Mustafa Mahmoud 3 days ago Console, Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Unlike the start of the previous generation, where game publishers were trigger happy when it came to reselling older titles at a higher resolution or framerate, this generation has seen a shift toward free next-gen upgrades (with some exceptions). The latest game to get a free next gen patch is the action-rpg Remnant: From the Ashes.
Making the announcement on its website, the developers said “We’re incredibly excited to announce that on Thursday, May 13, Remnant: From the Ashes will receive a free major upgrade patch that will add the option to run the game at 4K resolution at 30fps the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, or 1080p resolution at 60fps on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S!”
That is not all however, as the team confirmed that the game will be coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC (and can also be purchased outright from the Microsoft Store).
Remnant: From the Ashes is a tough but rewarding third-person shooter with satisfying gameplay, selling over 1.6 million copies. This free next-gen upgrade will only serve to improve that further – though it is slightly disappointing to see the 60fps mode limited to 1080p. Described by some as “Dark Souls with guns”, now is a better time than ever to check out Remnant: From the Ashes.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the game? Have you played it? Which other games do you want to see get a next-gen patch? Let us know down below.
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Galax to release RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 FG graphics cards with Nvidia’s anti-mining tech
Galax confirms Nvidia is preparing the launch of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards …
Mustafa Mahmoud 3 days ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
As the video game industry matures, it is only fair that a record of some of history’s most important titles is kept for the sake of posterity. As can be observed in other media industries, the world video game hall of fame inductees for 2021 have now been announced.
Each year, a select number of titles are added into the video game hall of fame, cementing them as being important historical pillars of the video game industry’s ever expanding history. For 2021, the nominees were:
Animal Crossing
Call of Duty
FarmVille
FIFA International Soccer
Guitar Hero
Mattel Football
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Pole Position
Portal
StarCraft
Tron
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Each year, only 4 titles are offered entrance into the hall of fame, with this year’s winners being Animal Crossing, Microsoft Flight Simulator, StarCraft and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Previous notable inductees have included Tetris, Minecraft, King’s Quest, Super Mario Kart, Solitaire, Final Fantasy VII, Halo: Combat Evolved, Doom, Pac-Man, World of Warcraft, and The Legend of Zelda – to name a few.
As video games age, and the industry moves to new technologies it is becoming evermore important to keep a record of those titles which paved the way for the gaming industry to become as big as it is. It will be interesting to what this list looks like a decade from now.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the nominees? Did the right titles win? Do prestigious titles and awards such as these matter to you or not? Let us know down below.
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Galax to release RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 FG graphics cards with Nvidia’s anti-mining tech
Galax confirms Nvidia is preparing the launch of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards …
Matthew Wilson 3 days ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
In a surprise update released last night, Ubisoft announced that it is working on a new game in The Division franchise. We aren’t getting The Division 3 yet, but Ubisoft is making a free to play spin-off title.
Known as ‘The Division Heartland’, this is a new game set in The Division universe developed by Red Storm Studio. Heartland will be a standalone game, so prior knowledge of The Division 1 and 2 won’t be required to jump in.
The Division Heartland will be making its way to PC and consoles in late 2021 or early 2022. In addition, Ubisoft Massive is working on new content for The Division 2, which will begin rolling out later this year. There is also a mobile version of The Division on the way.
Unfortunately, that’s all the information we have for the time being, but we should hear more in the coming months. Ubisoft will be attending E3 in June, during which we’ll see announcements for many upcoming projects.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: A free to play game based on The Division could work, but very little has been revealed so far. What do you think about Ubisoft’s new plans for The Division?
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Galax to release RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 FG graphics cards with Nvidia’s anti-mining tech
Galax confirms Nvidia is preparing the launch of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards …
Matthew Wilson 3 days ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Two days ago, Blizzard accidentally leaked a June 1st launch date for WoW Classic: Burning Crusade. At the time, we didn’t know if this was the final release date or a placeholder, but that changes today, with Blizzard officially confirming the launch.
The Burning Crusade is coming to World of Warcraft Classic on the 1st of June, raising the Classic level cap to 70 and adding in blood elves and draenei as playable races.
Blizzard will be rolling out a pre-expansion patch on the 18th of May, which will have players choose whether to continue their journey on to the new expansion, or transfer to a new server to keep playing WoW Vanilla.
