Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT has a base clock of 3.8 GHz. (Image source: AMD)

Updated | AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT manages credible results on Geekbench placing it in the company of the Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel Core i9-10900K but its predecessor offers better value

A Matisse Refresh AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT desktop processor has been spotted on Geekbench 5.1 along with a Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master motherboard. The 12-core chip recorded results that put it in the same ballpark as the Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel Core i9-10900K, but it is likely better scores can be squeezed out of it yet.
Update: Much better results for the 3900XT have been unearthed.

Daniel R Deakin, 24 Jun 2020 22:17

The Huawei Watch GT 2 currently costs from £159.99 (US$199). (Image source: Huawei)

Huawei Mate Watch running on Harmony OS rumored to be launching alongside the Huawei Mate 40 series in October

It has been rumored that Huawei is planning on releasing a Mate Watch at the same time as the expected Huawei Mate 40 smartphone series. According to a leaker, the Huawei Mate Watch will operate with Harmony OS (known as HongMeng OS in China) and could be launched on October 1.

Daniel R Deakin, 24 Jun 2020 21:59

Latest HP Envy x360 13 with Ryzen 7 4700U, 512 GB NVMe SSD, and 8 GB RAM now on sale for $750 USD (Source: HP)

Deal | Latest HP Envy x360 13 with Ryzen 7 4700U, 512 GB NVMe SSD, and 8 GB RAM now on sale for $750 USD

It may not be a super-fancy Spectre, but it's still a solid deal especially since this is HP's newest Envy chassis design and not some older last generation model. The sale will last until July 19.

Allen Ngo, 24 Jun 2020 21:24

The Xiaomi Mi 10 is available in black, blue, and peach gold. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi 10 smartphones get a temporary price cut of up to 300 yuan (US$42) during the Dragon Boat Festival

Xiaomi has been slashing the price of its Mi 10 flagship smartphone again as a special Dragon Boat Festival offer. Three RAM + storage variants have been reduced during the holiday period, by 200-300 yuan depending on the model (US$28-US$42). The offer is expected to start on June 25, but unfortunately it is only for the Chinese market.

Daniel R Deakin, 24 Jun 2020 20:58

Over 100 themes can be used on the Xiaomi Mi Band 5. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 BIS certification signals upcoming India launch - optimistic price speculation of ₹2,499 (US$33) offered

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 activity tracker has been spotted in Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification, leading to speculation that the popular wearable will soon be launched in India. Although no concrete prices have been given for the Mi Band 5 in India yet, a figure of ₹2,499 (US$33) has been suggested.

Daniel R Deakin, 24 Jun 2020 20:12

The Raspberry Pi Ethernet bridge in action. (Image source: TopSpec via Raspberry Pi Blog)

Raspberry Pi: Improve internet performance on the Nintendo Switch using the popular single-board computer

A simple project has demonstrated how to utilise a Raspberry Pi as an Ethernet bridge for the Nintendo Switch. The project can yield dramatic improvements in internet performance and may reduce online multiplayer lag too.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jun 2020 20:08

NVIDIA's new GeForce Game Ready driver is DirectX 12 Ultimate-compatible

The latest Windows 10 Game Ready driver for NVIDIA GeForce cards unlock DirectX 12 Ultimate features on RTX GPUs. This may bring attributes such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading to certain games. The new driver also supports 9 more G-SYNC-enabled monitors from AOC, Dell, LG and other OEMs.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 24 Jun 2020 20:00

The global and Indian variants of the Xiaomi Redmi K20 and Mi 9T have now received MIUI 12 too. (Image source: Xiaomi)

MIUI 12 stable update arrives for the global and Indian versions of the Xiaomi Redmi K20 and Mi 9T

The first stable MIUI 12 update has been released for the global and Indian versions of the Xiaomi Redmi K20 and Mi 9T. The updates, which are arriving as OTA downloads, introduce a host of changes for the devices and follow the introduction of MIUI 12 on the global version of the Redmi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro. The European version of the Mi 9 has been recently upgraded to MIUI 12 too.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jun 2020 19:57

