Wednesday, March 16, 2022

iQoo Z6 5G announced in India with Snapdragon 695 SoC for ₹15,999

iQoo has unveiled the iQoo Z6 5G smartphone as a new budget offering in India. In fact, it is the most affordable device under the Z-series lineup in the country. Let's see what the latest handset has packed!

iQoo Z6 5G

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

The iQoo Z6 5G is built around a 6.58-inch IPS LCD screen featuring a waterdrop notch with a layer of Panda Glass second generation. The panel offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels, a 120Hz high refresh rate, and a 90.6 percent screen-to-body ratio. A 5,000 mAh cell keeps the screen alive with an 18W fast charging support over a USB Type-C port.

Under the hood, a Snapdragon 695 processor powers the smartphone paired with Adreno 619 GPU. The phone is available in up to 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage options, which is expandable by 1TB via a microSD card. For software, iQoo Z6 5G comes pre-installed with Android 12 out of the box along with Funtouch OS 12 on top.

In optics, there's a triple rear module consisting of a 50 MP primary sensor and a couple of 2 MP lenses to measure depth and macro aspects. For selfies and video calls, the iQoo Z6 5G houses a 16 MP front-facing snapper.

iQoo Z6 5G

Availability and Price




The iQoo Z6 5G is available in Chromatic Blue and Dynamo Black color options. You can buy the new phone via Amazon from March 22 at the following prices:




4 GB RAM + 128 GB: ₹15,999

6 GB RAM + 128 GB: ₹16,999

8 GB RAM + 128 GB: ₹17,999


As far as launch offers are concerned, HDFC Bank customers can get ₹2,000 off on Amazon.

Read more: List of eligible Vivo and iQOO devices to get FuntouchOS 12 based on Android 12

Xiaomi 12, 12 Pro, 12X launched globally: Specifications & Price

Xiaomi 12 series was launched last year in China with three models— Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 12 Pro, and Xiaomi 12X. The variants have finally made their debut globally with the same specs as the Chinese variant. Here's a complete look at smartphones.

Xiaomi 12 series
Must see: Specs Comparison: Xiaomi 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Xiaomi 12


The vanilla Xiaomi 12 features a centrally aligned hole punch cutout and a 6.28-inch AMOLED display. The panel offers a Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1500 nits of peak brightness.

Under the hood, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC powers the Xiaomi 12. On the software front, it boosts Android 12 OS out of the box paired with MIUI 13 on top. A 4,500 mAh power cell keeps the device working with 67W fast charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charge support. 

Xiaomi 12

For optics, the handset has a triple-camera setup led by a 50MP main sensor alongside a 13 MP ultrawide lens and a 5 MP tele-macro unit. On the other side, there's a 32 MP snapper for selfies and video calls.

Xiaomi 12 Pro


The Pro model is similar to the standard variant on some grounds. It is built around a 6.67-inch 2K AMOLED display. For shooting purposes, Xiaomi 12 Pro houses a triple rear camera consisting of all 50 MP sensors. The device ships with a 4,600 mAh battery that supports 120W wired fast charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

Xiaomi 12 Pro

Xiaomi 12X


Xiaomi 12X shares most of its specs with vanilla Xiaomi 12. Although as a cheaper model it equips Snapdragon 870 SoC under the hood.

Xiaomi 12X

Availability & Price


The Xiaomi 12 series will be available in Gray, Purple, and Blue colorways. The base variant of Xiaomi 12, 12 Pro, and 12X will cost you $750, $999, and $650 respectively. Also, buying any of the models, you will get three free months of YouTube Premium.
Read more: Xiaomi Mix 5 appears on Geekbench with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC

OnePlus initiates OxygenOS 12 Closed Beta program for Nord 2 in India

OnePlus releases any build in three different channels— Closed Beta, Open Beta, and Stable. In the latest news, the company has announced OxygenOS 12 Closed Beta testing program for the OnePlus Nord 2 5G users in India. Unfortunately, the Nord 2 PAC-MAN Edition is not a part of this program as of now.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G

Must see: Download OnePlus Game Space Latest Version [Old Versions Archive]

The formal announcement was made via the OnePlus Community forum. According to the post, the smartphone brand will only recruit 200 closed beta testers for the program. Also, unlike before, this will be short-term testing emphasizing improving the upcoming OxygenOS 12 for the OnePlus Nord 2.

