Smartphones

Samsung officially confirms Galaxy S21 launch for January 14

Days after the Exynos 2100 launch

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At this point, Samsung is behind on the news surrounding its own smartphones. But for the sake of posterity (and putting down all of the rumors), Samsung has finally confirmed when the Galaxy S21 will launch. Today, the company released an official invite, inking the Galaxy S21 launch for January 14.

On January 14, 10AM EST, Samsung is holding its first Galaxy Unpacked event for the year. Though the invite coyly avoids mentioning the Galaxy S21 directly, the event is almost certainly revealing the new flagship smartphone series. Notably, the invite’s graphic includes an obscured view of the new camera island, which was already leaked in full in previous reports.

According to past leaks, the Galaxy S21’s camera island will occupy the rear panel’s top left corner. The invite’s graphic depicts an island explicitly made for a top left placement.

During the event, the company is expected to launch three variants of the flagship series: Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Besides the Galaxy S21, Samsung has also scheduled a processor launch days before the Galaxy Unpacked event. On January 12, the company is unveiling the Exynos 2100, potentially heralding the upcoming flagship’s processor.

Based on other reports, 2021 is poised to be a great year for Samsung, The company will reportedly work on branching out its lineups into two main branches: the Galaxy S/Note and the Galaxy Fold lineups.

SEE ALSO: Samsung releases more teases for Exynos 2100

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TECNO’s SPARK 50 Pro is the latest budget smartphone battery beast

Just two months after the SPARK 50 5G

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TECNO SPARK 50 Pro

One after another, TECNO launches the SPARK 50 Pro with a beastly battery within. That’s just days after the grand launch of the POVA 8 5G in India.

Built to last

The icing of the cake has got to be the battery of the SPARK 50 Pro. However, the battery capacity will differ depending on where you live.

There’s a 5600mAh dual-cell version and a slightly larger single-cell model hitting the 6000mAh mark.

TECNO SPARK 50 Pro

Still, despite that battery capacity, it measures just 7.8mm thin.

If you’re worried about battery longevity, the SPARK 50 Pro can still last more than 80% of their original battery capacity — even after 1900+ charging cycles in six years.

Charging support is faster at 60W, better than what TECNO’s 45W speeds in their most recent smartphones.

TECNO SPARK 50 Pro 6000mAh battery

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Beneath that battery lies MediaTek’s Helio G100 Ultimate SoC. When it comes to memory, it allows up to 24GB extended thanks to Memory Fusion 4.0.

Up front, there’s a 6.78-inch 120Hz display paired with DTS-supported dual stereo speakers.

Finally, the SPARK 50 Pro also boasts SGS Five-Star durability certification alongside IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance — making it one of the budget-friendly devices to have such durability rating.

More than meets the eye

Unlike the base SPARK 50 5G, the SPARK 50 Pro is powered by a 50MP Sony LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) main camera. The said sensor promises improved low-light performance compared to typical cameras in its category.

The company is also bringing its TECNO’s very-own FlashSnap capabilities found in higher CAMON series. This feature offers shutter speeds of up to 1/10,000 of a second to better capture fast-moving subjects like pets, sports, or action shots.

TECNO Ella AI Assistant

Speaking of, TECNO’s Universal Tone technology also returns, aiming to produce more natural-looking skin tones across different environments.

Several AI-powered editing tools are included as well. That includes AI Eraser 2.0 and AI Extender for photos, AI Noise Cancellation for clearer calls, as well as AI Health Assistant. Even Ella as your AI Assistant was not left behind.

For off the grid communication, FreeLink 2.0 exists when needed.

Pricing and Availability

The TECNO SPARK 50 Pro comes in five color choices: Ink Black, Titanium Grey, Midnight Blue, Dynamic Orange, and Cloud White.

TECNO SPARK 50 Pro

TECNO has yet to announce official pricing and regional availability.

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TECNO’s POVA 8 5G is both futuristic and future-ready

8000mAh battery, Sony LYTIA 600 camera, Alive Matrix display, and more

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TECNO POVA 8 5G
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Four months after the POVA Curve 2 5G, TECNO adds the POVA 8 5G to their performance-focused arsenal.