Blizzard has also revealed unlock times for The Burning Crusade on WoW Classic. The expansion goes live at 10PM BST on the 1st of June.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: What do you all think of this idea of re-releasing old expansions on WoW Classic servers?
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Galax to release RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 FG graphics cards with Nvidia’s anti-mining tech
Galax confirms Nvidia is preparing the launch of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards …
Dominic Moass 3 days ago CPU, Featured Announcement, Graphics
KitGuru was recently able to sit down with Frank Azor, Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions at AMD. In a wide-ranging discussion, we spoke about the unique position AMD is in as both a CPU and GPU manufacturer and how the company can use that to its advantage, with features like Smart Access Memory and SmartShift. We also get the latest update on the company’s highly anticipated FidelityFX Super Resolution feature.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Timestamps
00:00 Start
00:37 What is Frank’s official title and what has he been responsible for at AMD?
02:38 How has Frank’s time at Alienware informed what he does at AMD?
06:20 Smart Access Memory – is it just resizable BAR, or is there more to the story?
10:28 Why can Smart Access Memory result in negative scaling?
13:40 Was Assassin’s Creed Valhalla developed with SAM in mind?
17:34 Why haven’t we seen a unified CPU+GPU strategy from AMD before?
20:21 SmartShift – what is it and how does it work?
25:21 Why haven’t we seen more SmartShift-enabled machines?
28:00 is Ryzen 5000 a turning point for AMD mobile CPUs?
30:28 What’s the latest with AMD Radeon software?
36:56 FidelityFX Super Resolution – latest update
38:46 Wrapping up
Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.
KitGuru says: Thanks to Frank for taking the time to answer our questions – and here’s hoping we will see FidelityFX Super Resolution in action soon!
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RX 7900 XT RDNA 3 GPU reportedly brings at least 40 percent more performance
AMD’s flagship RDNA 2 GPUs have been out for a while now, which means it is time to start looking ahead to the next generation. AMD is currently working on its RDNA 3 GPU architecture, and according to early leaks, we can expect at least a 40% performance improvement.
Mustafa Mahmoud 4 days ago Console, Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Nintendo is no stranger to releasing games with user generated content. Super Mario Maker 1 and 2, as well The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening all allow for players to make their own game levels. Nintendo has now taken it to the next step with Game Builder Garage.
In a surprise announcement, Nintendo has revealed Game builder Garage, saying “Have you ever dreamed of building your own video games? The Game Builder Garage software is a great place to start! Anyone can learn the basics of game design and visual programming with step-by-step lessons created by the minds at Nintendo.”
Unlike Super Mario Maker, Game builder Garage offers all different types of gameplay styles and genres, allowing you to make 2D games, 3D games, top down titles, or something in between.
How robust the tools are is currently unknown, but Nintendo promises that “Game Builder Garage helps you understand the basics of visual programming in a fun, memorable way. With your new power-up, you just might look at the video games and apps you enjoy every day in a different way. Continue learning to power yourself up even further!”
Switch owners who find this prospect exciting luckily won’t have to wait long, as Game Builder Garage will launch on the 11th of June, and will cost a relatively modest $29.99. With titles such as Mario Maker and Dreams showcasing just how creative players can be, it will be exciting to see what fans do with Game Builder Garage.
KitGuru says: Do you enjoy creating games? Have you tried Dreams? What do you think of Game Builder Garage? Let us know down below.
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Galax to release RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 FG graphics cards with Nvidia’s anti-mining tech
Galax confirms Nvidia is preparing the launch of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards …
Matthew Wilson 4 days ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Today, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition begins rolling out on PC, with totally reworked graphical features and ray-tracing effects. Next month, the Enhanced Edition update will also be coming to the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 consoles.
On the console side, the Enhanced Edition will offer ray-tracing on consoles for the first time, including ray traced emissive lighting. For the first time on console, Metro Exodus will also feature higher resolution and frame rate modes, as well as an FOV slider:
In the video above, we can see the Enhanced Edition in action running on an Xbox Series X. This particular version will run at 4K and 60 frames per second, as does the PS5 version. The Xbox Series S on the other hand will run the game at 1080p and 60 frames per second.
