raman Research Institute and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) built by the U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru. The Mission life is about five years.

ISRO will also launch the state-of-the-art joint venture satellite with NASA — NISAR — in the first quarter of 2024. Built at a cost of $1.5 billion (nearly Rs. 12,500 crore), NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is targeted for launch onboard India's GSLV rocket.

Data from NISAR will be highly suitable for studying the land ecosystems, deformation of solid earth, mountain and polar cryosphere, sea ice, and coastal oceans on a regional to global scale.


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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Saturday, December 30, 2023

Oppo Find X7, Find X7 Ultra Launch Date Confirmed; Design, Colour Options Revealed

Oppo Find X7 series launch date has been revealed. The lineup is expected to include the Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra. The company has announced the launch date of the series in China and also revealed the design and colour options of the models. The RAM and storage configurations of the phones have been confirmed as well. Oppo has also opened reservations for the handsets in China. The lineup has previously been tipped to include a Find X7 Ultra 'Satellite Communication' variant but the company has not yet confirmed its availability. 

The company announced that the Oppo Find X7 series will launch globally on January 8 at 2:30pm Beijing time (12pm IST). A promotional video of the upcoming lineup shows the design of the two handsets - the Oppo Find X7 and Oppo Find X7 Ultra. Ahead of the launch, both models are open for reservations in China. The listings of the phones on the official website also reveal the colour options and the storage configurations.

Oppo Find X7 is confirmed to launch in four colour options - Desert Silver Moon, Smokey Purple, Starry Sky Black, and Vast Sea and Sky (blue) (translated from Chinese). The black and purple colour options are seen with glass back panels while the other two designs appear with part faux leather and part glass finish. The Find X7 will be available in 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB variants.

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra, on the other hand, will be offered in Desert Silver Moon, Song Ying Mo Yun (black), and Vast Sea and Sky (blue) (translated from Chinese) colourways. All options of the Ultra model will carry a part faux leather and part glass finish on the back. The phone is listed with 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 256GB, and 16GB + 512GB storage options. 

Both Oppo Find X7 models are seen with a large circular camera module placed centrally towards the top of the back panel. They are seen with curved screens with a hole-punch slot at the top to house the front camera. The volume rockers and power buttons are placed on the right side of the handsets, while the left edge appears to sport an alert slider that is usually found on OnePlus smartphones.

The base Oppo Find X7 has been tipped to be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC, while the Find X7 Ultra is said to carry a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. They are expected to ship with Android 14-based ColorOS 14. The vanilla handset is likely to sport a 6.78-inch 1.5K display with BOE 8T OLED LTPO panel with 120Hz refresh rate and 2,160Hz PWM dimming rate, and the Ultra variant could get a 6.82-inch 2K display. Both handsets are said to come with a 5,000mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging support.

For optics, the Oppo Find X7 could get a 50-megapixel LYT-808 primary rear sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 sensor with an ultrawide lens, and a 64-megapixel Omnivision OV64B periscope telephoto camera with 3x zoom and OIS support. Meanwhile, the Find X7 Ultra is said to feature a 50-megapixel LYT-900 main sensor with OIS, a 50-megapixel LYT800 sensor with an ultrawide lens, an OIS-supported 50-megapixel IMX890 sensor with telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel OIS-supported IMX858 sensor with telephoto lens with 6x optical zoom.


Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices 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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IT Ministry to Block Binance, Kraken, More Crypto Websites After FIU Issues Show Cause Notice

As part of compliance action against the offshore entities, Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU IND) has issued show cause notices to nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

According to an official release from the Ministry of Finance, "Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) were brought into the ambit of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) framework under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PML) Act in March 2023."

"As part of compliance action against the offshore entities, Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU IND) has issued compliance Show Cause Notices to the following nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)," it said.

As per the release, the nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers are Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global and Bitfinex.

"Director FIU IND has written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block the URLs of said entities that are operating illegally without complying with the provisions of the PML Act in India," said the release.

VDA SPs operating in India (both offshore and onshore) and engaged in activities like exchange between virtual digital assets and fiat currencies, transfer of virtual digital assets, safekeeping or administration of virtual digital assets or instruments enabling control over virtual digital assets, etc. are required to be registered with FIU IND as reporting entities and comply with the set of obligations as mandated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, it said.

The obligation is activity-based and is not contingent on physical presence in India.

"The regulation places reporting, record-keeping, and other obligations on the VDA SPs under the PML Act, which also includes registration with the FIU IND," said the release.

To date, 31 VDA SPs have registered with FIU IND. However, several offshore entities, though catering to a substantial part of Indian users, were not getting registered and coming under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT) frameworks.


Will crypto tax hurt the industry in India? We discuss this on 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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Realme Teases New Smartphone With Periscope Camera; Tipped to Be Realme 12 Pro+

Realme is gearing up to launch a new smartphone in India with a periscope zoom camera soon. The Chinese electronics brand has shared a teaser on social media platforms to offer hints about the launch of the new flagship smartphone without confirming the exact moniker and launch date. The upcoming handset is being speculated to be the Realme 12 Pro+. It could succeed the Realme 11 Pro+ that went official in the country in July.

Through a teaser post on X, Realme announced the launch of a new smartphone in the country. The tweet carries the tagline “No Periscope. No Flagship" hinting at enhanced optical zoom capabilities. The poster image shows the rear portion of the device with a ring. The company launched the Realme GT 5 Pro earlier this month as its first flagship phone equipped with a periscope telephoto camera. Although Realme has not confirmed the moniker yet, it is has been speculated that the Realme 12 Pro+ may break cover soon.

