Xiaomi announces the end of MIUI 12 Round 2 as the start of Round 3 seems likely

Android 11 may have just come out of beta, but Xiaomi operates on a different wavelength. The company does not tie its in-house MIUI OS to versions of Android, allowing it to release multiple distributions and support older handsets for longer than some of its competitors. Theoretically, that is the case anyway, as the opposite has been the case with some handsets like the Mi Mix 3 5G.

Nonetheless, Xiaomi has now proclaimed on Weibo that it has pushed MIUI 12 to all devices on Round 2 of its release schedule. This may well apply to only devices on the Chinese branch of MIUI, but Xiaomi has more or less kept pace with delivering MIUI 12 to other branches, too.

The culmination of the second round should mean that the third round is on the verge of starting. The third round includes devices like Redmi Note 5 and Mi 8 SE, as we reported last month. Xiaomi has a fourth round of the MIUI 12 release schedule too, which only features Redmi handsets.

HP and Lenovo have yet to offer a 17-inch workstation as compact as the Dell Precision 5750

Most 17.3-inch workstations are large and bulky since they generally aren’t chasing after the same narrow-bezel look and sleek designs that most consumer laptops like to boast. This idea has been changing over the past couple of years with the advent of Nvidia Studio, but even these newer ultra-thin workstations like the MSI WS75 or Asus ProArt are still not as portable as most Ultrabooks.

The Precision 5750 follows on the same footsteps as the 15.6-inch Precision 5550 but in a 17-inch form factor to be unlike every other 17-inch workstation out there. It trades away a lot of common auxiliary features like an integrated NumPad, Smart Card reader, mouse buttons, and even ports in favor of a much more portable design. Traditional workstation users who rely on such features may find the Precision 5750 off-putting as a result, but the system fills a niche for users who may need a more travel-friendly 17-inch workstation or are willing to give up some hardware options for the portable design. We’d rather lug around the Precision 5750 over the Precision 7750 even though the latter is the more feature-packed option.

Major competitors like Lenovo and HP do not yet offer competing 17-inch workstations that are as slim or small as the Precision 5750. The ThinkPad P73 and ZBook 17 are significantly bulkier and more traditional than the hybrid Ultrabook/workstation Dell machine.

See our review on the Precision 5750 for more details on its performance and hardware.

“Budget” Microsoft Surface Laptop billed for an October release with uninspiring specifications

Microsoft already has two sizes of the Surface Laptop, but Windows Central now claims that the company is working on a 12.5-inch model. However, this device is apparently an equivalent to the Surface Go, insofar as Microsoft will pitch it as a budget option to the regular versions of the Surface Laptop.

Windows Central alleges that the device, codenamed Sparti, will start at around US$500-US$600. According to the website, the entry-level model will have 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a 10th generation Core i5 processor. It remains to be seen whether this is from Intel’s Comet Lake or Ice Lake generations, or if the Sparti will be graced with a U-series chip.

The device will also come pre-loaded with Windows 10 S, or Windows 10 in S mode as Microsoft now calls it. Presumably, Microsoft will sell SKUs with 8 GB of RAM and more storage, although a Core i7 model may not be on the cards. Windows Central claims that Microsoft will announce the mini Surface Laptop in October, along with several accessories. If that is the case, then we would expect regulatory bodies like the FCC to certify the device in the coming weeks.

Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4 renders and specifications leak

IFA 2020 proved a bust for HMD Global, seeing as it did not launch any Nokia smartphones, as was rumoured to be the case. The company has plenty of devices to announce though, as evidenced by past leaks.

Two of these are the Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4, which are both entry-level devices for HMD Global. Evan Blass has revealed renders of both handsets, and they look rather different. On the one hand, both have rear-mounted fingerprint scanners and the same hardware button arrangement. However, the Nokia 3.4 has three rear-facing cameras to the two on the Nokia 2.4. Unsurprisingly, the Nokia 3.4 looks the more premium of the two handsets. Actually, the Nokia 2.4 resembles the Nokia 3.2 more than the Nokia 3.4 does. 

In terms of hardware, the Nokia 2.4 is rumoured to have a 4,800 mAh battery and will launch as single-SIM and dual-SIM models. Additionally, HMD Global is expected to equip the Nokia 2.4 with a MediaTek Helio P22 SoC, up to 3 GB of RAM and a 6.2-inch 720p display.

