The AMD Radeon RX 6700M series will have larger dies than the RX 5700 XT

It has been a few weeks since Patrick Schur published information about the mobile variants of the RX 6700 series, but the software engineer has offered yet more insights into the upcoming RDNA 2 cards. According to Schur, Navi 22 GPUs will have 18.31 x 18.27 mm dies, which equates to a size of 334.52 mm². As Wccftech points out, a die size of 334.52 mm² would be over a third larger than the die of the RX 5700 XT.

Additionally, Navi 21 GPUs will offer up to a 192-bit memory interface split across six chips. Apparently, SKUs with a 192-bit bus width will also have a target TGP of 146 W, although Schur has previously claimed that the Navi 22 XT GPU has a TGP of 186-211 W. By contrast, Navi 22 SKUs with 90, 110 and 135 W TGPs will be limited to a 160-bit bus on five memory chips.

AMD supposedly plans to release Navi 23 and Navi 24 mobile GPUs too, which would make Navi 22 the top-end SKUs of the RX 6000M product stack. Navi 22 GPUs are also expected to offer up to 2,560 cores, 40 Compute Units (CUs) and up to 12 GB of VRAM. RX 6000M laptops should begin arriving in the first half of 2021, just in time to challenge NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series options.

The Nokia 5.4’s specs are allegedly revealed in full in a new leak

Nokia still has time to live up to rumors of new hardware launches before 2021 begins. The 5.4 is allegedly one of the devices in question, and, based on its name, may do so to succeed the 5.3. However, according to a new leak, it may not be a direct translation of that phone’s collection of hardware specs.

Earlier tips have indicated that this putative new x.4 smartphone would debut with a 6.39-inch display, much like the Nokia 3.4. A new one claims to confirm this detail – with the additional kicker that it may be an LCD HD+ panel.

It is also now asserted that the 5.4 will have a footprint very similar to the pre-exising budget device: 160.97 x 75.99 x 8.70 millimeters (mm), with a weight of 182 grams (g).

This latest report also claims that the 5.4 will run on the Snapdragon 662 SoC, whereas the 5.3 has the 665, a very similar 11nm processor that could be perceived as superior as all its 8 cores are clocked at 2.2GHz, whereas those of the 662 can start at 1.8GHz instead. Then again, this could make that chip more power-efficient.

That might be as well, as the 5.4 is now apparently destined for a 4000mAh battery. It might improve on the 5.3 in that it has 128GB of internal storage, yet may stick with 4GB of RAM whereas the older handset has 6GB options.

The Nokia 5.4 is also now said to have 48+5+2+2MP quad rear cameras, a 16MP selife camera, a rear-facing fingerprint sensor and (despite its peri-2021 status) Android 10 out of the box. However, its latest leak still does not include a concrete date for its introduction.

HP EliteBook 830 G8 and EliteBook 840 G8 launched with Intel Tiger Lake CPUs, 5G-enabled nano-SIM card slot, and more

HP has launched a new range of Intel Tiger Lake-powered notebooks tailor-made for 24×7 connectivity. The HP EliteBook 830 G8 and EliteBook 840 G8 feature a host of connectivity features including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, allowing users to stay connected to the internet at all times. HP will divulge more information about the EliteBook 830 G8 and EliteBook 840 G8’s price later this month, as the notebooks are expected to go on sale towards the end of December 2020.

The HP EliteBook 830 G8 and EliteBook 840 G8 come with 11th-generations Intel Tiger Lake CPUs. Both Core i5 and Core i7 variants will be available for purchase, and the top-of-the-line SKU will likely run the Core i7-1165G7 processor. It can be paired with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 3,200MHz and 2TB of solid-state storage via an NVMe SSD. Both RAM slots are user upgradable. Graphics processing is taken care of by an Intel Xe GPU, which has been a standard on most Tiger Lake-powered notebooks without a dedicated graphics card.

The only discernable difference between the HP EliteBook 830 G8 and EliteBook 840 G8 is the screen size. The former comes with a 13.1-inch FHD IPS LCD panel, while the latter has a larger 14-inch screen with the same spec. For an extra price, you can add a layer of what HP calls Sure View Reflect privacy screen, which should help keep the contents of your screen away from prying eyes.

Input options on the HP EliteBook 830 G8 and EliteBook 840 G8 include two Thunderbolt 4.0 ports, one of which can output video, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, one combo audio jack and a nano-SIM card slot. Its 3-cell 53Wh battery supports fast charging at up to 65W via the included charger or any USB PD-complaint device. The included 720p webcam can be paired with optional IR camera for Windows Hello functionality.

The latest Galaxy S21 leaks appear to confirm quad cameras

A YouTube-based leaker’s latest video revolves around what seems to be a live image of actual S21-series handsets. These devices, photographed from the back by a source sakitech claims wishes to remain anonymous, echo the new design linked to the phones in previous rumors, right down to the new kind of camera-hump.