Separately, tipster Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) reposting the teaser image claimed that the Realme 12 Pro+ will launch by the end of January or in February next year. It is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 series chipset, most likely the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC.

Going over the rest of the expected Realme 12 Pro+ specifications, it is said to get a 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64B periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The handset may debut in the mid-range smartphone segment priced around CNY 2,000 (roughly Rs. 23,000). It could be launched alongside the Realme 12 and Realme 12 Pro.

Realme 11 Pro+ made its India debut in June with an initial price tag of Rs. 27,999. It runs on Android 13-based Realme UI 4.0 custom skin and carries a 5,000mAh battery. The phone also features a 200-megapixel triple rear camera setup and a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC.


The Motorola Edge 40 recently made its debut in the country as the successor to the Edge 30 that was launched last year. Should you buy this phone instead of the Nothing Phone 1 or the Realme Pro+? We discuss this and more on 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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Nothing Phone 2a Price, Colour Options, RAM and Storage Configurations Tipped

Nothing Phone 2a is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2024. Over the past few weeks, details of a new smartphone from Nothing have surfaced online. The UK-based OEM is said to be working on the Nothing Phone 2a, which is likely to launch with trimmed specifications as compared to the company's last handset, the Nothing Phone 2. Design renders alongside several key features of the purported phone have been tipped previously. Now, a tipster has suggested the price, colour options, and RAM and storage configurations of the Nothing Phone 2a.

Tipster Roland Quandt (@rquandt) shared in a post on X that the Nothing Phone 2a is likely to launch in Black and White colour options. He also claimed that the base variant of the smartphone with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage could be priced below EUR 400 (roughly Rs. 36,800). The tipster added that the handset could also be available in a 12GB + 256GB variant but did not hint at a price range for this option. 

An earlier leak suggested that the Nothing Phone 2a will be listed at $400 (roughly Rs. 33,200). This leak also showed a PVT unit of the phone that featured a horizontal camera module placed centrally towards the top of the back panel, while the front panel was seen with a centred hole-punch slot for the front camera. It was also seen with a redesigned Glyph Interface.

Meanwhile, a recent report had claimed that the Nothing Phone 2a could include a 1/1.5-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KNG9 primary sensor alongside a 1/2.76-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN1 sensor with an ultrawide lens at the back. It may also get a 32-megapixel Sony IMX615 front camera sensor.

The Nothing Phone 2a has been tipped to come with a MediaTek Dimenisty 7200 SoC and a 6.7-inch  120Hz AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,084 x 2,412 pixels. It is likely to ship with Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5. The phone is expected to launch at the 'Nothing to See' MWC event in Barcelona on February 27.


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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Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ Officially Listed Online; Key Specifications, Colour Options Revealed

Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ has been officially listed online. Earlier this month, the company had confirmed that the new phone would in launched in January. Along with a launch timeline, Tecno also revealed certain key specifications of the handset. The Spark 20 Pro+ will join the Spark 20 lineup, which includes the Spark 20C, Spark 20, and the Spark 20 Pro. Although we still don't have an exact launch date from Tecno, the smartphone has been listed on the official website.

Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ specifications

According to the official listing, the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate chipset. The handset will get up to 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. Users will be able to expand the RAM to 16GB with 8GB virtual RAM. It will get a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with full-HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

Coming to the cameras, the Spark 20 Pro+ will feature a 108-megapixel primary rear camera that uses a 1/1.67-inch sensor with F/1.75 aperture. From the images shared on the website, the phone appears to have a triple rear camera setup, but Tecno has only shared details about the main camera. On the front, the phone will get a 32-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls.

The handset will get a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. Tecno has also revealed that the Spark 20 Pro+ will offer IP53 dust and water resistance, a stereo dual speaker setup, and it'll run Android 14-based HiOS 14 out-of-the-box. It'll also feature the Dynamic Port feature, which is basically a replica of Apple's Dynamic Island.

Finally, Tecno has also fully flaunted the design of the upcoming Spark 20 Pro+. It will be available in Temporal Orbits, Lunar Frost, and Radiant Starstream colour options. There will also be a fourth Magic Skin 2.0 Green colour, that will offer a glossy matte leather finish. We're not sure about the launch date, but it is likely that Tecno will make the announcement soon.


Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer 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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Friday, December 29, 2023

Oppo Reno 11 Series India Launch Date Tipped; Design Revealed via Official Website

Oppo Reno 11 series could soon make its way to the Indian market. According to a tipster, the Oppo Reno 11 and Reno 11 Pro will probably launch in India as soon as next week. The phones have already been made official in China. Although Oppo hasn't given any details on the India launch of the phones, it is teasing the launch of the Reno 11 series on its official website in Malaysia. The website also reveals the design and key features of the global variants of the Reno 11 series. It appears that the vanilla Oppo Reno 11 will feature a slightly different design globally compared to the China variant.

Tipster Ishan Agarwal suggested in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the Oppo Reno 11 series would launch in India and globally on January 11. Meanwhile, Oppo Malaysia has officially revealed that the Reno 11 series would launch in the country on January 11. It is likely that Oppo India may also start teasing the launch of the phones in India next week. The Oppo Malaysia website has also revealed some key specifications and design of the phones.

