A new Nokia smart TV will be announced in India on June 4, as a part of Flipkart’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Last year, Flipkart acquired to rights to use the Nokia brand name for its upcoming series of smart TVs in India. The first fruit of this partnership came in the form of the 55-inch Nokia Smart TV that was unveiled in December. It is now doing good on the promise of offering more TVs by announcing a smaller variant of the same TV.

The new Nokia smart TV is expected to be more affordable, by moving to a smaller 43-inch panel. It will retain the 4K UHD resolution, with support for Dolby Vision HDR and a wide colour gamut. It will sport an LED panel. On the audio front, it will have Sound by JBL, along with Dolby Audio and DTS TruSurround for a three-dimensional 5.1 channel surround sound experience.

The teaser images also suggest a design very similar to the first one, with very slim bezels on the side and a classy chrome stand for table mounting. It will run on the latest Android TV 9.0 operating system to bring access to the Google Play store, with more than 5,000 apps and games along with OTT platforms. Other expected features include built-in Google Assistant as well as Chromecast Ultra for 4K content streaming. The older model did support Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus Hotstar and YouTube out of the box, so we expect those to be present as well.

The Smart TV market in India has been booming recently, with multiple new players joining the fray. This competition has also brought down the prices of offerings, with high-end features such as a smart operating system, 4K resolution, HDR, Dolby Audio no longer being reserved for expensive televisions.

Considering that the 55-inch Nokia TV was priced at Rs 41,999, we expect the upcoming 43-inch variant to be priced at around the Rs 35,000 mark. 

• Nokia enters the Smart TV market of India in partnership with Flipkart
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• Best 55-inch 4K TVs under Rs 50,000 in India

Update (June 1): Vivo India's CEO has confirmed that the Vivo X50 series will launch in India on his Facebook page.

The Vivo X50 series has been gaining a lot of attention off late. The new device may represent an even more important event for Vivo as a brand in India as it may be just the right one to mark its return to the high-end smartphone space in the country.

Sources aware of the developments have confirmed to us that the upcoming Vivo X50 will indeed be making its way to India, soon after the Chinese launch, which is scheduled for June 1. It’s unclear which variant will be coming, but the teaser did suggest that it will be the Vivo X50 Pro.

This will mark the return of Vivo’s X series to India after over two years, with the last one being the Vivo X21 in 2018. Even more recently, it has primarily focussed on the budget and mid-range segments, but a proper flagship has always eluded India. 

The Vivo X50 Pro is a camera-centric premium mid-ranger which will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G with at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. If the same specifications make it to India, it will be one of the first phones in the country to sport this chipset. Besides, it will also be 5G-capable. Most of its specs have already been leaked from a recent product briefing in its home country. Other key details include a 4,315mAh battery and support for 33W fast charging.

It will also bring a new premium design with a curved, 6.56-inch high refresh rate display along with a tiny 32MP punch-hole selfie camera on the front, and a frosted glass back. A sizeable camera island will also adorn the back, with four shooters lined up. The primary camera  will be a 48MP Sony IMX598 image sensor, followed by an 8MP ultra-wide shooter, a 13MP short telephoto lens and an 8MP periscopic long telephoto lens.  

Vivo claims that the primary camera will have industry-leading image stabilisation with a new “micro-cloud” system with up to 3-degrees of compensation on either of the axes. This complicated mechanism is also the reason why the camera bump is so significant. 

There is no word on the exact availability, but considering that Vivo is in advanced stages of planning the device’s launch in India, we expect it arrive on Indian shores soon enough.  And, Vivo’s first pair of TWS earphones may also tag along.

• Everything we know about the Vivo X50 series
• Vivo Nex 3 review
• Vivo's true wireless earbuds pop up on e-store

As Indian companies slowly look to reopen post the lockdown, many new changes will have to be implemented. Xiaomi and Samsung, which have some of the biggest retail store networks in the country have detailed how they will be making the transition.

With people accepting that life will have to co-exist along with Covid-19, new measures will have to be brought in to ensure that public life is not risked. To help shops reopen, a public-private initiative called “Suraksha” has been introduced. All stores will have to be registered with them, after which they will be educated and given extensive training on how to operate safely. Post the training, the shops will be assed and upon satisfactory results, will be given their Suraksha certification.

