Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations

Rumor | The OPPO Ace series will get a new generation in 2021, but it will be launched by Realme instead

The Ace2 is a 2020 flagship smartphone with up to 40W wireless charging. It was made by OPPO - but its successor won't be. The eminent leaker Digital Chat Station asserts that the series has been adopted by this OEM's sister company Realme instead, which will continue its tradition of top-end processors combined with interesting features.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 30 Nov 2020 18:55

The Nokia 5.4's price may have been revealed already. (Source: Aus Shop IT)

A new leak spills potential pricing info for the upcoming Nokia 5.4

An earlier leak has hinted that Nokia has a successor to the mid-range 5.3 in the works that might launch before the end of the year. However, it failed to mention how much this putative phone might cost. Now, however, Australian retailers have posted pages for this device with this information in their currency.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 30 Nov 2020 18:16

Huami will unveil the Amazfit GTS 2 mini tomorrow, pictured. (Image source: TechnoAnkit1)

Huami Amazfit GTS 2 mini and Amazfit Pop Pro designs presented before December 1 launch

The Amazfit Pop Pro will join the Amazfit GTS 2 mini in being released tomorrow. The former will have a 1.43-inch display and many of the features that one would expect from a contemporary smartwatch. The design of the Amazfit GTS 2 mini has apparently been leaked, too.

Alex Alderson, 30 Nov 2020 17:33

The Android 11 update for MIUI 12 is now arriving on some global devices. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi details the features that Android 11 brings to MIUI 12 as the Mi 10 Pro and Poco F2 Pro receive OS upgrade globally

The global versions of the Mi 10 Pro and Poco F2 Pro have begun to receive Xiaomi's Android 11 upgrade. The devices are some of the first to taste the OS upgrade outside of China, along with the Mi 10. Xiaomi has detailed some of the features that it has introduced to MIUI 12 as of Android 11, too.

Alex Alderson, 30 Nov 2020 16:40

The Samsung Galaxy Note 21 may still be launched after all

Samsung may launch one Galaxy Note 21 variant before retiring the series in 2022

A company insider has told a South Korean news outlet that Samsung plans on releasing one last Galaxy Note smartphone before retiring the series entirely in 2022. The Galaxy Note 21 will come in only one variant, presumably top-of-the-line hardware like the Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 875, an AMOLED panel that can push 120Hz at 1440p, and more.

Anil Satyanarayana, 30 Nov 2020 16:11

The best Cyber Monday laptop deals are here. (Image via Pixabay)

Deal | The 10 best laptop deals for Cyber Monday — Great hardware with enticing discounts

Cyber Monday sales are live and promise some of the best discounts of the year. We list the 10 best laptop deals you can snag right now that promise a great feature set and performance to boot, for a steal.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 30 Nov 2020 12:30

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano with 16:10 screen goes on sale in the USA

Two months after announcement, the compact 16:10 ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 1 is finally orderable in the USA. As usual with Lenovo ThinkPads, pricing is higher than originally announced, as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is not discounted yet.

Benjamin Herzig, 30 Nov 2020 12:25

Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 2 deliver reasonable quality at a budget price. (Image source: Xiaomi/Amazon)

Redmi AirDots 3 or Redmi True Buds 2 Pro wireless earphones appear to be incoming for early 2021

Xiaomi is preparing to release new Bluetooth wireless earphones in the near future, which may either be called the Redmi True Buds 2 Pro or the more familiar and concise Redmi AirDots 3. The audio device has been spotted receiving its Bluetooth certification. The Redmi AirDots 2 were launched in July 2020 at just 79 yuan (US$12) in China.

Daniel R Deakin, 30 Nov 2020 12:03

Ryzen 5000 appears to be compounding Intel's woes with its performance gains. (Image source: AMD)

Ryzen 5 5600X joins the long list of AMD CPUs outselling every Intel part in record Mindfactory sales for Black Friday

The new Vermeer CPU from AMD, the Ryzen 5 5600X, has made a strong showing in the latest Mindfactory CPU sales data that covers Black Friday. The Zen 3 chip joins 12 other AMD processors in outselling every single Intel part on the list. Additionally, 2,290 units of the top-selling Ryzen 5 3600XT were purchased in comparison to just 290 Intel Core i5-10400F processors.

Daniel R Deakin, 30 Nov 2020 10:54

2020 HP Spectre x360 13 with 11th gen Core i5 CPU, Xe graphics, 1080p touchscreen, and 8 GB of RAM down to $760 USD (Image source: HP)

Deal | 2020 HP Spectre x360 13 with 11th gen Core i5 CPU, Xe graphics, 1080p touchscreen, and 8 GB of RAM down to $760 USD

Unlike the low-end Pavilion series or mid-range Envy series, the high-end Spectre series is home to some of HP's most luxurious consumer laptops. The latest model is down to affordable levels for the Holiday shopping season even if it's just the base configuration.

