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Redmi Note 9T specs leaked by Geekbench Ahead of Launch

Redmi Note 9T leaked ahead of launch by Geekbench
Image Courtesy: 91Mobiles

This is not the first time when Geekbench has leaked the specifications of a smartphone before its launch. From budget smartphones to flagships, nobody can escape the test on Geekbench. The latest smartphone spoiled is the Redmi Note 9T, also known as Redmi Note 9 5G in China. However, since there is no official confirmation, you might refer to is as the alleged Redmi Note 9T spec leak by Geekbench. Earlier this year, Redmi Note 9 Pro was also spotted on Geekbench before its launch.

Redmi Note 9T would be powered by ARM6853T chipset, which is the geeky name for Dimensity 800U SoC. As it has been the case with Redmi phones lately, this one is also expected to be a rebrand of its Chinese variant. The device is listed as M200722G. The same model number was listed on the Malaysian Certification Site and NBTC. However, the model spotted on GeekBench could be a prototype, and might launch with some changes.

Redmi Note 9T leaked ahead of launch
Image Courtesy: NDTV Gadgets 360

A budget phone that it is, Redmi Note 9T would come with 4GB RAM. It seems unlikely that a higher RAM model would be launched in India. Like other Redmi budget phones, we might see an LCD panel, with a punch-hole display. The rear camera module could be inspired by their upcoming smartphone – MI Note 10i. More details would be unveiled at the event on 5th January.

In my opinion, Xiaomi’s product portfolio has become slightly confusing, especially after Redmi and Poco became independent brands. More than often, it looks like both these child brands are launching the same phones, with the same specifications, with just a slight change in price. Nevertheless, they are good at offering value smartphones, and that is what made the company successful.

20 Best Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up [UPDATED]

free movie streaming sites with no signup

Watching movies is one of the most favourite past time for a lot of people. With the global COVID-19 pandemic and ramification of social distancing in our lives, the fan base of binge-watching online movies has considerably increased. Going to the theatre with friends and family is not just risky but has also lost its touch with the enforcement of social distancing. It leaves us with the movie streaming sites as our only entertainment and fun source without the headache of time and efforts of downloading films. Just bear with a few ads here and there because, let’s face it, we are not paying them a penny! Here is a list of free movie streaming sites with no sign-up required.

One can find hundreds of websites for watching movies online, but many of them require an Email address and sign-up details to access the film. Many Movie streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., demand a subscription cost for the services while quite a few are not safe to use. Thus, getting your hands on a secure and free movie streaming site from the never-ending tricky list can be very complicated and time-taking. And this calls for a handpicked list of tried and tested free movie streaming sites available over the Internet that need no sign-up details and steer clear of scammers. 

Following are the 20 best free movie streaming sites with no sign-up or money requirement:   

1. 123Movies

123Movies is one of the biggest film websites on the Internet. One can find movies and TV Series in various video formats like 1080p, 720p, 4K, etc., for free. The ads are little to no. One can even find new movies released on the leading streaming sites here, soon after release. The home page of this movie site is very simple and user-friendly where one can simply type the movie, series, or genre as per wish without baffling content appearing on the screen. One setback with 123Movies is that it does not host TV shows and movies on its server so the content available on it is from other streaming sites and if any movie or show is not on the leading site, you cannot find it on this site either. 

123movies - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: 123Movies

2. Tubi TV

TubiTV is also one of the best websites to watch free movies online without downloading them. The services are available free of cost. In TubiTV, the content appears under different headings or categories like most popular, weekly watchlist, family movies, documentaries, etc. One can stream over 15000 films and TV shows on TubiTV of multiple genres like Family, Action, Entertainment, etc. There is no need to sign up for watching movies, but you can register yourself if you want Tubi TV bonuses and playlists.

However, one has to keep in check that the Adblock is disabled on the device while streaming movies on TubiTV. As the movies can be streamed free of cost, the only source of earning for the site is from advertisements so it does not work with AdBlock enabled on the devices.  

Watch free movies online on Tubi TV - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Tubi TV

3. Veoh

One can find more than 7,000 movies, TV Shows, and videos to watch on the platform of Veoh. This free movie streaming site with no sign-up streams a vast catalog of classic films along with user-uploaded content to the audience for free. The built-in search feature makes it very efficient and easy to search for movies and shows on the site. The Veoh site is well-structured and offers a great variety of retro videos, movies, and enjoyable user-uploaded content. There are videos, music, movies, groups, and channels that the users can pick from.

However, if you want to upload your content and videos to the site, you need to make an account on the website. It is safe and no details or payment-related information are asked. Also, one can even stream the shows and movies with a VPN on Veoh. 