A big chunk of smartphones and tech sold in India takes places through offline channels via retail stores. Xiaomi and Samsung have thousands of stories across the country where smartphones and other tech-lifestyle products are sold. Thankfully, they are also amongst the first companies to get Suraksha certified and cleared to reopen.

The new way of shopping

As expected, a lot of precautionary changes have been made. This includes following all social-distancing guidelines and avoiding all unnecessary contact. This starts with only a limited number of customers allowed into the story at any point. Even outside the store, patrons will have to wait in an orderly fashion at a safe distance away from each other. Masks will be compulsory.

Upon entry, all customers will have to go through a temperature scan, followed by sanitizing their hands. Failure to comply will result in the person being asked to leave. Unlike the past, products on display will not be allowed to be touched. Surfaces will have to be sanitized at regular intervals too. Xiaomi may allow some customers to touch a product, but only after they put on a pair of gloves. At the point of sale, touchless digital payments will be encouraged to further avoid contact with customers.

All products will also be made available online for people unwilling to visit a store. Such products can be bought from the company’s website directly and will be shipped to their residence.

Eventually, all stores in the country, especially those in vulnerable areas, will have to comply with similar guidelines if they want to function. This is just a fragment of how life in the “new normal” is going to be.

• Honor announces 'Super Service' offers for customers in India
• Best resources to stay updated with India’s COVID-19 situation
• India allows eCommerce companies to deliver non-essentials

Corroborating previous reports, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 seems to be right on schedule to be announced in August, as a report from Korea states that the phone has entered mass production.

Daily Korea seems to have received insider information around Samsung’s current manufacturing scenario. Samsung has apparently already placed bulk orders for the components needed for mass manufacturing with major suppliers. Considering that foldables use more complex parts, the report believes that the time lag from order to delivery of components will also be slightly longer than usual.

• Samsung Galaxy Fold 2: Everything we know
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 launch event looks set for August
• Cheaper Samsung Galaxy Foldtipped for July unveiling

One of the biggest change expected on the Galaxy Fold 2 is the shift to UTG (ultra-thin glass) instead of plastic for the display. This will add much-needed vigour to the mechanism which will go through a multitude of folds and unfolds in its lifetime. A similar implementation was seen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (click to buy).

The Fold 2 is expected to share the stage with the Note 20 series in August. A second foldable which will be considerably cheaper is also said to be in the works, which will take bits from the original Fold and the Z Flip. If things pan out as tipped, Samsung will flood the ultra-premium segment with multiple capable foldables, extending its lead over the competition. They will be the first Galaxy flagships to be made official over a virtual event as Samsung won’t be able to hold its Unpacked event physically due to the ongoing pandemic.

As for the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, it is also expected to offer a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, a periscopic telephoto camera and support for the S-pen stylus with its own silo. The out cover display is also said to be bigger and more functional this time. Structural improvements in the design are also expected.

Samsung seems to be rather unaffected by the current crisis, and is looking to make a big splash in the premium segment. With the launch just a few months away, we expect a lot more leaks to surface in the coming weeks. 

• Samsung Galaxy Fold - Check out our review

The Redmi Earbuds S is finally available in the Indian market, marking the company’s foray into the personal audio space. In true Redmi fashion, it is priced extremely competitively to let more consumers jump on the TWS bandwagon.

Unveiled over an online event, the Redmi Earbuds S is the second pair of true wireless earbuds in a matter of weeks from the house of Xiaomi, after the Mi TWS 2. However, the Redmi buds is targetted at a very different demographic — those looking to get their first pair of wireless buds. While it originally launched in China a month ago, the Indian Earbuds S has a few tweaks for the local preferences.

It starts with the design. The Redmi Earbuds S will be available in only a matte black finish, which extends to the case as well as the buds. This is to fight dust as well as make them look discreet. The individual buds weigh only about 4.5g each, and are also IPX4 sweat and splash-proof.

