Category: mobiles

Oppo A5 Pro has appeared on Geekbench ahead of its China launch. The company has already confirmed the design, colour options and operating system details of the upcoming phone. The listing on the benchmarking site hints at the expected chipset that the smartphone could come with. The handset was also spotted on other certification sites. These listings have suggested several probable key features of the Oppo A5 Pro including display, battery and camera specifications.

Oppo A5 Pro Geekbench Listing

The Oppo A5 Pro with the model number PKP110 has been spotted on Geekbench. The phone scored 1,053 and 3,052 points on single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. It is listed with an octa-core chipset, with four cores clocking a speed of 2.50GHz, while the other four clocked at 2.00GHz. The phone is expected to get the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 or the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy SoC.

As per the listing, the Oppo A5 Pro will support 12GB of RAM and run on Android 15. Meanwhile, the company has confirmed that the handset will ship with Android 15-based ColorOS 15 and support up to 12GB of RAM alongside up to 512GB of onboard storage. The RAM is said to be virtually expandable to up to an additional 12GB.

The Oppo A5 Pro is confirmed to be offered in Quartz White, Rock Black, and Sandstone Purple colour options. Teasers have suggested that the phone could arrive with IP68 or IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Oppo A5 Pro Features (Expected)

Previous listings have suggested that the Oppo A5 Pro may sport a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080 x 2,412 pixels) AMOLED screen. It will likely be available in RAM options of 8GB and 12GB, paired with storage options of 256GB and 512GB.

In the camera department, the Oppo A5 Pro could get a 50-megapixel primary sensor alongside a 5-megapixel secondary sensor at the back, and a 16-megapixel sensor at the front for selfies and video calls. It could carry an in-display fingerprint sensor for security as well as a 6,000mAh battery. The handset may measure 161.5 x 74.85 x 7.67mm in size and weigh 186g.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are no longer listed for purchase in Switzerland, and the company is expected to discontinue sales of its smartphones across the European Union (EU), two years after they were launched, according to a report. The company will stop selling another smartphone that was also introduced in 2022 — the third generation iPhone SE. Unlike Apple’s newer smartphone models, these three handsets are equipped with a Lightning port, which has now been phased out in favour of the universal USB Type-C port.

Apple’s iPhone 14 and iPhone SE (2022) Expected to Be Discontinued in 27 EU Countries

The upcoming common charger regulations in the EU are set to come into effect on December 28, and Apple appears to be preparing to comply with the deadline, according to a MacRumors report. The publication discovered that Apple has discontinued the sale of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE (2022) via its website in Switzerland, while in-store sales will continue until the deadline.

A screenshot of Apple’s Switzerland store, which lists all three models as “currently unavailable”
Photo Credit: Apple

Gadgets 360 was able to confirm that the listings for all three models on Apple’s website for Switzerland carried the message “Derzeit nicht verfügbar” which translates to currently not available. The handsets were still available via the company’s websites in various EU countries at the time of publishing this story.

It’s worth noting that Switzerland is not part of the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), but the country is part of the European single market (or European common market) along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. As a result, the company is expected to discontinue sales of its smartphones in these regions, as well as the 27 countries that make up the EU.

This means that when the December 28 deadline arrives, Apple won’t officially sell an iPhone SE model in the EU, while resellers can continue to sell remaining units. Customers might not have to wait long, though. Recent reports suggest that Apple is already working on a fourth generation iPhone SE model, which could arrive with an updated design, Face ID, and the company’s rumoured in-house modem chip.

On the other hand, EU customers will now have to purchase an iPhone 15 or an iPhone 16. These smartphones are equipped with a USB Type-C port, so the company can keep selling them after December 28. Apple has also updated its other accessories like the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) and AirPods Max with a USB Type-C port, well ahead of the deadline.

We’ve seen the launch of several smartphones in India in 2024, from entry-level handsets to flagship models and foldable phones. The budget segment sees a lot of competition from handset companies in the country, with each new model offering iterative upgrades over their predecessors. Motorola recently launched the Moto G35 5G as its most affordable 5G smartphone. This handset will compete with smartphones like the Redmi A4 5G, Tecno Spark 30C 5G, and Lava Blaze 2 5G.

You can pick up the Moto G35 5G for Rs. 9,999 in India, and it is sold in a single 4GB + 128GB RAM and storage configuration. Does it offer enough value for money like other smartphones priced under Rs. 10,000? Read on to know more about this handset in my Moto G35 5G review.

