Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations

This is one of our favourites. (Image source: @REDOF03)

People have been having fun with the DualSense, Sony's PlayStation 5 controller

Sony unexpectedly announced the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller yesterday, but its design has had some unintended consequences. Not only did it cause its rival to trend on social media, but it has resulted in people making all kinds of unflattering comparisons.

Alex Alderson, 08 Apr 2020 16:13

The Surface Dup handheld is expected to launch towards the end of 2020. (Image Source: The Verge)

Microsoft's Surface Duo camera image quality revealed

Keeping in mind that the image uploaded to Instagram is actually a low resolution sample with compression already applied to it, the quality is not bad at all. Then again, maybe this device is not even supposed to have Huawei P40 Pro image quality and should only be appreciated for its dual-hinge-screen design.

Bogdan Solca, 08 Apr 2020 14:50

A render of how a Galaxy S smartphone with a quad-curved display could look. (Image source: Concept Creator & LetsGoDigital)

Renders combine the Galaxy S20 Ultra with a quad-curved display to show what a Galaxy S smartphone of the future could look like

Following the publication of a patent filed by Samsung for a quad-curved display, Concept Creator and LetsGoDigital have teamed up to imagine what such a smartphone could look like. Featuring the rear-facing cameras from the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the design resembles a P40 Pro, but one that truly curves over the front of the device.

Alex Alderson, 08 Apr 2020 14:18

The Redmi Band is water-resistant to a 5 ATM rating. (Image source: Redmi)

Redmi Band now available via online retailer for US$19.99; affordable waterproof fitness tracker coming to India soon

The Redmi Band is now available through an online retailer for the low price of US$19.99. The cheap fitness tracker comes in a choice of four colors and is even waterproof. Unearthed BIS and Bluetooth certifications for the new Redmi Band from Xiaomi have indicated that the wearable will soon be made available in India.

Daniel R Deakin, 08 Apr 2020 13:19

Fan-made PS5 concept design with DualSense and Xbox Series X-factor. (Image source: Reddit - u/robo3687)

PlayStation 5 news: Latest unnerving retailer placeholder price; new fan-made PS5 concept design influenced by DualSense controller and Xbox Series X

Another retailer has created a placeholder price for the upcoming PlayStation 5, and yet again the figure chosen is high enough to unnerve those fans hoping for something well under US$500. An interesting fan-made PS5 concept design has taken its cues from a combination of the just unveiled DualSense controller and the Xbox Series X.

Daniel R Deakin, 08 Apr 2020 12:20

Samsung's next gen flagship Galaxy Tab S range will pick larger 11-inch and 12.4-inch displays. (Source:Samsung)

Samsung retargeting Apple iPad Pro line with new 12.4, 11-inch Galaxy Tabs for 2020

Samsung once again trying to get Apple directly in its sights with rumored new 12.4-inch and 11-inch Galaxy Tabs. It has been all over the shop with display sizes and ratios, but is once again following Apple’s lead.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 08 Apr 2020 11:11

MIUI finally gets Android 10's gesture navigation functionality. (Image Source: Mi Community)

Xiaomi MIUI to finally get Android 10 gesture controls

Users of Xiaomi MIUI 11 will soon be able to enable Android 10 gestures. An update to MIUI 11 is going live to select Chinese ROM users and is expected to be available globally soon.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 08 Apr 2020 10:09

Intel still owns the PassMark desktop processor single-thread performance chart. (Image source: Komputerswiat)

Desktop processor dominance: PassMark's single-thread performance chart is headed by 17 Intel processors

PassMark’s current CPU Mark single-thread performance chart for desktop processors is still dominated by chips from Intel. A total of 17 Intel processors head the table before the first AMD part can be found in the form of the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900. Last month, the top 34 positions were held by Intel chips while an AMD APU was placed erroneously in the 35th spot.

Daniel R Deakin, 08 Apr 2020 10:01

The 192 MP sensor will potentially be even bigger. (Source: Xiaomi)

A Snapdragon 765G-powered phone with a massive 192 MP sensor could be set for launch - Mi Note 11?

