Articles by Harish Jonnalagadda

OxygenOS 11 brings a new visual layout and dozens of features.

OnePlus just started rolling out the Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 stable update to the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro. The move comes after a month of the OxygenOS 11 beta program, and with the bugs sorted out, the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are now receiving the stable OxygenOS 11 update.

With OxygenOS 11, OnePlus is making visual changes to its skin for the first time in a few generations, and we finally get Always-on Display. Although OnePlus phones have used AMOLED panels from the beginning, the company didn’t offer an AOD mode; that’s changing now. There’s also a simplified settings page that’s akin to Samsung’s One UI, new system font with better readability, more customization options, new themes for Zen Mode, and a whole lot more.

The OxygenOS 11 stable update is now available on the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, and it will be making its way to older OnePlus phones in the coming weeks and months.

OnePlus will roll out the update to…

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are already receiving the stable Android 11 update, with other phones set to follow.

The Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 stable update is now rolling out to the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro. The update brings a new visual layout along with new features like always-on display, optimizations to gaming mode, new themes for Zen Mode, and more.

OnePlus is the only third-party manufacturer to roll out the Android 11 update, and it has confirmed that it will deliver the update to 12 phones in total. What’s particularly interesting is that the OnePlus 6 and 6T will be updated to Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 in addition to OnePlus’ 2019 phones. So let’s take a look at when your OnePlus phone will receive the OxygenOS 11 update.

These OnePlus phones have been updated to OxygenOS 11 (Android 11)

As of October 10, the stable OxygenOS 11 update based on Android 11 is rolling out to the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro. If you’re using either device, you will be able to install the OTA update b…

OnePlus is rolling out the stable OxygenOS 11 build based on Android 11 to the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro.

What you need to know

OnePlus has kicked off the stable release of OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro.
The stable build includes an always-on display, new visual design, ability to schedule dark mode, new Zen Mode themes, and more.
OnePlus has mentioned that its older devices will get the Android 11-based update shortly.

OnePlus kicked off the Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 public beta over a month ago for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, and the manufacturer is now rolling out the stable update. The stable OxygenOS 11 build doesn’t have too many changes if you’ve already installed the OxygenOS 11 beta, but if you’re still on OxygenOS 10, you’ll find plenty of new features.

The big change in OxygenOS 11 is the new visual layout, with OnePlus adopting a bold aesthetic as it looks to differentiate its user interface. OxygenOS 11 comes with an always-on display — …

Sony gives us a detailed look at the hardware that makes the PlayStation 5 tick.

With just over a month to go until the launch of the PlayStation 5, Sony has shared a detailed look at the internal hardware of the PlayStation 5 in a teardown video. The video gives us a better understanding of the PS5 hardware and answers questions around SSD upgradeability, cooling potential, thermal performance, and whether those side panels are removable (they are).

The teardown was performed by Sony’s VP of Mechanical Design Yasuhiro Ootori, and starts off with the dimensions of the upcoming console. With a width of 104mm, 390mm height, and 260mm depth, the PS5 is significantly taller and wider than the PS4, but you can mount it horizontally. Here are a few interesting takeaways from the PS5 teardown.

The PS5 has all the connectivity options you’ll need

The PS5 features a wide assortment of ports. At the front, there’s a 10Gbps USB-C port and a 480Mbps USB-A port based on USB 2.0. You’ll fi…

OxygenOS 11 is the biggest visual overhaul in OnePlus’ history.

OnePlus’ rise over the last six years is attributable to three key factors: robust hardware, clean software, and a strong focus on the community. By targeting enthusiast users and relying primarily on word-of-mouth advertising, OnePlus was able to sustain its initial momentum.

Of course, hardware had a strong role to play in OnePlus’ journey as well. OnePlus epitomized its Never Settle mantra by offering Qualcomm’s flagship chipsets for several hundred dollars less than the likes of Samsung, and that particular trait continues to this day on the likes of the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro.

But the biggest differentiator for the company is software. From the beginning, OnePlus focused on a clean user interface devoid of any bloatware — a stark departure from its Chinese counterparts. While Xiaomi, OPPO, Huawei, and other Chinese manufacturers introduced value flagships with similar hardware as OnePlus, they couldn’t match the c…

Google added mmWave 5G to the unlocked Pixel 5 in the U.S., increasing the cost of the phone by $100.