Allen Ngo, 30 Nov 2020 00:49

The Baseus GaN charger series. (Source: Baseus)

Baseus introduces a 120W GaN Quick Charger

Baseus has launched a series of new slim, high-tech third-party chargers equipped with gallium nitride (GaN) technology. One of them is rated to charge 2 devices at up to 60 watts (W) at once. This may make it a good companion for laptops such as the MacBook Pro.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Nov 2020 21:50

Medion Erazer Beast X10 (Tongfang GM7MPHP) in review: Stable, slim, compact gaming laptop with good battery life

The Medion Erazer Beast X10 offers plenty of gaming power, a sober look, and a good level of features

The compact Erazer Beast X10 brings all the latest computer games smoothly onto the 17.3-inch matte screen (Full HD, IPS, 144 Hz). The gaming laptop also scores points with 32 GB of RAM (dual-channel mode), room for two NVMe SSDs, and good battery life.

Sascha Mölck, 29 Nov 2020 20:36

Cyberpunk 2077: What do we know about it?

Although there have been plenty of Cyberpunk 2077-related separate leaks/rumors and official news so far, the time has come for a roundup of what we know about this title's release, its download size, settings, the possible endings, and so on. Fortunately, the release date remains December 10.

Codrut Nistor, 29 Nov 2020 19:56

ZTE announces a new smartwatch with a blood-oxygen sensor and IP68 for ~US$38

ZTE has launched the Watch Live in its native China. This new wearable is of the Apple Watch-clone variety, although it sells for much less than its clear inspiration. Its maker claims that it packs 24-hour heart-rate tracking, blood-oxygen sensing, sleep-tracking and up to 21 hours of battery life in its square casing.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Nov 2020 17:39

A new leak asserts an imminent launch for the Nokia 5.4

Nokia launched its mid-range 5.3 in March 2020. However, a new leak alleges that an upgrade for this phone is already prepared for launch, which it may do alongside the 7.3. The phone is thought to have quad rear cameras, although its display and storage options may be a departure from its predecessor.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Nov 2020 16:56

A new Galaxy S21 render. (Source: Twitter)

The Galaxy S21 is leaked again in all its alleged colors

The respected leaker Ice Universe has posted images showing the upcoming Galaxy S21 in all the color options projected for this new phone on its 2021 launch. They also appear to confirm this device's new kind of frame/camera hump, and that it will be copper-colored in 1 of these SKUs.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Nov 2020 16:29

Lenovo's ThinkPad E15 Gen.2 AMD offers a more compact design and a lot more performance

The ThinkPad E15 Gen.2 features a new more compact design and offers more performance thanks to an AMD CPU. The IPS display is still very dim and the underside still gets very hot under load.

Andreas Osthoff, 29 Nov 2020 16:05

The AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series cards offer great performance...if you can get hold of one. (Image source: AMD)

Dire AMD Radeon RX 6800XT and RX 6800 supply situation epitomized by leaked retailer delivery details: 22 cards incoming for 4,695 orders

AMD is struggling to fulfill orders for the new Radeon RX 6800 XT and RX 6800 desktop graphics cards. A leaked delivery situation form that allegedly comes from the Danish retailer Proshop details the dire straits Team Red appears to be in terms of delivering the RX 6800 XT and RX 6000. Just 0.47% of customers can expect to receive a Navi 21 card.

Daniel R Deakin, 29 Nov 2020 12:01

The Poco M3 offers incredible value at just US$149. (Source: Poco)

POCO M3 sales impress by earning POCO over US$9 million in just thirty minutes

The Poco M3 was recently launched and it appears to be doing reasonably well in terms of sales, with Poco confirming that it made over US$9 million dollars in just thirty minutes of early Poco M3 sales. Those are impressive numbers, considering the phone's very low price.

Ricci Rox, 29 Nov 2020 10:20

A single version has been made of this Cyberpunk 2077 themed RTX 3080. (Image Source: Videocardz)

One-off custom Cyberpunk 2077 RTX 3080 appears in competition run by CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red is running a competition for a single customised RTX 3080, but the regional restriction leaves us hoping that competitions for a similar design might be run in other markets.

Craig Ward, 29 Nov 2020 06:00

Image via Apple and Microsoft (w/ edits).

Developer manages to run Windows ARM64 on M1 MacBook; performance destroys Surface Pro X

An intrepid developer has successfully virtualized Windows 10 on ARM on an Apple M1 device. Others have also replicated the project and posted Geekbench scores from the virtualized environment. These scores put Microsoft's Surface Pro X, the company's current flagship ARM device, to shame.

