News

OnePlus 8T launches, is ‘Ultra Fast and Ultra Smooth’

Speedy charging and buttery-smooth screen

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OnePlus has this almost cult-like following (in the best way possible). That community came together because they’re into devices that offer premium performance for less. The OnePlus 8T is a flagship through and through and while it’s certainly pricier than from when OnePlus started, it does feel more like “OnePlus” versus their recent flagship offerings.

Made official today after appearing in numerous leaks, the OnePlus 8T’s focus is a speedy and smooth experience.

Ultra Fast

How fast can your phone juice up? Probably pretty fast, but it’s not “a day’s power in 15 minutes” fast. That’s the promise of the Warp Charge 65. The 65W is promising lasting power for less than the duration of an anime episode.

It also uses twin-charging tech so you can completely fill-up the 4500mAh battery in only 39 minutes. Astonishing.

Ultra Smooth

Our time together with our smartphones is mostly spent interacting with the display. So it’s only right that it feels smooth, fast, and responsive. Apart, of course, from being absolutely a joy to behold — all 6.55-inches of it.

That display is 120Hz Fluid AMOLED. If you’ve been keeping up with the tech trends you’d know what this entails — smooth, fast, and responsive. It also earned an A+ rating from DisplayMate.

Ultra Power

They didn’t really call it Ultra in the keynote but we’re trying to stay consistent here. Inside the OnePlus 8T is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G SoC.

That’s the best that Qualcomm has to offer at the moment. It’s also present in all the major Android flagships that have come out of the 2nd half of 2020… if you’re still able to keep track of the dates, that is.

That means you’re getting the same chip that promises a superior gaming experience, an intuitive AI, and dual-mode NSA + SA 5G and Wi-Fi 6 support for faster, more reliable data speeds.

Ul… Okay Cameras

The quad-camera system that sits on the upper-left back side of the device has a lot more in common with midrangers than flagships today.

The main camera is 48MP and is flanked by a 16MP Ultra Wide Angle camera, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP monochrome camera. Up front is a 16MP selfie shooter.

It’s a tad uninspiring on paper but of course we’ll have to take our own samples to judge for ourselves.

Steady Design

OnePlus phones look stylish and understated. The same is true for the OnePlus 8T. It’s available in two colors: Aquamarine Green and Lunar Silver.

The Aquamarine Green evokes the look of a glossy glass back without being an extreme fingerprint magnet. The Lunar Silver, meanwhile, has a matte-frosted finish.

A new UI

ONE UI… err… OxygenOS 11 is the biggest redesign yet and it’s been divisive. The changes might feel jarring to long-time fans of the vanilla flavor infused in the overall breathability of the OxygenOS.

It now more closely resembles ONE UI, which isn’t exactly a bad thing now with the strides that Samsung has made on its own Android skin.

The important things to take note of are that this is the first non-pixel phone to get Android 11 straight out of the box, and the overall smooth and free-flowing feeling of the OxygenOS of old will be retained.

OnePlus Buds Z

Also launched during the event is the OnePlus Buds Z — another TWS offering from OnePlus. They’re equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers all to deliver a more than satisfactory sound.

It claims to provide up to 20 hours of playback time with a 10-minute top-up lending you three hours of untethered listening.

The OnePlus Buds Z comes on white and has a polished seashell pattern. There are three silicone sizes for the eartips so you can find the right fit. It’s also IP55 rated which means it can withstand sweat so you can use it for your workout sessions.

Pricing and availability

OnePlus 8T

  • Aquamarine Green with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM is priced at SG$ 899.
  • Lunar Silver with 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM, and is priced at SG$ 1,099.
  • The phone will be available for exclusive pre-order on Lazada from October 17 to 23. 2020. Customers will receive a OnePlus 8T Bumper case (worth SG$ 39.90) through the pre-order.
  • The phone will be available across Singapore starting October 24 2020, at OnePlus Lazada and Shopee online flagship store.

OnePlus Buds Z

  • The OnePlus Buds Z comes in White and is priced at S$99. It will be available starting November 2020.