What you need to know

The unlocked Pixel 5 in the U.S. comes with both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G connectivity.
There’s a $100 difference between the Pixel 4a 5G with Sub-6 and the Verizon model with Sub-6 and mmWave.
Google sells a Pixel 5 that’s limited to Sub-6 5G in the UK, and that variant could have potentially retailed for $599 in the U.S.

The Google Pixel 5 is now official, and you can pre-order the phone for $699 from Amazon. Google revealed that it made a few concessions with the Pixel 5 to be able to hit the $699 retail figure — including using a Snapdragon 765G chipset instead of the Snapdragon 865 — but it now looks like Google could have easily sold the phone for $599 in the U.S.

The Pixel 5 that’s sold in the U.S. comes with 5G connectivity over both Sub-6 and mmWave bands, with the mmWave module in itself estimated to add $100 to the retail price of the device. G…

The Mi Smart Speaker sounds just as good as the Google Home, and costs less than half as much.

If there’s one trait that defines Xiaomi, it is value. Regardless of whatever Xiaomi product you pick up from Chinese manufacturer’s portfolio — whether it’s a $100 entry-level phone, $600 value flagship, or even a $2,000 laser projector — you know that you’re getting a great value.

Xiaomi used this value-focused approach to considerable benefit in the handset market, and it is now doing the same with the smart home category. Xiaomi has a vast ecosystem of smart products, and its latest offering in this segment is one that I’ve been particularly looking forward to for some time.

The Mi Smart Speaker is a smart speaker with Google Assistant integration, much like the Sonos One, Sonos Move, JBL Link 300, Bose Home Speaker 500, and others. You get the full range of features that Google Assistant has to offer, the ability to add the speaker to an existing multiroom configuration within t…

U.S. companies will now need to get a license to do business with SMIC.

What you need to know

The U.S. Commerce Department has added SMIC to the entity list citing the chipmaker’s alleged ties with the Chinese military.
U.S. companies that want to do business with SMIC will have to get a license.
SMIC is China’s biggest chipmaker, but it is behind TSMC and Samsung in terms of technological know-how.

The Trump administration has issued new restrictions on exports to China’s largest chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), noting that the company “may pose an unacceptable risk of diversion to a military end use in the People’s Republic of China.”

As is the case with Huawei, U.S. companies that want to do business with SMIC will need to get a license from the Commerce Department. The move comes as tensions between the U.S. and China escalate, with the U.S. adding dozens of Chinese organizations to the entity list over the last 18 months and bannin…

Meet the Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6.

What you need to know

Eero is launching two new routers based on Wi-Fi 6.
The Eero Pro 6 is the flagship offering and has tri-band connectivity, with the Eero 6 offering dual-band radios.
The devices work seamlessly with one another and have a Zigbee smart home hub integrated.

Wi-Fi 6 is slowly gaining mainstream momentum, and the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers are no longer limited to the high-end segment. There are plenty of great options to choose from in the budget and mid-range categories, and Amazon is now making its foray into Wi-Fi 6 networking with the Eero 6 series.

Amazon is launching two Wi-Fi 6 routers in the Eero 6 range: Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6. The devices work seamlessly with one another, but what’s particularly interesting is that they are also compatible with older Wi-Fi 5-based Eero devices, giving you the ability to mix and match Eero devices to maximize internet coverage throughout your house.

Let’s take a look at the hardware o…

OnePlus 8T is the first OnePlus phone to feature 65W wired charging.

What you need to know

OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 8T will feature 65W wired charging.
Dubbed Warp Charge 65, the new tech will be able to fully charge the 4500mAh battery in just 39 minutes.
OnePlus is updating the wall charger with a USB-C port, and the charger doubles up as a 45W USB PD charger that works with other devices.
OnePlus 8T will be up for pre-booking from September 25.

OnePlus teased earlier this week that the upcoming OnePlus 8T will offer a revolutionary feature never before seen on the company’s phones, and we now know what that is thanks to a new announcement. The OnePlus 8T will be the first OnePlus phone to offer 65W wired charging, with OnePlus introducing the Warp Charge 65 standard.

Warp Charge 65 is twice as fast as the current Warp Charge 30T standard, with OnePlus noting that the tech can fully charge a 4500mAh battery in just 39 minutes, delivering up to a 58% charge in…