MacBook Pro M1X Rumoured To Have 120Hz Mini-LED Display, 1080p Webcam

With Apple’s recently announced “Unleashed” event coming up soon, rumours and leaks have been flooding out about the speculated MacBook Pro refresh. While we don’t know how accurate these claims are, they’ve set expectations high and even analyst Mark Gurman says that people have been asking about the new MacBook nonstop.

According to leakster @dylandkt, the new lineup will consist of a 14-inch and a 16-inch MacBook Pro, instead of the current 13-inch and 16-inch options. He also claims that the base models will have 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Moreover, the Pro is said to come with a new charging brick as rumours suggest that the USB-C charging port might be replaced by a Magsafe port.

Sticking with his claims from earlier this year, Dylandkt says that the 720p webcam will finally be upgraded to 1080p and the anticipated M1X chip will sport the same ten cores for both MacBook configurations at similar prices. The M1X MacBook Pro variant was expected to be launched back in June during WWDC but it never came to fruition.

As for the screen, display analyst Ross Young tweeted that both MacBook Pros will feature a mini-LED display with 120Hz refresh rate. Similarly, Dylandkt revealed that Apple has been working on a 120Hz display but says he doesn’t know when it will actually be implemented.

If the M1X MacBook Pro does come with a 120Hz display, then Apple will officially have another addition to its list of products that support the high refresh rate, alongside the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPad Pro. The Unleashed launch event will take place on 19 October at 1:00 AM Malaysian time and is expected to unveil the M1X MacBook Pro and Mac Mini, as well as the AirPods 3.

Apple Reportedly Cancels Plan To Release iPad Air With OLED Display For 2022

Earlier in June this year, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple would be updating certain 2022 iPad models with OLED displays, starting with the next-generation iPad Air. However, according to a recent investor note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo now says the company has allegedly decided to exclude the Air variant from receiving this upgrade.

Instead, it is said that the company will continue featuring LCD displays for next year’s iPad Air model. The analyst states that one reason behind this was due to costs as well as quality concerns, which did not meet Apple’s expectations. This also seemingly corroborates with a report by The Elec that was published back in late September, which suggests that Apple has called off a joint-project with Samsung to use an OLED display developed by the South Korean giant for a forthcoming iPad Air model.

Meanwhile, an earlier prediction of Kuo’s suggests that Apple is upgrading the 11-inch iPad Pro to feature a mini LED display – a tech that is already included in the current generation 12.9-inch Pro model. It is also mentioned in the investor note that Kuo claims Apple intends to have the new 11-inch model to be the “focus of [the] iPad line in 2022,” and concluded that releasing an OLED-equipped iPad Air would be detrimental to its potential sales.

While Kuo’s track record of predicting future Apple’s releases has been accurate to a certain degree, it is still advisable to take the information provided by the analyst with a pinch of salt. Whether his predictions are accurate or not will only be determined when Apple officially unveils its 2022 iPad line-up, which – as most of us are aware – is still far off.

Xiaomi Civi Now Official: Features 120Hz Display, Snapdragon 778G, 32MP Selfie Camera

Xiaomi has just launched the first Civi smartphone, its purported replacement for the aesthetics-focused CC series. For starters, the new phone sports a 6.55-inch Full HD+ OLED display with curved edges and super-thin 2.55m bezels.

At the same time, the screen on the Civi also offers a 120Hz refresh rate and in-display fingerprint scanner, as well as the support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Housed within the top centre part of the display is a 32MP selfie shooter which features autofocus and a “beautification” filter that uses sophisticated machine learning that reportedly “re-depicts” the original picture pixel-per-pixel to maintain skin texture while getting rid of imperfections such as blemishes and acne:

The Civi also features a three-camera setup on its back which includes a 64MP primary, an ultrawide lens with a 120-degree field-of-view, and a 2MP macro camera. Meanwhile, the rumour of photo/electrochromic back cover on the phone proved to be inaccurate as Civi’s sparkly rear uses anti-glare glass instead.

Runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G alongside up to 12GB LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB internal storage, the new phone also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Also equipped with Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, there is no 3.5mm audio jack on the Civi though.

Not to forget, the phone is powered by a large 4500mAh battery which Xiaomi claims to have the longest battery life of any smartphone it’s releasing this year. While it comes with 55W rapid charging, it seems to be missing wireless charging.

