Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G-powered Lenovo Tab P11 Pro tablet hits the market for US$499.99 and up

Tablets might not be such a big thing as they were almost a decade ago, but this sector of the market is not doing that bad, either. Obviously, tablet makers have to thank the ongoing pandemic for homeschooling and work-from-home, not to mention the increased media consumption rate worldwide. The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is a premium slate that has been unveiled back in August and now is finally up for purchase.

The aforementioned Android tablet uses the same processor as the Google Pixel 4a, namely the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G. The 11.5-inch display uses an OLED panel with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels and Dolby Vision, and the slate also features no less than 4 JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos audio. With optional pen and keyboard support, the Tab P11 Pro starts at US$499.99, which is the price for the setup with 4 GB of memory and 128 GB of internal storage space. The advertised autonomy can go all the way up to an impressive 15 hours.

In addition to the above, we should also mention the dual 8 MP front cameras and the 13 MP + 5 MP main camera assembly on the back. The 6/128 GB version costs only US$50 more, which is a great deal. Sadly, there is no keyboard or case included in the retail package for both hardware setups mentioned here. 

The Samsung Galaxy Book Go is a new PC that might be launching soon

Samsung may have a new kind of Galaxy Book in the works. The OEM has just filed a trademarking application with the EU’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for the term “Book Go”. It falls into a broad category of electronics that includes VR hardware, smartphones, storage media and display panels; however, based on this new term, it is more likely to be a portable PC of one kind or another.

It, like the Book Flex before it, might also acquire Galaxy branding prior to its launch. Therefore, it is possible that this device is shaping up to be a hybrid of something like that 5G PC and the Microsoft Surface Go. As to its target market, it may now be time that Samsung releases a more affordable member of its possible series.

The “Book Go” has been filed as a trademark on December 11, 2020. Therefore, the hardware behind it just might make a CES 2021 (January 11-14) launch. In this case, it might join the Galaxy S21 series as new potential purchases from this OEM in the same year.

The 16:10 ThinkPad X1 Nano’s European pricing is revealed

Lenovo launched the X1 Nano as a new kind of 13-inch ThinkPad with an ultra-low weight and up to i7 Tiger Lake silicon. It has just appeared via a new sales avenue in Germany: CampusPoint, an online store ostensibly aimed at students.

Nevertheless, its listings might give consumers in other European countries an idea of how much they might have to pay should they want one of these ultrabooks when they arrive on their own markets.

The site has 4 SKUs of the Nano available, all of which have matte 2K IPS displays. Their base model here has the Intel Core i5-1130G7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD. Their specs rise to encompass the i7-1160G7 CPU, a maximum of 1TB of storage and 4G/LTE support.

They start at €1899 (~US$2300) for the starting i5/512GB SSD model, or €2029 (~$2458) for a version of the same with mobile data. €2149 (~$2603) gets the buyer a non-4G/LTE ThinkPad X1 Nano with the i7, whereas €2249 (~$2725) nets the top-end i7/1TB/SIM card-enabled variant. All of these options also have IR webcams and Windows 10 Pro.

Asus TUF Gaming laptop with tasty combo of AMD Ryzen 7 5800H APU and Nvidia RTX 3060 Mobile GPU appears on German retailer site

Gamers looking for a current mobile Ryzen/GeForce combination can look forward to some SKUs coming from Asus. An Asus TUF Gaming A17 laptop has been listed on Expert.de (spotted by @momomo_us) that features an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H APU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile GPU. None of these parts have been officially announced yet, but they certainly make for an exciting combination.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800H APU, which is part of the upcoming high-performance mobile Ryzen 5000 range from AMD, has 8 cores and 16 threads with clocks from 3.0 GHz to 4.3 GHz, which as pointed out by VideoCardz, is a very similar range to the Renoir Ryzen 7 4800H (2.9 GHz – 4.2 GHz). The likely Zen 3-based processor has a 16 MB cache according to the retailer listing.

As for the equally intriguing Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile GPU, which comes as a surprise to no-one but will be a welcome addition in a Ryzen 5000-powered laptop, this graphics processor is actually listed as “GN20-E3”. This is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Max-P then, which apparently comes with 6 GB VRAM according to the retailer’s specsheet and a 192-bit memory bus.

A potent combination of Ampere and Cezanne means this Asus TUF Gaming FA706QM-HX011T laptop could end up being on the top of many a mobile gamer’s wishlist over the coming months. Along with a 144 Hz-capable screen, Adaptive-Sync technology, Wi-Fi 6 support, and Optimus graphics-switching technology, the Asus TUF Gaming A17 with Ryzen 7 5800H and GeForce RTX 3060 is a potential head-turner.

AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Ryzen 5 5500U turn up as the Zen 2 Lucienne processors in upcoming Asus laptops

The AMD Ryzen 5000 series of mobile processors is coming. Another Asus-related leak, also unearthed by momomo_us and sourced from the German retailer Expert.de, has revealed three new laptops sporting two different Lucienne APUs: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and the Ryzen 5 5500U. Although these two parts are from the incoming Ryzen 5000 mobile family, they are based on Zen 2 architecture, thus differentiating from the Zen 3 Cezanne chips such as the Ryzen 7 5800U.

The Asus S533UA-BQ048T comes with the Ryzen 7 5700U chip and has 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD in its 15.6-inch form. According to the tech specs listed in the retailer post, the Ryzen 7 5700U has 8 cores (16 threads), 4 MB cache, and it clocks from 1.8 GHz to 4.25 GHz. It’s possible the data here has been printed incorrectly though, as different leaks have stated a boost clock of 4.3 GHz and L3 cache of 8 MB.

The Asus S732UA-AU059T laptop also features the same Lucienne Zen 2 processor and will offer buyers a 17.3-inch Full HD screen, 16 GB RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. Like the above laptop, the S732UA supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connections. It also relies on the integrated graphics unit of the Ryzen 7 5700U for displaying images.

Lastly, there is the Asus TM420UA-EC004T on show here, which seems to be a 2-in-1 model in the VivoBook Flip 14 line. This device sports the slightly less-powerful Ryzen 5 5500U APU, which is detailed in the retailer listing as having 6 cores (12 threads), 3 MB cache, and 2.1-3.95 GHz clocks. This also deviates from previous leaks, which suggest a 4.0 GHz boost and L3 cache of 8 MB for this SKU.

Unfortunately, no prices or availability dates are listed with these Ryzen 5000 laptops from Asus, but they are clearly targeted at thin and light laptop purchasers who need high performance on-the-go. The TDP range for these two Lucienne processors is 10 W to 25 W.

Audeze Mobius Gaming Headset Hands-on

Introduction

In the audiophile world, there is no lack of options for high fidelity (or hi-fi) audio. However, a relatively small company based out of California has made a lot of noise in this market over the past five years.

Audeze is widely considered to be one of the best in the audio business. The company routinely creates some of the best-sounding headphones targeted directly at the audiophile crowd. The Mobius gaming headset is one such device, though it is geared for gaming. The headset offers spectacular sound quality and has several well-designed features, including 3D audio that can be tuned to the shape of the user’s head.

I’ve used the Audeze Mobius for the past three months with my Windows desktop PC. From the moment I put it on and pumped lossless audio through its planar drivers, I fell in love. Here’s why.

Design and Fit

The Audeze Mobius looks similar to most other high-end headphones on the market. I do appreciate the more subdued aesthetic; most gaming headsets have a cyberpunk-esque look, which is garish in my opinion. The Mobius earpieces are black with a honeycomb graphic on the side of each earpiece, so they won’t stand out in public. Audeze also offers the Mobius headphones with a copper-colored trim around the earpieces, adding some smart-looking color.

The Mobius headphones are made from a soft, flexible plastic that can twist and bend comfortably. It feels a bit thin in the hand, but the headband has retained its shape despite some prolonged torsion. The adjustable shafts that extend the earcups feel more rigid. They stay in place when adjusted to secure a good fit.

There is a strip of memory foam along the center of the headband. It’s a bit uncomfortable as it reshapes around the head, but the discomfort fades after about 10-15 seconds. The foam around the earcups is full and soft, creating a good seal around my medium-sized ears. The vinyl coating surrounding the foam holds up to pinching and squishing, so it shouldn’t peel off anytime soon. 

The biggest downside of the Mobius headphones is their weight. These are wireless headphones, so they have a relatively large battery inside them. Without cables, the headphones weigh about 365 grams, and my head feels every one. After using them for a while (roughly 30 minutes), I stop noticing the weight. However, they never sit as comfortably as non-wireless headphones like the Audio Technica M50s, which weigh about 200-250 grams.

Overall, the fit and finish are excellent. There are other headphones made from sturdier and lighter stuff, but the Audeze Mobius headphones are well-made. Considering they target the gaming market, these cans don’t look like traditional gaming gear, which is a plus in my book.

Audio Quality

Sure, the Audeze Mobius headphones look nice, but how do they sound? In a word: stunning. The Mobius headset is one of the only gaming-oriented headsets to use planar magnetic drivers in lieu of the more common dynamic drivers. The result is clean, distortion-free audio. Bass, mids, and highs ring through the earpieces clearly, and the overall quality is excellent.

