Xiaomi Smart TV 5A Review: Offers good value for your money

The Xiaomi Smart TV 5A is a good product in isolation. Even though it lacks HDR support, it does do the basics well and offers decent performance for the price. For everyday use, its output will be good enough for most non-picky, non-discerning users looking to watch movies and the latest shows on it. The presence of an ample amount of RAM and an above-par speaker set-up for the segment also works in its favour. 

Over the last few months, we've seen some good 43-inch Full HD TVs making their way to the market. These TVs from the likes of OnePlus and Redmi have ensured there are enough options for buyers looking to buy a decent-sized TV for their homes. Recently, Xiaomi added to the mix, by launching a new TV in the segment -- the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A. This particular TV is available in three different sizes, with the entry-level 32-inch variant sporting slightly different base specifications. We have with us for review the 43-inch variant of the TV which comes with a Full HD panel, Xiaomi's PatchWall UI, and an interesting feature set. Let's find out if it's a good upgrade over its predecessor and also a worthy competitor for the other 43-inch Full HD TVs available in the market. 

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Specifications

But before we start with the review, let's quickly take a look at the specifications of the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A. 

Panel Size: 43-inch  Panel Resolution: 1920 x 1080p - FHD Panel Refresh Rate: 60Hz HDR 10 support: No HDR 10+ support: No Dolby Vision Support: No HDMI 2.0 Ports: 2 USB Ports: 2 Bluetooth: Yes, 5.0 Wi-Fi: Yes, dual-band Ethernet: Yes Speakers: 24W (DTS:X | DTS Virtual: X) Built-in storage: 8GB RAM: 1.5GB Price: MRP: 25,999

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Display and picture quality

With the Smart TV 5A, Xiaomi's attempting to create immersive visual experiences at an affordable price point, and bringing to life these attempts is a 43-inch Full HD panel that features very tiny bezels. At 100 backlight and set to the Movies colour preset, this Xiaomi Smart TV 5A delivered average results in our display tests conducted using Portrait Displays Calman Ultimate paired with Spectracal C6 Colourimeter and VideoForge Pro pattern generator. 

The TV faltered a little on the colour accuracy front, with the avg deltaE climbing up to 5.9 and max deltaE shooting to 14 at point White. Since the lower the deltaE value, the better it is for the TV to accurately reproduce colours on the panel, this score is not good news for the Xioami Smart TV 5A. Additionally, with the point White base being a little off, we also saw some deviation from the expected levels at some other colour points. Now, these slightly high deltaE numbers were a surprise to us, as we have previously recorded better numbers testing the Redmi Smart TV 43, which recorded an average delta error of only 2.2. While the average deltaE of 5.9 on the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A isn't, particularly the worst we have seen on a TV, it is definitely not amongst the best, and considering this is Xiaomi's primary entry-level TV for the market, it's more surprising that the results are not close to what the Redmi Smart TV 43 achieved in our tests. 

The grayscale tracking results were also just okay, with the average delta error again on the higher end and a slight red bias. Calman testing also showed that the panel peaked at 248 nits brightness when set to a 10 per cent window. Now, considering this is an SDR TV, it's more than enough for watching movies or shows in SDR quality that are tuned for not hitting high brightness levels. 

But do the numbers translate to real-life performance?

Well, in real life, we found the TV to perform as expected – not great, not too bad, just about adequate-ish. We tested it by playing some movies and shows on it and realised that shows and movies such as American Gods and Jumanji, tuned to best perform in HDR, performed well on the TV in SDR too. It handled most content fine, but in certain scenes, the content did look a little over-saturated. Skin tones were a little off, and darker scenes too were not handled particularly well. However, the TV offers a good contrast ratio for its price which should be encouraging for buyers looking to spend their hard-earned money on this TV.

At this point, we'd like to remind you that all of this testing was done with the TV set to the Movies mode, which by default switches the TV to producing warm colour tones. We tried switching the TV to a balanced colour tone to improve visuals, but both to our eye, and the Calman testing equipment, this attempt only messed with the colour reproduction even more. However, if you're a fan of vibrant colours, and don't care about colour accuracy as much, we'd recommend switching to the Standard colour profile. But overall, despite its misses, the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A does what it is tasked to do – provide a good overall viewing experience to the end-user.

Xiaomi TV 5A: Build, design 

Considering this is a budget TV, the Xiaomi TV does offer better-than-average build quality. The bezels are not too pronounced, and the TV generally looks upmarket for the price. The back of the TV, is quite regular, with the back cover made out of plastic and houses primarily two HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a 3.5 mm jack and a port for optical audio output. There's also a 2 speaker set-up at the base which is tucked nicely within the body of the device. 

Xiaomi's latest offering can also connect to the internet using WiFi over 2.4GHz and 5GHz wavelengths and also features Bluetooth v5.0 for connecting audio equipment to the device. All the ports are generally easy to reach, regardless of the fact that it's mounted on a wall or kept on a table using the detachable plastic stands.

As we have explained above, the design of the TV is quite upmarket because of the materials used to build it and also its premium design language used. We can safely say, this is something that is also true about the remote of the device. It's the same remote that we have seen on other more expensive TVs from Xiaomi in the past. It's pretty ergonomic and feels nice in the hand because of its matte textured finish. Apart from housing directional buttons, it also brings power, Google Assistant, OTT hotkeys for Netflix and Prime Video and a volume rocker. There is no mute button, instead, it uses the volume down button as a hotkey which can be pressed twice quickly to mute the device. 

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Audio and PatchWall UI

Now, let's get back to the intangible -- audio and the user interface. To begin with, despite Xiaomi's attempts, the audio performance of the device isn't mind-blowing. It is good for the price, but there’s still more one could ask for from the Xioami Smart TV 5A in the audio department.

The engineering team at Xiaomi has done their best in designing the audio chamber for the TV. However, the results still fall short of our expectations. But then again, for a budget TV to have great audio is as good as expecting the unexpected.

Audio isn't very crisp, and dialogue clarity suffers as a result at times. The bass is also not too punchy, and the sound loses clarity at higher volume levels. But, the performance is still better than what's available on competing TVs in the price range and the segment. This is because the TV not only brings big 24W dual speakers but also supports technologies such as DTS Virtual: X.

