Exclusive: The Infinix Zero X will have a Nexus 4-like speckled back cover

In July this year, MediaTek launched two new budget-friendly SoCs — the Helio G96 and the Helio G88. Early last month, Hong Kong-based smartphone OEM Infinix teased that it would soon launch the first phone featuring the new Helio G96 chipset. While the company is yet to unveil the device, we’ve obtained exclusive images of the phone that give us a great look at its Nexus 4-like design. The upcoming phone will likely be called the Infinix Zero X, and here’s what it looks like.

As you can see in the attached image, the Infinix Zero X features a speckled back cover like the Nexus 4 with a rectangular camera island in the top right corner and Infinix branding at the bottom. The camera island includes three sensors, one large and two small, along with an LED flash.

Over on the front, the device features a nearly bezel-less flat display with a centered hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. While we don’t have images of the Infinix Zero X from other angles, we can see that its volume rocker and power button are on the right edge. Since the older Infinix Note 10 featured a US Type-C port and a headphone jack, we expect the upcoming model to retain these ports. However, we can’t confirm that at the moment.

Although we don’t have any concrete information about the Infinix Zero X’s hardware right now, Infinix’s teaser suggests that the device will pack MediaTek’s Helio G96 chipset. We believe the device could feature a 120Hz high refresh rate display, a large 5,000mAh battery with fast charging support, and a stereo speaker setup. Its cameras could be a step up from the Infinix Note 10, which featured a 48MP+2MP+2MP setup on the back and a 16MP selfie shooter on the front. On the software front, the phone will likely run Android 11 out of the box. Do note that these specifications are purely speculative and are based on the hardware offered on the Infinix Note 10. We’ll share the official spec list as soon as we come across it.

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Microsoft is booting ineligible Windows 11 PCs out of the Windows Insider Program

When Microsoft originally announced Windows 11, it was quickly discovered that Microsoft had made some drastic changes to the system requirements. Most importantly, there are some strict requirements on which CPUs are supported by the new OS. When it came down to testing in the Windows Insider Program, however, the Redmond firm wasn’t quite as strict.

Here’s how it worked. If you were in the Dev channel prior to the announcement, you’d be allowed to stay up until Windows 11 comes out. Once it’s out, you have to roll back to Windows 10 or you’ll be in an unsupported state, assuming your PC is ineligible (obviously, if your PC is eligible, you’re good to go). For Beta channel Insiders, they were kicked off of the Beta channel and placed into Release Preview for Windows 10 21H2 testing.

Now, Microsoft has started kicking unsupported PCs out of the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program. If you’re in the Dev channel and your CPU isn’t on the supported list, you’ll likely find that you have to go back to Windows 10 in order to keep receiving updates.

Microsoft has now dropped ineligible systems from the Insider program and tells them to install Windows 10. pic.twitter.com/zfALanmcuq

— BetaWiki (@BetaWiki) August 31, 2021

The transition to the new system requirements hasn’t been an entirely smooth one, but there’s a good reason that things are the way they are. Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H1, and 21H2 are all enablement packages that build on top of version 2004. But since the spring of 2020, Microsoft has still been releasing prerelease builds in the Dev channel, with none of those features actually shipping in Windows 10. Those prerelease builds eventually became Windows 11.

That means that when Microsoft decided on the new system requirements, it had to think of a solution for all of the Windows Insiders that wouldn’t qualify for Windows 11, but were already running prerelease builds. After all, you can’t deliver an OTA update from build 20xxx to build 19xxx. The general rule is that if the build number goes down, you have to do a factory reset.

Because of this, the Redmond company decided to let Insiders on the Dev channel tag along for Windows 11 testing. Obviously, those users were used for telemetry. When Microsoft said it would consider Intel seventh-gen and AMD Zen processors for Windows 11 support, it got to look at data from all of the Insiders that were still able to run Windows 11. That’s how the firm came up with stats saying that supported PCs had a 99.8% crash-free experience, while unsupported PCs has 52% more crashes (which really only means that it’s a 99.7% crash-free experience).