According to a new report, there's a new smartphone on the way, coming with a massive 192 MP sensor onboard. The phone, however, will eschew Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 in favor of the sub-premium Snapdragon 765G.

Ricci Rox, 08 Apr 2020 09:12

The all-new Sony PS5 DualSense controller shakes things up. (Source: Sony)

Sony reveals radically different PS5 controller it is calling the 'DualSense'

Sony has unveiled its next-generation PlayStation 5 controller. It has undergone a significant redesign, unlike the Xbox Series X controller, and also picks up a new name – ‘DualSense’. However, its console continues to stay under wraps for the time being.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 08 Apr 2020 03:44

The Chromebook Flip C436 starts at US$799.99. (Image source: Asus)

Asus Chromebook Flip C436: Chrome OS and Comet Lake-U processors starting at US$799.99

Like the Chromebook 715, the Chromebook Flip C436 is another expensive Chromebook from Asus. Announced at CES 2020 in January, the Flip C436 is now available to purchase in the US. Starting at US$799.99, Asus is currently offering the Flip C436 with Core i3 or Core i5 Comet Lake-U processors.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 23:30

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung discontinues official support for the Galaxy S7 series

Samsung has published an update to its security patch update roadmap. It outlines which devices get monthly, quarterly or less frequent upgrades of this nature, revealing in the process that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are on neither of these lists. This, then, definitively marks the end of the series' life.

Deirdre O Donnell, 07 Apr 2020 23:25

The X65 will be Huawei's first OLED TV. (Image source: MyDrivers)

Huawei teases the Smart TV X65, a 65-inch OLED TV with under-display speakers, a pop-up camera and a secret feature

Supposedly launching tomorrow, the Smart TV X65 will be Huawei's first OLED TV. Running on Hongmeng OS and featuring fourteen under-display speakers along with a 24 MP pop-up camera, the X65 will certainly be unique. Huawei has teased a mysterious way of controlling the TV too, but not with your voice or a remote.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 23:16

Smart display ownership may affect personal audio buying choices. (Source: Lenovo)

The Covid-19 pandemic may drive sales of audio equipment: new study

A new study of US households with high-speed internet has found that 44% of them reported having bought speakers, whereas 33% own earphones and 37% own headphones. However, these respondents also reported that smart speakers or smart displays. They are also likely to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic quarantine conditions in the near future.

Deirdre O Donnell, 07 Apr 2020 22:23

The Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus use a 12 MP main camera sensor that's different across the two models. (Source: Samsung)

The Exynos 990-powered Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20+ appear to have a better camera than the Snapdragon 865 models

Comparison camera shots between the Exynos 990-powered Galaxy S20 and the Snapdragon 865-powered ones have revealed that the Exynos models take better pictures—in low light, at least. This is likely one of the few things the Exynos phones are better at.

Ricci Rox, 07 Apr 2020 22:15

Nokia 3.2 users will receive the Android 10 update on their devices soon

Android 10 update for Nokia 3.2 now available for download

Nokia 3.2 is the latest Nokia device to receive the Android 10 update. It brings forth all standard Android 10 features such as a system-wide Dark Mode, improved privacy settings, and more. Much like Nokia's previous software releases, this one is also staged, meaning that it may take a while for you to receive it.

Anil Satyanarayana, 07 Apr 2020 21:47

The Mi Air 2S offer twice the battery life that the Mi AirDots Pro 2 do. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi Air 2S: Apple AirPods clones that offer 24 hours battery life, wireless charging and LHDC support

Fancy a cheap pair of Apple AirPods rip-offs? Well, Xiaomi has you covered with the Mi Air 2S. The TWS earbuds offer up to 24 hours battery life, support for the LHDC codec and wireless charging. Likely sold as the Mi AirDots Pro 2s in other regions, the Mi Air 2S indistinguishable from the Mi AirDots Pro 2.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 20:35