The vlogger points out that the S21 Ultra (the larger of the 2 phones featured in the new still image) has 5 round cut-outs in its pronounced module. Its appearance may have been what led to talk of a penta-camera set-up for this flagship in prior reports. However, there are in fact only 4 lenses visible in this photo, accompanied by a flash and what is now thought to confer laser auto-focus on the phone.

sakitech also now asserts that the actual cameras consist of a 108MP main shooter (possibly the ISOCELL Bright HM3 sensor) with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, rounded out by the dual telephoto solution hinted at in prior leaks. One of these is ostensibly a periscope lens for the rumored 10X spec, whereas the other might handle 3X zoom duties.

The “S21+” next to this phone, on the other hand, is now projected to have two 12MP shooters, one of which is to be for ultra-wide functions, accompanied by a third that, while 64MP in resolution, is slated not to be the primary sensor but is (again) a zoom lens.

These specs may mean these S21 variants pack improvements in the camera department compared to their predecessors, although only to a certain extent, according to sakitech.

This latest S21+/Ultra leak also suggests that Samsung has chosen matte finishes for the rest of their casings, a detail that has been put to good use in the artist Snoreyn’s latest renders for LetsGoDigital. Then again, there are no guarantees this will translate to real-world units sold in 2021 as yet.

These new images also integrate the latest tips on S21 specs and esthetics from other sources such as Ice Universe. Finally, the same blog also now predicts that the new series will start at about €900 (~US$1090) on its release to the European market.

Xiaomi Mi 11 fan-made concept render portrays an exquisite-looking smartphone that apparently has a 5,000-mAh dual-battery capacity

There have been some alleged leaks and glimpses of the Xiaomi Mi 11 and Mi 11 Pro, and fortunately concept designer Ben Geskin has come up with a terrific render of what he thinks the regular model could look like, based on the numerous whispers that have been shared online about the device. The design is sophisticated, with the rear-facing camera unit catching the eye in a positive manner with its already rumored square housing and large main sensor (108 MP?) clearly visible.

From the front there is little to notice in this concept Mi 11 apart from the subtle punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera in the top left-hand corner. The display will supposedly be a quad-curve type, although that is not plainly obvious in the Xiaomi Mi 11 render. If the real thing ends up looking this elegant, it will likely win many fans solely by its appearance. However, Xiaomi will also stuff its next flagship smartphone to the gills with desirable high-end components, including the new Snapdragon 888 SoC.

One of those key parts is the battery, and new certification shared online recently hints at the Xiaomi Mi 11 possibly coming with a dual-battery system that would amount to somewhere in the region of a 5,000-mAh total battery capacity. Noted leaker Digital Chat Station also states that this particular device, which could be the Mi 11 but might also be a different smartphone from the same company, can manage 55 W fast charging and have its depleted battery refilled in just 35 minutes.

A new leak may push LG’s rollable phone closer to a launch date

Rollable phones are an emerging alternatives to foldables, and currently exist as concept or prototype devices in the hands of OEMs such as OPPO, TCL and LG. Now, there is a new hint that the latter is getting them ready for consumers as well.

It comes in the form of a certification for a device called the LM-R910N, which, according to the leaker Tron (or @cozyplanes on Twitter), LG has had approved as an unlocked and carrier-locked phone in South Korea.

This tipster – who also broke the news that this OEM has a new, 16-inch Gram laptop in the works – asserts that it is Project B, the code-name for LG’s first-gen rollable.

Assuming this new leak is accurate, it may be a sign that LG is gearing up to launch “Project B” some time in 2021. It may even be a sign that the OEM aims to be the first to get a extendable display device onto the market, beating others such as the OPPO X 2021 to the punch.

Should this be the case, it may be hoped that this new form-factor will not eventually meet the same fate as other innovative smartphones such as the G Flex series.

Lenovo might announce ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga in the next week

Earlier this year, the names of two new ThinkPad X1 models were leaked: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano and ThinkPad X1 Titanium. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is already available in the USA – the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium meanwhile is nowhere to be found. The last time we heard about it were a few leaked promo videos on Youtube.

2020 is drawing to a close and by this point, we expected to see the ThinkPad X1 Titanium in early 2021, maybe with an announcement at the virtual CES. However, there are new signs that at least the public announcement might still come in this year.

Lenovo has recently updated its Accessories and Options Compatibility Matrix (OCM). The newest version (as of December 6 2020) includes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga Gen 1. Alongside the full-name of the product, the OCM also reveals the model-numbers: 20QA and 20QB. Also, it appears the X1 Titanium Yoga will rely on M.2 2242 SSDs for internal storage, exactly like the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

With the model appearing in the OCM, this might be a hint that an announcement is imminent. At the same time, there is news from China: The Chinese tech-site ITHome reports that Lenovo’s Think division will hold a special event next week, officially launching the ThinkPad X1 Nano in China – and unveiling the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga at the same time. This should be regarded as a rumor at this point, but we might see more of the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga very soon.

