Chinese smartphone maker Vivo’s spin-off brand iQOO took a while to expand its product portfolio in India after an impressive debut with the launch of the iQOO 3 (review) in 2020. The brand’s product portfolio might still seem thin but it now has some heavy-weights in the offerings, including the recently launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 powered iQOO 7 Legend.

The smartphone has been available in India for quite some time now and I assume most people in the tech space and tech enthusiasts would already know about the good and bad that is on the platter here. For the uninitiated, here is how the iQOO 7 Legend fares in real life:

iQOO 7 Legend: Design and build:

First thing first, the BMW stripes on the white rear panel gives the iQOO 7 Legend a distinct look, away from the usual gradients common to see in smartphones these days. Other than the BMW stripes, the iQOO 7 Legend is a regular looking smartphone. It has a protruding rear camera module similar to the one seen on other Vivo phones.

The curved rear panel has a matte finish and it meets the aluminium frame giving a fine grip. The metal frame has a fine finish to it, giving this phone a neat look. On the right side, there is a volume rocker and a power button, which is textured and highlighted in blue. The bottom side has a SIM tray, USB-C port, and a speaker. Despite being a gaming smartphone first, the iQOO 7 Legend unfortunately lacks the 3.5mm jack for audio-out.

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Realme has been making strides in the midrange segment, which seems to be the new battleground for smartphone brands in India. Fresh in the Chinese smartphone maker’s midrange portfolio is the Realme X7 Max 5G, which is the third smartphone it has launched in the X-series this year. Though the phone seems similar to the Realme X7 Pro 5G (review) on parameters more than one, it exudes differences both the way it looks and operates. Being a motley mix, the Realme X7 Max 5G is priced (Rs 26,999 onwards) lesser than the Pro model. Does the Realme X7 Max 5G fit the bill? Let’s find out:

Design

The Realme X7 Max 5G looks similar to most other Realme smartphones, boring that is. Realme has not brought any significant changes to its smartphone design language for about a year now and the ageing is now apparent, especially when compared to smartphones from other brands. Made mostly of plastic, the smartphone has a grainy finish on the back cover (review unit: asteroid black) that provides solid in-hand grip and aids handling. The plastic construction extends to the frame that makes the phone less durable compared to ones with metallic chassis. The Realme X7 Max 5G might not be a looker, but it is one of the few smartphones in its segment that is easy to hold and operate – thanks to its lightweight built and compact form factor. Though best operated using both hands, the phone does not feel unwieldy even after extended usage.

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OnePlus will launch the Nord 2 5G in India and Europe on July 22, confirmed the Chinese smartphone maker’s co-founder Pete Lau on Thursday. Successor to the OnePlus Nord (review), the Nord 2 5G will be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI system-on-chip. According to OnePlus, this SoC is an enhanced version of the standard Dimensity 1200 designed in collaboration with MediaTek.

“The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a comprehensive upgrade from the first OnePlus Nord, from camera to performance to charging, as well as the newly AI-focused Dimensity 1200-AI SoC. We are confident that it delivers the dependable OnePlus fast and smooth experience you love, and lives up to the “Never Settle” ethos,” Pete Lau said in a blogpost.

According to MediaTek, the Dimensity 1200-AI is the first example of MediaTek’s Dimensity Open Resource Architecture initiative, optimising the Dimensity 1200 5G chipset to deliver a customised experience for OnePlus users.

In a statement released on July 7, OnePlus said the Nord 2 5G will integrate several AI-enabled advancements: AI-assisted photography for superior imaging, display enhancements for a top-ranking user experience, better response times for faster and smoother gaming, etc.

According to OnePlus, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G will use AI Photo Enhancements to recognise up to 22 different photography scenarios. Based on the scenario, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G camera is touted to automatically adjusts the color tones and contrast to capture quality frames even at night and in other low-light environments. For videos, the AI Video Enhancement feature enables live HDR effects in real time during recording. The AI-customised chipset uses DOL-HDR technology to improve image quality, adjust tuning while live recording, and enhance the color range and color accuracy of videos. 

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Facebook “misplaced” guidance on an important exemption to its rules on dangerous individuals and organizations for three years, the company’s independent oversight board said on Thursday.

The board, which was created by the company to rule on a small slice of contentious content decisions, said it had overturned Facebook’s original removal of an Instagram post encouraging people to talk about the solitary confinement of Abdullah Ocalan, a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

It said the content should never have been removed, but it also said that after it selected the case, Facebook found a relevant piece of its internal rules had “inadvertently not transferred” to a new review system in 2018.

This guidance made an exception to Facebook’s rules, which prohibit support or praise of individuals or organizations it designates as dangerous, to allow discussion on the conditions of confinement.