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition launches on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 on the 18th of June. It will be a free update for all existing owners of the game. For those who don’t own the game already, a new ‘Complete Edition’ will be released, containing all the new enhancements and the two story expansions.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: I’m looking forward to seeing Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition in action first-hand. It’ll be particularly interesting to see the comparisons between the console edition and the PC version. Are any of you planning on diving back into Metro Exodus when the Enhanced Edition drops?
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Galax to release RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 FG graphics cards with Nvidia’s anti-mining tech
Galax confirms Nvidia is preparing the launch of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards …
Matthew Wilson 4 days ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Tencent has invested in a lot of US-based game studios over the years, the biggest of which is ownership over Riot Games and a 40 percent stake in Epic Games. However, depending on negotiations with US authorities, Tencent could be forced to sell its investments.
As reported by Reuters, Tencent has been in negotiations with a US national security panel since late 2020. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), is investigating whether Tencent’s hold over US companies poses a risk to national security.
Currently, the discussions revolve around risk-mitigation measures, ensuring data on US citizens and businesses isn’t going to the Chinese government.
If CFIUS is not satisfied with the measures in place, it has the authority to force Tencent to sell its shares in US companies like Epic Games and Riot. Whether talks escalate to that point still remains to be seen.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: For what its worth, Epic Games says it does not share data with Tencent and Riot is currently not commenting on the matter.
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Galax to release RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 FG graphics cards with Nvidia’s anti-mining tech
Galax confirms Nvidia is preparing the launch of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards …
Home/Peripheral/Mouse/Sharkoon launches Light² 180 gaming mouse weighing just 63g
Matthew Wilson 4 days ago Mouse
Last year, we reviewed the Sharkoon Light² 200, which won our ‘Worth Buying’ award. Today, a new mouse joins the Light² family – the Sharkoon Light² 180.
The latest mouse from Sharkoon weighs in at just 63g, making it one of the lightest gaming mice on the market. To achieve this low weight, a honeycomb structure is used for the mouse cover. Under the hood, you will find a PMW3360 sensor, capable of up to 12,000 DPI. Using Sharkoon’s software, you can set seven DPI levels, which can be toggled between at the press of a button. Speaking of buttons, there are six in total on the Light² 180, all of which can be configured for different uses – the two main mouse clickers also use Omron switches for longer life-span.
While out of the box, the Light² 180 has a honeycomb shell, this can be swapped out for a completely closed shell instead. The mouse also uses a symmetrical design, so it can be used right or left-handed. The mouse also comes with three PTFE feet to ensure a smooth glide on most surfaces. As you would expect from a modern gaming mouse, the Light² 180 does have RGB lighting, which can also be customised through Sharkoon’s software.
The Sharkoon Light² 180 will be available at retail starting this week, with an MSRP of €39.99.
KitGuru Says: Are you a fan of ultra-lightweight mice? What are your thoughts on the Light² 180 gaming mouse?
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Razer’s Orochi V2 is a compact wireless mouse with up to 900 hours of battery life
Razer is back with another gaming mouse this week. This time around, the Razer Orochi …
Today, Nvidia has begun announcing its GeForce Now library additions for May. Over the course of this month, 61 games will be added to the cloud gaming service, with 17 of those games arriving today.
Nvidia’s continued partnership with Remedy Entertainment sees Alan Wake and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare joining the library alongside Control for the first time. The most recent Splinter Cell game, Blacklist, is also joining the library today.
Here is the full list of titles joining GeForce Now this week:
Alan Wake (Steam)
Alan Wake’s American Nightmare (Steam)
Assetto Corsa (Steam)
Beat Cop (Steam)
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (Steam)
Chronicon (Steam)
Death Rally (Steam)
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (Steam)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (Epic Games Store)
MotoGP21 (Steam)
Observer System Redux (Epic Games Store)
Pacify (Steam)
Pine (Free on Epic Games Store until May 13)
Project: Gorgon (Steam)
THE SHORE (Steam)
Steep (Steam)
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist (Steam)
All of these games will be live and ready to stream on GeForce Now as of today.
KitGuru Says: What do you all think of the latest additions to GeForce Now? Do many of you use the service for gaming away from your usual rig?
