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Honor X9c 5G India Launch Confirmed

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The Honor X9c 5G India launch has been confirmed and it should take place as soon as this month. The X9c 5G debuted in international markets back in November of last year. Furthermore, it was leaked at that time that the device would come to India by early 2025 and that indeed seems to be the case.

Honor X9c 5G India Launch

The India launch of the mid-ranger by Honor was confirmed through an Amazon microsite. The microsite shows a banner with the X9c 5G in the Titanium Purple colour. In Malaysia, the device was launched in two additional colours including Jade Cyan and Titanium Black as well. While the launch date is yet to be officially confirmed, tipster Paras Guglani says it is set for February 15.

As for the expected price, the X9c 5G should launch around the same price point as the Honor X9b 5G from last year, which began at Rs 25,999. In Malaysia, the Honor X9c starts at MYR 1,499 (approx Rs 28,700) for the 12GB + 256GB variant, while the 12GB + 512GB version is priced at MYR 1,699 (approx Rs 32,500).

Honor X9c 5G: Specifications

Honor X9c 5G sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel that offers a 1.5K resolution, 120hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 4000 nits peak brightness, 437 ppi, and 1.07 billion colours. It is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage.

Honor X9c has a dual rear camera setup including a 108MP f/1.75 primary lens with OIS, and a 5MP ultra-wide f/2.2 sensor. On the front, the device is equipped with a 16MP f/2.45 selfie camera. 

The device is backed by a 6600mAh battery with 66W Fast charging support. It runs on MagicOS 8.0 based on Android 14. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v5.1, GPS, 5G, NFC, and a USB-C port. The device also has an in-display fingerprint sensor for Biometrics and stereo speakers as well.

Grooves Fort Gaming TWS Earbuds Launched in India

Grooves has announced the launch of its ENC Gaming Earbuds Fort. Designed especially for hardcore gamers and entertainment enthusiasts, the Grooves Fort Gaming TWS earbuds deliver an immersive experience sporting up to 80 hours of battery life, up to 45dB noise cancellation, and synchronized audio-visual performance. Here are all the details of the earbuds.

Grooves Fort Gaming TWS Earbuds: Price

The Grooves Fort Gaming TWS is available for Rs 1,699 and can be purchased through Amazon and Flipkart.

Grooves Fort Gaming TWS Earbuds: Features

Each Fort TWS earbud features a large 13mm dynamic drive that is claimed to produce powerful bass and crisp highs. Boasting Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC), the Fort TWS ensures uninterrupted communication, while its CVC noise filtering technology helps capture and enhance human voices accurately.

Whether engaging in intense battles or enjoying a cinematic soundtrack, the earbuds deliver rich, distortion-free sound for every moment. The earbuds use v5.3 for stable and lag-free connections. It further boasts of an ultra-low of 40ms, for real-time synchronized audio and video of split-second actions in fast-paced games and movies.

The Fort TWS gets a ABS spaceship-inspired shell and Jaguar Mechanical RGB lighting. The RGB Breathing charging case adds a vibrant touch, complementing the gaming aesthetic. Each bud weighs just 5.5g, ensuring all-day comfort, while the case’s internal 400mAh battery extends play sessions without frequent recharges for up to 80 hours of continuous use.

In the TWS earbuds space, Noise recently debuted its Air Buds 6 TWS earbuds that support app-enabled customisation with the new BudsLink app. The new App enables users to customize EQ levels, personalize touch controls, and  fine-tune every detail for a “bespoke listening experience.” The Noise Air Buds 6 sport an ANC of up to 32dB and a playtime of up to 50 hours. It stands apart with its integration of Voice, and Context features.

Google Maps on Android Gets Custom Vehicle Icons in Beta

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Google began testing custom vehicle icons in Google Maps on back last year in November and then began rolling them out to a few Android users in December. Now, the Google Maps on Android is rolling out custom vehicle icons in beta more widely and here’s how you can customise yours.

Once you begin a trip to somewhere, Google prompts you to change the regular blue arrow icon to custom vehicle icons if you want to. If you miss that prompt, you can then tap on the ‘Trip options’ icon next to the cross and tap on ‘Vehicle icon while navigating’. Next, you can swipe left and browse through the five new options and with eight same colour options for each one of them.

Google maps custom vehicle icons

The five new custom vehicle icons in Google Maps include a sedan, an SUV, a jeep, a sports car, and a hatchback. You can even choose a colour of your choice for a more personalised touch to the navigation experience on Google Maps.

Custom vehicle icons in Google Maps Android

We spotted the feature in the latest Google Maps Beta on Android bearing version 25.05.02.719889437 on all our devices running, which means it should be available to all beta testers of Google Maps. We couldn’t find the feature on the stable version of Google Maps as of yet.