The Nokia 3.4 will also have a 6.52-inch and 720p display, along with 3 GB of RAM. However, Nokiapoweruser (NPU) claims that the device will have a Snapdragon 460 chipset and a 4,000 mAh battery. NPU believes that the Nokia 3.4 will arrive in three colours, too.

The OnePlus 8 series now has stable Android 11-based betas

Google has released Android 11 for most of the Pixel series today (September 8, 2020). Shortly after that event, OnePlus stated that it was ready to start pushing the same new OS version to its current premium smartphones, the 8 and 8 Pro.

Therefore, users with these devices can download the first OxygenOS Open Beta based on Android 11. Some of them may be very familiar with such a ROM already, however, as the OEM has also had access to its Developer Previews. It has released several versions of these for the same flagships.

OxygenOS Open Betas, on the other hand, are often virtually stable builds that are open to the general 8-series-owning public. Those who move to this OTA channel will encounter a version of Android with a new 11-style UI.

It also has a new Story mode in its native Gallery app, and an updated Zen Mode with new themes and functions. Then again, there is no Always-on Display as yet. Users wishing to upgrade to this latest version of Android can do so by following the instructions on the official OnePlus community website.

Alpha A7c: A “new concept is coming” on September 15 for Sony’s Alpha camera series

Sony has published a live stream for its next Alpha camera, dubbed as a new concept for the series. The company will unveil the camera on September 15 at 10:00 JST (01:00 UTC) or September 14 18:00 PDT. Sony has not revealed what the concept is, but past rumours suggest that it will be the Alpha A7c.

According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the Alpha A7c will have a 24 MP sensor and the articulating screen from the A7s III. The website claims that Sony has brought the autofocus algorithm from the A7s III. By contrast, the A7c will share its body shape with the A6600 and will have in-body image stabilisation (IBIS).

Sony Alpha Rumors has also provided a mockup of the A7c, which we have included below. The upcoming camera will have an NP-FZ100 battery too, along with a USB Type-C port, a single SD card slot and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Dedicated headphone and mic-in jacks will be onboard, too.

In terms of pricing, Sony Alpha Rumors expects Sony to pitch the A7c at €2,100. This price would make the A7c more expensive than the A7 III, for reference.

Getting ready for back to school season? Here are some of the best MSI laptops that can be your perfect companion for studies, creativity, and leisure

A new school year heralds the beginning of new learning experiences. What better way to kick start this year’s back to school season than with MSI laptops? In this article, we detail the salient features of the upgraded GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series, so you can be equipped well for both challenges and fun that the new academic year entails.

Introduction

Back to school season is upon us once again and that means shopping for new laptops that can take on the vagaries of the new academic year. With Intel announcing the new 10th generation Comet Lake processors and NVIDIA refreshing its mobile GPU lineup, there has never been a better time to go laptop shopping. But with the myriad of choices available for just about every budget, selecting one can get pretty daunting.

MSI has been a pioneer in gaming and content creator laptops for many years now. The company has offerings across almost all price ranges with a slew of configuration options to ensure your academic needs are taken care of and that you are getting the maximum bang for your buck.

In this article, we will discuss several MSI products in the GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series, which we feel will aptly address the needs of the coming academic year and also offer great gaming performance to help you unwind after a hectic day at school.

MSI GF Thin Series — Great power in a thin form factor

Grad school already has its own burdens, so why trouble yourself additionally with a very thick laptop in your backpack? Thin laptops usually compromise on component choice owing to chassis and thermal constraints. The MSI GF Thin series seeks to alter this paradigm.

The GF Thin series offers a variety of configurations and screen sizes, so not just your academic content but also your games and multimedia get the platform they deserve. Let’s have a look at what this lineup has to offer.

MSI GF65 Thin

When it comes to thin notebooks, it is often a trade-off between style and substance. Not any more with the MSI GF65 Thin. With a thickness of just 0.85 inches and weighing just 1.86 kg, the GF65 Thin is your perfect portable companion for both work and play. All variants of the GF65 Thin are powered by the latest Intel 10th generation Core i7-10750H processor. Featuring six cores and 12 threads combined with boost speeds up to 5 GHz, the Core i7-10750H offers the required horsepower to ensure a smooth computing experience at all times — whether you are on battery or plugged-in. 

