Alleged Galaxy S21+ Geekbench listing paints a grim picture of the Exynos 1000

Last week, some alleged Exynos 1000 Geekbench scores showed up online. Its single-core score was in the ‘too good to be true’ territory, as the chip convincingly outperformed a Qualcomm Snapdragon 875. The silicon has made yet another appearance on Geekbench, and the numbers look a lot more somber this time around.

Twitter user Abhishek Yadav stumbled upon what appears to be a Samsung Galaxy S21+ running the Exynos 1000. It snags a single-core score of 1,038 and a multi-core score of 3,060. That is a far cry from the 1,302 and 4,060 scores from last time. However, last year’s Exynos 990 snagged a single-core score of 773, so the Exynos 1000 is at least 20% faster than its predecessor in that regard. Furthermore, the Snapdragon 875 also fares similarly with a single-core score of 1,102, so Samsung isn’t too far off. However, Qualcomm gets ahead in the multi-core department with a score of 4,113. The Galaxy S21’s Geekbench listing also confirms that the Exynos 1000 will be running an ARM Mali G78 GPU, effectively confirming that we may have to wait a bit longer before we see AMD’s GPU in action. 

Considering that the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is still several months from release, there is no way for us to confirm these alleged numbers. The Exynos 1000’s abysmal performance could very well be due to the phone running unstable software. In the weeks leading up to the Galaxy S21 series’ release, the rumor mill will be overflosing with multiple Geekbench scores, so it’s best if we reserve judgment for then. Both chips appear to outperform their respective predecessors by a wide margin. The transition to Samsung’s 5nm EUV process node probably has a part to play in it, along with ARM’s newest Cortex-A1 super core.

Intel announces IoT-specific variants of Tiger Lake Core i3, i5 and i7 processors

Intel has introduced new processors dedicated to IoT applications at its latest Industrial Summit (September 2020). The chipsets are 11th-gen and have Xe graphics with a maximum of 4 cores/8 threads each and TDPs of up to 28W. Nevertheless, they are still capable of supporting up to 4 4K/60fps HDR (or dual 8K/60fps SDR) monitors.

Therefore, they may be more able to drive modern, demanding display rigs or machine vision, both of which may be informed by AI. To this end, the Tiger Lake derivatives are also enhanced with features such as Intel Deep Learning Boost and Time Coordinated Computing. They are geared toward reduced latency and improved cycles, which may benefit robotics or next-gen edge.

The new Intel Core for IoT processors are, accordingly, essentially E-variants of previously-announced 11th-gen chipsets. They are the i7-1185G7E, i5-1145G7E and i3-1115G4E. There are also industry-specific SKUs: the i7-1185GRE, i5-1145GRE and i3-1115GRE. They clock up to 4.4GHz, have integrated GPUS with up to 96 execute units (EUs) and up to 12MB caches (in the i7s).

Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2 get ECG functionality in the United States

While the Galaxy Watch Active 2 was nearly up there with an equally-specced Apple Watch upon its release in December 2019, its ECG (electrocardiogram) functionality got switched on much later. Even the recently-released Galaxy Watch 3 shipped with the feature disabled in several regions. Users based in the United States will be pleased to know that they will soon be able to take ECG readings from the comfort of their smartwatch.

The United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) gave Samsung the go-ahead to switch on ECG functionality on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3. Users will be able to access it via the Samsung Health Monitor app in the coming weeks. The app will also prompt users about symptoms like fatigue or dizziness. One can set to app the automatically send the complete ECG report to a pre-determined contact in case of any discrepancies.

Earlier this year, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 was certified to measure blood pressure in South Korea. The Galaxy Watch 3 will likely join it soon. Ideally, both features should make it to the United States once the FDA greenlights it. There’s no telling when that will happen, though, so the best we can do for now is sit tight.

