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.

One-Netbook upgrades the Gx1 Pro portable console/laptop with Tiger Lake Core i7-1160G7 CPUs and 7-inch FHD screen

The small form-factor laptops that double as consoles are getting quite popular in China these days. GPD may have been first to market, but the competition is heating up as new players like One-Netbook or AYA keep one-upping each other with more sophisticated models. Speaking of One-Netbook, the company just announced an upgraded Gx1 Pro model powered by Tiger Lake CPUs. We have been hearing rumors about the Tiger Lake models, but now we have the final specs confirmed by One-Netbook itself. It certainly is not the first ever model featuring the new Tiger Lake processors, as GPD already announced its Tiger Lake Win 3 console earlier this year. Still, the new Gx1 Pro stands out with its own suite of advantages.

First off, the Gx1 Pro is the first among the Chinese models to feature a 7-inch 1920×1200 IPS screen, which also supports 10-point multi-touch input. One-Netbook now offers a Tiger Lake i7-1160G7 upgrade over the previous Amber Lake i5-10210Y processors, so it also benefits from the integrated Xe GPU with 96 execution units. The updated version also comes with 16 GB of LPDDR4x-4266 RAM and at least 512 GB of NVMe SSD storage.

Port selection includes 2x Thunderbolt 4 connectors, plus a USB-A 3.0, a micro HDMI video output and a headphone jack. Other features include two detachable game controllers, microSD card reader, WiFi 6 + Bluetooth 5.1 a SIM slot and a 12,000 mAh battery. Design-wise, the upgraded model is identical to the previous iteration that reminds of a miniaturized Alienware Area 51m, except now it comes with an additional all-black color option. With a total weight of 623 g (including controllers) this model is slightly lighter than the competition.

Although pricing has not yet been revealed, we can expect the upgraded model to cost more than the Amber Lake models, so north of $840.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro leak via the FCC and Evan Blass ahead of their launch

Samsung is now rumored to introduce its next-gen TWS earbuds as the Galaxy Buds Pro during the S21 launch event. Now, there is even more evidence for this theory, coming direct from the FCC in the form of a new certification. It is for a product called SM-R190, touted to be these accessories’ model number in a prior leak.

The Commission’s new documentation may also corroborate much of this pre-exising story, right down to the appearance of the name “Buds Pro” on its identifying information, which appears to have been sourced directly from Korean authorities.

This part of the FCC’s assessment also contains a schematic for what is probably the earbuds’ charging case, which gives it a rounded cuboid footprint. A new render freshly posted by Evan Blass on Voice purports to show the same in 3D and full color.

On that note, it looks like the Buds Pro might be styled so as to match every color option currently linked to the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. Blass’ new “Galaxy Buds Pro” renders show a finish that could be called Phantom Violet, at least; furthermore, the FCC lets slip that they may also come in black.

As for the earbuds themselves, their new images also suggest that they go back to the Buds/Buds+ form factor for this new version. Then again, it also looks like this design has been highly refined, and also exhibits the small external grilles seen in the Buds Live. This may be a further hint that Samsung intends to debut these Pros with active noise cancellation (ANC).

Finally, their FCC approval also contradicts earlier reports, in that these “Galaxy Buds Pro” may actually have a charging case with more battery compared to that of the Buds+: 500mAh, rather than 472mAh as in these pre-existing TWS earbuds.

Motorola to release a Snapdragon 888-powered Moto G smartphone in 2021

Motorola wants to recapture some of the ground it lost in the high-end smartphone market. While the Motorola Edge+ may not have made as much of an impression as Motorola hoped it would, it hasn’t dissuaded the company from trying again in 2021. A Motorola spokesperson has confirmed that a Snapdragon 888-powered smartphone is in the works.

Motorola seems to have learned a thing or two from the Motorola Edge+. For starters, Motorola, a company renowned for making low-cost smartphones, cannot launch a US$999 flagship device and expect people to flock to it. The only way out is to target the new ‘affordable flagship’ segment that is dominated by the likes of Realme and Redmi. That is why Motorola has decided to launch its Snapdragon 888-powered smartphone as a part of the Moto G series.

An affordable flagship in the Moto G series will resonate well with long-time fans and new buyers. Even if it priced at around US$500, users wouldn’t mind paying a little extra for top-of-the-line hardware. However, it’ll be a while before we know anything about it, as the smartphone isn’t due for release until late 2021.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 comes out swinging on Geekbench

A new Geekbench 5 entry shows that Vivo is working on a smartphone with the model number ‘V2056A’. According to the listing, the V2056A has a next-generation Qualcomm chipset. Based on previous leaks, it seems that the V2056A has a Snapdragon 888, which Qualcomm announced yesterday. There are now several listings on Geekbench with ‘lahaina’ motherboards, of which the V2056A is one. Additionally, the chipset can be identified as the ‘ARM implementer 65 architecture 8 variant 1 part 3396 revision 0’.

Geekbench also tells us that the V2056A has 12 GB of RAM and is running Android 11, which one should expect from a new flagship smartphone. The listing offers an insight into the performance of the Snapdragon 888 too, albeit only a limited one at this stage. The new chipset appears to have a 25% faster single-core performance than the Snapdragon 865, for example, along with an 11% advantage in multi-core tasks.

