Tech talks #11 Redmi 8A, Redmi power banks, OnePlus power bank, Realme sale
Published on 11/ Feb/2020
1.
Redmi 8A Dual With Snapdragon 439 SoC, Dual Rear Cameras Launched in India: Price, Specifications
Redmi 8A Dual comes as an upgrade to the Redmi 8A
Redmi 8A Dual has been launched in India as the company's latest affordable phone. The new Redmi phone, which comes as an upgrade to the Redmi 8A, comes with 18W fast charging support. The smartphone sports an “Aura X Grip” design that brings a mesh texture at the back panel and comes along with P2i nano coating. There is also a dual rear camera setup to deliver an upgraded experience over the original Redmi 8A. Further, it comes preloaded with VoLTE and VoWiFi support. The Redmi 8A Dual is designed to counter models such as the Realme C3 and Infinix Hot 8. Alongside the Redmi 8A Dual, Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi has launched the Redmi-branded power banks.
Redmi 8A Dual price in India, launch offers
The Redmi 8A Dual price in India has been set at Rs. 6,499 for the 2GB RAM + 32GB storage variant, while its 3GB RAM + 32GB storage option is priced at Rs. 6,999. Both variants come in Midnight Grey, Sea Blue, and Sky White colour options. The smartphone will go on sale starting February 18 through Amazon, Mi.com, and Mi Home stores. Moreover, the phone will soon be available through various retail stores and online marketplaces.
To recall, the original Redmi 8A was launched in India in September with a starting price of Rs. 6,499 for the 2GB RAM + 32GB storage configuration. The 3GB RAM + 32GB storage option of the Redmi 8A, on the other hand, carried a price tag of Rs. 6,999.
Redmi 8A Dual specifications, features
The dual-SIM Redmi 8A Dual runs Android 9 Pie with MIUI 11 on top and features a 6.22-inch HD+ (720x1520 pixels) display with a Dot Notch (company speak for a waterdrop-style display notch) design and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. There is also a 19:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the smartphone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC, paired with up to 3GB of RAM. The Redmi 8A Dual has the dual rear camera setup as the USP. The camera setup includes a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. It supports AI Portrait mode and AI Scene detection mode.
For selfies, the Redmi 8A Dual flaunts an 8-megapixel selfie camera at the front. The frontal sensor supports AI Selfie Portrait and AI Face unlock.
The Redmi 8A Dual has 32GB of onboard storage that is expandable via microSD card (up to 512GB) through a dedicated slot. Connectivity options on the smartphone include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, ambient light, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor. The smartphone also comes with wireless FM radio support.
Xiaomi has provided a 5,000mAh battery on the Redmi 8A Dual that supports 18W fast charging and reverse charging. Besides, the phone measures 156.48x75.41x9.4mm and weighs 188 grams.
Display6.22-inch
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 439
Front Camera8-megapixel
Rear Camera13-megapixel + 2-megapixel
RAM2GB
Storage32GB
Battery Capacity5000mAh
OSAndroid 9.0
Resolution720x1520 pixels
2.
Redmi Power Banks With Up to 20,000mAh Capacity, 18W Fast Charging Launched in India
Redmi power banks comes in black and white colour options
Redmi has today launched a pair of Redmi-branded power banks in India. Simply called the Redmi Power Bank, it comes in two variants – 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh capacity. The cheaper 10,000mAh model maxes out at 10W charging speed, while the more capacious 20,000mAh variant goes up to 18W. Both the new Redmi power banks come in identical black and white colour options and feature dual input/ output ports for both USB Type-A and USB Type-C interface. The device also comes with support for two-way fast charging and has 12-layer circuit protection in place.
Redmi Power Bank price in India, availability
The Redmi power bank with 10,000mAh capacity is priced at Rs. 799, while the one with 20,000mAh capacity will set buyers back by Rs. 1,499. It comes in black and white colour options and will be available starting 12pm (noon) IST on February 18 via the Mi.com online store and Mi Home stores across the country. Xiaomi says the Redmi power bank will shortly be available via Amazon as well. Buyers can also get customised Redmi power bank skins from Gadgetssheildz.
Redmi Power Bank specifications
Starting with the design, both variants of the Redmi power bank have an identical blocky build that has straight lines running alongside the edges for a better grip. It has dual USB Type-A input ports, a Micro-USB output port, and a USB Type-C output port. The Redmi Power Bank 10,000mAh variant peaks at 10W, while the 20,000mAh version delivers up to 18W fast charging output.
The charging accessory is claimed to employ a 12-layer circuit protection hardware and has lithium polymer batteries, which are claimed to be safer and more efficient compared to Li-ion batteries. Notably, the Redmi power bank offers two-way fast charging support, which means it can be charged while also simultaneously charging another device. Moreover, there is also a low-power mode that can be activated by double-tapping the power button to charge devices like a Bluetooth headset or a fitness band.
3.
