Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold launched with foldable 801-inch display and liquid lens cameras

https://ift.tt/2PEIUv5 a long wait, Xiaomi's first foldable is finally here. Over the last few months, we've heard a number of leaks and rumours about the device, and now the device has finally become official with the company revealing all the details about the device --including its price, features, core internals and display hardware. 

The Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold is the company's first phone to use a foldable panel. The phone is being touted to provide an immersive experience for both gaming and watching movies. The company is also talking about the device's capabilities as a productivity tool. For the latter, the phone also brings with itself a special desktop mode that brings a familiar UI experience to that on a full-fledged PC.

Mi Mix Fold: Specifications

Mi Mix Fold comes with two displays -- one on the outside and one on the inside. The primary display placed inside sees Xiaomi using a large 8.01-inch foldable AMOLED panel. that can process up to WQHD+ resolutions. The panel also supports Dolby Vision for improved visual quality and clear images. Xiaomi claims the display has been tested for up to a million folds. On the outside, we have a 6.52-inch AMOLED display that works at a resolution of 2520x840 pixels. 

Even this secondary panel is capable of working at a high refresh rate of 90Hz and is rated to reach a peak brightness of 900nits. There's also support for high colour fidelity and Dolby Vision. Further, the phone comes with a quad-speaker set-up to improve the audio experience on the device.

Underneath the hood, the Mi Mix Fold comes with a Snapdragon 888 chipset that's also found on a number of flagship phones in the market. This is also the same chip that's currently available on the company's Mi 11 series. The chipset has been fabricated using the advanced 5nm process which improves the mobile platform’s CPU, GPU, and AI performance while lowering power consumption. The device also gets 3,200MHz LPDDR5 RAM, combined with UFS 3.1 high-speed flash storage.

Mi Mix Fold also uses a butterfly-type cooling system, which integrates large-area VC liquid cooling, thermal gel, multilayer graphite sheets and other heat dissipation methods. The Mi Mix Fold is offered in a Standard and Ceramic Special Edition. The standard version uses the fifth-generation Corning Gorilla Glass back cover with ceramic texture. The ceramic edition features a gold middle frame and volume buttons, as well as a black ceramic back with special laser engraving. 

Mi Mix Fold: Cameras

Mi Mix Fold also sees the company bring for the first time the Surge C1 processor and image processing chip developed by Xiaomi. The new chip, Xiaomi claims, helps improve 3A algorithm and low-light focus capabilities for more accurate autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance to significantly improve image quality. 

Additionally, the Mi Mix Fold is also the world’s first smartphone with Liquid Lens technology. Xiaomi says the liquid lens uses the principle of human eye bionics, forming a lens-like structure with a transparent fluid wrapped in film, very different from traditional optical lenses. Using this technology, the phone also brings support for 3X optical zoom, up to 30X telephoto, and a minimum focus distance of 3cm all through one lens. As per Xiaomi, Liquid Lens also offers high light transmittance, ultra-low dispersion and excellent resistance to extreme environments. 

Additionally, the phone also uses a 108MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 123-degree field of view. The 108MP pixel main camera is equipped with a 7P lens, which can directly output 108MP pixel high-definition photos. The 123-degree ultra-wide-angle camera supports smart switching. 

Mi Mix Fold: Battery

The Mi Mix Fold is kept alive using a built-in 5,020mAh battery. The company has revealed that the new foldable phone uses Xiaomi’s patented new dual-battery parallel architecture, which consists of two batteries with a capacity of 2,460mAh and 2,560mAh. This structure for the battery set-up allows the phone to bring with itself 67W fast charging. Xiaomi claims that this can allow the phone's battery to fully charge in 37 minutes. 

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Apple to begin A15 production in May, 4nm chip in 2022: Report

Apple's next-gen A15 chip will reportedly go into production starting may. As expected, the Cupertino-giant will continue its manufacturing partnership with TSMC.