Futuristic vibe

TECNO’s POVA 8 5G continues the series’ signature sci-fi-inspired design language. The latest smartphone features sharp geometric elements and a semi-transparent rear panel.

TECNO POVA 8 5G

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

One of its standout features is none other than the new Alive Matrix Display. It’s a customizable light panel on the back that can display 49 pre-loaded lighting effects for incoming calls, notifications, charging status, gaming sessions, and more. Prospective users can also personalize scenarios to match their style and could actually store many more customized effects aside from the pre-loaded ones.

Beside that LED display lies the 50MP main rear camera based on Sony’s LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) sensor. The said sensor offers improved light capture for brighter and more detailed photos. It also supports 2x lossless zoom. Up front, you’ll get a 13MP front-facing shooter.

Sony LYTIA 600

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Powering the device is MediaTek’s Dimensity 7100 SoC. That’s paired together with TECNO’s in-house G1 Signal Enhancement Chip and SE1 Wi-Fi Enhancement Chip — making it a triple chipset smartphone.

TECNO says these chips help improve connectivity in challenging environments such as elevators and basements while boosting Wi-Fi reception.

The phone also features a 144Hz display with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification and military-grade durability.

Last but definitely not the least, its 8000mAh battery that can last as much as two days. For some measure, TECNO says the phone can last up to 85+ hours of music playback, 29+ hours of YouTube streaming, 26+ hours of WhatsApp, or 14+ hours of playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).

Future-ready

Aside from the beastly battery packed inside, TECNO is also bringing several practical AI tools to the POVA 8 5G.

Among them is AI YouTube Summary. This turns lengthy videos into concise notes with key points and timestamps. The device also features AI-powered noise cancellation that helps isolate the speaker’s voice during calls, recordings, and meetings.

8000mAh Battery

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

For photography, AI LightMaster 2.0 can remove unwanted reflections, lens flare, and shadows. The phone also supports uploading Live Photos directly to Instagram as Boomerang.

In select markets, users can even access AI Health features that estimate metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and respiration through facial scanning technology.

TECNO POVA 8 5G

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Further solidifying its future readiness, TECNO promises two major Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

The company is also bundling three years of FREE 256GB cloud storage for POVA 8 5G users. Eligible markets can also receive a 3-month Google AI Plus trial which includes 2TB of cloud storage.

Pricing and Availability

The TECNO POVA 8 5G debuts first in India and is available in 16-Bit White, Terminal Green, and Plasma Orange colorways.

Specific pricing and availability in global markets are yet to follow along these four color choices: Arc White, Graphite Black, Echo Green, and Helios Orange.

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Smartphones

Upcoming realme C100 series to feature 8,000mAh battery

‘One charge, endless power’

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realme is gearing up to shake up the budget smartphone segment with the upcoming launch of the realme C100 Series on June 18.

realme will unveil the series, along with its official pricing and availability, through a livestream on its Facebook page.

Built around the tagline “One Charge, Endless Power,” the new lineup heavily champions two essential budget smartphone features: massive battery life and ruggedness.

The latest entry to the budget segment realme C series comes in the C100 and C100i variants.

The realme C100 comes with an 8,000mAh Titan Battery for up to one and a half days of uninterrupted usage.

With optimizations, the phone is also expected to retain up to 80% battery health after seven years, making it a sensible purchase for budget-conscious consumers.

This launches alongside the realme C100i, its smaller sibling with a 7,000mAh battery of its own and up to six yeats of optimal health.

Beyond the power, realme is introducing its proprietary ArmorShell Protection to the series.

Both smartphones have successfully cleared MIL-STD-810H military-grade shock resistance testing, ensuring they can survive drops from up to two meters.

The standard realme C100 goes a step further in the durability department by boasting an impressive IP69 Pro rating for dust, submersion, and high-pressure, high-temperature water jet resistance.

On the other hand, the C100i has an ample IP64 splash-resistance rating.

The realme C100 will debut in three distinct colorways: Glory White, Endurance Brown, and Victory Purple.

All three variants utilize realme’s new Blooming Design, which uses micron-level sculpting to create a premium shimmer finish that dynamically shifts whenever it catches the light.

The C100i will be available in Dawn Purple and Dusk Gray.

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