As per the teaser images posted on the Oppo Malaysia website, the vanilla Reno 11 could feature a slightly different design when compared to the China variant. The Reno 11 Pro, on the other hand, looks to carry the same design. The website also confirms that both smartphones will feature a 32-megapixel front facing camera and run on ColorOS 14. The Oppo Reno 11 will offer 67W fast charging, whereas the Reno 11 Pro will bring 80W fast charging to the table.

Oppo Reno 11 series specifications (China)

The Oppo Reno 11 gets a 6.7-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, triple rear cameras with a primary 50-megapixel Sony LYT600 sensor, and a 4,800mAh battery. The Reno 11 Pro offers a slightly larger 6.74-inch with 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, triple rear cameras led by a Sony IMX890 50-megapixel primary sensor, and a 4,700mAh battery. W

We should hear more about the Oppo Reno 11 series India launch in the coming week.


The newly launched Oppo Find N2 Flip is the first foldable from the company to debut in India. But does it have what it takes to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4? We discuss this on 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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Best Smartphones of 2023: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, OnePlus Nord 3, Pixel 7a and More

The ever-changing landscape of the smartphone industry in India is always surprising. This year, there have been plenty of changes and several newcomers in some segments to make for a very interesting mix of devices for eager buyers to choose from. While most regulars like Xiaomi and Realme have seen a handful of launches in the budget segment, brands like Motorola and Infinix have gone in all guns blazing. Xiaomi has been making headway into the higher end of the budget range and the mid-range instead.

The battle between Samsung and OnePlus has never been bigger than 2023, when OnePlus launched its first book-style foldable, the Open, late this year (after several delays). Brands like Oppo and Motorola took things a step up with foldables and premium smartphone offerings, while Samsung took it relatively easy with the same, but delivered a rather capable camera-focused flagship with its Galaxy S23 Ultra. Google ushered in the age of AI on smartphones, but definitely missed out on the ‘folding' bit in India, which has seen its fair share of buyers this year.

And with so much choice and variety in certain segments, it gets equally hard to pick and choose the right smartphone. Unfortunately, not all the smartphones that we have reviewed over the past year have managed good scores as per our ratings. Fortunately, there are several that stood out, and basically managed to deliver what was expected from them. So, we have come up with a list of devices (in no particular order) which we consider to be the best at what they do. If you are looking to bring in the new year with a brand new smartphone, or have been a bit unsure about switching to a new device type or segment, this one's for you!

Phones Gadgets 360 rating (out of 10) Price in India (as recommended)
OnePlus Open 9 Rs. 1,39,999
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra 9 Rs. 72,999
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 9 Rs. 1,24,999
Samsung Galaxy S23 9 Rs. 74,999
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 9 Rs. 1,59,900
Apple iPhone 15 9 Rs. 79,900
Google Pixel 7a 8 Rs. 38,999
Nothing Phone 2 8 Rs. 39,999
iQoo Neo 7 Pro 8 Rs. 34,999
OnePlus Nord 3 5G 9 Rs. 29,999
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G 8 Rs. 26,999

OnePlus Open

The OnePlus Open (Review) can best be described as a breath of fresh air in the book-style or horizontal foldables space which has been dominated by Samsung with its Galaxy Z Fold lineup since the category showed up in India. For a phone that's managed to surpass our expectations from every possible angle (not just as a foldable but even a regular smartphone), it sure seems like an achievement to get so many things right in the first attempt.

The Open managed to outdo Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 (the latest version of its best foldable yet) by a large margin by offering a slimmer and lighter design (with an IP rating), fast charging (sans wireless charging), better battery life and the very obvious imaging capability. Its Open Canvas software feature also seems like a different and novel take on the multitasking front. Its compact form factor and broad cover display make it function like a regular smartphone when folded, which is not the case with the Z Fold 5. While it lacks wireless charging (which Samsung offers, it makes up for it with 80W wired charging, and it all comes at a price that's a lot lower than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 with plenty more storage and RAM.

 

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

Another smartphone that managed to take us by surprise this year was Motorola's latest Razr 40 Ultra (Review) foldable. It packs in quite the punch for a smartphone this compact and slim. It may lack the latest Snapdragon processor, but its main use case lies in its well-optimised cover display software experience, which is second to none in the clamshell foldables segment.

Its IP52-rated design makes Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Oppo Find N3 Flip appear chunky. There's also that large cover display with a rather unique, embedded floating camera layout, which looks unreal and radical. Camera performance is good for a foldable, and the battery life will give you a day of use. But this phone also does well when it comes to gaming. It won't bring back any memories of the iconic Razr (V3/V3i) flip phones of the early 2000s, but it sure sets a new standard by bringing in its own iconic style, which has been hard to mimic to date.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

When it comes to zooming in, there is really no competing with Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra (Review). With Huawei not around anymore, Samsung's Galaxy Ultra lineup has made its cosy space between the regular Galaxy S23 phones (S23, S23 Plus) and its Galaxy Z Fold lineup and dominated this segment while competing with Apple's Pro-range of ultra-premium devices. Priced at Rs. 1,24,999, it's a space that no other brand (on the Android side of things) has dared to enter late when designing regular slate-type smartphones.

