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mardi 9 mars 2021

These are the best true wireless earbuds you can buy right now!

I’ve said this several times and I’m gonna say it again: Having good earbuds is just as important as having an awesome smartphone. There’s a fine line between having cheap earbuds that just allow you to listen to your music, to using good ones that allow you to actually be able to enjoy your music to the fullest. But earbuds don’t necessarily have to be expensive for them to be good, and there are a lot of examples of this. So, if you want some good earbuds that actually give you the most out of your music, then you’ll want to give our list of the very best true wireless earbuds a good, close look.

From options for Android to options for iOS to the best overall, there’s plenty to see here. Read on to know more!

Navigate this guide:

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

Phantom Black Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro in case

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are Samsung’s latest earbuds, and while the fact that they don’t look like beans anymore makes them way better than their predecessors, there’s way more than meets the eye here. They feature active noise cancellation, AKG-tuned sound for a better listening experience, IPX7 water resistance so you can take them with you to the gym and anywhere you want, and if you own a Samsung phone, then you’re also in for a bunch of additional cool features, some of which resemble the ones that we’ve seen on the AirPods Pro.

With majority consensus amongst our team, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is the best truly wireless earbuds available in the market right now, accessible to the widest net of users. They pack in a great combination of specifications, features, comfort, style, and pricing. And while they aren’t cheap, you do get a premium experience.

    Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
    Samsung's new very best is already out and it's wild. The Galaxy Buds Pro feature a normal-ish shape with a proper seal as well as ANC and water resistance.

Honorable Mention for Best Earphones: Huawei FreeBuds Pro

FreeBuds Pro control from the stems

FreeBuds Pro

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro come very close to being the best TWS earbuds on the market. But their drawback is their availability, which can be a hindrance to users who want something easier to access and purchase right away. That being said, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro are the best earbuds if you do not care about the stem design.  The audio is fantastic, and so is the ANC. Huawei added a lot of features and gesture controls that you can use, and there are other noise cancellation modes such as awareness mode that can be enabled, too.

The FreeBuds Pro are a really great package at a price of €129 in Europe. If you’re looking for a pair of truly wireless earbuds and want to avoid the usual choices, the FreeBuds Pro will definitely surprise you.

    Huawei FreeBuds Pro
    Huawei's FreeBuds Pro are fantastic-sounding truly wireless earbuds with incredible active noise cancellation, and a wireless charging case.

Best for iOS: Apple AirPods Pro

apple airpods pro without case on black background with logo

If you’re on iOS, it’s not that you can’t use other third-party options. You definitely can, as the iPhone does have Bluetooth like literally any other smartphone. But let’s be real here: Apple’s in-house options are made to work with your iPhone like a charm, and have features and tweaks that are actually exclusive to iOS. So, unless you’re actually looking for something specific on your earbuds, the AirPods Pro are gonna be the best of the bunch for most people. They have active noise cancellation and, while they are pretty pricey when you pit it against the competition, you just can’t beat the features if you’re on iOS: completely effortless pairing and switching between devices, Siri integration, and more.

They’re also pretty good as regular Bluetooth earbuds and yes, you can use them on Android, but if you’re on iOS, they’re really a no-brainer just for the system integration that comes with them. They’re definitely one of the best true wireless earbuds currently available.

    Apple AirPods Pro
    The Apple AirPods Pro are as good as they get right now when it comes to Apple's in house offerings for iOS devices, but they also have excellent audio and noise cancellation.

Best for Most People: Samsung Galaxy Buds+

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ may not be the latest generation of earbuds in the market right now, but they are the ones that should suit the widest set of audiences right now. Yes, the earphones lack ANC and do not feature any type of water ingress protection — but other than that, they are an excellent pair of earphones. They feature great audio performance, a very comfortable fit, amazing microphone performance for calls, great battery life, and a lot more.

What makes the Galaxy Buds+ suitable for a wider set of audience? The fact that you can get them at some amazing prices. We’ve seen the variant go down for as low as $110, which is quite a steal for the product that you are getting.

    Samsung Galaxy Buds=
    The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ are some of the better and cheaper earphones out there, with a pretty loaded feature set. They lack ANC and IP rating, but other than that, they offer a complete experience that is made sweeter by the various deals and discounts that you can get along the way.

