It was only a few days back when Qualcomm introduced the world to its latest midrange processors which aim at bringing more power to the budget segment smartphone market. The company had announced its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and 4 Gen 1 processors recently, and now, it is revealed that iQOO Z6 Lite will be the first phone housing the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. While the device is set to launch on September 14th, here is everything we know about the upcoming iQOO Z6 Lite:
iQOO Z6 Lite specs & features
iQOO recently revealed the full design and a few key specifications of the Z6 Lite ahead of its launch. The midrange device will feature a water drop-style notch display having a fast 120Hz refresh rate. While the exact specifications of the camera setup are unknown, the device will feature a rectangular camera bump having a dual setup, as per the images released by the company. It is rumoured that the device could feature a 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor.
The iQOO Z6 Lite is all set to rock the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor. It has an octa-core CPU having a maximum clock frequency of 2 GHz and 5G capabilities. iQOO recently revealed that it achieved a score of 388,486 points in AnTuTu’s benchmark tests. The gaming and camera specifications of the device are expected to be revealed by the company in the coming days leading up to the launch.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
This will be the first 6nm 4-series processor launched by the company which claims the new gen midrange chip offers 15 per cent improved CPU performance. Users will be able to capture photos up to 108MP which makes it the best in the 4-series. The chipset also features AI capabilities which enable users to get support with the always-on voice assistants and communicate clearly with echo/background noise reduction.
Apple today launched its much anticipated iPhone 14 in its first-ever in-person event in two years. The ‘Far Out’ event also saw the launch of the Apple Watch Series 8, The Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods Pro Second Generation. Read below to check out the details of all the newly launched exciting products by Apple:
Apple iPhone 14 & 14 Plus
Preserving iPhone 13’s standard design, Apple has now introduced the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. This year the company decided to skip the Mini variant as reported previously on multiple platforms. The latest iPhone 14 makes a bold decision of excluding the SIM tray and going solely with eSIM for its US models. While the standard variant of the iPhone 14 starts at $799, the 14 Plus is priced at $899. In India, The iPhone 14 starts at Rs 79,900, and the iPhone 14 Plus variant is priced at 89,900.
A standout feature for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus is that the device antennas can connect to satellite frequencies for emergency messaging. While the iPhone 14 sticks to the 6.1-inch screen, the 14 Plus offers a bigger 6.7-inch screen. The company claims that the 14 Plus model comes with the best battery life of any iPhone to this date.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Apple has finally decided to opt for a major design change after over half a decade. Apple introduced its updated design with the iPhone X back in 2017, and now, in 2022, the redesigned iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max have been introduced by the company. Both the handsets now sport a pill-shaped cutout that adjusts dynamically with software integration. Unlike the standard variants, the Pro variants of the iPhone 14 also receive a processing update with the A16 Bionic chip and an always-on display.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has described iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max to be the most innovative iPhone lineup to date. The higher variants feature the newly designed pill-shaped notch which displays animations like live widgets, music controls, etc. The devices also receive a camera update with the Pro variants sporting a 48MP main camera. The new main camera brings improvement to low-light photography using a quad-pixel sensor with a 24mm focal length and f/1.78 aperture. Both the Pro variants will launch on September 16, 2022. In India, The iPhone 14 Pro starts at Rs 1,29,900, whereas, the 14 Pro Max is priced at 1,39,900. Interested buyers can also have an option to buy the 1TB variants of both the Pro devices which are priced at Rs 1,89,900 and Rs 2,35,500 respectively.
The All-new AirPods
A refresh of Apple’s AirPods Pro was long awaited. The company announced the second generation of the popular noise-cancelling earbuds which now houses a new H2 chip. The company promises that the new chip offers a significant improvement in sound quality and marginally better noise cancellation. The latest AirPods Pro is claimed to have a bigger battery that can last up to 6 hours on a single charge. The new earbuds will cost $249 and will be available from September 23, 2022. The AirPods Pro is priced in India at Rs 26,900.
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple has introduced some interesting features with the launch of its Apple Watch Series 8. The new series introduces crash detection which can detect if the user has been in any vehicular accident. The crash detection feature only runs while the user is driving which helps preserve the watch’s battery life. The tech giant claims that with the latest watch series, it has taken its commitment to women’s health further. The device can track temperature changes overnight which can help women gain insights into their ovulation cycle. The Apple Watch Series 8 starts at Rs 45,900 in India and goes up to Rs 79,900 for the higher variants.