The Honor 9A retails for £149.99 or €149.90. (Image source: Honor)

Honor 9A launched: Budget smartphone launching in the UK and Europe on July 1

The Honor 9A is making its way to the UK and the Eurozone on July 1. The device, which features a 5,000 mAh battery and a 6.53-inch display, will retail for £149.99 and €149.90.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jun 2020 19:18

The Powkiddy V90 is naked in its influences. (Image source: Powkiddy via Retro Dodo)

Powkiddy V90: A compact retro handheld games console with up to four hours battery life

The Powkiddy V90 is another handheld retro games console. Styled on the Game Boy Advance SP, the Powkiddy V90 is available in red or yellow for US$39.99. The device comes with a 1,040 mAh battery, a USB Type-C port and a 3.0-inch IPS display.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jun 2020 19:12

OM-D cameras will not be made by Olympus any more. (Source: Olympus)

Olympus announces that it has cut its camera business loose

Olympus has officially confirmed it has signed an agreement to relinquish the imaging division of its company. This means that cameras such as those of the OM-D series will no longer be available under their original maker's name. However, there are plans for a new, separate entity that will make and sell their successors.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 24 Jun 2020 19:09

The Redmi K40 will likely be released in July

Redmi K40 tipped for a July launch; will feature a MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC, 144Hz screen, and more

Prolific leaker Digital Chat Station states that Xiaomi is expected to release a phone powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 1000+ SoC in July. It is very likely the Redmi K40, as earlier leaks speculated that it would come with a MediaTek chip, 144Hz screen, and support for 33W fast charging.

Anil Satyanarayana, 24 Jun 2020 16:56

The Navi iGPUs could be making a first appearance in the low-powered Van Gogh APUs this year. (Image Source: AMD)

Rumor | More PCI IDs and codenames support the leaks regarding the absence of Navi iGPUs from AMD's upcoming Ryzen 5000 laptop APUs

Even though the 2021 Ryzen 5000 APUs may only integrate the good old Vega GPU cores, the highly-anticipated Navi iGPUs could make an early appearance with the Van Gogh ultra-low power APUs that could launch sooner than expected, possibly later this year.

Bogdan Solca, 24 Jun 2020 16:47

Zotac's ZBOX Cl622 nano mini PCs are completely silent, making them ideal for HTPC setups. (Image Source: Zotac)

Zotac readies ZBOX Cl622 nano fanless mini PCs with Comet Lake-U CPUs

The ZBOX Cl622 nano mini PC barebones come with CPU options such as the Core i3-10110U and i7-10510U models from the laptop-grade Comet Lake-U family and also offer a fanless design, making these systems ideal for HTPC setups.

Bogdan Solca, 24 Jun 2020 16:10

Samsung Odyssey G9 gaming monitor now available for purchase globally

Samsung Odyssey G9 gaming monitor released with a 49-inch curved screen, 240Hz HDR10+ QLED panel, and more; will retail at $1,699

Samsung unveiled its colossal 49-inch Odyssey G9 gaming monitor at CES 2020 this year. It has a resolution of 5120×1440 and comes with a QLED panel clocked at 240Hz. The monitor is now available for purchase globally at $1,699.

Anil Satyanarayana, 24 Jun 2020 15:53

The Galaxy Z Flip is getting a 5G refresh soon. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G: NFC and Bluetooth certifications put the upcoming 2020 clamshell close to launch

Samsung is currently believed to have a 5G version of its Galaxy Z Flip in the works. Several new listings on the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) website confirm this, overtly naming multiple versions of the same device in these terms. One of them has also gained a certification to use NFC.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 24 Jun 2020 15:43

The OnePlus Z/Nord is coming. (Source: OnePlus)

OnePlus Z/Nord: US market set to get the short end of the stick again

OnePlus has confirmed the imminent launch of its upcoming mid-range phone. The phone is expected to be the OnePlus Z or OnePlus Nord, and will be a spiritual successor to the OnePlus X. Sadly, though, a US release looks to be in doubt.