More and more applications are becoming increasingly GPU-aware these days, so a simple integrated graphics solution won’t cut it anymore. Keeping the present and near-immediate needs of students in mind who would probably be working with domain-specific software and would also like their device to help them unwind after a grueling day at college, MSI is offering the GF65 Thin in both NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and GTX 1660 Ti variants.

Both the RTX 2060 and GTX 1660 Ti variants offer high refresh rate displays with the GTX 1660 Ti models going up to 144 Hz making them perfect for competitive fragging sessions after school. All GF65 Thin models come with a 15.6-inch IPS-level FHD panel and sport thin bezels for an immersive viewing experience.

Class work is all about assignments and that means a lot of research and collecting data. The GF65 Thin offers a choice of 512 GB and 1 TB NVMe SSDs in the default configuration. So, whether you are collecting material for finalizing your much anticipated thesis or need space for your ever-increasing games library you can be rest assured of having access to fast, copious storage with scope for further expansion.

The MSI GF65 Thin offers easy maintenance, decent port selection that also includes a couple of USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C ports, ability to expand memory and storage, Nahimic 3 enhanced audio with dual 2 W speakers, and all the latest networking options. A 51 Wh battery helps the GF65 Thin keep pace with the vagaries of school life.

If you are after a thin and light laptop that perfectly suits your curricular and gaming needs without breaking the bank, the MSI GF65 Thin ticks all relevant boxes. 

MSI GF75 Thin

For those who need a larger screen while still reaping the benefits of the thin chassis and affordability of the GF Thin series, the MSI GF75 Thin is an easy recommend. The GF75 Thin sports similar features as the GF65 Thin but offers a few added niceties. You get the same high-performing Core i7-10750H and now a GPU choice between the RTX 2060 and the GTX 1650. The 17.3-inch FHD displays in the GF75 Thin series are available in both 120 Hz and 144 Hz options, which make for a smooth viewing experience.

MSI GL Leopard Series — Unhindered performance for work and play

What if you need more performance than what the majority of the choices offer in the market? When subjects become more demanding, you need a laptop that can measure up to the task at hand without breaking a sweat. The MSI GL Leopard series is capable of handling demanding workloads while also measuring up to a very capable mobile gaming machine. Similar to the GF Thin series above, there are a slew of configuration options available with the GL Leopard, so let’s check them out.

MSI GL65 Leopard

The MSI GL65 Leopard gets an upgrade to the 10th generation Core i7-10750H. On the GPU side of things, you get a choice between the RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 in the RTX series, and the GTX 1650, GTX 1650 Ti, and GTX 1660 Ti in the GTX series. All models in the GL Leopard series offer 144-Hz 15.6-inch FHD IPS-level panels that nearly cover the entire sRGB color gamut. Other useful features include default memory configurations up to 16 GB DDR4-2666, SteelSeries RGB keyboard, and Nahimic 3 audio. 

MSI has endowed the GL65 Leopard with a fairly decent port selection that includes both HDMI and mini-DisplayPort-outs. This, combined with the powerful RTX 2070 GPU, enables connecting up to two 4K external displays for maximum productivity and gaming.

The RTX 2070 is also powerful enough to offer excellent ray tracing and DLSS performance resulting, in smooth, immersive, and cinematic gaming experiences. 

MSI GL75 Leopard

The MSI GL75 Leopard offers all the goodness of the GL65 Leopard but with a 17.3-inch 144 Hz display with near-100% sRGB coverage, making it an ideal choice for those who could use the additional screen real estate. The inclusion of the Core i7-10750H CPU and the RTX 2070 GPU option means that the GL75 Leopard can easily sail through even demanding workloads, making it ideal for students who work on extensive number crunching, simulations, and the likes.

The default configuration includes both a 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD as well as a 1 TB HDD, which provides an ideal combination of speed and storage space for both work files and games. If you are after a powerful laptop that does not disappoint in work or play, the MSI GL75 Leopard is your best bet.

In the Notebookcheck review, the GL75 Leopard also has very low fan noise that is nearly inaudible under light loads, which helps during the times you need to absolutely focus on the task at hand or when you are in the library. The laptop is also cool to touch and does not heat up unexpectedly, allowing for a very comfortable long-term usage.