Moto G35 5G Design: Familiar Looking

• Dimensions – 166.29×75.98×7.79mm
• Weight – 185g
• Colours – Guava Red, Leaf Green (In this review), Midnight Black

The new Moto G35 5G is available in matte and vegan leather finishes, and it looks very similar to its more expensive sibling in the G series — the Moto G45 5G (Review). In fact, if you placed these handsets next to each other with their rear panel facing up, you might not be able to tell them apart. Subjectively speaking, it’s one of the more polished-looking smartphones in this price segment.

The Moto G35 5G looks very similar to the more expensive Moto G45 5G model

The sides of the smartphone are made of plastic and have a smooth feel. The left edge features the SIM tray, while the right side has the volume rocker and power button — the latter also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. There’s a USB Type-C port at the bottom, along with a 3.5mm headphone port and a speaker grille.

The company sent us the Moto G35 5G in a green colourway with a vegan leather finish that makes it easy to grip. It also comes with a transparent TPU case in the box, as well as an 18W charger and a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable.

Moto G35 5G Software: Clean UI, Ships With Bloatware

• Software – My UX
• Version – Android 14
• Latest security patch – December 5, 2024

Motorola’s latest G series smartphone runs on Android 14, with the company’s My UX running on top. This is the same interface that is available on more expensive models like the Moto G45 5G, and it comes with software features that are exclusive to the company’s handsets, such as Motorola Secure (secure folder, network protection) and Family Space (family controls).

Moto G35 5G ships with Android 14, along with the company’s My UX skin (tap to expand)

After setting up the smartphone, I was prompted to “try” (install) three third-party applications by the Moto App Manager app that is also preinstalled on the company’s smartphones. The installer informs users that it will install three new apps monthly when a system update is installed. These apps can be uninstalled like any other app that a user chooses to download on their smartphone.

This handset is slated to receive only one Android OS update, meaning it should get Android 15 sometime next year. It would have been nice to see the company deliver at least two Android OS upgrades for this smartphone, considering the fact that it ships with Android 14, which was released a year ago. The Moto G35 is scheduled to receive security updates until August 2027, according to the company’s support website.

Moto G35 5G Performance: Decent for the Price

• Processor – Unisoc T760
• Memory – 4GB LPDDR4X
• Storage – 128GB UFS 2.2

The Moto G35 5G is equipped with a 6nm Unisoc T760 chipset launched in July. It is an octa-core processor that comprises six Arm Cortex-A76 cores (2.2GHz) and four Cortex A55 cores (2GHz), along with a Mali G57 MC4 GPU. This puts it on par with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, which has slightly faster A76 cores (2.4GHz) but a slightly older Mali G57 MC2 GPU.

As you can probably tell, this isn’t an exceptionally fast processor. Still, it’s pretty good at handling day-to-day tasks like browsing the web, texting someone on WhatsApp, and using social media apps like Facebook or Instagram. I noticed a bit of lag in slightly more demanding apps like Snapchat and Google Maps.

Moto G35 5G benchmark results (tap to expand)

You can play casual games on this handset without any issues — I tested out a couple of the third-party games that were downloaded after setting up the phone — and it can also handle some titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) if you use the lowest graphics settings. I also ran Asphalt Legends Unite on the default setting without any issues.

I also ran multiple benchmark tests on the Moto G35 5G to get a better understanding of how it fares against smartphones equipped with processors that offer comparable performance, such as the Redmi A4 5G, Samsung Galaxy A16 5G and the Infinix Note 40X. The handset’s performance appeared to be on par with some of these models that are sold at higher prices.

You can look at the table below to see how the Moto G35 5G fared on benchmark tests, in comparison with similar models from other smartphone makers.

Motorola has equipped this smartphone with a 6.72-inch Full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) LCD screen along with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The display’s refresh rate can be e set at 60Hz or 120Hz — while the latter offers a much smoother experience, you might want to leave it on the default mode for better battery life.

Visibility is not ideal when you are outdoors in bright sunlight, but it’s quite usable during other times of the day. After poking around the settings, I found a toggle under Settings > Display > Extra brightness that did improve the display’s brightness level, but also resulted in faster battery drain.

