Chinese Tech

OPPO has now confirmed that its premium Find X3 smartphone series will launch on March 11, 2021. Its flagship, the X3 Pro, is now rumored to have a display panel that combines the high-end E4 AMOLED and LTPO specs. However, it will allegedly also start for less than a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with the same amount of internal storage.

Oppo released its Band fitness tracker last year in China, where it is available in two styles. However, the company has finally decided to bring the affordable device to a wider audience with a global launch, which is planned for March 8.

The Mijia Mi Smart Projector 2 Pro is a relatively portable FHD projector launched by Xiaomi with the potential advantage of a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for added focus capabilities in late 2020 in China. Now, it has a Global variant, which means it runs Android TV and is available on Banggood from now.

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro has featured in an unboxing video that shows off all of the features of the upcoming military-grade smartwatch. The T-Rex Pro utilizes software based on real-time operating system (RTOS) and features a BioTracker 2 PPG optical sensor and SpO2 blood-oxygen level measurement all for €169.90 (US$203).

Xiaomi has certified the Mi 11 Pro and the Mi 11 Ultra in China with the TENAA. The two devices should be Xiaomi's flagship Mi 11 series smartphones and will be more premium versions of the Mi 11 that Xiaomi announced globally last month.

The RedMagic 6 Pro is Nubia's new mobile gaming flagship phone equipped with ultra-fast 120 watt (W) charging technology. The OEM markets this phone as capable of re-filling its 4500mAh battery to 0-50% in just 5 minutes, or all the way to 100% in 17 minutes. However, a vlogger claims his new 6 Pro can actually beat those times.

The Apple Watch, Huawei Watch GT and Galaxy Watch lines helped their respective OEMs maintain their leading positions in the smartwatch space in 2020. This was a year in which the market showed relatively little growth, although its premium segment enjoyed a "significant" uptick.

Huawei has come out swinging in response to criticism that the smartphone version of HarmonyOS is nothing more than a re-branded EMUI. According to reports, Huawei asserts that people do not have an 'understanding of open-source software' if they believe such things. However, in doing so, Huawei has confirmed that HarmonyOS is not the brand-new OS that it wants us to believe it is.

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.

According to a new rumour, OnePlus is gearing to release a successor to the popular OnePlus Nord. Dubbed the OnePlus Nord 2, the device will arrive between April and June 2021. However, the OnePlus Nord 2 will supposedly eschew Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets for the MediaTek Dimensity 1200.

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.

OnePlus plans to release the OnePlus 9 Pro in an exclusive colour, according to new reports. Supposedly called Stellar Black, the colour appears to have a textured matte finish. Meanwhile, pre-orders for the OnePlus 9 series and the OnePlus Watch should commence on March 23.

The Redmi Note 10 series has finally been launched in India, and fans of the series in other markets now have something concrete to anticipate. According to a new leak, however, Xiaomi may make some changes with the Redmi Note 10 lineup in Europe.

The Redmi K40 series seems to have been a massive hit among the Chinese audience, as it managed to sell over 300,000 units within five minutes of going on sale in China. That number includes all three Redmi K40 variants, including the Redmi K40, Redmi K40 Pro and Redmi K40 Pro Plus. The next round of sales will take place on March 8.

The POCO F3 will not be an original device, as the Pocophone F1 was in 2018. Instead, the FCC has inadvertently confirmed that the POCO F3 will be a re-branded Redmi K40. The POCO F3 will also feature the Snapdragon 870, which is a repackaged Snapdragon 865 itself.

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.

The Lenovo Yoga Tabs are Android slates marked by unique rolling grips at one end that may also house speakers and USB type C ports. Now, it looks like the OEM has a new member of this series in the works. The "Yoga Tab 13" has appeared on Google and Geekbench databases with 8GB of RAM and Android 11.

A teardown video of the new Redmi K40 series has revealed what to expect from Xiaomi's new flagship killers when they debut globally later this year. Both the Redmi K40 and Redmi K40 Pro appear to run hot though, even with Xiaomi's LiquidCool Technology. The Snapdragon 870 in the Redmi K40 appears to run hotter than the Snapdragon 888 in the Redmi K40 Pro, too.