MSI Prestige Series — A content creator’s best friend

Design, content creation, and allied disciplines are much sought after fields these days. While gaming laptops are powerful enough from a specifications point of view, those into content creation need much more than merely ticking off items on a spec sheet. Content creation workloads can be very demanding and also require certain characteristics such as the availability of a color-accurate display and fine-grain control over adjusting system modes and resources. Content creator laptops also need to have a good design aesthetic while also being easily portable and highly durable.

This is where the MSI Prestige 14 and Prestige 15 come in.

MSI Prestige 14

The Prestige 14 instantly stands out from the sea of other similar laptops out there. It comes with a fully metallic finish and is available in several color options including Carbon Grey, Pure White, and Rose Pink. With an ultra-slim design that is just 0.63 inches thick and weighs a mere 1.28 kg, the Prestige 14 is sure to turn heads on campus.

A slew of configuration options that include the Intel 10th generation Comet Lake-U series chips such as the Core i5-10210U, Core i7-10510U, and Core i7-10710U are available. All variants feature the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU for hardware acceleration in popular content creation apps such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and the likes.

The Prestige 14 is well-equipped for an ultrabook and even comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports that enable fast data transfers.

Though the 16 GB RAM (dual channel, LPDDR3-2133) is soldered, the Prestige 14 offers easy maintenance to swap out the NVMe SSD and the Wi-Fi if need be. 

The factory-calibrated True Pixel display that comes in both FHD and UHD options is perhaps one of the Prestige 14’s strong points. Notebookcheck’s tests found that there was very minimal need to re-calibrate the display. MSI True Tone allows for an excellent, color-accurate viewing experience for critical design workflows both indoors and outdoors. The screen is also devoid of any measurable PWM, which means working for long hours does not cause any eye strain or headache.

To understand more about the importance of having color-accurate displays in content creator laptops, check out the following article: Laptops 101: Understanding what goes into selecting an ideal laptop display for content creators

MSI Prestige 15

If you need the slim profile that the Prestige 14 offers but could use a slightly larger screen, the Prestige 15 definitely merits consideration. The Prestige 15 offers similar CPU and GPU configuration options as the Prestige 14 and comes with the added flexibility of expandable RAM. Once again, MSI has equipped the Prestige 15 with an excellent True Pixel display that has the potential to offer highly accurate color reproduction for your masterpiece. 

Creation often involves extensive collaboration. The Prestige 15 features a 180-degree lay-flat hinge that allows effortless sharing and discussions of your design ideas.

Notebookcheck’s testing found that the Prestige 15 with 4k panel really lives up to its claims of offering 100% sRGB and 100% AdobeRGB coverage along with an average delta E of less than 2. The slightly larger chassis also helps in better long-term sustained performance without the ills of thermal throttling. Similar to the Prestige 14, the Prestige 15 has fairly low noise emissions and manageable temperatures even under load.

Whether you are student of design or a content creator on the move, the MSI Prestige 15 offers the right combination of power, portability, performance, and affordability to ensure your creations get the platform they deserve.

Conclusion

MSI is offering upgraded versions of the popular GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series this year.

The GF Thin is for those who need a thin and light laptop that offers a good mix of performance and affordability while also being fully capable of catering to the demands of most school or college requirements.

The GL Leopard takes things a notch higher and is perfect for those who need a lot more power for demanding workloads and competitive gaming.

The Prestige series is made with the needs of mobile content creators in mind and features a beautiful design aesthetic combined with a very lively and color-accurate True Pixel display along with the required performance to boot.

Back to school season is the perfect time to evaluate your requirements for the coming academic year and plan your laptop purchases. With an assortment of laptops targeted at each price point and use case, you can count on MSI to be your best companion for a productive college year.

MSI Stealth 15M launched with 11th-generation Intel Tiger Lake CPUs, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q, and more

MSI has launched a new iteration of its Stealth gaming laptop. The MSI Stealth 15M comes Intel’s new Tiger Lake CPUs and Xe graphics cards. There are some new-age features like Thunderbolt 4.0 and Wi-Fi 6 thrown in the mix too. The MSI Stealth 15M will be available via online channels beginning in October. It will retail at US$1,549 for the base variant.

