Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations

The Xiaomi Mi A3 should continue to receive security patch updates throughout 2021. (Image source: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi Mi A3 receives March 2021 security update in Europe with 38 high or critical CVEs addressed

The Xiaomi Mi A3 has received another update, this time on Xiaomi's EEA branch. V12.0.5.0.RFQEUXM is another security patch update for the Android One handset, but it addresses 38 high or critical CVEs that Google has identified. V12.0.5.0.RFQEUXM is rolling out now as an OTA download.

Alex Alderson, 18 Mar 2021 20:07

Horizon Zero Dawn is one of 11 games Sony is giving away to PlayStation users. (Image source: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Sony is giving away Horizon Zero Dawn and 10 more PlayStation games

Sony is giving away 11 games as part of its latest Play at Home campaign. The highlights include Horizon Zero Dawn and Ratchet & Clank, along with the likes of Astro Bot. These titles could be downloaded for free by all PlayStation users, including those who do not have a PlayStation Plus subscription.

Alex Alderson, 18 Mar 2021 19:57

The CMP 30HX is nothing more than a GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER with no display connections. (Image source: Microless)

The NVIDIA CMP 30HX is a re-branded GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER aimed at crypto miners that sells for US$815

A retailer has started selling the CMP 30HX, NVIDIA's least powerful crypto mining card. Inadvertently, the retailer has confirmed that the CMP 30HX is nothing more than a GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER with the display connections removed. However, the CMP 30HX costs US$815.40, about US$300 more than the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER sells for online.

Alex Alderson, 18 Mar 2021 19:43

The OnePlus 9R is set to be a reasonably-priced gaming smartphone for the Indian market. (Image via OnePlus)

OnePlus confirms OnePlus 9R, an affordable gaming smartphone targeted squarely at India

In an interview with News18, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau confirmed that the OnePlus 9R, an "affordable" gaming smartphone, will launch in India alongside the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. Lau stated that the 9R will be similar to the OnePlus Nord in terms of pricing but will aim to bring a flagship-level experience, particularly with regards to gaming, without breaking the bank.

Sam Medley, 18 Mar 2021 19:11

The Samsung Galaxy A02s offers only little performance and its slow WLAN is hardly convincing either.

Samsung Galaxy A02s: This is what you should know before buying it

An affordable entry into Samsung's Galaxy? While that sounds good, the Galaxy A02s cut some corners in many places - in so many that it is hardly acceptable anymore.

Florian Schmitt, 18 Mar 2021 18:49

The Black Shark 4 in a new video. (Source: Weibo)

Black Shark 4: Xiaomi's latest teaser includes a launch date for the next-gen gaming phone

Xiaomi's Black Shark premium gaming brand has announced that its new, Snapdragon 888-powered flagship is to launch on March 23, 2021 in China. The 4 is slated to have improved, "360-degree, 3D" cooling, triple rear cameras and the shoulder buttons from its 3 Pro forebear. The 2 phones are also likely to have very different designs.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 18 Mar 2021 18:34

Teclast M40 10.1-inch Android tablet and P20HD from the back (Source: Own)

Teclast M40 hands-on: Powerful hardware for the price, but with a few problems and apparently stuck on Android 10

With a design that make it look like a black P20HD, the Teclast M40 is a superior tablet in terms of performance. However, the more powerful processor, 2 GB of additional memory and twice the amount of storage when compared to the P20HD do not make the M40 cost double. Overall, this is a 10-inch slate worth checking out.

Codrut Nistor, 18 Mar 2021 18:16

JerryRigEverything has shown that the ASUS ROG Phone 5 has several structural weak points. (Image source: JerryRigEverything)

ASUS ROG Phone 5 catastrophically fails punishing durability test

The ASUS ROG Phone 5 may be one of the most powerful smartphones on the market, but it is also one of the weakest. Unfortunately for ASUS, its latest gaming smartphone does not hold up to the rigours of a JerryRigEverything durability test.

Alex Alderson, 18 Mar 2021 18:06

The new ENACFIRE A9 earbuds. (Source: ENACFIRE)

ENACFIRE claims its new A9 TWS earbuds offer ANC and call quality on a budget

ENACFIRE has announced A9 TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC). This spec is delivered via "smart noise-detect mics" rated to cut out up to 80% of ambient noise while also providing a 'Transparency' mode. The buds also feature IPX7 ingress-protection, a quad-mic system for call quality and a launch price of US$40.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 18 Mar 2021 17:45

Motorola's first 108MP phone. (Source: Twitter)

Rumor | Motorola will release a mid-range 108MP camera phone in 2021

Motorola is now said to have a phone with the new 108MP Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor on-board. Furthermore, the device is rumored to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732 SoC and up to 6GB of RAM, which might bring the high-end camera spec to a very affordable tier in the near future. It might launch in India soon.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 18 Mar 2021 17:15

The new PS5 VR controller is finally here

New PS5 VR controller launched with adaptive triggers, haptic feedback and more

Sony has unveiled its new PS5 VR controllers that feature a completely new design and some exciting features such as finger detection, adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and more. Its price and availability will be revealed later.

