Thermaltake is refreshing its range of AiO cooling with two new series. The new Toughfan 12 fans are used for both Toughliquid Ultra and Toughliquid ARGB Sync. In addition, the AiO cooling is noticeable either through a display or through A-RGB lighting on the pump cover.
The Toughliquid Ultra is provided with a 2.1-inch display. This LCD allows the monitoring of various components, the display of effects and the display of GIFs. The new software TT RGB Plus 2.0 is used for setup. Within this series, models with 240 – and with 360 – mm radiator are initially coming onto the market. In any case, the Toughfan 12 fans serve as fans. Thermaltake developed these fans as robust high-speed fans. The maximum speed is specified as 2. 500 rpm. The fans are not illuminated. Thermaltake also uses redesigned radiators with a larger cooling surface.
If you don’t need the display, but value an illuminated pump cover, you could use the new Toughliquid ARGB Sync models. The display gives way to six addressable RGB LEDs that illuminate the Thermaltake logo. To ensure that it is always correctly aligned, the cover can be rotated by 360 degrees. The lighting can be synchronized with suitable mainboards via the 5V + -A-RGB connection. In this series Thermaltake offers in addition to 240 – and 360 – mm models the intermediate size with 280 – mm radiator on. For the models with 120 – mm fans, as with the Toughliquid Ultra series, Toughfan 12 is used, but the maximum speed should be limited to 2. 000 rpm.
At least on the North American market, the two new AiO cooling series should be available this year. Thermaltake is guaranteed a two-year guarantee there. The US prices are stated as follows: The Toughliquid Ultra 240 should 209, 99 US dollars and the Toughliquid Ultra 360 239, 99 cost US dollars. For the Toughliquid ARGB Sync 240 119, 99 US dollars, for the Toughliquid ARGB Sync 280 129, 99 US dollars and for the Toughliquid ARGB Sync 360 149, 99 US dollars. Should euro prices become known, we will submit them later.
Motorola is expected to unveil the G Stylus (2021) any time now, and we saw images of the phone twice. Now, the successor to the Moto G Pro (sold as G Stylus at some markets) appeared on Geekbench, revealing a bit more about its internals.
Moto G Stylus 2021
The Geekbench 5.2 results are 542 on the single-core trial and 1,650 on the multi-core test. The chipset listed as “Qualcomm”, but further investigation say it has an Adreno 612 GPU, meaning it is the Snapdragon 678. The listing also revealed 4GB RAM and, somewhat disappointingly, Android 10.
The phone is said to have four cameras, an LCD with a punch hole in the upper left corner, and a stylus. However, we’re still trying to figure out whether the Amazon leak or the OnLeaks render the real one – or is if it’s just the case of the phone having two different versions.
Motorola is expected to unveil the G Stylus (2021) any time now, and we saw images of the phone twice. Now, the successor to the Moto G Pro (sold as G Stylus at some markets) appeared on Geekbench, revealing a bit more about its internals.
Moto G Stylus 2021
The Geekbench 5.2 results are 542 on the single-core trial and 1,650 on the multi-core test. The chipset listed as “Qualcomm”, but further investigation say it has an Adreno 612 GPU, meaning it is the Snapdragon 768. The listing also revealed 4GB RAM and, somewhat disappointingly, Android 10.
The phone is said to have four cameras, an LCD with a punch hole in the upper left corner, and a stylus. However, we’re still trying to figure out whether the Amazon leak or the OnLeaks render the real one – or is if it’s just the case of the phone having two different versions.
Back in August, Lenovo unveiled its Tab P11 Pro Android tablet and now the maker is announcing a more affordable version dubbed Tab P11. The new model comes with an 11-inch IPS LCD with a 2000 x 1200-pixel resolution, Snapdragon 662 chipset and a single 13MP rear camera around the back.
There’s another 8MP selfie cam up front and a smaller 7,500 mAh battery with 20W charging over USB-C.
Lenovo Tab P11 in black and white
We get Android 10 on the software front and two memory/storage configurations to choose from: a 4/64GB version and 6/128GB trim. Both come with a microSD slot for easy storage expansion.
Lenovo Tab P11 accessories
The Tab P11 sports LTE and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and also has a quad-speaker setup. It supports the Keyboard Pack, Dock and Precision Pen 2 stylus which can be purchased separately. The base 4/64GB version will sell for $229.99 starting later this month.
While we’re patiently expecting the Redmi Note 9T to debut tomorrow Dutch concept creator and YouTuber Jermaine Smit aka Concept Creator went ahead and unboxed the device and gave us his first impressions. Sadly, the video got taken down so we only have a few screenshots.
Right off the bat the device is nearly identical to the China-exclusive Redmi Note 9 5G in design and internals alike. It’s powered by the 5G ready Mediatek Dimensity 800U chipset and comes with a 5,000mAh battery.
Redmi Note 9T front and back
It boasts a 6.53-inch IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. There’s a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and this black color model comes with a plastic textured back. We have a circular camera cutout at the rear with a 48MP primary shooter and two 2MP snappers for macro shots and depth data.