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Epic offered $200 million for first-party PlayStation games on Epic Games Store
As the Epic Games v Apple trial continues, we are learning more information about some …
Home/Component/SSD Drives/Seagate launches One Touch SSD, delivering portable NVMe performance
Matthew Wilson 4 days ago SSD Drives
Today, Seagate launches the One Touch SSD, offering NVMe performance in an external, portable form factor, with up to 2TB of capacity.
The Seagate One Touch SSD is rated for sequential read/write speeds of up to 1030MB/s, using a USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C interface. As a portable drive, device compatibility is wide ranging, including support for Windows, Mac and Android devices.
As we can see in the image above, the One Touch SSD uses an aluminium top cover and a soft-touch fabric surface. Colour-wise, the drive is available in black, silver or blue. For monitoring, file syncing, backup and data recovery, users can install Seagate’s included Toolkit desktop software.
The Seagate One Touch SSD will be available before the end of this month with MSRPs of £79.99 (500GB), £134.99 (1TB) and £254.99 (2TB).
KitGuru Says: Are any of you in need of a portable SSD? What do you think of the new Seagate One Touch SSD?
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Corsair MP600 PRO 2TB SSD Review
Corsair’s second-generation PCIe 4.0 SSDs have arrived – but are they any good?
Vivo’s upcoming X-series flagship phones will receive three years of Android OS upgrades and security updates, the company announced today. The policy will come into force for phones launched after July 2021 in Europe, Australia, and India.
“We are making a promise to our customers that they will be able to enjoy a premium smartphone experience for an extended period and continue to benefit from the latest software features,” Vivo’s CTO and senior vice president Yujian Shi said in a statement.
With today’s announcement, Vivo is joining a small but growing group of Android manufacturers promising three years of OS updates for their flagship smartphones. Google has long had a similar policy for its Pixel phones. Last year, Samsung announced a “three generation” OS policy covering some Galaxy devices, joined by HMD in April with a promise of two years of Android OS updates and three years of security updates on its new X-series phones. Even LG said it would offer three years of Android OS updates the same week it announced it was exiting the smartphone business. This year, Samsung added that select devices would also get an additional year of security updates, for a total of four years of support.
Three years of OS updates is a big improvement over the two years that’s previously been the standard for most Android manufacturers, but in the future this could extend to as much as four years. Last December, Google and chip manufacturer Qualcomm announced they were working to make it easier for manufacturers to offer as much as four generations of Android OS and security updates, starting with devices equipped with Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor, the Snapdragon 888.
Vivo’s new policy puts it ahead of fellow BBK Electronics smartphone brands OnePlus and Oppo. As of 2018, OnePlus’s official policy has been to offer two years of Android version upgrades and three years of security updates. Meanwhile, the most recent statement we could find from Oppo (via AusDroid)says the company offers two years of security updates, and that it’s general policy is to offer two generations of Android OS updates. Today’s announcement will undoubtedly create pressure on Oppo and OnePlus to follow Vivo’s example.
These figures pale in comparison to Apple’s update history. Last year it released the latest version of iOS, version 14, on devices as old as 2015’s iPhone 6S, the fifth major update to have come to the phone.
(Pocket-lint) – Oppo has enjoyed some successes recently; with some players faltering, such as Huawei, it’s clear that Oppo is attempting to step into the vacuum that’s been left behind.
The Oppo Find X3 Pro received rave reviews as a flagship. It’s also flanked by a couple of devices that share its name: the Find X3 Neo is, basically, built on the previous year’s flagship hardware, while the cheapest of the bunch is this, the Find X3 Lite.
Despite the ‘Lite’ name, however, good performance continues, with plenty that’s enjoy in this mid-range phone.
Design & Build
Dimensions: 159.1 x 73.4 x 7.9mm / Weight: 172g
3.5mm headphone socket
If you’re a follower of Oppo phones, you might get caught off guard but the shuffle in naming convention. The Find X3 Lite effectively rivals much of what the Find X2 Neo offered, but does make a couple of sacrifices to achieve its price point.
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One area that doesn’t seem to have been sacrificed, however, is the build. The Find X3 Lite is a quality device, with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and rear to help protect against scratches, and an aluminium frame holding everything together. There’s a clear case in the box too, to keep things looking fresh.