The release of the Mi 11 Lite 5G is fast approaching, as the device has just appeared on the Google Play Console. The listing reveals several details about the upcoming low-cost alternative to the Mi 11, including Xiaomi's use of a Snapdragon 765G SoC.

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.

Xiaomi will launch the Redmi Note 10 series tomorrow in India, and specs of the top-of-the-line Redmi Note 10 Pro Max have now leaked ahead of launch. Notable takeaways include a flagship-grade 120 Hz AMOLED, a Snapdragon chipset, a big battery, and a 108 MP main camera.

Xiaomi has launched a new Redmi monitor to join the already existing Redmi Display 1A. The latest addition has a larger screen size at 27 inches and offers a 1920x1080 resolution, fast gray-to gray response time, and up to a 75 Hz refresh rate. The 27-inch Redmi monitor has a pre-sale price of 899 yuan (US$139) in China.

Xiaomi plans to release two versions of the Mi 11 Lite, the POCO F3, POCO F3 Pro and the POCO X3 Pro in multiple markets, according to a new report. Apparently, Xiaomi will sell the Redmi K40 Pro as the POCO F3 Pro, like the POCO F2 Pro and the Redmi K30 Pro.

AnTuTu has published its Android flagship smartphone performance chart for February and the iQOO 7 has managed to stay in the number one position. Smartphones with the Snapdragon 888 SoC, such as the Redmi K40 Pro and Vivo X60 Pro+, occupy five out of the top six places. The Redmi K40 has taken up seventh position.

The new luxury foldable that carries the Vertu banner, namely the Ayxta Fold 5G, is actually a Royole FlexPai 2 with a back cover dressed in leather and with a few other minor visual touches. Hardware-wise, there is nothing mindblowing, but the price for China (via JD.com) exceeds the equivalent of US$7,000.

A well-known industry insider has offered his view on the name of Xiaomi's upcoming foldable smartphone. Apparently, the device will herald the Mi Mix series' return, which Xiaomi has left dormant since the Mi Mix Alpha.

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 Redmi Note 10 series is on its way and more information about the Xiaomi mid-range lineup has now been revealed. Notable takeaways include some specs of the vanilla Redmi Note 10, and pricing of the global Redmi Note 10 Pro.

Laser TVs are devices much more like ultra-short-throw projectors than conventional big screens. Therefore, they can deliver larger display sizes with less harmful blue light, which is what customers want these days - according to Hisense, at least. This OEM claims that it sold over three times more laser TVs in 2020 internationally compared to 2019.

Images and specs for the Amazfit T-Rex Pro rugged smartwatch have been leaked, indicating that the new Amazfit wearable is likely to be launched soon. The Amazfit T-Rex Pro looks very similar to the non-Pro model but offers at least one new color choice, greater water resistance, and access to the BioTracker 2 PPG health utility.

The OEM Realme has been rumored to launch a Dimensity 1200-powered phone called the X9 Pro roughly since MediaTek released this early-2021 flagship processor. A new leak purports to spill many more details about the phone, including that it will be its maker's first phone with a 108MP main camera.

The discovery of a Xiaomi phone with a model number rumored to be that of the Mi 11 Pro on Geekbench might normally be welcome news. However, the report proved more alarming in this case, as it alleged the device had the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC instead of the expected Snapdragon 888. However, it has since been debunked by another popular name in tech leaks.

According to reports, OnePlus will launch the OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9R, OnePlus 9 Pro and the OnePlus Watch later this month. Apparently, it has been confirmed that the hardware event will not occur until late March, but OnePlus will make some sort of announcement on March 8. OnePlus has hinted at its upcoming Hasselblad partnership, too.

According to a new leak, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will feature a periscope camera and Samsung's new 50 MP ISOCELL GN2 camera. The Mi 11 Pro will be capable of up to 50x zoom, too.

The RedMagic line of Android phones are usually styled so as not to be mistaken for anything other than the mobile gaming powerhouses they are meant to be. Their latest 6 generation's design, officially outed by TENAA, is an evolution of the preceding 5S. They apparently come in some relatively sedate dark themes - except, of course, for the brand's rumored new foray into a vibrant pink-and-purple combo.