Gaming

PlayStation goes all-digital in 2028

Physical discs are ending

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PlayStation 30th Anniversary Edition

Sony PlayStation will stop producing physical game discs for all new PlayStation titles starting January 2028.

The company says the move reflects changing consumer habits. More players now buy games digitally instead of on disc.

Games released before January 2028 will not be affected. Those titles will continue to receive physical editions as planned.

After the transition, all new PlayStation games will launch in digital format only. Players can buy them through the PlayStation Store or from retailers selling digital game codes.

Sony says the shift will help it focus on digital distribution. It also wants to give players more ways to purchase games while continuing to improve the gaming experience.

The move also signals a major change for the industry.

Players will no longer be able to buy physical copies of new PlayStation games after January 2027. That could reduce the second-hand game market since digital purchases cannot usually be resold.

Collectors may also see fewer special editions that include game discs. Future collector’s editions could instead bundle digital download codes with physical merchandise.

The transition also makes reliable internet access more important. Every new game will need to be downloaded, and players may need to upgrade their storage as game sizes continue to grow.

For Sony and game publishers, the move could lower manufacturing and shipping costs. It also gives them greater control over pricing, distribution, and digital sales.

While the company did not mention game preservation, some players may also raise concerns about long-term ownership. Unlike physical discs, digital games depend on online storefronts and account access.

Sony thanked players for their continued support and said it remains committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience as the industry continues its shift toward digital.

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Accessories

Nothing confirms Ear (3a) is coming this month

It launches alongside the Phone (4b) on July 7.

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Nothing Ear (2)

From being told to not expect anything this year, Nothing fans suddenly have a lot to look forward to. The brand already launched the Phone (4a) series earlier this year, and the new Phone (4b) is likewise coming this month. Now, the Ear (3a) has also been announced.

Through an official teaser on X, Nothing announced that the Ear (3a) is launching alongside the Phone (4b) on July 7. Unfortunately, the short teaser doesn’t spill what the earbuds will look like. However, it does confirm that there will be four colorway options: White, Black, Yellow, and Pink.

Despite being under a relatively new brand, the Ear series carries a lot of history for Nothing. It is, after all, the brand’s first consumer-ready product which came out before the Phones. Since then, the earbuds typify Nothing’s iconic transparent designs. Now, there’s no indication that the Ear (3a) will depart from this tradition, but we’ll see a lot more color, at least.

The Ear (3a) isn’t the only spotlight in this teaser. Nothing also says that the video was shot with the upcoming Phone (4b). Though the video doesn’t spoil the phone’s camera hardware, it’s clear that it can shoot decent videos under relatively low-light conditions. (Of course, we’ll need a better look to confirm that.)

The Phone (4b) and the Ear (3a) are scheduled to launch worldwide on July 7.

SEE ALSO: No new CMF phones this year, Nothing confirms

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News

Samsung is working on the Galaxy Ring 2

It will have better health tracking and a longer battery life.

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Though the wearable launched with a lot of promise, the Samsung Galaxy Ring never really took off. That said, Samsung isn’t giving up. The company is already working on a Galaxy Ring 2.

In a new Forbes interview (via SamMobile), Dr. Hon Pak, head of Samsung’s Digital Health, has confirmed the development of the wearable’s sequel. The Galaxy Ring 2 will reportedly feature better health tracking and a longer battery life. Additionally, it will add support for iPhone pairing.

Because of its form factor, the original Ring comes off as a convenient health tracker for those who don’t prefer the larger nature of a smartwatch or a fitness band. However, it did have issues including a relatively short battery life and an incident where it swelled over a man’s finger.

Currently, there is no timeline for the upcoming Galaxy Ring 2. For reference, the original wearable launched all the way back in 2024. A follow-up is a reasonable ask at this point, but it’s still good that Samsung decided not to make the Ring an annual release.

Besides the Galaxy Ring 2, Samsung has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Just today, the brand finally teased its first wide foldable phone. It’s also set to launch the Galaxy Glasses soon. On top of all this, Samsung is also experimenting with the trifold market via the Galaxy Z Trifold.

SEE ALSO:

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