Launch

The latest Linux-based laptops from Tuxedo offer quite a wide array of options when it comes to displays and GPUs. The i7-10870H CPU might not be the best solution when the AMD Ryzen 5000H are already available, but users can choose among RTX 3060 / 3070 / 3080 Max-Q GPU options plus 144 Hz / 300 Hz FHD IPS displays and even 4K OLED or IPS screens with 60 Hz refresh rates.

The ROG Phone 5 has now descended on the Android gaming scene, with its super-powered Pro and Ultimate variants for good measure. However, a tech blog claims to have found what could be their successor on the Bluetooth SIG certification website already. Then again, the evidence of this unusually advanced leak is now nowhere to be found.

Today, (March 11, 2021) OPPO has unveiled its Find X3 Pro, X3 Neo and X3 Lite, complete with European pricing. This might leave some consumers wondering where the vanilla X3 went during all this. Well, it does exist, and has the same high-end display and cameras as the Pro, but is only available to pre-order in China.

Oppo's newly-launched Find X3 Neo and Find X3 Lite are low-cost alternatives to the costlier Pro model. They come with FHD+ OLED screens clocked at 90Hz, quad rear cameras, support for 65W fast charging, and more. Both phones will be up for pre-order starting March 18, with sales starting on April 1.

Oppo's first flagship smartphone of 2021 is finally here in the form of the Oppo Find X3 Pro. Some of its specifications include a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen clocked at 120Hz, four rear cameras, a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging, and more. It will be available for pre-order on March 18 for EUR 1,149 (US$1,275)

Insta360's freshly-debuted GO 2 miniature camera is a considerable upgrade over its first generation, not the least in its design and function. Its case still doubles as a battery-pack, but can now also act as a remote control and a tripod. It also has more field-of-view options and storage, as well as a new FlowState stabilization clip mode.

Motorola has launched the G10 Power, a 6,000mAh Android 11 smartphone, in India. Its 6.5-inch HD+ Max Vision display is driven by a Snapdragon 460 SoC, paired to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It will be available via Flipkart from March 16, 2021, and will start at INR 9,999 (~US$137) on that date.

The Dell XPS 13 9305 laptop is now available to purchase from country sites such as the US and UK after previously being listed for sale in China. The XPS 13 9305 is a cheaper variant of the XPS 13 9310 that is also slightly lighter and comes with a 16:9 aspect ratio and lower screen-to-body ratio. The budget Dell XPS 13 utilizes Intel Tiger Lake processors.

Design features from the high-end Alienware laptops are finally making their way onto the more affordable Dell G series. 360 Hz displays and quad-zone RGB lighting will both be optional.

OPPO has launched the F19 Pro and F19 Pro Plus, a new series of smartphones that seem to be exclusive to the Indian market. Accordingly, they are completely new devices rather than re-brands of some kind. They feature 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED displays, quad rear camera and a 5G MediaTek chipset in the higher-end model.

SK Hynix has just launched its latest LPDDR5 RAM product: a ground-breaking 18GB module for smartphones. The OEM claims that it has a superior data-transfer rate compared to existing memory chips of the same generation. This latest and greatest iteration is now in mass production, although it has already been deployed in the top-end SKUs of 1 upcoming device: the Asus ROG Phone 5.

Realme has launched the C21 in Malaysia with a unique rear panel that might make even those not looking for a budget phone take a second look. It houses a 5,000mAh battery that also allows the device to double as a power bank. Its opposite side offers a large enough 6.5-inch HD+ display.

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 10 series in India. The Note 10 series includes the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, Redmi Note 10 Pro, and the base Redmi Note 10. The Pro Max and Pro variants feature largely similar specs including a 120 Hz Super AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 732G SoC. The Redmi Note 10, on the other hand, is powered by a Snapdragon 678 chip and offers a 60 Hz Super AMOLED display.

Realme has launched its first flagship device of 2021. The OEM asserts that the new GT 5G has been designed and equipped to get the most out of its Snapdragon 888 platform, from its "gaming" 120Hz E4 AMOLED display to its new stainless steel-augmented cooling system. It also does indeed come in finishes that include "racing-stripe" vegan leather, and starts at just under ~US$450 in China.

Vivo has announced the S9 5G, alongside its more budget S9e 5G sibling. The main event here has the new, 6nm Dimensity 1100 SoC, which is now packaged in a distinctly iPhone 12-like design, complete with a notch for a dual selfie camera. It can be pre-ordered from now in China, starting at ~US$464 for an 8GB RAM base model.

Meizu has got the jump on the premium Android smartphone launch season with its new 18 and 18 Pro flagships. The OEM has revealed that the series offers specs such as 120Hz curved displays, 50MP main cameras and internal storage with top-end UFS 3.1 speeds. The new devices are up for pre-order in China from now.