Moto G35 5G Cameras: Gets the Job Done

• Primary camera – 50-megapixel (f/1.8), PDAF, up to 4K/ 30fps video
• Ultrawide camera – 8-megapixel (f/2.2), 120-degree field-of-view
• Selfie camera – 16-megapixel

The Moto G35 5G is a budget smartphone with a dual rear camera setup. It’s good to see that the company hasn’t bothered with adding a low-resolution macro or depth sensor, which are usually disappointing when included on phones in this price segment.

Moto G35 5G Camera Samples. Top to bottom — Primary, Ultrawide, Portrait (Tap images to expand)

When clicking photos with the primary 50-megapixel camera during the day, the phone delivers bright images with a decent amount of detail, for a budget smartphone. It also reproduces skin tones accurately, when capturing portrait images. Subjects that are closer to the camera will definitely have more detail, and the camera app is fast and snappy when taking photos.

The 8-megapixel ultrawide camera produces images that aren’t as detailed as the primary camera, and you will notice a distinct lack of detail when you zoom in on these images. For example, I clicked an image of a sign across the street using the primary and ultrawide camera, and only the image captured with the former included legible text.

In low light scenarios and at night, there’s only one camera worth using on the Moto G35 5G, and the 50-megapixel sensor is best used in combination with the Night Vision feature available inside the camera app. It takes a couple of seconds to capture an image, but the difference in detail is quite evident in our camera samples.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Camera Samples. Top to bottom — Day, Night (Tap images to expand)

Motorola has equipped the handset with a 16-megapixel selfie camera, which captures decent images during the day. In darker scenarios, it still manages to let in enough light for a recognisable image, but you also see a lot of smoothening and noise.

There’s no image stabilisation on the Moto G35 5G, and the smartphone lets you record video at up to 4K/ 30fps using the primary camera and up to 1080p/ 30fps using the ultrawide camera. Once again, the former is the one to use while recording with this handset.

Moto G35 5G Battery: Slow to Charge, Slower to Discharge

• Battery Capacity – 5,000mAh
• Wired Charging – 18W (USB Type-C)

The Unisoc T760 chip on the Moto G35 5G appears to be quite efficient, as the handset is capable of delivering well over a day and a half of battery life, before it needed another charge. In our HD video battery loop test, the phone lasted for approximately 18 hours and 50 minutes, but keep in mind that these are synthetic tests.

The Moto G35 5G offers over one day of use on a single charge

In day to day use, battery drain on the Moto G35 is not high during active use as well as in standby mode. I used the phone to make calls using WhatsApp, browsing the web and checking social media apps, and playing a few casual games — it delivered about 5.5 hours of screen on time, along with about 21 hours of standby life.

Charging the Moto G35 5G from 0 to 100 percent can take a while, especially if your battery is low when you plug in the handset. During the time I tested the handset, it took around two hours for a full charge, using the 18W adapter included in the box.

Moto G35 5G Review: Verdict

The Moto G35 5G offers good performance for the price, outperforming more expensive smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G (Review) and the Infinix Note 40X on some benchmark tests. It also offers 5G connectivity under Rs. 10,000, reliable battery life, and decent camera performance.

The Moto G35 offers good value for money at its current price of Rs. 9,999

It’s worth noting that the company has offered only one Android OS upgrade for the Moto G35, while the aforementioned Galaxy A16 5G costs more and is slated to receive up to six upgrades.

Other similarly priced smartphones that you can consider instead of the Moto G35 5G include the Redmi A4 5G (First impressions), Tecno Spark 30C 5G, and the slightly older Lava Blaze 2 5G.

Vivo unveiled its X200 series this year with a new compact variant — Vivo X200 Pro Mini. However, while the Vivo X200 and Vivo X200 Pro saw a global launch, the Mini remained exclusive to China. Recently, a rumour coming out of China hints that the company is planning to unveil a smaller-screen mid-range smartphone in the coming year. This model is said to be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9 series chipset and could include a 50-megapixel primary rear camera sensor.

Vivo’s Compact Mid-Range Smartphone

Popular tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo opined (via) that Vivo is gearing up to unveil a compact mid-range smartphone next year. The upcoming handset is tipped to run on a MediaTek Dimensity 9 series chip and pack a 6.31-inch 8T LTPO screen with 1.5K resolution. The Vivo X200 Pro Mini has a similar 6.31-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display and a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 SoC under the hood.

The purported compact mid-range Vivo smartphone is tipped to feature a 50-megapixel primary rear camera and a telephoto sensor. It is said to carry a silicon battery. The Vivo X200 Pro Mini has a similar Zeiss branded triple rear camera unit comprising a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-818 sensor main camera and a 50-megapixel periscope tele-macro camera. It houses a 5,800mAh battery with 90W wired charging support.