Watch free movies with Veoh TV - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Veoh

4. Movies123

It is a free movie streaming website with no sign-up that one can access for free to watch or download TV shows and movies online. Apart from that, Movies123 also promotes various short films and music films. Also, one can watch local TV shows and other content on the Movies123 platform, making the available content even richer. The content is well categorized for more comfortable navigation into multiple genres and is available in HD quality. The user can use a VPN if the website displays access issues and easily stream the content without worrying about what type of shows or movies should he or she watch.

A lot of ads indeed start appearing the moment one steps into this website. But, the streaming of movies goes uninterrupted and the hassle of the ad remains at bay while streaming. Moreover, one can stream movies in HD quality on the platform and even download the same in HD. Information about every movie and its trailer are also at disposal for helping users in going for the right pick. 

Movies123 - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Movies123

5. M4Ufree

M4Ufree is a free movie streaming site with no sign-up required. One can visit this platform to watch videos, movies, documentaries, anime, and various other content without having to give any details about oneself. The best thing about this free movie streaming site is that there are no pop-up ads to disrupt the movies. Also, there is no need to sign up or register too. The interface of the website is very clean and navigation is also easy. The categories at disposal are Genre, year of release, language, sort by, and sort. One can pick any genre as per mood from drama, action, comedy, humour, horror, and others. Users can directly explore the latest releases by hitting buttons like new movies or new TV series on the bottom of the website. The “Most Watch” category helps one find the trending content instantly. 

M4ufree - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: M4UFree

6. Yes Movies

It is also a free movie streaming platform with thousands of movies and series to choose from without the need of registering oneself. YesMovies provide high-quality content on the site. With YesMovies, users get access to uninterrupted movie streaming that can be navigated as per genre, launch year, etc. A very peculiar feature of YesMovies is the Top IMDb category, which provides IMDb ratings of the movies and makes it very efficient to pick a new movie that would be worth the time of the user.

The users can also go for a VPN to get access and enjoy the movies anonymously without spending any money. The advertisements appear now and then, which can set the mood off a little, but there are no ads during the movie streaming. 

YesMovies - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Yes Movies

7. Solar Movie

It is a free platform that helps one watch online movies and TV shows online for free. Solar Movie shows a few advertisements in the middle of searching for a movie. Hence, one has to pay attention while clicking anywhere as it can redirect you to other pages very quickly with the ads. However, this free movie streaming site with no sign-up requirement allows users to watch content without making any payment or account. Not just Hollywood, one can even find Bollywood movies on the Solar Movie platform. One can choose from around 10,000+ videos, movies, and shows using PC, mobile or other devices.

solar movies - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Solar Movie

8. Movies Found Online

It is also one of the most popular online free movie streaming sites. The platform consists of a massive variety of shows, movies, series, feature films, etc., and it keeps suggesting various movies on the screen under random video picks, recent full movies, recent short films, recent animations, and other categories. Users need not sign up or spend even a single penny to watch the movies.

This website too, has embed movies from other leading streaming sites so users cannot find the shows and movies that are not available in the public domain streaming websites. However, the brighter side is that the database of this site is updated daily so users never run short of new content to watch and not miss out on anything that users on other websites or streaming sites could be enjoying.  

Movies Found Online - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Movies Found Online

9. Soap2Day

Soap2Day is a free movie streaming site with no sign-up and no-hassle policy. One can enjoy a plethora of sitcoms, movies, and TV shows for free. It brings entertainment to your fingertips with the latest releases. The website keeps updating the database with new releases and provides details about the content to make searching even more efficient. The structure and layout of Soap2Day is also very user-friendly. One can let loose and enjoy the array of choices and genres that this platform offers. With the “Soap2Day Popular Movies” list, one can quickly get an idea about the trending and popular content to try. One can even find animated cartoons and shows for kids on the platform too.

Soap2Day - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Soap2Day

10. Vumoo

A trendy and free online platform for streaming movies, Vumoo brings a vast number of films and programs with detailed insights about the runtime, movie ratings, etc., for the users. One can directly enter the name of the movies or series to search on the simple and sober search page, or check out the Home page, TV shows, or movies section for the same. The content present on this platform is all available to be streamed in HD or even download in HD.

This Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-up chivvy does not obstruct the experience of fun by flooding the screen with advertisements. One setback is that there are not many filters for the genre section, otherwise Vumoo offers quality content and easy accessibility for a remarkable experience.