Honor is a popular smartphone brand recently cut loose from the OEM Huawei in an ostensible bid to free it from that company's ongoing trade restrictions. Since then, Honor has completely rebuilt its business and is preparing to be a contender in 2021, according to the latest leaks. This will apparently involve lots of in-demand tech, the development of this brand's first foldable included.

The OPPO Find X3 and X3 Pro are hotly-anticipated smartphones as they are touted to combine the highest-end of Android specs in 2021 with arguably iPhone-like looks. A Weibo tipster has uploaded what looks like an official poster from the OEM that contains their launch date information. Should this leak prove accurate, the event in question might also introduce Lite and Neo variants for the new line.

The OnePlus 9 series is almost upon us, with the company expected to announce the OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9R and the OnePlus 9 Pro within the next few weeks. More OnePlus 9 Pro specifications have leaked too, including camera details such as 4K/120 FPS video recording capabilities.

Huami is a wearables OEM that has built a market leadership worldwide, mainly through the popularity of its Amazfit devices. Now, the company has announced that it will be known as Zepp Health from now on. This wholesale re-brand is intended to consolidate its position across all its businesses going forward

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a super-flagship smartphone rumored to launch later in 2021. It is touted to improve on the existing Mi 11 in a number of ways, one of which is a step up to blazing fast 120W charging. A new leak suggests it might have a new, first-party gallium nitride (GaN) power brick with which to do so.

Foldable-display phones are slowly becoming more prevalent; however, they are still at a point at which they can only do so in one way per device: inward or outward. However, a new leaked video suggests a concept device that can bend in both directions is out there now. This possible breakthrough in the technology has allegedly been achieved by the panel-maker BOE.

The Vivo X60 and X60 Pro are premium mid-range smartphones that are only available in China at present. However, a new leak may suggest the OEM is preparing to bring them to additional markets. Furthermore, they may be new variants of the phones with the Snapdragon 870 SoC in place of their current Exynos 1080.

Xiaomi has recently launched the new Redmi AirDots 3 true wireless headset with Bluetooth 5.2 support. The third-generation Redmi earbuds utilize a Qualcomm QCC3040 chip solution to provide the best audio performance, with aptX audio technology being part of the package. The price in China for the Redmi AirDots 3 is 199 yuan (US$31).

The Xiaomi Mi 11 and Redmi K40 Pro have appeared in a benchmark comparison video together. AnTuTu was the synthetic benchmark of choice, with both the Mi 11 and K40 Pro producing very strong results with the help of their Snapdragon 888 processors. However, there was an outright winner between the two despite the similar components.

The Huawei P40 flagship smartphone launched with the Kirin 990 5G chipset in 2020. This CPU also has a 4G/LTE-only variant, which features in new units of the P40 now on sale on JD.com. Otherwise, the device still has its 6.1-inch OLED display, 50MP main camera and 8GB of RAM.

Samsung's ISOCELL GN2 sensor will play a part in the upcoming Mi 11 Ultra, according to a report. The sensor, which has 1.4 μm wide pixels, will be one of four cameras in the Mi 11 Ultra, if past leaks are to be believed. The Mi 11 Ultra may be able to save images in up to 100 MP, too.

The smartphone brand iQOO has finally acknowledged the successor to its Neo3 flagship, following a slew of leaks hinting at its high-end specs. It will now launch on March 16, 2021 in China. There is now more evidence the allegedly Snapdragon 870-powered phone might be seen outside this country soon as well, thanks to a new Geekbench leak.

A new regulatory body certification has seemingly confirmed the fate of the Redmi K40 for global audiences. It appears that Xiaomi plans to release its new handset under the POCO brand, and possibly as a successor to last year's POCO F2 Pro or POCO X2.

Huawei has begun pushing EMUI 11 to more devices globally, including the Mate 20 and P30 series. The Nova 7 and Nova 5T are now eligible for EMUI 11 in some regions too.

Xiaomi has officially launched the Redmi Max 86” smart TV. The new television joins the massive 98-inch Redmi Max as part of the affordable range of giant TVs from the Xiaomi subsidiary. For 7,999 yuan (US$1,237) buyers get a 4K TV that is both gaming-friendly and elevator compatible. The Redmi Max 86 also has an HDMI 2.1 port and operates on MIUI for TV 3.0.