ARM

Google has officially discontinued the mid-range Pixel 3a and 3a XL smartphones. The news comes ahead of what is expected to be the imminent launch of the single replacement device, the Pixel 4a.

Xiaomi has issued an important warning about the Redmi Note 8 Pro in regard to the current MIUI 12 global stable beta update rollout. The Chinese OEM is concerned that Redmi Note 8 Pro owners who are not part of the Mi Pilot program may damage their smartphones by installing the MIUI 12 update via another unofficial route.

The 2021 iPhone SE might continue sporting the same A13 Bionic SoC as the current iteration, according to information from known leaker Mauri QHD. This makes perfect sense as the A13 is a pretty powerful chip and gets hardly pushed in the iPhone SE. The 2021 iPhone SE is also expected to sport an design similar to the iPhone 8, but that is not clear at the moment.

The NanoPi NEO3 is another small single-board computer (SBC) produced by FriendlyELEC. The NEO3 includes a quad-core ARM processor, up to 2 GB of RAM, Gigabit Ethernet and a microSD card reader.

Geekbench has presented a possible upgraded Microsoft Surface Pro X. Paired with 16 GB of RAM, the device appears to be based on Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8cx Plus chipset. The mystery device is running Windows 10 Enterprise 64-bit too.

It turns out that the Apple Developer Transition Kit and the A12Z Bionic stand up well against the Microsoft SQ1 in the Surface Pro X too. With both powered by eight-core custom ARM chips, the Transition Kit has the edge in single-core performance, while the Surface Pro X wins out in multi-core work.

The project was slightly delayed by the pandemic, but it is now up on Kickstarter offering the tablet for just under US$200, along with a microSD card and cables for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+ Lite. The tablet itself integrates an 8-inch IPS touchscreen with 1280 x 800 resolution and even features an attachable handle that acts as a stand.

After sending out stable MIUI 12 updates to its premium phones, Xiaomi has now set its sights towards the mid-range. MIUI 12 is now in the second round of seeding, beginning with the Redmi Note 8 Pro—which has now received a limited global beta build with the designation "MIUI 12.0.0.4 QGGMIXM".

The Xiaomi TV Master Series has only just been announced, with a 65-inch 120 Hz OLED making up the range so far. Now some specs for the upcoming smart TV have been leaked by a Xiaomi manager on Weibo. The Xiaomi TV Master will apparently offer users HDMI 2.1, MEMC image-smoothing technology, variable refresh rate (VRR), and much more.

The Redmi K30 duo was launched six months ago, which means it's about time we got a successor to the phones. New information has now surfaced about the upcoming Redmi K40, with notable takeaways including battery capacity, display design/features, and main camera specifications.

Facebook’s Reality Labs has teased a working prototype of a VR ‘headset’ that shrinks the technology down into something akin to a pair of sunglasses. To make this possible, Facebook’s researchers have combined holographic optics and polarization-based optical folding which would replace the traditional refractive lens approach.

Xiaomi has now started rolling out Android 10 to its last-gen Redmi series, beginning with the Redmi 8 in China. The Android 10 update for the Redmi 8 is based on MIUI 11 and carries the build number "MIUI 11.0.1.0 QCNCNXM". It weighs 2.0 GB and doubles up as the June security patch.

MediaTek has unveiled two new gaming-centric chips for entry-level smartphones. The Helio G35 and Helio G25 come with eight Cortex-A53 cores, a PowerVR GE8320 GPU, and support for MediaTek's HyperEngine technology. The former will allegedly make its debut alongside the Realme C11, while the latter will be featured in the Redmi 9A.

The first Geekbench 5 results of the Apple Mac Mini Developer Transition Kit (DTK) powered by the A12Z Bionic running macOS 11 Big Sur Developer Beta 1 have surfaced despite Apple's developer NDA being in force. The benchmark is running under a Rosetta 2 emulation and the performance deficit, though significant compared to the Core i5 MacBook Air 2020 and the iPad Pro, is understandable and in many ways, encouraging.

The first indications of an RDNA3-based Navi 31 GPU have surfaced in the macOS 11 Big Sur Developer Beta 1 driver code. The driver also contains references to upcoming AMD APUs such as Van Gogh and Cezanne along with HPC accelerators such as the MI100 and M200. With the MI200, AMD could be looking at a multi-chip module (MCM) approach and that could trickle down to Navi 31 as well.