Best ANC: Sony WF-1000XM3

sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds on table with xperia phone

Sony has gained plenty of expertise over the years when it comes to audio. It’s definitely one of their fortes. And this is demonstrated quite well in the awkwardly named WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds which, despite sounding quite generic, are actually a solid piece of engineering coming from Sony and they’re among the best wireless earbuds with ANC that you can get right now for the money. For $160, you get earbuds with great active noise cancellation, support for integration with both the Google Assistant as well as Amazon’s Alexa assistant, they look amazing, and most importantly, they sound really, really good.

They’re among my favorites for those reasons and many more. They support quick charging as well as up to 5 hours of continuous listening, and that’s with ANC on. Honestly, they’re an amazing deal if you’re in the market for new earbuds, and they’re definitely among the best true wireless earbuds available with a killer ANC setup. Just keep in mind that microphone performance is not great, so avoid getting these if you plan to attend more than a few casual calls.

    Sony WF-1000XM3
    The Sony WF-1000XM3 are among the best earbuds out there, with world class sound and noise cancellation as well as Sony's decades-long experience in audio.

Best Premium: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

These Sennheiser earbuds also come at a pretty penny as well, but Sennheiser is a name that’s known for greatness in the audio space, and the Momentum True Wireless 2 will definitely not let you down in this regard. The 7 mm dynamic drivers on these bad boys can, according to Sennheiser, deliver “deep bass, natural mids, and clear, detailed treble”. And the reviews on these all seem to agree that the listening experience on these earbuds is godly. Battery life is also a plus, with 7 hours of listening as well as a total 28 hours with the charging case. There’s also an app available on both Android and iOS that allows you to use the earbuds’ built-in equalizer and tweak some of their other settings.

They are definitely worth a look if you’re looking for the best true wireless earbuds and you have $250 burning in your pocket.

    Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
    The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 are Sennheiser's option in the premium space, and honestly? They're one of the very few $250 earbuds that are actually worth their asking price.

Best Budget: OnePlus Buds Z

OnePlus isn’t a brand that’s known for making quality earbuds. They’re known for making phones, and while their phones are pretty alright, they don’t have much of a name for themselves when it comes to earbuds. The OnePlus Buds Z, though? They’re not bad for their price tag. Now, you won’t find active noise cancellation or anything like that here. But fancy features are not the point of them. The point of them is delivering a listening experience that doesn’t suck for a pretty affordable price, and once you take that mission into account, they start to look better. And have you looked at that battery life? 5 hours of continuous listening and 20 hours of total battery life is not too shabby for $50 earbuds.

If you want to keep your budget low, this is among the best picks for the best true wireless earbuds you can get for your money.

    OnePlus Buds Z
    The OnePlus Buds Z are really some of the best true wireless earbuds that you can get on the budget, delivering great audio and great battery life.

Honorable Mention: Google Pixel Buds (2nd gen)

google pixel buds 2

The Google Pixel Buds didn’t really fit as a top pick in any of these categories, but it gets a shout-out nonetheless because they managed to actually improve on a lot of stuff since the first generation. I was actually one of those crazy people that owned the first-gen Pixel Buds and actually liked them a lot despite all of the (probably well deserved) criticism about them, so any improvement on them is a big plus in my book. The second-gen Pixel Buds gets rid of the wire between the two buds while also improving on a lot of things that were criticized about the originals, like the gestures, the audio quality, and more. There’s no active noise cancellation on these, but hey, they actually have a rubber seal this time!

They won’t disappoint one bit, and they’re one of the best true wireless earbuds on this list.

    Google Pixel Buds (2020)
    The new Google Pixel Buds fix many of the flaws the original version had while also making them truly wireless, adding a bunch of features, and keeping everything under a not-so-high price increase.

These were our top picks for the best true wireless earbuds currently on the market. The best of the best right now, if you ask me, would be the Sony WF-1000XM3 as it’s a very decently performing middle ground on every aspect that is definitely worth its asking price. Of course, it’s all going to come down to your personal preferences and which aspect you value the most: value, price, or overall experience. Some options out here will keep your wallet mostly intact, while others will make a dent on it, but also give you an amazing sound experience.

Which do you like the most?

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Mobvoi’s new TicWatch Pro S is a minor upgrade over the TicWatch Pro 2020

Following the launch of the TicWatch Pro 3 and TicWatch Pro 3 LTE late last year, Mobvoi is back again with another smartwatch. The TicWatch Pro S is the latest offering from the Beijing-based wearables manufacturer, and it brings minor improvements over the TicWatch Pro 2020. The new smartwatch comes with double the storage, a couple of new software features, and new apps previously only available on the flagship TicWatch Pro 3.

