Smart Home

TCL has announced that it will debut its "Premium 2021 X Series Mini LED 8K TVs" in September 2021. This event will also see the launch of the OEM's latest projectors and products. TCL asserts that the new devices will revolutionize the smart home and home-theater experience.

The massive Redmi Max 98 smart TV is back on sale in Xiaomi’s homeland of China with an even cheaper price tag. In addition, the 86-inch model has also been reduced and is now back to its launch price. The 98-inch Redmi Max supports a 60 Hz refresh rate on its 4K display while the smaller Redmi Max 86 can offer a 120 Hz refresh rate on its 4K screen.

Xiaomi's smart-tech event of today (August 26, 2021) was perhaps dominated by the launch of 2 new Mi Notebooks and the Mi TV 5X in India. However, there were one or two other appearances at this show, such as the new Mi Router 4A (Gigabit Edition) - not to mention the new Xiaomi Running Shoes.

Tronsmart has announced the Studio 30W SoundPulse as its latest wireless speaker. It is rated to cover an open space of up to 10 meters in size with 2.1 channel sound for up to 15 hours per charge. Unlike most portable accessories of this type, it has a housing made of aluminum, yet is still IPX4-rated. It goes for ~US$70, or less with a coupon active at the time of writing.

TCL has announced updates to its 2020 5- and 6-series big screens. They, like their predecessors, remain QLED and mini-LED respectively; however, they drop the Roku OS of yesteryear for the new Google TV software. It confers an up-to-date UI on the new devices, as well as the option of voice control for the first time.

The new Mi Mix 4 dominated its product launch today (August 10, 2021); however, this did not stop its maker introducing new ecosystem products to go along with it. The new Xiaomi Sound is a speaker that shares an audio partnership and new wireless technology with its potential phablet companion.

Xiaomi has updated its line of smart TVs today (August 10, 2021) with new OLED-enabled models. This comes with an ultra-high contrast ratio, HDR10+ and "True 10-bit" color on the new 6-series. For those in need of even more premium specs, the new Mi TV OLED 77 model has Harman Kardon-tuned speakers, high-wattage speakers and a new spec in common with the Mi Mix 4.

Google might have something to debut alongside its new Pixel 6 series in October 2021: a new Chromecast. The Mountain View giant has had a new device certified by the FCC, in a leak that reveals specs most likely associated with a streaming stick of some description. Then again, it makes upgrades over the current Ultra device, if any, hard to pick out.

The TONE FREE DFP8Ws (or FP8s) are the latest generation of LG TWS earbuds that come with their own UV-emitting charging case for an "auto-cleaning" feature. The OEM has announced pricing and availability for these allegedly bacteria-repelling accessories in the US. They will also soon be joined there by new FP9 and FP5 variants.

Although it does not take big steps forward in terms of design, the Oppo Watch 2 comes with solid improvements over its predecessor on the inside. With 1 GB of memory and 8 GB of internal storage, the new smartwatch sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100 processor and is the first product to ship loaded with ColorOS Watch 2.0.

Huawei has now unveiled its newest flagship phones, the Huawei P50 and Huawei P50 Pro. The two phones offer something rather interesting in the form of a 4G-only Snapdragon 888 SoC, but that should be offset by some impressive camera hardware, with the Huawei P50 Pro marking a return to Huawei monochrome shooters of old with a 40 MP B/W camera.

Xiaomi has globally launched five AIoT products as part of its Smart Living for Everyone event. The announced items were the Mi Router AX9000, Mi 2K Gaming Monitor 27, Mi Smart Air Fryer 3.5L, Redmi Buds 3 Pro, and the Mi Electric Scooter 3. The new Xiaomi smart products will be made available to buy from country-specific Mi.com pages.

Sony has debuted the LSPX-S3 as the latest in its line of Glass Sound Speakers. Like its predecessors, it can blend "seamlessly" into any home's decor due to its ability to mimic a lamp with its candle-effect LEDs, visible through its transparent tweeter. This sleek wireless accessory has a recommended price of US$350.

The SIGNATURE OLED R is a first-gen rollable TV, and as such incorporates cutting-edge technology in order to come in a completely new, motor-powered form-factor. However, its novel features come at a sky-high price, as US customers who go to LG.com to order its single 65-inch SKU are about to find out.

Dizo is Realme's first spin-off under its new TechLife smart product ecosystem. This branding has been spotted on 2 new feature phones, rumored to be called the Star 500 and 300. With removable batteries to power their tiny screens, super-compact form-factors and dual-band 2G connectivity, they are likely to emerge as mobile phones of the extreme budget category.

