A leak from Dutch publication GalaxyClub suggests that Samsung might swap the 12MP 2x optical zoom camera from the Galaxy Z Fold 3 with the 10MP 3x telephoto camera from the Samsung Galaxy S22.
That might not sound like the biggest upgrade, but 2x optical zoom is disappointingly limited, while 3x can make a real difference. It's a slight drop in megapixels, but it should still be a significant improvement overall.
The site also claims that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 will have a 10MP selfie camera, adding that it will probably be the cover camera that gets this megapixel count, rather than the snapper on the main display, though the site doesn't sound certain.
If it is the cover camera then that's the same number of megapixels as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has, so not an upgrade, at least in terms of resolution.
The main display on the current model houses just a 4MP camera (albeit an under-display one), so an upgrade to 10MP there likely would be an improvement, but it sounds like that's probably not happening.
That said, this leak doesn't include any information on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4's other snappers, so it's entirely possible that we'll see more upgrades too. Indeed, we've previously heard that the under-display camera might be improved.
There's also a fair chance that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will have the same 50MP main and 12MP ultra-wide cameras as the Galaxy S22, but that's just speculation for now. Of course, even the details included in this latest leak are unconfirmed for now, so take it all with a pinch of salt.
Analysis: finally offering cameras fit for a flagship
Despite being a monstrously expensive phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a middling camera setup, and disappointingly it also has the same rear cameras as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.
This made the cameras one of the most underwhelming parts of the phone - and a poorly performing under-display camera certainly couldn't save them. So it's an area that desperately needs work for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and it sounds like we will indeed see improvements.
That said, 3x optical zoom is still some way short of Samsung's 10x toting Galaxy S22 Ultra, and we haven't heard much about the other cameras yet, so this might still not be as much of an upgrade as we'd like to see. We'll probably find out in August or September, as that's when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is likely to land.
The Google Pixel 6a has been leaking for a while, but now we have a clearer indication of how much power this upcoming phone might have, as it's been spotted on a benchmarking site.
MySmartPrice has spotted the phone on Geekbench, and its presence there not only gives us a sneak peek into the phone’s specs but tells us that the Pixel 6a might launch soon.
The Geekbench 5 listing suggests that the affordable Pixel 6a will indeed come with Google’s Tensor chipset – the same chipset that powers the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. It's shown here as being clocked at the same speeds too, and paired with the Mali-G78 GPU, just like the rest of the range.
(Image credit: Geekbench)
Where the Google Pixel 6a looks to differ is in its RAM, which is listed here as being 6GB, while the Pixel 6 comes with 8GB and the Pixel 6 Pro has 12GB. That said, we've previously heard rumors of an 8GB Pixel 6a model too.
The benchmark listing also mentions Android 12 unsurprisingly, and reveals that the phone has scored 1,050 points in the single-core test and 2,833 in the multi-core test.
For reference, in our reviews we achieved a score of 2,837 from the Pixel 6 and 2,895 from the Pixel 6 Pro in multi-core tests, so the Pixel 6a could be similarly powerful.
Going by previous reports, both the Google Pixel 6a and the Pixel Watch were slated to launch in May, however, a recent report suggests that Google might postpone the Pixel 6a announcement to July. This is reportedly being done because of the ongoing global chipset shortage.
Analysis: worth the wait for a wider rollout
The Pixel 6a wouldn't be the first Google phone affected by the global chipset shortage, as the Pixel 5a only landed in the US and Japan, presumably at least in part due to a shortage of components.
Yet with its mid-range price and competent specs, plus the promise of numerous and speedy Android updates, the Pixel 5a was a phone with global appeal, and we expect the Pixel 6a will be as well.
So with any luck Google will be able to launch the Pixel 6a in more regions, and if it takes a delay to achieve that then so be it.
We're not expecting to get an official look at the Google Pixel 7 or the Pixel 7 Pro until around October, but we're already getting an unofficial look at both phones.
Reputable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, known on Twitter as OnLeaks, has shared high-definition renders of the Pixel 7 via Carhp, and of the Pixel 7 Pro via Smartprix.