TicWatch Pro S: Specifications

Specification TicWatch Pro S
Size 45 x 12.6mm
Display 1.36-inch AMOLED (400x400p)
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100
Memory
  • RAM: 1GB
  • ROM: 8GB
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2, 802.11bgn Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)
GPS GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
Sensors Accelerometer, Gyro, Magnetic Sensor, PPG Heart Rate sensor, Ambient Light sensor, Low latency off-body sensor
NFC payments Yes, Google Pay
Battery 415mAh
Durability IP68
OS Wear OS

The TicWatch Pro S isn’t all that different from the TicWatch Pro 2020 (review) from last year. It features the same design, the same 1.39-inch circular AMOLED display with a resolution of 400x 400 pixels, and the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip on the inside (still no 3100). The biggest upgrade from the TicWatch Pro 2020 is the ROM. Instead of 4GB, the new TicWatch Pro S packs 8GB of onboard storage. This will give you plenty of extra storage space to install more Wear OS apps.

TicWatch Pro S colors

All of the other changes are limited to software. The TicWatch Pro S comes with TicExercise 3.0, which offers 13 workout modes, GPS tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and more. On top of that, it brings a new running lap counter, an upgraded heart range indicator, a revamped UI, and VO2 Max tracking. The smartwatch also comes with TicSleep 2.0, which provides more data and analytics than previous versions of the software. It’s now also supported in Essential Mode, so you can save some battery life while monitoring your sleep.

TicWatch Pro S new software features

Furthermore, the TicWatch Pro S comes with two new apps that were launched with the TicWatch Pro 3 last year. These include TicBreathe and TicHearing. In case you aren’t familiar with the apps, TicBreath lets you monitor your heart rate and stress changes, while TicHearing lets you know if any environmental noise may be damaging to your ears.

Pricing & Availability

The TicWatch Pro S will be available in Europe, the US, and the UK starting today. Interested buyers will be available to get it on Mobvoi’s website and Amazon.com for a price of $259.99/£222.99 /€259.99. The TicWatch Pro S may not attract many buyers at that price, as it’s still based on the Snapdragon Wear 2100 platform. Especially since the older TicWatch Pro 2020 is over $100 cheaper and offers pretty much all the same features, except for the additional storage. The more premium TicWatch Pro 3, on the other hand, comes at just $50 more and offers a ton of improvements over the TicWatch Pro S, including the Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform.

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PlayStation 5 Restocks: Units available at Target! Grab them quick!

The PlayStation 5 has, in short, been a nightmare to actually get your hands on, so far. With the limited pre-order stock, site outages, and random seconds-long PlayStation 5 restocks, consumers are being left frustrated and without a (massive) new console to adorn their entertainment center. It’s a frustrating situation for sure, and while we can’t offer you a surefire way to get a PlayStation 5, we can help by gathering everything you need to know in one place. Check out below and happy hunting!

By the way, we also have a restock guide for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S!

When and where will the PlayStation 5 be restocked?

While we believe the information below is accurate, it’s important to note that sometimes restocks don’t happen as planned. Restocks may go up late, websites may break, or retailers may just change their minds. This information is to help you plan as much as possible for possible restocks.

Things might look a bit rough, but there is hope for some PlayStation 5 restocks! Sony has announced via Twitter that more PS5s will come in stock throughout December:

Target is offering another chance with units available of both versions right now:

Grab them while you still can!

Your next best bet at this time will be with PlayStation Direct, who is doing something a little different with their PlayStation 5 restocks. They allow you to enter a queue daily, giving you a chance to order the PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. So far, this seems to be a more effective method of trying for the PlayStation 5, but being in the queue doesn’t guarantee a console.

Amazon and Best Buy has the consoles come in and out of stock at random intervals. If you check in occasionally, you may get lucky. However, with no way of knowing when they’ll come in stock, it’s hard to recommend them unless you’re also following a bot or Twitter account that follows stock from minute to minute.

Some other retailers had console stock during Black Friday, but have been silent about PlayStation 5 availability for the rest of the holiday season. Hopefully, we’ll know more soon!

Finally, if you don’t mind paying a hugely inflated price, you can pick up a PlayStation 5 from StockX. While it’s not something I’d recommend, if you need a PlayStation 5 in time for your holidays, then StockX will be the better reseller place to buy from. Unfortunately, eBay is rife with misleading listings that can turn your happy holidays into something miserable.

General advice for restocks

Trying to get your hands on something with limited stock is really, really stressful. Make sure to give yourself the best chance you can by following the advice below!