Vumoo - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Vumoo

11. CMoviesHD

It is also one of the best online movie streaming platforms that bring various movies and TV shows free of cost. Users can easily discover, watch and even download various movies and videos from this platform for free. One can find the popular shows and movies under the Trending category, Top Movies, and Top TV shows of CMoviesHD. One can find a varied range of genres to pick from and explore the very easy interface of the CMoviesHD website. It also eliminates the hassle of sign-up.

As the name suggests, all the content present on the platform is HD so quality can never be an issue with this streaming site. Be it a guilty pleasure TV show or experiencing the thrill of horror movies, CMoviesHD ensures interruption-free bingeing to the users. 

CMoviesHD - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: CMoviesHD

12. Movie Stars

MovieStars, as the name suggests, is a free online streaming platform with no sign-up requirement that brings the stars of the big screen to our devices. It ensures hassle-free bingeing for the users by providing many movies and shows belonging to varying genres. The platform provides a variety of content that is produced all around the world. The best part about this platform is its “Trending Today” category that handpicks the movies and shows trending on the particular day one visits the platform to get the latest and most popular content in the front.

One can explore the wide variety of content categorically with the options like a year, country, genre, tv shows, movies, and trending, present at the top. Be it a French movie or a Dutch documentary, you can rely on MovieStars to get your hands on the content. The platform has a very simply designed layout and is quite easy-to-use.

 

Movie Stars - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Movie Stars

13. Los Movies

This online movie streaming site lets the users dive into the sea of genres. One can check the ratings of the movies while picking one or look as per the initial alphabet or numbers too. This platform narrows down the list of movies with subtitles under the category of “Movies with subtitles” for the ease of users. Not just that, the content can be looked up as per actors, top picks, directors, countries, genres, and many other categories for narrowing down to the right pick. LosMovies allows bingeing free of cost without the need to sign-up. The experience is so smooth that all the user has to do after reaching this website is hit play and enjoy the movie. 

LosMovies - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: LosMovies

14. Look Movie

This free online streaming platform with no sign-up platform brings plain old sitcoms and movies to our devices free of cost, without the sign-up hassle. One can feast on diverse picks of movies, programs, and documentaries on LookMovie. One can even enjoy all the new releases and the latest collection from the comfort of one’s home for free. There are multiple categories in which the never-ending content is divided like genres, latest, filter, etc. Also, for the ease of users, the movies and TV shows are under different heads. The rating category and Top IMDb makes it easier to find new movies worth spending time and the Trending tab brings the popular shows and movies for users. 

Look Movie - Free Movie Streaming Sites with No Sign-Up
Image Courtesy: Look Movie

15. Afdah

This platform ensures unlimited streaming without any ads, pop-ups, or trouble of registering and signing up. Afdah brings an enormous collection of shows and movies divided into genres for users. It is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and even android. The platform has been designed in a user-friendly layout. One can browse the content by year, language, country, and other categories. With genres ranging from action, adventure, biography, and crime, to family, fantasy, history, musical, and many others, the choices are endless. Afdah offers assured entertainment with the most-recent category which has the latest releases for the users. For ease, users can see the most recent featured movies, most recent HD movies, most recently updated old movies, and other categories, directly on the home page of the site.

Watch online movies with Afdah
Image Courtesy: Afdah

16. FlixTor

FlixTor is a free online streaming platform with no sign-upthat ensures zero interruptions from ads, pop-ups and ensures no hassles. It provides a wide variety of TV series and movies for users. The content can be viewed as per genres and handy filters like most downloaded or most watched. It also provides a section dedicated to Top IMDb as per the ratings. The latest TV series, latest movies, and recommended content appears right in front of the users as soon as one opens FlixTor. One can watch movies for free, navigate as per country, IMDb ratings, or genres ranging from thrill and horror to humor, comedy, and others.

Watch free online movies with Flixtor
Image Courtesy: Flixtor

17. Movie4u

It provides one-click away hassle-free streaming for free. Movie4u provides content that is divided into various genres like Action, Adventure, documentary, crime, and others. The release years and most viewed categories are also present at the disposal of users. It also provides a wide range of Anime for users who like animated movies and shows. Apart from that, one can also search for content in an alphabetical order. It also keeps the users updated about the trending movies and shows, their ratings, the top IMDb rated content, and featured movies so that the trending content is not missed out. The user can pick from a plethora of web shows, tv shows, sitcoms, and documentaries without needing to sign-up.