As for the sound, the Redmi Earbuds S has 7.2mm drivers, which have been tuned for the lower frequencies. The bass hasn’t been boosted by a lot to avoid distortion, which inherently creeps in into headphones with small drivers. As compared to the Chinese variant, the Indian ones are also said to be slightly louder.

The buds are also designed in such a way that they bring passive noise isolation when worn correctly. The DSP adds another layer of noise cancellation. There is just a single microphone onboard. The Earbuds S also has a physical button on either side to control media playback or skip tracks. It is also ambidextrous, allowing controls to be triggered from either bud. The voice assistant of your choice can also be summoned and used to control music playback as well.

The Redmi Earbuds S also features a gaming mode, which can be toggled by pressing the function key thrice. This will bring down the output latency to just 122ms. Redmi claims that this increases power consumption by only about 8%. Some of the notable omissions include a USB Type-C port for charging and auto-pairing with MIUI devices. The battery life is rated for 4 hours on a single charge, with the case providing for two additional charges.

In India, the Xiaomi Redmi Earbuds S is priced at Rs 1,799. It will on sale starting May 27 on Mi.com and Amazon.

• The Redmi AirDots S is an unbelievably affordable pair of true wireless earbuds
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The Redmi Earbuds S is finally available in the Indian market, marking the company’s foray into the personal audio space. In true Redmi fashion, it is priced extremely competitively to let more consumers jump on the TWS bandwagon.

Unveiled over an online event, the Redmi Earbuds S is the second pair of true wireless earbuds in a matter of weeks from the house of Xiaomi, after the Mi TWS 2. However, the Redmi buds is targetted at a very different demographic — those looking to get their first pair of wireless buds. While it originally launched in China a month ago, the Indian Earbuds S has a few tweaks for the local preferences.

It starts with the design. The Redmi Earbuds S will be available in only a matte black finish, which extends to the case as well as the buds. This is to fight dust as well as make them look discreet. The individual buds weigh only about 4.5g each, and are also IPX4 sweat and splash-proof.

As for the sound, the Redmi Earbuds S has 7.2mm drivers, which have been tuned for the lower frequencies. The bass hasn’t been boosted by a lot to avoid distortion, which inherently creeps in into headphones with small drivers. As compared to the Chinese variant, the Indian ones are also said to be slightly louder.

The buds are also designed in such a way that they bring passive noise isolation when worn correctly. The DSP adds another layer of noise cancellation. There is just a single microphone onboard. The Earbuds S also has a physical button on either side to control media playback or skip tracks. It is also ambidextrous, allowing controls to be triggered from either bud. The voice assistant of your choice can also be summoned and used to control music playback as well.

The Redmi Earbuds S also features a gaming mode, which can be toggled by pressing the function key thrice. This will bring down the output latency to just 122ms. Redmi claims that this increases power consumption by only about 8%. Some of the notable omissions include a USB Type-C port for charging and auto-pairing with MIUI devices. The battery life is rated for 4 hours on a single charge, with the case providing for two additional charges.

In India, the Xiaomi Redmi Earbuds S is priced at Rs 1,799. It will on sale starting May 27 on Mi.com and Amazon.

• The Redmi AirDots S is an unbelievably affordable pair of true wireless earbuds
• Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 launch in India
• The best wireless headphones available in India

Fujifilm’s latest flagship for photographers and videographers, the X-T4 has finally launched in India. It was announced over an online event today. 

Fujifilm’s X series has become increasingly popular over the last few years as a value for money camera that is versatile for both photography and high-end videography. With the X-T3 announced almost two years ago, the Fujifilm X-T4 will aim to step in its shoes as an even more capable all-rounder.

