Xiaomi to bring its new Redmi Note 9 series to India as the Redmi 9 Power and Mi 10i

Xiaomi launches a lot of phones every year, which is par for the course for a big OEM that operates in multiple markets. Just last week, Xiaomi launched the new Redmi Note 9 4G (device codename: lime), Redmi Note 9 5G (cannon), and Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G (gauguinpro) in China, bringing along a bunch of upgrades across the board for one of its most popular product brandings. Now, we have evidence that suggests Xiaomi is looking to bring two of these three phones to India, but curiously under different branding, namely as the Redmi 9 Power and the Xiaomi Mi 10i.

Redmi 9 Power (limein)

Shortly after the launch of the Redmi Note 9 4G in China, Xiaomi released the firmware for the device for the region. But alongside the release of V12.0.5.0.QJQCNXM (Chinese ROM) for lime, Xiaomi also published 12.0.1.0.QJQINXM (limein), which is the Indian ROM for the device. This is evidence that the company plans to launch the device in India.

But this also poses a curious problem — there is already a Redmi Note 9 (with 4G connectivity)(device codename: merlin) in India. Digging into the published firmware, we can spot that the build.prop file for limein mentions the marketing name of the upcoming device as the Redmi 9 Power.

build_lime.prop:ro.product.vendor.marketname=Redmi 9 Power

Xiaomi India has not announced anything on this phone yet, but we can expect them to be making an announcement soon.

Xiaomi Mi 10i (gauguininpro)

The gauguin and gauguinpro lineup from Xiaomi was actually spotted back in July 2020, and we mentioned that the device would be coming to India at that stage itself. Now, new evidence corroborates our findings from months ago.

A device popped up on the Google Play Console with the marketing name “Mi 10i”, and the codename “gauguininpro“. The codename may appear weird, but that is how regional variants are often codenamed by the company — the in in the middle denotes that the phone is coming to India.

Gauguin recently launched as the Mi 10T Lite in Europe, while Gauguinpro launched as the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G in China. While we do not have information of gauguin coming to India just yet, the Play Console Listing for gauguinpro makes it abundantly clear that the device is coming to India under the name of Mi 10i. The rebranding is somewhat necessary, again, because India already has a Redmi Note 9 Pro (4G). Xiaomi India has not revealed anything yet, but we reckon it is just a matter of time at this stage.

---

Xiaomi and its love for 9

Rebranding products differently in different regions is not new — not for Xiaomi, and not for a lot of other OEMs. It is a very common practice in the industry wherein you release the same product, or a similar product with very small changes, under different names in different regions. The branding changes according to the goodwill in the region. And Xiaomi’s Redmi and Redmi Note lineups have garnered a strong reputation for themselves over the years across the world.

But with Xiaomi, Redmi, Redmi Note and the number “9”, we are at a point where it has become very difficult to track products, especially if you track them across different regions as we do. Mishaal put together a list to better illustrate this point.

So if at any point you feel very confused about how Xiaomi names its products, count us with you.

The post Xiaomi to bring its new Redmi Note 9 series to India as the Redmi 9 Power and Mi 10i appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2HVFhNX
via IFTTT

Amazfit unveils GTS 2 mini and POP Pro smartwatches in China

After launching the Amazfit GTS 2 and GTR 2 earlier this year in October, Amazfit has now unveiled two budget-friendly smartwatches in China. As its name suggests, the new Amazfit GTS 2 mini is an affordable version of the GTS 2, which features the same square dial as the premium smartwatch but with a smaller 1.55-inch display. On the other hand, the new Amazfit POP Pro is the GPS version of the Amazfit POP from earlier this year.

