In October last year, it was reported that Qualcomm was working on a gaming smartphone in partnership with Asus, with both companies said to be considering a joint purchase of components. However, it appears that the gaming-centric device might not be a phone, but a Nintendo Switch-like gaming console that runs Android 12 with a custom launcher on top and access to the full suite of Google’s apps and services that you get on your bread-and-butter Android phone.
Full-HD+ display, TV-out support, detachable controllers, and 5G-ready
As per a report by Android Police that cites sources familiar with the matter, the Qualcomm device will have detachable controllers a la the Joycons on Nintendo’s handheld console. And just like the Nintendo Switch, Qualcomm’s Android-powered console will let you connect it with a TV and play games on a larger screen. As per XDA-Developers Editor-in-chief Mishaal Rahman, the device will feature a 6.5-inch FHD+ display and will support a fan as well. Oddly, it won’t let you make calls, or do your regular telephony stuff.
I heard it’ll have a 6.65″ Full HD+ display, a 6000mAh battery, and support a fan. It apparently doesn’t even have a rear camera.
The gaming-centric gadget will reportedly be fitted with a 6,000mAh battery that supports the proprietary Quickcharge fast charging technology. By opting for a larger handheld console form factor, Qualcomm is getting rid of the cramped space issue in today’s thin and light phones which prove to be an issue when it comes to managing heat. The upcoming console will reportedly exploit the extra space it gets to make the SoC powering it run faster and more efficiently by evading the thermal throttling issue.
6,000mAh battery with fast charging support, but no camera or calling facility
Notably, Qualcomm’s handheld console is said to be missing out on cameras. The chipmaker is reportedly eyeing a Q1 2022 release for its gaming-centric device. 5G will be a part of the package as well, but Qualcomm will reportedly fit the older X55 5G modem inside the device, and not the more recent X60 modem. Coming to the pricing part, the company is said to be targeting an asking price of around $300, but there is no clarity if that includes the detachable controllers as well.
Qualcomm might use its upcoming handheld console as a reference device to showcase the potential of a new form factor. And now that platforms like Stadia, Microsoft’s xCloud, Amazon’s Luna, and NVIDIA GeForce Now have brought console games to mobile devices – and 5G is there to provide the necessary bandwidth – Qualcomm might be looking to make a statement here that a new class of Android-powered gaming devices should become mainstream. At this point, it is hard to comment on what lies ahead, and it is also plausible that the project might eventually end up in the trash can.
Get a new 13-inch MacBook Pro and the Sony Xperia 1 II on sale right now
Mario Day comes with savings on the Nintendo Switch and tons of games
Alright, I don’t mean to surprise you, but we’re gonna start today off with deals. You know you love them. Let’s start it off with Apple’s M1 MacBook Pro which I love and is currently 100 dollars off on Amazon, starting at 1199 and it has the same discount if you go for more storage. If you go for the 16-inch Intel model, for some whatever reason, that one is 200 dollars off if you go for 16GBs of RAM and 512GB of storage, leaving it at 2199. The Google Pixel 3a is 146 dollars off, leaving it at 333 dollars shipped. The Sony Xperia 1 Mark 2 which I know a lot of you love is 101 dollars off, leaving it at 1098, still pretty expensive. Finally, Samsung’s eternal trade-in deals are still available, meaning if you want to grab the Galaxy S21 Ultra, it is still available for 499 with 100 dollars in instant credit if you have an eligible device. We have a ton of deals on gaming monitors, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox games in the links in the description.
Apple lowering iPhone 12 Mini production due to ‘far lower’ demand than expected
Let’s switch to reports and rumors before we take it back to the hottest news and, this time it’s about iPhones. Earlier this year we had a report from DigiTimes claiming that Apple would scale back iPhone 13 mini production due to low demand. Well, according to a new Nikkei Asia report, iPhone 12 mini sales have been far lower than Apple initially expected prompting the company to cut down orders for the mini from their original plan for the first half of the year.. Pretty much confirmation to what we heard earlier. The report mentions that some suppliers were even asked to stop building components that were specifically for the mini. Apparently Cupertino will cut planned production by more than 70% at least for the time being. That being said, Apple reportedly plans to cut production of all models by 20% so, the mini is taking a 50% cutback which is still huge. Many analysts claim that the low sales are because the iPhone 11 and 12 have similar prices and offer larger displays and batteries for a almost the same price. Let’s see what ends up happening with the 2021 line up if the mini doesn’t pick up over the rest of the year.