The tiny microchips that are built into smart home devices don't just control the lighting of our homes, apparently they can also entertain us in an entirely different manner by running the very first iteration of a beloved first-person shooter franchise.

LG announced support for Dolby Vision at the launch of TVs such as the 2021 OLED C1- and G1-series. Now, the OEM has released the firmware that activates this spec on these devices. Moreover, the feature works with HDR at 4K/120Hz for certain gaming platforms, thus potentially elevating the experience on the systems in question.

Mozilla, the organization behind the popular Firefox browser, has taken some pot-shots at popular tech gadgets for being “super creepy”. The Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker, Ring doorbells and cameras, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 were singled out for specific criticism due to concerns with data privacy and data collection.

Realme has released its Watch 2 and 2 Pro to the European market today (June 16, 2021), during an event also rumored to reveal the OEM's first-gen laptop. This did not transpire as anticipated, although the launch did show the brand is making further inroads on these ambitions, as well as those for the smart home market.

The JMGO 01 and JMGO 01 Pro are both ultra-short-throw projectors that undercut their competitors on price. The pair support Amazon Alexa and should last up to 45,000 hours, while the 01 Pro also features Leica-optimised optics.

OnePlus has introduced three new additions to its upper midrange U-series smart TV range in 50, 55, and 65-inch variants. The new U1S series feature largely similar specifications as the previous 55U1 with some features removed to keep costs competitive. The company has also launched the OnePlus TV Camera for video conferencing with Google Duo.

Acer has announced that its latest round of consolidated revenue (for May 2021) was its best for 7 seven years. These earnings, which totaled about US$895 million, grew by nearly 23% year-on-year (YoY). The OEM's gaming arm grew by 15.3% YoY, whereas its Chromebooks brought in 30.1% more revenue compared to May 2020.

Currently, Xiaomi's most premium Android smartphones include the Mi 11 Ultra and Mi Mix Fold. However, the renowned leaker Digital Chat Station claims to have information on an impending successor that could blow even these super-flagships out of the water. It will apparently do so with cutting-edge tech such as ultrawide-band (UWB) and under-display technology.

Realme CEO Madhav Sheth's latest tweet hints strongly at the imminent launch of this company's inaugural laptop. Judging from a possible product teaser included with this post, the machine is intended to be a MacBook clone, along the same lines as the Xiaomi Mi Notebook line. Realme's new take on this category is slated to launch by the end of June 2021.

Have you ever wanted to carry your HomePod Mini around with its audio still playing in the process? Now you might be able to, should Mission Accessories get its new Kickstarter campaign funded. It claims that its new Battery Base converts the little Apple smart speaker into a portable audio accessory. It is rated for up to 9 hours of use between charges, which it does via USB type-C.

Manufacturer promises "6-month back" and "3-year warranty" with "lifetime professional technical support" should something go wrong with the projector. The low price and small size make the Yaber Y31 worth considering for quick on-the-go movies and videos.

Fuchsia is the name of an in-house OS Google has reportedly had in the works for years. Now, it is finally due to see a roll-out on one of the OEM's more recent smart-home products. The Nest Hub is slated to start using this new system in an impending update.

The Chinese manufacturer OnePlus has patented an idea for a smart TV that incorporates a rotating pop-up camera in its body. While other companies have already released televisions with static pop-up cameras, this OnePlus smart TV would be able to track a user who was moving around a room or viewing space.

OnePlus has expanded its affordable Y-series Android TV portfolio with the introduction of the OnePlus TV 40Y1. The TV 40Y1 features the same specifications as the TV 43Y1 with the exception of screen size. The OnePlus TV 40Y1 will go on sale from May 26 on Flipkart for an introductory price of ₹21,999.

Google is a technology giant that has sold products exclusively through its official online stores throughout its history. However, it is now breaking that trend with an imminent brick-and-mortar equivalent, located near its New York headquarters. It is slated to open its doors in the real during the summer of 2021.

LG has reportedly chosen a slightly odd moniker for its next generation of products. It has trademarked the term Plate, and has done so in various different iterations that suggest the new line is to be applied to a range of display panels. There are also hints of a "One Cord OLED", which may or may not be good news for fans of cable management everywhere.