Specifications

• Sensor: 26.1MP APS-C
• Lens mount: Fujifilm X
• Processor: X-Processor 4
• Video recording: 4K DCI/UHD at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps
• External recording: 10-Bit DCI 4K 
• Stabilization: 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops
• Shooting: 15 fps up to 38 Frames (Mechanical)
• Display: 3-inch articulating touchscreen LCD
• Ports: USB Type-C (3.1), Micro HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack, 2.5mm Sub-Mini
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi
• Battery: NP-W235, 2200mAh

Over its predecessor, it comes with three major upgrades. Firstly, the X-T4 is the first camera in the family to feature in-body image stabilization (IBIS), at 5-axis and 6.5 stops. This will help in scenarios such as handheld videography, low light photography and action sequences. Secondly, has a new shutter mechanism which lets it shoot at up to 15fps in the burst mode, which is one of the fastest among mirrorless cameras. Lastly, it runs off a new battery which is almost 1.5x bigger than the last generation, allowing for almost 600 frames on a single charge.

It retains its image sensor, with the 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 image sensor. This is a 3:2 APS-C sensor, resulting in a 1.5x crop in comparison to full-frame cameras. It brings a new and improved hybrid autofocus system that implements a combination of phase detection (PDAF) and contrast autofocus. Face and eye AF options are also available, and can be used during burst photography as well. Fujifilm claims that focussing takes only about 0.02 seconds and is twice the success rate of the X-T3.

In terms of video recording, the Fujifilm X-T4 can shoot at up to 4K at 60fps at 4:4:2 10-bit externally or 4:2:0 internally over SD at a bitrate of 400mbps. It is also the first camera from the company that can record FHD videos at 240fps for 10x slow-motion capture. Videographers will appreciate the separate menu for video settings and the 3-inch fully articulating touch display.

Fujifilm’s excellent colour science now also offers 18 film simulation modes, including the popular Eterna Bleach Bypass for creative shooting effects. Highlights and shadows can be adjusted by ½ stops from -2 to +4. Shooting in Raw allows capturing images in non-reversible “Compressed” option alongside the reversible “Lossless Compressed”.

Other hardware features include weather sealing for ingress protection, with the operating temperature ranging from -10°C to +40°C. Videos in the same format can be recorded on SD cards simultaneously. The audio jack can be used to connect an external mic, headphones as well as LINE level input from external audio equipment. The USB Type-C port can be used for charging as well as data transfer at USB 3.1 speeds.

Price and offers

Variant	Price
Body only	Rs 1,54,999
with Fujinon XF18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens	Rs 1,84,999
with Fujinon XF16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR lens	Rs 1,99,999

In India, the Fujifilm X-T4 starts at Rs 1,53,999 for the body. Adding a Fujinon XF18-55mm f/2.8-4 kit lens will take the price up to Rs 1,84,999, while the Fujinon XF16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR lens combo will set you back Rs 1,99,999. A 64GB UHS-II card worth Rs 12,490 and a BC-W235 dual battery charger worth Rs 6,299 will also be included with every order at no extra cost.

It can currently be pre-ordered, with deliveries commencing in early June. Colour options include silver and black. The 18-55 lens combo will be available on a later date.

• Fujifilm X-T4 review: The best APS-C mirrorless camera
• Best DSLRs under Rs 50,000 in India

At a time when Huawei and Honor and bracing up to face the challenges posed by the US ban on its products, the Chinese giant is getting support from MediaTek. The Taiwanese semiconductor giant could well be supplying chipsets for their future smartphones. 

Earlier this week, as a part of the new trade sanctions imposed by the U.S., TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co) was no longer allowed to supply components to the Huawei Consumer Business Group. TSMC is the world’s largest contract chipset manufacturer, which gets about one-fifth of its business from Huawei and its subsidiaries. With the new ruling, Kirin chipsets would no longer be an option.

• Key Huawei chip supplier stops taking orders after new US sanctions
• Huawei ban: the global fallout explained
• MediaTek Dimensity 1000 Plus: Specs, features and comparisons

At the press conference after the Honor X10 launch in China, Zhao Ming, President of Honor’s Business unit addressed the situation and talked about potential solutions. The biggest takeaway was that Honor will look towards MediaTek’s range of 5G chipsets for future products.

The future of its in-house Kirin chipsets is uncertain. While the Honor X10 ships with the new Kirin 820 SoC, upcoming smartphones are likely to be powered by MediaTek. He even stated that the company has good relations with MediaTek, and will look to strengthen this cooperation in the foreseeable future.

