Gadgets 360

Nothing Phone 2a is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2024. Over the past few weeks, details of a new smartphone from Nothing have surfaced online. The UK-based OEM is said to be working on the Nothing Phone 2a, which is likely to launch with trimmed specifications as compared to the company's last handset, the Nothing Phone 2. Design renders alongside several key features of the purported phone have been tipped previously. Now, a tipster has suggested the price, colour options, and RAM and storage configurations of the Nothing Phone 2a.

Tipster Roland Quandt (@rquandt) shared in a post on X that the Nothing Phone 2a is likely to launch in Black and White colour options. He also claimed that the base variant of the smartphone with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage could be priced below EUR 400 (roughly Rs. 36,800). The tipster added that the handset could also be available in a 12GB + 256GB variant but did not hint at a price range for this option. 

Nothing Phone (2a)
8/128GB
12/256GB
White or Black
Sub 400 Euro price for base model.

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) December 28, 2023

An earlier leak suggested that the Nothing Phone 2a will be listed at $400 (roughly Rs. 33,200). This leak also showed a PVT unit of the phone that featured a horizontal camera module placed centrally towards the top of the back panel, while the front panel was seen with a centred hole-punch slot for the front camera. It was also seen with a redesigned Glyph Interface.

Meanwhile, a recent report had claimed that the Nothing Phone 2a could include a 1/1.5-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KNG9 primary sensor alongside a 1/2.76-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN1 sensor with an ultrawide lens at the back. It may also get a 32-megapixel Sony IMX615 front camera sensor.

The Nothing Phone 2a has been tipped to come with a MediaTek Dimenisty 7200 SoC and a 6.7-inch  120Hz AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,084 x 2,412 pixels. It is likely to ship with Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5. The phone is expected to launch at the 'Nothing to See' MWC event in Barcelona on February 27.

---

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/GOnhmCA

Nothing Phone 2a is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2024. Over the past few weeks, details of a new smartphone from Nothing have surfaced online. The UK-based OEM is said to be working on the Nothing Phone 2a, which is likely to launch with trimmed specifications as compared to the company's last handset, the Nothing Phone 2. Design renders alongside several key features of the purported phone have been tipped previously. Now, a tipster has suggested the price, colour options, and RAM and storage configurations of the Nothing Phone 2a.

Tipster Roland Quandt (@rquandt) shared in a post on X that the Nothing Phone 2a is likely to launch in Black and White colour options. He also claimed that the base variant of the smartphone with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage could be priced below EUR 400 (roughly Rs. 36,800). The tipster added that the handset could also be available in a 12GB + 256GB variant but did not hint at a price range for this option. 

Nothing Phone (2a)
8/128GB
12/256GB
White or Black
Sub 400 Euro price for base model.

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) December 28, 2023

An earlier leak suggested that the Nothing Phone 2a will be listed at $400 (roughly Rs. 33,200). This leak also showed a PVT unit of the phone that featured a horizontal camera module placed centrally towards the top of the back panel, while the front panel was seen with a centred hole-punch slot for the front camera. It was also seen with a redesigned Glyph Interface.

Meanwhile, a recent report had claimed that the Nothing Phone 2a could include a 1/1.5-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KNG9 primary sensor alongside a 1/2.76-inch 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN1 sensor with an ultrawide lens at the back. It may also get a 32-megapixel Sony IMX615 front camera sensor.

The Nothing Phone 2a has been tipped to come with a MediaTek Dimenisty 7200 SoC and a 6.7-inch  120Hz AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,084 x 2,412 pixels. It is likely to ship with Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5. The phone is expected to launch at the 'Nothing to See' MWC event in Barcelona on February 27.

---

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Gadgets 360

The ever-changing landscape of the smartphone industry in India is always surprising. This year, there have been plenty of changes and several newcomers in some segments to make for a very interesting mix of devices for eager buyers to choose from. While most regulars like Xiaomi and Realme have seen a handful of launches in the budget segment, brands like Motorola and Infinix have gone in all guns blazing. Xiaomi has been making headway into the higher end of the budget range and the mid-range instead.

The battle between Samsung and OnePlus has never been bigger than 2023, when OnePlus launched its first book-style foldable, the Open, late this year (after several delays). Brands like Oppo and Motorola took things a step up with foldables and premium smartphone offerings, while Samsung took it relatively easy with the same, but delivered a rather capable camera-focused flagship with its Galaxy S23 Ultra. Google ushered in the age of AI on smartphones, but definitely missed out on the ‘folding' bit in India, which has seen its fair share of buyers this year.

And with so much choice and variety in certain segments, it gets equally hard to pick and choose the right smartphone. Unfortunately, not all the smartphones that we have reviewed over the past year have managed good scores as per our ratings. Fortunately, there are several that stood out, and basically managed to deliver what was expected from them. So, we have come up with a list of devices (in no particular order) which we consider to be the best at what they do. If you are looking to bring in the new year with a brand new smartphone, or have been a bit unsure about switching to a new device type or segment, this one's for you!

Phones	Gadgets 360 rating (out of 10)	Price in India (as recommended)
OnePlus Open	9	Rs. 1,39,999
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra	9	Rs. 72,999
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra	9	Rs. 1,24,999
Samsung Galaxy S23	9	Rs. 74,999
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max	9	Rs. 1,59,900
Apple iPhone 15	9	Rs. 79,900
Google Pixel 7a	8	Rs. 38,999
Nothing Phone 2	8	Rs. 39,999
iQoo Neo 7 Pro	8	Rs. 34,999
OnePlus Nord 3 5G	9	Rs. 29,999
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G	8	Rs. 26,999

OnePlus Open

The OnePlus Open (Review) can best be described as a breath of fresh air in the book-style or horizontal foldables space which has been dominated by Samsung with its Galaxy Z Fold lineup since the category showed up in India. For a phone that's managed to surpass our expectations from every possible angle (not just as a foldable but even a regular smartphone), it sure seems like an achievement to get so many things right in the first attempt.