Samsung has also managed to justify this pricing by continuing to retain what made the now-defunct Galaxy Note series unique. This would include an S-Pen (which slides into a built-in silo), a massive display that supports the stylus. There's also a desktop-like Dex functionality for the productive types. And then it takes forward the bits from the Galaxy S series lineup by adding an excellent 200-megapixel camera, the capability of which remains unmatched in India (no matter which camp you come from). The customised Snapdragon SoC and excellent battery life are simply bonuses that buyers can take advantage of. We just wished it came in a smaller, more compact package, as this phone is quite a handful.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23

Just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S23 (Review) has made its peace with the world and still continues to be the only compact flagship in its segment. Despite commanding a high price tag of Rs. 74,999 and looking very similar to its predecessor, this compact powerhouse has plenty of under-the-hood improvements over the previous model. While the SoC upgrades were what we expected, Samsung also packaged a vapour cooling chamber into its compact footprint, keeping this phone cool when stressed. Battery life has also improved over the Galaxy S22, and it can easily handle a day of heavy usage on a single charge. Camera performance is top-notch (even though it has seen no upgrades) and delivers what one would expect from a Galaxy S series device. Despite no new or added features over its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 still remains the compact flagship to beat solely because of its form factor.

 

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

As Apple struggles to add new and upgrade-worthy features to its smartphones, it's finally going back to basics (with some help from the EU). The iPhone 15 Pro Max (Review) manages to do pretty much what it claims to do and that is quite the leap from the iPhone 14 Pro, which banked heavily on Dynamic Island as its highlight feature. This year, Apple worked on tweaking and optimising its cameras, including the new telephoto camera, which exceeded expectations when it came to zoom performance.

It's not all about the cameras, either. There's a new customisable Action button and the big shift to USB-C, which many more users will appreciate. Along with the standard Pro model, it's also the first globally produced smartphone that makes use of titanium for its frame, which also makes it lighter compared to its predecessor. It can also run AAA gaming titles with jaw-dropping graphics thanks to the impressive A17 Pro (3nm) processor. It's the iPhone that is worth upgrading to even if you own the previous iPhone 14 Pro.

 

Apple iPhone 15

After several years of incremental upgrades to the standard iPhone lineup, we finally have a regular iPhone that actually packs in some notable upgrades. The iPhone 15 (Review) despite not having any segment-leading features (compared to other Android smartphones at this price point), still manages to be quite an exciting product for iPhone users. This is mainly because of the ‘Pro-grade' features that have trickled down from the high-end models.

This would include a better Apple A16 Bionic chipset from last year's iPhone 14 Pro, better higher-resolution cameras (one of which also offers lossless in-sensor zoom), USB-C and Dynamic Island. It still retains a 60Hz display (probably in place to deliver better battery life), but it will be the go-to iPhone model for years to come thanks to Dynamic Island and USB-C. And this automatically makes it the base iPhone model that newcomers will crave.

 

Google Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a (Review) is the only Pixel phone to be launched this year, which seems to offer immense value for money. While it may look similar to last year's Pixel 7, it does pack in a ton of upgrades. This would include the upgraded Tensor G2 SoC, which enables a number of AI-related photo editing features and camera tricks, new high-resolution cameras, a reliable fingerprint reader (compared to the Pixel 6a) embedded into a high-refresh-rate 90Hz display and wireless charging.

All of the above is available at an attractive price tag of Rs. 38,999, which is indeed really good value for money, given that you are getting a near-stock serving of Android, which will also be the first to receive software updates, along with the fun Feature Drops which Google releases every few months.

 

Nothing Phone 2

While the Nothing Phone 2 (Review) was launched at Rs. 44,999 in India which seemed borderline good given its core hardware, it new lowered price of Rs. 37,999 makes it bit more convincing for buyers who are looking for something different in an Android smartphone.

From its unique transparent looks to its custom software skinning and the Glyph light notification system, which has become more useful with the latest software updates, it is a special and unique experience for those tired of looking at the same icons and widgets on every other Android device. The Phone 2 also offers a better set of cameras than the previous model's average camera performance. Indeed, the Phone 2 sure helps Nothing get past the image of being an artsy, fashion-forward phone to a practical one that works well even as a primary device.

 

iQoo Neo 7 Pro

iQoo has always delivered when it came to good value, matched by equally good performance with their Neo series. But it's recent Neo 7 Pro (Review) goes above and beyond, making it a worthy recommendation in this shortlist.

For starters, there's the faux-leather option in terms of design, and it's all packaged into an IP52-rated body. Inside, iQoo offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, which is rare in this segment and offers premium-level performance. There's a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display with skinny bezels and a large 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging that is fast enough to go from 0-100 per cent in under 30 minutes. The primary camer's performance is quite impressive as well. All in all, the iQoo Neo 7 Pro turns out to be a flagship killer of sorts.

 

OnePlus Nord 3 5G

The higher-end of the budget smartphone range has been growing in popularity because of the many features brands can pack into these phones, increasing their overall value. This is not the case with the mid-range, which struggles to add premium features at a palatable price tag while attempting to appear unique and stand out in terms of cosmetic design. Out of the many mid-range smartphones we have reviewed this year, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G (Review) sure stands out.

It offers distinctly mid-range specs by going with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC. But it pairs it with a premium-looking IP54-rated design with razor-thin bezels on its 120Hz refresh rate AMOLED panel, which also supports HDR10+ content. There are quality cameras all around, and they're all backed up by a large 5,000mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging support. Perhaps the most impressive detail about this mid-ranger is its price, which has now been dropped to Rs. 29,999, making it an easy recommendation.

 

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G

Another phone that has managed to be an all-rounder in the budget segment this year is Samsung's Galaxy A34 5G (Review). We called it the ‘Jack of all trades' in our review, and it was for good reason because this phone manages to pack in a lot of hardware and features at an impressive price point and somehow manages to deliver on those well.