Column by Ricci Rox, 24 Jun 2020 15:31

Mobvoi TicWatch C2+ Wear OS smartwatch Platinum version (Source: Mobvoi)

Mobvoi TicWatch C2+ now available with a 10% introductory discount, GPS support and 1 GB RAM in tow

With a full retail price of US$210, the Wear OS-driven TicWatch C2+ comes with 1 GB of memory, GPS support, 4 GB of internal storage, but uses the rather old Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100. This smartwatch sports Google Pay support via NFC and is compatible with both Android and iOS handsets.

Codrut Nistor, 24 Jun 2020 15:21

The Amazfit Zenbuds will launch soon. (Source: Amazfit)

Update: Now live | Amazfit will launch its ZenBuds via Indiegogo at the end of June 2020

Amazfit claims that its ZenBuds are capable of enhancing sleep or relaxation due to their noise-cancelling, health-tracking and other properties. The brand has finally announced details on how this version of the truly wireless (TWS) earbud will be premiered: as a reward on its upcoming crowdfunding campaign.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 24 Jun 2020 15:01

Intel and OEMs have killed undervolting and there is little that you can do about it

Undervolting is dead. Worse still, OEMs are killing the functionality on older machines too. Undervolting is no longer possible on recent Dell XPS laptops, for example, nor on the Surface Laptop 3 or Surface Pro 7.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jun 2020 14:41

The USB 2.0 issue appears to only affect MacBooks that Apple released this year. (Image source: Apple)

Experiencing disconnects and freezes with USB devices on your new MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro? There is a workaround

Are you experiencing disconnects and freezes with USB 2.0 devices on your new MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro? Well, you are not alone. Apple is yet to recognise the issue officially, but there is a workaround for the time being.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jun 2020 14:32

The Android 10 upgrade for the Mi A2 Lite was not a smooth one. (Image source: Geekyranjit)

Xiaomi releases a new update Mi A2 Lite targetting at reducing system lag and increasing system stability

Xiaomi has issued a new update for the Mi A2 Lite. Called V11.0.7.0.QDLMIXM, the new Android 10 promises to reduce system lag and increase system stability for the Android One handset. The update is rolling out now as an OTA and can be download manually.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jun 2020 14:27

When fast means slow: some Asus VivoBook 17 laptops may have a huge performance bug (Image source: Asus)

When fast actually means slow: some Asus VivoBook 17 laptops may be suffering from a huge performance bug

Set the system to High Performance mode and the processor will slow to a crawl. Our experience with a Comet Lake-U-powered VivoBook 17 retail unit shows it might have some issues related to the standard Windows power profiles.

Allen Ngo, 24 Jun 2020 07:59

Chuwi LarkBox mini PC Indiegogo campaign is finally live at $155 USD and set for an August launch window (Source: Chuwi)

Lemon-sized Chuwi LarkBox 4K mini PC is finally live at $155 USD and set for an August launch window

Early bird backers can get the super-small HTPC for $149 instead. The LarkBox is notable for its lemon-sized dimensions, Celeron J4115 CPU, and wide array of ports.

Allen Ngo, 24 Jun 2020 00:42

The Redmi Note 7 finally receives its first taste of Android 10. (Source: Xiaomi)

The Redmi Note 7 is now receiving the stable Android 10 update

Rejoice, Redmi Note 7 owners, Android 10 is here for you. Xiaomi has begun rolling out the Android 10 update to the Redmi Note 7 in China, with the build number "MIUI 11.0.2.0.QFQCNXM". A global rollout is expected in the coming weeks.

