Category: mobiles

Redmi K80 series launch is expected to happen soon. The Chinese company has yet to announce a launch date, but ahead of that, Redmi’s General Manager teased the upcoming lineup on the Web. The forthcoming series is confirmed to include the vanilla Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro. They are expected to bring several performance-oriented upgrades over last year’s Redmi K70 and Redmi K70 Pro. The Redmi K80 Pro is rumoured to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.

Redmi Brand’s General Manager Wang Teng Thomas on Weibo teased the arrival of the new Redmi K80 series. The series will comprise the vanilla Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro. It was previously speculated to include a Redmi K80e model as well. The phones are confirmed to run on customised HyperOS 2 interface.

The upcoming lineup is teased to come with enhanced imaging, longer battery life, and better screens than their predecessors. It will have a different design from the previous models with a new texture and metal frame. The Weibo post also confirms a price hike for the Redmi K80 series. 

Redmi K80 Pro AnTuTu Score Revealed

The Redmi K80 Pro appears to have scored over 3 million points on the AnTuTu 10 platform. The other two unnamed phones next to the device scored 2,832,981 and 2,738,065 points.

Further, an image posted by the executive on Weibo indicates that the Redmi K80 Pro will have a higher configuration and price than competitor’s models. In the comment section, he clarifies that it will have a lower price than the OnePlus 13. The OnePlus 13 starts at CNY 4,499 (around Rs. 53,000). For comparison, the Redmi K70 Pro launched at CNY 3,299 (around Rs. 38,000). It could offer a higher configuration than the iQOO 13.

The Redmi K80 series is rumoured to debut later this month. Both models are expected to pack a 6.67-inch 2K resolution display with 120Hz refresh rate. They could come with IP68 dust and water resistance. The Redmi K80 is likely to run on Snapdragon 8 Gen SoC while the Redmi K80 Pro could get a Snapdragon 8 Elite under the hood.

Last year’s Redmi K70 was rebranded as the Poco F6 Pro for the global market. Therefore the Redmi K80 is anticipated to debut as Poco F7 Pro in the global market.

Realme revealed the release schedule of Android 15-based Realme UI 6.0 interface last month. Now, the Realme GT 6 is getting the company’s latest custom Android skin, albeit through the Realme UI 6.0 early access beta update in India. The latest interface brings fresh design with new animations, visuals, AI-based features, and numerous system-wide improvements. Realme opened the application for early access this week and it is accepting entries in batches. The brand said it has limited seats for the early access programme.

Realme GT 6 Gets Realme UI 6.0 Early Access Beta

As per a new post on Realme’s community page, the Android 15-based Realme UI 6.0 early access is currently open for Realme GT 6 users in India. Realme started accepting entries for early access on November 5. The brand hasn’t mentioned any deadline for the applications but users have to note that there are only limited slots available. Applications will be accepted in batches.

Interested Realme GT 6 users can participate in the Realme UI 6.0 early access program by heading to Settings > About device > Click on the realme UI 5.0 banner at the top > Click on the three dots in the top right corner > Beta program > Early Access > Apply Now and submit the required details.

It’s also worth mentioning that early access software often contains bugs that could hamper the user experience so the brand recommends not installing Early Access on primary phones. Also, it is advised to back up data to prevent data loss.

Those interested in trying the Realme UI 6.0 have to make sure that their Realme GT 6 has at least 60 percent battery and 15GB of storage available before installing the update. The smartphone should also run a stable version of Realme UI with build version RMX3851_14.0.1.614(EX01). Users can submit feedback in the logkit if they encounter bugs or have suggestions while using early access.

The Realme UI 6.0 offers a new design with revamped app icons, animated widgets, components and folders. Numerous system function icons are introduced in the latest build with advanced visual effects. It has a new live alert system, Split mode and revamped Quick Settings option. The interface has a new Charging limit feature that halts charging at 80 percent.

iQOO 13 is set to launch in India soon. The company has confirmed that the phone will carry Qualcomm’s latest octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It has teased the design of the handset alongside some display features. Now, iQOO has announced the launch timeline of the iQOO 13 in India. The phone was unveiled in China on October 30. The Indian version is expected to be similar to its Chinese counterpart in terms of design and key specifications.

iQOO 13 India Launch Timeline

The iQOO 13 will launch in India in December, the company confirmed in an X post. As part of the brand’s collaboration with BMW Motorsport, the phone will arrive in a Legend Edition with blue-black-red tricolour patterns. Notably, the preceding iQOO 12, which launched in India in December 2023, is available in a similar variant.

