Chinese Tech

The Blade 20 Pro 5G is ZTE's latest smartphone. It is this OEM's take on the mid-range Snapdragon 765G-based device, having a waterdrop-notched-display and a 4000mAh battery. It also has a quad rear camera with a 64MP main sensor.

Xiaomi is sending out the November security patch to its lineup and the update has now been received by owners of the Mi Mix 3 5G and Mi A3. For the Mix 3 5G, the update is going out to the European version of the device. For the Mi A3, however, it's been sent out to both the European and Global models.

Xiaomi has published a rather odd update for the Redmi Note 8. The update is another Android 10 and MIUI 12-based build for the device, but it is a debut update for the European branch of MIUI. It is unclear why Xiaomi has established a new branch of MIUI for the Redmi Note 8, but it has published download links for the inaugural build.

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite has netted another update, this time one with the November 2020 security patch. V11.0.14.0.QDLMIXM is rolling out as an OTA for the Mi A2 Lite now.

The M30 Pro is a budget tablet by Teclast that has plenty going for it. Priced at US$189.99, the M30 Pro ships with Android 10, supports dual-LTE connectivity and has a 7,500 mAh battery. Teclast has included 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage and an octa-core processor, too.

Cubot has unveiled the C3, its latest smartwatch. Not only does the C3 have a rugged design, but it has a unique dual crown system. The Cubot C3 has a 1.3-inch display and is 5 ATM water-resistant, too.

Huawei has started rolling out stable EMUI 11 updates to some handsets, only a week after it announced its global upgrade plans. The stable update has arrived ahead of schedule too, which is always good to see.

OnePlus apparently wants to further expand its flagship smartphone from range with a third model. A new report claims that this device is the OnePlus 9E, and it will arrive simultaneously with the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. Apparently, the OnePlus 9E will be more premium than the current OnePlus Nord series.

Huawei has heavily discounted the Watch GT 2e, just over seven month after it launched the smartwatch in April. The Watch GT 2e can now be purchased for under £100, a saving of over £60. The offer is available on multiple colours and comes with two Huawei Mini Speakers if bought from Huawei directly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Some recent rumors have pointed to the imminent launch of the OPPO Reno 5 and 5 Pro, which are said to run on the Snapdragon 765G and Dimensity 1000+ SoCs respectively. A new leak from the Chinese regulator TENAA may give them more weight. It may show how the 5 looks, while possibly confirming its processor and specs makeup.

Xiaomi has certified the Redmi Watch and Mi Watch Lite with the Bluetooth SIG. Correspondingly, the two devices should receive global releases, albeit probably in different markets. Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Watch in China yesterday.

Huami has begun teasing the Amazfit GTS 2 mini, its next smartwatch. The Amazfit GTS 2 mini will arrive on December 1 and will probably resemble the popular Amazfit GTS with a rectangular display.

Although Trump's reign is over, Apple has requested Foxconn to move at least some of its iPad and MacBook production facilities to Vietnam. This move comes as a part of Apple's efforts to diversify production, thus minimizing the potential impact of a new trade war between China and the US.

A good idea of the MIUI 13 release date has been offered up by a super moderator on the Mi Community forum. Along with that, a refreshed list of Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark devices that are likely to land a MIUI 13 update has now included the POCO C3, Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha, and the new Mi 10T range.

The Nokia 9.3 PureView's release date has been pushed back once again. HMD Global is now expected to launch the smartphone sometime in H1 2021. However, the company could still unveil the Nokia 6.3 and Nokia 7.3 5G in Q4 2020.

OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro owners now have a new Android 11-based custom ROM to utilize if they are not fully content with the well-received OxygenOS skin or simply want more freedom to tinker with their phone. While Paranoid Android Ruby Alpha 1 can be utilized on the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, it is not compatible with the OnePlus 8T.

The ESM 9110 is currently on sale for $33 USD compared to $40 or $50 USD for an authentic Xbox One controller. The unlicensed PC and Switch gamepad comes real close to the real deal and it even integrates LED-lit buttons for extra visual flair.

Since word of the new Chinese-market Redmi Note 9 series arose, Lenovo has been dropping hints that it will launch phones capable of competing with this potential budget champion. Now, there are official renders that may back this claim up.

Xiaomi has seeded a new Beta Stable update for the Redmi 9, and it brings with it quite a few changes for the device. Not only does it upgrade the global version of the handset to the November 2020 security patch, but it upgrades it to MIUI 12. V12.0.1.0.QJCMIXM is available to download now as an OTA or as a recovery ROM.