As mentioned, OnePlus will release only a few builds and the selected users will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the company. These 200 users are expected to stay in touch regularly via Telegram to report bugs/issues and provide suggestions to the software team.

Moreover, keep in note that this beta build will be loaded with bugs and glitches. Therefore, you will have to remain patient to test and improve the development. OnePlus says that the users will have to "tolerate its instability and accept all risks which might be caused by it." In addition, do not forget to take a backup of your data as this version requires a clean flash.

In case you are an interested OnePlus Nord 2 user in the country, click on the button below to apply for the program. The stable Android 12 based ColorOS 12 is expected to release sometime near Q2 2022.

Apply Now



Read more: OnePlus 9 & 9 Pro gets OxygenOS 12 C.46 update with February 2022 security patch

[Update: February 2022 Security Patch] Samsung Galaxy M52 Updates Tracker

Samsung introduced the Galaxy M52 smartphone in September 2021. The device runs on Android 11 OS out of the box along with One UI 3.1 on top. Underneath, it equips a Mediatek Helio G80 processor. Galaxy M52 features a 6.7 inches Super AMOLED Plus display with a 32 MP selfie shooter. On the other side, there’s a triple-camera island led by a 64MP primary sensor.

Galaxy M52

Must see: Comparing Samsung Galaxy F42 5g vs Galaxy M52 5g

Note: This is an update tracker and will be updated regularly with the latest update releases for the device.

Samsung Galaxy M52 Updates Tracker


Here is a list of updates received by the Galaxy M52 smartphone. The latest build will be placed at the top followed by the previous release.

  • [March 16, 2022]: Samsung is releasing the February 2022 security patch to Galaxy A52. Arriving on firmware version M526BXXS1AVB2, the update is currently rolling out in India, while it will soon hit other regions as well.


As usual, the OTA update is having a staged rollout. You can either wait for a pop-up notification or check it manually. To give it a self-check, head over to the Settings app > Software update and tap on Download and install. Also, we suggest you switch over to a WiFi network before downloading the update to avoid data charges.
Related: [Update: March 2022 Security Patch] Samsung Galaxy A52s updates tracker

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

[Update: February 2022 Security Patch] Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Updates Tracker

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra was unveiled in February 2022 running Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 underneath. The phone holds a 14.6 inch Super AMOLED display protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It offers Android 12 One UI 4.1 out of the box paired with up to 512GB storage and 16GB RAM. A 13 MP primary sensor leads the rear dual-camera setup while a couple of 12 MP snappers are housed on the front side.

Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

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

Note: This is an update tracker and will be updated regularly with the latest update releases for the device.

Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Updates Tracker


Here is a list of updates Samsung released for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The builds are listed in descending order according to the date.

  • [March 15, 2022]: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is receiving the February 2022 security patch. Arriving on the firmware version X900XXU1AVC5, the update is currently available in South Korea.


The OTA update will roll out in phases and if you did not receive it already, you must be in line to get it shortly. To check the update manually, you can go to Settings > Software update.
Related: [Update: March 2022 security patch] Samsung Galaxy M31/M31s update tracker

Android 12 based ColorOS 12 Public Beta recruitment is live for Oppo A55 5G

It's been quite some time since Oppo unveiled the ColorOS 12. Starting from the Find X3 lineup, a handful of smartphones have received the update. In the latest news, the company has invited applicants for the Android 12 based ColorOS 12 beta program for the Oppo A55 5G.

Oppo A55 5G

Make sure to visit: List of Oppo devices to get ColorOS 12 update in March (Official)

According to the official announcement post on Oppo Community, the Android 12 based ColorOS 12 beta program for the A55 5G smartphone is currently live in China. If you are an interested Oppo A55 5G user in the country, follow the below steps:

  1. Visit the Software update section under the Setting app

  2. Click on the Gear icon at the top right corner

  3. Apply for the Trial version

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions and submit your details.

  5. Scroll down and tap on Apply now.




Oppo will entertain the registrations from March 15 to March 16. Therefore, the user needs to make sure to register as soon as possible to be a first batch candidate. In case you are already late, keep patience till the second batch registration is open.