DOOGEE has launched the DG Band, a wearable of the traditional fitness tracker form-factor. It has a 1.05-inch LCD display, which can display data from its sensors for heart-rate, stress and blood-oxygen. It is also rated to track 14 different exercise types, and to last for up to 10 days between charges.

OnePlus India has revealed that it will add a new member to its Y series of smart TVs soon. It has also already confirmed some of its specs ahead of its imminent launch, its 40-inch size, Dolby Audio support and 20W speakers included. It will debut via Flipkart on May 24, 2021.

The SOUNDFORM Connect is a new Belkin audio adapter designed to bring any powered speaker with a 3.5mm or optical input into an Apple-heavy smart home set-up. The user can then control it via AirPlay 2 on their iPhone, iPad or TV. Therefore, a traditional speaker can become as responsive to voice-control and automation as shiny new high-tech models.

EZVIZ introduces the C8C as its inaugural outdoor wireless home security camera capable of panning and tilting within its globe-shaped exterior glass shell. Its sensor is rated for FHD recording, as well as night vision in color and AI-powered intruder detection. The new IP65 surveillance accessory is available at Walmart with a special introductory price for its launch.

The "high-fidelity" version of Amazon's music-streaming service has dropped in price by US$5 a month. This change means it now costs the same as the former price of the next tier down, Amazon Music Unlimited. In other words, customers with this service can now avail of lossless playback, or stick with their current service for a reduced rate.

OnePlus' CEO, Pete Lau, has reportedly told several journalists that his company is planning to launch its smart screens in Europe soon. The OEM now has several TVs to its name, but has yet to sell any of them in that region. However, it now seems to believe that the time to start is at hand,

LG's new line of soundbars for 2021 includes units that support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as the latest developments resulting from the OEM's partnership with Meridian Audio. They start at US$179, although the most expensive goes for $1,000. Most are available from now, although one 3.1.2-channel unit is not available until June 2021.

A German security researcher who goes by the alias "stacksmashing" posted a YouTube video detailing how he was able to dump the firmware of an Apple AirTag. Furthermore, he was able to inject a custom firmware that changed the AirTag's "Lost Mode" function. This could open the door to more malicious jailbreaks of AirTags in the future.

Xiaomi had hinted that it would debut its Mi 11 Ultra flagship Android phone in Europe on May 11, 2021, and has just delivered with a German launch event for this device. The 50MP camera monster has arrived in its new market alongside the region's first Redmi Note 10-series phones and the Mi P1 smart TVs.

Lenovo has officially confirmed that the Yoga Pad Pro 13 will launch on May 24, 2021 in China. Moreover, the device's new teasers show it has a new take on its series' classic stand/hang-tab and barrel grip. It is said to pack an HDMI port, as well as dual USB type Cs.

TCL's latest press event served to unveil next-gen displays for the TVs, rollables or laptops of the near future. They include new 15.6- and 17.3-inch panels described as ultra-high-res with scope for ultra-thin bezels. The conference also unveiled the OEM's Star Obsidian Screen for 75-inch mini-LED 8K devices, as well as the latest version of its 17-inch scrolling display.

OPPO's latest product event was a bumper update for its device ecosystem in general. Not only did it introduce the new K9 smartphone, but it also revealed the new TVs of the same name. The Enco Air TWS earbuds also debuted at the show, as did the Vitality Edition of the OPPO Band.

Qualcomm has now released its fiscal performance report for the second quarter of 2021 (2FQ2021). The OEM claims to have made a total of US$7.9 billion in terms of revenue, ~$1.8 billion of which is its net income. Most of this has come from its semiconductor-producing arm, which has posted a 137% growth in pre-tax earnings year-on-year (YoY).

Although it lacks Wi-Fi 6, the rock space AC2100 wireless router features a dual-core processor, a maximum speed of 2033 Mbps, and 1300 square feet coverage thanks to 4x4 MU-MIMO and Beamforming+. Only available in the US, this product is now on sale with a 40 percent discount that takes the price below US$40.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) had indicated that its flagship Consumer Electronics Show (CES) might be able to return to a live format in 2022. Now, the group has confirmed that this is indeed the case. Therefore, the conference will be held in its classic Las Vegas setting through January 5 to 8 of next year.

Xiaomi has introduced its most premium offering, the Mi QLED TV 75 smart TV in India recently. The QLED TV 75 offers the Android 10 smart TV platform with Google Assistant, Chromecast, and Alexa support. The TV also features wide color gamut support, a MediaTek MT9611 SoC, and the company's PatchWall content aggregation service that connects to more than 25 streaming services.