Realme has announced that it will launch its first 108MP camera phone in 2021. Not only that, but the top-end sensor in question is Samsung's latest CMOS of this resolution: the ISOCELL HM2. It has features such as 3x lossless zoom, nonapixel binning. The OEM has developed "Starry", tilt-shift and Neon Portrait modes for it in the 8 Pro.

Oukitel has announced that its latest rugged phone is the first of its kind to ship with Android 11 out of the box. The device is also touted as "lightweight", which, given its MediaTek Helio A22 SoC and 4GB of RAM, might be meant in more ways than one. It will start at ~US$90 on its March 8, 2021 release.

The new Satellite C50 models come with Intel Ice Lake CPU options including the Core i3-1005G1, i5-1035G1, and i7-1065G7, up to 16 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, up to 512 GB of SATA SSD storage and 15.6-inch HD or FHD displays. Prices start at $519.

OPPO has unexpectedly launched the Reno5 K 5G in China. This phone might sound familiar, as it is effectively a pre-existing device with a new SoC: the Snapdragon 750G. Therefore, it might be a more affordable variant, although it still packs all the best features of its series, 90Hz display and 65W charging included.

The next generation of Realme's affordable Narzo line is now official, along with its newest TWS earbuds. The 30 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U SoC and has a 5,000mAh battery, whereas the 30A gets one of 6,000mAh, even if it has an older and 4G-only Helio G85 processor. It is available from now, whereas its more premium sibling will have a March 4, 2021 release.

Xiaomi has launched the 2021 variants of the RedmiBook Pro 14 and RedmiBook Pro 15. Shoppers in China can choose from among six SKUs, with Intel Core i5 and i7 Tiger Lake processors and the Nvidia GeForce MX450 dGPU as central component options. The RedmiBook Pro 14 is fitted with a 2.5K display while the RedmiBook Pro 15 gets a 3.2K screen.

The Alloy Origins is the company's first 60 percent keyboard and it's now shipping for $99 USD. Its launch comes a few months after the Ducky One 2 Mini mechanical keyboard which was made in collaboration with HyperX.

Lenovo has introduced an upgraded ThinkPad X13 Gen 2. This year, we get to see internal upgrades to both Intel Tiger Lake and AMD Ryzen 5000 platforms. The new ThinkPad X13 Gen 2 offers 16:10 display options, Wi-Fi 6e, optional 5G connectivity, and comes in Black and Storm Grey color choices along with Lenovo's suite of ThinkShield privacy features.

Amongst all the laptops, Lenovo has announced the ThinkVision P40w, which they claim is the world’s first professional monitor with both a Thunderbolt 4 connection and support for Intel Active Management Technology. The P40w-20 can act as your desk up with eKVM to switch between connected PCs and multiple peripheral outputs.

Lenovo has launched three new mobile workstations called the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2, ThinkPad P14si Gen 2 and ThinkPad P15s Gen 2. They come with several enterprise-centric features such as an Nvidia (Quadro) T500 GPU, LTE connectivity, and a Smart Card Reader. ThinkPad P14si Gen 2 and P15s will be retail for US$1,389 in March 2021, and the ThinkPad P14si in May 2021 for US$1,169

Lenovo has announced a spec refresh for its affordable business-class ThinkPad L14 and L15. The main changes are updates for AMD Ryzen 5000 and Intel 11th Gen processors and optional Nvidia MX450 graphics.

Lenovo has upgraded the ThinkPad X13 Yoga to a Gen 2 version. The ThinkPad X13 Yoga Gen 2 now offers Intel Tiger Lake vPro and several 16:10 display options in FHD+ and QHD+ resolutions with low blue light technology and optional PrivacyGuard. The new X13 Yoga also bundles Lenovo's familiar ThinkShield suite of security solutions.

The new Z series is only available in Japan for the time being and features three variants. The more affordable one includes an FHD display and the Core i5-11300H CPU, plus a 53 Wh battery that may last up to 34 h. VAIO also supplies more expensive variants with Core i7-11370H and i7-11375H CPUs that get FHD as well as 4K display options. Battery on the 4K display variants may last up to 17 h. All models come with light carbon fiber chassis that weigh around 1 Kg.

The new model is backwards compatible with older Toughbook 33 accessories. Its Bitlocker encryption and IP65 and MIL-STD certifications make it ideal for public sector, enterprise, and government environments.

The Samsung online store will begin accepting pre-orders for the rest of the month where users can get an $80 credit towards the purchase of Samsung accessories. After March 1, the credit will be reduced to just $30.

