Monday, February 28, 2022

Redmi K30 Pro & K30S Ultra gets MIUI 13 update based on Android 12

Xiaomi is deliberately upgrading its eligible flagships with Android 12 based MIUI 13. After a handful of devices, the next set to get the new version is Redmi K30 Pro and Redmi K30S Ultra.

Redmi K30 Pro & K30S Ultra

Must see: Specs Comparison: Redmi Note 11 vs Realme 9i

The latest software for the Redmi K30 Pro and Redmi K30S Ultra is bundled with the firmware version V13.0.1.0.SJKCNXM and V13.0.1.0.SJDCNXM respectively. For now, the update is rolling out in China, while other regions will also get the package soon.

For changes, Android 12 tossed with MIUI 13 brings along a bundle of features along with a new UI. Moreover, the build optimizes some features for a seamless experience. In addition, Redmi has issued an impressive changelog that you can see below:

Changelog


(MIUI 13)

  • Where all things connect


(Highlights)

  • New: Privacy camera for face recognition and protective watermarks for images

  • New: Introducing comprehensive anti-fraud protection mechanisms

  • New: All-new Mi Sans system font with better readability

  • New: “Crystallization” super wallpapers

  • New: A new widget ecosystem with app support and personalization options

  • New: New features for performing tasks seamlessly on multiple connected devices

  • New: Mi AI can be fully customized now

  • Optimization: Improved overall stability


(Basic improvements)

  • Optimization: Responsiveness for all systems and most popular third-party apps

  • Optimization: Home screen is now much more fluid and responsive


(System)

  • Stable MIUI based on Android 12


(Mi Smart Hub)

  • New: Tablets can connect to the portable hotspot in one tap

  • New: Phones and tablets have a shared clipboard now. Copy items on one device – and paste on the other.

  • New: An option for taking a photo with the phone’s camera is now available

  • New: Handoff is now seamless between Xiaomi phones and tablets where the same Mi Account is used

  • New: Apps can be seamlessly handed off between phones and tablets

  • New: Verification codes that are received on a phone can be now pasted on a tablet

  • New: Photos taken with a phone can be instantly viewed on a tablet

  • To be able to use handoff functionality with photos, update MIUI+ to 3.5.11 or later

  • Handoff functionality will be upgraded in the upcoming versions. Stay tuned for our further updates!


(Privacy protection)

  • New: Protective watermarks can be added as a pattern that is displayed over the whole image protecting it from unauthorized use

  • New: Introducing comprehensive anti-fraud protection mechanisms that include warnings, official labels, and transaction shields

  • New: Incognito mode restricts camera, microphone, and location permissions

  • New: Secure input protects all the text you enter

  • New: Privacy camera only shows your face and masks the rest of the picture when face recognition is required

  • To be able to use all MIUI 13 privacy protection features, update Gallery, Security, Contacts, and Messaging to their latest versions


(System font)

  • New: All-new Mi Sans system font with better readability


(Wallpaper)

  • New: “Crystallization” super wallpapers


(Widgets)

  • New: A new widget ecosystem offers lots of items that can make your Home screen more informative

  • New: New gorgeous widgets for system and third-party apps

  • New: Lots of customizable widgets, including different clocks, signatures, and stickers


(Mi AI voice assistant)

  • New: Mi AI’s avatar, timbre, and controls can be fully customized

  • To be able to use this feature, update Mi AI to its latest version


(More features and improvements)

  • New: Apps can be opened as floating windows directly from the sidebar

  • New: Ambient sound recognition in Mi Ditto

  • Optimization: Voice controls are better recognized in Accessibility mode now

  • Optimization: Enhanced accessibility support for Phone, Clock, Weather, and Themes

  • Optimization: Privacy protection, secure web browsing, and better feed

  • Optimization: Mind map nodes are more convenient and intuitive now

  • Optimization: Wallet looks much better now


In case the OTA update doesn't reach out to you automatically in a few days, you can also track it manually. To do so, head to Settings > Software update.
Related: Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G joins Android 12 based MIUI 13 update party

Friday, February 25, 2022

OnePlus 9R bumps to OxygenOS 11.2.8.8 update

Launched in March last year, the OnePlus 9R is one of the best value for money devices. It offers decent specifications at the most affordable price if compared to other OnePlus 9 series devices. In the latest news, the company is releasing a new update to the OnePlus 9R. Though it does not carry any noticeable changes, there are under the hood changes, ensuring a smooth experience.

