News
Vivo X27 looks like a better V15 Pro, comes with a faster processor
The better cousin of the V15 Pro
Currently, Vivo‘s main offering is the V15 Pro and it’s already on its way to multiple markets in Asia. Although, there’s a better version of it in China — the Vivo X27. The X27 has been long rumored and it’s definitely a refined version of the V15 Pro.
The Vivo X27 and V15 Pro share a lot in common. They both have 6.39-inch notch-less AMOLED displays with Full HD+ resolution and in-display fingerprint reader. Both have a main 48-megapixel shooter, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a motorized pop-up selfie camera.
Since the X27 is the better cousin, it’s powered by a faster Snapdragon 710 processor paired with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. It also has a higher resolution 13-megapixel ultra wide-angle shooter at the back.
While the designs of the two phones are strikingly similar, you’ll notice that the X27’s rear camera module is flushed to the glass body. The X27 also has a bigger battery: 4000mAh versus 3700mAh. Most importantly, it comes with USB-C.
The new phone has a vapor chamber as well to keep its chipset cool. Android Pie-based Funtouch OS 9 is available out of the box.
Not everything about the X27 is better, though. The front-facing camera inside the pop-up module has been downgraded to a 16-megapixel sensor from 32 megapixels. The motor of the pop-up module is also slightly slower: It takes 0.68 seconds to extend compared to 0.46 seconds on the V15 Pro.
The Vivo X27 is available for CNY 3,600 (US$ 535), which is quite a premium over the V15 Pro. For now, the X27 is exclusive to the Chinese market.
Source: Vivo
The HONOR Magic8 Pro is among the first smartphones to support Android 17 Beta 3, giving developers early access to Google’s upcoming mobile platform ahead of its wider release.
According to HONOR, the early beta access allows developers to test app compatibility, optimize performance, and integrate new Android 17 features using the company’s flagship smartphone.
Android 17 Beta 3
Android 17 Beta 3 introduces several new multitasking, customization, camera, and privacy tools. One of its biggest additions is the expansion of Bubbles into a system-wide feature. Apps can now run in floating windows that users can minimize and reopen from anywhere on-screen.
The update also adds support for the RAW14 image format. HONOR says this allows developers to better take advantage of the Magic8 Pro’s AiMAGE camera system for improved image processing, dynamic range, and color accuracy in third-party camera and editing apps.
Android 17 Beta 3 also expands UI customization. Users can now hide app labels for a cleaner home screen layout, while developers can adjust Photo Picker layouts with different aspect ratios including portrait-style 9:16 views.
Other updates include separate Quick Settings toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data, alongside a redesigned screen recording interface that lets users choose between recording the full display or a specific app.
Privacy and security improvements are also part of the update. Android 17 Beta 3 adds session-only precise location access, blocks local network access by default, and introduces protections against code injection attacks. Google is also preparing Android for future cybersecurity threats through support for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
The HONOR Magic8 Pro features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, HONOR’s AiMAGE imaging system, and a 6,270mAh Silicon-carbon Battery. HONOR says its participation in the Android 17 Beta program highlights its continued collaboration with Google ahead of Android 17’s official release.
News
Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million
Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.
Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.
In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.
According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.
The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.
To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.
SEE ALSO: These Samsung TVs and sound devices are perfect for summer
Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.
Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.
Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.
Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.
As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.
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