These renders suggest that the Google Pixel 7 range might not look much different to the Google Pixel 6 range, though there are some tweaks.
First off, the dual-tone look that we saw in the Pixel 6 range is still present. The horizontal camera island that runs through the width of the device will seemingly also be retained, but Google seems to have given it the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra treatment by merging it with the phone’s frame, giving it a cleaner look.
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An unofficial render of the Google Pixel 7 Pro (Image credit: OnLeaks / Smartprix)
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An unofficial render of the Google Pixel 7 Pro (Image credit: OnLeaks / Smartprix)
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An unofficial render of the Google Pixel 7 (Image credit: @OnLeaks / Carhp)
In the case of the Pixel 7 Pro, Google seems to have retained the slight curve on the display that we saw on the Pixel 6 Pro, assuming these images are right.
The camera island might house a triple-lens module with a primary wide-angle camera, a periscope telephoto camera, and probably an ultra-wide camera.
In terms of dimensions, the Google Pixel 7 Pro might measure 163 x 76.6 x 8.7mm (rising to 11.2mm at the camera bump), and the display on the phone is reportedly around 6.7 or 6.8-inches.
As for the standard Google Pixel 7, that apparently has dimensions of 155.6 x 73.1 x 8.7mm, rising to 11.44mm at the camera bump. The screen is supposedly between 6.2 and 6.4 inches, and the phone will unsurprisingly apparently use the next version of Google's Tensor chipset.
Other specs listed in this leak include a dual-lens 50MP rear camera, an 8MP front-facing camera, up to 512GB of storage, a battery of around 5,000mAh, and a choice of black, coral, blue or white colors.
However, we'd take all of this with a pinch of salt. While the source has a great track record, this is very early for Pixel 7 leaks, so a lot could change before October.
Analysis: time to fix the software
Given how distinctive the design of the Pixel 6 range is, it's believable that Google would retain this look for the Pixel 7, but where we hope to see changes is on the software side, as the Pixel 6 range has faced numerous bugs and other software issues.
With new issues cropping up regularly, it's hard to feel overly positive about Google's latest flagships, despite the hardware impressing. So hopefully the Pixel 7 range doesn't face the same fate.
Also on the software side, Google could really do with offering more long-term support, as while the Pixel 6 does reasonably well there, the Samsung Galaxy S22 range has it beat, despite Google making Android.
The OnePlus 10 Pro isn't even out in most parts of the world yet, but a new version of it has now been unveiled in China, dubbed the OnePlus 10 Pro Extreme Edition.
Don't get too excited though, because being extreme apparently just means coming in a new color and with more storage. This version of the phone comes in Panda White, and means that the OnePlus 10 Pro now retails in three different color options – black, green and white.
This white model has a ceramic finish and will sell in a single storage and memory combination, with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That latter spec is notable, as until now the phone has only come with up to 256GB of storage.
But apart from the new color and extra storage, the OnePlus 10 Pro Extreme Edition doesn’t bring anything new to the table. The phone still comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED QHD+ 120Hz display, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, and a 5,000mAh battery with 80W charging, just like the standard OnePlus 10 Pro.
The phone also still carries a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra-inspired camera module that houses a triple-lens camera setup.
The new variant will start retailing from March 1 onwards in China and is priced at CNY 5799 (around $915 / £670 / AU$1,270). For reference, the top model prior to this (which gives you half as much storage) costs CNY 5299 (roughly $835 / £615 / AU$1,160). So unsurprisingly the Extreme Edition is slightly more expensive.
A OnePlus 10 Pro (Image credit: OnePlus)
Analysis: the OnePlus 10 Pro's global launch
While the OnePlus 10 Pro has only been announced for China so far, we're expecting it will get a global launch soon, with leaks pointing to March or April.
We'd expect the phone will go on sale in the US, UK, India, and other locations, but probably not Australia, as OnePlus doesn't currently sell its phones there. It's likely to also land alongside the standard OnePlus 10, which so far hasn't even been announced for China.
What we're not sure of is whether this new OnePlus 10 Pro Extreme Edition will get a global launch or not, but hopefully we'll find out soon.
