Xiaomi’s latest phones face Geekbench delisting amid app throttling controversy
Following reports that Samsung throttled performance for several apps and games on its flagship phones (and even throttled recent tablets like the S8 series), other manufacturers have come under scrutiny for their own performance-adjusting behaviors. Testing Xiaomi’s latest lineup with the popular Geekbench benchmarking application, we’ve measured a noticeable performance difference between various “spoofed” versions of the app that were recognized by the system as known apps or games. According to Geekbench, this behavior will result in affected phones being delisted from its benchmarking charts later this week.
We tested several modified versions of the Geekbench application that were meant to trigger any app-identifying performance profiles on the Xiaomi 12 Pro and Xiaomi 12X. We’re still investigating the mechanism behind how Xiaomi’s performance tuning works (and we’ll update if and when we learn more about it), but our preliminary numbers indicate that Xiaomi is giving apps it recognizes as games or benchmarks a better performance profile and throttling performance for other apps. This bears out with differences in benchmark scores for modified versions of the Geekbench app:
| Geekbench Corporate | Genshin Spoof | Netflix Spoof | Chrome Spoof | Play Store Geekbench | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Pro | 738/3148 | 1119/3468 | 733/3065 | 737/3071 | 1201/3394 |
| 12X | 712/3049 | 807/3314 | 708/3020 | 710/2973 | 978/3289 |
Geekbench results for the 12 Pro and 12X comparing versions of the app modified to look like other apps to the system (i.e., which were “spoofed”).
From Android Police
Motorola Frontier leaks with Samsung 200MP sensor
Motorola’s rumored 2022 flagship Android phone is expected to bring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus chipset alongside Samsung’s 200MP ISOCELL HP1 sensor and we just got our first live look at the alleged device thanks to a Chinese tipster.
The upcoming Motorola Frontier houses a huge camera island on its back with a massive cutout for the 200MP main sensor. The accompanying text on the side confirms this is in fact the 200MP HP1 sensor with OIS and a f/2.2 aperture. According to details provided by Samsung, the 200MP sensor can function as several different sensors thanks to the deep learning-based remosaicing algorithm.
Samsung HP1 can do 2×2 pixel binning, which results in 50 MP resolution with an effective pixel size of 1.28 µm. There’s also a 4×4 binning mode with 16 sensor pixels used to create one big image pixel with the equivalent of 12.5MP resolution and 2.56µm pixels. It can shoot up to 8K video at 30 fps with the field of view shrinking as little as possible.
From Gsmarena
It sounds like a Xiaomi and Leica partnership could be in the works
Xiaomi tipster Kacper Skrzypek has uncovered (archived link) references to Leica within the Chinese MIUI Gallery Editor app. It seems like these references are related to vlog filters, with monochrome, natural, and vivid options specifically mentioned. Check out an image below, courtesy of Skrzypek.
Kacper Skrzypek/MIUI Polska
For what it’s worth, Huawei’s Leica-branded phones offered monochrome images (either via software or a monochrome camera), as well as standard, vivid, and smooth color filters in the camera app. However, the Xiaomi strings were found within the gallery app, so we’re keen to see if any Leica additions come to the MIUI camera app itself (if indeed the partnership is happening).
This wouldn’t be the only partnership between a camera brand and an Android OEM in recent years though. OnePlus teamed up with Hasselblad last year, with Oppo joining the party too. Vivo also got in on the action, teaming up with Zeiss for its high-end phones from last year.
From Android Authority
Apple reportedly cuts iPhone SE and AirPods orders in case of slump in demand
Apple has reportedly lowered production orders for the recently launched iPhone SE and its AirPods wireless earphones amid concerns that demand for its devices will decline due to wider economic challenges.
The Cupertino-based company released the revamped version of its mid-range handset earlier this month, the first in the line to include 5G compatibility. It is also the first iPhone to be made from carbon-neutral aluminium.
Apple had hoped the device would expand its reach and market share, building on the strong performance of the iPhone 13 range launched in late in 2021.
From Techradar
iPhone 14 release is reportedly on schedule, but you should wait for the iPhone 15
It looks as if the iPhone 14 is on track for a launch in September, as following trial production which reportedly began on schedule in February, we’re now hearing that the phone has entered the engineering validation stage.
That’s according to analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities, who, in a note seen by 9to5Mac, claims to have learned this via a supply chain survey. We weren’t particularly expecting delays but they’re always possible, especially in the age of Covid, so this is a reassuring sign.
Pu shared other details of the iPhone 14 range too, saying that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will get a new 48MP main camera, as we’ve heard before, and that the entry-level model will have a larger screen than last year (due to there reportedly being no iPhone 14 mini).
Pu also adds that the starting price of the iPhone 14 is likely to be similar to that of the iPhone 13, a phone which begins at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349. This also is something that we’ve heard before.