The Open managed to outdo Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 (the latest version of its best foldable yet) by a large margin by offering a slimmer and lighter design (with an IP rating), fast charging (sans wireless charging), better battery life and the very obvious imaging capability. Its Open Canvas software feature also seems like a different and novel take on the multitasking front. Its compact form factor and broad cover display make it function like a regular smartphone when folded, which is not the case with the Z Fold 5. While it lacks wireless charging (which Samsung offers, it makes up for it with 80W wired charging, and it all comes at a price that's a lot lower than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 with plenty more storage and RAM.

 

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

Another smartphone that managed to take us by surprise this year was Motorola's latest Razr 40 Ultra (Review) foldable. It packs in quite the punch for a smartphone this compact and slim. It may lack the latest Snapdragon processor, but its main use case lies in its well-optimised cover display software experience, which is second to none in the clamshell foldables segment.

Its IP52-rated design makes Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Oppo Find N3 Flip appear chunky. There's also that large cover display with a rather unique, embedded floating camera layout, which looks unreal and radical. Camera performance is good for a foldable, and the battery life will give you a day of use. But this phone also does well when it comes to gaming. It won't bring back any memories of the iconic Razr (V3/V3i) flip phones of the early 2000s, but it sure sets a new standard by bringing in its own iconic style, which has been hard to mimic to date.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

When it comes to zooming in, there is really no competing with Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra (Review). With Huawei not around anymore, Samsung's Galaxy Ultra lineup has made its cosy space between the regular Galaxy S23 phones (S23, S23 Plus) and its Galaxy Z Fold lineup and dominated this segment while competing with Apple's Pro-range of ultra-premium devices. Priced at Rs. 1,24,999, it's a space that no other brand (on the Android side of things) has dared to enter late when designing regular slate-type smartphones.

Samsung has also managed to justify this pricing by continuing to retain what made the now-defunct Galaxy Note series unique. This would include an S-Pen (which slides into a built-in silo), a massive display that supports the stylus. There's also a desktop-like Dex functionality for the productive types. And then it takes forward the bits from the Galaxy S series lineup by adding an excellent 200-megapixel camera, the capability of which remains unmatched in India (no matter which camp you come from). The customised Snapdragon SoC and excellent battery life are simply bonuses that buyers can take advantage of. We just wished it came in a smaller, more compact package, as this phone is quite a handful.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23

Just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S23 (Review) has made its peace with the world and still continues to be the only compact flagship in its segment. Despite commanding a high price tag of Rs. 74,999 and looking very similar to its predecessor, this compact powerhouse has plenty of under-the-hood improvements over the previous model. While the SoC upgrades were what we expected, Samsung also packaged a vapour cooling chamber into its compact footprint, keeping this phone cool when stressed. Battery life has also improved over the Galaxy S22, and it can easily handle a day of heavy usage on a single charge. Camera performance is top-notch (even though it has seen no upgrades) and delivers what one would expect from a Galaxy S series device. Despite no new or added features over its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 still remains the compact flagship to beat solely because of its form factor.

 

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

As Apple struggles to add new and upgrade-worthy features to its smartphones, it's finally going back to basics (with some help from the EU). The iPhone 15 Pro Max (Review) manages to do pretty much what it claims to do and that is quite the leap from the iPhone 14 Pro, which banked heavily on Dynamic Island as its highlight feature. This year, Apple worked on tweaking and optimising its cameras, including the new telephoto camera, which exceeded expectations when it came to zoom performance.

It's not all about the cameras, either. There's a new customisable Action button and the big shift to USB-C, which many more users will appreciate. Along with the standard Pro model, it's also the first globally produced smartphone that makes use of titanium for its frame, which also makes it lighter compared to its predecessor. It can also run AAA gaming titles with jaw-dropping graphics thanks to the impressive A17 Pro (3nm) processor. It's the iPhone that is worth upgrading to even if you own the previous iPhone 14 Pro.

 

Apple iPhone 15

After several years of incremental upgrades to the standard iPhone lineup, we finally have a regular iPhone that actually packs in some notable upgrades. The iPhone 15 (Review) despite not having any segment-leading features (compared to other Android smartphones at this price point), still manages to be quite an exciting product for iPhone users. This is mainly because of the ‘Pro-grade' features that have trickled down from the high-end models.

This would include a better Apple A16 Bionic chipset from last year's iPhone 14 Pro, better higher-resolution cameras (one of which also offers lossless in-sensor zoom), USB-C and Dynamic Island. It still retains a 60Hz display (probably in place to deliver better battery life), but it will be the go-to iPhone model for years to come thanks to Dynamic Island and USB-C. And this automatically makes it the base iPhone model that newcomers will crave.

 

Google Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a (Review) is the only Pixel phone to be launched this year, which seems to offer immense value for money. While it may look similar to last year's Pixel 7, it does pack in a ton of upgrades. This would include the upgraded Tensor G2 SoC, which enables a number of AI-related photo editing features and camera tricks, new high-resolution cameras, a reliable fingerprint reader (compared to the Pixel 6a) embedded into a high-refresh-rate 90Hz display and wireless charging.

All of the above is available at an attractive price tag of Rs. 38,999, which is indeed really good value for money, given that you are getting a near-stock serving of Android, which will also be the first to receive software updates, along with the fun Feature Drops which Google releases every few months.

 

Nothing Phone 2

While the Nothing Phone 2 (Review) was launched at Rs. 44,999 in India which seemed borderline good given its core hardware, it new lowered price of Rs. 37,999 makes it bit more convincing for buyers who are looking for something different in an Android smartphone.

From its unique transparent looks to its custom software skinning and the Glyph light notification system, which has become more useful with the latest software updates, it is a special and unique experience for those tired of looking at the same icons and widgets on every other Android device. The Phone 2 also offers a better set of cameras than the previous model's average camera performance. Indeed, the Phone 2 sure helps Nothing get past the image of being an artsy, fashion-forward phone to a practical one that works well even as a primary device.

 

iQoo Neo 7 Pro

iQoo has always delivered when it came to good value, matched by equally good performance with their Neo series. But it's recent Neo 7 Pro (Review) goes above and beyond, making it a worthy recommendation in this shortlist.