Moving on to UI experience, this is also quite good on the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A. The primary reason behind this is the fact that Xiaomi has equipped this TV with 1.5GB of RAM – amongst the highest in the segment – which appears to be just about enough to handle this custom UI from the company. This is great because PatchWall has evolved to become a great Android TV alternative, and to have it run smoothly on the device, without any lags and hitches is the minimum any end-user deserves. 

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Verdict

Now, to the all-important question, should you buy the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A? Well, the truth is, this TV from Xiaomi is a good product in isolation. Even though it lacks HDR support, it does do the basics well and offers decent performance for the price. For everyday use, its output will be good enough for most non-picky, non-discerning users looking to play movies and shows on it. The presence of ample amounts of RAM and an above-par speaker set-up for the segment also works in its favour. 

It looks appealing in the living room, in terms of design and accessibility of ports, and things like its UI experience (thanks to onboard RAM) and encouraging audio performance (despite some obvious bottlenecks due to its budget billing) are some of the key takeaways from our time spent on this TV.

However, we'd still not recommend this TV in this budget segment. For that, we turn your attention towards the Redmi 43-inch FHD Smart TV (review). Despite its failings in the audio department, this TV from Redmi is a better deal as it offers slightly better visuals because of its improved colour accuracy. However, this recommendation only stands if the accuracy of colours is what you desire. Otherwise, the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A is a safe choice and as good a bet as any for your hard-earned money.

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Apple Could Finally Reveal Long-Missing iPhone Feature On iOS 16 At WWDC 2022

iOS 16 could be a significant update compared to its predecessor. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has forecasted some major feature predictions for the upcoming iOS release in WWDC 2022. This includes lock screen improvements, Always-on Display (AoD), and new social networking-like features in the Apple Messages app, among various other things.

He has shared his prognosis for other Apple software, products, and services also. Let’s take a look.

iOS 16 Features (Expected)

1. Always-on Display 

As per Mark Gurman, the Always-on Screen feature could be exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and possibly future iPhone Pro variants. Nevertheless, this could be a minimal and quick-glanceable presentation of key phone information like time, date, notifications, missed calls, etc without lighting up the entire screen like the regular lock screen. Even the screen refresh rate may be reduced in this view.

2. Lock screen

The iOS 16 lock screen could finally get support for interactive widgets so you don’t have to unlock and go into the home screen or the widget gallery. This may also feature a new wallpaper format but Gurman hasn’t elaborated on this.

3. Messages getting Social-media-type features

“In Messages, I’d expect more social network-like functionality, particularly around audio messages,” says Gurman in his newsletter Power On.

Could this be something like a Clubhouse-esque experience?

We will know in a matter of days. iOS 16 is likely to be announced at WWDC 2022, starting June 6. Alongside the iPhone software, we are also expecting better windowing and multitasking on iPadOS, revamped apps and System Preferences interface in macOS, low power mode, more watch faces, and navigational improvements in watchOS, and better ecosystem integrations in tvOS, and perhaps some hardware.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Xiaomi Smart TV 5A Review: Offers good value for your money

The Xiaomi Smart TV 5A is a good product in isolation. Even though it lacks HDR support, it does do the basics well and offers decent performance for the price. For everyday use, its output will be good enough for most non-picky, non-discerning users looking to watch movies and the latest shows on it. The presence of an ample amount of RAM and an above-par speaker set-up for the segment also works in its favour. 

Over the last few months, we've seen some good 43-inch Full HD TVs making their way to the market. These TVs from the likes of OnePlus and Redmi have ensured there are enough options for buyers looking to buy a decent-sized TV for their homes. Recently, Xiaomi added to the mix, by launching a new TV in the segment -- the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A. This particular TV is available in three different sizes, with the entry-level 32-inch variant sporting slightly different base specifications. We have with us for review the 43-inch variant of the TV which comes with a Full HD panel, Xiaomi's PatchWall UI, and an interesting feature set. Let's find out if it's a good upgrade over its predecessor and also a worthy competitor for the other 43-inch Full HD TVs available in the market. 

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Specifications

But before we start with the review, let's quickly take a look at the specifications of the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A. 

Panel Size: 43-inch  Panel Resolution: 1920 x 1080p - FHD Panel Refresh Rate: 60Hz HDR 10 support: No HDR 10+ support: No Dolby Vision Support: No HDMI 2.0 Ports: 2 USB Ports: 2 Bluetooth: Yes, 5.0 Wi-Fi: Yes, dual-band Ethernet: Yes Speakers: 24W (DTS:X | DTS Virtual: X) Built-in storage: 8GB RAM: 1.5GB Price: MRP: 25,999

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Display and picture quality

With the Smart TV 5A, Xiaomi's attempting to create immersive visual experiences at an affordable price point, and bringing to life these attempts is a 43-inch Full HD panel that features very tiny bezels. At 100 backlight and set to the Movies colour preset, this Xiaomi Smart TV 5A delivered average results in our display tests conducted using Portrait Displays Calman Ultimate paired with Spectracal C6 Colourimeter and VideoForge Pro pattern generator. 

The TV faltered a little on the colour accuracy front, with the avg deltaE climbing up to 5.9 and max deltaE shooting to 14 at point White. Since the lower the deltaE value, the better it is for the TV to accurately reproduce colours on the panel, this score is not good news for the Xioami Smart TV 5A. Additionally, with the point White base being a little off, we also saw some deviation from the expected levels at some other colour points. Now, these slightly high deltaE numbers were a surprise to us, as we have previously recorded better numbers testing the Redmi Smart TV 43, which recorded an average delta error of only 2.2. While the average deltaE of 5.9 on the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A isn't, particularly the worst we have seen on a TV, it is definitely not amongst the best, and considering this is Xiaomi's primary entry-level TV for the market, it's more surprising that the results are not close to what the Redmi Smart TV 43 achieved in our tests. 

The grayscale tracking results were also just okay, with the average delta error again on the higher end and a slight red bias. Calman testing also showed that the panel peaked at 248 nits brightness when set to a 10 per cent window. Now, considering this is an SDR TV, it's more than enough for watching movies or shows in SDR quality that are tuned for not hitting high brightness levels. 

But do the numbers translate to real-life performance?

