The XtendTouch Pro is the world’s first portable 15.6-inch AMOLED touchscreen monitor promising 10-bit color, full DCI-P3 coverage, and 4K resolution

Though we’ve checked out a bunch of portable monitors in the past, the XtendTouch Pro XT1610UO from Pepper Jobs is one of the first with an AMOLED panel. AMOLED technology offers significant advantages over standard IPS including much faster response times, higher contrast ratios, and deeper colors that digital artists can appreciate. The manufacturer has sent us a pre-production sample for our initial thoughts and impressions on the monitor. 

Most portable monitors are notable for being fragile like the Lepow or Auzai ME16Z01. To our surprise, however, the XtendTouch Pro manages to be both rigid and light at just 850 g without its faux leather cover (or 1.35 kg with the cover on). The glass front contributes to the inflexibility of the unit for a high quality feel even if the back is matte plastic.

Port options are decent as the monitor integrates mini-HDMI and multiple USB-C ports. Nonetheless, some other portable monitors like the C-Force CF011C are able to integrate full-size USB-A and HDMI ports which are arguably more user-friendly. Most users will have to rely on mini-HDMI or USB-C adapters for the XtendTouch Pro.

The OSD is one of the best we’ve seen on any portable monitor. It’s easy to navigate, the texts and controls are large, and there are plenty of customizable options. The button along the left edge to initiate the OSD, however, could have been larger and less spongy.

Display quality is a mixed bag. On paper, AMOLED displays can offer very accurate colors and deep black levels, but the main problem on the XtendTouch Pro is that its AMOLED panel has not been properly calibrated at factory. In other words, users will likely have to calibrate their displays themselves to get the most out of the portable monitor since colors and RGB balance are not great out of the box. This may change when the XtendTouch Pro is ready for mass production, but we can only share our experiences with the unit we have here.

Our X-Rite colorimeter reveals an overly warm color temperature and an average grayscale deltaE value of 4.1 as shown by our screenshots below. Calibrating the panel ourselves fixes these issues by flattening the RGB balance curve, bringing gamma closer to the sRGB ideal of 2.2, increasing the color temperature, and reducing deltaE grayscale to as low as 1.1. Unfortunately, contrast ratio is unusually low at just ~350:1 which is not normal for an AMOLED panel. We tried switching to different preset color profiles including sRGB, AdobeRGB and DCI-P3, but contrast ratio would not improve.

The brightness setting does not appear to be working as intended on our pre-production unit. At 0 percent and 100 percent, brightness is just 216 and 389 nits, respectively. Keep in mind that the manufacturer is advertising a maximum brightness of 650 nits which we are unable to reproduce. We used the included USB-C cable and docking station to power our monitor prior to running these tests.

Response times and gamut seem to be on the money as advertised by the manufacturer. Our own readings reveal black-white and gray-gray response times of under 2 ms each to be faster than any IPS solution. Users can expect full AdobeRGB and DCI-P3 coverage which most other portable displays cannot offer. Refresh rate, however, is limited to 60 Hz whereas IPS panels designed for gaming can go upwards of 144 Hz or more.

A major downside to the XtendTouch Pro is that its docking station is very heavy at 667 g. Though well-made, the dock is not as travel-friendly as most other AC adapters for smartphones or Ultrabooks. The last thing we need is more AC adapters for different devices when on-the-go.

We tried connecting our Huawei Mate 10 Pro smartphone to the monitor, but we couldn’t get a picture at all even after connecting a second USB-C cable for additional power. In comparison, our smartphone worked without any issues on the C-Force CF011C.

The XtendTouch Pro XT1610UO looks promising even if our engineering sample still has a few kinks to iron out. Its $700 USD retail price is quite hefty when you consider that most larger professional desktop monitors also cost at least that much. Thankfully, the manufacturer is already aware of the panel issues even prior to our testing which gives hope of a better visual experience when the monitor launches. We know AMOLED is capable of so much more than what we’ve seen here.

Realme confirms an Indian launch for the X7 and X7 Pro

One of the most interesting things about mobile tech in 2020 is the rise of the Dimensity SoC series. MediaTek has managed to develop these 5G processors in order to target numerous tiers of the smartphone market that might otherwise be dominated by the same few Snapdragon equivalents, while also providing some arguably necessary competition in the same spaces. On the other hand, the intriguing (and increasingly well-priced) devices based on these processors have rarely made it out of what is often their home market of China.

Now, Realme has affirmed it is working on changing that with the launch of the X7 series in a new market. These phones may be a big hit there, particularly as the Pro variant rocks the highest-end Dimensity 1000+ chipset and a 120Hz AMOLED display.

The vanilla model also offers the lesser-spotted Dimensity 800U. Given these specs, it is a slight shame that they will only reach India by 2021. Realme India’s CEO, Madhav Sheth, has stated that this is indeed the case in a recent tweet.