Apple Watch SE
Apple also announced an upgrade to the original SE Watch with the launch of the Apple Watch SE second generation. The crash detection feature is also present in the cheaper Apple Watch SE, whereas, the company claims it is 20 per cent faster than the first-gen SE as it houses a new S8 chip. The Apple Watch Series 8 and SE both share the same motion sensors. It will be available in silver, midnight, and starlight colours coupled with new colour-matching back cases. The Apple Watch SE is priced at Rs 29,900 in India.
Apple Watch Ultra
The much-anticipated Apple Watch Ultra has been launched by Apple. The Ultra variant of the Apple Watch is now the top-of-the-line offering by the tech giant. Apple Watch Ultra brings in a bigger display and a design based on outdoor activities. The Apple Watch Ultra is targeted at fitness enthusiasts and athletes who put themselves in extreme conditions. The standout feature of this device is that it is EN13319 certified, which means that it can also be used as a dive computer. The Apple Watch Ultra is priced at Rs 89,900 in India.
India in recent years has witnessed a resurgence of feature phones. While the mainstream mobile market is oversaturated with smartphones, feature phones have found themselves a sizeable chunk of the market. While Nokia brought back the nostalgic 3310 and XpressMusic in a redesigned form factor, Saregama has now launched a Carvaan feature phone priced under the 2.5K.
The Saregama Carvaan mobile
The key feature of the Carvaan mobile is that it comes preloaded with 1500 Hindi songs. The songs feature artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, M. Rafi, Asha Bhosle, and many more known musical legends. The tracks can be without an internet connection or commercial breaks, making it an uninterrupted experience for the listener. The device features an 8GB memory card with 2GB of free data for users to load up videos, music, images, and more. Keeping up its focus on offline music, Carvaan mobile offers a 3.5mm headphone jack, Aux out, Bluetooth, and FM Radio. The device also features multi-language support.
The Saregama Carvaan Mobile is available in two screen sizes, 2.4-inch, and 1.8-inch respectively. It features a 0.3MP camera at the back and a LED torch. The feature phone houses a MediaTek process with 2GB RAM and 32MB storage. Whereas, it has a 2,500mAh battery unit. While the 2.4-inch variant is priced at Rs 2,490, the 1.8-inch will cost interested buyers Rs 1,990 respectively.
The Saregama Carvaan Mobile is available in three colours- Royal Blue, Classic Black, and Emerald Green. As of now, the device is only available in Hindi and Tamil across e-commerce and retail markets. However, it is reported that the company will be releasing the device in all regional languages.
Just a month after Google rolled out Android 13 for Pixel devices, the tech giant has now released its first update of the latest OS. Pixel users from Pixel 4 to Pixel 6a need to be on a look out for the update as it brings in important security patches.
The update is currently available for almost all Pixel devices except for Pixel 6a. Owners of the Pixel 6a will be receiving the update later this month. Users receiving the September update will be getting a few bug fixes, as per Google’s community post: Read below to check out the entire security patch:
Google September 2022 update compatible devices:
Pixel 4 (XL): TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 4a: TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 4a (5G): TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 5: TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 5a (5G): TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 6: TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 6 Pro: TP1A.220905.004
Battery & Charging
Fix for issue occasionally causing increased battery drain from certain launcher background activities
Fix for issue preventing wireless charging mode to activate in certain conditions *[1]
Biometrics
Additional improvements for fingerprint recognition and response in certain conditions *[2]
Bluetooth
Fix for issue occasionally preventing certain Bluetooth devices or accessories from connecting
User Interface
Fix for issue occasionally causing notifications to appear truncated on the lock screen
Device Applicability
Fixes are available for all supported Pixel devices unless otherwise indicated below.
*[1] Included on Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 5, Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro
*[2] Included on Pixel 6a
The latest update has patched biometrics fix exclusively for the Pixel 6a. The newly launched device had fingerprint issues where users were reportedly able to unlock the device with unregistered fingerprints. However, the fix will be coming in later this month. For all other Pixel devices, the update should bump the software to TP1A.220905.004 and will continue to roll out over the next week.