But now, that run of testing has come to an end. It’s never fun when you have to reset your PC, but that’s the risk of the Insider Program.

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The Galaxy Book Fold may be Samsung’s first laptop with a foldable display

Samsung has been making waves in the past few weeks thanks to its foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3. However, while the company has been making foldable phones for a couple of years, it’s never made a laptop with a foldable display. That could be set to change, as references to a Samsung Galaxy Book Fold device have been spotted online.

The information comes from well-known leakster Ice Universe on Twitter, who shared a screenshot with the name of the device. It’s called the Galaxy Book Fold 17, suggesting it sports a 17-inch display. The font used in the image is similar to what’s found throughout Samsung’s website, but there doesn’t seem to be a public page with this text.

However, this does throw us back to May of this year, when Samsung Display teased a device exactly like this. During the SID Display Week 2021 event, the company showed off a number of form factors enabled by OLED displays. That included, you guessed it, a 17-inch foldable laptop. You can see that video below, with the 17-inch laptop concept showing up at around the 52-second mark. 17 inches would be the size when the display is unfolded, and it could be folded into two smaller displays.

Samsung has also teased other innovative concepts with OLED displays, like an under-display camera for laptops. That was first teased all the way back in January, but we ended up seeing that technology first on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

While laptops with foldable displays are rare, this isn’t the first one we’ve ever seen, since Lenovo has attempted this with the ThinkPad X1 Fold. That device was plagued by middling performance, courtesy of the Intel Lakefield chipset inside. Lakefield was Intel’s attempt at having powerful cores and efficient cores in the same package, but it didn’t work out in the best way. However, the upcoming Intel Alder Lake processors seem to be a significantly better take on that concept, so hopefully we’ll see more and better devices with this form factor.

Unfortunately, we don’t have much else to go off of. We’ll have to wait and see if and when Samsung announces the Galaxy Book Fold. The company has been making some great Windows laptops like the Galaxy Book Go and Book Pro, so it would be interesting to see more innovative devices as well.

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Today only: Wi-Fi routers and extenders from Netgear are up to 26% off

The rise in working from home has led many of us to realize our Wi-Fi networks are terrible. There’s inevitably one room where the signal is too weak, or the whole network slows to a crawl when someone starts up Netflix. Thankfully, Netgear has discounted some of its routers and extenders in a one-day sale on Amazon, making today a great time to upgrade your Wi-Fi.

First up is the Netgear AX1800, which is built for homes up to 1,500 sq. ft. with full support for Wi-Fi 6. It’s currently priced at $74.99 right now, a decent savings from the usual price of $90-100. The router is a decent option for smaller homes, especially for under $100, but support for the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard is missing.

Netgear R6700AX Router

This Wi-Fi 6 router is an excellent option for smaller homes, where mesh systems aren't really needed.

Buy at Amazon

Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500

This router has a powerful gaming-focused interface and more LAN connectors, but it doesn't support Wi-Fi 5.

Buy at Amazon

Netgear WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extender (EAX15)

This can help extend the range of your existing Wi-Fi network, with full support for Wi-Fi 6.

Buy at Amazon

The other router on sale is the Nighthawk Pro XR500, which delivers faster speeds than the above-mentioned AX1800, and also has a more customizable dashboard. The sale price is $159.99, and the router usually goes for around $190-200. Even though this model has fast speeds on paper, it can’t broadcast a Wi-Fi 6 network, so you might have connectivity problems if you have many other Wi-Fi signals around you (e.g. you live in an apartment complex).

Finally, Netgear is selling its Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Range Extender for $89.99, down from the usual price of $129.99. This is mostly intended to be used with existing Wi-Fi 6 networks, but it will work with just about any router or network. It’s dual-band, not tri-band, so speeds will be lower than a signal coming from your primary router — but that doesn’t matter too much if your router can’t reach a certain area in the first place.