Founder of tech brand Nothing, Carl Pei, knows how to create a buzz around the products that he builds. To a certain extent, the success of OnePlus can be attributed to its ex-cofounder who started Nothing after parting ways with the Chinese smartphone maker.
His latest Twitter post can be seen as a teaser of an upcoming Android phone from Nothing.
The tweet only reads “Back on Android”, and you could easily read that as him switching to Android after using an iPhone. However, it’s the subsequent replies from the Android account and Qualcomm hint that Nothing might be up to something.
While the fact that Nothing is working on a smartphone is heavily rumored, this is the first time that Carl Pei has given any hint towards its existence. As of now, Nothing has got only one product in its portfolio - the Nothing Ear (1) headphones.
The brand's India CEO, Manu Sharma, hinted that the company is working on five new products. The recent appointment of Dyson's Adam Bates as head of its upcoming design hub could serve as a possible hint around the new products being developed by the company.
In October 2021, we first heard a rumor that the company would be making an Android phone and a power bank to go alongside it.
As per those initial reports, the phone was expected to launch early in 2022. This Android-powered phone is expected to sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC at its core, but we're not clear on what model it'll be.
This recent tweet corroborates this theory. Not to forget, Nothing and Qualcomm had announced a strategic partnership in 2021 which means that the company will be using Snapdragon SoCs for its products.
In February 2021 Nothing acquired Essential, the now-defunct smartphone company, and Carl Pei clarified that Nothing will continue to focus on audio accessories and smart home products.
However, the company might have also acquired the patents, trademarks and more pertaining to the smartphone lineup of Essential. That may all be used in this upcoming phone.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is the next affordable OnePlus phone that we're expecting to see, as OnePlus has confirmed that this successor to the OnePlus Nord CE is on the way and landing on February 17.
We have a good idea of what to expect from it too, with OnePlus having shared a few details and even official renders, while leaked specs have filled in many of the gaps, and you'll find all of that below.
OnePlus has promised to share more ahead of the announcement date too, and as soon as we hear more we'll update this article, so check back soon if you want to stay in the loop.
How much will it cost? Possibly around£275 / $375 / AU$520
OnePlus Nord CE 2 release date and price
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G will be unveiled on February 17, as OnePlus has confirmed as much. The launch event kicks off at 8:30am ET / 5:30am PT / 1:30pm GMT, or 12:30am AEDT on February 18.
However, while it's reportedly landing in the UK and India, it probably won't hit the US according to current reports, but that's no surprise as the original OnePlus Nord CE didn't either. Australia isn't on the cards either, as OnePlus doesn't have a presence there.
As for price, the only leak there points to it ranging between Rs 24,000 and Rs 28,000 in India. That converts to between £235 / $320 / AU$445 and £275 / $375 / AU$520. However, even if this leak is accurate conversions won't be, and again we're not expecting to actually see the Nord CE 2 in the US or Australia.
For reference, the original OnePlus Nord CE started at £299 / Rs 24,999 (around $420, AU$550), so we might see a similar price again.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 design and display
OnePlus itself has shown the back of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G in images shared exclusively with TechRadar. The phone is shown in a Bahama Blue shade, though the company has confirmed that there will also be a Gray Mirror option.
You can see these images below, complete with a camera module that has rounded corners and curves seamlessly out from the back, similar to the Oppo Find X3 Pro.
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(Image credit: OnePlus)
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(Image credit: OnePlus)
Prior to that, OnePlus shared a partial image of the Nord CE 2 5G, which you can see below, though this mostly just shows us the camera block.
(Image credit: OnePlus)
But thanks to leaks and rumors, we have a fair bit of information about the OnePlus Nord CE 2. The phone - which is apparently codenamed 'Ivan' - will possibly have a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate.
Elsewhere we've heard from another source that it will have a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen, and that it will look like the phone shown in the render below - which from the back matches the official renders that we've now seen above.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G "Bahamas Blue" color option spotted on official website#OnePlus #OnePlusNordCE2 https://t.co/FG0lnZd0BE pic.twitter.com/9pJveVUtqjFebruary 10, 2022
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We've also seen other unofficial renders showing the possible design, which you can see one of below. These include a flat display with slim bezels, a punch-hole camera in the top left corner, and a triple-lens camera on the back.