However, while that all sounds promising – and likely, given that most of this has been rumored repeatedly – the iPhone 15 range could be in for even bigger upgrades.
According to Pu, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will likely have a periscope camera with 5x optical zoom, up from 3x optical zoom on current models. Which again, is something that other sources have also pointed to.
And away from iPhones, Pu has claimed that Apple will equip some 2024 iPads with OLED screens. Specifically, Apple will apparently bring this display technology to 11-inch and 12.9-inch models, which are sizes we’re currently only seeing used by the iPad Pro range.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the iPad Pro range that gets OLED screens though, since future iPad Pros might have larger screens, so we could see the iPad Air range perhaps move up to the current Pro sizing.
From Techradar
Good news! Asus will ‘aggressively’ drop pricing for its AMD and Nvidia graphics cards
Asus has stated that it’ll soon be reducing the prices of its graphics cards across the board, and by a considerable amount as well.
This further good news for GPU buyers – which comes on top of a lot of recent positive noises regarding price tags – comes from PC Gamer, who spoke to the card manufacturer directly.
Asus noted that it has “been dropping pricing across all SKUs,” meaning all its different models of graphics cards, and that the firm is “reducing MSRP aggressively” right now.
The use of the term ‘aggressively’ certainly bodes well for some chunky price cuts on Asus products, and doubtless soon enough, from other card manufacturers who face a similar situation to Asus, and the need to remain competitive on pricing, of course.
From Techradar
Honor X9 5G is official – SD 695, 4,800mAh battery and 66W charging
Honor has added a new phone to its X series – the X9 5G. It has a 6.81-inch 2388x1980px IPS LCD with 120Hz refresh rate and up to 240Hz touch sampling rate.
The phone is powered by a 6nm 5G-capable Snapdragon 695 chipset with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Storage configurations are 6/128GB, 8/128GB and 8/256GB.
Round back, the Honor X9 5G features a triple camera with a 48MP f/1.8 main camera and a pair of 2MP sensors for macro and depth. There’s a 16MP selfie upfront.
Powering things is a 4,800mAh battery with Honor’s 66W SuperCharge wired charging. There’s a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner.
On the software side, the Honor X9 5G uses the proprietary Magic UI 4.2 on top of Android 11.
From Gsmarena
PlayStation’s answer to Xbox Game Pass revealed
After months of rumors and speculation, Sony has finally revealed the gaming service it’s built to rival Xbox’s Game Pass. It’s a combined version of PlayStation Plus and PS Now that will give you access to hundreds of current and classic games on top of new additions each month.
We’ve been hearing about Project Spartacus since last year, this was the codename for Sony’s new-look PlayStation Plus and one made specifically to rejuvenate the 12-year-old subscription service. Sony has now officially revealed what it’s been working on and while it’s still called PlayStation Plus, it’s adding a lot more to the subscription we’ve come to know over the years. It finally looks like a real Xbox Game Pass contender for PS5 and PS4 owners.
From this coming June, PlayStation Plus will be split into three subscription tiers – PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium – with the basic version giving you access to what we expect from the current PlayStation Plus subscription with additional games and extras coming in with each tier.
The major (and welcome) addition to the service is the ability to stream a library of classic PlayStation games. Apparently, hundreds of old games will be playable through Sony’s cloud gaming tech – though it’s not yet published a list of what we can expect.
From Techradar
Garmin’s super-smart new watch is built for pilots, but runners should check it out too
Garmin has unveiled a new smartwatch built specifically for pilots, but packed with tools to keep you fit and healthy out of the cockpit too: the Garmin D2 Mach 1.
In terms of design, the D2 Mach 1 closely resembles the recently released Garmin Epix (Gen 2), with a 74mm reinforced resin case topped with titanium, and visible screws on the lugs for a tough, industrial look.
The new Garmin watch sits alongside the D2 Air X10 – a device that’s around half the price, but a simpler specs sheet. The D2 Mach 1 features a choice of leather or metal bands rather than silicone, a new interface, superior battery life, multi-frequency positioning, and other advanced features like the ability to access and download apps from the Garmin Connect IQ app store directly from your wrist.
For pilots, alongside existing features like support for multiple time zones (including Zulu/UTC) and the ability to receive plans wirelessly via Garmin Pilot, D2 Mach 1 also offers a moving map showing aviation airports, roads and bodies of water, aviation alerts, and compatibility with Connext Avionics so you can link your watch to your cockpit.
From Techradar
Instagram is working on several new features, including improvements to Story replies
Instagram continuously works on adding new features to its app. Some of which are original ideas, while the rest are inspired by other platforms. The Meta-owned service — which first started as a basic photo/video sharing app — has become a feature-rich destination that many users like to seek. And as new additions land, users are getting their hands on more ways to express themselves in the digital world. The company is currently developing at least five new features that could eventually become available to users. Considering they’re still under active development, there’s a chance that Instagram will scratch some (or all) of them before they see the light of day.
From XDA