The Galaxy A34 5G may not be as powerful as other smartphones in its class because of its MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, but it gets along fine with multitasking and most 3D gaming requirements. There's enough RAM, storage and even expandable storage so that this phone will check a lot of boxes for various buyers. Camera performance is good in all conditions, and the battery easily lasts a day on a single charge. Its design is also very similar to the premium Galaxy S series, but it's not just about looks, as it also has a solid IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which is rare in this segment.

 

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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Thursday, December 28, 2023

Oppo Find X7, Find X7 Ultra Launch Date Confirmed; Design, Colour Options Revealed

Oppo Find X7 series launch date has been revealed. The lineup is expected to include the Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra. The company has announced the launch date of the series in China and also revealed the design and colour options of the models. The RAM and storage configurations of the phones have been confirmed as well. Oppo has also opened reservations for the handsets in China. The lineup has previously been tipped to include a Find X7 Ultra 'Satellite Communication' variant but the company has not yet confirmed its availability. 

The company announced that the Oppo Find X7 series will launch globally on January 8 at 2:30pm Beijing time (12pm IST). A promotional video of the upcoming lineup shows the design of the two handsets - the Oppo Find X7 and Oppo Find X7 Ultra. Ahead of the launch, both models are open for reservations in China. The listings of the phones on the official website also reveal the colour options and the storage configurations.

Oppo Find X7 is confirmed to launch in four colour options - Desert Silver Moon, Smokey Purple, Starry Sky Black, and Vast Sea and Sky (blue) (translated from Chinese). The black and purple colour options are seen with glass back panels while the other two designs appear with part faux leather and part glass finish. The Find X7 will be available in 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB variants.

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra, on the other hand, will be offered in Desert Silver Moon, Song Ying Mo Yun (black), and Vast Sea and Sky (blue) (translated from Chinese) colourways. All options of the Ultra model will carry a part faux leather and part glass finish on the back. The phone is listed with 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 256GB, and 16GB + 512GB storage options. 

Both Oppo Find X7 models are seen with a large circular camera module placed centrally towards the top of the back panel. They are seen with curved screens with a hole-punch slot at the top to house the front camera. The volume rockers and power buttons are placed on the right side of the handsets, while the left edge appears to sport an alert slider that is usually found on OnePlus smartphones.

The base Oppo Find X7 has been tipped to be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC, while the Find X7 Ultra is said to carry a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. They are expected to ship with Android 14-based ColorOS 14. The vanilla handset is likely to sport a 6.78-inch 1.5K display with BOE 8T OLED LTPO panel with 120Hz refresh rate and 2,160Hz PWM dimming rate, and the Ultra variant could get a 6.82-inch 2K display. Both handsets are said to come with a 5,000mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging support.

For optics, the Oppo Find X7 could get a 50-megapixel LYT-808 primary rear sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 sensor with an ultrawide lens, and a 64-megapixel Omnivision OV64B periscope telephoto camera with 3x zoom and OIS support. Meanwhile, the Find X7 Ultra is said to feature a 50-megapixel LYT-900 main sensor with OIS, a 50-megapixel LYT800 sensor with an ultrawide lens, an OIS-supported 50-megapixel IMX890 sensor with telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel OIS-supported IMX858 sensor with telephoto lens with 6x optical zoom.


Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices 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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IT Ministry to Block Binance, Kraken, More Crypto Websites After FIU Issues Show Cause Notice

As part of compliance action against the offshore entities, Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU IND) has issued show cause notices to nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

According to an official release from the Ministry of Finance, "Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) were brought into the ambit of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) framework under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PML) Act in March 2023."

"As part of compliance action against the offshore entities, Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU IND) has issued compliance Show Cause Notices to the following nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)," it said.

As per the release, the nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers are Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global and Bitfinex.

"Director FIU IND has written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block the URLs of said entities that are operating illegally without complying with the provisions of the PML Act in India," said the release.

VDA SPs operating in India (both offshore and onshore) and engaged in activities like exchange between virtual digital assets and fiat currencies, transfer of virtual digital assets, safekeeping or administration of virtual digital assets or instruments enabling control over virtual digital assets, etc. are required to be registered with FIU IND as reporting entities and comply with the set of obligations as mandated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, it said.

The obligation is activity-based and is not contingent on physical presence in India.

"The regulation places reporting, record-keeping, and other obligations on the VDA SPs under the PML Act, which also includes registration with the FIU IND," said the release.

To date, 31 VDA SPs have registered with FIU IND. However, several offshore entities, though catering to a substantial part of Indian users, were not getting registered and coming under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT) frameworks.


Will crypto tax hurt the industry in India? We discuss this on 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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Realme Teases New Smartphone With Periscope Camera; Tipped to Be Realme 12 Pro+

Realme is gearing up to launch a new smartphone in India with a periscope zoom camera soon. The Chinese electronics brand has shared a teaser on social media platforms to offer hints about the launch of the new flagship smartphone without confirming the exact moniker and launch date. The upcoming handset is being speculated to be the Realme 12 Pro+. It could succeed the Realme 11 Pro+ that went official in the country in July.

Through a teaser post on X, Realme announced the launch of a new smartphone in the country. The tweet carries the tagline “No Periscope. No Flagship" hinting at enhanced optical zoom capabilities. The poster image shows the rear portion of the device with a ring. The company launched the Realme GT 5 Pro earlier this month as its first flagship phone equipped with a periscope telephoto camera. Although Realme has not confirmed the moniker yet, it is has been speculated that the Realme 12 Pro+ may break cover soon.