MediaTek has been instrumental in democratizing 5G and lowering the cost of entry with its Dimensity chipsets. Considering that all of Honor’s latest smartphones are already 5G-capable, this should fit well.  

This wouldn’t be the first time Honor and MediaTek will work closely, as MediaTek has been a component supplier for Huawei and Honor’s networking equipment and IoT products. It’s unclear as to when this partnership will bear fruits, as changing the chipset platform means reconfiguring most components of a smartphone. For what it’s worth, the executive did mention that these processors will be directly optimized for Honor’s custom operating system and other features.

MediaTek now offers a range of affordable 5G chipsets in its Dimensity portfolio, starting with affordable entry-level chipsets, all the way to full-fledged powerful flagships. The current top-of-the-line processor is the Dimensity 1000 Plus.

Via CNMO 

Any debate around Android vs iOS usually boils down to how the latter has an ecosystem where all products work together seamlessly. After years of lagging behind, all the major Android smartphone manufacturers are joining forces to take a jab at AirDrop.

AirDrop is Apple’s proprietary file transfer protocol which can be used between iPhones, iPads and even Macs. This is crucial for a cohesive workflow. While Android has had numerous third-party alternatives to send and receive files, the execution has often been janky. The solution to that might be coming from the smartphone makers themselves.

Last year, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi announced that they will be working on a unified peer-to-peer file transfer protocol which will work across Android skins. While they make up for the majority of the smartphone market, some notable companies were still left out. That is now changing, as OnePlus, Realme, Xiaomi-backed Black Shark and Meizu are joining the alliance, thus expanding the coverage to over 400 million users globally.

Once the feature is in place, users will be able to transfer large files and folders across devices at speeds of up to 20MBps over a local WiFi connection, which will be significantly faster and more stable than resorting to Bluetooth.

A rollout schedule for the functionality was not mentioned by either of the brands, but considering that they all made the official announcements, the update shouldn’t be far off. This will go a long way in planting Android’s foot as an ecosystem that can work well across devices, regardless of fragmentation. 

Huawei Consumer Business Group is also leading the charge to create an alternate app marketplace for Android smartphones with Xiaomi and BBK Electronics, which has also attained fruition. 

Samsung and Huawei group remain the last major Android companies that are not a part of this file transfer alliance. Interestingly, both of them already have functioning file transfer systems for their own ecosystem of devices, and even extends to laptops. Onboarding them will be the pinnacle of this alliance.

Via XDA Developers 

• Xiaomi, Huawei, and BBK come together to create a Google Play Store alternative
• Google's AirDrop alternative for Android gets renamed as it approaches launch

The Samsung Galaxy Note series is among one of the hottest devices that gets announced each year in the second half, at an “Unpacked” event. For the Note 20, however, things might be a little different.

Every year, Samsung hosts two Unpacked events to announce its S series and Note series flagships. With the Note 20 due in August, Samsung was reported to be preparing for its next big launch event in both the real and virtual worlds. Now, a news report out of South Korea claims that Samsung has reached a decision.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will be the first flagship smartphone from the Korean giant that will be unveiled over an online event. The ongoing pandemic guidelines prohibit mass gathering and excessive travelling for people, which would’ve made getting the thousands of attendees to the venue nearly impossible.

This doesn’t mean that the event will be any smaller, as even the next generation Galaxy Fold is expected to be unveiled at the same event, and possibly, there could be an affordable variant of the original Fold. 

As for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20, it is expected to come in two sizes this time, with the Plus variant expected to offer slightly better specs. Variable high refresh rate displays will be present on both, with at least one of the models having a QHD+ resolution. In terms of cameras, they are expected to sport a 108MP primary shooter, flanked by an ultra-wide and a telephoto lens. 100x Space Zoom might not make the cut though.

The Galaxy Fold 2 is said to take the best bits from the original Fold, the Flip and the Note 20, with an improved design, better cameras and probably even a stylus. It is also expected to be better priced than last year.

Samsung is yet to officially confirm how the Note 20 launch will be conducted. But knowing the current scenario, it’s unlikely to be a physical event at this point.