Then again, the executive also mentioned that the X7s are just the tip of the incoming Realme 5G-berg in India. Therefore, more potentially Dimensity-powered phones making it to this market may improve the chances that they will also start gravitating towards others in the near future.

Sapphire Radeon RX 6800 & RX 6800 XT Nitro+ now up for pre-order

Sapphire Tech has quite a few video cards based on the Radeon RX 6800 and Radeon RX 6800 XT, with most of them going above and beyond the specs and design of the reference models introduced by AMD. Now, three such video cards can be pre-ordered from Finnish retailer Multitronic, all of them being overclocked variants with custom cooling solutions.

The three models listed by the aforementioned retailer and their prices are the following:

Sapphire Radeon RX 6800 XT Nitro+ OC SE, 863.9 Euros (roughly US$1,020)

Sapphire Radeon RX 6800 XT Nitro+ OC Gaming, 838.90 Euros (around US$990)

Sapphire Radeon RX 6800 Nitro+ Gaming OC, 732.90 Euros (approximately US$870)

Before turning red because these prices seem outrageous, our non-EU readers should keep in mind that these are preliminary prices and there is also a rather large VAT included (Finland has a standard VAT rate of 24%, which applies to computer parts as well). Unfortunately, there is no shipment date mentioned in the listings, but it will probably take at least one or two weeks after the launch scheduled by AMD and some of its partners to take place on December 8.

Does the Redmi 9A reveal too many compromises in the test compared to the Redmi Note 9?!

In our test, the Redmi 9A presents itself as a successful low-budget smartphone that can be purchased already for significantly less than 100 Euros (~$118). The workmanship is good, the battery life very long, and the equipment is convincing for a very affordable smartphone. In addition, the IPS panel offers solid viewing angles and a good color reproduction.

However, compared to the Redmi 9 and Redmi Note 9 sibling models, you have to accept some compromises. While customers in China have the choice between various models with up to 6 GB of RAM, in this country (Germany) users have to be content with the Redmi 9A with the small amount of working memory. In this regard, the Redmi 9 and Note 9 are able to score with twice as much RAM, which becomes positively noticeable in everyday usage. In addition, Xiaomi has equipped its low-budget smartphone with a fairly weak MediaTek processor, the new Helio G25.

The system of the 9A model does not always run smoothly and there are often some delays. Due to the slow eMMC storage, the load times are also significant. Particularly the Mali-G52 MP2 of the Helio G80 or G85, which is inside the Redmi 9 and Note 9 sibling models, offers significantly more GPU performance and ensures considerably more gaming fun and higher frame rates in combination with the 1080p panel. 

So you have to take a critical look at the question whether the slightly lower purchase costs of the Redmi 9A are worthwhile when possibly using it for several years. A Redmi 9 or Redmi Note 9 would offer a noticeably better overall package for the extra amount of currently 20 or 40 Euros (~$24 or $47) respectively.

If you would like to get a more detailed impression on the Redmi 9A, we recommend our review of the Xiaomi smartphone.

The Surface Pro 3 has 1 more year of official support

Microsoft has made its firmware and driver update schedule for Surface devices public. It shows how long each individual product still has in terms of official support. Some, such as the RT ot Pro 2, have already seen this end-of-service date come and go.

Others are yet to see the next upcoming date for their obsolescence. This is November 13, 2021, on which the Surface Pro 3 to Pro 5/2017 will cease to receive updates. This means that the 3 will get a total of 7 years of support. This is slightly confusing, as its immediate successor, the 4, also ends its life cycle on the same date, as does the first-gen Surface Book.

Howver, most devices on the list get a more constant 4 years of updates. They include the Surface Pro 6 and 7; the Go 1 and 2; the Laptops 2 to 3 and the Pro X. Microsoft has stated that it has posted this information in response to feedback from customers who want to plan upgrades for their devices in accordance with the new list.

ZTE Blade V2020: Smartphones don’t need to be expensive anymore

If a smartphone isn’t launched with the latest technology, it has little impact on the performance behind it. The reason for this is SoCs that may be significantly older than a year but belonged to the mid-range at the time and, therefore, still deliver enough performance for modern applications even today.

This is also the case with the ZTE Blade V2020, since it’s equipped with the MediaTek Helio P70 that was released in April 2019, which in turn is accompanied by an ARM Mali-G72 MP3 graphics unit. For under 300 Euros (~$355), the manufacturer also packs 128 GB of storage space and 4 GB of RAM into the smartphone. A hybrid slot allows the choice between using two nano SIMs or a microSD card.

In addition to solid WLAN and camera performance, the Blade V2020 also shows good results in our benchmark tests. Here, the strongest competitor is the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC, which scores better in almost all aspects. Compared to the rest of the competition in this price range, however, the ZTE smartphone manages to assert itself.