The reports of arrival of the feature first came back in November in Google Maps on iOS, followed by a limited release on Android a month later.

Back in August of last year, Google redesigned the bottom bar in the Google Maps app on Android. Google Maps reduced its tabs from five to three, removing the Go and Updates tabs in the bottom bar with only “Explore,” “You,” and “Contribute” tabs remaining. The Explore tab remained unchanged, while the Go tab’s functionality got integrated as “Saved trips” under Your lists in the center feed. Further, the “Saved” tab was renamed to the “You” tab, while still offering the same functionality as before.

Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Leaked in Detail Ahead of This Week’s Launch

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Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra leaked specifications and design have spilled the beans over everything Asus will have to offer with this year’s flagship Zenfone. Fortunately, Asus hasn’t completely copied the design of its ROG Phone 9 Pro as it did last year with the Zenfone 11 Ultra where the camera module was a replica of the ROG Phone 8 Pro.

WinFuture shared all the renders as well as the specifications of the Zenfone 12 Ultra. It gets a rectangular model that houses three on the back with the “Asus Zenfone” branding in the middle. The buttons reside on the right while the bottom side houses the USB-C port, a speaker, a 3.5mm audio jack, a mic, as well as the tray. The phone should be made available in three colours including black, light green, and pink. The front has a punch-hole for the selfie sensor while the bezels appear thin and equal on all sides.

Zenfone 12 ultra renders

As for the specs, they do seem similar to the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s specs. The Zenfone 12 Ultra leaked specifications include a 6.78-inch Samsung LTPO display with 2400 x 1080 pixels FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which can reach 144Hz during gaming. It is backed by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, paired with 8GB and 16GB LPDDR5X options and up to 512GB 4.0 storage.

Read More: CES 2025: Asus 2025 ROG Strix SCAR 16/18, Zephyrus G14/G16, 2025 ROG Flow Z13 and More Announced

For optics, it will have a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-700 primary sensor with gimbal stabilisation, coupled with a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 32-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x and OIS. The 32-megapixel front-facing camera is available for selfies and video calls.

A 5,500mAh battery will power the Zenfone 12 Ultra, along with support for 65W fast wired charging and 15W Qi wireless charging. The Zenfone 12 Ultra will run on 15 out of the box and will also integrate features to enhance photography and video recording.

Playground Games Announces Forza Horizon 5 for the PS5

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Forza Horizon 5 for the PS5 is coming later this Spring, as announced by Playground Games. Forza Horizon 5 is the next Xbox exclusive making its way to PlayStation, following titles like Sea of Thieves and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Here are all the details you’d want to know.

With nearly 900 cars available in the game, over 40 thematic game updates, two expansions, and so much more content, Playground Games announced that this spring, PlayStation 5 players will be able to explore Mexico’s beautiful roads and experience the Horizon Festival for the first time.

Forza Horizon 5 for the PS5 is being developed by Panic Button in partnership with Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games. Further, it is confirmed to have the same content as the Xbox and PC releases of the game. Previously released Car Packs, as well as the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions, will also be available for purchase.

Forza Horizon 5

Read More: Nvidia Announces Plans to Launch GeForce NOW Cloud Gaming Platform in India

“We are excited to see the Forza Horizon 5 community grow with new players on PS5, and we can’t wait to see the creativity and skill these new creators, builders, and racers will bring to our vibrant community,” said the company in a blog post.

In addition to bringing Forza Horizon 5 to PS5, the publication it is working on a special new free content update for all platforms called Horizon Realms. “Realms will give players the chance to explore a curated collection of some of the community’s favorite previously released Evolving Worlds, alongside some other surprises.”

Finally, Forza Horizon 5 for the PS5 will have support for cross-play for all players across Xbox consoles, PC and PS5.

Gemini 2.0 Flash AI Model is Now Stable, Replacing 1.5 Pro

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The Google Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model is now stable and is replacing the Gemini 1.5 Pro in the Gemini on as well as on the web. “This model delivers fast responses and stronger performance across a number of key benchmarks, providing everyday help with tasks like brainstorming, learning or writing,” said Google in a blog post.

Gemini 2.0 Flash was announced at the beginning of December last year. Along with 2.0 Flash, Gemini Advanced users will continue to have access to a 1M token context window for up to 1,500 pages of file uploads, priority access to features like Deep Research and Gems, and more.

Further, Google has also upgraded image generation in Gemini to the latest version of Imagen 3. “This model delivers richer details and textures, and follows your instructions with greater accuracy to help bring your creative vision to life,” said Google.

2.0 Flash is now rolling out to all users on the Gemini web and mobile app. “Gemini 1.5 Flash and 1.5 Pro will remain available for the next few weeks for you to continue your existing conversations,” said the company. As of now, we aren’t seeing the upgraded model on our Gemini Advanced account in the Android app, but only on the web. Further, the 1.5 Pro and 1.5 Flash descriptions have changed to “Previous model” while the one for Flash 2.0 says “For everyday tasks, plus more features.”