Sam Medley, 29 Nov 2020 04:46

Some 7 Pro units are seeing these notifications. (Source: Realme)

The Realme 7 Pro starts to get Android 11 in India

Realme has started to push its version of Android 11 to the 7 Pro. However, Indian users in this OS' early access program appear to be the only ones eligible to receive it thus far. The update contains a number of new features, including system optimizations, extra security features and camera options.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 23:43

The Zhiyun Cinepeer C11. (Source: Amazon)

Deal | Get 44% off a Zhiyun gimbal with "professional cinematic features"

Zhiyun's Cinepeer C11 gimbal is an accessory with 3-axis stabilization and features such as object-tracking and motion-lapse features. It is also a 4000mAh power bank, thus allowing the user to keep recording for longer. It is currently 44% off its normal US$89 price for Black Friday.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 22:44

Latest Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is down to $690 USD right now with 3rd gen AMD Ryzen 5 4650U CPU (Source: Lenovo)

Deal | Latest Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is down to $690 USD right now with 3rd gen AMD Ryzen 5 4650U CPU

Instead of paying budget prices for budget laptops, users might want to consider paying just a bit more for higher quality and longer-lasting models. One of Lenovo's flagship AMD ThinkPad business laptops is down to affordable levels without needing to sacrifice processor performance.

Allen Ngo, 28 Nov 2020 20:52

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro. (Source: YouTube)

Huawei is now touted to have liquid-lens technology ready for its next-gen smartphone cameras

Huawei often markets its flagship mobile devices as having cutting-edge camera technology. A new report suggests it has yet another supposedly ground-breaking spec in the works for their successors. This is a liquid lens, an adaptation directed at improved auto-focus in the sensor behind it.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 17:05

Samsung's next TWS earbuds are identified as the Galaxy Buds Pro in a new leak

Samsung is rumored to have a new member of its Galaxy Buds series to launch alongside the S21 smartphones in January 2021. Now, a recent certification has revealed that they may be revealed as the "Pros" of their line at this event. This may be due to the inclusion of ANC in this generation.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 16:27

The possible Reno 5 Pro on TENAA. (Source: TENAA)

Update | The OPPO Reno5 Pro pops up on the TENAA and 3C websites

Earlier, the appearance of a new OPPO phone with what seems to be the Dimensity 1000+ processor and 8GB of RAM gave rise to speculation that it is the Reno5 Pro, meaning it and its vanilla sibling will launch soon. Now, a device with the same model number has appeared on TENAA, 3C and the HDR10+ approval websites, more or less confirming that this is in fact the case.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 15:37

Lenovo IdeaPad S540 13-inch: AMD Ryzen ensures a very good rating despite cut corners

We have taken a look at the 13.3-inch subnotebook Lenovo IdeaPad S540. We were once again surprised by the currently outstanding performance of the Ryzen processors. Thanks to this, the laptop received a very good rating despite the manufacturer having cut a few cut corners.

Christian Hintze, 28 Nov 2020 13:34

The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G was soaked by water jets in the tests. (Image source: Redmi)

Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G survives being dropped, bent, cooked, and frozen in fascinating durability test video

Redmi has released an official durability test video featuring its brand-new Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G smartphone. Samples are run through a brutal battery of tests that go beyond simple drop testing, including freezing, heating, and wince-inducing bending. The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G appears to handle everything thrown at it though.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Nov 2020 09:18

Apple is offering gift cards or discounts with its Black Friday through Cyber Monday event. (Image source: Apple)

Deal | Apple gift card giveaway Black Friday through Cyber Monday: US$150/£120/€150 with a MacBook Pro 16 purchase or US$50/£40/€50 with an iPhone 11

Apple is running a gift card giveaway Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Qualifying purchases will see the buyer rewarded with a card worth from US$25/£20/€25 up to US$150/£120/€150. The deal includes many major Apple products such as the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE, the iPad Pro, Beats headphones, and even the premium MacBook Pro 16.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Nov 2020 07:44

HP 15 for $589 USD is probably the cheapest laptop with the 11th gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 right now

Deal | HP 15 with 11th gen Core i7-1165G7 is only $589 USD right now to be one of the cheapest Tiger Lake laptops available

HP's lowest-end laptops are getting better and better these days with Core i7 CPUs, 1080p IPS displays, 16 GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 6, and even NVMe SSDs much like their pricier Envy or Spectre counterparts.

Allen Ngo, 28 Nov 2020 07:40

The list of the top 10 5G smartphones by sales share for September is dominated by only three groups of ownership. (Image Source: Counterpoint)

The Samsung Note20 Ultra is the top selling 5G phone for September but Huawei has larger share of the top 10

According to market analysis firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung has managed to take the crown for the most popular 5G phone in September 2020 with the Note20 Ultra. However, Huawei has a larger share of the top 10 with the P40 Pro and Nova 7 in a close second and third place respectively.