Well, in real life, we found the TV to perform as expected – not great, not too bad, just about adequate-ish. We tested it by playing some movies and shows on it and realised that shows and movies such as American Gods and Jumanji, tuned to best perform in HDR, performed well on the TV in SDR too. It handled most content fine, but in certain scenes, the content did look a little over-saturated. Skin tones were a little off, and darker scenes too were not handled particularly well. However, the TV offers a good contrast ratio for its price which should be encouraging for buyers looking to spend their hard-earned money on this TV.

At this point, we'd like to remind you that all of this testing was done with the TV set to the Movies mode, which by default switches the TV to producing warm colour tones. We tried switching the TV to a balanced colour tone to improve visuals, but both to our eye, and the Calman testing equipment, this attempt only messed with the colour reproduction even more. However, if you're a fan of vibrant colours, and don't care about colour accuracy as much, we'd recommend switching to the Standard colour profile. But overall, despite its misses, the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A does what it is tasked to do – provide a good overall viewing experience to the end-user.

Xiaomi TV 5A: Build, design 

Considering this is a budget TV, the Xiaomi TV does offer better-than-average build quality. The bezels are not too pronounced, and the TV generally looks upmarket for the price. The back of the TV, is quite regular, with the back cover made out of plastic and houses primarily two HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a 3.5 mm jack and a port for optical audio output. There's also a 2 speaker set-up at the base which is tucked nicely within the body of the device. 

Xiaomi's latest offering can also connect to the internet using WiFi over 2.4GHz and 5GHz wavelengths and also features Bluetooth v5.0 for connecting audio equipment to the device. All the ports are generally easy to reach, regardless of the fact that it's mounted on a wall or kept on a table using the detachable plastic stands.

As we have explained above, the design of the TV is quite upmarket because of the materials used to build it and also its premium design language used. We can safely say, this is something that is also true about the remote of the device. It's the same remote that we have seen on other more expensive TVs from Xiaomi in the past. It's pretty ergonomic and feels nice in the hand because of its matte textured finish. Apart from housing directional buttons, it also brings power, Google Assistant, OTT hotkeys for Netflix and Prime Video and a volume rocker. There is no mute button, instead, it uses the volume down button as a hotkey which can be pressed twice quickly to mute the device. 

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Audio and PatchWall UI

Now, let's get back to the intangible -- audio and the user interface. To begin with, despite Xiaomi's attempts, the audio performance of the device isn't mind-blowing. It is good for the price, but there’s still more one could ask for from the Xioami Smart TV 5A in the audio department.

The engineering team at Xiaomi has done their best in designing the audio chamber for the TV. However, the results still fall short of our expectations. But then again, for a budget TV to have great audio is as good as expecting the unexpected.

Audio isn't very crisp, and dialogue clarity suffers as a result at times. The bass is also not too punchy, and the sound loses clarity at higher volume levels. But, the performance is still better than what's available on competing TVs in the price range and the segment. This is because the TV not only brings big 24W dual speakers but also supports technologies such as DTS Virtual: X.

Moving on to UI experience, this is also quite good on the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A. The primary reason behind this is the fact that Xiaomi has equipped this TV with 1.5GB of RAM – amongst the highest in the segment – which appears to be just about enough to handle this custom UI from the company. This is great because PatchWall has evolved to become a great Android TV alternative, and to have it run smoothly on the device, without any lags and hitches is the minimum any end-user deserves. 

Xiaomi Smart TV 5A: Verdict

Now, to the all-important question, should you buy the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A? Well, the truth is, this TV from Xiaomi is a good product in isolation. Even though it lacks HDR support, it does do the basics well and offers decent performance for the price. For everyday use, its output will be good enough for most non-picky, non-discerning users looking to play movies and shows on it. The presence of ample amounts of RAM and an above-par speaker set-up for the segment also works in its favour. 

It looks appealing in the living room, in terms of design and accessibility of ports, and things like its UI experience (thanks to onboard RAM) and encouraging audio performance (despite some obvious bottlenecks due to its budget billing) are some of the key takeaways from our time spent on this TV.

However, we'd still not recommend this TV in this budget segment. For that, we turn your attention towards the Redmi 43-inch FHD Smart TV (review). Despite its failings in the audio department, this TV from Redmi is a better deal as it offers slightly better visuals because of its improved colour accuracy. However, this recommendation only stands if the accuracy of colours is what you desire. Otherwise, the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A is a safe choice and as good a bet as any for your hard-earned money.

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iQOO Neo 6 5G With Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 And 80W Fast Charging At 29,999

iQOO has launched a new smartphone called the Neo 6 in India. This is the first Neo series smartphone from the brand in our country. And it is the second Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 driven iQOO phone in the sub-30K range. Rest, the handset is also housing a 120Hz AMOLED screen, a 64MP triple rear camera setup, Android 12 based Funtouch OS, up to 12GB RAM, up to 256GB storage, and a 4700mAh battery. This battery can be topped up by an 80W charger. 

iQOO Neo 6 Specs and Features

iQOO has outfitted the Neo 6 with a 6.62-inch E4 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, and FHD+ resolution. There is a circular cutout within which resides a 16MP selfie camera. The back cameras, meanwhile, are a 64MP Samsung GW1P sensor, an 8MP ultrawide shooter, and a 2MP macro module.

Unlock the phone using facial recognition by that front camera or using the in-display fingerprint reader. Inside, you will be welcomed by Funtouch OS based on Android 12. 

The phone's internals includes a Snapdragon 870 chip, a 4700mAh battery, an 80W adapter, up to 12GB RAM, and up to 256GB storage.

Among other things, you also have 5G support, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB-C port.

iQOO Neo 6 India Price and Availability

The asking price of the iQOO Neo 6’s base 8+128GB variant is ₹29,999 while the higher 12+256GB model costs ₹33,999. It is available in Cyber Rage and Dark Nova colours starting May 31 at 1 PM via Amazon and the iQOO website. The introductory offers include a ₹3000 discount on using ICICI cards and EMI transactions, as well as a ₹1000 discount in the form of Amazon coupons. There is even an exchange discount offer of up to ₹3000 on top of all this.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Google Pixel 7 Prototype Appears On eBay Giving Us A Good Look At Its Design

For whatever reason, Google is notoriously bad at keeping its unreleased products behind the curtain. The latest example of this is the listing of a Pixel 7 prototype on eBay (via Mishaal Rahman). The phone with model number GVU6C and 128GB storage was apparently on sale which has now ended. Now even though we can’t tell how legit this listing is, the alleged live photos of the Pixel 7 that has come out of it are eye-catching nonetheless.

Google Pixel 7 Design, Specs, and Features

Google Pixel 7 Pro reflection on the back of Pixel 7 prototype.

Google is continuing the prominent camera bar on the back of the phones. This time, it is said to be made of aluminium. The Pixel 7 Pro has got a pill-plus-circle cutout whilst the regular Pixel 7 has just got the Pill. This could be because of the difference in camera sensors within both devices.

The front of the Pixel 7 appears to have a central punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The standard Pixel 7 is expected to come with a 90Hz FHD+ panel whereas the Pro could sport a 120Hz 2K panel with an inherent upscaling solution.

Both of these panels could be made by Samsung Displays.

As already teased, the new Pixels will come with an upgraded Google Tensor SoC, Android 13, and various colour options, among other things.

The next generation of Pixel phones is on the horizon. Here’s a first look at the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro — equipped with a new generation of Google Tensor and a sleek design. Coming this fall. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/WMysJv1lZP

— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022

If history is anything to go by, we should see more info about the Google Pixel 7 series, in the way of leaks, ahead of the official launch in October 2022.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Jio Game Controller and JioFi Postpaid Plans With Free Routers Launched In India

Reliance has released a new wireless game controller for Jio’s set-top box (STB) and other Android devices. It comes with 20 buttons plus 2 sticks design and works within a 10-meter radius for about 8 hours. Well, that’s not the only new thing on the Jio Store, as the brand has recently unveiled new postpaid plans for its WiFi hotspot router called JioFi. Well, along with the purchase of these plans, you also get free hotspot routers, but there’s a catch. Let’s see what that is.

JioFi Postpaid Plans: What’s new?

The newly announced JioFi plans are priced at ₹249, ₹299, and ₹349. They come without voice calling or messaging benefits. The data included them are as follows:

Rs 249 - 30GB of monthly data Rs 299 - 40GB of monthly data Rs 349 - 50GB of monthly data

Once the aforementioned data limits are used up, the speed falls down to 64 Kbps.

Note that all of them come with a lock-in period of 18 months which means whether you use the data or not, you will be charged the same amount each month for 18 months. You can opt out but only after paying an exit charge.

Also, you need to make a minimum first order quantity of ₹200 to avail of these plans.

Coming to the free router offer, there's a condition that they are offered on a use and return basis when you cancel the JioFi postpaid subscription.

Jio Game Controller Specs, Features, and Price

Jio’s Bluetooth-enabled Game Controller has got 20 buttons plus 2 vibration-based triggers. There is haptic control too. It works over Bluetooth 4.1 and within a 10m distance. It is compatible with Android Tablets, Android TV, and Jio STB. The company’s own set-top box is what’s recommended for the best experience. 

It is rated to run for 8 hours. However, to charge it, you have to use its micro-USB port which can be a bummer for some. 

The thing weighs 200gm and comes in a matte black finish.

You can purchase the Jio controller for ₹3499 through the Jio store. EMI option is also available.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Jio Game Controller With Up to 8-Hour Battery Life Launched in India: Price, Specifications

The all-new Jio Game Controller has been launched in India. It is said to have a battery life of up to 8 hours.

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The iPhone 14 Pro Notch Teased In Apple Pay Ad

Apple is still some months away from launching the new iPhone 14 series and this time around we are expecting 4 iPhones, namely, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The two Pro models are said to flaunt a new look on the front, out of the quartet. The company could finally ditch the wide notch and instead employ a pill+hole-shaped cutout. This could be home to the selfie camera and the Face ID tech. Now although Apple hasn’t confirmed any of this, interestingly enough, the new design choice has made an appearance in a recent Apple Pay advert.

Who would’ve thought Apple would do such a thing. The iPhone maker is known to be deliberate in its marketing and which makes the new notch design highly likely. And this could be a refreshing change for new iPhone buyers this fall.

Apple iPhone 14 series Specs and Features (Expected)

This could be the year when Apple creates the biggest chasm between the regular and Pro model of iPhones. 

The difference between the two lineups will be evident right from the display itself. That is the new pill+hole camera notch will be reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro phones. The circular aperture could be where the Face ID dot projector sits, and the pill-shaped cutout will be used to house an improved front camera, Face ID infrared camera, other sensors, and microphone. This implementation is rumoured to cost more too which could reflect in the prices.

The 120Hz high-refresh-rate Pro-Motion feature could still be a Pro feature. The screen sizes could be 6.1-inches for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, while the Max variants could have a bigger 6.7-inches.

The rumour has it that there would be no iPhone 14 Mini, as the yields of the previous Minis were reportedly not that great.

A15 Bionic

The other exclusive features of the iPhone 14 Pro series could be a 48MP primary camera (with pixel-binned 12MP snaps for low-light settings), improved ultrawide and telephoto cameras, 8K video recording, and A16 Bionic SoC. Yes, the standard iPhone 14 and its Max sibling are said to borrow the A15 Bionic from its predecessors. Now, our guess would be that Apple would choose the 5-core GPU and 6GB RAM setup from the iPhone 13 Pro series.

But, only time will tell how much of these would prove true. So, we advise you to take them with a pinch of salt. 

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Realme C30 Could Launch In June As The Brands Cheapest Phone Of 2022

Realme C30 is expected to launch in June 2022 and as we are approaching the new month, the leaks around the new Realme phone are also making rounds on the interweb. Both tipsters Mukul Sharma (of Stufflistings) and Paras Guglani (of PassionateGeekz) have shared some key details about the phone. Let’s have a look at them.

Realme C30 Denim Black, Lake Blue, Bamboo Green 2GB/32GB 3GB/32GB 5,000mAh/10W 181g, 8.48mm 6.58-inch display

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) May 28, 2022 Realme C30 Specs and Features (Expected)

Realme C31 image used for representational purpose.

Realme C30 is said to sport a 6.58-inch FHD+ screen on the front. There will be a 5MP selfie shooter. The back of the phone has got a 13MP camera.

At the core of it, you could expect a Unisoc chipset paired with a 5000mAh battery. The phone is rumored to support 10W charging only.

Realme could launch the C30 in 2+32 GB and 3+32 GB memory configurations. As for the color options, you could snag the device in Lake Blue, Denim Black, and Bamboo Green.

Lastly, in terms of its dimensions, the device could be 8.48mm in thickness and weigh about 181g.

Realme C30 Launching soon in India - 6.6" FHD+ - Unisoc - 13MP Primary / 5MP - 2GB+32GB -5000 mAh/ 10W - Blue in color - >7K #RealmeC30 #realme

— Paras Guglani (@passionategeekz) May 28, 2022 Realme C30 India Price and Availability (Expected)

Realme C30 could carry a price tag of ₹7,000 (~$90).

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Infinix Note 12 Turbo Review: Dependable performance but a few misses

The Infinix Note 12 Turbo is a good phone for most users however, given its asking price of ₹14,999, there are certain issues that bring down the overall experience. The performance of the Note 12 Turbo is great, the camera takes good looking pictures and the battery life on offer is enough for most users. And while all of these features make it a great option for those looking for a phone under ₹15,000, Infinix doesn’t have anything extraordinary to disrupt this segment that’s largely dominated by Xiaomi, Realme and other brands. The Marvel Studios partnership is a missed opportunity since it only involves packaging changes, a few stickers and a TPU case but would have bolstered its uniqueness if Infinix was offering a customized theme and other functional changes.

The Infinix Note 12 Turbo is a budget phone priced right at the sweet spot of under Rs 15,000 and goes up against the likes of the Redmi Note 11, Realme 9i and more. Infinix has also partnered with Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness for the Note 12 series but sadly this partnership is only limited to packaging changes, some stickers and a TPU case with a shoddily printed Tao mandala. On paper, Note 12 Turbo has a new design and an upgraded processor inside but most of the other features like the display and cameras are the same as the Note 11. In this review, we will find out whether or not the Infinix Note 12 Turbo is a good option at its asking price of ₹14,999.

Infinix Note 12 Turbo review: In The Box

In the Note 12 Turbo retail box, you’ll find a USB Type-C cable, a TPU case, a pre-applied protective screen guard, a SIM ejector pin, a quick start guide, and a warranty card. 

Infinix Note 12 Turbo review: Key specifications at a glance

Price: ₹14,999 - 8GB/128GB

Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, FHD+ (2400x1080 pixels)

Thickness: 8mm

Weight: 185g

Platform: MediaTek Helio G96

RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X

Built-in storage: 128GB UFS 2.2 

Expandable storage: upto 512GB microSD (dedicated)

5G support: No

USB-C: Yes

3.5mm jack: Yes

OS: XOS 10.6 based on Android 12 

Rear Camera: 50MP (f/1.6) + 2MP depth sensor + QVGA AI lens

Rear Camera Video: 2K (1440p at 30FPS), 1080p (30FPS)

Front Camera: 16MP

Speakers: Stereo speakers

Battery and charging: 5,000mAh, 33W wired fast charging

Colours: Force Black/ Snowfall 

Infinix Note 12 Turbo review: Performance

The Infinix Note 12 Turbo has the newer Helio G96 chipset over the G88 on Note 11 and it largely brings in performance improvements. When it comes to day to day performance, the Note 12 Turbo can run most apps with ease and I did not come across any issues with running basic apps like Whatsapp and Snapseed or games like COD Mobile and Asphalt 9. However, much of the performance chops are brought down by badly optimized and bloatware filled software in XOS 10.6 which is based on Android 12 and has a 60Hz refresh rate display.

When it comes to synthetic benchmarks, the Note 12 Turbo scored better on AnTuTu than the Redmi Note 11S which also has the same Helio G96 chipset, but the Micromax In Note 2 with Helio G96 got a marginally better score in comparison.

However, the Redmi Note 11S performed much better in Geekbench single-core and multi-core tests. The Note 12 Turbo aced the PCMark workload test which grades the phone in tasks like web browsing, photo editing and more.

In the CPU Throttling test, the Note 12 Turbo throttled to 75% of its maximum performance which is a decent score and proves that it is capable of offering an overall balanced performance. 

In GPU tests like 3DMark and GFXBench, the Note 12 Turbo’s performance is at par if not better than the Redmi Note 11S. We played games like Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt 9 on the Note 12 Turbo where Gamebench recorded 58FPS on average at 100% stability in COD and 30FPS in Asphalt 9. COD was running at medium graphics and high frame rate and we didn’t notice any stutters or frame drops in our gaming experience.

The power button on the Note 12 Turbo doubles up as a fingerprint reader which is pretty quick and takes just a moment to unlock. The phone also has stereo speakers which are only decent for watching videos.

Overall, the Infinix Note 12 Turbo offers a solid performance but the highly customized XOS is cluttered and spoils the general experience. There’s a learning curve to this software which I find unnecessary and instead, Infinix should focus on delivering a great UI experience which is where MIUI or even stock Android takes the cake in fluidity and just the general day-to-day experience.

Infinix Note 12 Turbo review: Battery Life

On casual use, the 5,000mAh battery in the Note 12 Turbo can last you for a full day and then some. The battery life will only decrease if you are a heavy phone user who is constantly checking social media, making calls, and using WhatsApp and cameras.

The Note 12 Turbo supports 33W fast charging and on average it took 1 hour 58 minutes to fully charge it from 0-100% which is pretty decent given the large battery.

Infinix Note 12 Turbo Camera review

The cameras on the Note 12 Turbo remain largely unchanged from the Note 11. There’s a main 50MP camera with f/1.6 aperture which captures more light and details alongside a 2MP depth sensor and an AI lens.

In daylight, the main camera is capable of producing eye-pleasing and detailed pictures. The colours look balanced and the camera is able to bring out the textures perfectly. There is a 50MP mode which lets you capture a high-resolution picture which has even more details than normal. 

The portrait mode lends an artificial bokeh to the background which looks equally good as the natural depth of field effect. At night, the Note 12 Turbo manages decent pictures and the night mode improves it by bringing in more details and controlling the highlights. However, this lends a processed feel to the result. This is an area where the software really comes into play and Infinix needs to put in more effort here.

Apart from this, the camera app is loaded with features like filters, Pro mode, Super Night mode, short video mode and more. The rear camera can also record in upto 2K (1440p) at 30FPS which is pretty good at this price range. The camera on the Note 12 Turbo works nicely and while the ultra-wide camera isn’t present, there are ample modes for users to try out.