As per the announcement post on Weibo (via fonearena), the Amazfit GTS 2 features a 1.55-inch (354 x 306 pixels) AMOLED display with a pixel density of 301ppi. The smartwatch features support for over 70 sports modes and activities, continuous heart rate monitoring, and in-depth sleep monitoring. In terms of sensors, it features Huami’s BioTracker 2 PPG sensor with blood oxygen level detection, an accelerometer, a gyroscope sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

Amazfit GTS 2 mini

Furthermore, the Amazfit GTS 2 mini offers water-resistance up to 5ATM, it features Bluetooth 5.0 BLE for connectivity, GPS and GLONASS for location tracking, and NFC for payments. Much like the Amazfit GTS 2, the watch also comes with a built-in microphone to help users interact with the voice assistant but instead of Amazon’s Alexa, it features support for the Xiao AI voice assistant. Finally, the watch packs a 220mAh battery that can deliver up to 14 days of battery life on a single charge.

The Amazfit POP Pro, as mentioned earlier, is just a GPS version of the Amazfit POP that was launched earlier this year. It features a 1.43-inch TFT touch display with a resolution of 320 x 302 pixels, an optical heart rate sensor for continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor, and a 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope for activity tracking. The watch supports over 60 sports modes and it’s based on the PAI health assessment system.

Amazfit POP Pro

Along with the fitness tracking features, the Amazfit POP Pro offers notification support, remote camera controls, weather, and music controls. The watch is also water-resistant up to 5ATM and it includes Bluetooth 5.0 BLE for connectivity. It packs a 225mAh battery which can last up to 9 days on a single charge.

Pricing & Availability

The Amazfit GTS 2 mini is priced at CNY 699 (~$106), and it’s already up for sale in China. The watch comes in three color variants — Deep Pine Green, Rose Pink, and Obsidian Black. The Amazfit POP Pro is priced at CNY 399 (~$61), and it will go on sale in China from December 10th. The watch will also be available in three color variants — Black, Green, and Pink. As of now, Amazfit has released no information about international availability but fonearena claims that the Amazfit POP Pro will soon be launched in the Indian market as the Amazfit BIP U Pro.

The post Amazfit unveils GTS 2 mini and POP Pro smartwatches in China appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3mvncVW
via IFTTT

Forget the PlayStation 5, build the gaming PC of your dreams with these Cyber Monday sales

This console generation, I finally came to a decision–that I was going to focus on PC gaming. I’ve always been a console gamer, but it’s easier to get into PC gaming than ever before, and most titles That I’m interested in get released on Steam or Epic Games Store in a better format than a console game, anyway. The only prohibitive nature of PC gaming can be the cost of building one yourself. But, well, it is Cyber Monday. There are a bunch of PC part Cyber Monday sales, so now’s the time to start compiling your parts to build your own awesome gaming PC.

In fact, Amazon is having a whole Build-a-PC sale just for Cyber Monday:

Build-a-PC Sale at Amazon

Today only, Amazon is having a Build-a-PC sale! Save big on the parts you need to start building the gaming rig of your dreams.

Save at Amazon

Amazon’s PC part Cyber Monday deals will definitely give you most of what you need to get your PC build going. There is the really nice Thermaltake V250 Mid-Tower, which will hold everything you need for your build easily, and with plenty of room to disperse heat. Speaking of, the Cooler Mater SickleFlow fans are also a part of this sale. At $10 apiece, with these fans you can make sure your PC won’t have a meltdown.

Don’t forget the motherboard, either! Whether you need a motherboard that will support an AMD processor or one that will support Intel, you can save a hefty chunk of change with the Build-a-PC sale.

Amazon is missing one particular PC part for its Cyber Monday sales, though… an internal SSD! Sure, a hard drive can work and it’s good to have a backup hard drive in your rig for storage, but you’ll want your OS and important applications running on a solid-state drive. Trust me on this! Thankfully, you can pick yourself an SSD from Best Buy. They aren’t having a specific PC part Cyber Monday sale, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save on what you need!

Samsung 860 EVO SSDs on Sale

No truly good gaming rig is complete without a good solid-state drive. Best Buy has some Samsung EVO solid-state drives on sale, just for Cyber Monday, so don't miss out!

Save at Best Buy

Finally, you’re putting all this time and effort into building a great gaming PC–don’t hook it up to a crappy monitor! Get a monitor this new rig deserves, like the Samsung 49-inch ultrawide QLED gaming monitor. It’s a really, really impressive monitor that’s currently down to $1,000. This isn’t an offer exclusive to Cyber Monday, but there’s no telling when it’ll go back to MSRP or its more typical sales price of $1,100.

