IF / News

MediaTek has announced Dimensity 1200 featuring one Cortex-A78 CPU clocked at 3Ghz, three Cortex-A78 CPUs at 2.6GHz, and four Cortex-A55 CPUs at 2GHz. MediaTek has also announced Dimensity 1100, which features four Cortex-A78 CPUs at 2.6GHz and four Cortex-A55 CPUs running at 2GHz. (Android Authority, MediaTek, MediaTek, GSM Arena, CN Beta)

Qualcomm has announced Snapdragon 870 mobile platform, with its the prime core runs at 3.2GHz, up from 3.1 GHz on the 865+ and 2.94GHz on the 865. The Snapdragon 870 still uses Kryo 585 cores, which are based on ARM’s Cortex-A77 with some in-house tweaks. (AnandTech, Android Authority, Qualcomm, GSM Arena)

AlphaICs has raised USD8M in funding for artificial intelligence processors for edge computing. The company is creating a coprocessor chip that can do agent-based artificial intelligence. These RAP chips could one day be deployed in computing devices and autonomous cars to make decisions at lightning speeds, or in data centers on a massive scale. (VentureBeat, Business World)

Honor CEO George Zhao announced his team has signed partnerships with major chip suppliers MediaTek and Qualcomm. It has also struck deals with AMD, Intel, Micron, Microsoft, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Sony. (Gizmo China, GSM Arena, Reuters, Sina, Sohu)

Samsung’s semiconductor manufacturing arm is reportedly looking to invest around USD10B in a fab in Texas, which would presumably churn out 3nm chips. The goal is to start construction in 2021, then install the major equipment from 2022 onwards. As for the debut of operations, it is scheduled for 2023. (GSM Arena, GizChina, IT Home)

LG Display (LGD) has allegedly halted production of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels for Apple iPhone. LGD halted iPhone LCD production at its AP3 line at Gumi in 3Q20. The line also stopped making panels for other phones as well in 4Q20. AP3, which will now focus on producing automobile display panels, will produce those with low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFT). (Apple Insider, The Elec, Gizmo China)

BOE is expected to secure CNY20B (roughly USD3B) in funds to expands its Chongqing display factory in China, B12 line. This site produces its OLED panels that are used on smartphones, while its 2nd Gen 10.5 LCD factory in Wuhan is also expected to reach its full capacity in 1H21. Both Gen 10.5 factories has a production capacity of 120,000 substrates per month. (The Elec, Gizmo China, STCN, NBD)

Samsung Display has announced that it will mass produce the world’s first 90Hz OLED laptops in 1Q21. The company will initially produce very large quantities of 14-inch, 90Hz OLED displays destined for laptops and notebooks, beginning in Mar 2021. (Engadget, Business Wire, Neowin, Gizmo China)

Samsung Display claims their 90Hz OLED refresh rate is actually 10X the fastest screen response time on the market today. In fact, the 90Hz OLED display offers high-speed driving that is actually on par with that of 120Hz LCD screens. (Sammy Hub, Business Wire)

LG is reportedly undecided about launching its rollable phone. The company is reportedly “open to every possibility”. It may completely abandon the project. (GSM Arena, Android Authority, Korea Herald)

Xiaomi has patented a unique pop-up camera module, which can be used to capture both regular and selfie pictures / videos, titled “Electronic device and concealed camera”. The camera module uses an adjustable reflective mirror to capture and record videos. Due to the versatility of the reflective mirror with a help of a motor, the same camera sensors can be used to click both standard and selfie images / videos.  (Gizmo China, LetsGoDigital)

Huawei has filed a patent application for a smartphone camera design with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The patent images show a new smartphone with a brand new camera system consisting of a large vertical cylindrical shape including two circle shapes with two cameras on each. The camera system also has an LED light. (GizChina, Huawei Central)

Samsung Electronics has already embarked on the conversion of its DRAM Line 11 in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and begun production of CMOS image sensor (CIS). The conversion has been made on the projection that the automotive image sensor market would grow to more than KRW20T (USD18.2B) market by 2030 timed with the rollout of self-driving vehicles.  (Pulse News)

According to DigiTimes, Apple will mount its new sensor-shift image stabilization in all iPhone 13 models to be launched in 2H21. LG Innotek will remain the supplier of all essential components pertaining to the technology. (Mac Rumors, ET News, WCCFTech, IT Home)

Either Xiaomi or OPPO is allegedly close to entering into a cooperation agreement with Hasselblad, a Swedish manufacturer of medium format cameras and photographic equipment. (CN Beta, Sohu, Aroged)

EVgo, the wholly owned subsidiary of LS Power that owns and operates public fast chargers for electric vehicles, has reached a deal to become a publicly traded company through a merger with special-purpose acquisition company Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation. The combined company, which will be listed under the new ticker symbol “EVGO” will have a market valuation of USD2.6B. (The Verge, TechCrunch)

In a patent granted to Apple by the US Patent and Trademark Office titled “Multi-part electronic device housing having contiguous filled surface”, Apple proposes it can create a casing that offers the electromagnetic benefits of a two-part enclosure, but produced in such a way as to make it seem like a single part. Apple’s housing idea involves three elements, namely the majority of the main housing with a void section to be filled, a second housing part to fill the section, and ink. In short, Apple suggests that an ink layer could be deposited at the point of the join to cover it from view completely. (CN Beta, Apple Insider, USPTO)

The global refurbished smartphone market fell 9% YoY in 2020, according to Counterpoint. The market saw a dramatic 16% decline in 1H20 compared to 1H19. It rebounded slightly in 2H20 due to increases in new device sales and a very strong Apple iPhone launch cycle which helped the supply of devices in the secondary market. All major countries and regions showed a decline for the full year of 2020, mainly due to COVID-19. (Android Headlines, Counterpoint Research)