A new report by Digitimes claims that Apple will begin production of its A15 chipset in May, keeping the launch of the new iPhone 13 later this year. The Apple A15 chip is said to use the same 5-nanometer fabrication size similar to its predecessor - the A14.

Apple A15 chip begins production in May

The Digitimes report also suggests that the new chip will be made using an "enhanced" manufacturing process despite having the same fabrication size at 5nm. To recall, the A14 was the first mass-produced chip to use the 5nm process, assuring great coordination between Apple and TSMC. 

The 5nm fabrication process will remain, so the major performance improvements should ideally come through architectural changes, which Apple has been quite efficient in the recent past. Either way, it's not surprising to know that the process size remains the same as it's a usual cycle of two years when manufacturers tend to change the size. To recall, Apple and TSMC together were the first to bring mass consumer 7nm chip with A12 which was retained on the A13 as well. 

Apple and TSMC, together, has been very successful with the adoption of the new process size in the past. The new M1 chip on Macs is the perfect example of the case as these chips have turned out to be super-efficient and much better than their Intel counterpart that was used earlier. Intel has been struggling to keep up the process die size, with its recent chips using 10nm fabrication size at best. 

Digitimes says that Apple is keen to keep the lead as it has already ordered the 4nm supply, which is scheduled to start production in late 2021. The source also speculated that the 4nm chip will be seen first on Mac chips.

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Alleged iQOO Neo5 Indian variant with Snapdragon 870 spotted

A Vivo phone running Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 was spotted on Geekbench last month, which was later speculated to be the Indian variant of the iQOO Neo5. The same smartphone model has made another visit to the Google Supported Devices list and Google Play Console. As per the listing, the speculated device might soon make its way to India. 

Noted leakster Mukul Sharma first spotted the listing, the shared screenshot corroborate with the previous leaks. Here's the tweet revealing details of the alleged iQOO Neo5 and its image-

Vivo I2012 (likely the iQOO Neo 5) appears on the Google Supported Devices list and the Google Play Console listing with an SD870 processor, launch imminent.#iQOO #iQOONeo5 pic.twitter.com/Qq276SZqBT

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) March 30, 2021

The alleged smartphone has the model number I2012 and it comes with specs like a Snapdragon 870 with 8GB of RAM running on Android 11 OS. Other specifications mentioned on the Google Play Console include a Full HD+ display with 480ppi pixel density.

The listing also reveals a part of the design in the image, which shows a punch-hole selfie camera cutout in the centre. 

In addition to this model, there's another Vivo smartphone with model number I2011 speculated to arrive as a variant of the iQOO Neo5. The smartphone was recently certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Alongside these two, another high-end offering with Snapdragon 888 is expected to launch in India as the iQOO 7. It was also spotted on BIS and Geekbench in the recent past. 

iQOO Neo5 Indian variant leaked specifications

As per the 3C listing of the Indian variant of the iQOO Neo5, it will come with 66W fast charging and a 4000mAh battery. Some reports suggest that the iQOO Neo 5 will come with a 120Hz AMOLED display, which might have curved sides as per the image in the listing. The camera front is said to have a triple camera setup consisting of 48MP + 13MP + 2MP cameras and an 8MP selfie camera on the front.

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Realmes first laptop could be called Meow Book and we hope its an April Fools day joke

Realme, as you probably already know, is not just a smartphone company and they are trying to diversify their portfolio with a bunch of other products. Among many other things, the company is also rumoured to launch a laptop at some point. We heard about Realme's laptops plans a while back and it looks like it's happening soon. Or maybe not? 

We just came across a post from Realme, according to which it looks like they'll be launching a laptop called 'Meow Book'. The name, in case you are wondering, comes from the company's mascot 'realmeow'. No, it's not a joke; the mascot is a superhero of sorts and you can watch this video below from Realme.