Motorola has unveiled two new mid-range smartphones, the Moto G10 and Moto G30. Both devices come with a 6.5-inch HD+ screen, 5,000mAh battery, four rear cameras, NFC and more. The Moto G10 will cost €149.99 (US$182) and the Moto G30 €179.99 (US$218).

The mid-range Samsung Galaxy F62 has finally been launched in India. Some of its key specs include an Exynos 9825 SoC, 7,000mAh battery, four rear cameras and a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen. It will be available via online portals such as Flipkart, Reliance Digital and Samsung's official website starting at INR 23,999 (US$$330).

The Epic Games Store is releasing all Kingdom Hearts games (across various collections) for the PC on March 30. The games appear to be direct ports from the respective console versions.

Xiaomi has now officially announced its next set of mid-range phones. The Redmi Note 10 series is confirmed to be on the way to the Indian market and could be marketed as mid-range camera heavyweights when it's launched next month.

Xiaomi has now brought the Mi 11 to the global market, with a starting MSRP of €749. Unlike the Chinese model, the global Mi 11 ships with a 55 W charger in the box, which should assuage the fears of expectant fans.

Samsung has quietly unveiled its newest low-cost Galaxy M12 smartphone. It comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ screen, four rear cameras, an Exynos 850 SoC and a 6,000mAh battery. The device is only available for purchase in Vietnam at the moment for an unspecified price.

HMD Global has unveiled the Nokia 1.3's successor, the Nokia 1.4. It comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ screen, two rear cameras, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 SoC, up to 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and a 4,000mAh battery. It will retail at €99 (US$119) and will be available for purchase globally soon.

Micron has launched its latest form of DRAM, which is also now in volume production. It is based on the company's 1-alpha (1α, or fourth-generation) 10 nanometer (nm) node, and also incorporates 176-layer NAND for the first time. Micron asserts that has up to 40% more memory cells, and is up to 15% more power-efficient, than its predecessor.

Today (27 January 2021), OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei launched his first company formed since leaving that OEM in 2020, and it's...Nothing. This new brand-name apparently applies to new and innovative tech Pei and his team plan to build from the ground up with no reference to what has gone before. However, there is still no word on what forms these products are to take yet.

ZTE has launched a new low-cost 5G-ready smartphone. The ZTE Blade X1 5G features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC, four rear cameras, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, NFC, and a 4,000mAh battery. It is exclusive to Visible and costs US$384

The DOOGEE S88 Pro stood out among toughphones with its 10,000mAh battery and the "robot-eye" LEDs in its rear panel. The new S88 Plus retains these, but also comes with 8GB of RAM, as opposed to 6GB in its predecessor. It also packs reverse wireless charging so as to share its giant capacity in an emergency, and has a special introductory price for its launch on AliExpress.

Motorola's newest affordable flagship is finally here. The Motorola Edge S comes with an impressive spec sheet that includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, a 6.7-inch LCD screen clocked at 90Hz, four rear cameras, two selfie cameras, and a 5,000mAh battery that supports fast charging at 20W. It has been launched in China for RMB 1,999 (US$310).

Samsung has announced the latest in its EVO series of SSDs. The OEM is pitching the 870 at users with network-attached servers (NASs) as well as consumer PCs. It is rated for top SATA read and write speeds and for 30% performance improvements over its predecessor.

MediaTek has launched two new Dimensity-branded chipsets, the Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100. The former is MediaTek's latest ARM Cortex-A78-powered flagship offering which performs on par with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, while the latter is a slightly more scaled-down version. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is expected to debut alongside a Realme smartphone soon.

The latest 11.6-inch HP Chromebooks will have both Intel and MediaTek options. Users who favor battery life will prefer the latter while the former will excel in performance and ports.

Not many rugged phones come in main colors other than black or have horizontally-oriented quad rear cameras. However, the F150 B2021 offers both. Its OEM has set it at a regular price of US200; however, it is down to $110 for its debut on Banggood or AliExpress.

OPPO may have set a rough date for the launch of its 2021 premium smartphone series, likely to be called the Find X3 and X3 Pro. At the opposite end of its mobile-device spectrum, the A93 5G has debuted with Qualcomm's latest 5G-for-the-masses SoC. It offers decent specs, including 8GB of RAM and a headphone jack, for about US$310 in China.

Samsung has added Pro variants to its Galaxy Buds series of TWS earbuds. They are rated for upgraded active noise cancellation (ANC), voice-call quality and 360° Audio. They can also switch automatically between different mobile devices from their OEM depending on what the user is doing with either one.

Asus and MSI have released details about their new Z590 motherboards with the LGA 1200 socket that offer support for Comet Lake and Rocket Lake chips from Intel. MSI’s range features 12 boards that are headlined by a revamped MEG Z590 GODLIKE while the 13 boards from Asus are led by the pricey ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial.