It’s always interesting to see consumer data reports The latest one from Flurry Analytics focuses on the top ten smartphone models activated on Christmas Day 2020 in the United States, where iPhones were far superior to Android devices.
Christmas is a special celebration for many, and it’s also a great day for new smartphone activations. The latest report analyzed new activations during this event, and it shows that the iPhone 11 is the most popular device among consumers. Last year’s entry-level iPhone received five percent more love than its closest competitor.
This report measured device activations during the time period between December 18 and December 24, and it leaves the iPhone XR in second place, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max in the third spot. What’s more impressive is that nine of the ten devices featured in this report are iPhone models, leaving the tenth spot for the only Android device, which turned out to be the LG K30.
The latest iPhone 12 lineup took three spots, with the vanilla iPhone 12 following the 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 12 Pro taking the sixth spot, which leaves the 12 mini out of the top ten. Still, we see the iPhone 8 and the 8 Plus taking the ninth and eighth spot, respectively. Flurry believes that the success of older models is because American consumers were more price-sensitive this holiday season.
However, Flurry Analytics also notes a 23 percent year-on-year smartphone activation drop, which is mainly because of the hardships and limitations 2020, and the ongoing pandemic has brought upon us.
“As you can see, activations this year are down 23% year-over-year, likely due to the financial hardships caused by COVID-19. Another possibility is that because Americans were encouraged to stay home and limit family gatherings, smartphone gift giving could be more spread out across the days before and after Christmas.”
If there’s one rule that health experts and authorities have been trying to promote with utmost urgency, it’s that ‘gatherings are bad in a pandemic.’ But just like people who follow an anti-vaccine stance, there are also deniers who refuse to abide by the rules such as wearing masks and avoiding group meets. Not too surprisingly, a networking app was also built to promote secret parties in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. Named Vybe Together, the app has now been pulled from App Store for violating policies, and the TikTok account that was used to promote these underground parties has also been removed.
Get your rebel on. Get your party on
As per a BusinessInsider report, TikTok removed a video that showed people without masks partying indoors and had around 11,000 views. The TikTok account, whose activities were spotted by New York Times journalist Taylor Lorenz and later shared on Twitter, showed it promoting underground gatherings in New York City. As per the Vybe website, one had to first apply for attending such an underground party, and if they are approved by the host, the venue of the risky gathering would be shared two hours before the party started.
The motto of the Vybe platform? “Get your rebel on. Get your party on.” As for the Vybe Together app, it was reportedly listed on the App Store around four months ago, and was pulled down following an inquiry by BusinessInsider. However, Vybe Together CEO Alexandar Dimcevski has claimed the platform never hosted any large gathering and that the TikTok video in question was an “over-the-top marketing video.” Notably, Dimcevski appears to have taken down his LinkedIn profile, and the website has been pulled down too. You can view an archived version of the Vybe Together website here.
“Vybe’s can be anything from playing board games to bachata with your neighbors. A lot of people have been isolated and lonely and we wanted to enable them to meet. We are aware that large gatherings are not okay and we do not promote them. If we see events are popular we take them off,” a Vybe spokesperson was quoted as saying by BusinessInsider.
Notably, the platform itself acknowledged that large gatherings are a major health risk, which is why it only facilitates small gatherings. Irrespective of what the company says, bringing together a bunch of random strangers is a clear violation of health guidelines and a ticking COVID-19 infection bomb waiting to explode.
Amazon announced its foray into the world of podcasts in September this year, announcing a whole slate of content for its Amazon Music platform by roping in some big names. Less than three months after its debut in a segment dominated by heavyweights like Spotify and Apple, Amazon has today announced that it is acquiring Wondery, a podcast network that was launched in 2016 with backing from 20th Century Fox.
Wondery is now a part of Amazon Music
“When the deal closes, nothing will change for listeners, and they’ll continue to be able to access Wondery podcasts through a variety of providers. With Amazon Music, Wondery will be able to provide even more high-quality, innovative content and continue their mission of bringing a world of entertainment and knowledge to their audiences, wherever they listen,” Amazon said in its press release.
Now, Amazon has not revealed financial details of the deal, but as per a Wall Street Journal report that was published earlier this month, the e-commerce giant was in talks to acquire Wondery at a valuation of $300 million. Wondery – touted to be the last independent podcast maker with a healthy revenue stream and sizeable audience under its belt – launched a premium tier of its service earlier this year.
Wondery had a few award-winning shows under its belt
Wondery had a few hits under its belt such as true-crime podcast Dirty John launched in collaboration with the Los Angeles Times, iHeartRadio Podcast Award winner Dr. Death, Webby Award winner Business Wars, and the Lindsay Graham-hosted American History Teller among others. It now remains to be seen how Wondery fits into Amazon’s plans of emerging as the next podcast powerhouse, considering the fact Amazon-owned Audible also dabbles with its own exclusive shows.
With a deep-pocket giant like Amazon now behind the Wondery brand, advertising and reaching a global audience will most likely receive a bigger push. And with podcast wars heating up as Spotify and Apple continue to rope in new talent and properties, it would be interesting to see how Amazon’s arrival disrupts the industry in the foreseeable future.
The latest 13-inch MacBook Pro powered by Apple’s M1 chip is currently getting a $59 discount, which leaves it just under $1,240 in its 256GB storage version that also includes 8GB RAM. However, the savings are only available in the Space Gray color option.
Now, if you’d rather go for the Intel-powered Macs, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 512GB storage space can be yours for just $1,149 with a $350 discount. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is also on sale, and you can get one for $2,599 with 16GB RAM, 1TB storage, and an Intel Core i9 processor. Just remember that Apple’s latest M1 macs smoke their previous Intel-powered models.
If you’re more interested in a Windows laptop or a Chromebook, the Surface Pro 7 is getting a $299.98 discount when you get it bundled with a Pro Type Cover, which leaves it at $700. The Platinum Surface Pro 7 plus a Black Pro Type Cover bundle is selling for $800 with $230 savings over at the Microsoft Store. Now, the Lenovo Duet 10.1-inch tablet with 128GB storage space is getting a $50 discount, which leaves it at just $249.
If you’re in the market for a new iPad, you can get the new iPad Air with 64GB storage for $570 in its WiFi-only configuration with $29 savings. The 10.2-inch iPad is selling for $299 with 32GB storage, or get 128GB for $380 with a $49 discount in any color option.
Samsung Galaxy A71 (Image only for representation)
We recently posted a list of Samsung flagship deals, but if you’re looking to save even more money on a new 5G phone, without the need for trade-ins, the Samsung Galaxy A71 with 128GB storage space can be yours for $400 with $200 savings. The Google Pixel 4a 5G is getting a $40 discount, which leaves it at $459, and the Nokia 8.3 is also on sale. You can get it with 128GB storage for $380, and you save $320. However, this last deal will end today at 11:59 EST, so you may want to hurry.
OnePlus recently confirmed that the company is working on a smartwatch that will make its debut early next year. However, it appears that it is not the only wristwear that the company has in the pipeline. According to a report from AndroidCentral that cites internal sources, OnePlus plans to launch an affordable fitness band that will cost somewhere around $40 and might debut in the first quarter of 2021.
OnePlus Band will first arrive in India
The company’s upcoming fitness band will carry the OnePlus Band moniker. Key features of the OnePlus Band include an OLED display, multi-day battery life, and water resistance. However, details such as its design and innards are still shrouded in mystery. Notably, the OnePlus Band will first be launched in India, the largest market for the company and a testing ground for new class of products such as its TV portfolio.
OnePlus Band will reportedly arrive a few weeks before the OnePlus 9 series breaks cover. And if the rumored March debut of the OnePlus 9 trio is anything to go by, the OnePlus Band might hit the shelves at some point in February or even January. The report further adds that the OnePlus fitness band will be priced under ₹3,000 (~ $41) in India, and depending upon the market reception, OnePlus might decide to sell it in other regions as well.
OLED display and a water-resistant build are on the table
It appears that OnePlus wants a slice of the budget wearable segment that is currently dominated by Xiaomi in India, with Realme emerging as the next big player. While more details are still awaited, it appears that OnePlus is targeting two different price spectrums with its upcoming wearables – OnePlus Band for the price-conscious segment, while its smartwatch will set its sights on the premium segment.
For now, OnePlus’ H1 2021 schedule looks to be quite a busy one. Aside from a fitness band and its highly-anticipated (and long-awaited) smartwatch, the company is also shaking up its smartphone launch strategy too. As per previous leaks, OnePlus will launch three new smartphones in the OnePlus 9 family – the vanilla OnePlus 9, the OnePlus 9 Pro, and a more affordable Snapdragon 865-powered model called OnePlus 9 Lite.
2020 is almost gone, but Samsung trade-in deals are still coming. We are getting closer to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21, so it may be a great time to get its predecessor with great discounts. You can currently get the Samsung Galaxy S20+ starting at $500. This means $700 its original price tag. However, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra can be yours for just $100 more, as it starts at $600. The vanilla Galaxy S20 is already out of stock, but you can still get your hands on a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE for $415.
If you want stylus support, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series starts at $450, down from its original $1,000 price tag, or go Ultra for $750. Now, you can also choose to get your first foldable device, as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is still available for $999.99 with $1,000 savings. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip with 5G support starts at $850, but if you don’t feel like you need 5G just yet, you can get the LTE-only version available for $700.
Since we’re already talking about Samsung, we might as well tell you that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is currently getting a $130 discount over at Amazon, which leaves it at $350, and you may also want to take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Buds true wireless earbuds that are available for $79, with $50.99 savings.
Now, if you’re looking to upgrade your game or work station with a new monitor, Dell and Samsung have some interesting options. You can currently get the Alienware 38-inch curved gaming monitor for $1,530 with $520 savings. If that’s too much for your taste, you can get the Alienware 25-inch gaming monitor starting at $725 with a $245 discount.
Samsung gives you less expensive options, as you can get the 32-inch 4K UHD curved gaming monitor for $420 with $80 savings, or get the Samsung Business 32-inch 4K UHD monitor with a $119.54 discount that will be reflected at checkout, meaning you can get yours for $450.
Other deals include the JOBY GorillaPod 1K flexible mini-tripod for $25 after getting a 50 percent discount. The JOBY TelePod Pro kit is selling for $45, down from its regular $80 price tag. Score a new 12-in-1 Type C hub, as the VAVA USB C Docking Station can be yours for $66. You will first have to add the on-page coupon that will save you $30, and then you will also have to enter code 4CM2FH9U.
Samsung has today announced an updated take on the HDR10+ video standard that will allow TVs to make adjustments depending on the ambient light in your living room. Samsung is calling it HDR10+ Adaptive, and claims that it will further improve the viewing experience of HDR content on its TVs by making adjustments on a per-scene basis. The new video standard will first arrive on Samsung’s upcoming line-up of QLED TVs that will likely make their debut at CES next month.
HDR10+ Adaptive is Samsung's answer to Dolby Vision IQ
“The HDR10+ Adaptive feature supports dynamic scene-by-scene optimization, following guidelines from the HDR10+ LLC, and can now adjust to any room lighting condition, further enhancing the HDR experience,” Samsung explains in its blog post. To make the aforementioned adjustments, the in-built light sensor on Samsung’s TVs will be used to collect ambient lighting information, ensuring that users get the best experience with a more effective tuning of contrast and brightness values.
However, it is unclear if HDR10+ Adaptive support will be added to Samsung’s current portfolio of QLED TVs, but it would definitely be a welcome addition. The new HDR standard supports the Filmmaker Mode on Samsung TVs, ensuring that users see content without any visual degradation and in a way that filmmakers actually intend for users to experience. The company adds that it has partnered with Amazon to enable Filmmaker Mode and HDR10+ Adaptive for Prime Video subscribers.