Samsung 49-Inch CRG9 Curved Gaming Monitor

You have the PC built (or about to be built), what's the next step? An awesome monitor! This ultra-wide, 49-inch monitor is built for gaming, and it's just $1,000.

Buy at Amazon

Looking for gaming deals of a different vein? Check out our Cyber Monday gaming deals round-up!

The post Forget the PlayStation 5, build the gaming PC of your dreams with these Cyber Monday sales appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3q8veGq
via IFTTT

Here’s when Android 11 will roll out for Sony Xperia phones

Since being released in September, Android 11 has been slow to roll out to third-party devices, with the Vivo V20 and OnePlus 8T among the first to receive the update. Unless you purchased a Pixel device, chances are you’ve been patiently waiting, but the good news is if you own a Sony Xperia device, you won’t have to wait much longer.

Sony has revealed when it plans to roll out Android 11 to some of its devices, with the Xperia 1 II getting the update as soon as December 2020. Owners of that device will essentially get a nice holiday gift before the end of the year.

Sony Xperia Android 11 firmware rollout schedule

• Xperia 1 II: from December 2020
• Xperia 5 II: from the end of January 2021
• Xperia 10 II: from the end of January 2021
• Xperia 1: from February 2021
• Xperia 5: from February 2021

Meanwhile, Sony said the Xperia 5 II and Xperia 10 II will receive the Android 11 update by the end of January 2021. The Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 will be updated to Android 11 from February 2021. Sony doesn’t provide exact dates for any of the devices, simply providing rough estimates. Hopefully, the company doesn’t hit any delays.

Sony doesn’t provide any other details beyond the devices listed, including whether the Xperia 10 or Xperia 10 Plus will receive Android 11 in the future. For now, the company appears laser focused on the devices listed, so count yourself lucky if your Xperia handset made the cut.

Back in October, Sony’s Open Devices Program released an Android 11 build guide and binaries for select Xperia phones, which included the Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra, and the Xperia XZ2, among others. Some Xperia devices have also picked up somewhat working Android 11-based custom ROMs thanks to the aftermarket development community.

As soon as Sony releases the Android 11 update, or if there are any changes, we’ll be sure to let you know.

The post Here’s when Android 11 will roll out for Sony Xperia phones appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2Jyp6q3
via IFTTT

Get the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for $60 off during Cyber Monday!

Last Friday, we covered a whole lot of amazing deals for you to check out, going through everything from phones to TVs, laptops, and everything in between. And due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, online shopping has become bigger than ever, with deals going through several days. Now, it’s Cyber Monday, and the amazing deals retailers have prepared for this day have just started to drip in. Right now, you can go on Woot and grab a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for just $110, down from the usual $170 they usually retail for.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, the iconically bean-shaped earbuds from Samsung, feature ANC support and decent battery life, and they're retailing right now for $110.

$110 at Woot

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, also infamously called the “beans”, surprisingly manages to provide a lot for what you’re paying despite their strange form factor. Yes, they’re shaped like beans, but this shape also allows them to feature active noise cancellation without actually having to feature a sealed design like other earbuds often do. And the craziest thing is that it actually works, although maybe not to the same degree as other earbuds with a proper seal does.

The battery life is not as amazing as what you will be able to find in the Galaxy Buds+, clocking in at roughly 5 hours if you’re using ANC and 8 hours with ANC disabled. However, the case will be able to provide quick pop-ups on the go. You can also charge the case using fast charging or wireless charging if you want to.

There’s a lot to love about the weird-looking Galaxy Buds Live, but the price was one factor that some people weren’t fully sold into. At $110, though, it is as good of a deal as it gets, as you’re getting an amazing pair of earbuds with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, compatibility with both iOS and Android, and ANC support for canceling outside noise effectively. Be sure to act quickly, though, as this deal will be gone soon.

