Kishalaya Kundu
61 articles published since March 30, 2023
About Kishalaya Kundu
Kishalaya has almost a decade's worth of experience in tech journalism, having written thousands of news, guides, features, and reviews for multiple American, Canadian, and Indian blogs. As a tech buff, he loves to build his own PCs and flash custom ROMs on his Android devices. Apart from tech, his interests include automobiles and sports.
MediaTek announces Dimensity 6000 series for affordable 5G devices
The Dimensity 6100+ is set to power budget 5G smartphones in 2023 and 2024.
5G is becoming increasingly more widespread across the world, and all major mobile chipmakers are rushing to offer affordable 5G chipsets for mid-range and entry-level devices. Having already launched multiple 5G solutions for the mid-range segment, MediaTek has now announced a new entry-level chipset as part of the Dimensity 6000 series for truly affordable 5G devices.
Microsoft's best and most powerful Surface is an insane $1,100 off for Prime Day
Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio remains a great device in its own right, and you can now snag it for a massive discount.
If you're in the market for a Windows laptop, one of the best options right now is Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio. As we noted in our review, it not only fixes the mistakes Microsoft made with the Surface Book, but also comes in a laptop form factor that make it a more practical device. It's already a great Windows laptop for most use cases, and the latest Prime Day discount now makes this a more lucrative deal than ever.
Google Pixel 8 leak allegedly reveals specs and pricing
The pricing info is bad news if accurate.
Google is expected to launch the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in a few short months, although the company has yet to announce anything about them officially. However, a slew of leaks over the past several weeks have revealed quite a bit about them, including details about the Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8 camera hardware, and software features like Video Unblur.
Nothing Ear (2) gets a black variant and new audio features
The Nothing Ear (2) is a compelling product thanks to its unique looks, good audio quality, and robust app.
Ahead of its much-awaited Phone (2) launch next week, Nothing has unveiled a new black variant of its Ear (2) TWS earbuds. Alongside the new colorway, Nothing also announced new audio features for the Nothing X app, including an Advanced Equaliser for Ear (2) and Ear (stick), and a Noise Reduction feature just for the Ear (stick). Both features will be available from today for all compatible devices.
OnePlus Nord 3 offers a great package at an affordable price, though not available everywhere
The Nord 3 is one of two mid-range smartphones OnePlus launched today.
At its Summer Launch event in India on Wednesday, OnePlus launched an array of products, including two mid-range smartphones, a pair of TWS earbuds, and a pair of neckband earphones. The most notable device of the lot is the OnePlus Nord 3, which comes with decent hardware at a relatively affordable price. Alongside the Nord 3, OnePlus also launched the even cheaper Nord CE 3, as well as the Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC neckband earphones and the Nord Buds 2r.
Watch the Pixel Fold fail spectacularly in this durability test
The Pixel Fold is a decent device in its own right, but it may not be the most durable foldable in the market.
Launched earlier this year at a hefty $1,799, Google's Pixel Fold is one of the best folding smartphones that money can buy, alongside the likes of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Oppo Find N2. As we noted in our review, the device has a lot going for it, including an ergonomic design and great cameras. However, a new durability test now suggests that it may have some serious issues with its build quality.
Apple's shift to micro-LED could start with the Watch Ultra in 2026
The first-gen Apple Watch Ultra sports an LTPO OLED display.
The Apple Watch Ultra comes with an LTPO OLED display, but Apple is tipped to switch to a micro-LED screen for its flagship smartwatch in the near future. While earlier reports suggested that the change could happen in 2025, a new report now claims that the timeline has been delayed to 2026. There's no word currently on when (or if) Apple intends to switch its more affordable smartwatches to micro-LED in the foreseeable future.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 6 Classic listed as Google Play Supported Devices ahead of launch
Samsung is expected to announce the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic at its Galaxy Unpacked event later this month.
Ahead of their expected launch later this month, Samsung's next-gen smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic, have been spotted on the Google Play Supported Devices list. The listings not only confirmed their names, but also their codenames and model numbers, although they have not revealed any other information.
Galaxy Z Fold 5 live images reveal major design upgrade
The Z Fold 5 is expected to be unveiled later this month at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event in Seoul, South Korea.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 was one of the best folding smartphones of 2022, and many are expecting Samsung to deliver yet another winner with its successor this year. The company is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 later this month, and multiple leaks over the past few weeks have already revealed quite a bit about it, including its key specifications. Now, new hands-on images have revealed a key design upgrade that could potentially make the Z Fold 5 way more desirable than its predecessor.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 gets updated with new features, but not the one we are hoping for
The incoming update bring several improvements and bug fixes.
Released earlier this year, the TicWatch Pro 5 features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip and is one of the best Wear OS devices money can buy. Now, more than a month after its launch, Mobvoi is rolling out a new software update for the device, bringing several new tweaks and improvements. However, the much-wanted Google Assistant support continues to elude it, even as its Wear OS rivals like the Fossil Gen 6 received the feature earlier this month.