DeskMini X35G: New Mini PC comes with an Intel Ice Lake processor, 16 GB of RAM, Thunderbolt 3 and Dual Gigabit Ethernet

MINISFORUM has introduced its new Mini PC, the DeskMini X35G. Unlike the S40, the DeskMini X35G includes an Intel Ice Lake CPU among many other potent components. The machine measures 136.5 x 121.5 x 40.5 mm and weighs around 500 g – MINISFORUM is yet to provide a specific weight. At the heart of the DeskMini X35G is a Core i3-1005G1 processor, which features two cores and Intel Hyper-Threading support. The 15 W chip can Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz and integrates Intel UHD Graphics.

Also on board is 16 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, along with an M.2 2280 NVMe slot that supports Intel Optane memory. Additionally, there is a 2.5-inch drive bay that could also be utilised for an M.2 2280 SATA SSD. The inclusion of an Intel CPU allowed MINISFORUM to provide a Thunderbolt 3 port, which it has supplemented with four USB Type-A ports. Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports have been included too, as has a memory card slot. If wired internet is not your thing, then you could use the machine’s Wi-Fi 6 modem instead.

The DeskMini X35G has two dedicated video outputs, DisplayPort and HDMI 2.0, but it can also utilise DisplayPort Alt Mode to output in up to 5K and 120 Hz via its Thunderbolt 3 port. CNX Software claims that MINISFORUM will bring the DeskMini X35G to Indiegogo in October. The machine will start at US$399 on the crowdfunding website with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage.

The Asus ROG Phone 3 will be released to North America soon, as confirmed by the FCC

The ROG Phone 3 arrived as the world’s most powerful Android gaming phone of the time, as with its predecessors, at the end of July 2020. It was pitched at most major regions, including Europe, India and North America, on its launch. However, the phone has yet to appear on Asus’ US site, or with major retailers in the same country.

This is said to be due to delays in getting the phone approved to use 5G in the region in question. However, this may no longer be the case, as it has been certified by the FCC. This filing, completed on September 22, 2020, may put the latest ROG Phone closer to launch in the US.

Furthermore, another leak suggests it has also been cleared by Canadian authorities. Should this be the case, the 2 countries may have access to the Snapdragon 865+ (or 865 in the Strix edition) processor, up to 12GB of RAM and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port. Then again, there is no official word from Asus on the availability of this high-powered flagship.

Huawei MatePad T8 reveals itself in our review: Without Google, it is not worth a lot

The T8 proved to be what claims to be in our review: A cheap Android tablet. The MatePad T8 rounds off Huawei’s low-priced MatePad series.

When it comes to performance, build quality and battery life, the entry-level Huawei tablet is very competitive. Whether or not any device should ship with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of eMMC memory in the year 2020 is still open to debate. However, in our opinion, no device with a 5100-mAh battery should come with a 5-watt charger. A microUSB port is also inappropriate in the year 2020, even for a budget tablet.

In addition to these minor points of criticism, Huawei also failed to provide its entry-level tablet with any unique features such as Huawei M Pencil support. Moreover, the hardware is also not special and is on the level of a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 from the year 2019. The MatePad T8 does not offer any major advantages when it comes to the screen or the SoC, either. Additionally, because Huawei is barred from using Google Play services or Google applications, the tablet only supports Huawei Mobile Services. 

If you are interested in the MatePad T8 and want to learn more about it, then you should check out our extensive review of the Huawei MatePad T8. 

LG K71 unveiled with a 6.8-inch display and stylus support

LG has released another smartphone with stylus support, the K71. The device has gone live in Central America and the Caribbean but is unclear how the device will cost or whether it will receive a wider release. Nonetheless, the K71 has a 6.8-inch ‘U-Notch’ display that LG describes as having an FHD+ resolution. 

Underpinning the device is a 4,000 mAh battery, 4 GB of RAM and a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset. 128 GB of storage is also onboard, as is a slot for the device’s stylus. LG has situated three cameras on the back of the K71 too, along with a capacitive fingerprint scanner. The primary camera of these is a 48 MP sensor, which LG has complemented with 5 MP ultra-wide and depth sensors. Additionally, there is a 32 MP selfie camera.