As is often the case on affordable devices there’s a 3.5mm headphone socket. However, there’s no stereo speaker offering: it’s a mono affair, with the speaker on the bottom of the phone providing the power – and it’s easily blocked when holding the phone in landscape orientation, such as when playing games.
The Oppo Find X3 family have differing designs, so there’s no sculpted bump on the rear for the Lite’s cameras, it’s a lot more conventional – but we like the looks, especially on this Starry Black version where it’s slightly less prominent than some.
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In line with the Lite name there’s no waterproofing on this model, as you’ll find elsewhere in the range.
Display
6.4-inch AMOLED panel, 2400 x 1080 resolution, 90Hz refresh
There’s a flat display on the Find X3 Lite, with minimal bezels for a smart look. A punch-hole sits in the top left-hand corner for the front camera, a convenient position for those playing games in landscape, as this corner generally is covered by your left hand, so you don’t have a hole getting in the way of your game.
It’s an AMOLED display, measuring 6.4-inches on the diagonal, with a Full HD+ resolution That’s become the average for this size and type of device, with many flagships now sticking to similar resolution for the sake of battery life.
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There’s a 90Hz refresh rate, helping to smooth out some of your scrolling content, with the option to switch back to 60Hz if you prefer – although this is fairly buried within the settings so we doubt that anyone will bother to make that change. Again, it’s a typical setting for this level of device, with an increasing number of devices over the past 12 months offering a faster refresh.
You’ll note that the touch sampling rate is 180Hz, slower than many of the top devices, and while this doesn’t matter to a lot of people, it’s one area where Oppo is keeping a tight check on things to deliver at this price point.
The display is vibrant, delivering a great palette of colours, looking great whether you’re browsing online, gaming or watching movies. It’s not the brightest display around, so it struggles a little in brighter outdoor conditions and you may have to bump the brightness up or down a little to suit the conditions you’re in.
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There’s a fingerprint scanner under the display too, which provides fast unlocking and has proven generally reliable, although it only takes a little dust or water to disturb it.
Hardware and performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G, 8GB RAM
4,300mAh battery, 65W fast-charging
128GB storage
The hardware loadout fits with those great mid-range devices from 2020. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G found here is good solid hardware that’s delivered many great phones in the recent past. Technically, that’s now been replaced with the Snapdragon 780G, but the Find X3 Lite was launched before that hardware was available.
That’s not a huge loss: while there might be some incremental improvements to performance, you’re still getting a great device for the asking price. Indeed, the Motorola Moto G100 uses that newer hardware, but is quite a bit more expensive than the X3 Lite.
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Performance wise, there’s little to complain about. We’ve been playing a full run of games on the Find X3 Lite and they play perfectly smoothly, while everything else is slick and fast. There’s not really anything in performance terms that fits with the Lite name – it’s a great experience.
There’s no microSD card support, however, so you’re looking at 128GB storage being your all.
Where Oppo is adding some excitement is with 65W charging. That’s thanks to the SuperVOOC 2.0 technology and the chunky charger that you’ll find in the box. What this means is you’ll be able to recharge the phone’s battery at blistering speed – from zero to full in around 35 minutes.
There is battery management software that will attempt to control the charging speeds to preserve battery health though, so that short time-frame isn’t always feasible. This software monitors your usage patterns and will charge the battery slowly as applicable, if you’re in the habit of charging overnight, to ensure it’ll last longer over an extended period of ownership.
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However, this can be irritating at times – especially if you only have time for a short charge overnight, because the automatic system doesn’t seem to recognise the difference between you plugging it on at the normal time, or 6 hours later, meaning you can wake up with a phone that’s not charged if you don’t have the, for example, full 8 hours on the charger that you’d normally get.
We also found that this setting had a habit of turning itself back on, even when we’d turned it off. The best solution, in reality, is a short quick charge during the day and leaving your phone off the charger at night. That should work out for most people, because the battery life of the Find X3 Lite is good, easily lasting through the day, including a few hours of gaming.
Motorola’s new Moto G9 Plus is a stunner of a phone – find out why, right here
By Pocket-lint Promotion
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Cameras
Quad rear camera system:
Main: 64-megapixel, f/1.7 aperture
Ultra-wide: 8MP, f/2.4
Macro: 2MP, f/2.4
Mono: 2MP, f/2.4
Front: 32MP, f/2.4
Oppo plays the typical 2021 mid-range phone game, plastering the rear of the camera with sensors so it can claim it’s a “quad camera”. There’s the appearance of the low-resolution macro sensor – which isn’t anything to get excited about – and there’s also a 2-megapixel “mono camera”.