Running on MIUI 12.5 which is based on Android 11, the new Civi starts from CNY2,599 (~RM1,684) and goes all the way to CNY3,199 (~RM2,073) for the top configuration. Unfortunately, the phone is only launching in China for now, with no word yet on availability in other countries.

iPad mini 6 Also Reportedly Exhibiting A Display Issue

It looks like the iPhone 13 Pro models aren’t the only newly launched Apple products experiencing display issues. According to 9to5Mac and The Verge’s Dieter Bohn, exhibited on the company’s new iPad mini 6 is a wobbling effect that occurs when content is moving quickly on screen when used in portrait mode.

The issue, also dubbed as “jelly scrolling” by both sources as well as owners of the tablet, is easily noticeable when scrolling up or down on a web page or certain apps (ie: social media). As demonstrated by Bohn in a Twitter post, it appears that one side of the 6th gen iPad mini 6’s display is refreshing slower than the other, thus causing content to appear as if it is wobbling. Strangely enough, he notes that the effect is not present when using the new tablet in horizontal orientation.

It looks like that this isn’t an isolated issue either, as an owner told 9to5Mac that the wobbling effect is also present on all iPad mini  6 demo units that are displayed in their local Apple Store. The company has yet to acknowledge and address the flaw, and it is still uncertain whether it is caused by the tablet’s LCD panel, its display controllers, or by its firmware/software.

Apple recently responded to the iPhone 13 Pro series’ refresh rate issue and promised to roll out a fix soon. With that, hopefully the company would also follow up on the 6th gen iPad mini and offer a potential solution for the display’s wobbling effect problem.

As previously reported, the iPad mini 6 will retail at a starting price of RM2,299, but its expected arrival in Malaysia has not been determined at this time. Meanwhile, all four iPhone 13 variations, which includes the standard, mini, Pro and Pro Max models, are slated to arrive locally next month on 8 October.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Leak Suggests 120Hz Display, Thunderbolt Ports

Microsoft has an announcement event coming up this week, which likely has to do with its Surface line of products. One of the products to get a reveal may be a Surface Pro 8, which has recently been leaked. And there’s more than just a pinch of detail here.

Twitter user @Shadow_Leak shared an image of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 that looks to be from a Chinese retailer. And there’s a fair amount of info to gleam from it. Chief among which are the 13-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, and the fact that it will have Thunderbolt ports. The tweet itself goes on to say that there will be two of these.

Other details include the inclusion of Windows 11, which is to be expected, an 11th gen Intel Core processor, and replaceable SSDs. This is a feature we saw with the Surface Laptop 4 which was made available on our shores in May. It’s an impressive feature to have, judging from the thinness of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8.

Naturally, none of this are confirmed just yet. But it won’t be long before we know for sure, since the scheduled announcement event by Microsoft is due in just a couple of days.

Another New Report Strengthens The Rumour of iPhone 13’s Always-On Display

While we have heard plenty of rumours regarding the iPhone 13 (or 12s, depending on who you ask), some of them are more persistent than others. One such example is the always-on mode for its display.

Last weekend, the well-known Apple-oriented journalist, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg had made a passing remark regarding the feature inside the latest issue of his weekly “Power On” newsletter. Not only that, he also mentioned that the mode will work in a similar manner as per Apple Watch.

That being said, Mark didn’t provide in-depth details regarding the mode’s functionalities though. Nevertheless, what he has said regarding the always-on display in the newsletter generally mirrored the information that has been discussed by the reputable leakster Max Weinbach way back in February.

At that time, Max said that the always-on mode on iPhone may feature a toned down lockscreen with clock and battery capacity being made visible to users all the time if they choose to activate the mode. Try to imagine the always-on mode on Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6, you’ll get the idea.

Aside from the always-on display mode, Gurman has also said that consumers should expect a faster A15 chip, a smaller notch, and video recording upgrades on the new iPhone. Not to forget, there is also the 120Hz refresh rate which is another rumour that refused to go away so far.

Despite that, do keep in mind that Apple is reportedly saving the bigger changes to next year’s iPhone series, such as a foldable screen and an in-screen Touch ID. In other words, the 2021 lineup may feature only minor upgrades as far as the rumour mill is concerned for the time being.

Samsung Display Providing Foldable Screens To Vivo And Xiaomi

Recently, Korean news outlet ETNews reported that Samsung is selling its ultra-thin glass (UTG) to Google for an upcoming foldable phone. Now, another Korean news outlet, TheElec, reports that the company is also supplying foldable OLED displays to two other brands. They are Vivo and Xiaomi, which are also poised to release their own foldable phones.

