OnePlus Nord 3 appears on company website. Launch imminent?
OnePlus looks about ready to launch a new phone in its mid-range Nord lineup. The OnePlus Nord 3 has been speculated about for a while now. But we may finally have definitive proof of the device’s existence.
Tipster Mukul Sharma has spotted the OnePlus Nord 3 moniker on the company’s India website. While he hasn’t seen any official images or specs, the leak suggests that the phone could be on its way out.
The Nord 3 will succeed the Nord 2 as OnePlus’ headlining mid-ranger for 2022. However, the company is also expected to launch the Nord 2T as an iterative upgrade sometime soon.
As per a recent report, OnePlus could already be testing the Nord 3 in India. The phone is supposedly codenamed Meili and may debut in June or July.
Leaked specs suggest the device could come with a Mediatek Dimensity 8000 series chipset, an AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 4,500mAh battery, and fast charging rumored to be either 80W or 150W. Those attributes closely match the OnePlus 10R. So it’s highly possible that the Nord 3 is a cheaper version of the 10R with watered-down specs.
OnePlus is also expected to reveal the rumored Nord smartwatch alongside the Nord 3. The wearable could target budget buyers who don’t want to shell out big bucks for a premium smartwatch. The device was also recently spotted on OnePlus’ website just like the Nord 3.
From Android Authority
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G gets NBTC certified, launch imminent
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G we’ve been hearing about for a few months now has been certified by Thailand’s NBTC, suggesting an imminent launch.
The Thai certifying authority doesn’t reveal any specs of the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, but previous leaks claimed the smartphone will come with the Dimensity 1300 SoC, Android 12-based OxygenOS 12, up to 12GB RAM, and up to 256GB storage.
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G will sport a 6.43″ 90Hz FullHD+ AMOLED screen and pack a 4,500 mAh battery with 80W charging. The smartphone will have a 32MP camera on the front, and around the back will be a triple camera system comprising 50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP monochrome units.
There’s no word from OnePlus about the Nord 2T 5G yet, but since the smartphone has bagged NBTC certification, it shouldn’t be too long before the Nord 2T 5G goes official.
From Gsmarena
Black Shark 5 Pro leads Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 domination of AnTuTu ranking in April
Latest ranking from AnTuTu revealed a Qualcomm domination both in the flagship and mid-range segments. Nine out of the top 10 best performing flagships run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, while seven out of the top 10 midrangers are powered by the Snapdragon 870.
However, Dimensity 8100-powered devices managed to steal the first top spots in the mid-range competition, while the Black Shark 5 Pro dominated the most powerful segment.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 domination here is logical, given the fact Exynos 2200 phones are not selling in China, Dimensity 9000 devices are only now coming out and Kirin chipsets dropped off the race.
The AnTuTu benchmark tests four aspects of the chipset’s performance – GPU, CPU, UX and memory performance. However, instances of manufacturers specifically tuning their hardware to boost the AnTuTu score aren’t uncommon.
The mid-range field reveals the Dimensity 8100 is a runaway leader, with the Snapdragon 870 a distant second. We should expect more devices to join this list once manufacturers get their hands on new chips but that might not be soon, given how the mobile industry is still struggling with supply chain issues.
The monthly AnTuTu results are the average of all runs for devices with at least 1,000 samples.
From Gsmarena
Motorola Moto G82 leaks: A rival to Redmi Note 11 series?
Motorola’s Moto G series doesn’t offer the most bang for buck, but these phones are still respectable, no-frills propositions for the most part. We’ve already seen the company step up with recent G series phones, and now the Moto G82 has leaked in all its glory.
Veteran leaker Evan Blass and 91mobiles have shared apparent specs and renders of the new handset, and it looks like Motorola is taking aim at the Redmi Note 11 series. Check out the images below.
More specifically, the Motorola Moto G82 is set to offer the same Snapdragon 695 5G SoC and 5,000mAh battery as the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, as well as a similar FHD+ 120Hz OLED screen (6.55-inches).
Otherwise, the phone is said to offer 4GB/6GB/8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a side fingerprint scanner, 33W charging, an IP52 splash resistance rating, and a 3.5mm port.
Moving to the cameras, the Moto G82 apparently packs a triple rear camera system. This consists of a 50MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. A 16MP camera in a center-aligned punch-hole cutout handles your selfies.
There’s no word on pricing and availability just yet, although the company’s recent Moto Gx2 series phones have landed in the likes of India and Latin America. For what it’s worth, the Moto G52 launched in India at around Rs 14,500 (~$189), so the G82 will definitely be more expensive than that if it lands in the market. Here’s hoping it’s priced to duke it out with the Rs 24,999 (~$326) Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.
From Android Authority
USB-C 2.1 could charge our laptops and smartphones in a flash
Next-gen USB-C 2.1 cables could finally be on their way, potentially seriously cutting the time it takes to charge our laptops, smartphones and other devices.
As Tom’s Hardware reports, Club3D has launched a range of USB-C cables that can deliver up to 240W of power, which is over twice the 100W maximum that current USB-C cables can supply.
This could have big implications for laptops and smartphones that use USB-C to charge, as it would mean their batteries are topped up much more quickly, which means less waiting around for them to charge.
This boosted power supply could also mean that more power-hungry devices, like gaming laptops, could finally use USB-C to charge, rather than proprietary chargers that come with big, bulky and heavy power supplies.