For starters, there's the faux-leather option in terms of design, and it's all packaged into an IP52-rated body. Inside, iQoo offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, which is rare in this segment and offers premium-level performance. There's a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display with skinny bezels and a large 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging that is fast enough to go from 0-100 per cent in under 30 minutes. The primary camer's performance is quite impressive as well. All in all, the iQoo Neo 7 Pro turns out to be a flagship killer of sorts.

 

OnePlus Nord 3 5G

The higher-end of the budget smartphone range has been growing in popularity because of the many features brands can pack into these phones, increasing their overall value. This is not the case with the mid-range, which struggles to add premium features at a palatable price tag while attempting to appear unique and stand out in terms of cosmetic design. Out of the many mid-range smartphones we have reviewed this year, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G (Review) sure stands out.

It offers distinctly mid-range specs by going with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC. But it pairs it with a premium-looking IP54-rated design with razor-thin bezels on its 120Hz refresh rate AMOLED panel, which also supports HDR10+ content. There are quality cameras all around, and they're all backed up by a large 5,000mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging support. Perhaps the most impressive detail about this mid-ranger is its price, which has now been dropped to Rs. 29,999, making it an easy recommendation.

 

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G

Another phone that has managed to be an all-rounder in the budget segment this year is Samsung's Galaxy A34 5G (Review). We called it the ‘Jack of all trades' in our review, and it was for good reason because this phone manages to pack in a lot of hardware and features at an impressive price point and somehow manages to deliver on those well.

The Galaxy A34 5G may not be as powerful as other smartphones in its class because of its MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, but it gets along fine with multitasking and most 3D gaming requirements. There's enough RAM, storage and even expandable storage so that this phone will check a lot of boxes for various buyers. Camera performance is good in all conditions, and the battery easily lasts a day on a single charge. Its design is also very similar to the premium Galaxy S series, but it's not just about looks, as it also has a solid IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which is rare in this segment.

 

---

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/wxvcV3Z

The ever-changing landscape of the smartphone industry in India is always surprising. This year, there have been plenty of changes and several newcomers in some segments to make for a very interesting mix of devices for eager buyers to choose from. While most regulars like Xiaomi and Realme have seen a handful of launches in the budget segment, brands like Motorola and Infinix have gone in all guns blazing. Xiaomi has been making headway into the higher end of the budget range and the mid-range instead.

The battle between Samsung and OnePlus has never been bigger than 2023, when OnePlus launched its first book-style foldable, the Open, late this year (after several delays). Brands like Oppo and Motorola took things a step up with foldables and premium smartphone offerings, while Samsung took it relatively easy with the same, but delivered a rather capable camera-focused flagship with its Galaxy S23 Ultra. Google ushered in the age of AI on smartphones, but definitely missed out on the ‘folding' bit in India, which has seen its fair share of buyers this year.

And with so much choice and variety in certain segments, it gets equally hard to pick and choose the right smartphone. Unfortunately, not all the smartphones that we have reviewed over the past year have managed good scores as per our ratings. Fortunately, there are several that stood out, and basically managed to deliver what was expected from them. So, we have come up with a list of devices (in no particular order) which we consider to be the best at what they do. If you are looking to bring in the new year with a brand new smartphone, or have been a bit unsure about switching to a new device type or segment, this one's for you!

Phones	Gadgets 360 rating (out of 10)	Price in India (as recommended)
OnePlus Open	9	Rs. 1,39,999
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra	9	Rs. 72,999
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra	9	Rs. 1,24,999
Samsung Galaxy S23	9	Rs. 74,999
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max	9	Rs. 1,59,900
Apple iPhone 15	9	Rs. 79,900
Google Pixel 7a	8	Rs. 38,999
Nothing Phone 2	8	Rs. 39,999
iQoo Neo 7 Pro	8	Rs. 34,999
OnePlus Nord 3 5G	9	Rs. 29,999
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G	8	Rs. 26,999

OnePlus Open

The OnePlus Open (Review) can best be described as a breath of fresh air in the book-style or horizontal foldables space which has been dominated by Samsung with its Galaxy Z Fold lineup since the category showed up in India. For a phone that's managed to surpass our expectations from every possible angle (not just as a foldable but even a regular smartphone), it sure seems like an achievement to get so many things right in the first attempt.

The Open managed to outdo Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 (the latest version of its best foldable yet) by a large margin by offering a slimmer and lighter design (with an IP rating), fast charging (sans wireless charging), better battery life and the very obvious imaging capability. Its Open Canvas software feature also seems like a different and novel take on the multitasking front. Its compact form factor and broad cover display make it function like a regular smartphone when folded, which is not the case with the Z Fold 5. While it lacks wireless charging (which Samsung offers, it makes up for it with 80W wired charging, and it all comes at a price that's a lot lower than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 with plenty more storage and RAM.

 

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

Another smartphone that managed to take us by surprise this year was Motorola's latest Razr 40 Ultra (Review) foldable. It packs in quite the punch for a smartphone this compact and slim. It may lack the latest Snapdragon processor, but its main use case lies in its well-optimised cover display software experience, which is second to none in the clamshell foldables segment.

Its IP52-rated design makes Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Oppo Find N3 Flip appear chunky. There's also that large cover display with a rather unique, embedded floating camera layout, which looks unreal and radical. Camera performance is good for a foldable, and the battery life will give you a day of use. But this phone also does well when it comes to gaming. It won't bring back any memories of the iconic Razr (V3/V3i) flip phones of the early 2000s, but it sure sets a new standard by bringing in its own iconic style, which has been hard to mimic to date.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

When it comes to zooming in, there is really no competing with Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra (Review). With Huawei not around anymore, Samsung's Galaxy Ultra lineup has made its cosy space between the regular Galaxy S23 phones (S23, S23 Plus) and its Galaxy Z Fold lineup and dominated this segment while competing with Apple's Pro-range of ultra-premium devices. Priced at Rs. 1,24,999, it's a space that no other brand (on the Android side of things) has dared to enter late when designing regular slate-type smartphones.