I ran the Mobius through lots of lossless audio, and everything sparkled. In particular, the Mobius handles subtle touches in music better than most gaming headsets and beats some mid-range studio options. Ghost notes on the snare in jazz pieces, fingers sliding across guitar strings, and even orchestra members inhaling before blowing their horns are all barely audible but present, creating a rich audio experience that is one of the best I’ve enjoyed.

The Audeze Mobius’ drivers are 100 mm in size. They can handle frequencies from 10 Hz to 50 kHz and can be cranked up to 120 dB. I didn’t notice any distortion at max volume when hooked up to my Windows desktop PC via USB or the 3.5 mm headphone jack. 

Microphone Quality

The included microphone offers solid voice quality suitable for streaming, video calls, and even voice recording. It’s about on par with mid-range USB microphones like the Blue Snowball. It is detachable, and there is a dedicated mute switch and volume wheel for the microphone, giving users quite a bit of control over how their voice is captured. A dedicated microphone is still a better option for those reliant on voice recording or streamers that want the best quality voice, but the microphone included with the Audeze Mobius is a step above the ones typically included with gaming headsets.

Software and Features

Another high point of the Audeze Mobius headset is its extensive feature set. Physically, the Mobius headphones have multiple connection options and lots of dials for ease of use. The headphones can connect to an audio source via Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm audio cable, USB-A, or USB-C. I cannot notice any difference between the USB and 3.5 mm connection; the quality of each connection is similar enough that I can’t tell whether one has an advantage over the other. The Bluetooth connection is solid but experiences some pitch and connection issues inherent to all Bluetooth audio devices. The Mobius headphones support SBC, AAC, and LDAC. The range is decent (roughly 8-10 meters from the audio source). The battery lasts about 8-9 hours at 50% volume.

In addition to the USB-C port and 3.5 mm jack used to connect to a device, the left earpiece also holds two volume wheels. One is used for the headphones’ volume, and the other is reserved for the microphone. Clicking and scrolling the headphone and volume wheel will scroll through tracks or EQ presets, respectively. Long pressing the mic wheel will cycle between audio modes (Hi-Res, 2-channel stereo, and 7.1 channel). These shortcuts take some time to learn and use effectively, and there are short pauses as the headphones switch to the next setting, but they can be time savers. 

Lastly, there is a button labeled “3D.” This enables the flagship feature of the Mobius: 3D audio, which uses Waves NX technology. Once 3D audio is enabled, clicking this button anchors the headphones to a point in front of the user. The feature simulates a speaker set up and works very well; as I turn my head to the left, the left earpiece grows quieter and the right earpiece gets louder, similar to what happens with desktop speakers.

This feature also works well in games, particularly first-person shooters that support 3D audio. Characters walking behind the in-game player will sound like they’re coming up behind the player, and spatial audio is handled well. The feature feels a bit gimmicky at times, but it can add to the immersion of some games. It’s also one of the best implementations of spatial audio I’ve experienced with a headset, gaming or otherwise.

The dedicated Audeze app deserves a special mention. The customization options here are overwhelming, but many are quite useful. If users are so inclined, they can measure their head to get precise spatial audio via the 7.1 channel mode and 3D audio setting. I didn’t take the time to change these options for this review, and the spatial audio worked well enough. There are also eight dedicated sound profiles that highlight certain aspects of games, but they only seem to change the audio curve to push highs or emphasize mids and lows.

One improvement I’d like to see is the ability to set a custom sound curve. If that option exists, I haven’t found it in the software yet. Considering these are billed as high-end studio-quality headphones, the lack of full customization of the audio curve is confusing.

Conclusion

The Audeze Mobius headset is one of the absolute best audio purchases gamers can make. The headphones sound excellent out of the box and have lots of customizable options, many of which are targeted straight at gamers. The included microphone is also significantly better than most headset mics and should be adequate for streaming, video calls, and voice recording.

The pièce de résistance of the Mobius is the 3D audio feature, which works very well. It’s not always useful, but it can greatly add to a game’s experience. The excellent audio quality is another plus; it’s hard to find headphones at this price point that sound this good.

There are some downsides, the chief of which is the lack of control of the overall audio curve. It would be nice if users could tune the full audio range to their liking via the app, but this option is strangely absent. The weight also takes some adjustment, and the battery life isn’t as good as other Bluetooth headphones’. Otherwise, the experience is fantastic.

OPPO is now projected to launch a Snapdragon 865-powered Reno5 Pro+

Some recent official leaks from TENAA have all but confirmed that successors to the Reno4 and 4 Pro 5G are on their way. However, it seems OPPO is not about to stop there, and is working on a new premium variant for this smartphone series. Provisionally known as the Reno5 Pro+, it is expected to run on the Snapdragon 865 SoC.