That said, the camera block here is now known to be slightly wrong, so we'd take the rest of this with a pinch of salt too.
There's no visible fingerprint scanner, suggesting it's probably built into the screen. There's also no alert slider here, and the source additionally claims that the back is glass while the frame is plastic.
(Image credit: Yogesh Brar / 91Mobiles)
OnePlus Nord CE 2 specs and features
OnePlus itself has revealed that the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G has 65W wired charging, a 3.5mm headphone port, 5G support, and a microSD card slot, with support for cards of up to 1TB. Since then, the company has revealed a few more details, saying that the battery is 4,500mAh and the phone has a MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset.
Beyond that we're in leak territory, and leaker Yogesh Brar has shared various possible OnePlus Nord CE 2 specs, including that it apparently has a MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset, between 6GB and 12GB of RAM, a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage, stereo speakers, and that it will run OxygenOS 12 overlaid on top of Android 12.
The camera meanwhile apparently includes a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide snapper, and a 2MP macro one, while around the front there's said to be a 16MP camera.
Finally, they claim things that have since been confirmed, namely that the OnePlus Nord CE 2 has a 4,500mAh battery with 65W charging.
More recently we've heard similar but slightly different specs from leaker Ishan Agarwal, who points to a dual-lens 64MP+8MP rear camera, a 16MP selfie camera, and Android 11 with two software updates. This source also lists details that have since been confirmed, which bodes well for the accuracy of the rest of it.
The main disagreement here seems just to be whether there are two or three rear cameras. Official images of the phone clearly show three sensors, but one is tiny and might be a laser autofocus or something.
What we want to see
Below we've listed three things that we really want from the OnePlus Nord CE 2, to make it the best budget OnePlus possible.
1. A slick, bug-free user experience
With the Nord CE 2, we want the slick software experience that OnePlus devices from the past have been known for, but the company has struggled a bit with software updates recently.
As a result of bugs, it had to pause the rollout of OxygenOS 12 to its flagship devices, so we hope that the version of the software found on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is bug free, and that any software updates are too.
2. Better camera performance
The OnePlus Nord CE doesn't have great cameras (Image credit: Truls Steinung)
The first-gen Nord CE had quite a few issues including an average camera, and it didn’t even have IP certification to protect the phone from dust and water. However, these are among the top features that many users want in their phones.
Some phones in a similar price range have got excellent camera performance, and this is what we hope for from the Nord CE 2 as well.
3. An affordable price
Last but not the least, many affordable phones still have fairly high-end builds, but with the original Nord CE, OnePlus cut corners with the materials used.
We’d love to see an all-glass premium-looking OnePlus Nord CE 2 at an affordable price, and it could be the perfect device to remind users of the truly affordable flagships that OnePlus used to offer.
With the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro attracting plenty of plaudits, it seems likely that we will once again see a more affordable version of Google's flagship phone arrive at some point – and it could be showing up earlier than normal.
As per the usually reliable Max Jambor, the Google Pixel 6a is going to make its bow in May 2022. That's around the time of the annual Google IO 2022 event, though Google hasn't made this year's show official yet.
Only yesterday a separate source suggested that the long-awaited Google Pixel Watch would be getting unveiled on May 26, which makes us think that these two pieces of Google hardware could show up at the same time.
To recap, the Pixel 5a (which only launched in the US and Japan) arrived in August 2021, the Pixel 4a 5G showed up in September 2020, and the Pixel 4a was announced in August 2020.
This time, the 'a' phone looks likely to launch earlier – and it's worth noting that the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL made their debuts in May 2019. That leaves more breathing room from the main flagship launching later in the year of course.
A May launch might indicate Google recovering from the effects of the pandemic on its supply chains, though we'll have to wait and see how widely available the Pixel 6a actually is in terms of international markets once it shows up.