Samsung has also managed to justify this pricing by continuing to retain what made the now-defunct Galaxy Note series unique. This would include an S-Pen (which slides into a built-in silo), a massive display that supports the stylus. There's also a desktop-like Dex functionality for the productive types. And then it takes forward the bits from the Galaxy S series lineup by adding an excellent 200-megapixel camera, the capability of which remains unmatched in India (no matter which camp you come from). The customised Snapdragon SoC and excellent battery life are simply bonuses that buyers can take advantage of. We just wished it came in a smaller, more compact package, as this phone is quite a handful.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23

Just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S23 (Review) has made its peace with the world and still continues to be the only compact flagship in its segment. Despite commanding a high price tag of Rs. 74,999 and looking very similar to its predecessor, this compact powerhouse has plenty of under-the-hood improvements over the previous model. While the SoC upgrades were what we expected, Samsung also packaged a vapour cooling chamber into its compact footprint, keeping this phone cool when stressed. Battery life has also improved over the Galaxy S22, and it can easily handle a day of heavy usage on a single charge. Camera performance is top-notch (even though it has seen no upgrades) and delivers what one would expect from a Galaxy S series device. Despite no new or added features over its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 still remains the compact flagship to beat solely because of its form factor.

 

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

As Apple struggles to add new and upgrade-worthy features to its smartphones, it's finally going back to basics (with some help from the EU). The iPhone 15 Pro Max (Review) manages to do pretty much what it claims to do and that is quite the leap from the iPhone 14 Pro, which banked heavily on Dynamic Island as its highlight feature. This year, Apple worked on tweaking and optimising its cameras, including the new telephoto camera, which exceeded expectations when it came to zoom performance.

It's not all about the cameras, either. There's a new customisable Action button and the big shift to USB-C, which many more users will appreciate. Along with the standard Pro model, it's also the first globally produced smartphone that makes use of titanium for its frame, which also makes it lighter compared to its predecessor. It can also run AAA gaming titles with jaw-dropping graphics thanks to the impressive A17 Pro (3nm) processor. It's the iPhone that is worth upgrading to even if you own the previous iPhone 14 Pro.

 

Apple iPhone 15

After several years of incremental upgrades to the standard iPhone lineup, we finally have a regular iPhone that actually packs in some notable upgrades. The iPhone 15 (Review) despite not having any segment-leading features (compared to other Android smartphones at this price point), still manages to be quite an exciting product for iPhone users. This is mainly because of the ‘Pro-grade' features that have trickled down from the high-end models.

This would include a better Apple A16 Bionic chipset from last year's iPhone 14 Pro, better higher-resolution cameras (one of which also offers lossless in-sensor zoom), USB-C and Dynamic Island. It still retains a 60Hz display (probably in place to deliver better battery life), but it will be the go-to iPhone model for years to come thanks to Dynamic Island and USB-C. And this automatically makes it the base iPhone model that newcomers will crave.

 

Google Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a (Review) is the only Pixel phone to be launched this year, which seems to offer immense value for money. While it may look similar to last year's Pixel 7, it does pack in a ton of upgrades. This would include the upgraded Tensor G2 SoC, which enables a number of AI-related photo editing features and camera tricks, new high-resolution cameras, a reliable fingerprint reader (compared to the Pixel 6a) embedded into a high-refresh-rate 90Hz display and wireless charging.

All of the above is available at an attractive price tag of Rs. 38,999, which is indeed really good value for money, given that you are getting a near-stock serving of Android, which will also be the first to receive software updates, along with the fun Feature Drops which Google releases every few months.

 

Nothing Phone 2

While the Nothing Phone 2 (Review) was launched at Rs. 44,999 in India which seemed borderline good given its core hardware, it new lowered price of Rs. 37,999 makes it bit more convincing for buyers who are looking for something different in an Android smartphone.

From its unique transparent looks to its custom software skinning and the Glyph light notification system, which has become more useful with the latest software updates, it is a special and unique experience for those tired of looking at the same icons and widgets on every other Android device. The Phone 2 also offers a better set of cameras than the previous model's average camera performance. Indeed, the Phone 2 sure helps Nothing get past the image of being an artsy, fashion-forward phone to a practical one that works well even as a primary device.

 

iQoo Neo 7 Pro

iQoo has always delivered when it came to good value, matched by equally good performance with their Neo series. But it's recent Neo 7 Pro (Review) goes above and beyond, making it a worthy recommendation in this shortlist.

For starters, there's the faux-leather option in terms of design, and it's all packaged into an IP52-rated body. Inside, iQoo offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, which is rare in this segment and offers premium-level performance. There's a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display with skinny bezels and a large 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging that is fast enough to go from 0-100 per cent in under 30 minutes. The primary camer's performance is quite impressive as well. All in all, the iQoo Neo 7 Pro turns out to be a flagship killer of sorts.

 

OnePlus Nord 3 5G

The higher-end of the budget smartphone range has been growing in popularity because of the many features brands can pack into these phones, increasing their overall value. This is not the case with the mid-range, which struggles to add premium features at a palatable price tag while attempting to appear unique and stand out in terms of cosmetic design. Out of the many mid-range smartphones we have reviewed this year, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G (Review) sure stands out.

It offers distinctly mid-range specs by going with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC. But it pairs it with a premium-looking IP54-rated design with razor-thin bezels on its 120Hz refresh rate AMOLED panel, which also supports HDR10+ content. There are quality cameras all around, and they're all backed up by a large 5,000mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging support. Perhaps the most impressive detail about this mid-ranger is its price, which has now been dropped to Rs. 29,999, making it an easy recommendation.

 

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G

Another phone that has managed to be an all-rounder in the budget segment this year is Samsung's Galaxy A34 5G (Review). We called it the ‘Jack of all trades' in our review, and it was for good reason because this phone manages to pack in a lot of hardware and features at an impressive price point and somehow manages to deliver on those well.