The box contents include the phone, manuals, a 22.5W charging brick (even though the phone only supports 18W speeds) and a USB-C cable.
A BoM analysis performed by Counterpoint has unveiled the production costs of the new iPhone 12 and compared them to his predecessors. Let’s find out the results in the complete article
by Lorenzo Tirotta published 01 January 2021 , at 19: 31 in the Apple channel Apple
How much does it cost to produce an iPhone ? A bill of materials (BoM) analysis carried out from the Counterpoint Research website has published the results obtained. The BoM analysis includes all the materials and processes necessary to obtain a finished product. With iPhone 12 Apple has taken a step forward from its younger brother iPhone 11 , implementing new technologies and improving some important aspects .
Apple BoM Analysis: iPhone comparison 12 and iPhone 11
The transition from LCD technology to OLED , support 5G and the new processor TO14 Bionic are among the most important innovations adopted by Apple. These technologies have inevitably caused an increase in production costs from the latest Apple series. According to the analysis, iPhone 12 from 128 GB with mmWave support has a production cost of $ 431, about 351 EUR, on 26% more than iPhone 11, while for the standard version there is talk of an increase of 21 % than the predecessor. Despite the cost increase, Apple has kept the introductory price for the iPhone unchanged 12 Pro and Pro Max.
“The cost of mixed materials for the iPhone 12 with NAND flash from 128 GB is nearly $ 415, an increase of 21% compared to the iPhone 11. In the iPhone 12, components designed by Apple, including chip A 14 Bionic, PMIC, audio and UWB, represent beyond 16, 7% of the total BoM cost. “
The reasons for producing an iPhone 12 costs one fifth more than the predecessor are many, but let’s analyze the most significant: The OLED panel provided by Samsung or LG has a cost of $ 23 more than the previous LCD. The implementation of the new processor A 14 at 5nm translates into an increase approximately $ 17 . Finally, the components, technologies and systems necessary for the 5G support resulted in a total increase of $ 34 . These three categories represent the main causes of cost increases.
Interesting news for Sony at CES 2021: the OLED panels are squeezed to the maximum and gain luminance and color volume, while the intelligence artificial optimizes images using technologies such as Face Detection
by Roberto Colombo published 07 January 2021 , at 19: 01 in the Audio Video channel Sony 8K 4K
No revolution at home Sony as far as concerns the TV gamma 2021 , but several updates that promise to squeeze the most current technologies , with interesting news also on the front OLED . Bravia XR is the new brand that will characterize the top of the range products and which takes its name from the new processor Sony XR , consistent evolution of the previous X1 and its various declinations (Extreme and Ultimate).
The evolutionary step is the use of Artificial Intelligence , in particular declined to add a new one to the capabilities of the TV Cognitive Intelligence which analyzes images and sounds from the human perspective to enhance the viewing experience. At the base of the new cognitive intelligence we find technologies that Sony has also developed for other sectors, in particular that of photography. Image enhancements will be based on ‘ Focal Points ‘, focal points on which it focuses human attention : if a person appears on the screen , our eye runs there, and if a face appears even more.
As cameras recognize figures and subjects, so TVs will be able to highlight people on the screen, also using the Face Detection to highlight faces even more and improve the image where our eye goes to look. The new XR processor uses artificial intelligence algorithms in a more advanced way even for the 4K and 8K upscaling phases of lower resolution content, now with a database dedicated to improving the yield of textures , in addition to the previous Object Based database.
Sony technicians have worked hard for fully squeeze the OLED panel of the new Sony Bravia A 83 J , which allows to reach brightness peaks higher than previous generations. Sony has not released peak and average brightness data (“ Those you can measure “the Sony technician literally said to us journalists of the specialized press during the presentation), but he revealed the innovation behind the scenes of the new values. If until now it was the white pixels of the W-OLED panel to have in charge the light emission in the luminance peaks, now the RGB colored pixels are also used to increase the luminance . The renewed panel management also promises an increase in color volume and longer luminance peaks, thanks to the aluminum radiant panel mounted behind the main panel. This is an innovation that we are curious to see live, to get an idea of how much ‘juice’ Sony technicians have managed to extract from the OLED panel.
Still talking about OLED panels, Sony has worked a lot also on sound, renewing the actuators that make the panel vibrate and make the sound come directly from the images: the technology Acoustic Surface + can now rely on larger and two-way actuators. In addition, the rear subwoofer (plus) also plays a new role: not only emits towards the rear, but thanks a particular acoustically transparent grille transmits vibrations also towards the front . OLED A 90 J now expands to the colossal dimension of 83 inches, in addition to sizes from 55″ is 65 “.
On the front LCD Sony applies the same concepts and exploits the power of the new processor with a finer adjustment of the backlight zones ( here too no technical data unfortunately), but also on the audio front where Sony has added several frame tweeter , actuators that make the TV frame vibrate directly. Now the tweeter frames are also placed in the upper frame , to take advantage of the up-firing direction and give more space to the sound, taking advantage of the bounce on the ceiling. In addition, Sony has significantly expanded the size of the acoustic chambers of traditional speakers , continuing on the road traced the Last year.