Anil Satyanarayana, 18 Mar 2021 16:21

The GT Neo's first teaser. (Source: Weibo)

Realme GT Neo: Dimensity 1200 SoC and March 31, 2021 launch confirmed

Realme has officially announced that its first phone with the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 flagship processor will be the GT Neo, and that it will debut at the end of March 2021. The OEM has yet to tease any more of its specs, although it is possible it will launch with a curved screen and a 4,400mAh battery.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 18 Mar 2021 15:58

FSR is coming, but what technique would ultimately emerge as the best solution for all gaming platforms? (Image Source: AMD)

AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution should release this year, but Team Red has not yet decided what non-AI technique to employ

AMD plans to release its answer to Nvidia DLSS across all major gaming platforms, yet launch details are still sketchy. FidelityFX Super Resolution could be launched this year on PC at least, but AMD admits it is still pondering on which technique would best suit all gaming platforms.

Bogdan Solca, 18 Mar 2021 15:09

H2OS is reportedly no more. (Source: OnePlus)

Update | OnePlus is reportedly switching from HydrogenOS to ColorOS in China

OxygenOS (OOS) is OnePlus' well-received Android-based ROM for the global units of its phones. It has a Chinese-market counterpart called HydrogenOS (H2OS). However, the OEM has reportedly informed its users that it is to be discontinued in favor of OPPO’s ColorOS instead.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 18 Mar 2021 15:00

Cherry gets serious about laptop keyboards, will debut its ultra-thin mechanical keys on the Dell Alienware m15 and m17 series next month (Source: Dell)

Cherry gets serious about laptop keyboards, will debut its ultra-thin mechanical keys on the Dell Alienware m15 and m17 R4 this April

Cherry has successfully shrunk its mechanical keys for ultrathin laptops to make it theoretically possible for models like the MSI GS66, Aorus 15, or Asus Zephyrus to come with integrated Cherry keyboard options. The first laptops to sport the new Cherry keys will the Alienware m15 and m17.

Allen Ngo, 18 Mar 2021 15:00

Durable Dynabook E10-S subnotebook for students launching for just $289 USD

The rubber-reinforced chassis promises to withstand drops of over two feet without being overwhelming thick or heavy for classroom environments. HDMI, USB-C, and even RJ-45 come standard.

Allen Ngo, 18 Mar 2021 14:30

The iPad mini 6 is expected to be a departure from the current model. (Image source: Pigtou & @xleaks7)

Apple insider believes that a new iPad mini will arrive this year with a larger display

New iPad Pros are not the only tablets that Apple plans to release this year, Mark Gurman believes. Echoing previous rumours, Gurman reports that Apple will announce a new iPad mini in 2021, two years after it launched the fifth-generation model. The iPad mini 6 will feature a larger display than the current model, too.

Alex Alderson, 18 Mar 2021 13:45

New 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models are due in April, according to Mark Gurman. (Image source: Henry Ascroft)

Apple tipped to announce new iPad Pro models with Thunderbolt and a mini LED display option in April; no March hardware event this year

Apple will announce its next-generation iPad Pro tablets in April, not March, according to Mark Gurman. Jon Prosser has backtracked on his claim 'from a reliable source' that Apple would host a hardware event on March 23, too.

Alex Alderson, 18 Mar 2021 13:41

It seems that a future Google Pixel smartphone will adopt an in-display fingerprint scanner. (Image source: OnePlus)

The Google Pixel 6 may have an under-display fingerprint scanner

New rumours about a future Google Pixel smartphone are mounting. Now, Google has added support for an under-display fingerprint scanner in the latest Android 12 developer preview, signalling that the company may be on the verge of utilising the technology in a new smartphone. The inclusion of support for the feature may impact future AOSP builds and custom ROMs, too.

