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The month of July has seen the launch of many exciting new gadgets that have created waves in the tech world. Nothing has unveiled its flagship Nothing Phone 2a Plus, a device that promises to build on its predecessor's success with upgraded features and performance. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio has introduced the JioBharat J1 4G, an affordable feature phone loaded with essential apps and 4G connectivity. On the chipset front, Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, aimed at powering entry-level 5G smartphones with advanced features at an accessible price point. Here’s a sneak peek into the latest developments in the tech industry as of July 31:
Nothing has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus, in India on July 31. This new addition to the Nothing family builds upon the success of its predecessor, bringing several exciting upgrades and features that set it apart in the competitive smartphone market.
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus boasts a stunning 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display, delivering a resolution of 1,080x2,412 pixels. One of the standout features is its 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which promises smooth scrolling and an enhanced visual experience. The display also offers a 394ppi pixel density and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring durability. With a peak brightness of 1,300 nits and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, users can expect vibrant visuals and responsive touch performance.
Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is powered by the octa-core 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G SoC, paired with a Mali-G610 MC4 GPU. This powerful combination, along with up to 12GB of RAM, ensures seamless multitasking and smooth performance. For comparison, its predecessor, the Nothing Phone 2a, is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC.
Reliance Jio has launched the JioBharat J1 4G, an affordable feature phone packed with a range of smart applications and features. The JioBharat J1 4G caters to users seeking essential functionalities with the added benefit of 4G connectivity and smart apps.
The JioBharat J1 4G features a 2.8-inch display, providing a clear and user-friendly interface. It houses a 2,500mAh battery, ensuring prolonged usage on a single charge, making it ideal for everyday communication and entertainment.
Running on the ThreadX RTOS operating system, the phone is designed for efficiency and reliability. The single SIM slot is locked to Jio, ensuring users access the robust Jio network for seamless connectivity. For additional storage, the phone includes a microSD card slot, allowing users to expand storage up to 128GB, which is perfect for storing music, photos, and other files.
One of the standout features of the JioBharat J1 4G is its physical keyboard, which supports 23 languages, including Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, making it accessible to a diverse range of users across India.
The JioBharat J1 4G comes preloaded with a suite of Jio apps, including JioTV for live television streaming, JioSaavn for music, JioPay for UPI transactions, JioChat for messaging, and JioPhotos for managing images. These apps enhance the functionality of the feature phone, providing users with a smart experience at an affordable price.
Realme has officially launched its latest smartphones, the Realme 13 Pro 5G and Realme 13 Pro Plus 5G, in the Indian market today. These new models stand out with their unique design, inspired by the artwork of Monet, and come packed with significant camera upgrades that highlight advanced AI capabilities through Realme's new HYPERIMAGE+ architecture.
The Realme 13 Pro Plus 5G, the higher-end model, boasts an "Ultra Clear Camera with AI" setup. This triple-camera system includes a 50MP Sony LYT-701 main sensor, a 50MP Sony LYT-600 3x periscope telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultrawide lens. These enhancements aim to deliver superior photographic performance, allowing users to capture detailed and vibrant images in various settings.
In contrast, the Realme 13 Pro 5G features a dual-camera system. This setup comprises a 50MP Sony LYT-600 main sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens, still ensuring high-quality imaging capabilities but with a more streamlined approach compared to the Pro Plus model.
The two smartphones also come with various AI enabled features that enhance taking pictures. These are the AI Pure Bokeh to proactively blur the backgrounds, AI Natural Skin Tone for more realistic color correcting on skin tones, AI Ultra Clarity for higher detail on the subject’s face, and lastly, the AI Group Photo to give a much better capture of the group. These features make use of artificial intelligence to automatically optimize settings and deliver the best possible images.
The Realme 13 Pro 5G and Realme 13 Pro Plus 5G are wedded to customized designs and sophisticated camera systems which means that they will be warmly embraced by photographers or tech users. Realme has taken another step in presenting the Indian market and consumers with smartphones as infused with AI as possible.
Qualcomm announced its latest mobile chipset, Snapdragon 4s Gen 2. Positioned below the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 in Qualcomm's lineup, the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 is designed to bring 5G connectivity to entry-level smartphones, with an expected price point of around US$99 (approximately Rs. 8,200).
The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, then, is fabricated using a 4-nanometre process and will be utilizing a 64-bit mode. It includes a Qualcomm Kryo CPU with eight cores: two performance cores operating at 2. 0 GHz and six efficiency cores limited to 1. 8 GHz. For graphics it comes with the Adreno GPU and integrated features for OpenGL ES 3. 2, Vulkan 1. 1, and OpenCL 2. 0 APIs create extremely stable software that will work for any task.
The chipset supports LPDDR4x RAM clocked up to 2133 MHz and UFS 3.1 storage, providing efficient multitasking and fast data access. The Spectra Image Signal Processor (ISP) of 12 bits can support a single camera sensor of up to 84 megapixels which includes other imaging functions such as EIS and MFNR.
The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 also supports full-HD+ display with up to 90Hz refresh rate & Video playback in up to 1080p @ 60 fps. For audio it has Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Audio to control effective high definition 96kHz music streaming. Notably there is support for standalone (SA) 5G networks which depend on the 4G networks but have dual -SIM 5G connections. In India, Reliance Jio is the only telecom provider offering SA 5G connectivity.
With its focus on affordability and advanced features, the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 is set to power a new generation of entry-level 5G smartphones in India.
Realme introduced its latest smartphone, the Realme Narzo N61 on July 29. This new device makes a pledge of an improved performance in terms of speed, better build and an improved camera to suit the packet of users.
The Realme Narzo N61 has a rather large 6. 74 inches of HD + Liquid Crystal Diode which has a dimension of 1,600 by 720. The screen has a nice 90Hz refresh rate and up to 180Hz touch sampling rate for a snappy and responsive feel and that has been attributed to the peak brightness of up to 560 nits which makes the screen to have high visibility in all situations that may arise.
Powering the Narzo N61 is the octa-core Unisoc T612 SoC, coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. For users needing more memory, the RAM can be virtually expanded by an additional 6GB, reaching a total of 12GB. This, combined with up to 128GB of onboard storage, ensures ample space for apps, media, and files. The device also supports storage expansion via a microSD card of up to 2TB, allowing for substantial additional storage if needed.
On the rear, the Realme Narzo N61 is equipped with a dual-camera setup, led by a 32-megapixel primary sensor. The secondary sensor's specifications are not detailed, but the primary sensor promises to deliver sharp and detailed images. The camera setup is designed to cater to various photography needs, making it a versatile option for users.
Running on Android 14-based Realme UI 4.0, the Narzo N61 offers a modern software experience with the latest features and optimizations.
July has been a dynamic month in the tech industry, showcasing a variety of exciting advancements and new releases. From the cutting-edge features of the Nothing Phone 2a Plus to the budget-friendly JioBharat J1 4G, and the innovative Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset, the tech landscape is buzzing with fresh innovations. Realme's latest additions, the Realme 13 Pro 5G and Realme 13 Pro Plus 5G, elevate smartphone photography with their advanced AI capabilities, while the Realme Narzo N61 provides a balanced mix of performance and durability for everyday use. As these new gadgets hit the market, they promise to enhance user experiences across various segments, from premium flagship devices to accessible entry-level smartphones.