Although the exact SKUs aren’t mentioned, we can expect the MSI Stealth 15M to be configurable with chips ranging between the Intel Core i5-1135G7 and Core i7-1185G7. The notebook comes with Intel Xe graphics cards by default. Dedicated GPU options vary between an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti and GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q. Additionally, the notebook supports up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200MHz and 2TB storage via an NVMe SSD.

As its name suggests, the MSI Stealth 15M comes with a 15.6-inch FHD IPS LCD panel with a refresh rate of 144Hz.Thin, but noticeable bezels encompass the screen. There’s an ‘HD Type’ webcam at the top edge, which can record video at 720p 30fps. It is 15.9mm (0.62in) thin and weighs (1.69kg/3.7lb). The notebook keeps the ‘gamer-y’ aesthetic on the down-low, which translates to virtually no RGB. It is available in Carbon Gray and Pure White colors.

The MSI Stealth 15M compact form factor greatly restricts its I/O options and battery size. You get four ports in all: two USB Type-A Gen 3.2, one Thunderbolt 4.0, and one HDMI. The thunderbolt port can also charge the notebook at up to 120W and serve as a display output if needed. However, it comes with a paltry 3-cell 57Wh battery. One would be hard-pressed to get more than a few hours of battery life under gaming loads. Audio options include a 2-in-1 headphone/mic combo jack and two 2W speakers. Wi-Fi 6 functionality is made possible via Intel AX601 and Killer AX1650 antennas. The notebook is also compatible with Bluetooth 5.1.

MSI Prestige 15 refreshed with up to an Intel Core i7-1185G7, Iris Xe Graphics, an 82 Wh battery and an NVIDIA GPU

Today’s announcement of a new Prestige 14 has been joined by a new Prestige 15. The devices are similar, but the Prestige 14 is the more compact and lighter of the two. The Prestige 15 measures 356.8 x 233.7 x 16.9 mm, for reference, and weighs 1.65 kg. While the Prestige 15 is heftier than the Prestige 14, it also has a larger 82 Wh battery, dual DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots and two M.2 drive bays.

Like the Prestige 14, the Prestige 15 comes with a choice of the Core i5-1135G7, Core i7-1165G7 and Core i7-1185G7. These processors integrate Intel’s new Iris Xe Graphics. Additionally, MSI has included an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU with 4 GB of GDDR6 VRAM for heavier graphics tasks. The Prestige 15 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports too, along with two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, a 3.5 mm jack and an IR 720p webcam.

The Prestige 15 also comes with FHD or 4K panels. Both are 60 Hz and IPS-level, but the 4K panel covers 100% of the Adobe RGB colour space. In comparison, the FHD panel only covers 72% of NTSC. The Prestige 15 is expected to be available from October, but pricing remains unknown.

MSI takes the Intel Evo route with the new Prestige 14 Evo

Intel launched the Tiger Lake and the associated Evo platform yesterday, and we’ve seen a slew of new laptop announcements featuring the 11th generation Intel processor including MSI’s own Stealth, Prestige, Summit and Modern series. Apart from the traditional Prestige 14 offering, MSI is also introducing a Prestige 14 Evo edition that adheres to the standards laid out by the new edition of Project Athena.

The Prestige 14 Evo is in many ways similar to the regular Prestige 14. You get CPU options that include the Core i5-1135G7, Core i7-1165G7, and the Core i7-1185G7 all of which feature the new Intel Gen12 Xe LP graphics. Dimensions, port selection, RAM, connectivity, and even the presence of an NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD are common with the non-Evo version.

The Evo platform mandates are certain minimum spec for the battery life and this is where the Prestige 14 Evo differs from the regular Prestige 14. Both models carry the same 3-cell 52 Wh battery with fast charging support. However, the Prestige 14 Evo uses a 60 Hz 100% sRGB panel that draws just 1 W of power, which makes it highly power-efficient and as a result, can afford longer run times.

And true to the Evo ethos, the Prestige 14 Evo does not feature the discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU and relies solely on the Iris Xe iGPU. Iris Xe should offer a decent boost in graphics performance for creative applications compared to the previous Iris Plus variants. Since there is no discrete NVIDIA graphics on board, the Prestige 14 Evo offers just 65 W charging via USB-C. MSI says that a 15-minute charge should offer up to 1.5 hours of usage on battery and an overall 12 hours of battery life.

Pricing and availability info are yet to be announced.