Alex Alderson, 18 Mar 2021 13:27

The next key upgrade for the iPad Air line is epxected to be the addition of an OLED display. (Image: Apple)

Kuo: OLED iPad Air and mini-LED MacBook Air inbound for 2022

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new research note forecasting that Apple’s ‘Air’ models will get upgraded displays in 2022. According to Kuo, the iPad Air will get an upgraded OLED display in the second half of 2022 while the MacBook Air will get an upgrade to a new mini-LED display although he doesn’t specify which half of the year this will happen

Sanjiv Sathiah, 18 Mar 2021 12:33

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE launch date may have been rescheduled to August 2021

Leaked roadmap suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE could arrive earlier than anticipated

Renowned leaker Even Blass has posted Samsung's product release schedule for 2021. It says that new Chromebooks and Galaxybooks are slated to be launched in April, followed by the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite in June, the Galaxy A82 in July and finally, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE in August.

Anil Satyanarayana, 18 Mar 2021 12:10

An AMD Van Gogh APU could end up powering a Microsoft or Xbox handheld device. (Image source: @klobrille/AMD/VanGogh.org - edited)

Microsoft handheld Xbox console rumors spring up again as AMD Van Gogh APU appears in Linux kernel code with a potential graphics boost

Linux kernel code has revealed some details about AMD’s Van Gogh Ryzen 5000 ULV mobile APU series. Apparently, the processors will offer support for 256-bit DDR5 memory, which is a step up from Renoir APUs. Unsurprisingly, the appearance of an AMD APU with greater potential graphics processing has led to renewed Microsoft handheld/Xbox portable console rumors.

Daniel R Deakin, 18 Mar 2021 10:10

The new Motorola Ready For PC-like experience is being rolled out to Verizon customers in the US now. (Image: Motorola)

Motorola brings new DeX-like functionality to the Edge Plus with 'Ready For'; turns your phone into a PC

Motorola has introduced a new PC-like desktop environment for its Moto Edge Plus flagship smartphone. The functionality dubbed ‘Ready For’ gives users the ability to plug in their smartphone to a keyboard, mouse and display similar to Samsung’s DeX environment.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 18 Mar 2021 06:23

The new mid-range: The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Desktop GPU is equipped with 12 GB of VRAM

Premium mid-range with RDNA2! A few months after the release of the new high-end GPUs based on the RDNA2 architecture, AMD has now also released the smaller version in the form of the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT. With the good results of the 6800 series behind it, the expectations for the new mid-range model are high. This review will reveal whether the GPU's performance is enough to compete with the GeForce RTX 3070.

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, Radeon RX 6700 XT, 32"

Sebastian Bade, 18 Mar 2021 05:44

Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 in review: Comet Lake provides better battery life

Dell's Surface Pro 7 competitor ranges from quiet to silent

Dell's 2-in-1 device hardly warms up, offers good battery life, and comes with a touchscreen display in the 3:2 format. The latter can be operated both with the fingers and with the separately available Dell Premium Active Pen.

Sascha Mölck, 18 Mar 2021 01:14

Vivaldi 3.7 browser update notification mid-March 2021 (Source: Own)

Vivaldi 3.7 brings Apple M1 native support and solid under-the-hood improvements

Unleashed for both desktop and mobile users, Vivaldi 3.7 comes with native support for Apple M1 processors and noticeable speed improvements (Windows/Linux/macOS), as well as easier bookmarking of websites and a friendly Welcome page alongside various other interface enhancements (Android).

Codrut Nistor, 17 Mar 2021 23:46

Samsung is expected to unveil two foldable smartphones this year. (Image source: Ben Geskin)

New Samsung Galaxy Z foldable smartphones and Wear OS smartwatches due in Q3 2021; Galaxy S21 FE arriving in Q4 2021

After the cancellation of the new Galaxy Note series for 2021, SamMobile has confirmed that Samsung still has some interesting hardware due in 2021. We must wait until at least the autumn for any new flagship smartphones, though.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 23:10

Early reviews suggest that the Radeon RX 6700 XT and GeForce RTX 3060 Ti are comparable GPUs. (Image source: AMD)

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT review roundup: The first Navi 22 GPU falls to defeat against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 while matching the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

AMD's cheapest RDNA 2 graphics card to date isn't entirely convincing in the first detailed tests. This is not due to the fact that the graphics card would not be good, but rather because Nvidia is represented in this price range with the GeForce RTX 3070.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 21:31

The OnePlus Watch may run the same OS as the OnePlus Band. (Image source: OnePlus)

Pete Lau confirms that the OnePlus Watch will not run Wear OS

Pete Lau has confirmed that the OnePlus Watch will not run Wear OS, despite offering hints to the contrary last year. Instead, OnePlus has based its first smartwatch on RTOS, apparently because it provides a smooth and reliable experience combined with long battery life.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 20:26