2020 flagships have been incredibly expensive, in part due to the high cost of the Snapdragon 865. It seems things aren't going to get any better either, as new information claims the Snapdragon 875 will be over 50% costlier than the already pricey Snapdragon 865.

Apple could be working on an iPhone prototype running a full-fledged macOS, according to insider information cited by Mauri QHD. While there is no way to confirm this, such a possibility is not a distant dream given that Apple has begun transitioning its entire lineup to ARM. If this news is indeed true, it remains to be seen how effective would be its implementation considering that previous such attempts by competitors haven't been too successful.

Astell & Kern has taken the wraps off its latest high-end portable audio play and it comes with a unique twist. Instead of having a single high-quality DAC, the new A&futura SE200 comes with two high-end DACs from different manufacturers for a higher level of customization.

Specifications for a possible 5G variant of the Redmi Note 9 smartphone have been shared on Chinese social media. It’s rumored the device will sport an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G and boast of a 120 Hz display. However, it’s believed the Redmi Note 9 5G might end up being a China-only release.
Update: It seems one leaker was referring to the iQOO Z1x.

Apple Glass looks like it could be many different things if a series of Apple patents points to what is in store. Rather than focusing entirely on an augmented reality experience, Apple Glass could offer different functionality according to the task at hand thanks to modular componentry.

Huawei is now sending out the EMUI 10 update to P20 Pro and Mate 10 Pro around the world. The update is rolling out to owners in the UK, rest of Europe, and South America. This means that all Mate 10 Pro and P20 Pro models should be receiving the update. Bar, of course, the North American Mate 10 Pro, BLA-A09.

Xiaomi's Redmi A series typically offers some of the best-selling smartphones in the world every year, and the company is set to launch the next device in the lineup. The Redmi 9A will succeed the Redmi 8A, and details of the phone have now been revealed.

Lightweight case, very long battery runtime, and integrated LTE: You should have a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Book S if you are looking for a mobile companion and you do not want to rely on public Wi-Fi networks. You should definitely be aware of the limitation to 32-bit apps before you buy the notebook.

Qualcomm will reportedly unveil the Snapdragon 865 Plus sometime in July, according to a Weibo post by Ice Universe. The chip is expected to make its debut alongside the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy Fold 2, and the ASUS ROG Phone 3. It is billed to power most flagships released in the latter half of 2020 as well.

According to new reports, Samsung is working on a new phone, the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition. The phone is said to be slated for a October launch, after the release of the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Fold 2, and will be a more affordable Galaxy S20 offering.

Apple made waves at its 2020 WWDC when it confirmed that Macs were to be powered by non-Intel SoCs going forward. This transition may have many advantages for the company, not to mention the PCs involved. However, self-professed Intel expert François Piednoël claims that there were other reasons for this move.

Most of the newly-leaked specs seem very similar to the non-5G version, except for the SoC that is now supposed to be a Snapdragon 865 Plus. The leaker also seems to be confusing the selfie cam with one of the rear sensors, so the accuracy of this leak is a bit dubious.

Xiaomi has now launched its latest budget phone, the Redmi 9, in China. The phone delivers an impressive feature list, including five cameras in total, a MediaTek Helio G80, a 5020 mAh battery, and a FHD+ display. Starting at just over US$100, the Redmi 9 appears to be a solid upgrade on last year's Redmi 8.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8T are now receiving new updates. No, the updates don't bring Android 10 to the phones, but that isn't far away either as Xiaomi is expected to begin the Android 10 rollout after fixing the bugs it discovered in an early firmware.

Xiaomi has been slashing the price of its Mi 10 flagship smartphone again as a special Dragon Boat Festival offer. Three RAM + storage variants have been reduced during the holiday period, by 200-300 yuan depending on the model (US$28-US$42). The offer is expected to start on June 25, but unfortunately it is only for the Chinese market.

A simple project has demonstrated how to utilise a Raspberry Pi as an Ethernet bridge for the Nintendo Switch. The project can yield dramatic improvements in internet performance and may reduce online multiplayer lag too.