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HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Battle of the Chrome OS tablets

HP recently unveiled the new Chromebook x2 11, available from Best Buy and HP’s own website later this month. The Chromebook x2 11 is the first new Chrome OS tablet we’ve seen in quite some time. It looks like a compelling product, but it’s always a good idea to consider all available options. On the other hand, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is quite a bit more affordable. In this comparison, we’ll take a look at how these Chrome OS tablets differ and which one you should buy today.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Specifications

Specification	HP Chromebook x2 11	Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Dimensions & Weight	9.94″ x 6.96″ x 0.3″ 2.57 lbs	9.44″ x 6.29″ x 0.29″ (tablet only) 0.99lbs (tablet only)
Display	11″ 2160 x 1440 (Full HD+) IPS LED Touchscreen	10.1″ FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS 400 nits Touchscreen
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Compute Platform 8 core Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU	MediaTek Helio P60T Processor (2.00 GHz, 8 Cores, 8 Threads) Integrated ARM G72 MP3 800GHz
RAM & Storage	8GB RAM 64GB eMMc storage	4GB LPDDR4X on board Up t0 128GB eMMc
Battery & Charging	2-cell Lithium-Ion	Up to 10 hours Estimated based on lower brightness settings
Security	H1 Secure Microcontroller Fingerprint scanner	Titan C Security Chip
Front camera	5MP camera	2 MP fixed-focus with LED indicator
World-facing camera	HP Wide Vision 8MP camera	8 MP auto-focus
Port(s)	2 SuperSpeed USB Type-C 5Gbps 3.5mm headphone jack microSD card reader	1x USB-C (Gen 2) 5-point pogo pins
Audio	Audio by Bang & Olufsen with dual speakers Built-in microphone	2 x Dolby Audi0 speakers Smart amp
Connectivity	Atheros 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi Bluetooth 5.0	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO, 2×2, 2.4GHz/5GHz dual band Bluetooth 4.2
Software	Chrome OS	Chrome OS
Other Features	Detachable keyboard USI pen support Starts at $599	Detachable keyboard Pen included in select models Starts at $219

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Design and display

Starting off with design and build, these tablets are similar in a number of ways. First, the HP Chromebook x2 11 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet are both true detachable devices. This is something to take note of, especially since the keyboards can add some bulk on convertibles when used in tablet mode. Both tablets have similar weights, if you don’t include the detachable keyboard when measuring the HP Chromebook x2 11. The Duet is a bit lighter when both keyboard cases are attached.

One thing to mention here is we don’t know if HP is including the Chromebook x2 11’s keyboard in their weight calculation. This would mean the true weight of the device as a tablet could be a bit different than what’s shown in the specs sheet. This is something we’ll test and update when we review the HP Chromebook x2 11 ourselves. The nice thing is HP includes the detachable keyboard in the base price of the HP Chromebook x2 11.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 is made from an aluminum alloy. On the other hand, Lenovo Chromebook Duets have an attractive, albeit mostly plastic build.  Sliding on the keyboard case, you get a fabric texture for grip when carrying around the Duet. There’s no doubt the HP Chromebook x2 11 is the more premium device, but the Lenovo Duet looks nice enough.

Both of these tablets also support pen input. The HP Chromebook x2 11 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet both support the USI pen standard. HP actually includes the USI pen with the Chromebook x2 11, which attaches to the tablet magnetically. The USI pen for the Duet is included with certain models, otherwise you can buy it separately or as a third-party option from Amazon.

One key difference worth noting is the lack of biometric security on the Duet. This is somewhat expected at the $329 price point, but still a bit disappointing. The HP Chromebook x2 11 thankfully does feature a fingerprint scanner. This is refreshing to see as many high-end Chromebooks leave off biometric security options that improve user experience.

As for the displays, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is the clear winner here. With a higher resolution FHD+ panel the Chromebook x2 11 looks much sharper, though both tablets offer sufficient brightness. At the end of the day, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is simply outmatched in this category.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Keyboard and pen support

With the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, the detachable keyboard is included in the price with all models. The HP Chromebook x2 11 includes both the detachable keyboard as well as the magnetically attached USI pen. With the Duet, certain models include the USI pen, while others do not. This means the price difference between these two tablets can actually be a little less if you need the pen support anyway.