Apple is bringing at least two pairs of Bluetooth headphones to market this year. (Image source: Alejandro Luengo - Unsplash)

Apple targeting WWDC 2020 for over-ear headphones with AirPods X coming in September; plans to phase out the Beats brand afoot too

Details about Apple's first set of over-ear headphones have been released, along with information about the "AirPods Pro Lite". Apparently called the AirPods X, they are part of a wider plan to gradually wind up the Beats. 9to5Mac disagrees, though.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 20:15

Rivet Killer E3100 2.5 Gbps Ethernet controller will debut on upcoming Comet Lake-H Acer and MSI laptops

The new controller will come with the familiar Killer Control Center 2.0 software alongside all existing features like DoubleShot Pro, Killer Intelligence, and GameFast.

Allen Ngo, 07 Apr 2020 20:10

POCO has plans to release a set of TWS earbuds. (Image source: POCO)

POCO puts TWS earbuds into development

Following in the footsteps of Xiaomi and countless other Android OEMs, POCO has confirmed that it is developing a set of TWS earbuds. Understandably, the news has got POCO fans excited.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 20:09

WhatsApp limits forwards to one chat at a time in a bid to combat fake news

WhatsApp just announced that it will let users forward messages to only one chat at a time. The move comes shortly after the company found out that users have been misusing the feature to spread fake news about the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. WhatsApp also says that it is working closely with several governments and NGOs to help users get access to accurate information about the coronavirus.

Anil Satyanarayana, 07 Apr 2020 19:53

The Kirin 985 launch is back on, apparently. (Source: Twitter)

New leaks insist the Kirin 985 SoC exists after all, falls behind Dimensity 1000 in AI Benchmark

Prior to the Honor V30's launch, the rumor mill yielded theories that Huawei would debut a Kirin 985 processor to go with it. However, they were debunked when the same phone launched with the 990 instead. Now, OnLeaks asserts that the former SoC is in fact a thing and will power an upcoming mid-range phone.

Deirdre O Donnell, 07 Apr 2020 19:17

The iPad Pro 11-inch 2020 on Amazon.in. (Source: MySmartPrice)

The 2020 iPad Pros may launch in India via Amazon soon

Amazon.in has reportedly made pages for the new iPads Pro live, suggesting that these tablets will be available on this platform soon. The site allegedly has listings for the 11- and 12.9-inch variants of this series, which both have Wi-Fi only and SIM-enabled options too. They may be sold with 128GB to 1TB of internal storage.

Deirdre O Donnell, 07 Apr 2020 18:31

Raspberry Pi: Turn the single-board computer into a door opener with face recognition and SMS alert

A new project has turned the Raspberry Pi into a cheap electric lock. The project uses facial recognition to make it particularly easy to open the door and should also be comparatively easy for beginners to utilize. Also, relatively little material is required.

Silvio Werner, 07 Apr 2020 18:29

The LG G8 ThinQ: last of its name? (Source: LG)

LG Chocolate 2020: an initial benchmark may confirm this new mid-range incarnation

The smartphone OEM LG is currently rumored to make 2020 the year in which it lays the flagging G ThinQ premium line to rest. Instead, it may now regenerate its Chocolate series, thought to be led back into the limelight by a Snapdragon 765G-powered phone. This theory may have been given more weight by a new listing on the Geekbench 5 website.

Deirdre O Donnell, 07 Apr 2020 17:46

OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 8 series will support wireless charging

OnePlus 8 series officially confirmed to support wireless charging

OnePlus fans will be pleased to know that the OnePlus 8 series will finally come with wireless charging capabilities. The phones can reportedly be charged at speeds as high as 30W via a dedicated charger. Other Qi-capable devices can also use OnePlus' wireless charger, but the speed will be restricted to 5W.