Thanks to its large and bright display, it can be used comprehensively. Even users with sensitive eyes may be happy here, as PWM is limited to a very high frequency of 63,290 Hz and only kicks in at brightness levels below 23%. This makes the built-in IPS panel much easier on the eyes than most current OLED panels. More details and further information can be found in our review of the ZTE Blade V2020.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 2 & L13 Yoga Gen 2 combine Intel Tiger Lake with business-design

Like in the last years, Lenovo is updating certain budget models ahead of other ThinkPads. E14 and E15 Gen 2 with Intel Tiger Lake were already updated a few weeks ago. They are followed up now by the most compact ThinkPad of the budget enterprise series: Without a real announcement, the new Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 2 and ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 enter the market.

With this update, Lenovo finally ditches the Intel Comet Lake platform for the 10 nm CPUs of the Tiger Lake series. Alongside the new CPUs come the Intel Xe GPUs and Thunderbolt 4.

This makes ThinkPad L13 Gen 2 and L13 Yoga Gen 2 the first models of the L series with Thunderbolt. Different from their predecessors, these new models will be compatible with eGPUs. Also, the supported resolution for external monitors is higher as well.

Apart from the platform update, there are no new features. The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 2 and Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 use the same chassis as the first gen ThinkPad L13 and the ThinkPad L13 Yoga. This is nothing out of the ordinary, as Lenovo often uses designs for at least two generations. The 2019 models L390 and L390 Yoga still used a different chassis, which lacked features like the mechanical dockingport or the Smartcard reader.

Since ThinkPad L13 Gen 2 and ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 are already listed in Lenovo’s PSREF database, it probably will not take long until they are available.

Cheaper OnePlus Nord smartphones will only get one OS update and two years of security updates

OnePlus is known for its excellent software support, but it has apparently chosen to treat its Nord sub-brand differently. OnePlus was long one of the only Android OEMs to release three OS upgrades to its smartphones, while newer handsets like the OnePlus 8T should receive Android 14 whenever that comes around. OnePlus will abandon the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 long before then, though.

To recap, OnePlus announced the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 as budget options in its portfolio, following the release of the OnePlus 8T and OnePlus Nord. OnePlus launched the OnePlus 8T on Android 11 but the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 on Android 10, which seemed like an odd move. However, OnePlus is reported by Android Central as having confirmed the following about software support for the two devices:

The Nord N10 5G and N100 will receive one major Android update and a total of two years of security updates. The plan for these two devices aligns with industry standards for smartphones in more affordable price ranges. As always, we will continue listening to feedback from our users and looking for ways to improve the software experience for all OnePlus devices.

So, the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 will receive fewer security updates than other OnePlus smartphones, too. To clarify, Android OEMs typically afford two OS updates to their smartphones, not one. In fact, companies like LG and Sony have been called out for failing to support some of their smartphones after one software update. OnePlus is not really offering one major Android update with the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100, either. Clearly, the company had OxygenOS 11 and Android 11 ready for the OnePlus 8T, so it seems that the company may have released its two new Nord smartphones on Android 10 to offer the bare minimum of software support.

Ultimately, OnePlus’ ‘Never Settle’ mantra wears a little thin when applied to the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100. We cannot understand why OnePlus has effectively announced that it has already abandoned the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 before it has released them, though.

Intriguing 2021 iMac concept pushes Apple’s all-in-one into the modern world with thinner bezels

3D Designers over at Svetapple created a set of detailed concept renders of Apple’s upcoming 24-in and 32-in iMacs, based on accumulated design rumors. The renders indicate that the upcoming iMac lineup will feature significantly thinner bezels as well as round display corners, strongly evoking the design language used in the current generation of iPads. 

According to Svetapple, both the smaller 24-in iMac and the larger 32-in iMac will feature ultra high-resolution monitors. The 24-in model will feature a 4K panel, in line with the current generation variant. The 32-in, on the other hand, will feature a significantly higher resolution panel. This is due to the much larger screen-size relative to the current-generation 27-in iMac model. The upgraded display would offer significantly more real estate without compromising on pixel density. The slimmer bezels could even mean that the 32-in iMac’s footprint isn’t that much bigger. 

There’s very little to go on, right now. However, apart from the rejigged design, these new iMacs will likely feature 5nm Apple ARM-based CPUs. We should know more in the months to come. 

Rumor | The Redmi Note 9 5G will start at just US$150

Xiaomi is now thought to have new 5G variants of the Redmi Note 9 and 9 Pro in the works. Should some new TENAA listings truly pertain to these phones, they may have quad rear cameras, 6-inch-plus displays and large batteries with possible 22.5-watt (W) charging speeds. However, a new leak claims that they will fall into a relatively low price-tier on their launch.

This new tip comes from a Weibo account that insists the Note 9 5G will start at just 1000 yuan (~US$151). Furthermore, its Pro counterpart – which may have a 108MP main sensor and the new Snapdragon 750G processor – might have a base model worth about 1500 yuan ($226).

This would make the new series extremely competitive in the 5G space, even possibly giving the Realme V3 a run for its money. One of these phones (probably the Pro version) is also projected to have a 6.67-inch LCD display with what may be a form of variable refresh rate that allows it to range between 30 and 120 hertz (Hz).