Analysis: the Pixel 6a shows promise
Several details about the Google Pixel 6a have already been leaked: based on what we've seen already, it seems that the Pixel 6a might look identical to the Pixel 6 that came before it – though obviously stripped down in terms of specs and features.
The phone is expected to retain the same two-toned colour scheme and a horizontal camera strip seen on the Pixel 6 line-up, although to cut down on costs the rear camera could be the same dual-lens setup that we saw with the Google Pixel 5a.
Other specs rumored so far include a 6.2-inch AMOLED panel (slightly smaller than the Pixel 6), 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. 5G should be on board, and the phone is likely to run on Google's own Tensor chipset.
As always, pricing will be crucial, and Google has always done well in making this 'a' series phones appealingly affordable. How much the Pixel 6a costs will go a long way in determining how popular it ends up being with buyers.
Amazon has announced its first sale of the year. The three-day-long event - Amazon Great Republic Day from January 17 and will end on January 20.
As always, the company is expected to offer loads of offers, discounts and benefits – including easy returns, free delivery on first order and pay on delivery and more during the sale period.
There are a lot of exciting offers that various brands have announced and products like smartphones, fitness trackers, headphones, TWS, laptops and more are available at a huge discount during this sale period.
Early access to the sale for Prime Members
It goes without saying that, Prime Members get some extra benefits. This includes early access to the sale – the Santa comes in early and the sale starts 24 hours early for Prime Members.
As a Prime Member, you also get free deliveries, access to Prime Video and Prime Music. If you’re not a prime member already, you can get the membership by clicking the banner below. You can even get a monthly membership for Rs. 179 per month while the yearly membership is pegged at Rs. 1,499.
During the sale, SBI credit card users can avail of a 10% instant discount across all the categories. The minimum cart value to avail of this offer should be Rs 5,000. And, the maximum discount will be capped for Rs 1,500.
Apart from the card offers there's also exchange offers, no-cost EMI discounts, and total damage control. Just like the previous sales, we also expect some products to get instant coupon offers as well.
The next iPhone SE is heavily rumored to be landing this year, and while previous reports have suggested it would sport a newer design than the iPhone SE 2020, a new leak suggests it may keep an older iPhone's look.
Previous leaks had said Apple would be adopting a design similar to an iPhone 11, but the same source has now clarified with new information that says it'll stick to the iPhone 8-like look.
*Update to this tweet!* The iPhone SE with a similar design to the XR/11 with a slightly smaller screen size, has been pushed back to an expected release of 2024. For 2022, Apple will instead release an iPhone SE with 5G, a spec bump, and the same design as the 2020 model.January 6, 2022
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This might disappoint many who expected a modern-looking compact iPhone. If that's you, there is a good part to this leak that suggests the iPhone SE 3 will have most of the bells and whistles of a modern phone.
The phone is expected to be the first of the iPhone SE series to come with 5G connectivity. To do so, Apple is reportedly planning to use the A15 Bionic chipset that powers the iPhone 13 lineup.
If this is true, it also means that Apple would be one of the only companies globally that have a lineup of all 5G-ready phones.
Other reports have suggested that the phone is already in the advanced stage of manufacturing and a launch in March is also on the cards. That would make sense as it's a similar time of year to when we saw the iPhone SE debut in 2020.
Take all of this information with a pinch of salt for now as we haven't heard a huge amount of detail around the iPhone SE 3, but it does sound like it'll be with us in the next couple of months so we should have more official details soon.
Analysis: This will look tired in 2022
The iPhone SE 2020 (Image credit: Apple)
Apple is always slow to upgrade its iPhone SE lineup. This latest leak is suggesting Apple will be using a similar design to a phone from 2018.
The report suggests the phone's design will still retain the physical Touch ID sensor instead of the Face ID that is used in most newer Apple phones, and the screen size is also expected to remain the same at 4.7-inches.
For some, keeping those key details with upgraded internals will be a reason to upgrade but it means you'll lose out on modern features such as Face ID and a slimmer design that's offered by the iPhone 11's body.
The tipster does say that the more modern-looking iPhone SE reminiscent of an iPhone XR or iPhone 11 will probably launch in 2024. Again, that's a long time to wait for a design we first saw debut in phones in 2019.