Ricci Rox, 24 Jun 2020 00:29

This may not have been the hit Nintendo hoped for. (Source: Nintendo)

Nintendo shows signs of giving up on the smartphone gaming market altogether

Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Switch is inarguably one of the biggest hits of “lockdown life”. However, its mobile titles (Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes, for example) have not exhibited the same level of success, to the extent that the company allegedly has no new titles planned for this platform.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 23 Jun 2020 23:18

Dozens of women have recently made allegations in regard to facing criminal behavior while working in the games industry. (Image source: ISHN)

Games industry rocked by multiple reports of sexual harassment accusations and allegations of inappropriate behavior

The games industry is under the spotlight again due to a fresh wave of sexual harassment accusations and reports of inappropriate behavior. Companies that have been named in these reports include Ubisoft, Insomniac Games, Bungie, Paradox Interactive, Twitch, and the IGN media network. In some instances, there have been alleged threats of violence and even incidents of rape.

Daniel R Deakin, 23 Jun 2020 23:12

Official AMD Ryzen shopping pages exacerbate the major problem they're facing on laptops

There aren't a lot of gaming laptops that come with the Ryzen 5 4600H or Ryzen 7 4800H to choose from at the moment. As powerful as the Renoir series may be, Intel still has a major lead in sheer volume and options.

Allen Ngo, 23 Jun 2020 22:19

The new Realme XT smartphone exploded while being charged. (Image source: 91Mobiles/Roshan Singh)

Brand-new Realme XT smartphone goes up in flames but Realme attributes it to "external force"

A brand-new Realme XT smartphone has gone up in flames during charging, leaving the owner with a charred husk of a device. However, Realme believes the phone exploded “due to external force” whereas the user is insistent that the Realme XT had its meltdown while charging overnight.

Daniel R Deakin, 23 Jun 2020 20:42

The Mi 10 series may have a whole new flagship soon. (Source: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+ could launch in August 2020

The eminent Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station has dropped a number of hints as to the launch schedules of what could be the next flagships from Xiaomi and Redmi. The latter may have the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC and is thought to be the first of these 3 to debut. That leaves what are thought to be the Mi 10 Pro+ and, finally, the next-gen Mi Mix.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 23 Jun 2020 19:02

Raspberry Pi: Transform the popular single-board computer into a Radio Time Machine. (Image source: u/alexis__reddit/)

Raspberry Pi: Transform the popular single-board computer into a pocket-sized vintage radio

Thanks to a straightforward project, the Raspberry Pi can be used as the basis for a pocket-sized vintage radio. Featuring playlists for every decade from the 1920s to the present day, the so-called Radio Time Machine utilises a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, an Arduino Nano, some RGB LEDs and the shell from a vintage Bluetooth radio.

Alex Alderson, 23 Jun 2020 18:38

MIUI 12 has now reached the global versions of the Redmi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Global stable MIUI 12 update lands for the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro; MIUI 12 update for the Mi 9 arrives in Europe too

Xiaomi has extended the rollout of MIUI 12 for the Redmi K20 Pro, Mi 9T Pro and Mi 9 following the release of the OS update in China. MIUI 12 is now available for the global versions of the Redmi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro, along with the European variant of the Mi 9.

Alex Alderson, 23 Jun 2020 18:08

The Lemfo A36W 4G is available in three colours and for as little as US$52.99. (Image source: Lemfo)

Lemfo A36W 4G: An affordable smartwatch with 4G, IP certification, GPS and a large battery

The Lemfo A36W 4G is a cheap smartwatch that includes not only a large battery and IP certification, but also a 4G modem and GPS. The Lemfo A36W 4G is available in three colours and has dedicated SOS functionality.

Alex Alderson, 23 Jun 2020 18:00

Realme’s oddly familiar 1+4+N marketing strategy graphic (Image source: Android Authority)

Realme’s 1+4+N strategy is a near-carbon copy of Huawei’s 1+8+N, even comes with the almost identical presentation graphics

In an amusing gaffe at a business presentation, Realme appears to have lifted Huawei’s 1+8+N marketing strategy word for word. Its 1+4+N strategy even features almost the exact same presentation graphics.