Separately, tipster Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) reposting the teaser image claimed that the Realme 12 Pro+ will launch by the end of January or in February next year. It is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 series chipset, most likely the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC.

Going over the rest of the expected Realme 12 Pro+ specifications, it is said to get a 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64B periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The handset may debut in the mid-range smartphone segment priced around CNY 2,000 (roughly Rs. 23,000). It could be launched alongside the Realme 12 and Realme 12 Pro.

Realme 11 Pro+ made its India debut in June with an initial price tag of Rs. 27,999. It runs on Android 13-based Realme UI 4.0 custom skin and carries a 5,000mAh battery. The phone also features a 200-megapixel triple rear camera setup and a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC.


The Motorola Edge 40 recently made its debut in the country as the successor to the Edge 30 that was launched last year. Should you buy this phone instead of the Nothing Phone 1 or the Realme Pro+? We discuss this and more on 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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Nothing Phone 2a Price, Colour Options, RAM and Storage Configurations Tipped

Nothing Phone 2a is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2024. Over the past few weeks, details of a new smartphone from Nothing have surfaced online. The UK-based OEM is said to be working on the Nothing Phone 2a, which is likely to launch with trimmed specifications as compared to the company's last handset, the Nothing Phone 2. Design renders alongside several key features of the purported phone have been tipped previously. Now, a tipster has suggested the price, colour options, and RAM and storage configurations of the Nothing Phone 2a.

Tipster Roland Quandt (@rquandt) shared in a post on X that the Nothing Phone 2a is likely to launch in Black and White colour options. He also claimed that the base variant of the smartphone with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage could be priced below EUR 400 (roughly Rs. 36,800). The tipster added that the handset could also be available in a 12GB + 256GB variant but did not hint at a price range for this option. 

An earlier leak suggested that the Nothing Phone 2a will be listed at $400 (roughly Rs. 33,200). This leak also showed a PVT unit of the phone that featured a horizontal camera module placed centrally towards the top of the back panel, while the front panel was seen with a centred hole-punch slot for the front camera. It was also seen with a redesigned Glyph Interface.

Meanwhile, a recent report had claimed that the Nothing Phone 2a could include a 1/1.5-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KNG9 primary sensor alongside a 1/2.76-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN1 sensor with an ultrawide lens at the back. It may also get a 32-megapixel Sony IMX615 front camera sensor.

The Nothing Phone 2a has been tipped to come with a MediaTek Dimenisty 7200 SoC and a 6.7-inch  120Hz AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,084 x 2,412 pixels. It is likely to ship with Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5. The phone is expected to launch at the 'Nothing to See' MWC event in Barcelona on February 27.


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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India Strict about Overseeing, Automating Tax Work Around Crypto: KoinX’s Punit Agarwal

The Income Tax Department of India is issuing alerts around high-value crypto transactions. The matter came to light earlier this week when Punit Agarwal observed a rise in income tax-related queries tied to crypto transactions from the income tax department. Agarwal is the founder of KoinX, a firm that provides crypto tax management solutions in India. Essentially, Agarwal has conveyed to the Indian crypto investors that the government is maintaining a strict oversight on all tax-work related to crypto transactions in India.

Agarwal says that the Indian government is automating the process of validating and verifying the returns on crypto incomes to avoid any flaws in calculations.

For people to avoid attracting penalties on high-value transactions, Agarwal has strongly advised taxpayers to file their taxes accurately and verify data in the ITR filing against the Annual Information Statement (AIS) to catch any prevailing discrepancies.

“Income Tax portal matches the transactions appearing in AIS and the data filed by users. In-case the authorities find any discrepancies, then they issue a notification to the user to re-check if they have missed anything or if everything is in-line. For people, if they find any discrepancies in their income reported vs income generated, then they have to file a revised return. Also, they need to give an explanation to the notification. In case everything is in-line and as expected, people can just submit the feedback mentioning they confirm everything is fine,” Agarwal told Gadgets360.

In the absence of a set rulebook for crypto, India levied taxes on crypto profits last April hoping to be able to maintain some track record of crypto transactions, most of which are largely anonymous.

The country levies a 30 percent tax on crypto incomes and also cuts one percent TDS on each crypto transaction – aiming to identify potential defaulters and suspicious crypto holders, who could be engaging in unlawful activities like money laundering or terror financing.

From what Agarwal shared on X, however, does show the strict oversight that the Indian income tax department is indeed maintaining over the crypto sector.

Given the confusion around filing crypto taxes, only 0.07 percent crypto holders in India reportedly paid their taxes last year.

Players like KoinX are trying to extend all the support required for people to file their crypto taxes because industry analysts believe that adhering to this tax regime can instil faith of the Indian government on the Web3 sector which will eventually result in its overall growth.

Taxnodes, another crypto tax solutions provider, has decided to offer complimentary NFTs as incentives to taxpayers using its platform to file their taxes.