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This mono lens notionally feeds data into the portrait system to improve its performance. Portrait is offered on the front camera from a single lens, suggesting to us that it’s simply an unnecessary feature.
The portrait performance isn’t especially good anyway, with the edge detection a little crude. The bokeh effect needs to be set at the time of taking the photo because you can’t adjust it once the picture is taken. Yes, there are options to increase the blur, but unlike the options from Samsung or Google Pixel, for example, you can’t reduce the level of the blur if you find the effect too strong.
The Lite’s front camera is reasonable: we can’t fathom why it’s a 32-megapixel sensor as that doesn’t really deliver any benefits. There’s no pixel binning, as it pumps out 32-megapixel images which just take up more storage and need more data to share. It will give you a decent shot in good conditions, but you’ll need to use the night mode in low-light as it gets noisy rather quickly in less than perfect situations.
The rear camera sees a headline 64-megapixel main, which is par for the course. This is very much about appearing to keep up with rivals than actually delivering better images – but again, it’s typical for this level of phone.
Here there is some pixel binning, with 16-megapixel images as a result by default. If you want to shoot at full 64-megapixel resolution you have the option to turn that on in normal photo mode; there’s also an Extra HD mode which oversamples to give a 108-megapixel image.
Visually, those images basically look the same (the Extra HD mode loses the AI scene optimisation), but greater resolution gives the potential to zoom and crop – although the detail is rather mushy and we can’t see anyone really wanting to do this.
With all that said, the main camera puts in a decent performance for this price of phone and you’ll get decent photos from it in most conditions. There’s no zoom, however, which is a slight limitation, only offering digital zoom.
The ultra-wide camera puts in an average performance, although we like the options this introduces from a usability perspective. However, there is a colour shift between this and the main camera, as well as blurring as you move out of the centre of the frame.
As with many phones in this price category, the Lite will probably do everything you want it to do – as well as a whole load of stuff you don’t want it to do. Just don’t fall for the “quad camera” system marketing and stick to main lens and there’s a perfectly usable single camera on the rear.
Software
Google Android 11 OS
Oppo ColorOS 11
Like many brands, Oppo goes to town customising Google’s Android operating system with its own ColorOS setup. ColorOS has seen great improvements over recent years to make it a lot more usable and approachable – and the offering on the Find X3 Lite isn’t too bad.
There isn’t too much bloat or duplication – except for photos, music, and an app to help you relax you’ll likely never use – but with Google Messages, Gboard and Chrome all in place, there’s not too much messing around needed to get to the services you want. Access to Google Discover from the home screen is welcomed too.
Pocket-lint
But beneath this, ColorOS changes the look and feel of many areas of Android 11. It gives you plenty of options for customisation, but some things fall down the cracks too.
Notifications seem to be particularly irksome: some applications have failed to deliver notifications consistently, we’ve also found that “bedtime mode” – part of the digital wellbeing suite – took about a week to figure out how to run to the schedule we gave it.
Some of these might just be teething troubles, but the experience doesn’t feel quite as slick as the software on the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, which is a close rival to this phone.
At the same time, we’ve not found the software to get in the way: once you’re in your favourite app or game things run very much as they should.
Verdict
There’s a lot that’s interesting about the Oppo Find X3 Lite: the core hardware is solid, the display is good, and fast battery charging is a real benefit.
The niggles are also fairly minor: the over-sell on the cameras, the single speaker that’s easily blocked, and some software quirks that seem to block notifications. Despite this running on year-old hardware, it’s still a capable phone, and the Lite naming is perhaps an undersell considering how much you get for your money.
But over the past 12 months, this has emerged as the most competitive smartphone segment: there are better camera performers on this hardware (Pixel 4a 5G), there are better displays in this position (Samsung Galaxy A52 5G) and lots of options besides.
Also consider
Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Samsung’s budget offering sits a little lower in the hardware stakes, but offers waterproofing – which is rare at this level – as well as a great 120Hz display.