  • Make sure you have an account at the store, and all personal information is updated. Restocks of popular items like the PlayStation 5 put huge strains on websites. On top of that, when it comes to items like this, retailers will only allow you to hold it in your cart for a few minutes. Don’t waste your chance trying to update your address or payment information!
  • Start refreshing the page early. Often, retailers won’t put stock up at EXACTLY the moment they say. It may be a few minutes early or late. Get to the store page of the item you want before the restock time. You might get lucky!
  • Use Ctrl+F5, not just F5. This gives you a hard refresh that doesn’t pull store information from the cache. So, you won’t get outdated information and will be able to see the “Buy” button as soon as possible!
  • It’s usually better to be on the computer, rather than your phone. While that is not always the case, mobile websites aren’t always optimized for fast refreshing. Or optimized for mobile viewing at all, sometimes. However, sometimes you can have better luck on a mobile app than a browser site. It’s not very often, though, so it’s best to start trying with your computer browser, first.

PlayStation 5 Store Links

Don’t waste time and effort searching for store links when going for a PlayStation 5 restock. We’ve gathered all the potential US retailers and the store pages you need below!

PlayStation 5 Links, online-only:

PlayStation 5 Links, in-store only:

PlayStation 5 links, membership required:

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition links, online-only:

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition links, in-store only:

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XDA Forums now open for OnePlus 9 series, ROG Phone 5, Mi 11 Ultra, OPPO Find X3 series and Galaxy A72

There have already been so many smartphone launches in the first week of March, and it only gets crazier as we move further into the month. From ASUS ROG Phone 5 and OPPO Find X3 series to Mi 11 Ultra and OnePlus 9 series, we are staring at some exciting weeks ahead. To make it easier for potential buyers and enthusiasts to find all relevant information in one place, we have decided to open up XDA forums for all of these upcoming smartphones.

ASUS ROG Phone 5

The ASUS ROG Phone 5 is launching on March 10, and it is expected to be filled to brim with all the latest and greatest tech, including the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, up to 18GB RAM, a high refresh OLED display, a dot-matrix design on the back, and a 65W fast charging. The ASUS ROG Phone 3 was quite popular among the XDA community, and we expect nothing less from the next entrant in the ROG lineup.

ASUS ROG Phone 5 XDA Forums

OnePlus 9 series

The OnePlus 9 series is hands down the most anticipated launch of this month. Thanks to a steady stream of leaks, we know pretty much everything there’s to know about the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. The standard OnePlus 9 is rumored to offer a flat 6.5-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, a 48MP primary camera, and a 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast charging support.

OnePlus 9 XDA Forums

Meanwhile, the OnePlus Pro is expected to sport a curved 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution and a Hasselblad-branded camera system. With a launch event confirmed for March 23, we’re just a couple of weeks away from the official unveiling.

OnePlus 9 Pro XDA Forums

OPPO Find X3 series

OPPO is scheduled to launch the new Find X3 series on March 11. The new series will consist of three devices: the Find X3 Pro, a proper flagship, and the Find X3 Neo and Find X3 Lite, both of which will be premium mid-range offerings. The OPPO Find X3 Pro is expected to come equipped with a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 50MP primary and wide-angle cameras, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and a 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast charging support.

OPPO Find X3 Pro XDA Forums

The OPPO Find X3 Neo is said to boast a 6.5-inch 90Hz AMOLED panel, Snapdragon 865 chipset, a 50MP primary camera, and a 4,500mAh battery that charges via a 65W charger.

OPPO Find X3 Neo XDA Forums

Finally, the OPPO Find X3 Lite will reportedly offer a 6.4-inch 90Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 765G chipset, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 64MP primary camera, and a 4,300mAh battery with a 65W fast charger.

OPPO Find X3 Lite XDA Forums

Mi 11 Ultra

The Mi 11 Ultra will be the second addition to the Mi 11 series, which currently only includes the regular Mi 11. The Mi 11 Ultra is expected to be the most powerful and feature-packed in the lineup, offering a 6.81-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, a triple camera setup with a 120X zoom, up to 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast wired and wireless charging support. Xiaomi is scheduled to unveil the Mi 11 Ultra on March 18.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra XDA Forums

Samsung Galaxy A72 5G and Galaxy A72 4G

Samsung’s Galaxy A72 smartphone has leaked several times over the last few months, with leaked renders and rumored specifications revealing key details of the upcoming mid-ranger. According to leaks, there are going to be two variants: the Galaxy A72 5G and Galaxy A72 4G. Not much is known about the Galaxy A72 5G besides its rumored 90Hz display and in-display fingerprint scanner. As for the Galaxy A72 4G, the latest leak suggests it will feature a 6.7-inch 90Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 720G SoC, a 64MP primary shooter, 6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, an IP67 rating, and a 5,000mAh battery. Although Samsung hasn’t confirmed the launch date yet, both phones are believed to be unveiled later this month.