Later in December, Google also announced the Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental Model. This model is trained to generate the ‘thinking process’ it goes through when the user gives it a prompt. Thinking Mode is available as an experimental model in Google AI Studio, and for direct use in the Gemini API. In other words, it is not available for general consumers in the Gemini app for now.

Google said that the model’s thinking process is returned as a new section in the Thoughts panel in the response window. By default, the Thoughts panel is collapsed. You can expand the panel by clicking the Thoughts header. Unlike the returned response, the contents of the Thoughts panel are not editable in Google AI Studio.

Google Pixel 9a Launch Date Revealed

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Google Pixel 9a launch date has been revealed, suggesting the device will launch slightly earlier than the regular launch timeline for Pixel A series devices, similar to how Google debuted the Pixel 9 series about two months earlier than when it usually used to. Here are all the details about the new development.

As per Android Headlines, the Google Pixel 9a launch date is set for March 19 when it will also begin taking pre-orders for the device. The Pixel 9a will reportedly go on sale from March 26. In the US, the device will start at $499 (approx Rs 43,100) for the 128GB model, with the 256GB model going for $599 (approx Rs 51,800). There will be an extra $50 charged for Verizon’s mmWave model. And in Canada, the pricing is $679 and $809, respectively.

Usually, the device launches around May when Google hosts its I/O annual event. Next, the Pixel 9a will come in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony.

Most of the device’s specifications have already been revealed along with its potential design as well. Same as the rest of the Pixel 9 series, the Pixel 9a will also be powered by the Tensor G4 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage options.

It will have a 6.28-inch 120Hz AMOLED display. The device will also sport a 5,100mAh capacity battery, which is the largest ever battery in a Pixel device, also beating the Pixel 9 Pro XL which has a 5060mAh cell.

Read More: Google Pixel 10, Pixel 11 Camera Capabilities Detailed; iPhone-Like Face Unlock to Make a Comeback

Unfortunately, the charging speeds will remain the same as Pixel 8a, and that is 18 watts, which is kind of disappointing considering most other devices in the same range offer 67W or even higher speeds.

Wireless charging support at 7.5W speeds will also be offered. Pixel 9a will sport a 48-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera at the back, with the front-facing lens also housing a 13-megapixel sensor.

Maruti Suzuki eVitara: Features Revealed, Unofficial Bookings Now Open

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Maruti Suzuki is preparing to enter India’s electric vehicle market with the highly anticipated eVitara, scheduled for launch later this year. Unveiled at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025, the Maruti Suzuki eVitara will compete directly with the Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Curvv EV, and Mahindra BE 06. The company has now revealed its features and colour variants. Further, unofficial bookings for the car have also begun.

Maruti Suzuki eVitara: Features

The eVitara will feature headlights, DRLs, and tail-lights, along with 18-inch alloy wheels. Active air vents on the grille are expected to improve aerodynamics. Inside, it will boast a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Auto and Apple CarPlay, complemented by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

The eVitara will also offer a panoramic sunroof, multi-color ambient lighting, a wireless charger, and an Infinity by Harman audio system with connected car technology.

Additional highlights include ventilated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable drivers seat, reclining and sliding rear seats, and a PM 2.5 air filter. For enhanced performance, the SUV will feature multiple driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sports along with Snow mode, regenerative braking, and one-pedal driving for improved efficiency.

In terms of safety, the eVitara will come equipped with seven airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, rear disc brakes, a 360-degree camera, and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold. It will also feature a Blind Spot Monitor and an Acoustic Vehicle Alarm System for pedestrian safety. The standout addition is Level 2 ADAS, enhancing overall driver assistance and safety.

Read More: Triumph Speed Twin 1200 & 1200 RS 2025 Edition Bikes Launched in India

The Maruti Suzuki eVitara is built on the all-new Heartect-e platform, designed specifically for EVs. The EV will be It will be offered with two battery options: 49 kWh and 61 kWh. The 49kWh unit makes 142bhp and 192.5Nm of torque while the larger battery pack makes 172bhp paired with the same amount of torque. The 61kWh variant is expected to offer an impressive range of up to 500 km on a single charge.

Maruti Suzuki eVitara will come in 10 colour choices. There will be six single-tone colours: Nexa Blue, Splendid Silver, Arctic White, Grandeur Grey, Bluish Black, and Opulent Red. In addition, there will be four dual-tone options: Arctic White, Land Breeze Green, Splendid Silver, and Opulent Red, all featuring a contrasting black roof.