Via SamMobile

• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 release date, price, news and leaks
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Fold 2 launch reportedly still on schedule

Sony is well-known as a multimedia-focussed smartphone maker. A new patent has been spotted now, which suggests that the company maybe looking to take content consumption to the next level with a set of speakers that pop-out from the top and the bottom when needed.

Sony Xperia smartphones have retained their design language for the better part of this decade, with bold boxy looks, unapologetic bezels and tall displays. Some even sported front-firing speakers at the expense of a bigger chin and forehead. This new patent from Sony aims to bring the best of both worlds — big speakers as well as small bezels.

Let’sGoDigital spotted the patent application at the World Intellectual Property Office database, which shows a Sony phone with pretty slim bezels on all four sides. A closer look shows that the earpiece, loudspeaker and the selfie camera are nowhere to be seen in this state. 

Here’s when things get interesting. According to the sketches, this prototype Xperia device will have the entire top section of the phone pop-up, revealing the selfie camera and the earpiece (which presumably doubles as a loudspeaker) when needed. Not just that, for instances such as music playback or watching videos, the bottom section pops out, revealing the second loudspeaker. This means that the device can offer dual front-firing stereo speakers when needed, and smaller bezels during the other times.

For example, if you want to conduct a video call, just the top portion will be activated, or if you want to watch a video with stereo audio, both the speakers will jump into action. This could help future Sony phones get more wieldy, which is a common complaint on current high-end Xperia devices which are too tall. 

However, the implementation does raise a few concerns on the vigour of this mechanism. Moving parts are never a good idea on a smartphone, and with something basic such as the loudspeaker needing the motors to fire up means that they are going to be used very often. Such big components will also take a tall on water resistance, a feature that Sony pioneered years ago.

As always, a patent doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a device that is currently being worked on or if it will see the light of day in the same fashion. It could be one of the designs that Sony is exploring for its future devices.

• Sony Xperia 1 review
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The Covid-19 crisis has thrown off product refresh cycles across the world. Now, as companies slowly inch towards resuming operations, a Vivo spokesperson went on record to talk about its next major launch.

In an interview with The Mobile Indian, Nipun Marya, Marketing Head of Vivo India talked about the Vivo V20 and confirmed that it will launch in India later this year. It will be the successor to the Vivo V19, which is currently at the top of Vivo’s lineup in India.

He also touches upon other product categories in the interview. When asked about accessories such as true wireless earbuds, he replied, “We will launch accessories in the near future that will complement our mobile ecosystem. We will launch those accessories, which we think is closely related to our smartphones. If we are able to provide the same experience, as we have done with our smartphones, only then we will launch mobile accessories in the country.”, implying that hot categories will not be blindly entered into.

He also confirmed that Vivo India has committed to invest Rs 7,500 crores in India for manufacturing facilities as a part of the Make in India campaign. Other important topics included a new monthly update cycle, which will be shared with users soon.

Vivo refreshes its V series twice a year in India, as the V17 came late last year and the V19 launched recently. Extrapolating that, and it comes as no surprise that the V20 is also expected this year. Its launch timeline could have been thrown off due to the current crisis. 

It needs to be pointed out that Nipun doesn’t explicitly mention the Vivo V20. In the past, Vivo has always avoided even numbers for its V series. With that logic, it is more likely that we get to see a Vivo V21 instead in the second half of the year.

• Vivo V17 review
• Smartphone manufacturers who 'Make in India’ - the big names

All recent Samsung flagships have had one clear Achilles heel — slow fingerprint scanners. A new leak suggests that the upcoming Galaxy Note 20 duo will address that with a newer, bigger fingerprint scanner.

Samsung remains the only major smartphone manufacturer to opt for ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanners for its flagships, while the rest of the Android camp ships with optical scanners. In theory, these are supposed to be a lot more secure and easier to use with soiled or wet fingers too. However, Samsung’s implementation has always been slow and inaccurate, ever since the S10 series.

In a recent interview, Ross Young, a notable supply chain commentator talked about how that may change with the upcoming Note 20 series. He is also the one who confirmed the design of the Fold 2 as well as display specifications of the Note 20. According to him, The Galaxy Note 20 series will opt for a new and significantly larger ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which should help in improving the reading speeds and accuracy.