OnePlus 9R

Make sure to visit: Download OnePlus 9 Live wallpapers for any Android Phone

After flashing the latest update, the OnePlus 9R will run on the version number OxygenOS 11.2.8.8. Regarding the changes, as mentioned, you will not see any changes in the system or the UI. But minor updates are also imperative to ensure the seamless functioning of the device.  

The latest update is bundled with the firmware version 11.2.8.8.LE28DA​. The build addresses some issues, including the screen flickering problem while sharing pictures in the gallery. Also, it might bring some device stability improvements. Below is the official changelog issued by the company.

Changelog



  • System

    • [Fixed] freezing issue when sharing pictures in Gallery




OnePlus has pushed the incremental rollout for the OnePlus 9R. Initially, the build will be available for a limited number of users. A border rollout will follow in a few days after ensuring the absence of any critical bugs.

In other news, the OnePlus 9R units in China have upgraded to the stable Android 12 based on ColorOS 12. However, the international variants recently received the beta program for the latest operating system.
Read more: OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G launched in India with Dimensity 900 SoC for ₹23,999

Galaxy A03 launched in India with UNISOC Tiger T606 SoC for ₹10,499

Samsung Galaxy A03 was launched in Vietnam in November last year. After months, the smartphone is now official in India with an affordable price tag. It offers everything we expect from a starting range device. Here's a detailed look at the new device.

Galaxy A03

Must see: Specs Comparison: Honor Magic V vs Galaxy Z Fold 3

Samsung Galaxy A03 is built around a 6.5-inch Infinity-V TFT display. The panel offers an HD+ resolution of 720x1,600 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio. A 5,000 mAh battery keeps the screen lightened up and is claimed to last for a day on a single charge.

Under the hood, the device powers an octa-core processor based on Unisoc T606 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM. For software, the Galaxy A03 boosts Android 11 OS out of the box with One UI Core 3.1 on top. FYI, Core One UI 3.1 is the lighter version of One UI 3.1. As Samsung says, it “focus on what matters.”

In the shooting section, the Galaxy A03 houses a dual rear camera set up along with an LED flash. There's a 2 MP depth sensor accompanying the 48 MP primary unit. On the other side, a 5 MP snapper serves selfies and video calls. In addition, it offers a Smart Selfie Angle feature that automatically switches to a wide-angle when there are multiple faces in the frame.

Galaxy A03

Further, the connectivity options include a microSD card slot, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS, Micro-USB, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, ambient light, and proximity sensor.

Availability and Price


Samsung Galaxy A03 is available in two storage configurations of 3GB RAM + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB. Depending upon the model, the device costs ₹10,499 and ₹11,999, respectively. You can purchase the phone from next week via leading online and offline stores in Black, Blue, and Red colorways.
Related:  Galaxy A73 5G arrives on FCC with 25W fast charging support

Moto Edge 30 Pro & Edge+ (2022) with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC launched In India and USA, respectively

The Lenovo-owned company has launched two smartphones recently in different countries. The company has unveiled the Moto Edge 30 Pro and Moto Edge+ (2022) in India and USA, respectively. Though they share some common specifications, let's check out the devices in detail.

Moto Edge 30 Pro

Must see: Specs Comparison: iQOO Neo 5S vs Motorola Edge S30

Moto Edge 30 Pro Specifications


The Motorola Edge 30 Pro is built around a 6.7-inch pOLED display with a Full-HD+ resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The device is protected with a layer of 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with an anti-fingerprint coating. It measures 163.06 x 75.95 x 8.79mm in dimensions and weighs 196 grams.

Underneath, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset powers the Edge 30 Pro paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB of unexpandable storage. For software, the handset boosts Android 12 OS pre-installed. Also, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor serves the security of the device.

In the optics department, a 50 MP primary sensor leads the rear triple camera setup of Moto Edge 30 Pro. The other lenses include a 50 MP ultra-wide shooter and a 2 MP depth sensor. On the other side, there's a 60 MP unit for selfies and video calls.