Maruti Suzuki eVitara: Unofficial Bookings Go Live

Selecr dealers across the countey have started accepting unofficial bookings for the new electric SUV by Maruti. Interested buyers can book the eVitara for Rs 25,000 (via Financial Express).


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PC: India Launch Time, Features, Minimum Hardware Requirements

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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PC is all set to release later today in India at 8:30 PM IST (via Steam). Ahead of the release, Sony has detailed the features of Spider-Man 2 for PC including support for NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction, Ray tracing, and more. The game will be available in Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition.

On PC, you’ll encounter a variety of new ray-tracing options with individual quality settings to finetune performance and fidelity across a broad range of hardware configurations. Ray-traced reflections quickly catch your eye in the skyscraper-filled city of Marvel’s New York as you swing along its many glass surfaces. Meanwhile, Nixxes will also be offering ray-traced interiors, shadows, and ambient occlusion options that add an additional layer of believability with realistic shadows and increased depth to the game.

If you have a high-performance PC with high-end hardware, you can take advantage of the increased raytracing geometry detail setting. This enables the use of higher quality meshes for raytracing, resulting in more detailed and realistic reflections. You can also use the raytracing object range slider to increase the range at which objects are considered for raytracing. Furthermore, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PC includes NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction, which improves raytracing quality on supported hardware.

The developer has included two models of NVIDIA’s Ray Reconstruction, the original model introduced in DLSS 3.5, and a newly improved model designed for RTX 40 series GPUs and newer. This new model results in an overall more temporally stable image, further improving the visual quality of raytracing.

Read More: Coming Soon: Xbox Cloud Gaming in LG Smart TVs

Players with ultra-wide monitors can enjoy full support for ultra-wide aspect ratios such as 21:9, 32:9 and even 48:9 when using triple monitor setups. All cinematics in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are adapted to be fully viewable in aspect ratios up to 32:9.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC also supports various performance-enhancing technologies, including NVIDIA DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3.1 upscaling and frame generation. Intel XeSS upscaling is also supported. The developer has also tuned the game for lower-end hardware, where Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PC offers a wide range of graphics settings and presets, including options without ray-tracing, like dynamic scaling.

Spider-Man 2 for PC: Minimum Hardware Requirements

The minimum hardware requirements for the title includes an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT GPU, 16GB RAM, 140GB SSD storage, and Windows 10/11 64-bit
(version 1909 or higher), wherein the game will run at 720p at 30 fps. At a maximum, with highest-end hardware, Spider-Man 2 for PC can run at resolution at up to 60 fps.

Spider-Man 2 for PC: Details of Two Editions

Two editions of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be available when it launches on PC on January 30, including the Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition (DDE). Players will also have the option to upgrade to the DDE content if they already own the Standard Edition. It will be available for purchase through Epic Games Store and the Steam Store. Upon purchase, the previously announced Pre-Purchase offer will be made available to all players as PC Purchase Perks. This includes:

  • +3 Skill Points
  • Arachknight Suit early unlock for Peter with three color variants
  • Shadow-Spider Suit early unlock for Miles with three color variants
  • Web Grabber gadget early unlock

Players will receive two early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit, plus additional benefits like trophies and friend management if they opt to connect to a PlayStation Network account. A PlayStation Network account is optional to play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC.  

Nothing Phone (3a) Series Storage Variants, Colour Options Leaked

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Nothing Phone (3a) Series storage variants and colour options have leaked. The leak also confirms that there’s going to be a Nothing Phone (3a) as well as a Nothing Phone (3a) Pro that will comprise the series. There isn’t a Nothing Phone (3a) Plus that exists, unlike some previous leaks had suggested.

Coming from Android Headlines, the Nothing Phone (3a) series will seemingly arrive on March 4 for when the company has also scheduled a launch event. In addition, the Nothing Phone (3a) series storage variants have also leaked, suggesting the (3a) will be available in two variants, where the first will offer 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The second model will include 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro will arrive in a single model only, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The Nothing Phone (3a) 5G and the Phone (3a) Pro 5G will be available in a black shade. The (3a) will also be available in a White model, while the Pro 5G variant will come in a Gray model.

Some details of the Phone (3a) have already been leaked, suggesting it will come with a bigger 6.8-inch panel compared to Phone (2a)’s 6.7-inch display. Then, it will be powered by thw Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, have a triple camera setup including two 50MP cameras for primary and telephoto lens paired with an 8MP ultrawide and a 32MP selfie camera. It could be backed up by the same 5,000 mAh battery as the Phone (2a). It could run on Nothing OS 3.1 based on Android 15.

Nothing likely also teased the presence of the telephoto sensor via a short video that briefly zooms in on Carl Pei showing a reflection of ‘Launch 4 March’ on his sunglasses, with a noticeable shift in viewfinder as the phone switches lenses about halfway through.