Actually, HDR10+ Adaptive is not an entirely new idea. The Dolby Vision IQ standard that was announced at CES in January this year appears to take the same approach to achieve a similar goal. It relies on the dynamic metadata encoded with Dolby Vision content and the ambient light sensor embedded in a TV to check the ambient light situation in a room. It then accordingly adjusts the settings and optimizes the picture quality to deliver the best movie-watching experience.
Promising, but still restricting for the average consumer
But with Samsung and Dolby’s licensing feud, it is quite likely that we won’t see Dolby Vision IQ support arriving on Samsung’s TVs in the near future. At this point, it is quite apparent that HDR10+ Adaptive is Samsung’s answer to Dolby Vision IQ, with the company marketing it extensively in partnership with Amazon’s Prime Video service. But at the end of the day, it is a loss for consumers who are torn for options, especially with regards to TV brands and streaming services
Prime Video is home for HDR10+ content, Netflix favors Dolby Vision
Netflix, for example, has a rich variety of Dolby Vision content, but those with a Samsung TV are out of luck here. Netflix currently supports HDR10 content, but not HDR10+ content. So, if you buy one of Samsung’s upcoming QLED TVs with support for HDR10+ Adaptive tech, you won’t be able to take advantage of it while watching content on Netflix. The streaming giant promised back in 2017 that it might add support for HDR10+ content in the future, but that is yet to happen.
So, at the end of the day, if you want to enjoy the perks of HDR10+ Adaptive, Amazon’s Prime Video should be your preferred content streaming platform. But if you prefer the library of content offered by Netflix and want to watch it in the best visual quality with Dolby Vision magic, you should invest in a TV from another brand.
It appears that this Christmas was a good one for developers and businesses (and Google and Apple as well, thanks to that sweet 30% fee), as the combined global app spending across the Android and iOS ecosystems crossed the $407 million mark for a single day in 2020. As per a Sensor Tower report, consumers spent a staggering $407.6 million across the Google Play Store and App Store on Christmas, which amounts to a significant 34.5% growth on a YoY basis compared to 2019.
“2020 has been a record-setting year for worldwide spending on mobile apps and games, which passed $100 billion in a single year for the first time ever in November,” the report adds. The single-day spending on mobile apps this Christmas accounted for 4.5% of the total spending this month as of December, which stands at an equally impressive $9 billion worldwide. Here are a few key observations from Sensor Tower’s analysis:
App Store handily surpassed Play Store
Apple’s App Store again emerged as the more cash-rich platform. Apple’s repository captured 68.4% ($278.6 million) share of the Christmas day app spending, while Google’s Play Store could only reach $129 million.
Image Sensor Tower
On a market basis, US was the biggest one. Smartphone users in the US spent a combined $130 million on Android and iOS apps this Christmas.
Mobile games emerged as the leading category this holiday season, which brought in $295.6 million on Christmas this year. This is a 27% growth compared to 2019. Talking about the crown, Tencent’s Honor of Kings led the spendings chart by bringing in $10.7 million in a single day.
Non-gaming apps raked in $112 million this Christmas, and the category that won here was entertainment. Consumer spending on entertainment apps reached $19.3 million this year on the App Store, while the Google Play Store amassed $4.3 million from these apps. TikTok emerged as the top grosser, with consumer spending touching the $4.7 million mark on Christmas day.
Realme 7 series was launched in India in September. Now, within three months, the first rumors of the successor, Realme 8 have popped up online. The device has allegedly been spotted on Geekbench. The upcoming smartphone is likely to see an upgrade in specifications and features when compared to Realme 7. As per Geekbench, Realme 8 will have model number RMX3092. As of now, very little is known about the device.
The latest development comes from tipsters Mukul Sharma and Abhishek Yadav who posted on Twitter about model number RMX3092 and said that it is related to Realme 8. The same model number was spotted on the Geekbench listing. As per the listing, the device will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 720 chipset with a base frequency of 2GHz. It will have 8GB of RAm and surprisingly, it will run Android 10 out of the box. It scored 2874 points and 8088 points in single-core and multi-core tests respectively.
Abhishek also wrote that the Realme RMX3092 model has been spotted on Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This hints the launch of the device could be nearing. The tipster suggested that this could also be the Realme 8 Pro variant. As mentioned, there is little else that is known about Realme 8 apart from this. We expect the Realme 8 to be launched soon.