When it comes to keyboard quality, much is still unknown about the HP Chromebook x2 11. The initial reviews of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet keyboard were mixed. Many reviewers found the keyboard to be a bit small and cramped — if you have large hands, that might not be ideal. The Chromebook x2 11 keyboard layout looks nice, but we can’t say for sure how good it is until we test it out.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Performance and battery

If you’re looking for the performance winner on paper, that’s the HP Chromebook x2 11 quite handily. Although we don’t know much about real-world performance just yet, the newer Snapdragon 7c in HP’s tablet will handily outscore the MediaTek processor inside the CM3 in benchmarks.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is quite underpowered with the MediaTek Helio P60T inside. You can get by for basic web browsing and light productivity, but any serious multi-tasking will be quite difficult. If you want to do any type of gaming or run powerful Linux apps, the Duet is not the right Chrome tablet for you. It seems likely the HP Chromebook x2 11 will take the crown in overall performance on paper and in practice, something we can and will test in our review.

In theory, both devices get similar battery ratings from their respective OEMs. The Duet reviews indicate the Lenovo tablet gets about 10 hours of real world use, with over 12 hours if you’re only browsing the web. This is fairly common to see and we would typically expect similar battery life from the HP Chromebook x2 11. One thing that might improve battery life however, is the Snapdragon 7c processor inside the Chromebook x2 11. If HP optimized the tablet to take advantage of the 7c’s capabilities, we could see significantly improved battery life.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Cameras and audio

Over the course of the last 18 months, video calling rose to prominence thanks to the ongoing pandemic. Most Chromebooks still have mediocre 720p webcams and don’t feature a rear camera at all.

Camera quality is an outstanding feature on the HP Chromebook x2 11 and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. HP and Lenovo feature FHD or FHD+ resolution cameras on both the front and back. The HP Chromebook x2 11 features a 5 MP front camera and 8MP wide-vision rear camera. As for the Duet, it comes with an 8 MP rear camera and 2MP front camera for video calls.

In the age of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, these cameras are a big deal. Fortunately, both of these Chrome OS tablets are up to the task when it comes to video calling.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 has dual speakers tuned by Bang and Olufsen, so this tablet should perform admirably when it comes to audio. Speakers on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet are also quite impressive, with a dual setup as well. It’s quite impressive what Lenovo accomplished on the Duet in terms of audio for such a low price.

Conclusion

This is a really tough one to call. While the HP Chromebook x2 11 has a premium build and comes with some high-end features, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet offers lots of value for under $250. If you plan to do a lot of Android gaming or need to type for longer periods of time, it’s probably a good idea to go with the HP Chromebook x2 11.

The Duet is a great option if you just want to consume media and handle the occasional productivity task, for a much lower price. Either way, the Lenovo Chromebook was definitively one of the best Chromebooks of 2020. The HP Chromebook x2 11 looks poised to be one of the best Chromebooks of 2021.

HP Chromebook x2 11

The HP Chromebook x2 11 combines the power of Chrome OS with the portability of a traditional tablet. You can work anywhere thanks to the optional 4G LTE capability. This is the new top of the line Chrome OS tablet experience.

See at HP

See at Best Buy

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best detachable Chromebooks you can buy today, and what's more, you're not going to need to break the bank to pick one up.

Buy at Amazon

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Apple is working on letting users send emergency messages from remote locations

Apple’s future iPhone lineup may let users send emergency messages to first responders and contacts when there’s no cellular connectivity, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The report dismisses the widely circulated rumor that the iPhone 13 would support Low Earth Orbit satellite communication connectivity and enable users to text and call over a satellite network. Instead, Mark Gurman says that Apple is working on two emergency messaging tools that won’t be ready to be shipped until next year.