Based on prior leaks, we already know that the X1 Titanium Yoga will be a convertible ThinkPad with Intel’s Tiger Lake platform inside. It will be the thinnest ThinkPad laptop yet, with a body completely made out of metal. Judging from the pictures, it looks like the screen will have a 3:2 aspect ratio, though this is not confirmed yet.

LG Gram 2021 launch event announced with four lightweight laptops up for release

LG will present its new Gram laptops in South Korea on December 16, the company has confirmed. The event will commence at 18:00 KST (UTC +9), according to a post on the dedicated LG Gram website. LG is yet to announce anything globally, which suggests that the December 16 event will be limited to South Korea. Nevertheless, LG will probably release its new Gram laptops outside its home market, so the launch event will be relevant to international audiences.

Based on recent findings, LG plans to upgrade its Gram series to Intel’s new Tiger Lake architecture. The timing of LG’s event hints that it will continue to use U-series processors in its laptops, rather than the upcoming Tiger Lake-H series. Currently, LG sells 14-inch, 15.6-inch and 17-inch versions of the Gram, but the company may have added a new model into the mix for its latest refresh.

The FCC and KCC have confirmed that the new 14-inch and 17-inch models will be called 14Z90P and 17Z90P, respectively. LG has recently certified a 15Z95N in South Korea and with the FCC, so a new 15.6-inch model appears to be also on the way. Additionally, LG has registered the model number 16Z90P, which implies that the company plans to release a 16-inch version of the Gram, too. There are hardly any 16:9 and 16-inch displays, so a 16-inch Gram will probably have a 16:10 aspect ratio, like the current 17-inch model.

In short, it seems that LG will release 14, 15.6, 16 and 17-inch versions of the Gram this month. However, the Z95N model number of the 15.6-inch SKU insinuates that it will differ from the 14, 16 and 17-inch variants somehow.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 with more than 20 hours battery runtime, but no performance advantage over the MacBook Air

We have already reviewed the MacBook Air 2020 with Apple’s own M1 processor, ans especially the removal of the annoying chassis fan is a step in the right direction. The entry-level MacBook Pro 13 with 2x Thunderbolt ports also got the M1 update, but it keeps the active cooling solution. The Pro is also equipped with the Touch Bar and a slightly bigger 58.2 Wh battery. We have initial test results, but we are a bit surprised by the performance figures.

CPU and GPU Performance

It is obviously no secret that Apple uses identical M1 chips with 8 CPU and 8 GPU cores for the MacBook Pro 13 as well as the MacBook Air. However, there is no difference between the two models in the initial benchmarks. We expected more headroom for the processor due to the fan, but the active cooling unit only seems to be ensuring the consistency of the performance (which it does). This means most users will never notice a difference between the two MacBooks.

Battery Runtime

Compared to the MacBook Air (49.9 Wh), the MacBook Pro 13 has a slightly bigger 58.8 Wh battery pack, so the battery runtime is also a bit longer. We recorded more than 20 hours in our Wi-Fi web browsing test at 150 nits, which is great. Similar to the MacBook Air, we see a roughly 50 % shorter result when we repeat the test at the maximum brightness setting (which is also higher than MBA at >500 nits). This result once again confirms that the display is the biggest consumer in these kinds of scenarios.

The battery runtime seems to the be the only real advantage of the new MacBook Pro 13 over the MacBook Air so far. The performance is pretty much identical, only sustained workloads will benefit from the active cooling in the Pro. However, the performance drop is not that severe on the passively cooled MacBook Air, so we really don’t think this will be a deciding factor for the target audience. We are still running our tests and the full review of the MacBook Pro 13 will clarify whether the MacBook Pro 13 with the M1 CPU is a good upgrade or if you should just get the less expensive MacBook Air.

NVIDIA sets expectations for more RTX 3060 cards as it publishes RTX 3060 Ti performance benchmarks

So, NVIDIA announced the RTX 3060 Ti yesterday, but a blog post by the company has also confirmed that more RTX 3060 cards are on the way. There have been rumours that NVIDIA plans to release an RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 mobile early next year, although the company is yet to state that this is the case.

Nonetheless, NVIDIA describes the RTX 3060 Ti as being ‘the first member of the RTX 3060 family’, so it definitely has subsequent RTX 3060 releases planned. The same blog post also contains the benchmark chart that Videocardz published in mid-November, confirming the latter’s authenticity. NVIDIA leans heavily on the claim that the RTX 3060 Ti outperforms the RTX 2080 SUPER, although the chart makes a point of comparing the Ampere card with the RTX 2060 SUPER too, which one would hope is the case. We have included the chart published by Videocardz also as this includes data labels, which the official chart lacks.

Concrete details on the RTX 3060 are scarce for now, although Videocardz claims that NVIDIA will base the card on its GA106-400 GPU. Moreover, RTX 3060 is thought to feature 3,840 CUDA cores and will be offered with 6 GB and 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Nothing is known about the mobile version, or versions of the RTX 3060, though. Wccftech reports that the graphics card will be available with AMD Ryzen 5000H and Intel Tiger Lake-H series processors, but no details about the RTX 3060 Max-P or Max-Q have been leaked so far.