ASUS ROG Phone 5 Ultimate has more RAM than my gaming PC
But alright, let’s get back to official news as, we just got the ROG Phone 5 Series and well it sounds great, but I’m not sure about the looks. well it sounds Michael Fisher showed me his Ultimate unit yesterday and while he loves it, struggling with not assuming it’s a white phone with a broken back. The company took to the virtual stage to introduce 3 new gaming smartphones, the ROG Phone 5, 5 Pro and the 5 Ultimate. Of course we’ll be focusing on the Ultimate here which brings a 6.78-inch AMOLED Display running at 144 Hz with 300 Hz touch sampling. It is powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC, along with 18 gigs RAM, I know… 18 GIGS OF RAM, half a terabyte of non expandable storage that allows support for external hard drives through NTFS, and a massive 6000 mAh battery. I mean those numbers almost sound illegal in certain countries.. Meaning damn Asus is NOT playing around. When it comes to the cameras, you get a 64 megapixel main sensor from Sony, a 13 megapixel ultra wide and ugh, I don’t even know why they bother with the 5 megapixel Macro. The phone still comes with the Air Triggers at the top with the higher-end models bringing other extra buttons as well and you can still buy the gaming pad separately. The base model for the ROG Phone 5 starts at 800 Euros, the Rog Phone 5 Pro goes for 1200 Euros, while the Ultimate will cost you 1300 Euros. If you’re interested in availability and other details, make sure you check out the links in the description.
Apple AirPods 3 alleged first look is here
Apple AirPods 3 appear in alleged real-life images. Take a look!
Let’s move the spotlight back on to Apple but, not for the products you would expect, let’s talk AirPods. We’ve been waiting on the third generation AirPods for quite some time and rumors hint that we could get them at Apple’s upcoming March Event. Now we have a new report from Gizmochina that shows some renders of the AirPods 3 which were apparently based on images from suppliers. From the renders you can notice the shorter stem and the vents at the top, showing a ton of resemblance to the current AirPods Pro, but without the silicone tips. The case is also shrinking down a bit and getting wider. We also have some IRL images of these headphones from a tipster on Twitter that, doesn’t have the greatest track record, but these look like the real deal. So yeah, these are pretty much turning into AirPods Pro when it comes to design but lacking the actual Pro features like Active Noise Cancelling. Again, we’re expecting these at the March Event which is reportedly 13 days away so, we’ll keep you posted if we get more leaks.
Story of the day:
OnePlus confirms a 50MP ultra-wide camera for its upcoming flagship
Pete Lau teases OnePlus 9 Pro’s UW camera capabilities
And finally, for the hottest news today let’s talk OnePlus as, they have managed to take up a great amount of the spotlight today, which makes sense as we get close to the OnePlus 9 Event. Pete Lau has been on a sort of Ming Chi Kuo type of run these past couple of days, with the exception that what he says aren’t predictions. First he revealed that we will be getting a charger, and now he confirmed that we will be getting a 50 megapixel ultra wide camera for the 9 Pro with a Sony IMX766 Sensor. He also showed some sample images where, apparently they took 2 ultra wide images and you can definitely see that there is way less distortion on the 9 Pro, but of course, we’ll have to test that to see how accurate it is. Now, speaking of that camera, MKBHD posted a picture of the new “Pro” UI that reportedly comes thanks to the Hasselblad partnership that the company has been teasing. From this picture we can see how the Pro mode let’s you control Shutter Speed, ISO, Focus and more. So, we’re currently expecting three phones from OnePlus, the 9R, the 9 and the 9 Pro. The 9 Pro will reportedly pack a 6.78-inch display, running at 120Hz, Snapdragon 888 5G, 8 or 12 gigs of RAM and your typical amount of storage. From all these teasers and leaks they’re focusing a lot on the camera, where we should expect a 48 megapixel main sensor, that 50 megapixel ultra wide, and then two other cameras that are still pending to be leaked.