The India variant of the iQOO 13 will be available for purchase via the official iQOO e-store and Amazon. An Amazon microsite for the handset has also gone live. The phone is teased with the Halo light feature. The microsite reveals that it will get a 2K LTPO AMOLED display panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. It is confirmed to carry a Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC paired with a Q2 gaming chipset.

iQOO 13 Features

The iQOO 13 launched in China with a Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, an in-house Q2 gaming chipset, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of onboard storage. It ships with Android 15-based OriginOS 5. It is expected to arrive in India with a FuntouchOS 15 skin on top. The handset packs a 6,150mAh battery with 120W wired fast charging support.

iQOO 13 comes with a 6.82-inch 2K (1,440 x 3,168 pixels) BOE Q10 8T LTPO 2.0 OLED screen with up to 144Hz refresh rate and HDR support. For optics, the phone has a 50-megapixel triple rear camera unit, which includes a 50-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide shooter. The front-facing camera houses a 32-megapixel sensor. The handset is equipped with an IP68 and IP69-rated build as well as an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

iQOO 12 was unveiled in China in November 2023 with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and a dedicated Q1 gaming chipset. It runs on Android 14-based OriginOS 4 in China out-of-the-box. For global and Indian users, the phone ships with FuntouchOS 14 based on Android 14. In September this year, Vivo and iQOO smartphones started receiving the Android 15-based FuntouchOS 15 update. A report now suggests that the FuntouchOS 15 update for iQOO 12 has started rolling out to global users. The phone launched in India in December last year. 

iQOO 12 Android 15-Based FuntouchOS 15 Update

According to a GSMArena report, iQOO 12 users in select global markets have started receiving the FuntouchOS 15 update based on Android 15. The 2.5GB over-the-air (OTA) update carries the software version PD2307CF_EX_A_15.1.9.1.W20 and comes with the October security patch, the report states.  

iQOO 12 FuntouchOS 15 update changelog includes a priority scheduling algorithm and a rapid dynamic effect engine which reportedly helps allocate performance resources based on requirements, thus, increasing smoothness. It has a new Origin animation that “incorporates principles from human factors research and integrates the natural laws of the physical world into the dynamic effect design.”

The FuntouchOS 15 update for iQOO 12 global users is said to include several new static and immersive wallpapers. Local videos on the handset can be used as live wallpapers as well. The update introduces new clock widgets and reportedly allows users to keep large folders on the home screen. 

With the FuntouchOS 15 update, iQOO 12 users get an Ultra Game Mode with multiple quick setting options as well as an improved screenshot capture feature. The report adds that the Smart sidebar provides access to Google Lens for quick translations of on-screen content, while Notes offers additional text editing capabilities and the ability to export in Word format. The Settings section reportedly comes with better categorisation and hierarchies.

Among AI features, the FuntouchOS 15 update for iQOO 12 includes Live Transcribe, Circle to Search, and an AI erase tool which helps users get rid of unwanted things or people in their photos. The Albums app is also said to get AI-backed Cleanup suggestions to reduce storage issues. 

For gesture improvements, the global iQOO 12 users with FuntouchOS 15 can reportedly drag a split-screen to the middle of the screen to switch to a small window and drag a small window to the edge of an app to change to split-screen mode. The startup gestures for both split-screen and small window modes are said to have been improved. Users can swipe up from the bottom to the upper left or right corner to quickly enter split screen or small window mode with this update, according to the report.

Xiaomi 15 series with Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC was unveiled last month, however the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to launch early next year as the third model in the series. Despite the potential launch being months away, details about the quad camera setup of the phone have surfaced on the Web. A new leak suggests that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will have a 50-megapixel main sensor with larger focal length. This could enhance the low-light performance of the Ultra model.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Specifications Leaked 

According to a Weibo post by known tipster Digital Chat Station (translated from Chinese), the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will feature a 50-megapixel main sensor with a 23mm focal length and an f/1.6 aperture. The focal length of the primary sensor is said to be larger than Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s 8.7xmm. This is likely to improve the low-light performance of the phone. The tipster says the handset will have a “new customised hardware module”, this could be a remark about the custom designed main sensor.