OnePlus Power Bank With Fast Charging Support May Launch Soon
OnePlus’ last power bank was launched back in 2015
OnePlus last launched a 10,000mAh power bank in 2015. And even though the company has kept improving its proprietary wired charging standard over the years, it is yet to be ported over to a power bank form factor. It appears that OnePlus is now finally ready to launch a power bank with fast charging capability. OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei has hinted on Twitter that a OnePlus power bank with fast charging support might go official soon. And with the OnePlus 8 series tipped to be introduced next month, what better time to pull a double whammy than launching a fast charging power bank and also finally adding wireless charging support to the phones.
Here's what Pei said in his tweet:
Pei's tweet is not a confirmation per se, but given the demand from fans and the nature of Pei's tweet, it appears that OnePlus might pull off a surprise and launch a power bank with fast charging capability soon. Dash Charge Power Bank, anyone?
As of now, no leaks have surfaced so far regarding OnePlus' plans of launching a power bank with fast charging support, which means we are completely in the dark regarding its design, capacity, or the pricing at the moment. OnePlus has reiterated on multiple occasions that if a charging technology - be it wireless or in this case, power banks - matches up to its wired charging standards, only then will it see the light of the day. Well, it appears that OnePlus has finally cracked that code for power banks.
Interestingly, OnePlus might also bring another highly requested feature to the table soon – wireless charging support. OnePlus recently joined the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the industry body that oversees the development of wireless charging standards. Leaks also suggest that wireless charging will finally make its way to OnePlus phones, starting with the OnePlus 8 Pro.
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 865
Front CameraYes
Rear CameraYes
RAM
12GB
OSAndroid 10
4.
Realme Days Sale 2020 Now Live, Includes Discounts on Realme 5 Pro, Realme X2 Pro, and More
The Realme Days sale will run until 13 February 2020
Realme Days sale has started yesterday, on February 10, and will be running till Thursday, February 13. So, if you are one of those who had been holding off on a new smartphone purchase, then we would like to inform you that there are a bunch of offers and discounts running on some current Realme smartphones. The sale is running on Realme.com and Flipkart and you can find some good offers during this time on not just smartphones but also other Realme gadgets.
The offers on Realme.com during the Realme Days sale include no-cost EMI on select models, 10 percent Supercash worth Rs. 1,000 on MobiKwik, and an additional Rs. 500 off on exchange. As for the offers on Flipkart, users will get 10 percent instant discount on ICICI Bank credit cards and EMI transactions, 5 percent unlimited cashback on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card, extra 5 percent off with Axis Bank Buzz Credit Card, discounts and exchange offers.
Some of the top deals that you can get on REALME devices during this sale include:
Realme 5 Pro
There's a Rs. 3,000 discount being offered on the Realme 5 Pro . This smartphone can now be purchased at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 for the 4GB RAM variant. The 6GB RAM variant will cost you Rs. 12,999, while the 8GB RAM variant has been priced at Rs. 14,999. On top of discounted prices, consumers will also get benefit from offers available on Realme.com and Flipkart.
Realme C2
The new prices of the Realme C2 after applying discounts is set at Rs. 5,999 for the 2GB RAM variant, while the 3GB RAM variant can be purchased for Rs. 6,999. Both the variants come with 32GB of inbuilt storage, and the smartphone features a 4,000mAh battery.
Realme X2 Pro
There's a Rs. 2,000 discount on the Realme X2P .This can now be purchased for Rs. 27,999 for the 6GB RAM variant. The 8GB RAM variant can be purchased for Rs. 29,999, while the 12GB RAM variant can be purchased for Rs. 31,999. Unfortunately, the Realme X2 Pro Master Edition hasn't seen a drop in price and you'll still have to shell out Rs. 34,999 if you wish to purchase the special edition smartphone. However, now you do have the option of no-cost EMI.
Realme X2
As for the Realme X2 , there's an additional Rs. 1,000 off on the launch prices. And along with bank offers on Flipkart, and no-cost EMI option on Realme.com, the 4GB RAM variant will now cost Rs. 16,999. The 6GB variant has been priced at Rs. 18,999. While the top-end 8GB RAM variant has been priced at Rs. 19,999.
So, these were some of the top deals that you can get during the ongoing Realme Days sale. Additionally, if you want to check out all the other devices that are on offer, then you can head over to Realme.com or Flipkart.
5.
ARMt Launch New AI Chip for Small Devices
Arm Holdings Chief Executive Simon Segars during an event
ARM, a semiconductor technology firm owned by SoftBank Group, unveiled a chip technology aimed at putting artificial intelligence functions on tiny devices such as sensors designed to detect patterns in human speech or other streams of data.
ARM, which provides chip technology to mobile phone semiconductor suppliers like Qualcomm and end device makers like Apple, has been diversifying its customer base in recent years to markets such as self-driving cars.
It has also expanded to target areas like the Internet of things - in which many everyday devices such as traffic lights or agricultural irrigation systems will be fitted with Internet-connected sensors and automated.