Moto Edge 30 Pro

The Motorola Edge 30 Pro ships with a 4,800mAh battery that supports 68W TurboPower fast wired charging. In addition, it includes 15W wireless charging and 5W wireless power-sharing. The other specifications include a 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port.

Price and Availability


Motorola Edge 30 Pro will go on sale via Flipkart and leading retail stores from March 4 in Cosmos Blue and Stardust White colorways. The device will cost ₹49,999 for the sole 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant.

Moto Edge+ (2022) Specifications


The Edge+ (2022) shares most of its specifications with the Edge 30 Pro, besides battery and a few other features. Starting with, the device packs a 4,800 mAh battery that supports 30W fast charging. Moreover, it offers Motorola's MyUX interface along with Android 12OS.

Moto Edge+ (2022)

Price and Availability


Motorola Edge+ (2022) is up for pre-order in the US for $899. Originally, the price is set at $999. In addition, the company will also sell a stylus for the smartphone separately along with a folio case
Read more: Moto G Pro receives Android 12 update in the UK

ColorOS 12 beta update goes live for Oppo Reno 4 & Reno 4 Pro

Oppo has started releasing the Android 12-based ColorOS 12 beta program for several smartphones in different regions. Joining these devices, there are a couple more Oppo Reno 4 and Oppo Reno 4 Pro.

Oppo Reno 4

Make sure to visit: Download Oppo/ Realme Quick Glance Latest Version [Old Versions Archive]

The announcement was made through an official post on the Oppo community. According to the statement, the Android 12 based ColorOS 12 beta is live in Indonesia for the Oppo Reno 4. Whereas, for the Oppo Reno 4 Pro, the program is rolling out in India as well as Indonesia.

Interested users can register themselves from February 23 to March 2. Although, apply soon to be an early applicant as the company is recruiting only 5,000 testers for the handsets in each region.

However, before registering, make sure that your respective smartphone operates the basic version. For Reno 4, it is C.23 and C.24, while for Reno 4 Pro users, it's C.42 and C.43. Follow the below step for registration:

  • Head to Settings > Software Update

  • Click on the Gear Icon at the top right corner

  • Tap on Apply for Beta Version > Update Beta Version

  • Follow the on-screen instructions and submit to enroll in the Android 12 beta initiative.


The beta software will reach out to the selected applicants within 3 working days. In case the OTA does not arrive on your device, wait for the next round of recruitment (if there's any). In addition, the stable version is expected to roll out in a couple of months.
Read more: Oppo A76 Specifications & Price Tipped in India Ahead of Launch

OnePlus 9R gets stable Android 12 based ColorOS 12 update in China



A couple of months back, OnePlus released the Android 12-based ColorOS 12 beta program for the OnePlus 9R. As scheduled, the company is now kicking off the stable version of the latest operating system for the device.

OnePlus 9R
Make sure to visit: Download OnePlus System Launcher Latest Version [Old version archived]

The announcement was made via the official OnePlus Community China. According to the post, the OnePlus 9R users need to be on firmware version A.15 to receive the stable ColorOS 12 update based on Android 12.

After making sure that you are running the basic version, follow the below steps to download and install the Android 12 stable update.

  • Open Settings, head to Software Update

  • Tap on the Gear Icon > Upgrade Early Adopters

  • On the Application for Official Version page, click on ‘Apply Now, followed by ‘Check’


For now, the software is available for early adopters. Therefore, only a limited number of users can flash the update. If the experience is smooth enough for them, the build will have a wider rollout in the coming days.

However, OnePlus mentioned that the ‘stable’ version for the OnePlus 9R carries a bug. The lock screen of the device flashes while unlocking with a large number of notifications. For now, the only solution is to clear notifications. Though the company will fix this in future updates.

To mention, the international variants of the OnePlus 9R recently got access to Android 12 beta. We can expect a stable rollout in a couple of months.
Read more: OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G launched in India with Dimensity 900 SoC for ₹23,999

[Update: February 2022 Security Patch] Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Updates Tracker

Samsung Galaxy S22 series is the premium flagship by the company this year. The lineup includes three smartphones— Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Depending upon the market, the 5G family powers the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200. For software, the trio fuels Android 12 OS paired with One UI 4.1 on top. To know the smartphones in detail, visit our launch article.

Galaxy S22 series

Must see: Apply these Galaxy S22 wallpapers on your current smartphone!