Infinix Note 12 Turbo review: Display

The Infinix Note 12 Turbo gets a large AMOLED display with a waterdrop notch cutout for the selfie camera. The display gets really bright and is great for daily use. While Infinix claims that the screen can go upto 1000 nits peak brightness, in our tests we measured 884 nits of peak brightness. The display has a slight blue tint which lends a cooler colour tone to all the elements and visuals and you can’t change colour profiles which is a bummer. It would also have been great if the display supported a faster 90Hz refresh rate but it’s a missed opportunity for Infinix that otherwise could have solidified its foothold.

Infinix Note 12 Turbo review: Build and Design

The Note 12 Turbo has a slim and lightweight profile measuring 8mm and 185 grams. It’s a budget phone so the build is mostly plastic but it feels good in the hand, especially the Force Black colour which has a textured design on the back. Though there’s a glossy part just beside the camera module that’s made to feel like an extension but is a fingerprint and smudge magnet that in my opinion spoils the looks. That aside, the Note 12 Turbo has flat edges which make for a comfortable feel and you also get a case in the box.

Infinix Note 12 Turbo review: Verdict

The Infinix Note 12 Turbo is a good phone for most users however, given its asking price of ₹14,999, there are certain issues that bring down the overall experience. For starters, I would have loved to see a higher refresh rate display which has become very common with likely a punch hole notch instead of the dated waterdrop notch and that would have boosted the visual experience my miles. Then, there’s a case of the XOS which comes pre-loaded with a lot of bloatware and unnecessary customizations that try to make it unique but end up breaking the experience.

Otherwise, the performance of the Note 12 Turbo is great, the camera takes good looking pictures and the battery life on offer is enough for most users. And while all of these features make it a great option for those looking for a phone under ₹15,000, it doesn’t have anything extraordinary to disrupt this segment that’s largely dominated by Xiaomi, Realme and other brands.

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Xiaomi Redmi 11 5G Specs Leak Ahead Of Its Alleged Launch Next Month

We are at the fag end of this month and in the list of expected phones launching next month, we have a new phone from Xiaomi. As per a recent 91Mobiles report, the brand is likely to launch the Redmi 11 5G in June, although the exact date is not mentioned. The report is however rich with other details about the phone like its internal hardware and the probable sticker price on the box.   

Xiaomi Redmi 11 5G Specs and Features

Redmi 10 image used for representational purpose.

Xiaomi could arm the Redmi 11 5G with a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset. As the name suggests, this is going to be a 5G smartphone. The memory configuration could consist of 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage. The storage could be further expanded using a memory card.

Internally, there could be a 5000mAh battery as well backed by 18W charging support.

Coming to the surface, the front could be a 6.58-inch 90Hz LCD with FHD+ resolution. The back portion of the phone could house a 50MP+2MP duo.

Xiaomi Redmi 11 5G Price and Availability

Redmi 10A image used for representational purpose.

Xiaomi is expected to price the Redmi 11 5G at ₹13,999 (~$180) for the base model of 4+64GB memory.

That’s what we glean from the report. Xiaomi is yet to confirm the existence of the device. Let’s wait for that to happen and in the days leading up to the launch, we are likely to come across more details.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Google Pixel 7 Series Said To Rely On Samsung For This Key Component

Google is one company that leaks or reveals the key specifications and features of its products ahead of the official launch. Back at I/O 2022, the company gave us a glimpse of the Pixel 7 Pro which is actually scheduled to be launched in the fall. We got to see the rear side of the device with the new visor-like camera bump and the new aperture design for what seems like a triple camera setup. But, what Google didn’t show us was the front of the device. It hasn’t spilled any details yet. However, a new 9to5Google report suggests that both Pixel 7 models could come with the same displays as their precursors and the components would be yet again sourced from Samsung.

Here are the details —

Google Pixel 7 Series: What We Know So Far

It has been discovered from the Android Open Source Project that Google has two new display drivers codenamed C10 (Cheetah) and P10 (Panther) used on the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro respectively.

The regular Pixel 7 could have a 90Hz display with 1080 x 2400 resolution while the Pixel 7 Pro could feature a 120Hz screen with 1440 x 3120-pixel resolution. However, the Pro model will stick to the native 1080p mode for saving power and it would be the panel’s “DDIC scaling” that converts the resolution to 1440p.

Now, the aforementioned display specs are comparable to the Pixel 6 lineup and the reason is that Google is allegedly using the same Samsung panels S6E3FC3 and S6E3HC3 on the new Pixels.

The only difference is supposedly in the dimensions of the Pixel 7, which is said to be a tad smaller than the Pixel 6. In the case of the Pro variant, there’s a small chance that Google could use a newer S6E3HC4 panel which is known to be at its disposal for some time. That said, it could keep this panel for future use. 

The next generation of Pixel phones is on the horizon. Here’s a first look at the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro — equipped with a new generation of Google Tensor and a sleek design. Coming this fall. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/WMysJv1lZP

— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022

Besides the screen, we know Google will be equipping the Pixel 7 series with an upgraded Tensor SoC and possibly Android 13. That’s all for now. We will keep you posted on more details about the future Pixel smartphone details as we have them. 

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Disney+ Hotstar Now Offers Hindi Audio Commentary For TATA IPL 2022

Disney+ Hotstar is celebrating the craze of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by enabling audio descriptive commentary for the last few matches. Yes, as this year’s IPL nears its finale, the streaming giant has added Hindi voice commentary to the live broadcast of the matches. This year’s IPL, sponsored by the Tata group garnered 229 million television viewers in the first week. So, as the game’s exclusive streaming platform, the Disney brand seems to be spicing up the experience for its users with this feature.

As you may know already, there is a playoff match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore at 7:30 PM. After the RR vs RCB clash, the next match is on the upcoming Sunday, i.e., May 27, 2022. So, tune into the IPL with Hindi commentary.

Here’s how it works —

Disney+ Hotstar IPL Commentary

You get a ball-by-all report in Hindi. Anyone who understands the language can enjoy it. Also, this could help the elderly and those who are visually impaired keep up with the action on the field. 

The commentary comes in the voice of Sanjay Banerjee, Ajay Mehra, Sunil Vaidya, and Naveen Srivastava.