The report states that Google’s device will make use of a 7.6-inch panel that folds inwards. No mention of a secondary display for this one as of yet. As for Vivo’s model, it is said to be getting an 8-inch main screen and a 6.5-inch secondary screen. No details on the new Xiaomi foldable phone, though.

Among the three brands now buying displays from Samsung, only Xiaomi has experience in making a foldable phone. The company announced the Mi Mix Fold back in March. Chances are we will see something similar when the new model gets released.

Incidentally, the report also says that the OLED panel production for all three companies will only start in October. The report goes on to say that all three will be revealed in the fourth quarter of the year. With both display production and announcement happening in the same time window, their availability seems unlikely to be within 2021.

Samsung Display Providing Foldable Screens To Vivo And Xiaomi

Recently, Korean news outlet ETNews reported that Samsung is selling its ultra-thin glass (UTG) to Google for an upcoming foldable phone. Now, another Korean news outlet, TheElec, reports that the company is also supplying foldable OLED displays to two other brands. They are Vivo and Xiaomi, which are also poised to release their own foldable phones.

The report states that Google’s device will make use of a 7.6-inch panel that folds inwards. No mention of a secondary display for this one as of yet. As for Vivo’s model, it is said to be getting an 8-inch main screen and a 6.5-inch secondary screen. No details on the new Xiaomi foldable phone, though.

Among the three brands now buying displays from Samsung, only Xiaomi has experience in making a foldable phone. The company announced the Mi Mix Fold back in March. Chances are we will see something similar when the new model gets released.

Incidentally, the report also says that the OLED panel production for all three companies will only start in October. The report goes on to say that all three will be revealed in the fourth quarter of the year. With both display production and announcement happening in the same time window, their availability seems unlikely to be within 2021.

Samsung To Showcase S-Foldable Smartphone And Other Prototypes During SID Display Week 2021

Samsung Display announced that it will be showcasing several prototype products during the Society for Information Display (SID) Display Week 2021 event, which starts today from 17 until 21 May 2021. Most interestingly, one of the confirmed demonstrations will be a smartphone concept known as the “S-Foldable” which features a tri-folding display (pictured above).

The S-Foldable sports a flexible display that transforms back and forth from phone to tablet mode via two hinges – with the process itself resembling an “S” shape, hence the device’s namesake. From the image provided by Samsung, the phone features what appears to be a triple camera setup on its left side, while on the right is a transparent material which serves as a cover for its display in smartphone mode. The latter might function as a notifications bar when viewed from the back of the S-Foldable in its folded form.

Other than the concept smartphone, Samsung noted that it will feature three other prototypes during the event. These include a tablet/laptop hybrid with a 17-inch foldable display, a smartphone concept known as the “Slideable” which features, well, a slidable display, and a laptop that comes equipped with its Under Panel Camera (UPC) technology. 

As we are aware by now, the innovations featured in the aforementioned products above are not particularly new. Slideable or rollable displays have been showcased before by rival smartphone maker OPPO and fellow South Korean company LG, while the UPC has already debuted by ZTE via its Axon 20 5G smartphone that was released last year.

It is also worth noting that Samsung had also teased these two technologies prior to this when they were still in the early stages of development. That being said, the SID Display Week 2021 event is the company’s best opportunity to demonstrate the latest evolution for its display-based innovations which could possibly see a commercial release in the very near future.

Samsung To Refresh Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor With Quantum Mini LED Panel, VESA DisplayHDR 2000 Certification

It’s been more than a year since Samsung first announced its Odyssey gaming monitor series, with the Odyssey G9 being the ultrawide darling of the lineup. As you’d expect, the monitor is due for a refresh and thanks to a leak on the China-based online retail store, Taobao, we have an idea over what we can expect.

For the most part, the new Odyssey G9 will retain most of the features from the 2020 model. This includes the ultrawide 5120 x 1440 (DQHD) resolution, spread out on its massive 49-inch display, as well as its ultra-high 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms GTG response rate. Oh, and the curvature of the monitor is still rated at 1000R, and it still retains its NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility too.

What is expected to be different, though, is that the display panel is no longer your typical VA; instead, the 2021 Odyssey G9’s panel will reportedly be using Samsung’s 10-bit Quantum Mini LED technology. That in turn, will allow for the gaming monitor to have a higher peak brightness of 2000 nits, but more importantly, it also gets a much better VESA DisplayHDR 2000 certification.