Galaxy A72 5G XDA Forums ||| Galaxy A72 4G XDA Forums

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Here are the Best Cheap Laptops that you can buy in March 2021: Lenovo IdeaPad 3, ASUS VivoBook 15, and more!

The laptop market is flourishing due to the coronavirus pandemic. One of the biggest reasons has been the fact that a majority of office goers, as well as students, have moved to a work-from-home or study-from-home environment. This also means that some of them have no option but to invest in a new computer. However, if you still haven’t got your hands on a decent notebook for your everyday work, then you’ve come to the right place.

Today we are checking out some of the best cheap laptops that you can buy on a tight budget. We have restricted the budget within the $350-$600 range, which should be good for decent machines that can handle most of your daily tasks like making presentations, attending video calls, writing notes, or just a casual movie when you want to take a break.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Lenovo Ideapad 3 product image

The IdeaPad series from Lenovo is a recommended option thanks to its fairly slim design and worthy hardware. The IdeaPad 3 is available in a variety of options ranging from the Intel Pentium Gold processor with 4GB of RAM priced under $300 to a 10th-gen Intel Core i5 variant that offers 12GB of RAM and a touchscreen with a 256GB SSD for about $540. There is also an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U variant that is available for just under $500. The IdeaPad series is quite reliable but make sure that you double-check the screen resolution before buying as some of the models only offer an HD resolution display.

    Lenovo IdeaPad 3
    The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an excellent budget option if you are looking for good balance of performance and a slim design.

Acer Aspire 5

Acer Aspire 5 product image

Similar to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, Acer offers the Aspire 5 in multiple SKUs ranging from the 10th-gen Intel Core i3 to the Core i7. You can choose the appropriate configuration depending on your needs and budget. Additionally, Acer is also offering a touchscreen if you are willing to pay extra. It doesn’t look as good as the offering by Lenovo, but it does offer a few extra features like a fingerprint scanner, an IPS display, and Wi-Fi 6.

    Acer Aspire 5
    The Aspire 5 packs some really good features for its price and is available with the 10th-gen Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processor options.

ASUS VivoBook 15

ASUS VivoBook 15 product image

The VivoBook 15 by ASUS is a sleek notebook and features the company’s Ergo Lift design that lifts up the keyboard deck when you open the lid. You can choose between the 10th-gen Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processor options with up to 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. It also features slim bezels with an 88% screen to body ratio, a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint scanner for Windows Hello authentication.

    ASUS VivoBook 15
    The VivoBook range from ASUS is an entry-to-mid range offering and features a premium design with option of a 10th-gen Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 product image

If Windows is not your cup of tea, then the next best option on a budget is a Chromebook. Go for the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 if you want solid performance as it is loaded with the 10th-gen Intel Core i3 processor with 4GB of RAM. It features a 2-in-1 design which means that the 13.3-inch FHD display can be flipped all the way to transform it into a tablet. Lenovo also claims a battery life of up to 10 hours which should be good enough to last you all day.

    Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
    The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a great notebook if you don't want to fiddle about with Windows. Since it features a 2-in-1 design, you can also use it in tablet mode.

HP 15 Laptop

HP 15 Laptop product image

This is one of the only laptops that we could find with the latest 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processor. The HP 15 Laptop is available with a Core i5-1135G7 processor with the new Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, and a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display. The notebook also comes with Wi-Fi 6, a USB Type-C port as well as a sleek and attractive-looking design.

    HP 15 Laptop
    If you are looking for a budget notebook with the latest 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processor, then the HP 15 Laptop might be one of the only options out there.

Microsoft Surface Go 2

Microsoft Surface Go 2
The Surface Go 2 is the smallest tablet hybrid device from Microsoft that is great for someone who needs a compact device for light workloads. It comes with its own Surface Type Cover keyboard and is powered by the Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y processor with up to  8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. If you can stretch your budget, there is a slightly more powerful option with an  Intel Core m3-8100Y processer. Other notable features include a 10.5-inch full-HD display, Windows Hello face recognition, and 10-hour battery life.