“By making the on-field action inclusive, through its pioneering technological innovations, Disney+ Hotstar aims to cater to under-served communities and the elderly. This will significantly increase their access to live sports so that every Indian household can partake in the excitement and fun of watching IPL. This feature is part of the brand’s accessibility initiative to enable access to entertainment for everyone that is a one-of-a-kind synergy of radio and television as a medium,” says the company in its press release.

This feature is currently available to viewers in India, Canada, and Singapore. Enjoy!

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Gran Turismo Movie / TV Series in the Works at Sony, Neill Blomkamp in Talks to Direct: Report

Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions are reportedly developing a movie or TV series adaptation based on the Gran Turismo racing games. Neill Blomkamp is reportedly in talks to direct the Gran Turismo movie / series.

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How To Get Custom 3D Avatars On Instagram And Facebook In India

Meta is sprucing up the reaction options on Instagram, Facebook, and Facebook Messenger. It has released 3D Avatars globally including in markets like India. These resemble the Apple Animoji in design. Well, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company is known to offer features inspired by its competition. But, for what it’s worth, Meta’s offering is more inclusive and representative of a broad spectrum of communities. You can share them as stickers, gifs, feed posts, video reels, etc. If you are a Facebook user, you can set your new avatar as the profile picture too.

So, let’s learn how to use the 3D Avatar. We will walk you through the creation and sharing process. It is really simple. 

How to create 3D Avatars

This is how you do it on Instagram:

Go to Instagram Settings. Select Account. Choose Avatar You will see a brief description of the feature. Meta calls 3D Avatars “A new way to be you on Instagram”. Tap on ‘Get Started’. Select your skin tone next. Now, you can choose your preferred hair color, body type, face shape, facial hair, accessories, dress, etc. Once all options are selected as you want, press Done.

The 3D Avatar is now created. Now, you can share them.

As for Facebook, here’s what you have to do:

Click on the menu option and in the list of shortcuts, you will see Avatars. The rest of the steps are similar to what we explained in the case of Instagram.

That’s about it. So, try it out and have fun.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Horizon Zero Dawn: Netflix Series Adaptation Reportedly in the Works

Horizon Zero Dawn is coming to Netflix. Sony’s popular PlayStation 4 game from 2017 will get a series adaptation, according to a new report. Along with Gran Turismo, Horizon Zero Dawn is the latest gaming title to go to Hollywood, following titles like Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, God of War, Twisted Metal, and Uncharted. Both Sony and Netflix are yet to offic...

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This Motorola Budget Phone Launches With Android 12 and a 90Hz Display

Motorola has launched the Moto E32s in the European market. The notable features are stock-esque Android 12 out of the box, a 90Hz LCD display, a 5000 milliamp battery, and a 16-megapixel primary camera. 

Here’s the complete spec sheet.

Motorola Moto E32s Specs and Features

Moto E32s has a 6.5-inch HD+ 90Hz panel with a central punch hole. The cutout is home to a 16MP selfie shooter. The main sensor in the rear camera setup is also a 16MP one. It is accompanied by a 16MP sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth shooter.

The phone is driven by a MediaTek Helio G37 processor, housed along with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, and a 5000mAh cell. 

The miscellaneous goodies in the 185g package are a side-mounted fingerprint reader, 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, FM radio, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB-C 2.0 port. 

 Motorola Moto E32s Price and Availability

Moto E32s is priced at a starting price of EUR 149.99 (~Rs. 12,400). It is available in Slate Gray or Misty Silver variants.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Google Adds Meaningful Updates to Photos, Docs, and Drive

Google has announced a slew of key updates to its popular applications such as Google Docs, Google Drive, and Google Photos. At first glance, they may seem like rather basic features but will enhance the user experience. Not only that, whenever Google rolls out something, especially to the aforementioned apps, that is likely to impact the daily workflow of millions. So, let’s have a crack at the new ones to see if you fall in those millions, as in would you be benefitted from these features. If yes, how to make use of them.

Get your real skin tone on your photos with the Google Photos 

During the Google I/O 2022, the company had revealed its working on implementing the Monk Scale of colour representation in the Google Search image results. It has now brought that colour tuning to Google Photos in the form of filters. There are Playa, Isla, Honey, and Desert as the various options and the company claims they will “work well across skin tones.”

The new colour adjustments are available on the web as well on iOS and Android.

Simultaneously cut, copy, and format multiple blocks of text on Google Docs

Just hold Command (⌘) or the Control key and select the section of text you want. Thereafter, apply formatting options from the top menu/toolbar. You can also press Cmd/Ctrl along with C (for Copy) and X (for Cut). This doesn’t require much explanation as you must have used these keyboard shortcuts on other apps.

Keyboard shortcut based Cut, Copy, and Paste on Google Drive

This is yet again self-explanatory but Google also enables copying (cutting) and pasting files from Google Drive across tabs. If you try pasting the file into an email (Gmail) or Google Docs, the file title with the actual file’s link hyperlinked is what will be shared.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Microsoft Keystone Is Officially Confirmed to Be an Upcoming Xbox Streaming Stick

Microsoft has finally confirmed that it is working on an Xbox streaming device codenamed Keystone. The rumor has it that the Redmond-based company has been engaged in the project (which has been heard under names like Hobart before) for a long time now. This time though a Microsoft spokesperson has disclosed about its game streaming stick to Windows Central and here’s the statement —

“Our vision for Xbox Cloud Gaming is unwavering, our goal is to enable people to play the games they want, on the devices they want, anywhere they want. As announced last year, we’ve been working on a game-streaming device, codename Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console. 

As part of any technical journey, we are constantly evaluating our efforts, reviewing our learnings, and ensuring we are bringing value to our customers. We have made the decision to pivot away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. We will take our learnings and refocus our efforts on a new approach that will allow us to deliver Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players around the world in the future.”

So, let’s unpack this new revelation.

Microsoft Xbox Keystone Streaming Stick: What we know so far

Some years back, there was chatter about this Microsoft streaming device which then went by the name Project Hobart. As a Windows Central post dated Nov 7, 2016 notes, “Project Hobart would have been a $99 dongle, with low computational power — albeit powerful enough to run UWP apps and even light UWP games”. This would have been over WiFi through Xbox Windows 10 app.

The device was set to hit the production floor in a quantity of about 300,000 units and launch not so long after E3 2016. But then, owing to reasons unclear, things took a left turn, and Hobart got canceled. Some consider Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro leak played a part in this. But, God knows.