Sony Bravia Z9J , in denominations of 85 is 75 inches, it will be the top of the range 8K proposal that takes advantage of all the news.
TVs will integrate HDMI 1 ports. 20 with 4K support 120 p VRR and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) which if not available at the debut will be brought to TVs with a subsequent firmware update. All new TVs will carry the new operating system Google TV , which takes the place of Android TV and which will offer more possibilities for customizing the interface . Also on top models Z9J, A 90 J and X 95 J there will be the possibility to use the hands-free voice commands, without going through the remote control .
Big news is Bravia Core , a streaming service dedicated to Sony Bravia users , which will bring a variable number of Sony films Pictures in preview (from 5 to 10) with viewing window immediately following the release in theaters and with an unlimited streaming plan of contents including 4K HDR and IMAX, with bitrate up to 80 Mbit . The service will be free for a number of months (12 or 20 months), depending on the coat of arms of the purchased model.
The service will also land in Europe, but at the presentation there was a small asterisk with the reference “Italy excluded “. There are some fiscal issues that could slow down the landing of the service in our country, but Sony is working to be able to not exclude Italy from the service.
The line- complete up of the new Sony TVs will therefore be composed as follows:
Z9J 8K Master Series Full Array LED in formats 85″ is 75 “
TO90 J OLED Master Series in formats 83″, 65″ is 55 “
TO 80 J OLED in formats 77 “, 65” is 55 “
X 95 J Full Array LED in formats 85″, 75″ is 65 “
X 90 J Full Array LED in formats 75 “, 65 “, 55” is 50 “
It’s not every year that Sony launches a brand new TV processor to run throughout its range, so we have high hopes for the Sony 2021 TV line-up. It’s headlined by the Cognitive Processor XR chip, which adds an extra layer of cognitive intelligence analysis to the already excellent Sony AI Processing and should therefore, hopefully, produce even better pictures and sound.
The Sony 2021 TV range has no huge surprises in terms of models and panel sizes compared to last year’s launch, with all sets designed to replace predecessors. With three TV gongs in our most recent What Hi-Fi? Awards, that’s no bad thing.
There are two Master Series models (an 8K LCD and a 4K OLED), a slightly lower specced OLED model and then two more full array LED series, all featuring the Cognitive Processor XR. There are more budget, edge-lit, non-XR models in the new range, too.
All the sets in the Sony 2021 TV range feature Sony’s Ambient Optimization technology, Dolby Vision HDR and are AirPlay 2-enabled. Bluetooth with A2DP is also standard across all the Sony Bravia XR sets too.
The big addition on the usability side is the switch from Android TV to the new Google TV platform. That brings the same excellent and intuitive look and feel as found in the Chromecast with Google TV media streamer.
As Google’s launch partner for Google TV, these Sony’s are the first sets you’ll find with the operating system already build in. It’s from here that you’ll also be able to access all of Sony’s usual picture, sound and other TV settings, as well as customise your home screen by adding your most frequently used apps. All the TVs use the YouView tuner in the UK and come with support for both Alexa and Google Assistant.
Sony continues with Netflix Calibrated Mode in the majority of its models and has IMAX Enhanced certifications with the upper ranges, too. Most sets are also ready to work with the Calman calibration software, should that be of interest.
Sony has added various driver upgrades to its excellent Acoustic Multi-Audio (LCD) and Acoustic Surface Audio+ (OLED) sound-from-picture speaker design, which runs through all of the XR models. These include increased numbers of actuators and tweeters as well as improved enclosure size and shape. Look out for the all-new 3D Surround Upscaling tech, too.
Gamers will be pleased to note that all of the TVs on this page, apart from the W800, have ports with HDMI 2.1 features. These include the ability to run 4K resolution content at up to 120Hz frame rates and technologies such as ALLM and eARC. They are also Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) compatible but will require a firmware update to make that possible.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these new features before we give you a full run-down of each of the Sony Bravia TV series for 2021.
Cognitive Processor XR
(Image credit: Sony)
The Sony Bravia Cognitive Processor XR marries the AI abilities of its X1 predecessor with a system that Sony calls cognitive intelligence. While AI analyses picture and sound signals and uses data based on machine learning, cognitive intelligence aims to add a more human perspective to identify and enhance AV performance and deliver an experience in line with how humans see and hear the world.
This world first TV picture processing, according to Sony, begins with a scene detection stage to identify and enhance the main focal points and, ultimately, adds a greater sense of depth to the image.
The XR processor looks at multiple zones and other elements (colour, contrast, texture, depth, detail, etc) of each frame and performs a cross analysis to work out the most important areas.
The Bravia XR sets come with a host of XR processing modes, many of which replace the similar-sounding systems found in the previous X1-based TVs – XR Motion Clarity and XR Smoothing, for example, with the most significant seemingly XR Contrast Booster.