Note: We will keep this post updated with the latest information regarding the Galaxy S22 series.

Galaxy S22 Series Updates Tracker


We have listed all the updates here that Samsung has released for the Galaxy S22 series. You can find the latest update at the top as they are arranged in descending order.

  • [February 25, 2022]: The Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra are getting a new update via firmware version S90xEXXU1AVB3. The build is currently rolling out in Afghanistan and Egypt with February 2022 security patch.


The company is releasing the updates in a staggered way. Accordingly, users need to be patient for a few days to get the update. Alternatively, the update can be checked manually from Settings > Software updates > Check for the updates.
Related: [Update: February 2022 Security Patch] Samsung Galaxy A52 Update Tracker

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Samsung Galaxy A73, A53, A33, and A23 specs leaked, here's what expected

Samsung is working to launch four new smartphones under its A-series of the flagship. The family includes Galaxy A73 5G, Galaxy A53 5G, Galaxy A33 5G, and Galaxy A23 5G. The devices have leaked today with all the major specifications ahead of their launch. Let's take a look at these handsets in detail.

Galaxy A

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The top offering of the bunch is Galaxy A73 which shares its specifications with Galaxy A53, including the operating system and battery capacity. As per the leak, the smartphones will boost Android 12 out of the box. In addition, they will ship with 5,000mAh batteries with 25W charging support.

Moving on, the Galaxy A73 and Galaxy A53 feature 6.7-inch and 6.52-inch AMOLED display respectively. The panels offer a Full-HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the Galaxy A73 is expected to power Snapdragon 750G SoC. Also, the device is tipped to house a quad rear camera setup led by a 108 MP primary unit. The other lenses could stand at 12 MP, 8 MP, and 2 MP.

On the other hand, the Galaxy A53 may carry the Exynos 1200 SoC. In optics, a 64 MP unit is said to guide the device's camera along with a 12 MP and a couple of 5 MP other sensors.

Coming forth to Galaxy A33 5G and Galaxy A23 5G, both devices will run Android 11 OS pre-installed as per leaks. Also, they are suggested to draw juices from a 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging support.

Further, the Galaxy A33 and Galaxy A23 are likely to feature a 6.4-inch full HD+ AMOLED and 6.6-inch full-HD IPS LCD respectively with a 90Hz refresh rate. Underneath, Galaxy A33 can equip Dimensity 700 SoC. Moreover, it may offer a quad rear camera unit consisting of a 48 MP, an 8 MP, a 5 MP, and a 2 MP snappers.

Whereas, the Galaxy A23 is said to fuel the Dimensity 720 SoC. For shooting purposes, the handset is said to carry a quad rear camera setup featuring a 50 MP primary shooter along with an 8 MP and two 2 MPs units.
Read more: Galaxy A73 5G arrives on FCC with 25W fast charging support

Realme Narzo 50 With Helio G96 SoC launched in India for ₹12,999

As reported, the Realme Narzo 50 is finally official in India as the third smartphone from the flagship. The other two devices include the Narzo 50A and Narzo 50i. Let’s check out the new smartphone in detail.

Realme Narzo 50

Must see: List of Realme smartphones to receive Android 13 update (unofficial)

Realme Narzo 50 specifications


The Realme Narzo 50 is built around an IPS LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a Full-HD+ resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels. The smartphone offers Android 11 OS out of the box along with Realme UI 2.0 on top.

Underneath, a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC powers the Narzo 50 paired with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The memory can be expanded up to 256GB via a dedicated microSD card slot. Moreover, it offers a Dynamic RAM expansion feature. This allows users to utilize free storage as virtual memory.

In the shooting department, the Realme Narzo 50 houses a 16 MP front-facing camera. The rear lenses include a couple of 2 MP portrait and macro sensors alongside a 50 MP primary unit.

A 5,000 mAh battery keeps the Narzo 50 working with a 33W SuperDart fast charging support. The other specifications include dual-SIM support, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

Availability and Price


Narzo 50 will go on sale from March 3 via Amazon, Realme's online store, and retail stores in two color options Speed Black and Speed Blue. The smartphone arrives in two storage variants of 4GB RAM + 64GB and 6GB RAM + 128GB costing ₹12,999 and ₹15,499 respectively.
Read more: Realme V25 is teased officially, expected to launch soon!