The first feature, called Emergency Message via Satellite, will be integrated right into the Message app and allow users to text emergency services or friends and family over a satellite network when there’s no cellular connectivity. It will appear as a third protocol — alongside SMS and iMessage — inside the Message app. Messages sent using this option will appear as gray bubbles — instead of the usual green and blue bubbles —  so that they can be quickly identified. The report says the users will be able to text their emergency contacts simply by typing “Emergency SOS” in the recipient field. Emergency texts will even bypass the Do Not Disturb mode on the recipient’s phone.

Meanwhile, the second emergency feature will allow iPhone users to report crises like plane crashes or fires and quickly get help. The feature will also be able to collect more specific information like if the user needs search-and-rescue services, if the crisis involves weapons, and if someone has suffered a traumatic injury. The feature can also automatically send details like the user’s location, medical history, age, height and weight, and so on to concerned authorities.

As per the report, the new emergency messaging tools won’t be ready at least until next year. As such, they are unlikely to debut on the upcoming iPhone 13 series, which is reportedly launching next month.

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Featured image by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash

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EcoFlow’s September Sale Has Big Discounts on Portable Power Stations

EcoFlow is kicking off a huge September sale featuring their best portable power stations. EcoFlow specializes in products that are designed to keep your electricity flowing, in the event of a power outage or off-grid situations. Some of their best DELTA and RIVER power stations are discounted throughout September, giving you an opportunity to invest in one of these important disaster-prevention solutions. Don’t wait for the power to go out, get a portable power station now and take advantage of these deals.

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EcoFlow RIVER Pro

MSRP: $649

Sale: $549

Need a little extra juice for those extended getaways? The EcoFlow RIVER Pro is designed for longer vacations away from the grid. Fast recharge times allow you to spend minimal time worrying about your power, and more time enjoying nature.

EcoFlow River Pro

Step into the wild with a massive 720Wh of battery capacity. RIVER Pro is the powerhouse for your off-grid adventure. Keep up to 10 devices powered on at once and recharge in record times via car (in 8 hrs), solar (4-8 hrs), or standard AC outlets (in 96 mins).

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

EcoFlow RIVER Max

MSRP: $549

Sale: $449

The RIVER Max is the best solution for weekend getaways where you’ll be away from the power grid. It’s small and light enough to fit in the back of any vehicle, with the rest of your camping gear. Use the host of outlets to make sure all of your devices are powered, even large appliances.

EcoFlow River Max

Double the capacity of the RIVER with RIVER Max and keep all your devices powered on at once on your weekend getaway. With a detachable extra battery, you have up to 576Wh of capacity that can be fully recharged in 1.6 hours, which is the fastest on the market. You can also power up to 10 devices simultaneously.

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

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EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel

MSRP: $449

SALE: $329

The EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel is designed to produce maximum power at any time of the day when paired with an EcoFlow power station. The solar panel has a high conversion efficiency of 21-22% and can fully charge a RIVER Pro in 6-12 hours. It is portable, foldable, and compact, weighing only 15.4lbs / 7kg.

EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

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EcoFlow DELTA + 160W Solar Panel

MSRP: $1,848

Sale: $1,599

Consider getting the full solution of the power station and a solar panel, to help you keep the lights on during an unforeseeable amount of time. The combination of EcoFlow’s 160W solar panel and the DELTA, can help you be completely power-independent. While this is a great solution for emergencies, it can also be a good way to bring power to a barn, shed, or any type of structure that isn’t hooked up to the grid.

EcoFlow DELTA + 160W Solar Panel

The EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel has a high conversion efficiency of 21-22%. Combine the 160W Solar Panel with an EcoFlow Power station to enjoy improved solar charging in cold and cloudy environments (fully recharged in 10.5 to 21 hours).

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

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This is the perfect opportunity to get started with your disaster planning or off-grid adventures. Because of EcoFlow’s modular design in all of their products, you can always expand on an entry-level setup. These deals will be available through September, so take advantage of them while you can.

We thank EcoFlow for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

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