Poco M6 5G India Launch Date

Poco M6 5G is poised to make its official debut in India this week, as announced by the Xiaomi sub-brand through its social media channels. The brand has shared a poster unveiling the smartphone's design, featuring a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit and a waterdrop-style display notch at the front. Serving as the successor to the Poco M5 launched last year, the Poco M6 5G is rumored to be a rebranded version of the Redmi 13C 5G. Poco has scheduled the launch for December 22, with the event set to take place at 12:00 pm IST, as indicated by the teaser on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Xiaomi has initiated the official rollout of HyperOS

For more than a decade, Xiaomi has been synonymous with its MIUI software, a mainstay for all Xiaomi users. However, in October of this year, a new operating system was introduced – HyperOS. Xiaomi decided to replace the familiar MIUI system with this brand new operating system. HyperOS is designed to unify all Xiaomi devices into a single integrated system and was initially launched as the pre-installed operating system on the Xiaomi 14 series. Now, Xiaomi is expanding the availability of HyperOS to a broader range of smartphones and tablets, with the rollout beginning in the first quarter of 2024.

Xiaomi has announced the availability of HyperOS for the following nine devices:

Zee5 now includes support for Dolby Vision in addition to Dolby Atmos

Zee5 has revealed the incorporation of Dolby Vision support into its streaming service, complementing the existing Dolby Atmos feature. This combined offering aims to provide Zee5 audiences with an unparalleled audiovisual experience. The availability of Dolby Vision and Atmos is restricted to iOS mobile devices, Apple TV, and Android TV users subscribed to the top-tier Premium 4K plan. This enhancement adds further value for premium plan users who already enjoy benefits such as ad-free streaming, connectivity for up to four screens, Live TV, and Dolby Atmos, among other features. Noteworthy titles streaming in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos include the acclaimed "Vikram" starring Kamal Haasan, the recent Hindi blockbuster "Gadar2," the compelling biopic "Tarla," and the captivating Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer "Haddi," among numerous others.

Automatic Album feature is set to be introduced to WhatsApp Channels in the near future

This year, WhatsApp introduced channels as a new communication avenue for users, resembling Instagram broadcast groups. This feature enables users to create exclusive groups where only the admin can send messages, while followers can react using emojis. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has been actively working on enhancing the channel experience, with the latest addition being the "Automatic Album" feature.

Wabetainfo, a platform tracking WhatsApp developments, reported that the Automatic Album feature is currently being tested in the beta version 2.23.26.16, available through the Google Play Beta Program. Similar to individual and group chats, WhatsApp channels will soon automatically generate albums when multiple images or videos are shared consecutively. While this feature is currently accessible to some beta testers, it is expected to reach a broader audience soon.

iQOO Neo9, Neo9 Pro, iQOO Watch and TWS 1e launch date

iQOO has officially announced the upcoming launch of the iQOO Neo9 and Neo9 Pro smartphones, following a series of teasers. Alongside these smartphones, the company will also introduce the iQOO Watch and TWS 1e devices. The iQOO Neo9 is confirmed to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, while the Neo9 Pro will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC. Both devices will also incorporate the Q1 chip for enhanced performance.

The iQOO Neo9 is reported to come equipped with a 6.78-inch 1.5K+144Hz OLED screen, featuring a 16MP front camera housed within a punch-hole design. Its rear camera setup is expected to include a 50MP IMX920 OIS main sensor, accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera. The device is slated to carry a substantial 5160mAh battery and support rapid 120W wired fast charging.

OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R launch date

OnePlus has officially disclosed the India release date for the OnePlus 12, confirming its arrival on January 23 at 7:30 PM. The smartphone's specifications had previously been unveiled in China. Alongside the OnePlus 12, the company is expected to introduce the OnePlus 12R, a more budget-friendly variant of the phone.

Featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, the OnePlus 12 boasts a remarkable 6.82-inch display utilizing Fluid AMOLED technology. The display's resolution is a crisp 1440 x 3168 pixels, providing a pixel density of 557 pixels per inch. To enhance durability against scratches and drops, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Internally, the OnePlus 12 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, utilizing an advanced 5nm process. The CPU incorporates a Kryo 780 architecture, comprising a Prime core with a clock speed of 3.2GHz, three Gold cores running at 2.7GHz, and four Silver cores operating at 2.0GHz. Supporting this is the Adreno 730 GPU, ensuring smooth graphics performance.

POCO C65 launched in India

The POCO C65, POCO's latest smartphone offering in India, is scheduled to be available for purchase on Flipkart starting Monday, just three days after its official launch on December 15. The sales will commence at 12 noon on the e-commerce platform. The phone offers three storage configurations: 4GB+128GB RAM, 6GB+128GB RAM, and 8GB+256GB RAM variants. The pricing is set at ₹8499 for the 4GB+128GB variant, ₹9499 for the 6GB+128GB model, and ₹10,999 for the 8GB+256GB version. Additionally, there's an instant discount of ₹1000 available on ICICI Bank credit/debit cards and EMI transactions.

Apple may introduce design changes to the AirPods lineup in 2024

In 2024, significant changes may be on the horizon for Apple's AirPods lineup, according to insights from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman suggests that the AirPods might undergo a design overhaul, and Apple could potentially introduce two new models during the year. While Apple's customary secrecy still veils specific details, Gurman provides a glimpse into potential developments.

The forthcoming AirPods, tentatively labeled as the "fourth generation," may be offered in two variants, presenting alternatives to the existing AirPods 2 and AirPods 3. Gurman hints at a possible amalgamation of design elements from both the AirPods Pro and standard AirPods, suggesting a departure from the familiar stem design. Additionally, the two new AirPods models could vary in features, with the lower-priced variant likely omitting active noise cancellation, a feature reserved for the higher-priced model and the AirPods Pro.