Anil Satyanarayana, 07 Apr 2020 17:16

Origin PC's chassis are clearly more compact than the Schenker ones. (Image Source: Origin PC)

Origin PC EON15-X gaming laptops get refreshed with Ryzen 3000 desktop CPUs

The refreshed EON15-X gaming and NS-15 workstation laptops from Origin PC now come with a choice between Ryzen 5 3600, Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen 9 3900 SKUs with up to 32 GB of DDR4-2666 RAM, up to an RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU and up to 6 TB of storage.

Bogdan Solca, 07 Apr 2020 17:07

Xiaomi claims that Google is behind its Mi 10 box branding. (Image source: Weibo)

Google is playing the pettiest of all games against Huawei on Xiaomi Mi 10 series boxes; other Android OEMs likely to follow suit

Xiaomi has included a special message for its major competitor Huawei on the boxes of European versions of the Mi 10 series. In case you needed reminding, the Mi 10 series provides "easy access to the Google apps that you use most often." Xiaomi claims that its hands are tied though, pointing the figure elsewhere.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 17:04

The upcoming Fold 2 may get pen support. (Image Source: WindowsUnited.de)

New Galaxy Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip 5G details get leaked

Samsung plans to release an improved Galaxy Z Flip version with 5G support towards the end of the year, while the Galaxy Fold 2 could hit the markets this August with larger inner and outer screens, punch-hole selfie cam, S20 rear camera setup and possible pen support. There will be a more affordable 256 GB storage version, as well as a more expensive 512 GB model with better cameras.

Bogdan Solca, 07 Apr 2020 16:34

The new small MacBook Pro could be launched in just a few weeks. (Image source: Apple)

Rumour | MacBook Pro J223 to be announced next month with new MacBook Pro 16 arriving at WWDC 2020

Rumoured to be featuring an all-new 14-inch display, the MacBook Pro J223 is said to be making the switch to faster processors and Apple's Magic Keyboard too. Previously thought to be arriving at WWDC 2020 in June, word is that Apple will launch the MacBook Pro J223 next month, instead. A new MacBook Pro is still slated for WWDC 2020 though, with a refreshed MacBook Pro 16 a likely candidate, apparently.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 15:58

Working from home? A TruSens air purifier deserves a spot in your office

Air filters might not protect you from viruses, but they can certainly alleviate allergies and help make it easier to breathe. Now might be as good a time as any to invest in an air purifier if you're stuck at home working.

Allen Ngo, 07 Apr 2020 15:02

HP ProBook 445 G7 and 455 G7 launching this month with 7 nm AMD Ryzen 7 4700U options (Source: HP)

HP ProBook 445 G7 and 455 G7 launching April with 7 nm AMD Ryzen 7 4700U options

Looks like we'll have to wait a little bit longer before we get to see proper Ryzen PRO 4000U processors for business laptops. Until then, HP will be including the regular consumer Ryzen SKUs onto its latest ProBook models set to launch by the end of the month.

Allen Ngo, 07 Apr 2020 15:00

Atari has still not paid the designer behind its latest game console for his work. (Image source: Atari)

Atari VCS: The console's designer is suing Atari for US$260,000 following the console's indefinite delay

While Atari is still struggling to manufacture its latest game console and ship it to Indiegogo backers, the system architect is suing the company for US$260,000, the salary that he claims the company still owes him.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 14:50

The Mi A3 received its first Android 10 update in February. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Android 10 hits the Xiaomi Mi A3 again, but fans continue to complain about unaddressed bugs and no update for EU handsets

Xiaomi just cannot get Android 10 right on the Mi A3. The device is now on its third Android 10 build, but Xiaomi has neglected to fix the bugs that have been affecting some handsets since February. V11.0.11.0.QFQMIXM is live now as an OTA, but we would recommend giving it a miss.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 14:46

One UI 2.1 offers a 120 Hz refresh rate option for the Galaxy Note 10, but it is of no use.