The Contrast Booster is designed to boost peak brightness while maintaining well exposed whites and blacks in the image, and comes in good/better/best levels for the LCD TVs: the Master Series Sony Z9J has the XR Contrast Booster 15 while lower TVs go down to either the XR Contrast Booster 10 or XR Contrast Booster 5.
For the A90J and A80J OLEDs, the technology comes in the form of XR OLED Contrast Pro and XR OLED Contrast, respectively. Again, they offer improvements to peak brightness, overall brightness and an expansion of the colour volume as well which should help to bring a more accurate and true to life palette.
Lastly on picture, it’s also worth noting that the XR Upscaler includes a texture reproduction database which its predecessor did not. That sits alongside the object-based super resolution technology from the X1 TVs and will hopefully make lower resolution content better than ever on Bravia TVs – potentially very useful for the Z9J while we wait for a wealth of 8K source material.
XR Sound with 3D Surround Upscaling
(Image credit: Sony)
The Bravia XR TVs have cognitive intelligence for TV sound too. Along with improvements to the speaker hardware, features such as XR Sound Position aim to analyse the signal and make sure that the sound is coming from the correct parts of the picture with both Acoustic Surface Audio+ (OLED) and Acoustic Multi-Audio (LCD) technologies.
The big new addition for audio, though, is XR Surround with 3D Surround Upscaling. This takes a 2ch or 5.1ch audio signal and creates a virtual 5.1.2ch experience with the aim of enveloping the viewer in sound in all dimensions.
Bravia CORE streaming service
Sony is taking the huge step of launching its own high-bitrate streaming service which, for the short-term at least, will be exclusive to Sony Bravia XR 2021 TVs.
Called Bravia CORE (Centre of Real Entertainment), this new streaming service effectively has two elements. On the one hand it will host hundreds of titles from the Sony Picture Entertainment back catalogue, all of which can be freely streamed for either 12 or 24 months, depending on which TV you’ve purchased. On the other, it will also allow pay-as-you-go streaming of fresh-from-the-cinema movies, with owners of the new XR TVs given a number of free credits (five or ten, again depending on the model you’ve bought) that can be used as ‘payment’.
Much of the content will be at 4K HDR levels, but what takes it beyond what other services, such as Apple TV and Rakuten, is that it will host a large number of IMAX Enhanced movies and that data rates will be much higher, resulting in better picture quality. Sony says streams will be at up to 80Mbps, which it claims is beyond the rates of many UHD Blu-ray discs. We’re fascinated to find out whether Bravia CORE streams really can outperform disc-based movies, and what happens when users connect via a slower connection.
Sony is also uncertain about whether Bravia CORE will continue beyond the 24-month timeframe or whether it will be opened up further in the future. For the time being, it certainly makes an interesting and welcome toe in the water for all concerned.
Best 8K TVs: the ultimate 8K resolution televisions
Sony Z9J 8K LED TV
(Image credit: Sony)
At the top of the 2021 TV tree is the Sony Z9J Master Series LCD TV. It’s an 8K LED TV, positioned to replace the ZH8 from 2020. It continues with the attractive Immersive Edge design, which includes a titanium silver bezel and a three-position stand that allows for wide and central feet as well, as a third setting to allow space for a soundbar.
As the flagship Sony TV for the year, it’s fitted with all the spoils that Sony has to offer right now. These include a full array LED panel (available in two sizes), the best XR Contrast Booster level and three 48Gbps ports with HDMI 2.1 features, specced at 120Hz rates for 4K material.
The panel itself has Sony’s X-Wide Angle technology, to maximise picture consistency when viewing off-axis, as well as X-Anti Reflection glass to minimise unwanted glare from light sources in your space.
It comes with an aluminium, back-lit voice remote and there’s a colour sensor as well as a light sensor so that Ambient Optimisation mode can automatically adjust chromatically as well as for brightness, according to your viewing environment.
Sony has increased the number of frame tweeters to four by adding two on the top edge for improved high frequency performance. The front facing subwoofers and midrange speakers on the bottom edge are larger too.
Sony Z9J 8K TV specs
Sizes: 75in (KD-75Z9J), 85in (KD-85Z9J)
Screen type: Full Array LED, X-Wide Angle, X-Anti Reflection
Sound: Acoustic Multi Audio, Dolby Atmos, 3D Surround upscaling
Design: 3-way stand
Sony Z9J 8K TV pricing
Sony KD-75Z9J – TBC
Sony KD-85Z9J – TBC
Sony A90J 4K OLED TV
(Image credit: Sony)
The Sony A90J Master Series is Sony’s top OLED for 2021. It’s not 8K, but there is an interesting and big screen 83-inch version alongside the usual 55in and 65in models.
The A90J replaces the AG9 and keeps the Seamless Edge Bezel design with a frame of just 0.7mm for the 55in and 65in models. The 83in has the slightly more robust Flush Surface Bezel look and feel but should be premium nonetheless. It also benefits from the same three-way stand as the Z9J while the smaller panels maintain the choice of wide or soundbar formations but don’t get the central stand positioning.
As a Master Series TV, it comes with a premium, back-lit, aluminium voice remote control as well as both light and colour sensors to use for the Ambient Optimisation mode.