OnePlus has confirmed the imminent launch of its upcoming mid-range phone. The phone is expected to be the OnePlus Z or OnePlus Nord, and will be a spiritual successor to the OnePlus X. Sadly, though, a US release looks to be in doubt.

With a full retail price of US$210, the Wear OS-driven TicWatch C2+ comes with 1 GB of memory, GPS support, 4 GB of internal storage, but uses the rather old Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100. This smartwatch sports Google Pay support via NFC and is compatible with both Android and iOS handsets.

Thanks to a straightforward project, the Raspberry Pi can be used as the basis for a pocket-sized vintage radio. Featuring playlists for every decade from the 1920s to the present day, the so-called Radio Time Machine utilises a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, an Arduino Nano, some RGB LEDs and the shell from a vintage Bluetooth radio.

Apple has finally called time on macOS X with the unveiling of macOS Big Sur. The new operating system features a redesigned UI, and is of course, the first public release of macOS that runs on Apple’s custom silicon.

Xiaomi Mi 10 phones in India are now getting a new OTA MIUI 11 update that brings support for ISRO's NavIC navigation system, UI updates, performance enhancements, and the April 2020 security patch. MIUI 12 development for the Mi 10 series is still suspended and there's no word yet on when it would resume.

After months of waiting, the Xiaomi Redmi 7 is finally receiving the stable Android 10 update. The update is rolling out in China and bears the version number "MIUI 11.0.1.0.QFLCNXM". It's obviously based on MIUI 11 and, if the Redmi 7A's rollout was any indication, should get to global units in a few weeks.

Apple has announced that it will transition its entire Mac lineup to ARM-based custom silicon over the next two years. Support for Apple silicon is now available in macOS Big Sur and developers can get started right away on a Developer Transition Kit (DTK) that includes a Mac Mini powered by the A12Z Bionic. Despite the transition Apple will continue to support Intel processors for many years to come.

New reports indicate that TSMC has officially started producing 5 nm chips and is expected to deliver the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 and the Snapdragon X60 modem by September. Apart from Qualcomm and Apple, AMD has also proposed awarding TSMC a contract for producing more than 20,000 wafers a month for a high-end 5 nm GPU.

The MIUI 12 rollout continues. After sending out the beta stable updates to the Redmi K20 Pro and Redmi K30 5G last week, Xiaomi has also rolled out updates to the Redmi K30 4G, Redmi K30 Pro, and the Mi 10 Lite Zoom.

Apple's WWDC 2020 event may not showcase all the new hardware launches we've been expecting so far. Instead, Apple is expected to focus on new software updates and announce the existence of ARM-based Macs so as to get developers up to speed. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to fully transition to ARM in 2021 starting from the ARM-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro and redesigned iMac.

It has been reported that Xiaomi and Huawei have been replenishing their stocks of ultra-thin glass (UTG), creating speculation of what the Chinese OEMs have in mind for the material. The upcoming Huawei Mate 40 Pro will feature an ultra-thin display, and it is possible Xiaomi will use UTG for a Mi Mix 4 smartphone or a Xiaomi Mi foldable device.

Foldable smartphones are inherently fascinating, and the Motorola Razr 2019 is certainly no exception. In this article we will explain why we would like to recommend it, even though it is difficult to justify.

Xiaomi has now started gradually sending out new updates to its Android One phones, the Mi A2 and Mi A3. The updates bring the June security patch to the phones, but it's unknown if they fix previously reported bugs introduced by earlier Android 10 builds.

Xiaomi has now halted MIUI 12 development for the Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Note 8, for two different reasons. The company also suspended the MIUI 12 rollout for the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro—due to optimization concerns.

The mysterious Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus has been spotted on yet another benchmark. This time, the still unconfirmed SoC was discovered being tested on Geekbench in an Asus ZF device, which was possibly the Asus ROG Phone 3. The single-core result showed considerable improvement over those managed by Snapdragon 865 phones such as the Xiaomi Mi 10.

TCL has unveiled its new range of QLED TVs for the Indian market. The C715, C815 series of smart TVs have 4K panels of varying sizes, while the X916 has only one 75-inch variant that is 8K-ready. Prices start at INR 45,990 ($602) for the 50-inch C715, and the X916 will set you back by INR 2,99,990 ($3930).