The post Get the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for $60 off during Cyber Monday! appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/37q4Nn2
via IFTTT

ASUS ZenFone 5Z gets VoLTE support on T-Mobile and VoWiFi on Jio

The ZenFone 5Z, a flagship smartphone released by ASUS back in 2018, is a pretty old device now yet still somewhat regularly receives software updates from its maker. Recently, an update which brings Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) support on Reliance Jio has been rolled out, which is a function that the device lacked in the past. Moreover, the new build finally enables Voice over LTE (VoLTE) support on T-Mobile’s network. These might sound like small changes but something that many users in India and the U.S. will be happy to see.

ASUS Zenfone 5Z XDA Forums

Making a regular phone call means that your connection will drop to 3G or even 2G as most calls are made over either of those two connectivities. However, the old school circuit-switched voice networks are gradually being phased out in favor of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Features offered by IMS, such as VoLTE  and VoWiFi are particularly demanded across smartphones because of the increased voice clarity on call, along with keeping a consistent 4G (or 5G) data connection while on a call. Given the fact that major US carriers are going to block voice and data service for phones that don’t support VoLTE in the near future, the update from ASUS essentially breathes new life into the ZenFone 5Z.

The size of the incremental OTA package is merely 50MB and it will upgrade the global, Russian, and Japanese ZenFone 5Z variants from 100.10.107.99 to 100.10.107.110. The Android security patch level (SPL) of this build is Novemver 2020. Apart from the telephony related improvements, the update also optimizes the stability of touch responses.

You can find the full changelog of software version 100.10.107.110 for the ASUS ZenFone 5Z below:

1. Updated Android security patch
2. Enabled VoLTE on TMO (US)
3. Enabled VoWiFi on JIO (IN)
4. Improved touch stability
5. Fixed a delay issue when turning off Wi-Fi from quick settings

If you want to try out the latest build on your ZenFone 5Z and haven’t received the update yet, you can download the full firmware ZIP from the link below and manually flash it on your phone.

Download software version 100.10.107.110 for the ASUS ZenFone 5Z

---

Thanks to Wichaya Polka for the screenshots!

The post ASUS ZenFone 5Z gets VoLTE support on T-Mobile and VoWiFi on Jio appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3lm0VZh
via IFTTT

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G leaked renders give us a better look at Samsung’s upcoming budget 5G phone

Just a few days ago, leaked renders revealed what was said to be the Galaxy A32 5G. A new report has unveiled what is allegedly another render of the device, giving us our best look yet at Samsung’s affordable 5G device.

The last renders we saw were from a case maker, so some of the design elements remained a secret. However, these new renders look like they came directly from Samsung, showcasing a teardrop notch, rounded chassis, and what appears to be a flat glass back.

Meanwhile, the renders give us a better look at the rear triple-camera setup, which isn’t enclosed in a housing but protrudes about 1mm from the phone’s body; it looks cleaner that way. The primary sensor will allegedly be 48MP, and one of the other sensors is said to be a 2MP depth sensor.

Other rumored specs include a 6.5-inch display, 5,000 mAh battery, and measurements of 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1mm, making it similar in size to the recent iPhone 12 Pro Max. The renders also confirm the device will feature a USB-C charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that also doubles as a power button. Other details, including processor, memory, and display resolution are still unknown.

The Galaxy A32 5G will reportedly be Samsung’s most affordable 5G phone yet — even cheaper than the Galaxy A42 5G, which recently launched across the UK and Europe. The new device is said to be part of Samsung’s 2021 Galaxy A series. It’s unclear when Samsung will unveil the device, but reports claim it’s still a few months away, and there’s always the chance plans could change.

It doesn’t sound like the Galaxy A32 5G will be announced at Samsung’s upcoming Unpacked event in January, which will reportedly see the company unveil the Galaxy S21 series and new wireless earbuds with ANC. For now, we have some leaked specs and renders to go on, but we already like what we see.

The post Samsung Galaxy A32 5G leaked renders give us a better look at Samsung’s upcoming budget 5G phone appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2VfOJ1I
via IFTTT