Vivo has announced the launch of T3 Pro 5G in India, set for August 27 at 12PM. The brand has also revealed the handset’s design, confirming it will be available in orange. By the looks of it, the device seems to be a rebranded iQOO Z9s Pro that’ll be launching in India tomorrow, August 21.

Vivo T3 Pro 5G: India Launch

The brand has confirmed that it will launch the Vivo T3 Pro 5G on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 12 noon. The device is also confirmed to be available via Flipkart for purchase, likely alongside Vivo’s own online E-store.

Vivo T3 Pro 5G: Expected Specifications

The Vivo T3 Pro 5G will likely sport a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate and 4500 nits peak brightness. It should be powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC, coupled with up to 12GB LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.

It should be backed by a triple rear camera system, including a 50MP f/1.79 Sony IMX882 main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle f/2.2 sensor, and a 2MP f/2.4 bokeh sensor. On the front, it could get a 16MP f/2.45 selfie sensor.

It may pack a 5500mAh battery with 80W Fast charging support. For biometrics, there will be an in-display fingerprint sensor. For audio, it will have a stereo speaker setup. The device will run on FunTouch OS 14, based on Android 14. Connectivity options could include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS, 5G, and a USB-C port for charging.

Vivo T3 Pro 5G: Expected Price

According to the leaked specifications, the Vivo T3 Pro 5G will likely be priced around or below Rs 25,000. There’s no word on the official pricing details as of now, but it should be similar in price to the iQOO Z9s Pro 5G, as both are essentially the same devices.

Qualcomm has been consistently pushing new processors and an upcoming Chipset dubbed Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 has now been leaked. Successor to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 from last year, the 7s Gen 3 is expected to bring improvements across the board, including support for Generative AI.

As leaked by Evan Blass on X, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is expected to boast about 20% improvement in CPU. This 7s Gen 2 included an octa-core CPU configuration consisting of four Cortex A78 performance cores running at 2.4GHz and four Cortex A55 efficiency cores operating at 1.95GHz.

The recently leaked benchmark listing for the 7s Gen 3 suggests it scored 1,157 and 3,157 in single-core and multi-core tests, similar to those of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3. The leak showed a 15% single-core and 12% multi-core performance bump over the 7s Gen 2. The leak added that it gets a tri-cluster CPU with the prime core clocked at 2.5 GHz, three performance cores at 2.4 GHz, and four efficiency cores at 1.8 GHz.

Read More: Qualcomm Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 Announced, to Enable 5G in sub-$100 Smartphones

For the GPU, it uses an Adreno 810 clocked at 480 MHz. The GPU will bring about a 40% improvement, as per Evan’s leak on X. His leak further adds that the chip will bring 30% better AI performance and 12% more overall power savings. For connectivity, it’ll get 5G Modem-RF system, Bluetooth v5.4, and Qualcomm’s FastConnect system. Camera will include a triple-bit ISP, AI remoasic, and video retouch support.

For gaming, there’ll be Adaptive Perf Engine 3.0 with VRS Pro and AFME. Audio features will include Spatial audio support, Qualcomm aptX lossless audio support, along with Aqstic speaker max and Hi-Fi DAC. Finally, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 will also include AI features such as Gen AI along with multi-language translation and transcription.

Oppo A3 5G has been launched in India with a MediaTek Dimensity processor. The Oppo A3 5G already debuted in China back in July but the Indian counterpart of the same is a completely different device not only in terms of specs but also design. Here’s what the new Oppo A3 5G has to offer.

Oppo A3 5G: Price, Availability

Oppo A3 5G has been launched in the country in Ocean Blue and Nebula Red shades for Rs 15,999. It can be bought via Oppo’s online store.

Oppo A3 5G: Specifications

The Oppo A3 5G sports a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution, 240Hz touch sampling rate and a Refresh Rate of 120Hz. The device supports up to 1000 nits of peak brightness and supports 16.7 million colours.

Then, it gets a single rear camera with a 50MP f/2.0 primary sensor. There’s a 5MP f/2.2 sensor on the front for selfies. It packs a 5100mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging. The handset comes with a MIL-STD-810H military-grade shock resistance certification and is also claimed to offer an IP54 rating.

The Oppo device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC under the hood paired with 6GB LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128GB eMMC 5.1 storage which is expandable via a microSD card.

It further gets a USB-C port for charging and support for USB 2.0 data transfer, alongside a 3.5mm Audio Jack and a speaker. There’s also Bluetooth v5.3, Wi-Fi 5, and GPS for wireless connectivity. It runs on ColorOS 14.0.1 based on Android 14.

Oppo A3 5G: Competition

The Oppo A3 5G competes with the likes of the HMD Crest Max and the Infinix Note 40X 5G in India. Compared with the Crest Max, the Oppo A3 5G lacks behind in display resolution and the type of display used, cameras, RAM, and storage. For a price of Rs 16,499, the HMD Crest Max is a better overall offering.

As for the Infinix Note 40X 5G, it gets the same processor as the Oppo device, but gets a better display, more RAM and storage, NFC support, and most importantly, a cheaper price tag of Rs 14,999.

In recent developments, Google has come under scrutiny for allegedly encouraging reviewers to provide overly positive feedback on its newly announced Pixel 9 smartphone through its Team Pixel program. This program, which has been a cornerstone of Google’s marketing strategy, involves sending devices to influencers and tech reviewers in exchange for coverage.

Screenshots of the recent Team Pixel program recruitment survey have been spreading on X, suggesting that Google has been subtly pressuring members of the Team Pixel program to highlight the Pixel 9’s strengths while downplaying any potential shortcomings. 