LG Electronics has revealed that it is considering all options for its loss-making mobile division, which analysts said could include shutting its smartphone business or selling off parts of the unit. LG has indicated that 23 consecutive quarters of losses in its mobile business had totalled around KRW5T (USD4.5B) amid stiff competition. (CN Beta, Reuters, Live Mint, The Elec)

LG Electronics reportedly wants to sell off its smartphone business to Vietnam’s Vingroup. Vingroup entered the smartphone business in 2018. It has been producing smartphones under an original design manufacturing (ODM) contract with LG Electronics. Currently, it is the third largest smartphone producer in Vietnam after Samsung and OPPO. Vingroup is reportedly interested in taking over the LG’s smartphone business in the United States. (CN Beta, Business Korea)

Redmi general manager Lu Weibing has revealed that the brand will launch its “first flagship gaming phone” this year at a “price that cannot be refused”. (Android Authority, Weibo, Sohu)

OnePlus has indicated that to better maximize resources and further position OnePlus for growth, they are in the process of further integrating some R&D capabilities within OPLUS, their long-term investor. OnePlus will continue operating independently and working to deliver the best possible user experience for existing and future OnePlus users. (GSM Arena, DoNews, Android Authority)

Honor’s CEO, George Zhao has stated that the company still has more than 8,000 employees after separating from Huawei, and it aims at soon launching on mid-to-high end devices. The company still retains over 8,000 employees, with more than half working in the R&D sites. The company has more than 100 laboratories and over 3000 service centers, and 43 call centers in more than 82 countries and regions. (Gizmo China, IT Home)

vivo Y20G is launched in India – 6.51” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch IPS, MediaTek Helio G80, rear tri 13MP-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 6+128GB, Android 10.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 18W, INR14,990 (USD205). (Gizmo China, GSM Arena)

vivo Y31 (2021) is launched in India – 6.58” 1080×2480 FHD+ v-notch IPS, Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, rear tri 48MP-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 16MP, 6+128GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 18W, INR16,490 (USD225).  (GSM Arena, Gadgets Now)

vivo X60 Pro+ is unveiled in China – 6.56” 1080×2376 FHD+ HiD curved AMOLED 120Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, rear quad 50MP OIS-8MP periscope telescope 5x optical zoom OIS-32MP telephoto 2x optical zoom-48MP ultrawide gimbal stabilization + front 32MP, 8+128 / 12+256GB, Android 11.0, fingerprint on display, 4200mAh 55W, CNY4,998 (USD775) / CNY5,998 (USD925).  (Android Headlines, GSM Arena)

Infinix Hot 10 Play is announced in Philippines – 6.82” 720×1640 HD+ v-notch IPS, MediaTek Helio G25, rear dual 13MP-AI lens + front 8MP, 2+32GB, Android 10.0 Go, rear fingerprint, 6000mAh 10W, (8.9mm thick), PHP4,290 (USD90).  (GSM Arena, Infinix, First Post, NDTV)

Honor V40 5G is announced – 6.72” 1236×2676 FHD+ 2xHiD AMOLED 120Hz, MediaTek Dimensity 1000+, rear tri 50MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro + front dual 16MP-ToF, 8+128 / 8+256GB, Android 10.0 (no GMS), fingerprint on display, 4000mAh 66W, 50W wireless charging, CNY3,599 (USD556) / CNY3,999 (USD620).  (Android Authority, GSM Arena, CN Beta, Gizmo China)

realme C20 is announced in Vietnam – 6.517” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch IPS, MediaTek Helio G35, rear 8MP + front 5MP, 2+32GB, Android 10.0, no fingerprint scanner, 5000mAh 10W, VND2.49M (USD105). (GSM Arena, FPT Shop, GizChina)

Apple is reportedly working on a thinner and lighter version of the MacBook Air, the company’s mass-market laptop. It is planned to be released during 2H21 at the earliest or in 2022. It will include Apple’s MagSafe charging technology and a next-generation version of the company’s in-house Mac processors. Apple has discussed making the laptop smaller by shrinking the border around the screen, which will remain 13”. (Bloomberg, Mac Rumors)

Apple’s first crack at a headset is allegedly designed to be a pricey, niche precursor to a more ambitious augmented reality product that will take longer to develop. Apple is aiming to include some of its most advanced and powerful chips in the headset along with displays that are much higher-resolution than those in existing VR products. The headset, codenamed N301, is in a late prototype stage. “Apple Glass”, codenamed N431, on the other hand, are reportedly said to be in a pre-prototype stage known as “architecture”. (Bloomberg, Digital Trends, Apple Insider, CN Beta)

Hyundai has allegedly arranged internally to hand off Apple’s rumored “Apple Car” project to Kia. The project will be carried out at the Kia’s West Point plant in Georgia, US. The report notes that making the car in the United States would “facilitate cooperation with Apple”. (Apple Insider, eDaily, iMore)

Microsoft has announced that it is teaming up with Cruise and General Motors (GM) to help commercialize the former’s self-driving vehicles. Microsoft, GM, Honda, and institutional investors are also going to be making a combined equity investment in Cruise, standing at more than USD2B, and pushing the post-money valuation of the self-driving car service to USD30B. (Neowin, Microsoft, IT Home)

Google has announced the launch of Product Discovery Solutions for Retail, a suite of services deigned to enhance retailers’ ecommerce capabilities and help them deliver personalized customer experiences. Product Discovery Solutions for Retail brings together AI algorithms and a search service, Cloud Search for Retail, that leverages Google Search technology to power retailers’ product-finding tools. (VentureBeat, Google, PR Newswire)