Acoustic Surface Audio+ is the sound tech for OLEDs. It’s planned that the cognitive intelligence processing will offer superior bass. The actuators have been redesigned into a circular shape with an inner circle responsible for creating the higher frequency sounds. The aim is for better sound positioning and quality.
As with the Z9J, it comes with 24 months access to the Bravia CORE streaming service and 10 film credits.
Sound: Acoustic Surface Audio+, Dolby Atmos, 3D Surround Upscaling
Design: 3-way stand (83in), 2-way stand (55/65in)
Sony A90J 4K OLED TV pricing
Sony KD-55A90J – TBC
Sony KD-65A90J – TBC
Sony KD-83A90J – TBC
Sony A80J 4K OLED TV
(Image credit: Sony)
If a Master Series OLED feels like a bit of a stretch, then the Sony A80J 4K OLED TVs are the next best thing. They lose one facet of picture and of design but should still perform well if last year’s A8 OLEDs are anything to go by.
On the physical front, they get a more standard voice remote control and the Flush Surface Bezel design, which is not quite as super-thin at the frame. The three-way stand is still present, though, as is Acoustic Surface Audio+, which includes perforations on the rear of the TV to help with bass production.
There’s no colour sensor to sit alongside the light sensor during Ambient Optimisation, and picture performance is likely to drop a little with the ‘Pro’ removed from its flavour of XR OLED Contrast intelligent processing. It’s otherwise very much as above.
Sound: Acoustic Surface Audio+, Dolby Atmos, 3D Surround Upscaling
Design: 3-way stand
Sony A80J 4K OLED TV pricing
Sony KD-55A80J – TBC
Sony KD-65A80J – TBC
Sony KD-77A80J – TBC
Sony X95J 4K LED TV
(Image credit: Sony)
It’s back to the LCDs with the Sony X95J 4K LED series. The main difference for performance comes with the drop in XR Contrast to the medium level Contrast Booster 10 processing. These full array TVs are still IMAX Enhanced-certified and feature both the X-Wide Angle and X-Anti-Reflection technologies. (No Anti-Reflection on the 85in.)
These sets do also retain some of the premium look and feel of the Master Series. They include the aluminium, backlit, voice remote as well as the super-skinny Seamless Edge Bezel design. There’s the 3-way stand on the two bigger panel sizes with a central position not required for the smaller 65in variant.
Sound: Acoustic Multi Audio, Dolby Atmos, 3D Surround upscaling
Design: 3-way stand (75/85in), 2-way stand without centre positioning (65in)
Sony X95J 4K TV pricing
Sony KD-85X95J – TBC
Sony KD-75X95J – TBC
Sony KD-65X95J – TBC
Sony X90J 4K TV
(Image credit: Sony)
The Sony X90J LED TVs replace the Award-winning XH90s from 2020. There are four panel sizes between 50-75in with the Flush Surface Bezel design and higher raised Slim Blade feet with two-position options. There’s already enough height in the design to allow room for a soundbar.
Again, the voice remote is the standard, black variety and, on the performance front, XR Contrast drops down to Contrast Booster 5. There are no X-Wide Angle or anti-reflection benefits either.
Otherwise, Acoustic Multi Audio, Google TV, the HDMI 2.1 features and most everything else is present and correct, including IMAX Enhanced certification.
Sound: Acoustic Multi Audio, Dolby Atmos, 3D Surround upscaling
Design: 2-way Slim Blade stand (55in and above)
Sony X90J TV prices
Sony KD-50X90J – TBC
Sony KD-55X90J – TBC
Sony KD-65X90J – TBC
Sony KD-75X90J – TBC
Sony KD-49XH9505 review
Sony X85J 4K TV
(Image credit: Sony)
From the Sony X85J downwards, the 2021 Sony TVs lose the new Cognitive Processor XR and make do with the very able Processor X1 from the 2020 range. That means no XR Contrast Booster or 3D Sound Upscaling either.
They also drop from full array LED panels to edge-lit models too, so expect losses in local dimming abilities. Gone too are Netflix Calibrated and IMAX Enhanced certifications, along with Acoustic Multi Audio which is instead replaced by Sony’s X-Balanced speaker system.
All the HDR compatibility is still there and the handy Google TV operating system too.
The X85J maintains the Flush Surface Bezel frame design and the two-position Slim Blade stand which is available for the 55in model and above. It’s the biggest of the 2021 series, in terms of panel size options, and each has a native 100Hz refresh rate with 800Hz Motionflow processing.
The Sony X80J is the entry level Bravia series for 2021. It’s almost the same as the X85Js above but with a few reductions.
The design drops down to the slightly more meat and potatoes Narrow Bezel style and the LED panel has a native 50Hz refresh rate with 200Hz Motionflow processing.
The range of panel sizes is a little smaller but will cover the needs of most at this end of the market. The biggest of all is named the Sony X81J which comes in at 75in on the diagonal.
Last of all, Sony hasn’t forgotten about those who just need something small for the bedroom. The Sony W800 an HD resolution LED TV that comes in a 32in size only. It’s run by the older Bravia Engine and uses Android TV as the OS, so you’ll still get all the major app offerings that one would expect.