Arjun Krishna Lal, 23 Jun 2020 17:40

One of Huawei's new phone designs. (Source: LetsGoDigital)

Future Huawei phones could have under-display selfie cameras and no physical buttons

Huawei has patented what could be its next-gen mobile-device form-factors. Not only do they have no discernible front-facing cameras, their side-buttons are replaced with what appear to be parts of a flexible display instead. These virtual keys have corresponding cut-outs in the device's frame.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 23 Jun 2020 17:37

The A01 Core is likely a successor to the A2 Core pictured here (Image source: Samsung)

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy A01 Core brings back major feature: a removable battery

According to a recent leak, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A01 Core could feature a removable battery. In the era of ultra-thin bezels and shrinking phones, this appears to be a genuine usability win.

Arjun Krishna Lal, 23 Jun 2020 17:23

Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor S2721HGF. (Source: Dell)

Dell's new 27-inch curved and flat panel gaming monitors feature fast refresh rates and support for NVIDIA/AMD adaptive sync tech

Dell has announced two new gaming monitors that promise a smooth, stutter-free gaming experience. The Dell 27 Curved Gaming S2721HGF is a 1500R curved VA FHD panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate while the Dell 27 Gaming Monitor S2721DGF is a flat panel QHD IPS display with a 165 Hz refresh rate and true 1 ms GTG response time. The S2721DGF also features DisplayHDR 400 support and a plethora of connectivity options.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 23 Jun 2020 17:19

Dell G5 Desktop 5000 gets refreshed with Intel 10th gen Comet Lake-S CPU options. (Image Source: Dell)

Dell refreshes G5 Desktop 5000 with Intel 10th gen Comet Lake-S and an assortment of AMD and NVIDIA options; redesigned XPS Desktop coming next month

Dell has refreshed the G5 Desktop 5000 to feature Intel Comet Lake-S CPUs and a range of NVIDIA GPUs till the RTX 2070 Super while also offering an AMD Radeon RX 5600 option. The rest of the chassis and RGB lighting are similar to the previous generation. Dell will also be introducing a redesigned XPS Desktop later in July, which will be part of the NVIDIA RTX Studio Program.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 23 Jun 2020 17:00

The Dell G7 15 7500 is more compact than last year's model, but it also loses its predecessor's numeric keypad. (Image source: Dell)

Dell G7 15: A new design with more powerful components and optional 300 Hz or OLED displays, but no numeric keypad

Dell has overhauled the G7 15 with a refined design and more powerful components. The G7 15 7500 will be available with up to an Intel Core i9-10980HK, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. 144 Hz and 300 Hz IPS or 4K OLED displays are available too. The new Dell G7 15 has lost its numeric keypad, though.

Alex Alderson, 23 Jun 2020 17:00

The Dell G7 17 has been redesigned and given an overhaul internally. (Image source: Dell)

Dell G7 17: Powerful 17-inch gaming laptop receives an eye-catching redesign; up to a Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q and optional 300 Hz IPS or 4K OLED displays available

Dell has unveiled the new G7 17. The device features a new design that includes full-sized arrow keys and eye-catching RGB LED strip. The new G7 17 comes with a choice between multiple powerful components too, including the Core i9-10980HK and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q. Update: Dell has since confirmed that it has also released an RTX 2070 SUPER SKU. This version will be available with 32 GB of RAM, too. There is no OLED option, though.

Alex Alderson, 23 Jun 2020 17:00

The Alienware RGB Gaming Keyboard MK410K fits nicely with Alienware's spaceship design language. (Image source: Alienware)

Alienware's new RGB mechanical gaming keyboard looks like a spaceship engine

Alienware's new MK410K RGB Gaming Keyboard offers CherryMX Brown switches in a design that looks right at home with their new "Spaceship Engine" design. It would also be an interesting way to round out a future-themed custom build.

Craig Ward, 23 Jun 2020 17:00

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