This has raised concerns about the authenticity of reviews and the ethical implications of such practices. One of the screenshots shared by X user Mark’s Tech shows a question from the Team Pixel program survey: “By opting into this program, do you acknowledge that you are expected to feature the Google Pixel device in place of any competitor mobile devices? Please note that if it appears other brands are being preferred over the Pixel, we will need to cease the relationship between the brand and the creator.”

Tech creators, such as MKBHD, took to X to express their views on the matter. Arun Maini, popularly known as MrWhoseTheBoss on YouTube, also shared on X that his critical opinion of last-gen Pixel devices is the reason Google hasn’t sent him a review unit of the new Pixel 9 series phones this year.

Critics further argue that such practices could mislead consumers who rely on unbiased reviews to make informed purchasing decisions.

Read More: Google Meet App Redesigned, Also Gains New Video Calling Features

What is Team Pixel?

Google isn’t solely responsible for such a move, as its Team Pixel program is run by a PR agency named 1000Heads. For context, the initial idea behind Team Pixel was to collaborate with content creators with moderate to large audiences and utilize social media platforms to boost the adoption and sales of Pixel phones. It is run only in the US for creators based in the region.

X user Max Weinbach shared screenshots of emails sent to members of the Team Pixel program when it started in 2019, highlighting how it used to work. The screenshots show that Google clearly asked creators to express their honest views and opinions about the device and always use hashtags like #GiftFromGoogle or #TeamPixel to denote they were a part of the program. Moreover, there was also no contract to sign.

However, recently, and based on the leaked screenshots, it seems like 1000Heads has adopted a new strategy of coercing creators and reviewers to praise the Pixel 9 in front of its competitors or else they’ll be kicked off the program.

Again, if true, these are poor and disappointing tactics from the agency that needs to be suspended at the earliest. This is where Google comes at fault, where it should have put a stop to it as soon as they were made aware of it.

As the tech community awaits further clarification from Google, the allegations surrounding the Team Pixel program serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency and integrity in product reviews. Being linked to paid reviews or similar tactics is one of the most damaging allegations a brand can face. Whether these claims hold water or not, they underscore the need for consumers to critically evaluate the sources of their information.

Motorola has announced the launch of a new 5G smartphone in India and it’s the Moto G45 5G. The device comes with a Qualcomm snapdragon Chipset under the hood, paired with 128GB of storage, up to 8GB of RAM, and much more. Here’s everything to know about the Moto G45 5G.

Moto G45 4G: India Price, Availability, Launch offer

The Moto G45 5G is priced at Rs 10,999 for the 4GB + 128GB model and Rs 12,999 for the 8GB + 128GB trim. It will be available for purchase via Flipkart, Motorola.in and leading retail stores starting 28 August 2024, 12 PM onwards in Viva Magenta, Brilliant Green, and Brilliant Blue shades which have a vegan leather back panel finish.

Buyers can avail a Rs 1000 instant discount on Axis Bank, and IDFC First Bank credit card and credit card EMI Transactions from August 28 till September 10.

Moto G45 5G: Specifications

The Moto G45 5G sports a 6.5-inch 120Hz display with an HD+ Resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels, 240Hz touch sampling rate, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and a punch-hole design for the selfie sensor.

It further gets a 16MP f/2.4 front-facing camera for selfies. The device is confirmed to be powered by the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 SoC paired with 128GB storage that’ll be expandable up to 1TB. The handset will come in two RAM variants, one with 4GB and one with 8GB.

Read More: Motorola Edge 50 Neo: Everything We Know So Far

The G45 5G packs a 5000mAh battery with 18W TurboPower fast wired charging. There will be a dual rear camera setup, which will include a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor, while the second sensor is a 2MP f/2.4 macro lens.

It will run on Android 14 out of the box, and will get 1 major OS upgrade and 3 years of security patches. The device also gets features like Dolby Atmos with stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio, Smart Connect, and support for 13 5G bands. For connectivity, it features Bluetooth v5.1, Wi-Fi 5, GPS, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB-C port for charging. It is also IP52 rated.

The Ultra models in the Samsung Galaxy S-series abandoned their original design language to adopt the Galaxy Note-inspired design language, beginning with the Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra could finally ditch that design and go back to its roots, adopting the classic Galaxy S-series design that the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the Galaxy S21 Ultra had.

Leaked by tipster IceUniverse on X, the first rumoured render of the front of the Galaxy S25 Ultra shows that the device will adopt a more rounded design in place of the sharp corners we have seen in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, S23 Ultra, and this year’ S24 Ultra, too. A photo showing the S24 Ultra and the S25 Ultra side-by-side was also shared by the tipster, clearly highlighting how different the S25 Ultra’s design will look in comparison to the past three Ultra flagship models from Samsung.

While the display will remain completely flat, identical to the S24 Ultra, it will have even slimmer bezels. The rounded corners aren’t as round as the S20 Ultra and the S21 Ultra, but they are still more curved than the last three Ultra flagships. Again, we’ll have to wait for a couple of more months for more high-quality leaked renders and, of course, until next year for the official reveal.

As for past leaks regarding the upcoming Galaxy S25 series, Samsung is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in all three of the S25 series devices, once again departing from the dual-chip strategy it used in the Galaxy S24 series. Reports suggest it is likely due to Samsung’s inability to achieve the desired yield results with the 3nm node it uses to produce the Exynos 2500 processor.

Aside from that, the company itself confirmed that the series will get “top-of-the-line upgrades” in the camera and display departments specifically. Rumours also indicate the same for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which could feature significant camera upgrades, including a 50MP 3x zoom and a 50MP ultra-wide lens (up from 10MP and 12MP, respectively, on the Galaxy S24 Ultra), aligning with the new 50MP 5x periscope.