But what we have here is a laptop called 'Meow Book'. The company has been teasing a lot of products and this 'Meow Book' is one of them. All these products are set to be unveiled on Thursday i.e. 1st April. Here, check it out -

A future of paw-ssabilities. All will be unveiled this Thursday. #realme #realmeow pic.twitter.com/aDktPyQDS5

— realme Europe (@realmeeurope) March 28, 2021

April 1 being the 'April Fools' Day', we think this is a prank, an elaborate one at that. It's an annual custom and we see a lot of hoaxes from a lot of brands trying to prank us with unrealistic product ideas that are mostly too good to be true. And occasionally some really dumb ideas too.

We don't know anything about this 'Meow Book' laptop besides its name. It could very well be a good laptop with solid specs, but we really hope the company is not planning to call it that. Like, seriously. Nobody is going to take that name seriously for any product, let alone a laptop.

Besides the laptop, Realme is also teasing VR glasses and 'Meow AI Speakers' for a launch event that's scheduled for Thursday. Even if this ends up not being a prank, it's just a friendly reminder that you should probably think twice before believing anything and everything you read online on April 1st.

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Sony PS3, PS Vita and PSP owners wont be able to make digital purchases soon

Sony has confirmed that it will be shutting down its online store for the PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) and PlayStation Portable (PSP) consoles. The store will shut down on July 2, 2021. So users will have a few months to purchase any games they want. It should be noted that players will still be able to redownload and play previously purchased games. They will also have access to video/media content, and redeem game and PlayStation Plus vouchers. Previously downloaded or purchased titles can be accessed via the Download List section on each of the devices.

Features that will be unavailable on the PS3, PS Vita and PSP

After July 2, gamers will no longer be able to purchase digital content on the PS3, PS Vita and the PSP. Further, in-game purchases made through games on these three consoles will no longer work. PSN Wallet Fund vouchers will no longer be redeemable or purchasable as well.

However, any PSN Wallet Funds will still be available within the user’s PSN account. However, these will only be valid for PS4 and PS5 products on the PlayStation Store. It should be noted that the PlayStation Store will still be available via the web, PlayStation App and on PS4 and PS5 consoles.

For users that do not have a PS4 or PS5, or those who don’t plan on buying a new console, are advised to top up only the minimum amount to buy the desired content. Players may also request a refund of any funds left in their account. Details on how to request such an update will be available soon on this page.

Those still playing on the PS3 may want to consider switching soon. Those using the PS Vita or PSP due to its portability might be in a bit of a pickle. That's because Sony doesn’t really have a new portable gaming device yet. As such, they might have to look beyond the platform. Mobile gaming and the Nintendo’s Switch lineup seem to be their most obvious alternative. Another option is to download as many games as possible on their current device and continue playing those games forever. Until their device finally dies, anyway.

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Asus launches new laptops under ZenBook and VivoBook series, powered by AMD Ryzen 5000 U-Series processors

Asus has added a handful of new laptops under its ZenBook and VivoBook laptops. All these new machines are powered by AMD's new Ryzen 5000 U-series chips with which the company says they are aiming to provide an immersive experience to the consumers with power-packed performance and long battery life.

The new laptops include the premium ZenBook 13 OLED (UM325UA),  an array of VivoBook notebooks such as VivoBook S S14 (M433), VivoBook Ultra K14/K15 (KM413/KM513), VivoBook Flip 14 (TM420), Asus VivoBook 15 (M515) and VivoBook 17 (M712). Let's see what each of these machines brings to the table.

ZenBook 13 OLED (UM325UA)

The ZenBook 13 OLED (UM325UA) is a premium product with one of its highlight features bring the 13.3-inch FHD OLED panels with slim bezels. It's a PANTONE validated display with 400-nits of brightness and it's said to cover 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. You get two variants of this laptop i.e. with either with Ryzen 5 5500U or the more powerful Ryzen 7 5700U processor. It also comes with 16GB RAM running art 3733 Mhz and up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD. You also get a good selection of ports and WiFi 6 support among other features in chassis that weigh approximately 1.1Kgs.