This new tip comes courtesy of the Weibo leaker @Whylab via Abishek Yadav on Twitter. Should the English-language translation for this post hold up, it seems the Pro+ will also debut with interesting rear panel choices.

They are apparently finished in either some kind of leather – or, alternatively, an electrochromic material. This may mean that the resulting rear panel may be capable of changing its color or transparency in response to a current acting on it.

Furthermore, Whylab nows seems to have a reason to expect that the Pro+ will have a 50MP main shooter – which, moreover, will come from the heretofore-unreleased Sony IMX7xx series. Therefore, this entire package might sell for a pretty penny.

Then again, consumers in a position to spend less on a new Reno can also potentially consider its 4G variant. It is projected to have the Snapdragon 720G processor. Despite this putative budget choice, it is also predicted to have a 90 hertz (Hz) refresh rate for its 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display.

This Reno5 4G’s new leak also claims that it will have 64+8+2+2MP cameras, along with a 44MP selfie camera. However, it is also said to have a plastic rear panel and frame. It is currently thought that it, along with its 5G, Pro and Pro+ siblings, might launch as early as December 10, 2020.

Xiaomi Mi Alpha R dual display rollable phone with slick pull-out screen appears in patent

Foldable smartphones could become a thing of the past, again, as more smartphone companies delve deeper into rollable technology. Firms like OPPO have already teased such a flexible device, and unsurprisingly it appears that Xiaomi doesn’t want to be left off this particular bandwagon. LetsGoDigital has found a patent for a rollable phone from Xiaomi that incorporates the dual display design of the Mi Mix Alpha.

Thanks to Jermaine Smit, also known as Concept Creator, we can get a better look at the device, which has been given the moniker Xiaomi Mi Alpha R, in some renders and a video (see below). The smartphone looks just like the Mi Mix Alpha at first glance, but it then shows that it has a retractable or pull-out display due to the inventive utilization of rollable screen technology.

The Mi Alpha R is easily converted from smartphone size to tablet size thanks to the retractable screen, and the mechanism’s construction and design means that the display shouldn’t be obstructed with creases or lines, even when touched. Of course, this is just a patent and therefore the Xiaomi rollable phone might never be produced, but even if it was manufactured you could certainly expect a sky-high price tag for this one.

Leaked Motorola Moto G Stylus (2021) listing confirms specifications and design of upcoming mid-range handset

The first sighting of the next Moto G Stylus has been seen online. Funnily enough, Amazon US published its listing of the device, before swiftly taking it down again. Nonetheless, a contributor on /LEAKS republished a screenshot of the listing and several photos from it, as can be seen below.

The Moto G Stylus (2021) is expected, as its name suggests, to go on sale from next year. The Amazon US listing does not offer all the specifications of the device, but it does provide a few insights. For example, we know that Motorola has equipped it with a 5G chipset, although it is unclear which one it has chosen. Speculatively, we imagine that the Moto G Stylus (2021) will have the Snapdragon 690, seeing as its predecessor, the Moto G Stylus, has the Snapdragon 665.

Amazon US also reports that the new Moto G Stylus has 4 GB of RAM and will ship with Android 10. Additionally, the contributor on /LEAKS adds that the listing described the device having a 4,000 mAh battery. Moreover, the pictures show that the Moto G Stylus (2021) has a 48 MP primary camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB Type-C port.

Finally, the Moto G Stylus (2021) will retail for US$339.95. It is unclear from when in 2021 the device will be available, though.

The Galaxy F62 will be one of Samsung’s “slimmest” phones on its launch: new leak

The burgeoning Galaxy F series from Samsung is now touted to get a new member called the F62 in the near future. It has popped up in a benchmarking leak thus far, the most interesting aspect of which is possibly its apparent Exynos 9825 SoC: a processor being recycled here from its original appearance as the platform in the Galaxy Note 10 and 10+.

Despite this potential former flagship silicon, it is looking more and more like this Galaxy F62 will be a budget device, especially compared to these phablets. A rear panel that might correspond to the phone has been captured in images posted by 91Mobiles.

They show a particularly generic take on the square rear camera design, with a plain black finish that is clearly a fingerprint magnet and (according to the blog) likely to be made of the OEM’s glasstic in place of anything higher-end.

This F62 – or, as the latest rumors suggest, possibly the E62 instead so as to fit in with its SM-E62F model number – is also now said to be at the mass-production stage at a Samsung facility in Greater Noida, India.

This is (again) a strong hint that it will also debut in this country. It may do so with 6GB of RAM and Android 11 out of the box, although further specs on this potentially upcoming phone remain unknown at this time.