Craig Ward, 28 Nov 2020 07:39

The Galaxy Tab A7 LTE is one of the best Android tablets in the price class below 300 Euros (~$356).

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 LTE: Overview of the Test Results

Officially, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 LTE only costs 290 Euros ($345; $290 in the US) and convinces with good equipment and performance despite being so affordable. Find out the most important information on the strengths and weaknesses of the 10.4-inch tablet in our overview of the test.

Manuel Masiero, 28 Nov 2020 04:14

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is a modern smartphone with HMS.

Huawei Mate 40 Pro: A good choice despite the lack of Google services

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro turned out to be a powerful high-end smartphone in the test, shining with many premium features. The biggest shortcoming in Germany is the lack of Google services. But are they really absolutely necessary? And what alternatives are there?

Daniel Schmidt, 28 Nov 2020 01:59

The new "2-in-1" TWS earbuds. (Source: Olive Union)

The Olive Pros are TWS earbuds and hearing aids in one

The start-up Olive Union has put its latest product up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo. On first glance, they are a particularly chunky take on the AirPod-clone TWS earbud. This may be because they apparently pack an "FDA-registered" hearing aid in with typical Bluetooth and audio components. They, for example, purport to exclude background noise to isolate human voices.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 23:53

Cyberpunk 2077 may still run well on older systems. (Source: CD Projekt Red)

The Cyberpunk 2077 experience on the PS4 or Xbox One is slated to be "surprisingly good" by CD Projekt Red CEO

CD Projekt Red has just held its third-quarter earnings call for 2020, during which its president and joint CEO Adam Kiciński fielded various questions, many of which were about the upcoming title Cyberpunk 2077. One of them may also have been on the minds of those who still own "non-Pro" PlayStation 4 or Xbox consoles.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 23:09

EMUI 11 beta update set to arrive for the Mate 20 Pro, P30, and P30 Pro in Europe next month

Huawei recently revealed its schedule for the EMUI 11 release. Phones like the P30, P30 Pro, Mate 20, and Mate 20 Pro are all geared to get the EMUI 11 update in Q1 2021 but betas for those devices will arrive in Europe a lot sooner. Indeed, as soon as next month.

Ricci Rox, 27 Nov 2020 21:08

The Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G. (Source: Indiegogo)

Blackview attracts over 2500% of its crowdfunding goal for the rugged Dimensity 800-powered BL6000 Pro

The OEM Blackview decided to combine 5G connectivity with its popular line of rugged phones in the BL6000 Pro. And then it chose to launch this IP68/IP69K-rated device via Indiegogo. This strategy appears to have worked out very well, as it has smashed through its original goal to amass well over $300,000 in backing. Its campaign now has 21 days to go, and also has a special holiday perk at present.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 19:08

HTC's "TWS1" on NCC. (Source: NCC via MySmartPrice)

A new leak spoils the launch of HTC's next TWS earbuds

HTC might be planning a return to the smart mobile market with new TWS earbuds. These products have been spotted on the database of the Taiwanese regulator NCC ahead of their launch. This leak indicates that these new accessories have a Sony-clone look and can use Bluetooth 5.0.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 18:29

The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G is the first device in the series to use Samsung's 108 MP HM2 camera. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi has reputedly already sold over 100,000 units of the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G

Pre-orders for the new Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G have already begun, with Xiaomi having unveiled the device in China yesterday. Astoundingly, the company claims to have already received over 100,000 pre-orders for its latest mid-range smartphone. The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G starts at CNY 1,599 (~US243) and may make its way outside of China as the Redmi Note 9T Pro.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2020 18:08

What happened to the 12-pin power connector, NVIDIA? (Image source: NVIDIA)

NVIDIA may have already killed off the 12-pin power connector on the RTX 3070 Founders Edition

The 12-pin power connector may have been removed from the RTX 3070 Founders Edition. The card remains out of stock in most countries, but NVIDIA has tweeted a marketing photo clearly showing the card with the conventional 8-pin connector.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2020 18:01

The Snapdragon 875 and Snapdragon 775G will be found extensively in smartphones released next year. (Image source: Qualcomm)

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 reportedly scores 740,000 points in AnTuTu, with the Snapdragon 775G close to the performance of the Snapdragon 865

A new report from Digital Chat Station has offered a glimpse of the potential performance of two of Qualcomm's next-generation chipsets. Apparently, the Snapdragon 875 amassed a score of 740,000 points in AnTuTu v8, which would blow the current Snapdragon 865 out of the water. The Snapdragon 775G is no slouch either with a score of 530,000 points.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2020 17:57

12.09	Google Pixel 11 Pro Review: Real Upgrades Beyond the AI Zoom
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12.09	Should You Buy the Google Pixel 11? Guide for Pixel Owners
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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