LG has included a USB Type C port and a 3.5 mm jack, underlining that the K71 is a mid-range handset. The device measures 171.4 x 77.7 x 8.7 mm and weighs 220 g, making it slightly larger than the gargantuan LG V60. 

The Apple AirPods Studio may have a U1 chip for seamless wearing as supposed video leaks

Just a few days ago, @choco_bit revealed the supposed design of the Apple AirPods Studio, much to the chagrin of other leakers like Jon Prosser. Since we reported on it, @choco_bit also published a video showing the AirPods Studio in white. Again, the publication of this video caused a lot of bother on Twitter. It seems fairly nondescript to the untrained eye, but you can make up your mind after having watched it below. 

Now, @L0vetodream has shared more information about Apple’s first AirPods-branded over-ear headphones. Specifically, it concerns the inclusion of Apple’s U1 chip, which the company uses in the iPhone 11 series and the Watch Series 6. The U1 is an ultra-broadband chip that Apple uses to determine the precise location of another U1-equipped device. The iPhone 11 can, for example, find another U1 device via AirDrop by just pointing them at each other. The advent of AirTags is expected to bring greater versatility to the U1 chip as it will make it much easier to find devices like a missing pair of AirPods.

Apple will utilise the U1 in the AirPods Studio to automatically assign the correct audio channel regardless of orientation, according to @L0vetodream. This had been rumoured before, but it had been unknown how Apple would implement the feature. Apple is expected to announce the AirPods Studio for US$349 in multiple colours and styles.

Samsung launches the 980 PRO SSD globally

Samsung now officially pitches its state-of-the-art 980 PRO solid-state drive (SSD) at “professionals and consumers who want cutting-edge performance in their high-end PCs, workstations and game consoles”. On that note, it is slated to be the storage associated with the PlayStation 5. The OEM made no mention of this in its launch announcement, however, although it did confirm its PCIe 4.0-readiness.

Samsung notes that it has developed its own Elpis controller, DRAM and triple-figure-layered V-NAND so as to best harness this updated interface. Therefore, it may support the 980 PRO’s rated 7GB/s and 5GB/s sequential read and write speeds. The NVMe memory may also get up to 1 million IOPS in random read and write speeds, if only in its 1TB SKU.

On that note, the new SSD comes in 250GB, 500GB or 1TB SKUs. Each of them will feature the 980 PRO’s new heat-spreader sticker and nickel controller coating for “efficient thermal management”. Samsung has set approximate pricing guidelines that start at about US$89.99 for the 980 PRO’s base model.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S and Redmi Note 9 Pro receive MIUI 12 update as OS upgrade goes global for the Mi Mix 3 5G

Xiaomi has released MIUI 12 to the Redmi Note 9S, Redmi Note 9 Pro and Mi Mix 3 5G. The latter had already received the OS upgrade on the European branch of MIUI, but the new update is the first for global handsets. The update may bring MIUI 12 to more owners of the Mi Mix 3 5G, but Xiaomi continues to palm the device off with Android 9.0 Pie. In fact, the Mi Mix 3 5G is one of the few smartphones to receive Android 9.0 Pie builds of MIUI 12.

It is worth bearing in mind that the update, called V12.0.1.0.PEMMIXM, is currently a Beta Stable build. This means that Xiaomi is pushing V12.0.1.0.PEMMIXM to select devices to rule out any last bugs before it issues it to all handsets. However, you should be able to install it manually via the link below through recovery mode.

Similarly, a Beta Stable build of MIUI 12 is available for the Redmi Note 9S and Redmi Note 9 Pro. V12.0.1.0.QJWINXM can be downloaded manually but only for devices that been enrolled on the Indian branch of MIUI. V12.0.1.0.QJWINXM is based on Android 10 for reference, unlike V12.0.1.0.PEMMIXM for the Mi Mix 3 5G. The inaugural MIUI 12 update for the Redmi Note 9S and Redmi Note 9 Pro should denote the beginning of MIUI 12 upgrades for other branches of MIUI. These should include the global, European, Russian and Turkish branches, although it has been months since Xiaomi upgraded the Redmi Note 9S in the latter region.