The Galaxy A34 5G may not be as powerful as other smartphones in its class because of its MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, but it gets along fine with multitasking and most 3D gaming requirements. There's enough RAM, storage and even expandable storage so that this phone will check a lot of boxes for various buyers. Camera performance is good in all conditions, and the battery easily lasts a day on a single charge. Its design is also very similar to the premium Galaxy S series, but it's not just about looks, as it also has a solid IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which is rare in this segment.

 

---

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Ram Lalla Mandir: Ayodhya's Panchkosi Parikrama Marg enforces ban on liquor sale

Liquor sale has been banned on the Panchkosi Parikrama Marg in Ayodhya ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony.

from mint - politics Liquor sale has been banned on the Panchkosi Parikrama Marg in Ayodhya ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony.

Rajasthan cabinet expansion likely set for today

Rajasthan is set to witness a cabinet expansion today, with 18 to 20 MLAs expected to take oaths as ministers. The expansion aims to address caste and regional dynamics in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

from mint - politics Rajasthan is set to witness a cabinet expansion today, with 18 to 20 MLAs expected to take oaths as ministers. The expansion aims to address caste and regional dynamics in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

14 states, 150 days, 355 constituencies: Bharat Nyay Yatra is Rahul Gandhi's last chance to walk the talk before polls

‘Bharat Jod Yatra’ which Rahul Gandhi started in September 2022 from Kanyakumari to Kashmir received tremendous support

from mint - politics ‘Bharat Jod Yatra’ which Rahul Gandhi started in September 2022 from Kanyakumari to Kashmir received tremendous support

‘Dhong for justice’: Smriti Irani mocks Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra

Smriti Irani calls Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Nyay Yatra' a sham, saying those known for injustice are pretending to do justice

from mint - politics Smriti Irani calls Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Nyay Yatra' a sham, saying those known for injustice are pretending to do justice

Gadgets 360

iQoo Neo 9 series has been launched in China on Wednesday, December 27. The lineup comes with two models - iQoo Neo 9 and iQoo Neo 9 Pro. They offer 16-megapixel front cameras and 5,160mAh batteries with 120W wired fast charging support. Both handsets feature 6.78-inch AMOLED panels and are available in three colour options and four RAM and storage configurations. The iQoo Neo 9 series is available for pre-order in China and will go on sale later this month.

iQoo Neo 9, iQoo Neo 9 Pro price, availability

Offered in Fighting Black, Nautical Blue, and Red and White Soul (translated from Chinese), the iQoo Neo 9 and iQoo Neo 9 Pro are available in four RAM and storage configurations. The base iQoo Neo 9 starts at CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 26,900) for its 12GB + 256GB option. Meanwhile, the 16GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB variants are priced at CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 29,300) and CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 32,800). The top-of-the-line 16GB + 1TB option of the iQoo Neo 9 is listed at CNY 3,199 (roughly Rs. 37,400).

iQoo Neo 9 Pro is priced at CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 35,100) for the 12GB + 256GB variant, whereas the 16GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB options are marked at CNY 3,299 (roughly Rs. 38,600), CNY 3,599 (roughly Rs. 42,100), and CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 46,800), respectively.

Both iQoo Neo 9 smartphones are currently up for pre-order in China via the official Vivo website and will be available for purchase in the country starting December 30.

iQoo Neo 9, iQoo Neo 9 Pro specifications, features

The iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro feature 6.78-inch AMOLED displays with a resolution of 2,800 x 1,260 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, an aspect ratio of 20:9, and HDR10+ support. The iQoo Neo 9 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC with Adreno 740 GPU, while the iQoo Neo 9 Pro gets a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset with Immortalis-G720 GPU. The phones support up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 inbuilt storage. They ship with Android 14-based OriginOS.

For optics, both iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro feature a 16-megapixel front camera sensor, housed in a centred hole-punch slot at the top of the display. At the back, the vanilla iQoo Neo 9 has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX920 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) alongside an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide lens. The Neo 9 Pro also comes with the same main camera as the base model, but is paired with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.

The iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro pack a 5,160mAh battery with 120W wired fast charging support via a USB Type-C port. The phones support dual SIM support with 5G, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, OTG, GPS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, and NFC connectivity. The handsets are also equipped with an IR blaster and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

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Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/4EnzIFH

iQoo Neo 9 series has been launched in China on Wednesday, December 27. The lineup comes with two models - iQoo Neo 9 and iQoo Neo 9 Pro. They offer 16-megapixel front cameras and 5,160mAh batteries with 120W wired fast charging support. Both handsets feature 6.78-inch AMOLED panels and are available in three colour options and four RAM and storage configurations. The iQoo Neo 9 series is available for pre-order in China and will go on sale later this month.

iQoo Neo 9, iQoo Neo 9 Pro price, availability

Offered in Fighting Black, Nautical Blue, and Red and White Soul (translated from Chinese), the iQoo Neo 9 and iQoo Neo 9 Pro are available in four RAM and storage configurations. The base iQoo Neo 9 starts at CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 26,900) for its 12GB + 256GB option. Meanwhile, the 16GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB variants are priced at CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 29,300) and CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 32,800). The top-of-the-line 16GB + 1TB option of the iQoo Neo 9 is listed at CNY 3,199 (roughly Rs. 37,400).

iQoo Neo 9 Pro is priced at CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 35,100) for the 12GB + 256GB variant, whereas the 16GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB options are marked at CNY 3,299 (roughly Rs. 38,600), CNY 3,599 (roughly Rs. 42,100), and CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 46,800), respectively.

Both iQoo Neo 9 smartphones are currently up for pre-order in China via the official Vivo website and will be available for purchase in the country starting December 30.

iQoo Neo 9, iQoo Neo 9 Pro specifications, features

The iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro feature 6.78-inch AMOLED displays with a resolution of 2,800 x 1,260 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, an aspect ratio of 20:9, and HDR10+ support. The iQoo Neo 9 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC with Adreno 740 GPU, while the iQoo Neo 9 Pro gets a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset with Immortalis-G720 GPU. The phones support up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 inbuilt storage. They ship with Android 14-based OriginOS.