The Vivo X200 Pro Mini was launched in China in October this year with a starting price tag of CNY 4,699 (roughly Rs. 56,000) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant.

The Vivo X200 Pro and Vivo X200 were launched in India and other global markets in December after their initial debut in China. The brand skipped the Mini model for the international markets.

OnePlus 13 will soon be launched in global markets, including in India, and the company has now announced the date when its flagship handset will debut outside China. The smartphone maker has announced the global arrival of the OnePlus 13 series, this suggests that the lineup may include the OnePlus 13R, which is expected to be the succssor to the OnePlus 12R. This R variant is expected to be a remodelled version of the OnePlus Ace 5, which is expected to launch in China on December 26. The flagship OnePlus 13 was introduced in China in October.

OnePlus 13, OnePlus 13R Global Launch Date

The OnePlus 13 series will be unveiled globally on January 7, according to the company’s announcement. In India, the launch event livestream will begin at 9pm IST. OnePlus’ Winter Launch Event, appears to be a virtual event, as the announcement does not include a location. The term “series” suggests that more than one smartphone will be launched on the day. It is expected to comprise the OnePlus 13 and the rumoured OnePlus 13R.

The standard OnePlus 13 model has already been confirmed to be available in Arctic Dawn, Black Eclipse, and Midnight Ocean colour options. The availability of the handset in India via Amazon was also previously confirmed. The phone will ship with Android 15-based OxygenOS 15. It will offer support for several AI-based imaging and note-taking features.

OnePlus 13 Global Variant Specifications (Expected)

The global version of the OnePlus 13 is expected to be similar to the existing Chinese variant. It will likely sport a 6.82-inch Quad-HD+ LTPO AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate, a peak brightness level of 4,500 nits, and Dolby Vision. The phone could carry a Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 onboard storage. 

In the camera department, the OnePlus 13 Global variant could get a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultrawide shooter and another 50-megapixel sensor with periscope telephoto lens and 3x optical zoom. The front camera may include a 32-megapixel sensor. It will likely house a 6,000mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. 

Vivo Y29 5G could be introduced in select markets soon. The company has not yet announced the moniker or the launch of the handset. A recent report has claimed that the phone could soon launch as a successor to the Vivo Y28 5G, which was unveiled in India in January. The report has shared the leaked design and colour options of the purported smartphone. It has listed the expected key features of the phone. Notably, the Vivo Y29 4G has reportedly been spotted on the EEC database, as well.

Vivo Y29 5G Design, Colour Options (Expected)

The Vivo Y29 5G is expected to launch soon as a mid-range offering, according to a 91Mobiles report citing tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore. The report shares what appears to be leaked marketing materials. It shows the expected design of the handset. It has a rectangular rear camera module placed in the top left corner of the panel. The island holds two camera sensors and an LED ring unit. 

Vivo Y29 5G leaked marketing material
Photo Credit: 91Mobiles

According to the leaked marketing images shared in the report, the Vivo Y29 5G is expected to come in three colour options — Diamond Black, Glacier Blue, and Titanium Gold.

Vivo Y29 5G Specifications (Expected)

The report added that the Vivo Y29 5G could be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC. It is said to be offered in 4GB + 128GB, 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB, and 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage configurations. The 4GB + 128GB and 6GB + 128GB variants will be offered in Diamond Black and Glacier Blue shades, while the higher versions will be available in Diamond Black and Titanium Gold options.

The Vivo Y29 5G is expected to sport a 6.68-inch display. For optics, it will likely get a 50-megapixel primary sensor alongside a 0.08-megapixel QVGA secondary sensor and an 8-megapixel selfie shooter. The phone is expected to house a 5,500mAh battery with support for 44W wired fast charging. 

Connectivity option for the purported Vivo Y29 is said to include dual 5G (SA and NSA). It may come with an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance as well as SGS certifications and military-grade shock resistance. It is expected to get an 8.1mm thin profile and weigh 198g.

Vivo Y28 5G Features, Price in India

The Vivo Y28 5G is backed by an octa-core 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 6020 chipset and a 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging support. It has a 6.56-inch HD+ screen, a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit and an 8-megapixel front camera sensor. The phone comes with an IP54-rated build and starts in India at Rs. 13,999 for the 4GB + 128GB option.