Now fast forward to May 2022, we are allegedly hearing straight from the horse’s mouth that such a device exists somewhere in the Microsoft labs.

XBOX KEYSTONE pic.twitter.com/warAwisfKh

— Tero Alhonen (@teroalhonen) March 9, 2022

The Project Xbox Keystone was first discovered in the Xbox OS list. Besides this and the words of the official source, there isn’t much known at the moment. It’s not even clear whether the Keystone device will run on Xbox OS, Windows, or Android. Also, as the spokesperson hints, the company is yet to decide on a final version of the product. So, we may still be in for a long wait.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Sony Fixes PlayStation Plus 'Technical Error' Causing Overcharged Subscriptions to Existing Users

Sony on Thursday announced that it has fixed a "technical error" that was causing users to pay more to upgrade to one of the new PlayStation Plus tiers. The issue was reported by some users following the launch of the revamped PlayStation Plus service in select Asia markets.

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PS5 to Overtake PS4 Install Base in Year 4, as Sony Eyes More PC and Mobile PlayStation Titles

Sony said it plans to ramp up production of its PlayStation 5 console as supply chain snarls ease, with the PS5 expected to overtake PS4's install base in year four. While PS4 and PS5 titles are expected to make up more than two-thirds of releases in 2022, PC and mobile titles will make up almost half of new games in 2025.

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LG Unveils New OLED and IPS UltraGear Gaming Monitor Lineup: Details

LG has unveiled 32GQ950, 32GQ850, and 48GQ900 UltraGear gaming monitors. LG has said that the new gaming monitors of the UltraGear lineup will be available in Japan starting this month.

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Samsung May Stop Selling Sub 15,000 Phones In India Very Soon: Heres Why

Samsung India is reportedly planning to exit the feature phone business in the country owing to not enough demand or yields. The report comes from ET Telecom and claims the last batch of feature phones made for the Indian market will be in the month of December. Now, if you want to know what could have made the Korean chaebol decide so, read on for the probable causes.

Dwindling yields for Samsung in the feature phone market

In Q1 2022, the overall basic phone shipments have dropped 39-per cent (on year) according to Counterpoint Research. This is apparently due to a supply crunch, high inventory levels, and an inflation-induced decline in demand.

Coming to Samsung, it fell down to the third spot with a 12-per cent share, behind Itel (21-per cent) and Lava (20-percent). 

Counterpoint Research also notes that at the end of March, Samsung’s entire quarterly shipment was 1-per cent in value and 20-per cent in volume.

Now, this is not all. There’s one more vector to cover.

Govt. of India’s PLI Limit

The Government of India’s PLI (Performance Linked Incentive) scheme has a mandate which offers sops only on manufacturing phones costing more than Rs. 15,000 (factory price). So, no concession if you make handsets below that. You are incentivized to only make phones above ₹15k in India.

There’s also the case of rising selling prices of phones in the ₹10-20K price bracket owing to traction in terms of volume. 

This could also be part of the problem Samsung is currently in.

The sources with knowledge of the matter have told ET, “Samsung has spoken to channel partners and said they will exit the India feature phone business in the next few months or by this year's end". This contract partner in question is believed to be Dixon.

It could then channel its efforts toward the rewarding higher-end smartphone business. In March, it had garnered a 22% share thanks, especially thanks to its performance in the 5G phone market. In fact, it has been topping the charts for two quarters in a row.

Now, while Samsung may stop selling feature phones in India, it may still make the phones in the country to meet the export demands. As per government records, the total feature phone exports from us to the foreign markets like Latin America and Africa was Rs. 1,496 crores in FY21, which was a 621-per cent surge from the previous year.

We will be keeping a close eye on the developments of this news. So, stay tuned.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

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Nothing Phone 1 with transparent design previewed ahead of launch

Nothing Phone (1) is one of the most anticipated smartphones this year building upon the success of the Nothing Ear (1) TWS earphones. With the Nothing Phone (1), Carl Pei and co. are vying to radically disrupt how modern smartphones look and it’s now confirmed that the upcoming Phone 1 has a translucent design, just like the Ear (1) earbuds. While most details about the Phone 1 are kept under wraps, its specifications have allegedly leaked earlier this month and it’s expected to be a mid-range smartphone.

Early design schematics of Nothing Phone (1)

In an exclusive interview with Wallpaper, CEO Carl Pei and Tom Howard, head of design revealed some intricate details about the Phone (1). Starting with the design of the back panel, Howard told Wallpaper that they “wanted to bring the inside out”, hinting at a transparent or translucent design for the debutant. The Phone (1) isn’t the first phone to ship with a transparent design but since it's Nothing’s first phone, the approach here is to make it look different from what’s known today as the modern smartphone. It’s also confirmed that the Phone (1)’s frame is made out of recycled aluminium. 

I want to be transparent with my followers (and everything we design). We cracked a transparent design with ear (1) and now it’s time (2) do it again. pic.twitter.com/APQW3XNHvu

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) May 24, 2022

“There are over 400 components in a smartphone, assembled in layers. We wanted to celebrate the “good ones”, the things we thought were really interesting to emphasise,” Howard says. To that end, some of the elements that are highlighted on the Phone (1) include the cameras and the wireless charging coil.

1972 New York Subway map

The engineering team derived inspiration for the design of the Phone (1) from the 1972 New York Subway map designed by Massimo Vignelli and Bob Noorda and the 1933 London Underground map by Harry Beck, along with many other subway maps. 

“One of the issues we saw with the tech industry was that nobody had a consistent way of designing products. Apart from Apple – you can see their coherent vision. But if you had a table full of products from another manufacturer, you don’t really see that. From the very start, we wanted to have a very distinct and iconic design language of our own,’ says Pei. 

He goes on to assert that Nothing will maintain the same philosophy as it ventures into other product categories meaning that the transparent design language will make it to other Nothing products as well.

When will Nothing Phone (1) launch?

Previously in March, Carl Pei revealed that the Phone (1) will launch in Summer 2022 but apart from that we don’t know the exact date of the launch. However, Pei has hinted in one of his tweets that the Phone (1) will launch on June 9 at 4:20 PM.

6/9 at 4:20

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) May 4, 2022

As per the latest report by popular tipster Max Jambor that cites a European retailer, the Nothing Phone (1) will either launch or will go on sale on July 21 and is expected to be priced around 500 Euros.

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