We have great news for all of those gamers out there. We keep on getting great deals from Amazon.com, but we will focus exclusively on gaming deals this time. First, the Nintendo Switch gaming console with 32GB of internal storage is currently getting a $30.99 discount, meaning that you can get yours for $409. Now, this may seem more than what you would usually find it at other stores, but that’s because this console comes bundled with a pair of earphones, an LCD film to protect your display, a card case, a silicon case x 2pcs, a carry bag, a wiping cloth and more. You can even get the latest Nintendo Switch Mario Red and Blue Edition Console for $420 with the same accessories and $30 savings.
However, if you already have a Nintendo Switch, you can also consider getting a new PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock to charge your controllers. You can get one for $19.88 after a $5.11 discount. A better alternative would be getting a PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch that currently sells for $40.24 with $9.75 savings. There are tons of options to choose from, and prices will also vary; some even start at $20.
Now, gaming consoles and accessories aren’t the only products on sale. You can also find s huge variety of games. We will start with the game deals for the Nintendo Switch, as we find the Super Mario Party selling the $39 with $21.11 savings, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe going for $40 after a $20 discount, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity for $49.94, down from its regular $60 price tag. There are more awesome titles like Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team Dx with up to $15 off.
For those PlayStation and Xbox gamers, we have also spotted savings on the latest Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which is now available for $28 in its Standard Edition with $32 savings. Marvel’s Avengers is getting a $30 discount, which leaves it available for $30; yes, that’s 50 percent off. And finally, the Standard Edition of Just Dance 2021 is getting a $20.17 discount, so you can grab a copy for $29.82. There are many more games on sale for your PlayStation and your Xbox, so take your time and choose wisely.
The Switch consoles have proved to be a smash hit for Nintendo, selling almost 80 million units since its debut and bringing a monster quarter in the 2020 holiday season. Now, the company is looking to further milk the Switch cash cow by launching a newer model packing a bigger display. As per a Bloomberg report, Nintendo is sourcing OLED panels from Samsung and plans to launch a new Switch console later this year. Production of the larger 7-inch HD display will reportedly begin as early as June, with the likelihood of an official debut in the 2021 holiday season.
“Samsung Display Co. will start mass production of 7-inch, 720p-resolution OLED panels as early as June with an initial monthly target of just under a million units, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. The displays are slated for shipment to assemblers around July, the people said.”
The current Nintendo Switch model comes equipped with a 6.2-inch LCD display with HD resolution, while the Nintendo Switch Lite has a smaller 5.5-inch display with the same resolution. We’ve been hearing rumors about an upgraded Switch model for a while now, but the company has refuted those claims in the past, stressing that it is currently focusing on diversifying the library of games for two existing Switch models.
OLED panels ensure better color reproduction and are more energy efficient as well
An upgrade to an OLED display promises better colors with deeper blacks and improved contrast. Moreover, OLED panels are less taxing on the battery, which means more playtime per charge. However, Nintendo has gone with rigid OLED screens which are cheaper but more fragile compared to flexible OLED panels that you’ll find on many high-end smartphones out there. A previous rumor that emerged last year claimed that the next Switch console could use Samsung and AMD components.
It is unclear if Nintendo will use a high refresh rate OLED panel on its upcoming Switch console. However, the report cites sources who claim that the new Nintendo console will support 4K gameplay when connected to a TV. Additionally, it is unclear if Nintendo will also jazz up the internals of its upcoming Switch model. In case the housing remains the same, we might see a larger 7-inch OLED display with slimmer bezels compared to the existing model flaunting a 6.2-inch display.
We’re just about to say goodbye to 2020, but that doesn’t mean deals will stop coming. Right now, you can get your hands on a new 10.9-inch iPad Air with 64GB storage and WiFi-only connectivity for $570 after a $29 discount in Sky Blue or Space Gray. However, you can save $10 more if you go for the Green or the Rose Gold color option, which are currently selling for $559.