VivoBook 15/17

Both the VivoBook 15 (M515) and the VivoBook 17 (M712) share a very similar set of specs with the main difference being the display size. As the name suggests, one comes with a 15.6-inch panel whereas the other one sports a 17.3-inch display. Both are full HD LED-backlit anti-glare panels. You'll also see some parity with RAM and storage options, but both laptops are powered by the Ryzen 5 5500U processor.

VivoBook Ultra K14/K15

Much like the VivoBook 15 and 17, the VivoBook Ultra K14 and K15 are also very similar. The main difference is the display size as one of them is a 14-inch FHD panel whereas the other one has a 15.6-inch panel. You can configure both of them with either a Ryzen 5 5500U or a Ryzen 7 5700U processor. RAM and storage options may vary depending on the variant you choose, but you'll get the same features across the board like WiFi 6 support, a 42Whr battery, SD card reader, and more.

VivoBook S14 (M433)

The VivoBook S14 is powered by Ryzen 5 5500U processor and sports a 14-inch FHD panel with slim bezels. You get up to 8GB 3200Mhz DDR4 RAM onboard. For storage, the laptop comes with 1 TB PCIe 3.0 M.2 X2 SSD and 1 additional PCIe 3.0 M.2 X4 SSD slot (upgradable up to 1TB). This laptop also comes with a fingerprint scanner and support for WiFi 6. It also packs a 50Whr battery inside a chassis that weighs approx 1.4Kg.

VivoBook Flip 14 (TM420)

Lastly, we have the VivoBook Flip 14 with a 14-inch touchscreen panel. It's very similar to the VivoBook S14 in terms of specs, except you can configure this laptop with either a Ryzen 3 5300U, a Ryzen 5 5500U, or a Ryzen 7 5700U processor. Other similar sets of features like WiFi 6 support, an SD card reader, and more.

Pricing & Availability

Asus has launched the ZenBook 13 OLED (UM325UA) for a starting price of Rs 79,990. The VivoBook 15 (M515) starts at Rs 54,990 whereas the VivoBook 17 (M712) starts at Rs 62,990. As for both the Asus VivoBook Ultra K14 and the K15. we are looking at a starting price of Rs 58,990. The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 (TM420) will cost you Rs 59,990 and lastly, the Asus VivoBook S S14 (M433) starts at Rs 65,990. All these laptops will be available to purchase soon via the company's official online as well as offline channels. 

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Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 12 adds numerous important bug fixes but cant repair CD Projekt Reds reputation

Ahhhh, Cyberpunk 2077 (review), the game that keeps on giving. From unprecedented levels of hype to a class action lawsuit, how far have the mighty fallen? But fear not, if you’re an ardent fan of the game, CDPR has just released an update for the game. Dubbed Patch 1.2, this update is supposed to help with performance on all platforms. Considering the game was pretty much unplayable on the PS4 and Xbox One, we’ll just have to wait and see how this update pans out. 

Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.2 includes a number of bug fixes

Just a cursory glance at the number of bug fixes in the update is staggering. Reports have said that there are about 250 different fixes to the game in the Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.2 update. The update is also rather large, coming in around 34 GB. If there’s one this we can learn from this update is that the game was 100% unfinished when it was launched late last year. It was nearly unplayable on older consoles and even on high-end PCs, the game was a buggy mess. You can view the full list of changes, right here. And, if that doesn’t clue you in on the fact that Cyberpunk 2077 was an unfinished mess, then nothing will. 

Patch 1.2 for Cyberpunk 2077 is now live on PC and consoles! A version for Stadia will follow later this week. The list of changes for this update is available here: https://t.co/gbDIp90CXG pic.twitter.com/gt64a8DPzW

— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) March 29, 2021

Cyberpunk 2077 will go down in gaming history as one of the biggest failures of game development and marketing. CD Projekt Red promised gamers an experience that they’d never experienced before and all we really got was a poor excuse for a first-person role-playing game. With the amount of hype the game received before launch only to fizzle out after, it’s still a mystery as to how a game like Cyberpunk 2077 was released to the public in the state that it was. And, all this coming from the developer that brought us the magical The Witcher 3? 

 

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