Sony W800 32in HD LED TV price
Sony KD-W800 – TBC
MORE:
Samsung 2021 TV lineup: everything you need to know
Sony has unveiled its 2021 TV range at this year’s virtual CES event and, with it, an all-new picture processor to power its Sony Bravia XR TVs, called the Cognitive Processor XR.
Replacing the Picture Processor X1 series of chips, the Cognitive Processor XR adds a layer of cognitive intelligence on top of Sony’s well-seasoned artificial intelligence algorithms. The aim is for these sets to understand their source material in a more human way and create more effective picture and sound enhancements.
Launching with the Cognitive Processor XR is a fleet of Bravia XR TVs, led by the 8K Master Series Sony Z9J LCD TV, available in 75in and 85in sizes. There are then two series of OLEDs – the Sony A90J Master Series, which comes in an all-new 83in panel as well as 55in and 65in, and the Sony A80J OLEDs in 55, 65 and 75 inches.
The Sony X95J is the premium 4K LED model which benefits from many of the features of the Z9J and lastly for the Bravia XRs are the Sony X90J TVs, aimed at a more mid-ranged market. You can find full details of on our full Sony 2021 TV line-up guide.
Sony has largely stuck with its single slate design and many of the TVs include a three-way stand allowing for both central and wide positioned feet as well as a soundbar formation which leaves more room at the foot of the panel for an external speaker.
The basic Android TV experience from 2020 and before has been given a big lift with the addition of the Google TV UI. It’s the same intuitive interface used on the most recent Chromecast device. As Google’s launch partner, these Sony’s TV will be the first third-party manufacturers to feature it.
(Image credit: Sony)
Sony might not be hitting the headlines with brand new panel tech like the Mini LED TVs of LG and Samsung but there are plenty of reasons to expect a big boost in performance with a brand new processor at the helm.
For picture, the cognitive intelligence is designed to detect and enhance the focal point of the action by examining elements such as colour, contrast, texture, depth and detail in multiple zones and then cross-analysing that information within and between frames in a way that is supposedly similar to the brain. The main desired effect is for it to increase brightness in the right areas of the picture and boost contrast across the screen.
Sony’s Bravia XR Sound brings a new dimension to the TV audio to sit alongside its already excellent sound-from-picture design. The 3D Surround Upscaling tech uses the new actuators and frame tweeters on the tops of the panels to help creative a virtual 5.1.2ch experience from any 5.1ch or 2ch audio signal.
Speaker sizes have been increased and the OLED TV’s actuators themselves redesigned to help improve performance too and, with any luck, create a more enveloping soundstage for Bravia TVs than before.
Should all of this be out of budget, then you’ll still find two ranges of LED TVs powered by the older Picture Processor X1. The X85J and X80J TVs come in a large range of panel sizes, boast the Google TV platform and still benefit from the low-lag HDMI 2.1 features that next-generation gamers will be looking for.
Lastly, but far from a footnote, is the high-bitrate Bravia CORE video streaming service that will come pre-loaded and be exclusive to the Bravia XR TVs. It will host the latest box office films from Sony Pictures Entertainment and hundreds of classics too, which can all be viewed at 4K Blu-ray-like quality. Read here for more information on Bravia CORE.
MORE:
Samsung 2021 TV lineup: everything you need to know
The Korean giant has formalized a new low-cost smartphone with Snapdragon 450 and a triple camera on the back. All the details of the Galaxy M 02 s in the full article
by Lorenzo Tirotta published 07 January 2021 , at 13: 41 in the Telephony channel Samsung Galaxy
Galaxy M 02 s is the new low-end smartphone presented by Samsung. The Korean brand in recent years has learned to satisfy all types of users, dedicating attention and regard to all market segments . M 02 s could represent one of many examples. Samsung’s new entry level features a 6.5-inch HD + resolution LCD display with a notch that houses the 5 MP selfie cam.
On board we find the processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 a 14 nm with CPU octa- core. The storage memory is available in two denominations : 3 / 32 GB or 4 / 64 GB both expandable via microSD up to 1TB of space. The triple cam on the back, inserted inside a ‘rectangular island, has a main from 13 MP followed by two modules of 2 MP respectively for macro and depth .
The battery has a large capacity of 5. 000 mAh which charges via USB-C up to 15 W of speed. The design is rather nondescript with the monochromatic polycarbonate back. M 02 s is distributed with the version Android 10 together with the interface One UI from Samsung, supports dual-SIM and 3.5mm audio jack is present.
Prices and availability
We still don’t know the launch date but we know it will be available in India on the official Samsung website or on Amazon in the colors black , blue it’s red . The introductory price is INR 8. 999 for the version 3 / 32 GB , just under 100 EUR. INR 9. 999 for the version 4 / 64 GB . Although Samsung has not yet confirmed it, we will hardly see this smartphone in European markets .
“Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2” is a somewhat misleading title. Yes, this $549.99 laptop is technically the second device to bear the name “Samsung Galaxy Chromebook.” But it’s not a sequel in the sense that it’s an upgrade: Samsung didn’t add a ton of new features or bump up many of the specs.
The Galaxy Chromebook 2, coming in the first quarter of 2021, is actually a step down from its predecessor when it comes to most of the hardware. Some of the features that made the Galaxy Chromebook stand out have been removed — there’s no AMOLED screen or included stylus. It retains the original’s unique color, but on paper the Chromebook 2 is a world away. It’s not fancy or flashy; it’s not pushing the boundaries of the category. It’s a regular-ass Chromebook.
And I’m totally fine with that.
From the outside, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 doesn’t look too different from the Galaxy Chromebook. That’s largely because of the color. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 comes in a bold “fiesta red” that looks either bright red or bright orange depending on the lighting. Either way, it’ll turn heads. (There’s also a “mercury gray” option, if you’re boring.)
Pick the Chromebook 2 up, though, and you’ll feel the first corner that Samsung has cut. The Chromebook 2 is noticeably thicker and heavier than its predecessor: 2.71 pounds and .55 inches thick, to the Galaxy Chromebook’s 2.29 pounds and 0.38 inches thick.
Of course, that’s still plenty portable as Chromebooks go — Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 is thicker and heavier. The one thing I’ll note is that while I had no trouble using the Galaxy Chromebook as a tablet, holding the Chromebook 2 in one hand for long periods of time is more of a chore. I wouldn’t have wanted to use it for a long presentation. (Your mileage will vary, of course — I’m not particularly swole.)
The second big change: the screen. The Galaxy Chromebook’s display was its highlight feature. It was the first 4K AMOLED panel ever to appear on a Chromebook, and it was one of the most drop-dead gorgeous screens I’ve ever seen on a laptop.
That’s gone here. The Chromebook 2 has an FHD (that is, 1920 x 1080) QLED screen. QLED panels, despite the name similarity, are not OLED panels — they’re LED-backlit LCD screens that use Samsung’s quantum-dot technology. You won’t see the same natural contrast and impeccable blacks that you would on an OLED.
That doesn’t mean the screen is bad, though. The Chromebook 2 is the first Chromebook to feature a QLED display, and QLEDs are still very good. Samsung says this one can produce over a billion colors. I watched a few videos on the device, and they all looked just fine. On top of that, the audio sounded great, easily filling up the large testing area far below its maximum level. All in all, a good multimedia experience.
There were a few other nifty features of the Galaxy Chromebook’s chassis that are absent here. There’s no built-in stylus (though you can purchase one separately), no keyboard deck camera, and no fingerprint sensor. I understand why Samsung removed these things — they’re all cool to have, but I can’t imagine I’d miss them too much.
Regarding what’s inside, you have two options. The $549.99 base model includes an Intel Celeron 5205U, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. The $699.99 configuration has an Intel Core i3-10110U, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Both models get two USB-C ports, a microSD slot, and a headphone / microphone combo jack, as well as a 720p webcam.
The Chromebook 2’s Core i3 processor is another downgrade from its predecessor (which had a Core i5-10210U), but I’m hesitant to call that a big compromise. I reviewed an Asus Chromebook Flip C436 with that same Core i3 last year and the chip absolutely got the job done — I didn’t notice much of a performance difference between that system and the Core i5-powered Galaxy Chromebook.
(The Celeron, on the other hand, is fairly entry-level. I generally don’t recommend it for tasks beyond general browsing or light office work — the $699 model will likely be the best choice for most people.)
But there’s one question I’m waiting on that might make or break my recommendation for this device, and that’s battery life. The Galaxy Chromebook had a number of great features, but it could only last around four hours and 20 minutes to a charge. I don’t think anyone should buy a $999 Chromebook that can’t even last five hours, no matter how nice it looks. Heck, I don’t think anyone should buy a $700 Chromebook that can’t even last five hours. There are just way better options.
So when Samsung sends the Galaxy Chromebook 2 out for review, all eyes will be on the battery life. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chromebook 2 outlasts its predecessor, given its lower-resolution screen and the lower-powered processor. On the other hand, the Chromebook 2 also has a slightly smaller battery — and the Chromebook Flip C436 (with the same processor and screen resolution) only lasted a bit longer than the Galaxy Chromebook, giving me around five hours in testing. So, we’ll have to see.
Samsung made a bold, bright bet with the Galaxy Chromebook. It put out a Chrome OS device unlike anything the market had ever seen, full of bells and whistles that made me go “wow.”
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 isn’t that. It’s not out to target a brand-new segment of users or to push the boundaries of what a Chromebook can be. And I’m glad to see that, because what I really want at the $549 and $699 price point is a Chromebook that’s nicely built, nails the basics, and doesn’t have any major flaws. It doesn’t need extra fancy stuff; it just needs to deliver in the areas that matter most.
I’m excited that Samsung is trying to do that. As for whether it’s succeeded, that remains to be seen. But I have my fingers crossed.