Meta could be planning an alternative mobile app store in the EU
The pilot could start as early as this year.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is thinking about offering its users in the European Union an alternative avenue to download apps on their smartphones. As part of its plans, Facebook users will be able to download apps directly through ads on the platform, rather than being redirected to Google's Play Store or Apple's App Store.
Microsoft announces new AI-powered shopping tools in Bing and Edge
Microsoft claims that Edge has offered $3.7 billion in savings to shoppers worldwide in the last one year.
As part of its push to incorporate AI into most of its products and services, Microsoft has now announced new AI-powered shopping tools in Bing and Edge in a move that the company claims will help shoppers save more while buying goods online. In a statement, the company said that the new tools harness the power of AI to make it "easier to discover, research and complete your purchase, all in one place with information you need from expert sources." The new features include Buying Guide, Price Match, and Review Summaries.
Iris is the latest Google AR/VR project headed for the graveyard
Iris joins other shelved AR/VR projects by Google, such as Glass, Daydream, and Cardboard.
Google has reportedly killed off its AR glasses project 'Iris' after spending years developing it. According to reports, the device would have looked like a pair of eyeglasses rather than a full-fledged headset, unlike the Apple Vision Pro that was unveiled earlier this month at WWDC 2023. In the future, Google is said to be planning to focus on developing AR software and services in collaboration with OEM partners like Samsung who would work on developing the hardware.
Google reveals new Android logo and wordmark
The change comes four years after the iconic Bugdroid logo received a major revamp.
Google has quietly updated the iconic Android logo by introducing a new 3D version of the Bugdroid robot head. As part of the revamp, the company also unveiled a new typography for the Android wordmark, including a new font and a capital 'A' at the start instead of using lowercase for the entire name. The change comes four years after the Android logo was updated from the full Bugdroid robot to just its head with the two antennas sticking out from it.
Samsung's 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 curved gaming monitor is now available for purchase
It promises to offer an immersive gaming experience like no other.
Samsung's massive 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 monitor is finally available for purchase. It was originally showcased at CES 2023 in Las Vegas last January, and went on pre-order earlier this month. The G9, which Samsung claims is the "world's first 49-inch OLED monitor," is purpose-built for immersive video gaming and has a hefty price-tag of $2,199.99. It is currently available for purchase on Samsung's official website, as well as third-party retailers, like Amazon and Best Buy.
Your next OnePlus phone could have a whopping 24GB of RAM
The OnePlus Ace 2 Pro is tipped to be the first smartphone to be available with 24GB of RAM.
If you thought the 12 to 16GB of RAM offered with most flagship Android devices today is enough for smooth multitasking, think again, because your next smartphone could reportedly feature a lot more memory than most laptops circa 2023. That's because according to the latest rumors, China's BBK electronics-owned brands, including OnePlus, could soon launch smartphones with a whopping 24GB of memory.
Apple reportedly working on a 30-inch iMac, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and more over the next year
Apple is reportedly working on a slew of products, including iPhones, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, iPads, AirPods, and more.
Following the recent announcement of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset, Apple is said to be working on a slew of products to be launched over the next year or so. That includes the iPhone 15 lineup which is expected to debut later this year alongside two Apple Watch Series 9 models and the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra. In addition to that, Apple is believed to be working on a series of MacBooks, iMacs, iPads, and a host of other products.
Alleged Galaxy Z Flip 5 spotted in the wild showing off large cover display
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to be launched next month, but successive leaks have left very little to the imagination.
Samsung is still a month away from officially announcing its next-gen foldables, but multiple leaks over the weekend have seemingly left very little to the imagination. On Saturday, official renders and the full spec sheets of the Z Flip 5 and the Z Fold 5 were leaked in all their glory, and now a live shot of the Flip 5 has been posted online after the device was spotted in the wild.
Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 full specs and renders leaked ahead of launch
The Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 are expected to debut at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event next month.
Weeks ahead of their expected launch at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event next month, the design and full spec sheets of the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 foldables have been leaked online, leaving very little to the imagination. The event, which will be held at the end of July in Seoul, South Korea, will also see the launch of several other devices from Samsung, including the Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 6 Classic, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, and the Galaxy Buds 3.
The mighty MacBook Pro M2 is now $200 off, here's how you can get the deal
The MacBook Pro M2 is one of the best laptops you can buy for the price.
Apple always makes great laptops, and its 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro is one of the best available at its price. Announced at the company's WWDC event last year, it is the company's entry-level 'Pro' MacBook model that still comes with the Touch Bar on the inside, and tapered sides on the outside that give it the wedge look. It remains a great device even a year after its launch, and the $200 discount on Amazon just makes it a great deal for people looking for a high-performance laptop without breaking the bank.