According to Geekbench, at least Vivo, OnePlus and Samsung have Snapdragon 888-powered smartphones in development. Realme and Xiaomi have confirmed that they do too, as has Motorola. Qualcomm has confirmed that 13 OEMs have already pledged to release smartphones containing the Snapdragon 888 though, as we have also reported.

Sharkoon intros the TG5 RGB Silent PCGH Edition ATX case

After a few similar ATX cases (at least from a visual perspective), Sharkoon returns with a new case, but this time we are talking about one that focuses on both looks and quietness. According to the official product page, “The TG5 RGB Silent PCGH Edition doesn’t only know how to show off with appearances, but it also makes an impression due to its pleasant quietness.”

The Sharkoon TG5 RGB Silent PCGH Edition comes as the result of a collaboration with PC Games Hardware and has its highlights include three 120-millimeter RGB LED fans on the front and one on the back. The side and front are covered with glass panels, but on the other hand, there are damping mats on the side and top panels. To complete the list of specs and features aimed at quietness, Sharkoon included 800 RPM fans.

This case is spacious enough for most users and can accommodate CPU coolers up to 16.7 centimeters and graphics cards up to 40 centimeters. Obviously, the front or top panels can be used to install radiators for liquid cooling solutions, and the mainboard tray, power supply tunnel, and the HDD/SSD cage provide plenty of space for users who are not happy with just one or two SSDs/HDDs.

Due to the use of custom fans and noise damping mats, the Sharkoon TG5 RGB Silent PCGH Edition is more expensive than its regular siblings. The manufacturer’s suggested price sits at 89.90 Euros (roughly US$108).

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 launched with integrated X60 5G modem, better NPU, faster ISP, and more

Fans and enthusiasts have been waiting with bated breath for Qualcomm’s flagship SoC that will power most 2021 flagship smartphones. Standard naming conventions dictated that it would be called the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875. However, Qualcomm has somewhat of a surprise in store for us. The chipmaker has just announced that it will be called the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 instead. While the name might seem a bit off, it makes sense, considering that the digits are considered lucky in some cultures.

Earlier leaks told us that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 would reuse its predecessor’s 1+3+4 core configuration. We should know more about it soon, as Qualcomm hasn’t divulged any information about the chip’s innards. However, we know for sure that the chipset will come with Qualcomm’s shiny new X60 5G modem that will support both sub-6GHz and mmWave networks. Other 5G-related features include support for both standalone and non-standalone (SA and NSA) networks, multiple SIM cards, and more.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 also comes with a new AI engine that can perform up to 26 trillion operations per second (TOPS). It will go a long way towards improving a heap of camera-centric features like AI-driven portrait mode, colour correction, and more. The new NPU will undoubtedly help OEMs fine-tune on-device optimization features, such as optimizing battery usage, adjusting screen refresh rate, etc.

On the GPU side of things, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 is expected to run the Adreno 660 (tentative) GPU. Its specifics, much like the chip’s core configuration, will be revealed later. However, Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 888’s image signal processor (ISP) is up to 35% faster than its predecessor. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 will power a host of 2021 flagships from companies like OnePlus, ASUS, Sony, Realme, Oppo, Vivo and more. The chipset is expected to debut alongside the Xiaomi Mi 11, which may be launched soon.

Cambridge Audio launches new Melomania Touch earbuds with up to 50 hours battery life

Cambridge Audio has announced its next pair of TWS earbuds, but they are not true successors to the Melomania 1 that we reviewed earlier this year. The company will continue to sell the Melomania 1, but the earbuds will become the entry-level option to the Melomania Touch. As the name suggests, the Melomania Touch has touch controls instead of the buttons that Cambridge Audio included in the Melomania 1, although the changes do not end there.

The Melomania Touch also has 7 mm drivers, which are larger than the 5.7 mm ones found in the Melomania 1. Additionally, battery life has been increased from 36 hours to 50 hours. The earbuds themselves still last up to 9 hours, but the charging case of the Melomania Touch packs a larger battery than the one that the Melomania 1 has. The Melomania Touch also supports USB Type-C charging, which is an upgrade in itself from the micro USB charging of the Melomania 1. According to Cambridge Audio, the Melomania Touch can go from 0% to 100% charge in two hours.

There is no IP rating with the Melomania Touch, which is a shame. However, Cambridge Audio has developed the Melomania app, that is compatible with Android and iOS devices. According to the company, the app has customisable EQ settings, a Transparency Mode and an option for finding your earphones. The app can deliver firmware updates to the Melomania Touch, also. Moreover, the app features High Performance Audio Mode, which Cambridge Audio claims uses ‘hi-fi grade amplification technology’. The earbuds also support Bluetooth 5.0, along with the Qualcomm aptX and AAC codecs.

The Melomania Touch will be available to purchase in Europe, the UK and the US from January 1 2021 for €139.95, £129.95 and US$149.95, respectively. Cambridge has produced black and white versions of the Melomania Touch too, giving people a bit of choice.