The Apple iMac will receive the biggest upgrade in years with a new ARM-SoC. (Image source: Jessy Smith)

Unreleased iMac with an Apple Silicon SoC appears on Xcode

Apple is currently transitioning from Intel processors to in-house chipsets based on the ARM architecture. The company has already moved three products over to Apple Silicon, and now Xcode has essentially confirmed that the iMac could soon follow suit. Rumour has it that the ARM-based iMac will feature a redesign too.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 20:20

The Optix MAG272CQP has a 3,000:1 native contrast ratio, among other features. (Image source: MSI)

MSI Optix MAG272CQP: A 27-inch curved gaming monitor with a 165 Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium support

The MSI Optix MAG272CQP is a 27-inch curved gaming monitor with a native WQHD resolution and 165 Hz refresh rate. The VA panel has 1 ms (MPRT) response times, a 1500R curvature and supports AMD FreeSync Premium. The Optix MAG272CQP has a USB hub too that includes a Type-C port with support for DisplayPort Alternate.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 19:26

It seems that the Galaxy Watch 3 will be replaced this year, pictured. (Image source: Samsung)

Early signs of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch Active 4 spotted at Chinese certification agency

It is already known that Samsung plans to release new smartwatches this year, such as fourth-generation models of the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Active. Now, a major component of what may be the Galaxy Watch 4 or the Galaxy Watch Active 4 has been spotted in China at the 3C.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 19:20

We should soon see many more DLSS-enabled games thanks to the simplified integration facilitated by Epic. (Image Source: Nvidia)

Nvidia claims it is now very easy to implement DLSS support for Unreal Engine 4 games, presents System Shock and Fabled Woods as latest examples

Thanks to the new UE4 DLSS plugin created in collaboration with Epic, game developers can now add DLSS support to their games in less than a day. The performance boost offered through the DLSS implementation can especially be seen in games with ray tracing enabled where the fps counts can be increased by 2.5X.

Bogdan Solca, 17 Mar 2021 18:49

The OnePlus 9 Pro will be available in Morning Mist, among other colours. (Image source: Pete Lau)

The OnePlus 9 Pro's Fluid Display 2.0 receives an A+ from DisplayMate as LTPO panel with a variable refresh rate is confirmed

OnePlus has already revealed that DisplayMate has awarded the OnePlus 9 Pro's display an A+, the highest rating that the company bestows. OnePlus has teased that the OnePlus 9 Pro has an LTPO display too, which it calls Fluid Display 2.0.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 18:47

Redmi launches the up-to-65-inch Smart TV X series in India

The Redmi Smart TV X50, X55 and X65 have been unleashed onto the Indian market. Their 4K LED panels are enhanced with MEMC, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. The series also features dual 15W speakers, and will start at INR 32,999 (~US$455) on their March 26, 2021 release.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 17 Mar 2021 18:38

Google will reduce its service fee for Play Store developers. (Source: Google)

Google halves the "Play Store tax" levied on about 99% of Android app developers

Google has announced that it is reducing the cut of revenue made on apps sold via the Play Store from 30% to 15%. The change applies to all developers who make US$1 million or less per year on the platform. According to the Mountain View giant, this move is intended to help Android app-makers grow at critical stages of their enterprises.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 17 Mar 2021 18:01

iPhone loyalty is at an "all-time high" in the US in 2021, whereas that for Samsung phones has dropped

A study conducted in the US in March 2021 has found that nearly 92% of all iPhone users polled would upgrade to another Apple smartphone, whereas only 74% of Samsung owners would do the same. This represents a drop of nearly 12% in loyalty to the Android brand compared to 2019, whereas that for iPhones has gone up by 1.4%.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 17 Mar 2021 17:19

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will allegedly ship with a second screen

New leak suggests that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will come with a secondary screen next to its rear camera housing

It seems that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will follow the Mi 11 Ultra's footsteps and include a secondary screen next to its rear cameras. This could theoretically help users take selfies using the objectively more powerful rear camera modules, but the small screen is less than ideal as a viewfinder.

Anil Satyanarayana, 17 Mar 2021 16:53

Is Intel looking to release the DG2 in the second half of 2021? (Image Source: Intel)

Intel DG2 (Xe-HPG) flagship GPU tested in Geekbench along with 16-core Alder Lake-S CPU

The Geekbench OpenCL tests reveal a few new specs for both the GPU and the CPU, but the actual results appear to be too low to reflect the performance of the final product. Intel is probably testing the stability of the chips, as the drivers are not optimized enough for now.