Read our full review
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Redmi Note 10 Pro
Redmi offers blistering value for money, although this is a 4G model only and on slightly lower hardware – but you still get a lot of phone for your money.
Flexxon, a Singapore-based security firm, has introduced an SSD with embedded AI-based security capabilities that the company says promises protection against traditional threats like malware and viruses, or physical tampering with the drive.
Modern SSD controllers rely on several Arm Cortex R cores and are basically rather high-performance system-on-chips with fairly sophisticated compute capabilities. These very capabilities, along with firmware enhancements, are what powers Flexxon’s X-Phy SSD platform.
The platform relies on a technology that Flexxon calls AI One Core Quantum Engine and a special secured firmware. The company’s description of its technology is vague at best, so it is unclear whether its engine is a completely self-sufficient/isolated platform or a combination of software, hardware, and firmware.
(Image credit: Flexxon)
This AI One Core Quantum Engine presumably runs on an NVMe 1.3-compliant SSD controller and monitors all the traffic. Once its algorithm detects a threat (a virus, malware, an intrusion), it can block it to protect the firmware and data integrity. Furthermore, the company says the self-learning algorithm can detect abnormalities and identify them as threats, the company said without elaborating. Meanwhile, the drive comes with a special application. The X-Phy drive looks to be compatible with all major operating systems, based on an image published on the company’s website.
(Image credit: Flexxon)
The SSD is also equipped with “a range of features including temperature sensors to detect unusual movements that occur” in a bid to protect against physical intrusion. If the device detects tampering, it will lock itself and alert the owner via email. It is unclear how the device can alert its owner via an email if someone steals it from a PC that is shut down. Of course, there are ways to monitor HDD activity when the PC is off to lock the SSD if it is removed. Still, there isn’t a way to issue a notification about a physical intrusion if the OS isn’t running (unless, of course, the SSD is not equipped with a modem).
Flexxon stresses that the X-Phy SSD does not replace traditional security measures and calls it ‘the last line of defense.’
(Image credit: Flexxon)
Flexxon’s X-Phy SSD is currently in trials with “government agencies, medical and industrial clients” and the manufacturer expects it to be available in Q4 2021 or in early 2022. The drive will be available in 512GB and 1TB 3D NAND configurations in M.2-2280 and U.2 form-factors with a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface. The SSD will support LDPC ECC as well as dynamic and static wear leveling. Expected prices are unknown.
Samsung’s new clamshell will have many new features, including a larger cover display and a sturdy frame. Read all about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 here!
As the introduction of Samsung’s new foldable smartphones gets closer, more and more is becoming known about the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Earlier this week, official promotional material from Samsung leaked, unveiling the design of both devices. The new Fold will be the world’s first foldable phone with an under-screen camera. In this publication, however, we will limit ourselves to the new Flip which gets a new two-tone design.
Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will be a clamshell phone with a horizontal folding line. The dual camera and cover screen is covered in black, the rest of the housing is given a different color. This time Samsung seems to make a whole range of colors available.
The leaked photos show that at least a gray, beige, green and purple model will be released. In addition, there is talk about a black, white, blue and pink model. The available color variants will differ per region. Samsung will probably also offer some exclusive colors via their site.
Based on all the new information, graphic designer Giuseppe Spinelli has created a series of highly realistic product renders for LetsGoDigital, in which the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is shown in all expected colors.
What is expected of the Samsung Z Flip 3?
The dual camera setup seems to remain unchanged in terms of resolution, it contains a 12 megapixel wide angle and a 12 megapixel ultra wide angle camera. The cover screen will be larger, the original Z Flip was equipped with a 1.1” display, the new model will likely feature a 1.83” cover display meaning some more content can be displayed – handy for incoming messages or when taking a selfie.
The 6.7” flexible screen will probably remain the same in size. What is new, the Samsung Z Flip 3 will support the 120Hz refresh rate. The centrally placed punch-hole camera will stay, presumably the same 10 megapixel image sensor will also be retained. As far as the camera is concerned, only software improvements are expected, the sensors and lenses of all cameras seem to remain unchanged – just as with the Galaxy S21.
For the first time Samsung will provide both the front and back of the clamshell with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, to make the foldable extra scratch and drop resistant. In addition, the frame also seems to be adjusted, the new “Armor Frame” will be stronger than before. The screen will also be extra reinforced by “Pro-Shield” technology – presumably a kind of counterpart to Apple’s Ceramic Shield.