For optics, both iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro feature a 16-megapixel front camera sensor, housed in a centred hole-punch slot at the top of the display. At the back, the vanilla iQoo Neo 9 has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX920 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) alongside an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide lens. The Neo 9 Pro also comes with the same main camera as the base model, but is paired with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.

The iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro pack a 5,160mAh battery with 120W wired fast charging support via a USB Type-C port. The phones support dual SIM support with 5G, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, OTG, GPS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, and NFC connectivity. The handsets are also equipped with an IR blaster and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

---

Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

AAP accuses Centre of discrimination as Delhi, Punjab tableaus get excluded from Republic Day parade

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised the Centre's decision to exclude Delhi and Punjab from the upcoming Republic Day parade's tableau, calling it politically motivated.

from mint - politics The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised the Centre's decision to exclude Delhi and Punjab from the upcoming Republic Day parade's tableau, calling it politically motivated.

Gadgets 360

Xiaomi's first launch event explicitly focusing on EV technology will take place later today (December 28). Ahead of it, the electronics brand has posted a teaser on social media offering a glimpse at the company's first-ever passenger car, an all-electric sedan called the Xiaomi SU7. The SU in the moniker stands for Speed Ultra. The four-wheeler is confirmed to come with Xiaomi's HyperOS operating system. The EV is shown in a sedan-style design with a grey shade with five-spoke alloy wheels paired with Michelin tyres.

Lei Jun, Chief Executive Officer Xiaomi posted the first official look of the upcoming Xiaomi SU7 via X (formerly Twitter). The post includes a caption — ‘Hello, Xiaomi SU7 Welcome to Human x Car x Home' — suggesting the four-wheeler's integration with smartphone and smart home accessories. It is confirmed to be powered by the HyperOS operating system.

The poster indicates a grey finish for the Xiaomi SU7. It is seen with a sedan-style design with five-spoke alloy wheels paired with Michelin tyres with a Mi logo on the wheel caps. The side view mirror seems to include a camera similar to a Tesla car. Lei Jun already announced that the company prioritised intelligent technology in the new EV by drawing inspiration from advanced car systems like the Tesla Model S. He has posted a few interesting details about the Xiaomi SU7 including the meaning behind the name.

Xiaomi has already announced that it will host the company's first EV launch event outside China, dubbed "Stride" on December 28. The event will begin at 2:00pm Beijing time (11:30am IST) and will last for three hours. The event will not see any product release instead Lei Jun confirmed that the focus will be on the technology behind Xiaomi's first electric car.

The company has not disclosed any technical specifications for the SU7. It is currently in trial production and will hit the domestic market in a few months. Pricing details are still under wraps but Lei Jun promised that it would "exceed your expectations."

It is likely that Xiaomi may unveil at least three different models with varying ranges and features — Xiaomi SU7, Xiaomi SU7 Pro, and Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. The Xiaomi SU7 is expected to have a 210km/h speed for the lower-end model and the SU7 Max variant may offer up to 265 km/h speed.

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Xiaomi 12 Pro is littered with features, but is that enough? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/zDJBXx1

Xiaomi's first launch event explicitly focusing on EV technology will take place later today (December 28). Ahead of it, the electronics brand has posted a teaser on social media offering a glimpse at the company's first-ever passenger car, an all-electric sedan called the Xiaomi SU7. The SU in the moniker stands for Speed Ultra. The four-wheeler is confirmed to come with Xiaomi's HyperOS operating system. The EV is shown in a sedan-style design with a grey shade with five-spoke alloy wheels paired with Michelin tyres.

Lei Jun, Chief Executive Officer Xiaomi posted the first official look of the upcoming Xiaomi SU7 via X (formerly Twitter). The post includes a caption — ‘Hello, Xiaomi SU7 Welcome to Human x Car x Home' — suggesting the four-wheeler's integration with smartphone and smart home accessories. It is confirmed to be powered by the HyperOS operating system.

The poster indicates a grey finish for the Xiaomi SU7. It is seen with a sedan-style design with five-spoke alloy wheels paired with Michelin tyres with a Mi logo on the wheel caps. The side view mirror seems to include a camera similar to a Tesla car. Lei Jun already announced that the company prioritised intelligent technology in the new EV by drawing inspiration from advanced car systems like the Tesla Model S. He has posted a few interesting details about the Xiaomi SU7 including the meaning behind the name.

Xiaomi has already announced that it will host the company's first EV launch event outside China, dubbed "Stride" on December 28. The event will begin at 2:00pm Beijing time (11:30am IST) and will last for three hours. The event will not see any product release instead Lei Jun confirmed that the focus will be on the technology behind Xiaomi's first electric car.

The company has not disclosed any technical specifications for the SU7. It is currently in trial production and will hit the domestic market in a few months. Pricing details are still under wraps but Lei Jun promised that it would "exceed your expectations."

It is likely that Xiaomi may unveil at least three different models with varying ranges and features — Xiaomi SU7, Xiaomi SU7 Pro, and Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. The Xiaomi SU7 is expected to have a 210km/h speed for the lower-end model and the SU7 Max variant may offer up to 265 km/h speed.

---

Xiaomi 12 Pro is littered with features, but is that enough? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Vivek Ramaswamy slams Bank of America's ‘anti-racist’ move: ‘Will be called systemic racism when…’

Bank of America introduces Community Affordable Loan Solution, offering home loans 'without down payment' to Black and Hispanic communities.

from mint - politics Bank of America introduces Community Affordable Loan Solution, offering home loans 'without down payment' to Black and Hispanic communities.

