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The OnePlus Nord could come to the US after all

Could be powered by Snapdragon 690

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OnePlus’ take on budget midrange phone is paying well. So far, customers and reviewers have been praising the OnePlus Nord for the experience and cost. Unfortunately, those living outside European and Indian markets can’t get a hold of this phone. That might soon change when OnePlus releases the Nord to the US later this year.

Speaking to Wired, Carl Pei revealed that a new variant of the OnePlus Nord is coming to the US later this year. He didn’t reveal much about this new variant of the OnePlus Nord. Also, he didn’t give out exactly when will the phone arrive to American shores. It is likely, though, that the phone will arrive on Q4 2020.

New OnePlus phones in development

A new phone referenced on OxygenOS, however, may hold clues on what variant of the Nord is coming. Spotted by XDA-Developers, a smartphone variant with the codename “Billie” made different calls to the method “isSM6350Products” in the Settings app. That method checks the model of the device and returns true if it matches a certain model name.

Coincidentally, the SM6350 in the method refers to Qualcomm’s internal designation for the Snapdragon 690. This 5G-enabled midrange chipset has a much lower price than the Snapdragon 765G chipset in the OnePlus Nord. The company could be gearing a much affordable midrange phone should it go ahead with the newer chipset.

Interestingly, codename “Billie” refers to the famous American singer, Billie Eilish. It also seems that OnePlus is developing two variants of this device, with one referred to as “Billie2T” and the other as “Billie8T”.

Whatever turns out of the devices in development, it seems like OnePlus is just getting started with the Nord branded. After all, the company said that the Nord is not just a singular product. Rather, it is a new product line for the company. American buyers can just hope that the company releases the new Nord variant sooner.

See also: OnePlus Nord review

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Sony teams up with Hello Kitty for exclusive limited-edition collection

Sony and Hello Kitty join forces.

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Sony x Hello Kitty

Sony has teamed up with Hello Kitty for a limited-edition collaboration that combines selected Sony products with exclusive merchandise featuring Sanrio’s beloved character.

Available exclusively through Sony Store channels, the collection marks Sony’s first collaboration with Hello Kitty. It covers the Xperia 10 VIII smartphone and three wireless headphone models: the WH-1000XM6, WH-CH730N, and WH-CH530.

Each collaboration model comes with exclusive Hello Kitty merchandise designed specifically for Sony Store customers.

Sony x Hello Kitty collection

Sony x Hello Kitty | Xperia 10 VIII

The Xperia 10 VIII collaboration model is priced at SGD 919. It comes with an exclusive Hello Kitty sacoche-style shoulder bag designed to carry the smartphone and other small essentials, along with a Hello Kitty tote bag.

Meanwhile, the WH-1000XM6 collaboration model costs SGD 609. The WH-CH730N is priced at SGD 249, while the WH-CH530 costs SGD 149.

Sony x Hello Kitty | WH-1000XM6

Each headphone collaboration package includes a Sony Store-exclusive Hello Kitty pouch for carrying the headphones and personal belongings, as well as a Hello Kitty tote bag.

The products retain Sony’s existing designs while adding Hello Kitty-themed accessories. The collection aims to bring the character’s signature charm into everyday use without changing the core design of the Sony devices.

Available now in Singapore

Pre-orders for the Sony x Hello Kitty collaboration models are now available through Sony Store channels in Singapore.

Sony is also showcasing the collection at the Sony Store at 313@somerset. Visitors can try the products firsthand and take photos at a dedicated Hello Kitty photo wall.

The collaboration models are available in limited quantities.

For more information, visit the official Sony Store Singapore website.

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iPhone 18 series breaks records in Vietnam as pre-orders triple

Despite hefty price tag, market saw immense demand for latest Apple devices

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The iPhone 18 series saw immense demand upon its availability in Vietnam, with reports indicating that pre-orders at some local retailers for the latest Apple devices more than tripled compared to the previous generation during the same window.

Pre-orders in the market officially opened last month and saw hundreds of thousands of deposits in just days. Devices officially began hitting shelves and delivering to consumers last September 18.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max has been the sought-after model, as XO Tours noted, accounting for about 80% to 90% of the total number of pre-orders. Meanwhile, Burgundy has been the hit color option.

Retailers did have a few safeguards in place, like limiting each customer to a maximum of two Pro or Pro Max units combined.

And in spite of the hefty price tags, the availability of 0% interest installment plans, as well as Buy Now, Pay Later options kept the flagship models as an accessible luxury for consumers, with trade-ins also providing additional discounts.

As with many developing markets, Vietnam also relies heavily on smartphones as everyday devices over laptops, tablets, or PCs.

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vivo V80 Lite launches in the PH: Price, availability, pre-order details

Pre-order until October 16 for perks

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vivo has launched the Guinness World Records holder vivo V80 Lite in the Philippines for a starting price of PhP 24,999.

The midrange offering is available for pre-order until October 16. Customers can enjoy the following benefits when they place pre-orders during the period:

  • vivo Buds Air3, worth PhP 1,799
  • PhP 1,000 pre-order discount
  • vivo Silver Membership exclusive privileges via the vivo Store app
  • four-year battery warranty, worth PhP 1,510
  • 100GB Google One cloud storage for six months (can be claimed until October 2, 2027)

Customers can also get an additional PhP 500 discount when purchasing through Home Credit at 0% interest until October 31, 2026. Use the voucher code HCV80LITE.

The vivo V80 Lite comes in two configurations:

  • 6GB+128GB: PhP 24,999
  • 6GB+256GB: PhP 27,999

The smartphone is designed for everyday use, as well as extended hours, with a 10,000mAh BlueVolt battery.

It becomes the latest handset to offer such a battery capacity, addressing a common pain point in smartphone usage.

The phone is also reinforced with IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance for overall ruggedness.

In front is a 1.5K OLED display with high brightness for visible content even when outdoors.

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