From Techradar
Meta’s Project Cambria price leaks and, spoiler alert, you’re not going to like it
Meta’s VR hardware roadmap has apparently been leaked giving us details about its next four headsets, including the price and specs of its next VR headset: Project Cambria.
Known only by its codename, this souped-up device is expected to supplant Meta’s current best headset, the Oculus Quest 2 (now rebranded as Meta Quest 2), when it launches later this year.
When it was announced in October 2021, Mark Zuckerberg (Meta’s CEO) explained that Cambria will be a “high-end” piece of tech that will produce better VR and MR (mixed reality) experiences than anything Meta has achieved before. This means improved specs and software could be headed our way.
More recently, Zuckerberg described it as a replacement for your laptop and work setup. Now a report from The Information has reaffirmed the idea that Cambria will be a “laptop for the face”.
The leaked internal road map suggests that Project Cambria will cost $799 (around £640 / AU$1,125) and will be about as powerful as a Chromebook – and it will run on Meta’s own Android-based operating system.
Based on the best Chromebooks you can currently buy, as well as the specs of the Meta Quest 2, it sounds like Project Cambria will have at least 8GB RAM and likely around 256 GB of storage. We’ll also likely see its processor get a boost too. However, Meta may have to design its own chip, as Qualcomm has yet to launch a follow-up to the Snapdragon XR2 that powers Meta’s Quest 2.
We’ve also previously heard that Cambria will incorporate dual mini LED displays that will likely offer a 120Hz refresh rate (to improve upon the Quest 2’s “experimental” 120Hz feature).
From Techradar
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 could arrive with larger external display
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G was a breakthrough device for Samsung, and for several reasons. The fact that it’s foldable will obviously draw eyes, but what’s more, it packed flagship specifications while also being a lot more affordable than other folding devices. In fact, this was a foldable handset’s lowest price point to date. Now we’re getting closer to a successor, we’re hearing some potentially encouraging news with regards to its external display.
According to Ross Young, who has his finger on the pulse of the display industry, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 will come with a larger external display. The current Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G external display is a vast improvement over the original Galaxy Z Flip, but it still left much to be desired with its 1.9-inch size. Typically, these displays are used for basic information dissemination, such as notifications, the time, or basic phone interactions like answering a phone call.
From XDA
Apple asked Foxconn to recruit iPhone 14 assembly workers early – Taiwanese report
Taiwanese media reports that Apple asked Foxconn to begin recruiting iPhone 14 assembly workers earlier than usual in China, alongside boosting recruitment of those working on iPhone 13 production at its Zhenzhou plant.
Foxconn has responded by boosting its recruitment bonus by 30% in what is generally an off-season for iPhone production …
United Daily News says that there wouldn’t generally be recruitment of iPhone workers at this time of year, but as Foxconn’s main iPhone assembly plans are located in Zhenzhou – a city which has so far escaped full COVID-19 lockdowns – Apple wants to boost capacity there to balance out lost production elsewhere in China.
Foxconn usually offers a recruitment bonus of around RMB6500 ($984) to workers who remain in post for at least 90 days, but has now increased this to RMB8500 ($1,286). While these sums may seem small, the increased amount is well over a month’s average salary.
The iPhone assembler has a range of COVID-19 precautions in place, including a negative test being required for anyone entering the plant, worker or visitor.
From 9to5Mac
ZTE Axon 40 Pro emerges in new live images
ZTE’s Axon 40 series is coming up next week with at least three new phones. One of them – the Axon 40 Pro now leaked in a pair of hands-on images which reveal its design.
Unlike Axon 40 and Axon 40 Ultra which are both expected to carry the latest generation under display (UD) selfie cameras, Axon 40 Pro goes with a more traditional punch hole cutout for the selfie camera below the earpiece. The display is curved on both sides and features slim bezels.
The back houses a total of four camera sensors spread across two large circular cutouts encompassed in a larger rectangular plate. The main cam features a 100MP sensor – most likely Samsung’s ISOCELL HM2 which boasts a 1/1.33” size, PDAF, Laser AF, and OIS. ZTE also recently confirmed it’s bringing a self-developed security chip to the Axon 40 series with improved hardware-level protection.
From Gsmarena
MIT scientists claim they can reverse hearing loss with a 2-hour treatment
Frequency Therapeutics, an MIT spinout, is looking for new ways to reverse hearing loss. Not by equipping patients with hearing aids or implants, though. Instead, the biotech company wants to use a new kind of regenerative therapy to repair the tiny hair cells that allow us to hear.
As we age, and as they are exposed to loud noises or drugs, hair cells start to die off. Since the ears rely heavily on tiny hairs to detect sound, these circumstances can all lead to hearing loss. But Frequency Therapeutics may have found a way to undo the damage.
The company has been testing a regenerative therapy that uses small molecules to program progenitor cells. These cells are the descendants of stem cells. The progenitor cells are placed in the inner ear and can create the tiny hair cells that our hearing relies on. Thus, it allows the cells to reverse hearing loss by replacing the hairs that led to the loss in the first place.
It’s certainly an interesting move, and one that could prove fruitful as they continue working on it. So far, the company has seen exceptional results based on tests measuring speech perception. Frequency co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Chris Loose Ph.D. says, “Speech perception is the number one goal for improving hearing.”
From BGR