This is likely to be the Qualcomm 3D Sonic Max ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner that was unveiled late last year. It covers an area of 20mm x 30mm, making it one of the biggest in-display scanners commercially available. In fact, it is so big that users will be able to register two fingers at once for added security. It’s about 17x bigger than the last one.

This shift to bigger and better scanners was much-needed. Most of the current in-display fingerprint scanners seen on the market implement Goodix’s optical scanners, which are significantly faster and more accurate. Interestingly, the Galaxy A71 5G launched in China in April was the first Samsung device to sport a Goodix scanner, which has become an industry-standard now. It could be a sign that Samsung is actually considering optical fingerprint scanners for its mid-rangers, as it is often known to experiment with upcoming technologies on its A series of smartphones. 

• Qualcomm announces next-gen fingerprint scanner that's 17x larger
• Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review
• Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 renders address many problems from the first one

Just as the Covid-19 threat started looming, the Government of India announced an indigenous contact tracing app in the form of Aarogya Setu. It is now also available for features phones from Reliance Jio.

In a short span of about a month, Aarogya Setu was downloaded more than 100 million times. It is a basic app that uses your location data and Bluetooth to check if you come in contact with an infected person and warns everyone that might have come in the vicinity via the app. Till now, it was only available for Android and iOS.

While India is one of the world’s biggest smartphone markets with over 400 million users, a big chunk of the population still continues to use feature phones. To cater to them, the app is now also available for download for Jio phone users. This is a slightly modified version of the app that relies on Bluetooth only. There are an estimated five million Jio phone users in India, which is one of the largest sections of users that was yet un-catered to.

Aarogya Setu is already mandatory for public and private sector employees that are already functional and back to work. As India prepares to continue co-existing with the virus in the coming weeks, contact tracing will be one of the crucial ways to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. 

Airways are also considering mandating all passengers onboard to have Aarogya Setu installed, or else they might not be allowed to travel. How this will be implemented is yet to be seen. Indian Railways has already made it mandatory for all passengers on intercity trains to have the app on their phones. 

India enforced a nationwide precautionary lockdown from March 25. As some areas will be allowed to resume work next week onwards, tech is expected to play a big role in facilitating that shift. 

• Aarogya Setu could be made mandatory for passengers in India
• Best resources to stay updated with India’s COVID-19 situation

The Honor X10 and X10 Pro series of 5G handsets will be unveiled in China on May 20. Almost all of the key specifications of these devices have been confirmed, making them Honor’s most-capable mid-rangers to date.

Posts on Weibo as well as from Ishan Agarwal give us a pretty comprehensive look at what to expect from the Honor X10 5G series. One of the biggest talking points remains the new chipset in tow, making it the second device to be powered Kirin 820 SoC. This is a 7nm octa-core chipset with a max frequency of 2.36GHz along with a 6-core Mali-G57 GPU. 

In terms of design, we’re looking at a 6.63-inch Full HD+ LCD panel with no notch. The Honor X10 Pro is also said to sport a 90Hz refresh rate. The fingerprint scanner will be embedded in the power button on the side, while the selfie camera will pop up from the top edge. IP5X water and dust resistance are also tipped to make the cut.

On the back will be a triple camera setup. The Honor X10 5G will have a 40MP custom Sony IMX600y image sensor with an RYYB colour filter, followed by an 8MP ultra-wide shooter and a 2MP macro camera. The Honor X10 Pro will swap out the third sensor for a periscopic 8MP shooter with 5x optical zoom. 

The battery will be rated at 4,200mAh, and will support 22.5W fast charging over USB Type-C. Other features of the Honor X10 include Bluetooth 5.1 and BLE. It will run on Magic UI 3.1 built atop open-sourced Android, and will not support Google apps and service out-of-the-box.

Honor’s X series has usually been its most affordable series of smartphones around the world. However, this time, it seems like they will move up the price ladder with many premium features. It could also be one of the cheapest phones with folded optics for better zoom photography.

Pricing and availability details for China will be announced on May 20.

• How the Huawei AppGallery is being improved for India