Bogdan Solca, 17 Mar 2021 16:33

The new Doom Eternal DLC will be out sooner than anticipated

Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 to be launched on March 18 across all major platforms

The second Doom Eternal DLC, The Ancient Gods Part 2, will be available for download starting March 18 on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Google Stadia. Much like its predecessor, it will add new gameplay elements such as monsters and weapons. Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 also concludes the Doom Slayer's storyline introduced in Doom 2016.

Anil Satyanarayana, 17 Mar 2021 15:59

Samsung makes its "Awesome" new Galaxy A52 and A72 smartphones official

Samsung's inaugural Galaxy Awesome Unpacked event has debuted the long-awaited Galaxy A52 and A72. The former has 4G/LTE and 5G variants, whereas the latter is 4G/LTE-only. Then again, it is the only one to have an FHD+ display, which is 6.7 inches in diagonal length. The 3 mid-rangers also have new quad rear camera humps and "Awesome" color options.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 17 Mar 2021 15:00

The GeForce 470.05 development driver disables NVIDIA's ETH limiter on the RTX 3060. (Image source: NVIDIA)

NVIDIA attempts to close the stable door after the horse has bolted by pulling GeForce driver that disables crypto mining limiter for the GeForce RTX 3060

It turns out that disabling the ETH hash rate limiter on the GeForce RTX 3060 is as simple as installing a GeForce development driver that NVIDIA published on its website. NVIDIA has admitted that the driver removes the limiter, contrary to claims that a secure handshake existed between multiple elements. Unfortunately for NVIDIA, the driver remains freely available to download.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 14:17

The S888 comes with 4G, GPS and Android 7.0 Nougat. (Image source: AliExpress)

S888: A 4G smartwatch that runs Android and has built-in GPS

The S888 smartwatch supports 4G, GPS and runs Android 7.0 Nougat. The device is also IP65 rated, has a 1.88-inch touchscreen and has 32 GB of storage.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 14:10

This may be one of two foldable Xiaomi smartphones that Xiaomi plans to release this year. (Image source: Weibo)

Suspected Xiaomi Mi Mix foldable prototype images leak as possible Mi Mix 4 specifications emerge

A foldable Mi Mix smartphone remains a hot topic, not least because photos of an alleged prototype have appeared online. Specifications for a Xiaomi ODIN have been published too, apparently having been seen in MIUI code. Some of its specifications include a 120 Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 888 SoC and what may be an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Alex Alderson, 17 Mar 2021 14:05

The OnePlus Watch will include blood oxygen monitoring functionality among other features. (Image: OnePlus)

OnePlus Watch specification details revealed ahead of anticipated March 23 launch

Leaker Ishan Agarwal has managed to get his hands on the specifications of the eagerly anticipated OnePlus Watch. The device looks set to compete with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch range with features including blood oxygen level monitoring and sleep monitoring.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 17 Mar 2021 12:37

The Galaxy Note line lives on but may not see a release in 2021 due to the global chip shortage. (Image: Samsung)

Samsung confirms Galaxy Note may not get a release in 2021, but it will live on in 2022

Despite numerous rumors that Samsung could be set to axe the Galaxy Note line in 2021, the company has said that the Galaxy Note will live on. However, due to the global semiconductor shortage due to unprecedented demand for electronic goods in response to the pandemic, Samsung appears poised to skip the Galaxy Note in this year.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 17 Mar 2021 11:56

AnTuTu delists the Realme GT from its database after accusations of gamed benchmark scores

Realme's newest performance-oriented smartphone, the Realme GT, may not be quite as impressive as thought. Earning an AnTuTu score that shows a tangible performance advantage over other Snapdragon 888-powered flagships, it appears the Realme GT only manages to hit such numbers via unscrupulous means.

Ricci Rox, 17 Mar 2021 10:47

12.09	Google Pixel 11 Pro Review: Real Upgrades Beyond the AI Zoom
12.09	Google Pixel 11 Review: Why the Standard Model Wins
12.09	Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: What Improved, What Didn't
12.09	Pixel 11 Pro Review: Better Phone, Harder to Build On
12.09	Should You Buy the Google Pixel 11? Guide for Pixel Owners
12.09	Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra? Here's what weeks of testing taught me
12.09	Don't call it a laptop — the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 handles like a full desktop
12.09	Gimmick or must-have gadget? I tested the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold phone
12.09	Review: ROG Zephyrus Duo GX651 AX — two displays, a detachable keyboard and power to burn
12.09	Lenovo YOGA Slim 7x 11th Gen Review: Snapdragon Brings a Balance of Portability and Performance