In Turkey, Erdogan’s charges of Western hypocrisy stick

He is making hay with the war in Gaza

from mint - politics He is making hay with the war in Gaza

BJP removes National Secretary Anupam Hazra from post over controversial comments

BJP removes West Bengal leader Anupam Hazra from the post of National Secretary following instructions from JP Nadda

from mint - politics BJP removes West Bengal leader Anupam Hazra from the post of National Secretary following instructions from JP Nadda

‘ ₹40,000 crore scam': Karnataka BJP MLA vows to expose Covid corruption charges against BS Yediyurappa if…

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal accuses former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa of ₹40,000 crore corruption in COVID-19 management, demands action

from mint - politics BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal accuses former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa of ₹40,000 crore corruption in COVID-19 management, demands action

INDIA bloc PM candidate suspense: ‘No consequences if a face is not projected,’ says Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar says there are no consequences if a face is not projected for the Prime Ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

from mint - politics Sharad Pawar says there are no consequences if a face is not projected for the Prime Ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Gadgets 360

WhatsApp is adding support for sharing status updates from some linked devices, according to details shared by a feature tracker. The Meta-owned messaging service will soon allow users to post status updates from the web version or from linked 'companion' devices. Users who have signed up to test beta versions of WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp for Android can already try out the new functionality on their secondary devices. Companion mode for WhatsApp allows users to access their chats on four other devices, even when their primary smartphone isn't online.

After updating to WhatsApp Web beta 2.2353.59, feature tracker WABetaInfo spotted a new feature in the web client that allows users to post updates from the Status section. Beta testers should be able to click on the green icon next to their profile photo next to My Status and tap on Photos & Videos or Text, to upload a status update.

Sharing status updates via the latest WhatsApp Web beta version
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

The ability to share status updates is also coming to companion devices, as per details recently shared by WABetaInfo. Users who have updated to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.1.4 will be able to add a status update directly from their companion device. Linked devices currently allow users the to chat with their contacts, but it looks like WhatsApp is slowly expanding the features available on these devices.

Gadgets 360 was able to test the ability to share status updates from a companion device on WhatsApp for Android, after updating to the latest beta version. There's no word on when the company will roll out the feature to all users. The feature is also expected to make its way to iOS companion devices.

The messaging platform recently began testing a new type of companion device — WhatsApp for iPad. Beta testers can now install WhatsApp on Apple's tablets if they are part of the TestFlight program. However, it is worth noting that both the Android and iOS beta programmes for WhatsApp are currently full, and the service isn't allowing more users to sign up to receive WhatsApp beta updates.

---

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/XVt1hpK

WhatsApp is adding support for sharing status updates from some linked devices, according to details shared by a feature tracker. The Meta-owned messaging service will soon allow users to post status updates from the web version or from linked 'companion' devices. Users who have signed up to test beta versions of WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp for Android can already try out the new functionality on their secondary devices. Companion mode for WhatsApp allows users to access their chats on four other devices, even when their primary smartphone isn't online.

After updating to WhatsApp Web beta 2.2353.59, feature tracker WABetaInfo spotted a new feature in the web client that allows users to post updates from the Status section. Beta testers should be able to click on the green icon next to their profile photo next to My Status and tap on Photos & Videos or Text, to upload a status update.

Sharing status updates via the latest WhatsApp Web beta version
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

The ability to share status updates is also coming to companion devices, as per details recently shared by WABetaInfo. Users who have updated to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.1.4 will be able to add a status update directly from their companion device. Linked devices currently allow users the to chat with their contacts, but it looks like WhatsApp is slowly expanding the features available on these devices.

Gadgets 360 was able to test the ability to share status updates from a companion device on WhatsApp for Android, after updating to the latest beta version. There's no word on when the company will roll out the feature to all users. The feature is also expected to make its way to iOS companion devices.

The messaging platform recently began testing a new type of companion device — WhatsApp for iPad. Beta testers can now install WhatsApp on Apple's tablets if they are part of the TestFlight program. However, it is worth noting that both the Android and iOS beta programmes for WhatsApp are currently full, and the service isn't allowing more users to sign up to receive WhatsApp beta updates.

---

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Gadgets 360

Poco X6 series is expected to launch in India soon. It is expected to succeed the Poco X5 lineup which was first unveiled globally in February this year. The Poco X5 Pro debuted in India with a Snapdragon 778G chipset the same month, while the Poco X5 model launched in the country with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC in March. The anticipated Poco X6 series is also likely to include a base and a Pro model like its predecessors. Now the India launch of the Poco X6 series has been teased, suggesting it will debut soon.

In a post on X, the social media platform previously called Twitter, Poco India Head Himanshu Tandon shared a image with the caption conveying the season's greetings and the promise of something new. It reads, "Happy Xmas Everyone," with three decorated Christmas Tree emoji, followed by "Santa is coming with the gift soon," with a sunglasses emoji and a gift emoji. The image attached to the post shows Santa with sunglasses riding a sleigh driven by a tech-inspired reindeer, whose head is X-shaped. This suggests the upcoming launch of the next Poco X-series model in India.

Happy Xmas Everyone ???
Santa is coming with the gift soon ??. pic.twitter.com/kJBfxY4CvD

— Himanshu Tandon (@Himanshu_POCO) December 25, 2023

This is expected to be one of the Poco X6 series models, expected to arrive as the successors to the X5 lineup. The Poco X6 Pro model has also been spotted on several certification sites, and based on this year's release schedule, it may be the model to first debut in the country, followed by the launch of the base model a few weeks later.

The Poco X6 Pro was recently spotted on the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) and IMEI websites with the model number 23122PCD1I. An NBTC listing of the same model showed that the phone may launch with support for GSM, WCDMA LTE, and NR networks which suggests 5G connectivity. It is expected to be the rebranded version of the Redmi K70E, which was launched in China in November this year. The base Poco X6 could debut as a rebadged Redmi Note 13.

The Poco X5 is currently priced in India at Rs. 18,999 and Rs. 20,999 for its 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB options, respectively. The Poco X5 Pro, on the other hand, is presently listed at Rs. 16,999 and Rs. 22,999 for its 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB variants.

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Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/Z3cwzAQ

Poco X6 series is expected to launch in India soon. It is expected to succeed the Poco X5 lineup which was first unveiled globally in February this year. The Poco X5 Pro debuted in India with a Snapdragon 778G chipset the same month, while the Poco X5 model launched in the country with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC in March. The anticipated Poco X6 series is also likely to include a base and a Pro model like its predecessors. Now the India launch of the Poco X6 series has been teased, suggesting it will debut soon.