For the unaware, the Realme 7 is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G95 SoC whereas Realme 7 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset. Moreover, the Pro variant comes with dual stereo speakers, along with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res certification. The vanilla variant doesn’t have these features.
Display
Realme 7 6.6-inch (2400 × 1080 pixels) 20:9 Full HD+ Super AMOLED
Realme 7 Pro 6.5-inch (2400 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rate
Chances are you gained a few pounds after staying indoors for most of 2020. Now that we’re entering a new year, it’s time to get active and burn your COVID belly before we start going outside again. Luckily, we have eight deals on fitness apps that will help you stay healthy in body and mind until that happens, and they’re 20% off at checkout when you use coupon code HOLIDAY20.
Keeping mobile is especially important during extended periods of remote work, and YogaDownload has plenty of convenient exercises to promote a healthy lifestyle no matter how busy you are. You can access over 1,500 courses from your phone and computer and new courses are being added each week to keep your workouts fresh and exciting.
Yogaia is ideal if you’re craving an interactive yoga studio experience that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. You can choose between 5-minute classes that you can pump out during your mid-day break or an intense, hour-long session that gets your sweat flowing. Following along in real-time with live classes or watch a class recording when you’re completely free. The choice is yours!
Turn your phone into a personal trainer with the Onyx app. All you have to do is face the camera towards you so that Onyx can count your reps, time your planks, and monitor your form in real-time. With a lifetime subscription, you get total access to all of Onyx’s workouts, goal tracking features, and programs.
Abs are made in the kitchen, so you should be as mindful of your diet as you are with your workout program. BetterMe makes it easy to manage both, offering personalized workout and meal plans that are tailored to your goals and will help you get fit faster. These meal plans are complete with video recipes that are nutritious and easy to make.
Rootd is designed specifically to relieve all stages of panic and anxiety. It features a panic button, a deep breathing tool, meditative body scanning, guided visualizations, and an emergency contact button, all of which you have unlimited access to. Additionally, Rootd offers lessons and a journal to track your progress and guide you towards long-term improvement.
Omvana is a meditation app that’s designed to help you target specific areas in your life that you want to improve in, such as getting better sleep or boosting your productivity. With a lifetime subscription, you’ll find classes, lessons, and guided meditation tracks on each of Omvana’s key meditation topics, and you can even combine two meditation tracks to create your own.
Finding a fitness partner will help you both stay accountable, but that’s next to impossible during this quarantine. Ally is here to help. It features Allie, an AI fitness assistant that uses your smartphone camera to monitor your form and track your performance. Allie also gives you real-time motivation and feedback so that you can hit that last rep.
Jillian Michaels needs no introduction. She’s one of the biggest personalities in the fitness industry, and now you can train like her with The Fitness App. Your subscription comes with full access to over 800 HD workout videos along with audio-only workouts for outdoor exercise. You can customize every facet of your fitness plan, such as choosing basic to advanced workouts, swapping different exercises into your workouts, adjust transition times between workouts, and even play your own music with each workout.
PCMag gives The Fitness App a 4 out of 5, stating, “Jillian Michaels Fitness gives you a custom daily workout and meal plan to follow for slimming down and building muscle. It has options to suit different dietary restrictions. It’s an excellent app for those who want tough workouts.”
The deals don’t end there. You can also enter into this massive Complete Home Gym Giveaway for a chance to win over $5,000 worth of workout equipment. The winner will receive a Peloton Bike+, a TRX Pro 4 suspension trainer set, an Oura Ring, and much more.
Here’s how it works: by donating to Playing For Change, you’ll be entered into the Complete Home Gym Giveaway. The more you donate, the higher your chance of winning, and you’ll even get double the amount of entries if you donate this week! Click here for more giveaway details.
TikTok and Instagram’s Reels are growing more than ever. Now, Google is also taking the growth into consideration as it will surface Instagram Reels and TikTok videos in the Google App for mobile devices. These will appear in their dedicated carousel. The move is said to help Google retain users in search of social video entertainment from fully leaving its platform.