One UI 2.1 update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S10 adds 120 HZ refresh rate and re-enables NavStar, but there's a catch

The recent One UI 2.1 update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S10 adds a 120 Hz display refresh rate option, but the phones cannot make use of it as their displays are hardware-limited to 60 Hz. The new update also re-enables the NavStar module in the Good Lock app, but there are still bugs to be fixed.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 07 Apr 2020 14:33

Grab an ultra-compact, passively cooled and Core i7-powered mini-computer for under US$350

With the B13 and B16, Partaker has created two particularly compact PCs based on Intel Core processors. Specifically, the devices are available with Core i5 and Core i7 processors, which should offer good performance at a competitive price.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 13:16

The Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen. (Image source: XiaomiAdictos)

Redmi follows Xiaomi's lead by pricing the top-specced Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition at 4,499 yuan (US$638)

Redmi has revealed the price for the top-specced variant of the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition, and it has taken many by surprise. The Xiaomi sub-brand is going to sell the smartphone at a price of 4,499 yuan, which at the current exchange rate is about US$638. This model of the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition comes with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB storage.

Daniel R Deakin, 07 Apr 2020 13:10

Crytek developer feels coding for the PS5 is easier than the Xbox Series X. (Image Source: LetsGoDigital)

Contrary to previous reports, Crytek developer feels the PlayStation 5 can sustain its 10.3 TFLOPs better and is easier to develop for than the Xbox Series X

A Crytek developer by the name of Ali Salehi has opined in an interview to a Persian gaming site that developing for the PlayStation 5 is easier than the Xbox Series X. He also said that the Xbox's higher TFLOP advantage is only applicable in ideal conditions and that the PS5 can better sustain peak performance.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 07 Apr 2020 12:56

An Exynos 990-powered Galaxy S20+ 5G in Cloud Blue. (Source: Notebookcheck)

Opinion: An alternative take on the Exynos 990-powered Samsung Galaxy S20 range

Samsung has been taking quite a lot of flak for its semi-custom Exynos 990 SoC as there are some performance differentials between it and the models shipping in its home market of Korea, China and the US, which are fitted with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. But is the criticism truly warranted?

Sanjiv Sathiah, 07 Apr 2020 12:32

The Redmi Band from Xiaomi has a color LCD. (Image source: Weibo)

Xiaomi's cheap and cheerful Redmi Band fitness tracker appears in series of unboxed and hands-on images

Live images of the upcoming Redmi Band from Xiaomi have made their way online, and the fitness tracker looks surprisingly good considering its ridiculously low price point. The Redmi Band features a 1.08-inch color LCD screen and will initially cost 95 yuan (US$13) before rising to 99 yuan (US$14) upon wider retail release.

Daniel R Deakin, 07 Apr 2020 12:14

The Super Mobile variants of Nvidia's RTX 20 series GPUs bring higher clocks and more CUDA cores. (Image source: Nvidia)

Update | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super Mobile GPU listed on Asus slide but remains missing in action

A slide from Asus has revealed that the manufacturer believed there would be an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super Mobile GPU coming from the graphics card company. However, even though there is a GeForce RTX 2080 Super Mobile part and a GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mobile GPU, it appears that there are no further plans for a 2060 variant at the moment.
Update: Asus has issued a short statement about the subject.

Daniel R Deakin, 07 Apr 2020 09:37

The Reno Ace's successor may have been leaked again. (Source: OPPO)

The OPPO "Reno Ace 2" allegedly shows up on AnTuTu, possibly confirming its flagship SoC

The PDHM00 is a phone OPPO has had approved for launch in China. It is thought that it is a second-gen Reno Ace, a sub-series that focuses on select high-end specs. A set of AnTuTu benchmarking results allegedly linked to it show that it has the Snapdragon 865 processor.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Apr 2020 23:20

Eluktronics "Covert Gamer" laptops will offer Comet Lake-H CPUs, GeForce Super GPUs, and a logo-free outer lid

The all-black and logo-free look will make it easier to use the Eluktronics gaming laptop in more professional settings. 240 Hz display options, calibrated panels, and smart amplifiers round up the package.

Allen Ngo, 06 Apr 2020 22:30

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