This time Samsung seems to invest extra in the sturdiness and durability of its foldables. Not only does this result in a stronger frame and a more scratch-resistant display, the South Korean manufacturer also seems to provide the Galaxy Z Flip 3 with an IP rating for the first time. The folding phone is not expected to be completely dust and waterproof, but it will be splash-proof – which would of course be a step in the right direction.
Naturally, the hardware and software will also be renewed. Supposedly, the Samsung Z Flip 3 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which will guarantee extremely fast and stable performance. This 5nm chipset comes with an integrated 5G modem. In addition to a 256GB model, a 128GB model is also expected this time. This enables Samsung to lower the starting price. The device will run on the Android 11 OS, in combination with the One UI 3.3 user interface. It is a renewed interface compared to the UI that can be found on the Galaxy S21 models.
Will the Galaxy Z Flip 3 offer S Pen support?
Samsung seems to be working on S Pen support for its foldable devices. It’s almost certain that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be compatible with Samsung’s famous stylus pen. Some believe that this will also apply to the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Samsung recently registered a trademark for “Z Flip“, which made mention of a stylus pen. Nevertheless, that is no guarantee that the Z Flip 3 will actually offer S Pen support. I personally do not expect that the upcoming clamshell from Samsung will be made compatible with the S Pen. For this we will probably have to be patient until the Galaxy Z Flip 4. But who knows…
Regarding the battery and fast charging options, unfortunately no changes seem to be made. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, like its predecessor, will be equipped with a dual battery with a total capacity of 3,300 mAh. A recent 3C quality certification has shown that the 15W fast charging function will also remain the same.
This seems to become the weakest part of Samsung’s new clamshell. After all, the battery life of the Z Flip was rated as “poor” in many expert reviews, the new model does not seem to change that. The maximum charging power of 15 Watt is of course also very minimal for a high-end device in the year 2021. It was expected that the fast charging functionality would be increased to a minimum of 25 Watt, some even hoped for 65 Watt. However, this does not seem to be the case; the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will only support 15 Watt wired / wireless charging.
Then the question remains: which accessories will be available for the new Flip? Last year a Leather Cover was released, which consisted of two parts. Samsung may have found a solution to also manufacture covers from one piece, so that the hinge is optimally protected. The South Korean manufacturer was recently awarded a patent for such a protective cover.
Price & Release date of the Galaxy Z Flip 3
Samsung will host a Galaxy Unpacked event around July, where both the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be presented. A month later, another event is expected to be set up for the Galaxy S21 FE, this will be the cheapest model in the S21 line-up.
Last year, both the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G -the latter was introduced five months later- carried a suggested retail price of € 1,500. If we are to believe the rumors, Samsung is doing everything it can to market the new model cheaper. This may also be the reason why the battery, fast charging functionality and the cameras will not be upgraded.
On the other hand, the South Korean manufacturer seems to be extra committed to the sturdiness and durability of its new foldable device. The larger cover screen and the many color variants should also make the Z Flip 3 extra attractive to buy. Moreover, Samsung seems to add an extra cheap 128GB model. This may result in a starting price of approx € 1,350 – € 1,400.
It will probably be possible to place a preorder order immediately after the official introduction. The actual release will then take place about two weeks later. Customers who purchase the Galaxy Z Flip 3 are expected to receive a set of Galaxy Buds 2 earbuds during the pre-order period. The new earbuds will probably be introduced simultaneously.
In terms of design, the Buds 2 are expected to be very similar to the Buds+, which was introduced at the beginning of 2020. It will a cheaper model than the Buds Pro, which was released at the beginning of this year at the time of the S21.
By the way, if you’re wondering what happened to the Galaxy Z Flip 2, don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything. Samsung will introduce their next Z Fold and Z Flip devices simultaneously, therefore the company seems to have decided to align the model names this year. Meaning there will be no Z Flip 2, instead there will be a Z Flip 3.
Note to editors :The 8K and 4K renders in this publication are created by in-house graphic designer Giuseppe Spinelli (aka Snoreyn). The images are copyright protected. Feel free to use our pictures on your own website, but please be so respectful to include a source link into your publication.
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