You can also get a new 10.2-inch iPad, as they’re still getting a $30 discount on its 32GB storage option with WiFi connectivity only, which leaves them at $299 in Space Gray, or get the Silver color option for $1 more.
We now move to gaming territory, as the HyperX Cloud II gaming headset is currently selling for $70 with almost $21 savings. The HyperX Cloud Stinger S is available for $50 after a $10 discount. If you want a headset to use with your Xbox, you can go for the HyperX CloudX, which is an official Xbox licensed gaming headset, and you can get it for just $60, after a $20 discount. Play Station users are also covered, as the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core is up for grabs at just $30 with $10 savings.
The HyperX Alloy Origins Core gaming keyboard is also on sale, and you can get yours for $70 with $20 savings. We also see that the HyperX Pulsefire Raid is getting a $15 discount, which leaves it at just under $45 or get the HyperX Pulsefire Core for $24 with $5 savings.
Now, moving on to gaming controllers, you can get The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild plus a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for $109 with $21 savings. The controller alone is usually selling for $70, but it is also getting a $10 discount, which leaves it at $60. However, you can get a new PowerA Enhanced wireless controller for the Nintendo Switch for $50, and there are tons of color options to choose from.
Other deals incline the Moto 360 gen-3 for $180 with $120 savings at B&H. The Amazon Echo Dot gen3- is also on sale, and you can get one for $25 with $15 savings. And if you’re looking for extra storage space, you can get the G-Technology 10TB G-DRIVE USB-C desktop external hard drive for just under $300 with a $100 discount.
We start today’s deals with the new MacBook Air with Apple’s latest M1 Chip. It is currently available for $1,200 in its 512GB SSD version with 8GB RAM, which translates to $50 savings in one of today’s most powerful laptops available in the market. Now, if you don’t want a laptop, the latest Mac mini is also on sale. You can get yours for $670 after its first $29 price cut, and you will get 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM.
If you’re looking for a new tablet, the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 1TB storage and cellular connectivity can be yours for $1,499 after a $150 discount, or get the latest Apple iPad Air with 64GB for $559 in its WiFi-only version, which will save you $40.
We have also been getting quite a nice amount of deals on Smart TVs and monitors, and today won’t be different. We find last year’s Hisense 65-inch 4K Ultra HD Android Smart ULED TV selling for $800 with $200 savings. LG is also offering the 27-inch QHD IPS Display for $227 with $53 savings.
Other deals include the Bose Sport Earbuds for $159 after a $20 discount. These wireless earphones are available in three color options, and they will give you up to 5 hours per charge with the included charging case. The Logitech Craft Advanced wireless keyboard is also available, and it is getting a $31 discount, leaving it at $169. PowerA’s enhanced wired controller for Nintendo Switch with a vintage Mario theme is getting a $12.50 discount, leaving it at $12.50, meaning 50 percent off. Finally, Kingston is offering its 500GB Nvme internal SSD for $35 with $10 savings.
Apex Legends is one the biggest battle royale games right now, and also a breakout hit from Respawn with a huge player base. But there is more good news coming the way of Apex Legends players. During the EA Play Live event, it was announced that the game is coming to Steam.
Yes, Apex Legends is finally coming to Steam, the world’s biggest store for PC games. But that’s not all. Respawn dropped another major news by announcing that Apex Legends is arriving on a new platform – Nintendo Switch. Apex Legends will come to Nintendo’s handheld console and Steam in the fall season.
And just in case you were wondering, cross-play support will be available across all platforms. So yeah, you can play Apex Legends with friends on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Also, the Lost Treasures Collection Event kicks off on June 23. Get ready to plunder some ancient treasure!
Amazon and B&H Memorial Day deals are available today
Deals. If you’re still looking for Memorial Day deals, we got you. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is still $200 off for the Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage variant, leaving it at $2200. The Surface Pro 7 is also $200, leaving it at $999 for the Intel Core i5 variant. The Samsung Galaxy A51 is $106 off, leaving it at $294. We have more deals on AirPods, iPads, more Samsung phones and more in the links in the description.