Like the predecessor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is said to carry a 200-megapixel periscope sensor. This telephoto sensor is tipped to offer 4.3x optical zoom, a 100mm focal length, and an f/2.6 aperture. The tipster claims that the size of the periscope sensor has been cropped to 25.xmm focal length. It is said to offer two zoom options – 4.3x with a 1/1.5-inch image size, and 4.1x with a 1/1.4-inch sensor.

Besides the primary sensor and telephoto sensor, the camera unit of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to include a 50-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor and a 50-megapixel periscope lens with 2x zoom. On the front, it could include a 32-megapixel selfie camera.

As per past leaks, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will have a 6.7-inch 2K LTPO micro quad-curved display with 120Hz refresh rate. Like other Xiaomi 15 series siblings, it could be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It is expected to run on HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15. It may carry a 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired and 80W wireless charging support. It could boast a circular camera module. 

Apple is expected to introduce its iPhone 17 lineup in the second half of next year. While there have been speculations about Apple including a new iPhone 17 Air model in the series, a new report from South Korea suggests that all iPhone 17 models will come with a LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) screen with high refresh rate. This would be a significant upgrade from the previous iPhone series. Apple usually packs high refresh rate screens on only the Pro models, with even the latest iPhone 16 and 16 Plus only offering a 60Hz panel. 

Apple May Bring 120Hz ProMotion Displays to All iPhone 17 Models

ETNews, citing industry sources, reports that all models in the iPhone 17 lineup will feature LTPO screens sourced from Samsung and LG. The LTPO screen technology, which enables a high 120Hz refresh rate, is currently exclusive to the high-end Pro series. It significantly enhances screen smoothness and responsiveness while scrolling, viewing animations, and playing games while reducing power consumption.

This isn’t the first time we have heard about iPhone 17 displays though. Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants in September claimed that all models in the 2025 lineup will boast 120Hz ProMotion displays, including the non-Pro versions.

Apple has offered 120Hz screens, branded as ProMotion displays, on its Pro iPhone models since 2021. It enables an always-on display feature as well. This year’s iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display while the iPhone 16 Plus sports a larger 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, but capped at 60Hz. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED displays, respectively, with a 120Hz refresh rate (ProMotion).

As per past leaks, Apple will bring a new ‘Slim’ or “Air” variant with the iPhone 17 series replacing the Plus version. The iPhone 17 Pro models are said to be powered by Apple’s A19 Pro chip alongside 12GB RAM. The standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air could run on an A18 or A19 chip with support for 8GB RAM. All four iPhone 17 models could feature 24-megapixel front-facing cameras.

Samsung is expected to release One UI 7 — it’s upcoming software upgrade that is based on Google’s Android 15 update — in early 2025. While One UI 7 isn’t expected to arrive on the company’s smartphones for the next couple of months, Samsung previously revealed that it would release a beta version of One UI 7, which would allow software developers and enthusiasts to try out the upcoming software before it rolls out next year. A tipster has now shed some light on when the beta could be released.

Samsung Tipped to Roll out One UI 7 Beta to Testers by Mid-November

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) claims that Samsung will “take another half month” before it rolls out the One UI 7 beta update, which is based on Android 15. The tipster has a good track record of leaking information related to the South Korean tech conglomerate, and we can expect the beta version of the company’s upcoming software to be rolled out to users by the middle of November.

Samsung’s One UI 7 beta has been considerably delayed this year — it was previously expected to arrive in August, but the company revealed last month that it would roll out the beta version by the end of the year, while the stable release would arrive next year — presumably with the purported Galaxy S25 series. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is likely to be the first smartphone to receive an update to One UI 7.

Samsung One UI 7 Features (Expected)

Unlike previous versions of One UI, Samsung didn’t provide detailed information about upcoming features coming to its Android 15-based One UI 7 update at the Samsung Developers Conference. However, details of the upcoming software update have already surfaced online, even though it isn’t expected to roll out to users for another couple of months.

Samsung’s One UI 7 update will reportedly bring a fresh coat of paint for several system app icons, including the dialler, messages, gallery, calculator, and clock apps. Meanwhile, notification handling is also expected to be improved, especially the ones displayed on the lock screen.

Other features reportedly coming to the One UI 7 update include new AI features for the gallery app that will allow users to “restyle” their portrait images using artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the Sketch to Image feature that was introduced with One UI 6.1.1 is said to expand to more devices when One UI 7 rolls out. Samsung Galaxy smartphones are also expected to gain support for Google’s Homework Help feature shown off at Google I/O earlier this year.