ARM on Monday released the new Cortex M55 processor paired with what it calls its Ethos-U55 "neural processing unit."
Chips with the technology will hit the market in 2021 and aim to carry out the special kinds of math needed by artificial intelligence (AI) software that can detect vibrations or pick out spoken keywords from a user.
The chips are designed to function with very low amounts of electricity. That allows devices such as sensors to last for years at a time on a small battery and to only connect to the Internet when needed.
Minimizing Internet connections can help protect privacy by processing data locally and sending only what is needed to remote servers while discarding the rest, ARM executives said.
Many fields such as health care will require data to be processed locally, with little or none of the results sent back to remote servers, Dipti Vachani, senior vice president and general manager of ARM's automotive and Internet of things line of business, told Reuters.
"You may not want that data to move around," Vachani said.
The new technology "is going to give you low-power processing, to process data where it is best suited, where you want to keep that data."
6.
Vivo, Intel, NTT DoCoMo Become Latest Companies to Withdraw From MWC 2020 Over Coronavirus Fears
Vivo was due to launch its Apex 2020 concept phone at the MWC trade fair
Vivo, Intel, and NTT DoCoMo have joined the companies that have decided to withdraw their presence from the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 trade show that will take place in Barcelona from February 24. Vivo had been due to showcase its Apex 2020 concept phone, while Intel is usually a large presence at the show. Other recent withdrawals include Sony and Amazon, while LG Electronics, Ericsson, and Nvidia withdrew last week.
In an emailed statement to Gadgets 360, Vivo said, "Vivo has been closely monitoring the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP) outbreak and continuously evaluating planned activities. The health and safety of our employees and the public are our top priority. Based on the present situation, we have decided to withdraw from our debut at MWC 2020 and other related events later this month in Barcelona, Spain."
The statement added, "We will soon introduce the Apex 2020 concept phone which we had originally planned to showcase at MWC. We will share more updates in due course." As we mentioned, Vivo had been due to launch the Apex 2020 concept phone at an event on February 23.
In a statement to VentureBeat, an Intel spokesperson said, "The safety and wellbeing of all our employees and partners is our top priority, and we have withdrawn from this year's Mobile World Congress out of an abundance of caution. We are grateful to the GSMA for their understanding and look forward to attending and supporting future Mobile World Congress events."
NTT DoCoMo, the biggest Japanese telecommunications operator and one of the biggest in Asia, said it too would be absent for reasons of "security" stemming from the virus.
Amazon, Japan's Sony, South Korea's LG Electronic, Swedish equipment maker Ericsson, and US chipmaker Nvidia have already withdrawn from MWC, which had more than 100,000 visitors and upwards of 2,400 exhibitors in 2019.
MWC is the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, with companies spending millions on stands and hospitality to fill their order books. Barcelona's economy got a boost of around EUR 470 million ($515 million) last year from the event, its organiser the GSMA estimated. The GSMA had no immediate comment.
Gremi d'Hotels de Barcelona, the city's main hotels association, said coronavirus concerns had resulted in cancellations but it was too early to quantify the impact on overall bookings.
And the region's digital policy councillor, Jordi Puignero, told local radio station RAC1 the Catalan regional government was "taking measures so that everything proceeds as normal".
There is no reason to not attend," he added.
Sources close to exhibitors said that if participants cancel, they would have to bear the cost. The GSMA, an industry association representing more than 750 operators and 400 companies, would only be liable if it calls off the event.
7.
Tata Sky Set to Increase Minimum Recharge Requirement by 150 Percent, Require at Least Rs. 50: Report
Tata Sky has revised the minimum recharge requirement to come in line with Airtel Digital TV and D2h
Tata Sky is increasing the minimum recharge requirement for its subscribers by 150 percent starting today, according to a report. The direct-to-home (DTH) operator up until now had a minimum recharge requirement of Rs. 20 that is said to have increased to Rs. 50. This means that Tata Sky subscribers will have to recharge their accounts with a minimum of Rs. 50 pack. Airtel Digital TV and D2h also have a minimum recharge requirement of Rs. 50 for some time. However, Dish TV subscribers can recharge with a minimum value of Rs. 10.
To inform its subscribers about the latest revision, Tata Sky is sending an SMS message, according to a report published by DTH-focussed site DreamDTH.
The SMS message, a screenshot of which has been carried by the source, reads that the change will come into effect starting today. However, the Tata Sky website was yet to reflect the development and was still showing Rs. 20 as the minimum requirement at the time of filing this story.
Gadgets 360 reached out to Tata Sky for clarity on the revision and will update this space as and when the company responds.
Notably, the minimum recharge requirement doesn't have any relation with DTH packs as Tata Sky subscribers won't receive any changes on the part of available recharge packs.
Last week, Tata Sky discontinued it's SD set-top box and started offering its HD set-top box as the minimum option for new customers. The HD set-top box by the operator is available at Rs. 1,399, the price at which it was earlier selling the SD set-top box option.
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