Sony Xperia 1 II finally comes to the US, pre-orders start on June 1 at an exorbitant $1,200
Sony announced their Xperia 1 II about three months ago and it’s finally making its way to the US. Sony has set pre-orders for this phone on June 1st with shipments beginning until July 24. It packs a 6.5in 4K OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, the Snapdragon 865, a 4000 mAh and three 12MP cameras. The only thing is that the phone will cost you $1199 for the unlocked variant. However, Sony is giving away the WF-1000MX3’s to sweeten the deal for you. You can check for more info in the links in our description.
“OnePlus Buds” could be the name of OnePlus’ TWS earphones
We’ve been hearing that OnePlus is working on some Truly Wireless Earbuds for a while now which have been tipped for a July launch. Now, the same source just shared a new sketch of the buds, which still looks like a combination of the regular AirPods with the Pixel Buds case. They’re reportedly going to be called the OnePlus Buds and they’re expected to have support for touch controls, the Google Assistant, and fast-pairing with OnePlus phones. We don’t have any more details but we’ll see them soon enough.
Apple might offer health monitoring capabilities on AirPods in the next few years
Speaking of earbuds, it looks like Apple wants to bring some health improvements to the AirPods in the next few years. According to two new DigiTimes reports, Apple has roped in ASE Technology to supply components to add ambient light sensors for health monitoring duties. These light sensors would pass light through your skin to check blood movement in the vessels to detect your heart rate and any other data. However, this would require a redesign for the AirPods and it will most likely come in the next 1-2 years.
Motorola RAZR successor’s specs allegedly leaked, arriving in September
Last week Lenovo’s South African GM leaked that Motorola is working on a second generation Moto RAZR and now, leaks naturally follow. We have some new leaked specs from XDA that include a Snapdragon 765G SoC which is certainly an upgrade from the 710 we got with the original RAZR. It also packs 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’ll bring a 2845 mAh battery as well as a 48MP main camera and a 20MP selfie shooter. It’s also expected to bring 5G, but only on sub 6GHz networks. This phone should come in September according to the leaks the GM shared.
Story of the day:
Galaxy Note 20+ leaked renders show a familiar design and ginormous camera bump
We have some new renders for the Galaxy Note 20 and they actually come from OnLeaks this time. They’re slightly different than the ones we got last week but retain some of the same elements. According to the leaks, this phone will bring a 6.9in AMOLED display with the centered punch hole. Now, at the back we have a huge camera hump that might even be bigger than the Galaxy S20 Ultra. We have three lenses that kind of remind us of the iPhone 11 line up because of the rings for each camera, as well as a ToF sensor. We’re also able to see the periscope zoom lens but it’s not clear if this one will have 100x capabilities like the S20 Ultra did. This leaks also retain the changes like moving the buttons to the right and the S Pen to the left of the phone.
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Today’s Memorial Day deals come from B&H and Amazon. We start with Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro that’s $200 off. This Late 2019 model comes in Space Gray, and it can be yours for $2,199. It comes with a 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB in storage.
Next up is the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, which also gets a $200 discount. You can get one for $999, and you get a 12.3-inch touch screen, an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB in storage space.
Want to pay even less for a laptop? The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is selling for $699 after a $200 discount. You get a 1GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB in storage.
Apple’s 10.5-inch iPad Air is getting a $50 discount. You can get one in Space Gray for just $579, and you get this version with 64GB in storage and Wi-Fi + cellular connectivity.
The Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera kit is available for $449 after a $100 discount. You get an 18-55mm and a 75-300mm lens, a 16GB Sandisk Extreme SD card, and PaintShop Pro 2020 Ultimate to edit your shots.
If you’re looking for a new smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy A51 is also on sale. This factory-locked device with 128GB storage can be yours for $293.55 after a $106 discount. The A50 is $50 off, leaving it at $300, and the A10e is $150 after a $30 discount.
The AirPods Pro are $19.05 off, but you can save an extra $1.96 at checkout. You can get one for $229.95 or less since you can also get a $10 discount when you pay with Amazon’s Store Card.
PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch is available with a wide variety of discounts. You can save up to $14, depending on the model you choose.