Qualcomm has introduced the next generation of midrange processors which are bundled with Ai enhancements and 5G capabilities. In a country like India where the budget and midrange device market booms every year, the new Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 and 6 Gen 1 processors have the potential to become game-changers. Read below to know more about the newly introduced powerhouse chips by Qualcomm:
Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
The more powerful of the pair is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, sporting an ability to capture pictures up to 108MP and HDR video recording capabilities. In the official announcement, Qualcomm described the chip to fuel ‘Dynamic experiences with sustained power and performance’. The chip features an impressive 7th Gen Qualcomm AI Engine which enables it to have 3x improved AI performance, as claimed by the company. While the in-depth details about the 6 Gen 1 are yet to be revealed, Qualcomm has revealed that it can deliver 35% quicker graphic rendering and 40% faster processing compared to the Snapdragon 695 processor. The new chipset also brings in Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and Snapdragon X62 5G modem.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 1
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 will be the first 4-series chipset to be based on the 6nm platform. While the 6 Gen 1 is focused more on gaming, the 4 Gen 1 focuses on multitasking and entertainment consumption. The 4-series chip offers a 15% Kryo CPU performance boost coupled with a 10% Adreno GPU boost compared to the Snapdragon 480 chipset. It uses a triple Image Signal Processor (ISP) to capture images from three cameras at once and combines them with Multi-Frame Nose Reduction enabling crisp image processing. The 4 Gen 1 also comes with AI capabilities which provide access to always-on voice assistant, echo, and background noise suppression.
As of now, Motorola and iQOO have already committed to implementing the new gen midrange chipsets. However, the wait to use Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 will be longer as it is expected to be available in 2023 Q1. The iQOO Z6 Lite is expected to be the first Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 device which will be launched in late 2022.
It was back in 2020 when Apple took the controversial decision to remove charging bricks from its iPhone boxes, citing environmental concerns. The company claimed that the decision would allow them to cut down over 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions yearly. While the tech giant cited novel reasons for the removal of the charging bricks, it was rather an unwelcoming change amongst long-time fans of the iPhone and other Apple products as they had to buy separate charging bricks on top of paying the premium price for their devices. The decision to remove charging bricks from iPhone boxes is a controversial move even two years down the line, as Brazil has now decided to ban iPhone sales across the country.
iPhone Brazil ban
Brazil’s Ministério da Justiça (Ministry of Justice) has just banned iPhone sales across the country. The primary reason for this ban is Apple’s removal of charging bricks. On top of the ban, the country will also charge 12 million Brazilian reals ($2.3 million) each day the tech giant breaks the ban. However, Brazil determines that if Apple halts iPhone sales immediately or starts including a charger, it won’t see any fines. The timing for the iPhone ban in Brazil comes when Apple is less than a day away from unveiling their latest iPhone 14 series.
This won’t be the first time Brazil has gotten behind Apple for the exclusion of charging bricks; back in 2020, Brazil fined Apple $1.9 million. This led to the company including the charger with purchase in one Brazilian state. The recent order to ban iPhone 12 and above in Brazil was published in the country’s official gazette. The Brazilian ministry argues that excluding the charging brick was a deliberate discriminatory practice against consumers.
On the other hand, Apple is facing similar issues from European Union. The EU has challenged the use of the company’s unique chargers and is working to implement a new law that requires phone makers to use USB-C chargers by 2024. Brazil is also working to implement a similar law.
The Apple Watch Series 3 dropped back in September 2017 and has surprisingly been on sale by the company ever since. Five years after its initial release, Apple has continued to sell the device at entry-point pricing even after the launch of the Apple Watch SE. As the tech giants ‘Far Out’ event is expected to introduce the latest lineup of the Apple Watch, it looks like the company is finally bidding farewell to the Apple Watch Series 3.
While the Apple Watch Series 3 is currently available to buy in India on the official Apple website, it is being reported that the series is out of stock in Australia and the UK. Whereas one Series 3 variant is currently unavailable in the US with no updates about a restock. It is confirmed that the upcoming watchOS 9 software will not be compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3, cementing that the series is now at the final leg of its run. It is expected that the Apple Watch Se will be replacing the Series 3.
What’s next?
Apple’s next big event is taking place on September 7. It is expected to introduce an extensive lineup of new products, including the iPhone, Apple Watch, and the rumoured next-generation AirPods pro. It is rumoured that Apple will introduce the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE2, and a pro variant of the Apple Watch. The pro variant is expected t to come with a new design, bigger display, and new health features.
The all-new Pro variant of the Apple Watch is expected to target extreme sports enthusiasts with a rugged design. It is expected to have a flat display which will be 7 percent larger, and a bigger battery size that can power the device for over 18 hours.
People on a budget looking for a comprehensive smartphone in India have no issues with choice. Every year, budget smartphones are released in the country with competitive prices and specifications making it difficult for users to choose the best amongst the extensive line. To add to the confusion, Realme has dropped yet another budget smartphone titled Realme C33, which offers a 50MP camera and 5000mAh battery, all under the price range of 10k. Read below to know more:
Realme C33 launched
The latest budget offering by Realme has been announced today and is all set for sale on September 12. The Realme C33 starts at a competitive pricing of Rs 8,999 for the 3GB/32GB storage and 9,999 for the 4GB/65GB variant. While powered by the entry-level Unisoc T612 processor, its standpoint is the ‘Boundless Sea Design’, where the company has attempted to imitate a water flow effect. The device will be sold in three colours, namely Gold, Aqua Blue, and Black.