Facebook has long been under scrutiny over what is allowed on its platforms and has been criticized by the board for a lack of transparency around its rules. The board said it was “concerned” that Facebook had lost an important policy exemption for this time and that this could have led to other posts being wrongly taken down.

It said the guidance, which was not shared with Facebook’s policy team, was developed in 2017 partly in response to concerns about the conditions of Ocalan’s imprisonment.

A company spokeswoman declined to answer Reuters questions about how the policy was lost. The board said Facebook was conducting a review of how it failed to transfer the guidance but said it was not “technically feasible” to determine how many pieces of content were taken down while the guidance was not available. Facebook had restored the content before the board’s decision.

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From neckband-style earphones to true wireless earbuds, Realme is one smartphone brand that has significantly expanded its audio range despite being new to the segment. Importantly, the Chinese brand has been consistently democratising premium features like active noise cancellation in its inexpensive offerings. Fresh in its line-up is the Realme Buds Q2, priced at Rs 2,499. These true wireless earbuds seem to be undersell for someone to experience active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time without actually having to pay much. But how does the product fare in real-life scenarios? Let’s find out:Design

The Realme Buds Q2 come in active black and calm grey colour themes. Made of plastic, the active black (review unit) colour model has a matte finish with glossy film on the touch area that reflects blue hues. The earbuds are IPX5-rated for protection against water ingress. As for the earbuds’ charging case, it is a pill-shaped unit with a matte black finish. It is curved from all sides, including bottom, which makes it unstable on flat surfaces. On the positive side, the case is small and can easily fit even in the most cramped spaces like a jeans pocket, travel bag, etc. Though the case looks unimpressive due to its cheap plastic build, it covers the basics right. It features the pairing button inside the case cavity, in the available space between the buds storage-cum-charging area. Besides, there is a USB-C port on the back side and a tiny LED on the front for pairing and battery level indication.Performance

The Realme Buds Q2’s default audio output, however, gives away its entry-level roots. They sound dull and lack clarity, especially at peak volume levels. The earbuds are quite loud but you can experience their best output at a volume level below 70 per cent. To customise the earbuds’ audio profile, there is a supplementary app named Realme Link available for download on the Google Play Store for Android smartphones and Apple App Store for iPhones. The app is feature-rich and covers more than basics. Yet, do not expect the app to uplift the buds’ overall audio experience.

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German audio tech company Blaupunkt on Thursday launched in India its range of smart LED TVs in partnership with the home-grown contract manufacturer Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL). The Blaupunkt smart televisions will be available in 32-inch, 42-inch, 43-inch and 55-inch screen variants, exclusively on Flipkart. The TVs will go on sale starting July 10.

“We are extremely delighted to onboard a well-loved and well-recognized Germany based consumer electronics giant Blaupunkt. With Blaupunkt’s footprint and launch of the Android TV models in India, we would continue being committed to embracing our ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ or Self-reliant India momentum. Our existing partnership with Flipkart will play a key role in taking the new generation of smart TVs to millions of its customers across the country. With this launch, we expect to gain our market share by 15% in the next 3 years,” Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, Super Plastronics PVT LTD (SPPL) said.

The base model in the line-up is a 32-inch screen variant of HD resolution. This Android 9 TV operating system based smart TV is priced at Rs 14,999. The 32-inch model boasts stereo speakers set-up of 40W combined output, 1GB RAM and 8GB on-board storage. Next in line is a 42-inch screen model of fullHD resolution, priced at Rs 21,999. This model is also powered by Android 9 TV platform and boasts stereo speakers with a combined output of 40W, 1GB RAM and 8GB on-board storage.

The 43-inch screen model is the company’s entry-level 4K smart TV. Priced at Rs 30,999, this TV boasts quad-speakers of 50W speakers output supported by Dolby Digital Plus and DTS TruSurround. The speakers are backed by Dolby MS12 sound technology for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus. The 43-inch model boots Android 10 TV and has 2GB RAM and 8GB on-board storage.

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The Viewsonic X-100 4K+ is a projector brimming with features usually seen on much more expensive ones. It is an LED-based projector of higher lumen range and lifespan compared to conventional lamp-based projectors. Besides, the projector has built-in speakers tuned by Harman Kardon and Aptoide apps store for standalone utility. Priced at Rs 3,85,000, the Viewsonic X-100 4K+ seems to be a good option to recreate the cinema experience at home. Is it? Let’s find out:

Viewsonic X-100 4K+: Build and design

The X-100 4K+ is unlike the usual projectors; it is bulky and quite heavy (close to 7kg). But it is not a usual type, it is a tech-rich projector with standalone utility best suited for ceiling mounted set-up where neither its weight nor size hinders its functioning.