Samsung introduced a new affordable smartphone called Galaxy M02s. It will debut in India with a starting price of INR8,999 ($122) and will come with an octa-core CPU, a big battery, and three cameras on its back.
The Galaxy M02s is powered by the Snapdragon 450 chipset. The 3.5-year-old platform is built on the 14nm process and offers an octa-core Cortex-A55 CPU running at 1.8GHz. It is coupled with either 3GB RAM and 32GB storage in the base version or 4/64 GB in the more upscale model. There is a microSD slot for up to 1 TB more of storage.
The front panel of the phone is a 6.5” HD+ LCD with an Infinity-V notch for the 5 MP f/2.2 selfie shooter. The triple camera combo on the back brings a 13MP main unit and a couple of 2MP sensors for macro and depth.
While those numbers aren’t particularly inspiring, the battery capacity is something to be jolly about – the 5,000mAh unit supports 15W fast charging through a USB-C port.
Samsung is selling the Galaxy M02s with a dual-SIM slot with dual 4G VoLTE support, Bluetooth 5.0, and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. There’s also a 3.5 mm audio jack and an FM radio. The interface is Samsung One, based on Android 10.
The phone will be sold at Amazon India and Samsung’s own website in three colors – Red, Blue, Black. The launch date will be announced soon.
Xiaomi announced the vanilla Mi 11 just last week and we expect a Pro version to follow sometime in February. But what about the Lite model? Well, thanks to a huge leak we now that’s on the way too and we even got the majority of its specs. The scoop comes from an unusual source – a Vietnamese YouTuber.
According to him, the handset will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 732G. The chipset will be paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage while the display will be a flat IPS LCD of FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. An off-centered punch-hole design is also at hand with a rather thick chin if the renders are to be believed.
On the back, we have a triple camera setup with a slightly different design than the original Mi 11. The main sensor will be 64MP while the other two are expected to be 8MP and 5MP. The 8MP unit will likely be for ultrawide photography while the 5MP is likely one of those depth sensing or macro shots rather useless snappers.
The video also mentions a starting price tag of $350 while the possible release time frame is sometime around March. Given that his information comes from a Vietnamese source, the pricing and availability are likely for the Vietnamese market as well.
Back in November, we saw a TENAA listing for what is widely believed to be the Redmi Note 10 and now the Pro variant has surfaced in an FCC document.
Redmi Note 10 Pro FCC listing
The device bears the M2101K6G model number and the listing details confirm this will be a 4G device supporting GSM, LTE and WCDMA networks. We also learn the phone will feature dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth BR/EDR and LE connectivity as well as NFC and FM receivers. In addition, it will boot MIUI 12.
More FCC listing details
A separate leak from XiaomiUI Telegram group reveals the device codenamed “sweet” will boast an IPS LCD and will be powered by the Snapdragon 732G chipset. The phone is also expected to pack a four cam setup headlined by the 64MP Samsung S5KGW2 sensor alongside an ultrawide snapper, macro cam and depth sensor. The battery is claimed to carry a 5,050 mAh capacity.
A few days before the virtual edition of CES begins 2021, some manufacturers such as ADATA have already shown which products will be the ones to officially launch during a of the largest and most important electronics fairs in the world.
Through its XPG gaming brand; The company has shown a wide catalog of news that includes XPG Xenia Xe notebooks from 15, 6 “, with 11th generation low voltage Intel Core processors. These laptops, although sold as gaming equipment, include integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, so they will not be a very suitable solution for those looking to play at full performance, but rather as an ultrabook more focused on general use and with high autonomy, up to 16 hours.
XPG Gammix S 70, an NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 that reaches 7. 400 MB / s, plus DDR5 modules
The ADATA XPG Gammix S 70 is an SSD in M.2 format with NVMe and PCIe Express 4.0, a drive that can reach 7. 349 MB / s read and 6. 400 MB / s of writing, both sequential, next to 650. 000 Random Read IOPS and 740. 000 Write IOPS of the same type.
In addition, the company will also show its first ADATA DDR5 modules running at 1.1v and up to 8. 400 MT / s
Gaming boxes and AiO coolers
Other products that ADATA will show are its gaming boxes XGP Starker Air and XPG Defender Pro, the first will come with ATX support and the second will support E-ATX boards. In both cases, they will be semi-tower boxes with support for high-performance cooling and ARGB lighting in their fans and also in the case itself.
You will be accompanied by the XPG Levante, an All in One liquid cooling with a 2.1 “LCD screen integrated into the water pump to be able to display system information. XPG Vento PRO 120 PWM fans are manufactured by the legendary Nidec and with RGB.
And also a “Gaming” gum: XPG Gaming Gum
Yes, ADATA will also use the most important electronics fair in the world to announce its latest product for the gaming market: a chewing gum.
Under the name of XPG Gaming Gum comes the latest “occurrence” with the tagline Gaming, a chewing gum designed for gamers that contains ingredients such as caffeine (supposedly nte to improve concentration) and lutein (antioxidant that, they say, is beneficial for the eyes and prevents inflammation while improving sharpness). This product was already shown in March, but it seems that now it will hit the market.
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