While the back of the device looks unique to the budget segment, the front is pretty much similar to the devices within the same price range. It features a standard water drop notch on a 6.5-inch screen with a peak brightness of 400nits. The company has described the design as ‘slim and light’ as it comes with an 8.3mm form factor and weighs 187 grams. The device ships with Android 12 out of the box.
The camera capabilities of the Realme C33 are pretty impressive, as it houses a 50MP primary lens in a dual set-up. While the selfie camera is a mere 5MP shooter, it is expected for budget devices to cut corners here and there. When it comes to cutting corners, users will only be able able to record videos up to 1080p at 30fps.
Additionally, users can expand the storage up to 1TB using the microSD card slot. The device also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. Whereas the speaker also comes with a Dirac 3.0 tech optimization.
The way humans interact with technology is ever-changing. With the inception of VR and AR tech, humanity received a chance to experience the digital world immensely close. While many industry giants claim that the metaverse is the next big leap in technology, the way humans interact with the metaverse is still limited to clunky VR and AR hardware. However, it looks like it is all about to change with a tiny lens enabling tech enthusiasts and the general public to access AR graphics right before their eyes. Read below to know more about the lenses which, in concept are as remarkable as science fiction:
The Mojo Lens
In July, the CEO of Mojo Vision, Drew Perkins, shared his experience of the first “on-eye demonstration” of the Mojo lens. In its initial stage, Drew wore the contact lens in only one eye for an hour; however, Mojo Vision aims for the users to wear two lenses simultaneously for longer durations to experience 3D visual overlays. The lenses developed by Mojo Vision are undoubtedly a technological marvel, something only expected from sci-fi characters like Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. To achieve the feat of developing ‘smart lenses’, the company had to develop its own plastic and chemical components in order to allow an eyeball to be breathable through an electronic lens.
The designed lenses are thick enough to cover up the human eyes’ outer whites partially but are not uncomfortable, as claimed by the project’s senior director of product management David Hobbs. The lens also houses a flexible circuit no wider than the human hair couples with nine pacemaker-style titanium batteries to supply power and data. The pixels of the lens have been squeezed into a space of only 2 microns.
The AR hype
It would be an understatement to call the Mojo lenses an ambitious project. Many companies before Mojo Vision have attempted to bring AR to the mainstream but have failed to do so. A few projects in the pipeline surrounding wearable AR tech have either been delayed indefinitely or failed to live up to the hype like the Google Glass. The complexities of AR technology root in the melding of digital elements and constantly moving physical objects. Whether AR bridges the gap between the digital world and the physical world is yet to be seen.
Poco had taken over the Indian market by storm with the launch of its first device, the Poco F1, in 2018. The brand was then under the leadership of Xiaomi and steered its way to become an independent global brand in 2020. As the years pass by, Poco has focused more on the budget segment bringing in promising features at a cheaper price for the consumer market. With the launch of the Poco M5 series, the company is yet again offering competiti9ve specs at a competitive price. Check out all the details about the latest offering by Poco, the Poco M5 and M5s, below:
Poco M5
The higher variant in the M5 series comes with an impressive 6.58” LCD Full HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate coupled with a 240Hz touch sampling rate. Aimed for gamers, the device houses an Helio G99 chipset built on the 6nm process technology. The Helio G99 sports two Cortex-A76 CPU cores running at 2.2GHz and six Cortex-A55 units at 2.0GHz. The Poco M5 houses a triple camera setup comprising a 50MP primary shooter, a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro lens. Whereas on the front, the device sports an 8MP selfie camera. It packs a 5000mAh battery with an 18W charging unit. The M5 is priced at Rs. 12,499 and Rs. 14,499 for 4GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB variants, respectively.
Poco M5s
The Poco M5s comes with a few welcoming changes as opposed to the standard variant. The device sports a 6.43-inch HD+ AMOLED display, an upgrade to the POCO M5’s LCD display. However, the screen is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. The quad-camera setup sees an upgrade too as it comes with a 64MP mains sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. There is also an 8MP ultrawide camera along with two 2MP lenses for macro and depth sensing, respectively. The device houses a Mediatek Helio G95 SoC and a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging capabilities. Both the newly launched devices will run with Android 12-based MIUI 13 out f the box.