The projector has a motorised lens cover on the front side, and horizontal and vertical lens shift and a zoom ring to adjust the projection size on the top. On the lower right side, there is a power adapter input port and one of the two Harman Kardon-tuned speakers – the other speaker is on the left placed next to the flap covering a keypad for projector controls. The left edge is where an array of connectivity ports are placed. The rear has two huge but silent functioning fans for heat

There is pretty much every connectivity port one would need here, including the HDMI 2.0 / HDCP 2.2, USB 2.0 Type A and Type C, Audio In and Out, RJ45, Ethernet port, ports for speakers, and Wi-Fi input.

The projector comes with a petite looking remote control with backlit keys and a ring on it for image focus correction, besides the usual buttons for navigation, Bluetooth, power, and zoom functions.

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Chinese conglomerate Huawei has reached a patent license agreement with a supplier of Volkswagen Group. According to reports, it was Luxembourg-based Rolling Wireless.

Huawei expects more than 30 million vehicles to be licensed under its patents based on existing license agreements.

The deal covers 4G connectivity in the vehicles.

The agreement includes a license under Huawei’s 4G standard essential patents (SEPs), which covers Volkswagen vehicles equipped with wireless connectivity.

This agreement marks Huawei’s largest licensing deal in the automotive industry, the company said on a statement late on Wednesday.

“As an innovative company, we own a leading patent portfolio for wireless technologies, which creates great value for the automotive industry. We believe this license will benefit worldwide consumers with our advanced technology,” said Song Liuping, Chief Legal Officer of Huawei.

Over the past 20 years, Huawei has entered into more than 100 patent license agreements with major global companies across Europe, the US, Japan, and South Korea.

After facing US sanctions, the company has said it needs to diversify in order to reverse a revenue decline.

In April, the company reported first quarter sales were down 16.5 per cent, largely because Huawei sold off its Honor smartphone brand.

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Homegrown earwear and wearables brand boAt on Wednesday launched an affordable smartwatch called Xtend that offers seven-day battery life, over 50 Watch faces, heart rate, SPO2 and sleep monitoring.

The boAt Xtend is available at an introductory price of Rs 2,999 with a one-year warranty on Amazon and boAt website, the company said in a statement.

The smartwatch comes with built-in Alexa voice assistant.

“We are thrilled to introduce a smartwatch with built-in Alexa which adds a whole new dimension and capabilities to the smartwatch category as whole,” said Aman Gupta, Co-Founder, boAt.

The audio brand in January raised approximately $100 million (over Rs 731 crore) from an affiliate of Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity fund, towards ramping up manufacturing and go global.

The significant investment will enable boAt, that has emerged as the leading brand in India’s true wireless stereo (TWS) market, further fortify its leading market position while widening its R&D capabilities and product portfolio.

The company said that boAt XTEND smartwatch comes with onboard sensors and health monitors such as stress monitor, SPo2 monitor, heart-rate monitor, step counter, sleep monitor as well as a daily activity tracker.

The device features a bright LCD display for great outdoor visibility. It sports a 1.69-inch square ‘capacitive display’ for a smooth experience.

Xtend comes in Olive Green, Sandy Cream, Pitch Black and Deep Blue colours.

The smartwatch also comes with notification alerts for calls, texts, alarms, hydration as well as third-party social media apps.

boAt Xtend packs a 300mAh battery to power through for up to a week on a single full charge.

A 5ATM water resistance allows the watch to survive a depth of up to 50 metres for 30 minutes, the company said.

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LG Group, South Korea’s fourth-largest conglomerate, is apparently looking to beef up its business relationship with Apple, industry insiders said on Tuesday, amid rumours that its electronics affiliate may sell the US tech titan’s products at its retail shops.

LG recently held a special promotion for iPhones, iPads and other Apple products on Lifecare, its online shopping mall for group employees, according to the sources.

This was reportedly the first time that the group offered mobile devices from another smartphone manufacturer for its employee purchase programme, reports Yonhap news agency.

The move came amid growing speculations that LG Electronics may sell Apple products to local consumers at its 400 stores nationwide following its departure from the mobile business.

In April, LG Electronics announced that it will withdraw from the smartphone business by July after years of losses.

Industry insiders said LG Group is looking to boost business ties with Apple for its future growth. The group already has been providing electronics parts, including displays and camera modules, to Apple.

Recently, its electric vehicle (EV) parts joint venture with Magna International Inc., LG Magna e-Powertrain Co., has been linked with Apple’s possible self-driving car development.

LG Uplus, the group’s telecommunications unit, also started to develop an office working system compatible with Apple iOS for employees using iPhones.

Following LG’s exit from the mobile business, Apple has been trying to expand its presence in the South Korean smartphone market that is dominated by its archrival Samsung Electronics.

Apple recently launched a trade-in programme in South Korea to woo consumers with LG smartphones.

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