In addition, Oppo is expected to review the applications within 5 working days. The version will be pushed to the selected users within 3 working days afterward. Before updating to the beta version, take a backup of your important files to avoid data loss. Additionally, the beta build could carry a lot of bugs like overheating and lagging.


Read more: Oppo A76 Specifications & Price Tipped in India Ahead of Launch

Google resolves Pixel issues bought in by the March update

Google rolled out the Android 12L update for the supported Pixel smartphones as a part of the March 2022 upgrade. Unfortunately, the Pixel drop arrived with a few bugs for some Pixel users, especially in terms of contactless payments. Thanks to the tech giant, the issue has now been resolved.

Google NFC

Make sure to visit: Get official Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro wallpapers for free!

In a recent statement, Google announced that the NFC transactions will successfully work again on all Pixel smartphones that were affected by the update.
“We are aware that some Pixel users had been experiencing an issue where they were unable to make contactless payments using Google Pay following a recent update. This issue has now been fixed and all users should be able to continue using Google Pay to tap and pay wherever contactless payments are accepted,” says a Google spokesperson.

To mention, this issue was occurring to random users after installing the March 2022 update by Google. Some users were lucky enough not to face this problem. Although, it did not happen immediately after updating. After a while, the users received a message that said “Your phone does not match software standards.”
Read more: WhatsApp beta brings new Communities Tab and tweaks Voice Recordings

OnePlus Nord 2T leaked with triple rear camera and Dual Flash

Reportedly, OnePlus is testing a new mid-range Nord smartphone in India. The upcoming OnePlus Nord 2T will debut as a mid-range offering just like the previous segments. The device now flying as leaks in the rumor mill. Let's check out the expected features and details.

OnePlus Nord 2T

Make sure to visit: Download OnePlus Game Space Latest Version [Old Versions Archive]

Talking about the design, the OnePlus Nord 2T might bring back the original sandstone rear panel finish. The panel appears to feature a raised module housing a triple rear camera module with a blue color finishing and two LED flashes. The primary unit seems quite large, while the other two smaller ones are diagonally placed inside the second circle.

For specifications, the OnePlus Nord 2T can be built around a 6.43-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Underneath, it is tipped to power a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC. For software, the device may offer Android 12 out of the box.

In the optics department, the rear camera module could house a 50 MP main lens along with an 8 MP secondary camera and a 2 MP tertiary unit. On the other side, the upcoming phone could carry a 32 MP front-facing snapper. At last, a 4,500 mAh battery will probably back up the entire system with an 80W SuperVOOC fast-charging support.

As of now, this is all we have in our hands regarding the OnePlus Nord 2T. Any official words from the company are still awaited. We will update you soon with any further information we receive.
Read more: OnePlus 8, 8 Pro & 8T gets ColorOS 12 Open Beta 3 with multiple fixes MP

Xiaomi Mix 5 appears on Geekbench with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC

Last year, Xiaomi unveiled the Mix 4 in China. Unfortunately, the phone did not make its way outside the home country. Anyway, the company is now preparing a successor device. The Xiaomi Mix 5 recently made an appearance on the Geekbench benchmarking website, shedding light on some key specifications. Here's what we know about the device ahead of its launch.

[caption id="attachment_123929" align="aligncenter" width="696"]Xiaomi Mix 5 Representative image[/caption]

Make sure to visit: Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Specs Comparison

The Xiaomi Mix 5 will debut as one of the most premium smartphones from the company. To mention, Xiaomi is still num regarding the official launch detail of the handset. Though we can expect the drapes to get off in August or September.

The Xiaomi Mix 5 has managed to score 1257 in the single-core test and 3456 in Geekbench’s multi-core test. As per the listing, the device will bear model number 2203121C and has the codename, Thor, which we assume is associated with Mix 5.



In addition, there's also a possibility that the phone may launch as Mix 5 Pro in China. Whatever it may be, the 2203121C device will power a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC under the hood. It will further be paired with Adreno 730 GPU and a peak clock speed of 3.00GHz.

Moreover, the Geekbench database enlists a 12 GB RAM model of Mix 5. For software, the phone will come pre-installed with Android 12. With this operating system, we can expect a coating of MIUI 13 out of the box as well.




At the time of writing, this is all we know about the Xiaomi Mix 5. We will update the post with any further information we receive.
Read more: List of eligible Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices to get Android 13 update