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, December 27, 2023

iQoo Watch With Over 100 Sports Modes, SpO2 Tracking Launched: Price, Specifications

iQoo Watch was unveiled in China on Wednesday alongside the iQoo Neo 9 series of smartphones. It is the first smartwatch from the Vivo sub-brand. The latest wearable features a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with always-on-mode and it runs on Vivo's BlueOS operating system. It is available in a version with eSIM support. The smartwatch features a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitor and a heart rate tracker. It is is backed by a 505mAh battery. The iQoo Watch supports more than 100 sports modes and comes with a choice of leather or rubber bands.

iQoo Watch price, availability

Price of iQoo Watch is set at CNY 1,099 (roughly Rs. 13,000) for the Bluetooth variant with a rubber strap. The eSIM version with a rubber strap is priced at CNY 1,299 (roughly Rs. 14,000), while the eSIM version with leather strap is priced at CNY 1,399 (roughly Rs. 15,000). The Vivo Watch 3 debuted last month with similar price tags.

The iQoo Watch is currently listed for sale on the official Vivo website in Haoyu Black and Star Track Black colour options. Price and availability details of the new wearable in India are yet to be announced.

iQoo Watch specifications

The iQoo Watch comes with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with 466 x 466 pixels resolution and always-on support. It has Bluetooth calling support that lets users make and attend voice calls directly from their wrist, without taking out the connected phone. It runs on Vivo's self-developed BlueOS operating system.

iQoo Watch offers support for over 100 sports modes such as walking, swimming, cycling, and skipping that can be customised via the paired Android or iOS smartphone. The wearable sports SpO2 monitoring alongside an optical heart rate sensor. It includes an acceleration sensor, gyroscope, air pressure altitude sensor, geomagnetic sensor, ambient light sensor, and hall sensor. The smartwatch can be used for other daily health functions like sleep monitoring, stress monitoring, breathing training, and menstrual cycle recording. Further, it has an AI running coach.

The iQoo Watch has Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. It also supports NFC to make touchless payments. It is backed by a 505mAh battery with wired charging support and is claimed to deliver up to three days of total runtime in normal use on a single charge. The battery is said to offer up to seven days of standby time on a single charge. The watch has a 46.1mm diameter and weighs 36 grams.


Are affordable smartwatches worth it? We discuss this on 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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iQoo Neo 9, iQoo Neo 9 Pro With 50-Megapixel Camera, 6.78-Inch Display Launched: Price, Specifications

iQoo Neo 9 series has been launched in China on Wednesday, December 27. The lineup comes with two models - iQoo Neo 9 and iQoo Neo 9 Pro. They offer 16-megapixel front cameras and 5,160mAh batteries with 120W wired fast charging support. Both handsets feature 6.78-inch AMOLED panels and are available in three colour options and four RAM and storage configurations. The iQoo Neo 9 series is available for pre-order in China and will go on sale later this month.

iQoo Neo 9, iQoo Neo 9 Pro price, availability

Offered in Fighting Black, Nautical Blue, and Red and White Soul (translated from Chinese), the iQoo Neo 9 and iQoo Neo 9 Pro are available in four RAM and storage configurations. The base iQoo Neo 9 starts at CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 26,900) for its 12GB + 256GB option. Meanwhile, the 16GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB variants are priced at CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 29,300) and CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 32,800). The top-of-the-line 16GB + 1TB option of the iQoo Neo 9 is listed at CNY 3,199 (roughly Rs. 37,400).

iQoo Neo 9 Pro is priced at CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 35,100) for the 12GB + 256GB variant, whereas the 16GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB options are marked at CNY 3,299 (roughly Rs. 38,600), CNY 3,599 (roughly Rs. 42,100), and CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 46,800), respectively.

Both iQoo Neo 9 smartphones are currently up for pre-order in China via the official Vivo website and will be available for purchase in the country starting December 30.

iQoo Neo 9, iQoo Neo 9 Pro specifications, features

The iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro feature 6.78-inch AMOLED displays with a resolution of 2,800 x 1,260 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, an aspect ratio of 20:9, and HDR10+ support. The iQoo Neo 9 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC with Adreno 740 GPU, while the iQoo Neo 9 Pro gets a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset with Immortalis-G720 GPU. The phones support up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 inbuilt storage. They ship with Android 14-based OriginOS.

For optics, both iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro feature a 16-megapixel front camera sensor, housed in a centred hole-punch slot at the top of the display. At the back, the vanilla iQoo Neo 9 has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX920 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) alongside an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide lens. The Neo 9 Pro also comes with the same main camera as the base model, but is paired with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.

The iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro pack a 5,160mAh battery with 120W wired fast charging support via a USB Type-C port. The phones support dual SIM support with 5G, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, OTG, GPS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, and NFC connectivity. The handsets are also equipped with an IR blaster and an in-display fingerprint sensor.


Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer 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 SU7 Electric Vehicle Officially Teased, Confirmed to Run on HyperOS

Xiaomi's first launch event explicitly focusing on EV technology will take place later today (December 28). Ahead of it, the electronics brand has posted a teaser on social media offering a glimpse at the company's first-ever passenger car, an all-electric sedan called the Xiaomi SU7. The SU in the moniker stands for Speed Ultra. The four-wheeler is confirmed to come with Xiaomi's HyperOS operating system. The EV is shown in a sedan-style design with a grey shade with five-spoke alloy wheels paired with Michelin tyres.

Lei Jun, Chief Executive Officer Xiaomi posted the first official look of the upcoming Xiaomi SU7 via X (formerly Twitter). The post includes a caption — ‘Hello, Xiaomi SU7 Welcome to Human x Car x Home' — suggesting the four-wheeler's integration with smartphone and smart home accessories. It is confirmed to be powered by the HyperOS operating system.