The new update was first reported by Search Engine Roundtable(via Brian Freiesleben’s tweet). It is an expansion of a feature introduced earlier this year that introduced a carousel of “Short Videos” within Google Discover. It appears in the personalized feed in the Google mobile app, which is found to the left of the home screen on some Android devices.
Don't confuse it with Google Stories.
Notably, the introduction of TikTok’s and Reels in the Google App is different from Google Stories, which was rolled out in October 2020. It is part of the Google Search app for iOS and Android. The Stories carousel is now available in India, the United States, and Brazil. To browse Web Stories in Discover you need to open the feed, and you’ll be greeted by the new feature. You can tap to move forward to the next page, or swipe to an entirely different Story in the carousel. Essentially, Google Stories consists of the content created by the company’s online publishing partners like Forbes, USA Today, Vice, Now This, and more.
On the other hand, the new “Short Videos” feature focuses on aggregating social video from other platforms, including Google’s own short-form video project Tangi. Plus, it will bring videos from Trell and YouTube alongside TikTok and Reels. We replicated the feature with the search for “Packers” and found it located below the Google Knowledge Base box for the Green Bay Packers, which is followed by the scores, Top Stories, Twitter results, Top Results, Images, Videos, and other content.
It makes you stay in the Google environment.
When clicked, it takes you to the web version of the social platform, and not the native mobile app, even if you have it installed. As a result, users stay on Google instead of leaving their environment. A Google spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch the feature was currently being piloted on mobile devices.
After releasing updates for the OnePlus Nord and OnePlus Nord N100, the Chinese company is now rolling out a new OxygenOS update for its OnePlus 8T. It brings a slew of optimizations and fixes. System improvements include faster unlock speeds and optimized experience for full-screen gestures. Plus, it brings OnePlus Store app for Indian users. This app allows users to shop for OnePlus products and access quick support whenever they require it. However, it is not a forced app, and can be uninstalled easily if you don’t want it.
OnePlus announced the new OxygenOS update of OnePlus 8T via its forums. It is rolling out version number is OxygenOS 11.0.6.7.KB05DA for the India users, while European users are getting OxygenOS 11.0.6.8.KB05BA and North American users are getting OxygenOS 11.0.6.7.KB05AA update. the update size for Indian users is 514MB. We suggest you have a sufficient battery charge and a good Wi-Fi connection to download and install the update. If you haven’t received a notification can manually check for the update by going to Settings > System > System updates.
The new OxygenOS update for OnePlus 8T includes an optimized experience of full-screen gestures and the image quality on nightscape. It fixes a number of issues including a small probability issue that photos don’t display in the Gallery as well as the issue that the WiFi connection failed in a specific situation. There is a newly added keyboard height adjustment tool where you can raise or hide the bottom shortcut bar for a better input experience. Moreover, the company is updating the Android security patch to November 2020. You can see the full changelog below.
Changelog
System
Optimized the experience of full-screen gestures
Increased fingerprint unlock success rates for faster unlock speed
Newly added keyboard height adjustment where you can raise or hide the bottom shortcut bar for a better input experience (Go to Settings-System-Language & input-Keyboard height adjustment)
Updated Android security patch to 2020.11
Camera
Optimized the image quality on nightscape
Gallery
Fixed a small probability issue that photos don’t display in the Gallery
Network
Fixed the issue that the WiFi connection failed in a specific situation
Improved the stability of communication
OnePlus Store (—IN only)
An intuitive and convenient way to manage your OnePlus account, get easy-to-access support, discover exciting members-only benefits, and shop for OnePlus products. (Please note that it can be uninstalled)
Realme recently teased a new smartphone, Realme Koi. While some rumors suggest it to be the company’s first Snapdragon 888-powered smartphone, others say it will be a mid-range device. It could be part of an upcoming series from Realme that could also include a top-end model codenamed Realme Race, which will be powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset. Amidst the confusion, the specifications and images of Koi have leaked online.