In a post on X, the social media platform previously called Twitter, Poco India Head Himanshu Tandon shared a image with the caption conveying the season's greetings and the promise of something new. It reads, "Happy Xmas Everyone," with three decorated Christmas Tree emoji, followed by "Santa is coming with the gift soon," with a sunglasses emoji and a gift emoji. The image attached to the post shows Santa with sunglasses riding a sleigh driven by a tech-inspired reindeer, whose head is X-shaped. This suggests the upcoming launch of the next Poco X-series model in India.

Happy Xmas Everyone ???
Santa is coming with the gift soon ??. pic.twitter.com/kJBfxY4CvD

— Himanshu Tandon (@Himanshu_POCO) December 25, 2023

This is expected to be one of the Poco X6 series models, expected to arrive as the successors to the X5 lineup. The Poco X6 Pro model has also been spotted on several certification sites, and based on this year's release schedule, it may be the model to first debut in the country, followed by the launch of the base model a few weeks later.

The Poco X6 Pro was recently spotted on the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) and IMEI websites with the model number 23122PCD1I. An NBTC listing of the same model showed that the phone may launch with support for GSM, WCDMA LTE, and NR networks which suggests 5G connectivity. It is expected to be the rebranded version of the Redmi K70E, which was launched in China in November this year. The base Poco X6 could debut as a rebadged Redmi Note 13.

The Poco X5 is currently priced in India at Rs. 18,999 and Rs. 20,999 for its 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB options, respectively. The Poco X5 Pro, on the other hand, is presently listed at Rs. 16,999 and Rs. 22,999 for its 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB variants.

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Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

PM Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi extend Christmas wishes: 'May this festive season bring joy, peace...'

PM Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi wish people joy, peace, and prosperity on Christmas.

from mint - politics PM Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi wish people joy, peace, and prosperity on Christmas.

Madhya Pradesh cabinet expansion: What to expect as CM Mohan Yadav's cabinet to take oath today | 8 things to know

Oath-taking ceremony for new cabinet to take place at 3.30 pm. Over 15 MLAs are expected to take oath as cabinet ministers today.

from mint - politics Oath-taking ceremony for new cabinet to take place at 3.30 pm. Over 15 MLAs are expected to take oath as cabinet ministers today.

Gadgets 360

US-based crypto exchange Coinbase has successfully acquired a licence to operate as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) in France. This also means that Coinbase is now a registered entity with Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the French financial markets authority. While Binance has amassed approval internationally outside US, Coinbase appears to be following the same trajectory amid increasing scrutiny from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The third-largest crypto firm by trading volume globally, Coinbase can now offer retail, institutional, and ecosystem products service options in France.

Bonjour la France. :fr:

We've received approval in France as a registered VASP. This is an important market for us and represents another chapter in our Go Deep, Go Broad international strategy.

Learn more: https://t.co/OGiAcSyY3c pic.twitter.com/Z50oojEWV3

— Coinbase :shield::telephone_receiver: (@coinbase) December 21, 2023

Furthermore, this fresh registration also opens doors for Coinbase to extend custody service for digital assets along with facilitating their buying and selling deals as well, said the exchange in a blog post.

“We're focused on bringing the benefits of crypto to the world. Achieving VASP status in France allows us to continue to grow globally in the best possible way, onboarding the next 1 billion people into crypto while ensuring consumer's assets are secure and that compliance is prioritised. France has a thriving Web3 ecosystem,” said Daniel Seifert, Vice President and Regional Managing Director, EMEA at Coinbase.

Earlier in May this year, France invited crypto players looking to set their businesses outside of the US. At the time, this invitation had come just a day after European Union (EU) gave its final approval to MiCA — a comprehensive set of regulations that have been curated to uniformly govern the digital assets sector in all of the EU regions.

Coinbase has especially mentioned that the clarity which the MiCA laws bring to the crypto sector in the EU has been of great help growing for its business there.

“The recent adoption of MiCA by European Union policymakers represents a pivotal moment for cryptocurrencies in the region. The regulatory clarity MiCA provides to the industry is hugely welcome,” the Coinbase blog noted.

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Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/VD84aM7

US-based crypto exchange Coinbase has successfully acquired a licence to operate as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) in France. This also means that Coinbase is now a registered entity with Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the French financial markets authority. While Binance has amassed approval internationally outside US, Coinbase appears to be following the same trajectory amid increasing scrutiny from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The third-largest crypto firm by trading volume globally, Coinbase can now offer retail, institutional, and ecosystem products service options in France.

Bonjour la France. :fr:

We've received approval in France as a registered VASP. This is an important market for us and represents another chapter in our Go Deep, Go Broad international strategy.

Learn more: https://t.co/OGiAcSyY3c pic.twitter.com/Z50oojEWV3

— Coinbase :shield::telephone_receiver: (@coinbase) December 21, 2023

Furthermore, this fresh registration also opens doors for Coinbase to extend custody service for digital assets along with facilitating their buying and selling deals as well, said the exchange in a blog post.

“We're focused on bringing the benefits of crypto to the world. Achieving VASP status in France allows us to continue to grow globally in the best possible way, onboarding the next 1 billion people into crypto while ensuring consumer's assets are secure and that compliance is prioritised. France has a thriving Web3 ecosystem,” said Daniel Seifert, Vice President and Regional Managing Director, EMEA at Coinbase.

Earlier in May this year, France invited crypto players looking to set their businesses outside of the US. At the time, this invitation had come just a day after European Union (EU) gave its final approval to MiCA — a comprehensive set of regulations that have been curated to uniformly govern the digital assets sector in all of the EU regions.

Coinbase has especially mentioned that the clarity which the MiCA laws bring to the crypto sector in the EU has been of great help growing for its business there.

“The recent adoption of MiCA by European Union policymakers represents a pivotal moment for cryptocurrencies in the region. The regulatory clarity MiCA provides to the industry is hugely welcome,” the Coinbase blog noted.

---

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.