The poster indicates a grey finish for the Xiaomi SU7. It is seen with a sedan-style design with five-spoke alloy wheels paired with Michelin tyres with a Mi logo on the wheel caps. The side view mirror seems to include a camera similar to a Tesla car. Lei Jun already announced that the company prioritised intelligent technology in the new EV by drawing inspiration from advanced car systems like the Tesla Model S. He has posted a few interesting details about the Xiaomi SU7 including the meaning behind the name.

Xiaomi has already announced that it will host the company's first EV launch event outside China, dubbed "Stride" on December 28. The event will begin at 2:00pm Beijing time (11:30am IST) and will last for three hours. The event will not see any product release instead Lei Jun confirmed that the focus will be on the technology behind Xiaomi's first electric car.

The company has not disclosed any technical specifications for the SU7. It is currently in trial production and will hit the domestic market in a few months. Pricing details are still under wraps but Lei Jun promised that it would "exceed your expectations."

It is likely that Xiaomi may unveil at least three different models with varying ranges and features — Xiaomi SU7, Xiaomi SU7 Pro, and Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. The Xiaomi SU7 is expected to have a 210km/h speed for the lower-end model and the SU7 Max variant may offer up to 265 km/h speed.


Xiaomi 12 Pro is littered with features, but is that enough? We discuss this on 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, December 26, 2023

Oppo Find X7 Series Tipped to Support High Frame Rate for Improved Gaming Performance

Oppo Find X7 series is expected to launch in China soon. The company has not yet confirmed any details regarding the launch of the lineup but several leaks about the Oppo Find X7 phones have surfaced online recently. The series was initially expected to include three models, however, a recent report suggested that the lineup will come with the Oppo Find X7, Find X7 Ultra, and a Find X7 Ultra variant with 'Satellite Communication'. Another report now suggests that all Oppo Find X7 models are expected to offer improved mobile gaming experiences for users.

A Gizomochina report citing a screenshot circulating on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging platform, stated that the Oppo Find X7 handsets will enhance gaming experiences for users by supporting high frame rates of up to 120 fps (frames per second). This is said to increase the display responsiveness and smoothness during gaming.

The screenshot shared shows the ZTE Axon 50 Ultra 5G, Oppo Find X7, and Find X7 Pro models as being optimised for 'Honor of Kings,' a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. The phones are expected to support ultra-high frame rate modes, extremely high frame rate options, and an extreme image quality setting alongside extremely high frame rate settings, according to the report.

Previous leaks have suggested that the base Oppo Find X7 could be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset, while the Ultra models may get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The phones are expected to boot Android 14-based ColorOS 14 out-of-the-box and support LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 onboard storage. All models in the lineup are said to pack 5,000mAh batteries each with 100W wired fast charging support.

The vanilla Oppo Find X7 is said to get a 6.78-inch 1.5K display with BOE 8T OLED LTPO panel, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,160Hz PWM dimming rate. The Ultra models, on the other hand, are expected to arrive with 6.82-inch 2K displays with a similar refresh rate and PWM dimming rate as the base model.

In the camera department, the Oppo Find X7 is expected to include a 50-megapixel LYT-808 primary rear sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 sensor with an ultrawide lens, and a 64-megapixel Omnivision OV64B periscope telephoto shooter with 3x zoom and OIS support. Meanwhile, the Ultra models are tipped to get a quad rear camera unit with a 50-megapixel LYT-900 main sensor with OIS, a 50-megapixel LYT800 sensor with an ultrawide lens, an OIS-supported 50-megapixel IMX890 sensor with telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel OIS-supported IMX858 sensor with telephoto lens with 6x optical zoom.


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, OnePlus 12R Price in India, Colour Options Tipped Ahead of January 23 Launch

OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R are confirmed to launch in India on January 23. The flagship model was launched in China earlier this month. The Indian variant of the OnePlus 12 is expected to be similar to its Chinese counterpart. The OnePlus 12R, on the other hand, tipped to succeed the OnePlus 11R, is said to be a rebranded OnePlus Ace 3, which is expected to launch in China in early January. Now a tipster has suggested the colour options and price range of the two new OnePlus models in India.

Tipster Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) said in a post on X that the Indian variant of the OnePlus 12 is likely to launch in Black and Green colour options. He added that the phone will be available in configurations of up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. According to the tipster, the handset is expected to be priced in the country between Rs. 58,000 and Rs. 60,000. 

In the same post, Brar noted that the OnePlus 12R, which is confirmed to launch alongside the OnePlus 12, is expected to be available in India in Blue and Black colourways. It is said to be offered in similar RAM and storage configurations as the flagship model. The tipster suggests that the phone is likely to be priced between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 42,000. 

The OnePlus 12R has previously been tipped to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and ship with Android 14-based OxygenOS 14. It is likely to feature a 6.78-inch LTPO 4.0 ProXDR screen with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz along with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The triple rear camera unit of the phone is said to include a 50-megapixel IMX890 primary sensor, an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter. It is also tipped to get a 16-megapixel front camera sensor. The phone may pack a 5,500mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging support.

In China, the OnePlus 12 launched with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and Android 14-based ColorOS 14. It sports a 6.82-inch quad-HD+ (1,440 x 3,168 pixels) LTPO OLED panel with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The Hasselblad-tuned cameras of the handset come with a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 64-megapixel telephoto camera with OIS and 3x optical zoom, and a 48-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens. The front camera has a 32-megapixel sensor. It is backed by a 5,400mAh battery with 100W SuperVOOC, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging support.


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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