The leak comes from Twitter, where a tipster named Abhishek Yadav tweeted the details of the upcoming Realme Koi. His tweet also included some live images of the device. The phone could also be called Realme V15, depending on the market. As per the leaked images, it will have a triple rear camera setup. It also appears to have a gradient finish similar to that on the Realme Q2 and Realme X7 Pro.
According to the tipster, the Realme Koi will be powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 800U SoC. It is rumored to sport a 64MP primary rear camera, which could be accompanied by two more sensors. The phone is tipped to weigh 176 grams. Moreover, it is said to have support for 50W fast charging. There is no fingerprint sensor on the back. Hence, we expect the phone to either have an in-display biometric scanner or a side-mounted sensor.
Flagship to be or not to be
While Realme hasn’t provided any details of Realme Koi apart from a teaser, other rumors on Weibo suggest that the phone could be launched as a flagship phone. Moreover, it could have support for 125W UltraDART fast charging. It is also speculated to have a special edition with a leather back. By contrast, a rumor says it could be part of a new series by Realme, which could also have a Snapdragon 888-powered smartphone. Clearly, we’ll have to wait and watch to get more information on the device.
Motorola is rumored to be working on its next flagship device, the successor to the Motorola Edge+. It was tipped that the device is codenamed ‘Nio” but later it was revealed that Nio is actually a Moto G series device with the previous-gen flagship chipset. Now, renders of a mysterious Motorola phone have been making rounds on Weibo. While these look like something Motorola might be working on, these are likely fan-made renders. Hence, we suggest you take this information with a grain of salt.
This could be the Motorola Edge+ successor
The leaked images suggest that the upcoming Motorola Edge device could have its edges curved on all four sides of the display. There is a small punch-hole cutout in the top-middle of the display to house the selfie shooter. It seems like the smartphone will have a remarkably high screen-to-body ratio. Plus, the screen is tipped to have an in-display fingerprint sensor. Therefore, we expect to be a premium device from the company. It might as well be their next flagship device.
The same Weibo source also revealed the schematics of the phone’s rear. It suggests the presence of a quad rear camera setup housed in a rectangular module at the middle of the top half of the back. Three of these cameras are arranged linearly in vertical, while the fourth camera lies next to the middle lens. At the bottom, we can see the USB Type-C port, speaker, and a SIM card tray.
The mysterious phone appears to be very sleek in design. It could be the Motorola Edge+ successor, which is likely to be powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset. But there is no other information that we know at the moment. Hence, we advise the readers to wait for more leaks to confirm if this is even real.
Amazfit GTS 2 Mini was launched in India last week, and it went on sale soon after. However, it looks like the buyers will have to wait to get their hands on the watch. Amazfit India took to Twitter to announce that there will be a delay in delivery. It is facing some logistics issues in delivering the products. The company said it is making up for the delay by including a free watch strap with orders placed till this Friday, that is, January 1.
#Update: Due to a logistics issue in GTS 2 mini shipments, there will be a delay in the delivery.We really appreciate your patience and to compensate for the same, we will be sharing a free strap with the orders placed till this Friday, i.e. 1st January.Thankyou for your support.
The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini joins the GTR 2 and GTS 2 in the GT 2 lineup of the company. It is a scaled-down version of the GTS 2, which is priced at INR 12,999. The GTS 2 Mini is available in three color options of Sage Green, Pink, and Black. It features a smaller 1.55-inch AMOLED display with 354 x 306 resolution as compared to the 1.65-inch on the GTS 2. There is an aluminum alloy case. The rest of the body is made up of plastic material with a 2.5D curved glass on top, which offers an Always on Display feature.
The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini is compatible with both Android and iOS. It features BioTracker 2 PPG optical sensor, which delivers continuous heart rate monitoring as well as heart rate during exercise. Plus, there’s a SpO2 sensor, and it can also has features like female cycle tracking, sleep tracking, stress tracking with breathing exercise guidance. It comes with an Acceleration sensor, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic, and ambient light sensor. There are 70 in-built sports modes. The watch can show sports notifications and regular notifications as well. It is said to last up to 14 days on a single charge with typical use.