At the time of writing, there is no official pricing for the refreshed Samsung Odyssey G9 and that listed price of 29999 Yuan (~RM18937) on Taobao is likely just a placeholder. The current Odyssey G9 retails for RM6199, so even if Samsung was going to increase the price, it’s unlikely to be three times the price.

ASUS May Have A ZenFone 8 Mini In The Works; To Come With 5.92-Inch 120Hz Display

As far as phones go, ASUS is putting a lot of its emphasis on the ROG Phone line. The company hasn’t given up on the ZenFone line though, even if it hasn’t been bringing in the past few models into Malaysia. The company is expected to announce its eighth generation ZenFone this year. But the company may also have a Mini model in the works.

XDA reports that references to an ASUS ZenFone 8 Mini was found in the kernel source code of the ASUS ROG Phone 5. The word Mini itself is not actually mentioned, but instead the phone is referred to as a “small phone”. And what points to the possibility that it will be a Mini model is the hint of a 5.92-inch display. Beyond the size, it is also believed to be an OLED panel provided by Samsung, with a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

On cameras, the code indicates that it will have two, one being a Sony IMX686 64MP sensor, and the other using a Sony IMX663. The smaller ASUS ZenFone 8 is also believed to sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset.

This small ASUS ZenFone is referred to with the codename Sake. There are two other devices, codenamed Picasso and Vodka. The former looks a lot like the ZenFone 7. There are two exceptions, one being the Snapdragon 888 chipset, the other is an extra 24MP sensor that’s marked as the front sensor. Details on Vodka remain quite sparse, beyond the fact that it also sports a Snapdragon 888 chipset.

With the dreams of a Sony Xperia Compact mostly dashed, this supposed ASUS ZenFone 8 Mini looks promising. This is especially if you’re a fan of smaller phones. But on the flip side, even if it’s real, chances of getting it here are slim. After all, the company has not been bringing in ZenFones for the past couple of years.

2021 ASUS ZenBook Flip Series with OLED Display To Launch in Malaysia Soon; Alongside Duo 14

ASUS will be launching three new ZenBook laptops in Malaysia this week. Originally revealed at CES 2021 earlier this year, two of them actually come in the form of convertible laptops that also feature OLED display.

Claimed to be the world’s thinnest 13-inch OLED convertible laptop, the ZenBook Flip 13 OLED has a thickness of only 13.9mm and weighs around 1.3kg. As you may be able to guess from its name, the laptop is equipped with a 13.3-inch OLED display that has Full HD native resolution as well as touch gesture and stylus support.

The convertible also features up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB LPDDR4X RAM, and 1TB solid state drive although the actual specs for Malaysia have not yet been revealed by ASUS. Rounding up its general hardware specifications is a 67WHr 4-cell battery that apparently allows the convertible to last up to 14 hours.

Another convertible in the list is the ZenBook Flip S OLED which ASUS also claimed as the world’s thinnest 13-inch convertible laptop but with a 4K OLED display. It actually has the same thickness as per ZenBook Flip 13 OLED that we mentioned earlier at 13.9mm although it is slightly lighter at 1.2kg.

Similarly, the 4K OLED touch display on the Flip S also supports stylus and Pantone-validated with 100% sRGB colour gamut coverage just like the display on the lower-end Flip 13. Not to forget, the Flip S can also be obtained with up to 11th Gen Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.

Meanwhile, the third new ZenBook model that ASUS will launch in Malaysia soon is the ZenBook Duo 14. While it may have the same form factor as per ZenBook Pro Duo and ROG Zephyrus Duo 15, this particular model is slightly more compact since it features a smaller 14-inch Full HD screen alongside a 12.65-inch ScreenPad Plus secondary display.

With processor options of up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7, customers can apparently choose to obtain this particular ZenBook model with NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics. It is also able to support up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB PCIe SSD.

According to ASUS Malaysia, these new 2021 ZenBook models will be unveiled this coming Friday, 12 March. We will be keeping a look for updates from the event, so don’t forget to stay tuned for further details regarding all three new ZenBook laptops and more.

BOE Showcases New 360-Degree Display Technology For Foldable Smartphones

Foldable smartphones have not become the norm for the regular consumer just yet, but that isn’t stopping manufacturers such as China’s BOE from innovating the foldable display technology. The company recently demonstrated a new 360-degree flexible screen that is able to be folded inwards and outwards, suggesting a potentially new multi-mode foldable phone approach.