The Redmi Note 9 4G is not another re-hash for Xiaomi. The Chinese company has equipped the handset with a Snapdragon 662 chipset, up to 8 GB of RAM, a 6,000 mAh battery and a large 6.53-inch display. The Redmi Note 9 4G starts at CNY 999 (~US$151) in China.

The Redmi Note 9 5G is here and with MediaTek's Dimensity 800U SoC. The budget handset also offers up to 8 GB of RAM, a 5,000 mAh battery and four cameras. The Redmi Note 9 5G starts at CNY 1,299 (~US$197), although it is unknown whether Xiaomi will release the device globally.

Xiaomi has unveiled the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G, its latest and greatest Redmi Note 9 series handset. The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G has a 6.67-inch LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 750G, up to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, plus a 4,820 mAh battery. It is also the first Redmi smartphone with a 108 MP camera, which comes from Samsung.

The first-ever Redmi smartwatch is finally here. Dubbed as the Redmi Watch, it comes with a 1.4-inch display, a heart rate sensor, various pre-installed fitness modes, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC. It costs CNY 299 (US$45) and is expected to be launched internationally as the Mi Watch Lite.

Parts of the front and rear of the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro have supposedly been revealed in a leaked render and separate live photo. The purported render of the Mi 11 Pro shows a huge main camera lens for the flagship device while the alleged live image features the smartphone’s quad-curve screen.

The OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Special Edition may be a limited run smartphone, but a knock-off case modelled on its design is not. The case sells for CNY 30 (~US$5) too, making it more affordable than picking up the Special Edition model.

Xiaomi may have only recently-announced the Mi 10T Pro, but it has already slashed its price for Black Friday. Starting from tomorrow, the Mi 10T Pro will be available on Amazon for a two-thirds of its launch price. Only the 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage SKU will be eligible, but a saving of 33% should not be sniffed at for a new flagship smartphone.

Xiaomi will unveil at least the Redmi Note 9 5G and Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G tomorrow, but photos of the devices and their packaging has already leaked online. Apparently, both devices will have a 6,000 mAh battery, while the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G will also have a 108 MP primary camera main. A 3.5 mm headphone jack will be in attendance, too.

The Urun is a new smartwatch from Umidigi, and one that is available for US$46.99. The budget smartwatch comes with a built-in GPS module, a 1.1-inch round display, a 24/7 heart rate monitor and blood oxygen monitoring, too. The Umidigi Urun can be purchased from Amazon in multiple countries too, and for £10/US$10 off until November 27.

Xiaomi only issued a new MIUI 12 update for the global version of the Redmi Note 8 yesterday, but the company has now released another build. This time, the new update is based on MIUI 11 and Android 9.0 Pie, just to confuse matters.

The Poco M3 is now here, and it marks the end of the company's involvement with Xiaomi. As expected, the Poco M3 has a 6.53-inch display, a Snapdragon 662 processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 6,000 mAh battery. The device starts at US$129 with 64 GB of storage.

A new device from OPPO has surfaced on Geekbench 5 running on MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 1000+ SoC. This has led to speculation that the phone in question is the Reno 5 Pro. Meanwhile, its vanilla variant is rumored to exhibit no change in its own silicon from the previous generation.

The Xiaomi Mi A2 has received a new update containing the November 2020 security patch. V11.0.17.0.QDIMIXM can be downloaded now as an OTA upgrade, or as recovery and fastboot ROMs.

Xiaomi has confirmed that the Redmi Note 9 5G series will launch on November 26, 2020. Prior to this, however, a new device from this OEM thought to be the new line's base model has appeared on Geekbench. It seems to have the phone's rumored Dimensity 800U chipset, and competes effectively with what will probably be a prime rival found on the same database.

Xiaomi has seeded a new global MIUI 12 update for the Redmi Note 8. V12.0.2.0.QCOMIXM should bring all global handsets onto MIUI 12 while upgrading them to the November 2020 security patch. The update will be a 2.1 GB download for handsets that are currently on MIUI 11.

The global version of the Mi 10 has started receiving Android 11, making it one of the first devices outside of China to do so. The Redmi K30 5G is also now eligible for Android 11 courtesy of V12.1.1.0.RGICNXM.

Recent reports claimed that Xiaomi has planned a QHD+ display for its next flagship device, the Mi 11 Pro. New information in the form of MIUI 12 code has further lent credence to those claims, and it appears that Xiaomi is, indeed, set to offer a QHD+ display on a smartphone for the first time.

It’s possible the Xiaomi Mi 11 might get officially announced at the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit 2020, as it has been reported that the Chinese company’s CEO, Lei Jun, will be in attendance. As the Mi 11 and Mi 11 Pro are expected to sport the upcoming Snapdragon 875, the Tech Summit could be an ideal place for a surprise reveal.