Apple’s iPhone SE is surprisingly still among the most sold iPhones, especially in the price-conscious developing markets. This is probably the reason that it is expected to get a successor soon.
While earlier reports suggested that this upcoming compact iPhone might carry a strikingly modern design somewhat similar to an iPhone 11, however, a new report reveals that this years’ iPhone SE (2022) might carry the same design that we saw in the last two iterations.
The next generation iPhone SE will feature a touch ID sensor that will be embedded into the power button similar to the newest iPad Air. The design of the phone will be similar to the iPhone 11 but with a smaller display size. #iPhoneSE3January 10, 2021
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Though this might disappoint many who expected a modern-looking compact iPhone, however, the good part of the leak is that this phone may have all the bells and whistles of a modern phone under the hood. The phone is expected to come with 5G connectivity.
To do so, Apple is reportedly planning to use the A15 Bionic chipset that powers the iPhone 13 lineup and this also means that Apple might be the only company globally with 100 percent 5G capable phones. Other reports suggest that the phone is already in the advanced stage of manufacturing and a launch in March is also on the cards.
Ageing like an old wine
While the iPhone SE is the only device that is slowest in terms of upgrades. The company also refreshes the lineup once in two years compared to the other phones and the latest leak also says that Apple wants to reuse the design from the 2017 phone.
It is also being said that the 2022 avatar may still retain the physical touch ID sensor instead of the FaceID that is used in most other Apple phones and the screen size is also expected to remain the same. The tipster also says that the slightly modern looking iPhone SE reminiscent of an iPhone XR or iPhone 11 will probably launch in 2024.
Despite this, the phone has been able to generate enough interest primarily because of the price point it sells at. A lot of first time Apple users from developing markets like India who want to experience an Apple phone but cannot afford a flagship iPhone opt for the iPhone SE. Further, it also helps people who prefer a compact phone and still use the phone primarily to make or receive calls.
The next big show in tech is CES 2022 in January, and a new leaked invite suggests that we'll see some upcoming devices from OnePlus at the big event.
The leaked invite says, “Lets catch up in Las Vegas on January 5. Save the Date”, but doesn’t talk about any of the new gadgets that the company wants to unveil. This is just a teaser for what to expect.
However, since it’s the day when CES 2022 starts, there is a small possibility that OnePlus might showcase its new OnePlus 10 range. We're not sure though, as we don't expect its next flagship series to debut worldwide until later in 2022.
Tech publications attending CES 2022 have yet to recieve this invite, and instead this is from leaker Max Jambor who has shared the invitation on Twitter. We would expect to officially hear about this event at some stage in the coming weeks.
CES 2022 officially starts on January 5 - the date on the OnePlus invite - and it'll then continue until January 8. We've yet to see many companies confirm for the big event, but it's thought that a lot of top tech manufacturers will be at the show.
Analysis: why we don't think it's the OnePlus 10
Why don't we think it'll be the OnePlus 10? The company has yet to announce a commercial smartphone at previous shows. OnePlus made its CES debut in 2020 - the show didn't go ahead in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic - where it showcased the OnePlus Concept One phone.
Since it was a concept phone showing off OnePlus’ prowess and was never made commercially available, we wouldn't technically call it a launch.
This time around, the company might end up showing yet another concept phone like a foldable or a phone with a rollable display. There's also a possibility that we may see the OnePlus Tablet that has been rumored multiple times in the past.
That said, since the brand decided not to launch the half-yearly update of its flagship range, we might well see OnePlus showcase the OnePlus 10 Pro as well. After all the news around the Oppo and OnePlus merger, this is a golden opportunity for the company to make its presence felt globally.
Previous reports revealed that the OnePlus 10 series could launch in China in January or February, followed by a global launch somewhere in March or April. That makes us think that it'll be something different at CES, rather than the company's next flagship phone.
The OnePlus 10 Pro is set to be one of the first few devices to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. It is expected to carry a new wrap-around design - inspired by the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It may house a triple camera setup with a 50MP ultrawide camera and an 8MP telephoto lens. It is also said to sport a 32MP selfie camera.
OnePlus has just unwrapped the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition and we have now come across the high-res renders of the smartphone next in line waiting for a launch.
We’re talking about the OnePlus Nord N20 5G – successor to the affordable OnePlus Nord N10 5G that was introduced in a handful of markets. One fairly accurate tipster OneLeaks has shared these renders to give us an idea of how the Nord N20 5G may look like.
The moment you look at the images, you can sense that this is a cross between two distinct designs – flat design of the OnePlus X and Apple’s boxy iPhone 12. Since OnePlus wanted to move up the pricing ladder to position itself as a premium phone brand, the OnePlus X lineup was cancelled after the first iteration, however, Apple has persisted with the boxy design in iPhone 13 lineup.
While the tipster has shared the key specifications of the phone, he hasn’t revealed the possible launch date, yet it seems likely that the phone might launch before the end of this year. It is unlikely that the phone will be launched in India.
OnePlus Nord N20 5G design and expected specs
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(Image credit: OnLeaks/91Mobiles)
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(Image credit: OnLeaks/91Mobiles)
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(Image credit: OnLeaks/91Mobiles)
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(Image credit: OnLeaks/91Mobiles)
As mentioned above, the Nord N20 5G might look different and refreshing when compared to the current crop of Android phones. But the design isn’t entirely new.
This affordable mid-range device is expected to come with a flat frame, chamfered edges and flat rear panel with just a couple of small protrusions for the camera. As of now, we’re not sure if the glossy back panel is made of glass or plastic. Even the display is expected to be flat completing the boxy look. The phone is expected to come with a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel with thinner bezels on the three sides but a noticeable chin at the bottom.
Powering the phone could be a Snapdragon 695 SoC which was recently introduced by Qualcomm. We can expect OnePlus to introduce the phone in multiple memory and storage variants. The renders suggest that the phone may have a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, a 2MP depth sensor and probably a 2MP monochrome sensor. A 16MP selfie snapper can be spotted housed under a punch-hole cutout on the front.
The Nord N20 5G is expected to come with an in-display fingerprint sensor while the renders also reveal the presence of a 3.5mm audio jack, USB Type-C, microphone and speaker grille at the bottom.
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has been in the news for the last few days. The company had stitched a partnership with Bandai Namco – the company behind the famous game Pac-Man to launch a variant of its affordable flagship.
The phone aptly called OnePlus Nord Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition has, after a lot of hype and anticipation, gone live today in India. The phone, according to the company, is a unique blend of simplistic design of OnePlus and signature Pac-Man elements – such as the game’s iconic Pac-Dots and Pac-Man himself.
The key specifications of the phone, rather disappointingly, remain unchanged and packs a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC at its core coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It is a OnePlus Nord 2 with a gamified user interface and a glow-in-the-dark skin at the back.
OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition price and availability
The retail price of the OnePlus Nord Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition was revealed a few days back and it was announced that the phone will only be available in a single storage variant of 12GB RAM coupled with 256GB of onboard storage.
The Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition can be bought for Rs. 37,999 in India starting tomorrow and will be exclusively available via OnePlus Experience Stores, OnePlus.in and Amazon’s India store.
Customers purchasing the phone will get 3 months subscription of Spotify premium and a OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man phone holder for free via the Red Cable Club (RCC) membership offered by OnePlus. In terms of launch offers, the company is offering a discount of Rs. 2000 upfront and Citibank customers stand a chance to avail an instant bank discount for Rs. 1000 and a discount of Rs. 1250 on 3 and 6month EMI options.
OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition features and specifications
In terms of specifications, the hardware of the phone remains unchanged. The phone still has a 6.43-inches Fluid AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone runs on Android 11 powered OxygenOS 11.3 and is available in a sole variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
The triple camera setup of the Nord 2 remains unchanged with the primary sensor being a 50-megapixel Sony IMX 76 sensor with OIS. The other two sensors in the camera setup are 8-megapixel and 2-megapixel snappers while on the front you have a 32-megapixel selfie camera.
The phone draws power from a 4500 mAh battery pack that comes with support for a 65W Warp Charge that can charge the phone’s battery from 0-100% in just under 30 minutes.
While the core of the phone remains unchanged, it’s the gamified UI and the glow in the dark back that differentiates the phone from the original Nord 2. OnePlus has re-designed the UI to match the spirit of Pac-Man and has embedded challenges within the UI which the users to solve to get access to hidden wallpapers. Last but not the least, the phone comes with Pac-Man 256 pre-installed on the phone.
Samsung’s FE or Fan Edition lineup – the affordable flagship lineup – has its very own fan-base. One that adores stripped-down versions of previous generation flagships available at lower prices. The upcoming device in this lineup is the Galaxy S21 FE and though highly anticipated, the phone has been delayed much already.
According to some reports, the Galaxy S21 FE is expected to launch early next year and if reports are to be believed, the phone may come with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2100 SoC.
Some reports claim that the phone may come with a couple of variants – one each with a Snapdragon chipset and an Exynos SoC at its core. There is not much to confirm that theory, however, the phone has been spotted on a benchmark site with an Exynos 2100 chipset under the hood.
The listing shows a Samsung phone bearing model number SM-G990E running on Android 12 with an Octa-core Exynos 2100 SoC coupled with 8GB of RAM. It also reveals its benchmark scores as 1104 for single-core and 3220 for multi-core.
To recall, the phone was initially reported as cancelled altogether due to the chipset crunch with Samsung wanting to ensure that the flagship lineups – including the foldable duo - have enough chipsets at their disposal. However, it was later reported that the phone might finally launch alongside the Foldable phones themselves.
Since that didn’t happen as well and the phone has been spotted at multiple places apart from the latest benchmark listing, it is most likely to launch early next year. Rumours suggest that the phone could debut early next year, just a few days ahead of the Galaxy S22 series launch.
That said, though the phone was due in August this year, even if it launches in January next year, it will offer a chance for users, who cannot afford to spend a fortune on the flagship phones, to get an experience of a top end device at a reasonable price.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 was considered an ill-fated smartphone. The device was recalled within days of a global launch as phones kept exploding. The South Korean company probed the matter and its lengthy findings revealed a culprit- overheating. Suddenly, we are witnessing a similar scenario with the OnePlus Nord 2, though it seems India-specific for now.
In recent times, at least three issues have been reported where the phone has exploded and in the recent case, it ended up causing second degree burns. On its part, OnePlus went on damage control and announced compensation to the owner of the said device.
However, the manner in which the company has responded to each of the three instances, has been far from consistent. In the first instance, OnePlus had stated that the damage was caused by external factors, which meant that they had little or nothing to do with it.
In the second instance, the company actually slapped a cease-and-desist notice on a lawyer suggesting that the claim made by him was harming their reputation and that the explosion was actually caused by external factors. OnePlus asked the lawyer to remove all information about the incident from social media and refrain from doing so in the future.
@OnePlus_IN Never expected this from you #OnePlusNord2Blast see what your product have done. Please be prepared for the consequences. Stop playing with peoples life. Because of you that boy is suffering contact asap. pic.twitter.com/5Wi9YCbnj8November 3, 2021
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However, in the third and most recent instance, reported via Twitter, the relative of the victim claimed that a two-month old OnePlus Nord 2, had exploded while it was in the trouser pocket of the owner who was riding a bike. This time, the company was quick to connect with the victim and agreed to refund the phone cost besides also bearing the medical expenses.
“We take such incidents seriously. Our team has already reached out to the user, and we are in the process of collecting the details to investigate this further," OnePlus India said in a statement. The device was also sent for further investigation.
Some unanswered questions
What raises some concern is that the device was quite new and never had issues on previous occasions related to overheating. Moreover, media reports quoted the family to suggest that the incident occurred during night time when the weather is relatively cooler.
With the company getting ready for the launch of its OnePlus Nord 2 Pac Man Edition, the social media is abuzz with skepticism though the company is assuring them that things are under control.
The company is investigating the cause of the similar and repeated incidents, it might also need to do a through scan at the back end to iron out the issues, if any, and ensure that a repeat of such incidents do not happen.