    Microsoft Surface Go 2
    The Surface Go 2 is a tiny 2-in-1 Windows tablet hybrid that is perfect for someone who is looking compact laptop for light work.

These are some of the best cheap laptops currently on the market. Having said that, Intel’s new 11th-gen Tiger Lake processors, as well as AMD’s new Ryzen 5000 series mobile processors, are expanding to more notebooks as we speak. This means that we can expect more options in the coming weeks. If you have a wider budget, you can check out the best laptops that we recommend. Also, check out some of the best and highly recommended Chromebooks that you can buy today as they are usually better-value options on lower budgets.

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Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 8cx chip could rival Apple’s M1 Silicon

With Apple going strong with its in-house ARM-based chipset for its Mac products, it seems that Qualcomm will finally pull up its socks. The chipset maker is reportedly working on a new platform for Windows notebooks and 2-in-1 devices, a successor to the second-generation Snapdragon 8cx.

Qualcomm’s chipsets for Windows haven’t really matched up against Intel, AMD, or even Apple, for that matter. The company has managed to only ship processors that can handle light workloads; for instance, the Surface Pro X. Winfuture.de had reported last month that Qualcomm is working on more powerful high-end SoCs for laptops running on Windows. Spotted in import-export databases with the internal model number SC8280, it is said that the chip is being tested in at least two variants.

A new update to the previous report now suggests that Qualcomm is no longer focusing on combining high-end and energy-saving cores, as was the case with the Snapdragon 8cx and the Snapdragon 8cx Gen2. The upcoming processor could come without power-saving cores and instead include a combination of two clusters of high-performance cores clocked at different speeds. The Snapdragon SC8280XP, one of the two variants being tested, allegedly has four absolute high-end cores called “Gold +” running at 2.7GHz, paired with four more high-end cores, which are referred to as “Gold” cores clocked at 2.43Ghz. The dedicated power-saving cores are nowhere to be seen, which means we can expect high performance but lower energy efficiency.

There are also certain samples being tested, similar to the chip mentioned above but with the maximum clock speeds of the higher clocked cores going up to 3GHz. The chipset is also said to include an integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to handle AI-based tasks with up to 15 TOPs of performance. These chips are being tested on laptops with 14-inch designs and 32GB of RAM, which is again a jump from the 16GB limit on the older Snapdragon chips made for Windows systems. As of now, there is no confirmation as to when these chips will be officially announced or when can we expect them to power future Windows laptops and 2-in-1 devices.

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Download: POCO X3 NFC gets first Android 11 build with MIUI 12

Google officially rolled out Android 11 back in September last year. Since then, POCO has rolled out MIUI 12 based on Android 11 for the POCO F2 Pro and the POCO X2 via stable channel. While the company did launch the POCO X3 NFC with MIUI 12 in September 2020, the underlying Android layer was based on Android 10. If you purchased the phone, here’s some good news for you: the POCO X3 NFC is finally receiving its Android 11 update.

POCO X3 NFC XDA Forums

The MIUI 12-based build of Android 11 for the POCO X3 NFC is tagged with software version V12.0.6.0.RJGEUXM, which is meant for the European variant only. Of course, the highlight of this release is Android 11, but the new build also has some smaller improvements like bringing in an updated kernel and a new version of the stock launcher app. There is no change in the security patch level, though, which means users are still stuck with the February 2021 patches.

POCO X3 NFC Android 11 MIUI 12 OTA POCO X3 NFC Android 11 MIUI 12 About
Thanks to Telegram users Magical Unicorn and konsumeri for the screenshots!

Keep in mind that this Android 11 build for the POCO X3 NFC is still considered as “stable-beta”. Stable-beta updates are only intended for users enrolled within the Mi Pilot beta testing program, meaning that builds assigned to this group will not install on devices with Mi Accounts that do not have the requisite permission. Once the Mi Pilot beta testers give positive feedback, the same build will then make an appearance through the official OTA.

If you’re interested in trying out the build for yourself, you can download the ZIP file from the link below and manually flash it on your phone. In case you get the error message that the update is for closed beta testers only, you can sideload the update through TWRP. As soon as the company finds that there are no showstopper bugs, the update will be opened up for all POCO X3 users without any changes.

Download Android 11 with MIUI 12 for the POCO X3 NFC (codename: surya) — V12.0.6.0.RJGEUXM


Thanks to XDA Recognized Developer yshalsager for the download link!

The post Download: POCO X3 NFC gets first Android 11 build with MIUI 12 appeared first on xda-developers.



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