As seen from the demonstration – a gif animation shared by Digital Chat Station on Weibo and later shared on YouTube by SparrowNews – BOE shows off the new display tech via a prototype phone that can fold inwards ala clamshell, assumingly for storage purposes. When unfolded, it is able to function as a tablet, much like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Huawei Mate X series. Lastly, the device can also be folded outwards from tablet mode, transforming into a familiar smartphone form which utilises only one half of the display.

According to MyDrivers, BOE is said to adopt a “multi-neutral layer model design” for its new display and multi-mode foldable phone approach. This effectively reduces the stress of flexible outward and inward foldings, as well as reduces the possibility of causing creases from each fold. The report added that the company claims the display is able to last approximately 200,000 folds throughout its use.

Keep in mind that the foldable phone unit used by BOE in the demonstration is merely a prototype, therefore it lacks features such as cameras and so on. At this time, no smartphone makers have confirmed to be adopting this technology or multi-mode foldable approach.

The future of non-conventional smartphones is looking to be more interesting as of late, thanks to the recent display technology innovations. Aside from foldable screens, brands such as OPPO and LG are also exploring different approaches for their future products, namely rollable displays.

As for whether which approach would soon dominate the smartphone market in the foreseeable future remains to be seen. And that realisation will also take some time as the prices of such devices are still within the premium range, which – as mentioned earlier – is still far from being affordable for most consumers.

2021 iPhone Reportedly Features 120Hz Display With Always-On Function And Improved Cameras

Despite its expected Q4 launch window later this year, it is never too early for iPhone leaks. New information regarding Apple’s upcoming 2021 flagship model – which would unlikely be named as the “iPhone 13” because of obvious reasons – has surfaced online, thanks to leakster Max Weinbach via YouTuber EverythingApplePro.

This time around, it is said that the new handset would feature a battery-efficient LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) display, with a high refresh rate of 120Hz – the highest ever featured on the company’s smartphone releases. An even more interesting tidbit from Weinbach revealed that this model may also be Apple’s first iPhone to come with an always-on display. This suggests that the upcoming model would be even more power conserving than its predecessors – something that cannot be proven accurate until we are able to test it out for ourselves, which is still a long way to go.

The always-on display feature has been a standard on most Android smartphones, and was already introduced on the company’s Apple Watch wearables starting with the Series 5. The leak detailed that notification bars and icons will be displayed for a limited amount of time on-screen when the phone is locked, while the battery and clock indicators would be visible throughout.

Weinbach added the 2021 iPhone would also feature upgraded cameras, but was not specific regarding their improvements. Instead, the leakster said that the handset would come with a better ultra-wide camera, automatic astrophotography, and a Galaxy S21-like portrait video mode. Other than that, he claims that the handset’s rear case would sport a grippier matte finish and the built-in MagSafe magnets are stronger too.

Keep in mind that the MagSafe feature on the current iPhone 12 models is known to cause interference with medical implants, as previously reported. Therefore, Apple’s precaution of keeping its iPhones away from these devices would still apply to the supposed upcoming models, given its increased magnet strength.

As a quick recap, earlier rumours of the 2021 iPhone specifications suggests a smaller notch on its display, and an in-display Touch ID feature – another purported first for Apple’s smartphones. Weinbach’s recent leak also corroborated on an earlier report claiming that the upcoming models would sport a similar design to last year’s iPhone 12 series, but with some minor tweaks.

As usual, we highly advise to take the provided information with a pinch of salt despite Weinbach and EverythingApplePro’s track record in regards to smartphone leaks. With the 2021 iPhone’s expected announcement still being far off, we can expect even more rumours and leaks to surface along the way.

Apple Glass Micro OLED Displays To Be Made By TSMC

Recently, the Apple Glass AR headwear has seen a lot of resurgence in the news. Last month, Bloomberg reported that the company will first be working on an expensive headset before moving on to the mainstream glasses. But a new report states that TSMC is already working on the display for the AR headset.

According to Nikkei, TSMC is in the trial production phase of making micro OLED displays for the Apple Glass. And it will take several years to get to mass production. The company is even using its existing chip-making equipment for the process.

You might be wondering, why is Apple working with a chip maker rather than a glass maker like Corning for this? Sources say that this is because these micro OLED displays are extremely small – less than one inch in fact.

And because of this, they are built straight onto chip wafers. This is very much opposed to the conventional phones or TVs that have a glass substrate. Though the source says Apple is still “leveraging panel experts’ know-how on display technologies”.

Mass production of these micro OLED display for the Apple Glass being a long way away is no surprise. Apple’s plans for the eyewear was initially for a 2023 reveal, though that might be a little too tight a window.