Watch free movies online with Movie4U
Image Courtesy: Movie4U

18. YouTube

YouTube is also another top-rated platform that provides many films for free. One only needs to bear with the advertisements on YouTube while enjoying movies online under the “Free To Watch” tab. This platform is the most widely available and easiest way of getting access to movies. The main problem with YouTube is that users cannot get new films and latest releases on the platform and even if they do, the quality is very poor. Many times the content can also be taken down by the channel that has uploaded it without any prior information. However, for old and classic movie streaming, YouTube is just the right platform. One can even provide or read feedbacks left in the comments section of every movie to get an idea of what they are getting into before spending a good three hours or so on the movie. 

Watch free online movie with YouTube
Image Courtesy: YouTube

19. Popcorn Time

Popcorn Time is also a free online streaming platform with no sign-up that offers various shows, movies, and content with no restrictions. As the name suggests, the users can sit down with a bucket of popcorns and leave the rest to the platform. Popcornflix ensures the best version available of any show, viral videos, and a movie out there for providing quality content. New arrivals, most popular, the popcorn time originals, staff picks, date night, and other categories present on the home page itself are very handy for the users.

Picking the right content is very easy and the content present on this platform is comparatively more appropriate for kids who like watching movies. The only hurdle one can get in the way is the absence of subtitles on the screen. The best part about this platform is that it is a treasure for stand-up comedy fans because it offers hand-picked content under a category dedicated to stand-ups alone.

Watch free online movies with Popcorn TIme
Image Courtesy: Popcorn Time

20. Classic Cinema Online

ClassicCinemaOnline is a free movie streaming website that provides users with classic content. This means that you can find many movies on this platform, as old as the time of the 60s and 70s. There is also a category dedicated to the old classic movies with no dialogues named “Silents”. Every single movie present on the platform comes with a golden IMDb button that takes users straight to the IMDb ratings and other details about the content.

The search feature, Movie Billboards, genres, and subgenres help in easy browsing. The layout is also set to the feel of a classic movie theatre with the red curtain. There are multiple options at disposal for users watching movies on ClassicCinemaOnline like cast media with Air-Play/Chromecast, related videos, share, more formats from the Internet Archive and others. 

Watch free online movies with Classic Cinema Online
Image Courtesy: Classic Cinema Online

These were the 20 best free movie streaming sites with no sign-up required that can take your entertainment to the next level. Some free websites are not available in certain regions, and one can use a VPN to access them. There are indeed some features that paid websites and subscription plans provide, but the free streaming sites don’t. Still, the mentioned sites will surely give you the best quality and safest experience possible online for free. All of these websites are tried and tested to provide you with uninterrupted bingeing in excellent picture quality.  

Also Read:
6 Best VPNs for Multiple Devices
10 Best Android Antivirus Apps
9 Best Android Data Recovery Software

Amazon Deals: Samsung Galaxy A71 5G Drops to Whopping $445, Samsung Galaxy Buds to $79!

Amazon Deals: Samsung Galaxy A71 Drops to Whopping $400, Chromebooks From $219, and More!

As we’re about to enter not just a new year but a new decade in less than 24 hours, we have the best deals for you to grab on the new year’s eve. Today, we are bringing you the best deals from Amazon for Galaxy devices and Chromebooks. These include Amazon’s ‘huge’ price cut on the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G and Galaxy TWS Buds. Lenovo Chromebook Duet, on the other hand, starts as low as $249 on Best Buy. Here’s what the new deals have in stock for you and why you should grab them.

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is $155 Off

 
Amazon Deals: Samsung Galaxy A71 Drops to Whopping $400, Chromebooks From $219, and More!
Image courtesy: Amazon

Samsung’s Galaxy A71 5G normally comes with a price tag of $600, but today, Amazon is offering the unlocked Galaxy A71 5G at a whopping discount rate. The smartphone is currently available for just $445 on Amazon with a discount of a flat $155. This is an all-time low for the A71 5G.

Amazon is giving the unlocked Samsung Galaxy A71 5G with 128GB of onboard storage for $444.95. On top of that, there will be free shipping in the US and free returns on the phone. The handset features a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED+ Infinity Display and a quad-camera setup with a 64MP primary sensor. Despite entering at such an affordable price tag, the Galaxy A71 128GB manages to deliver flagship features, especially with today’s price cut.

Grab Samsung Galaxy Buds for Just $79

Amazon Deals: Samsung Galaxy A71 Drops to Whopping $400, Chromebooks From $219, and More!
Image courtesy: Amazon

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds True Wireless Earbuds are available on Amazon at just $79 (delivery included) with a drop of over $50. Grabbing this deal will save you 39% here, and this is the second-best price for Galaxy Buds to date. These truly wireless earbuds, flaunting the technology of Samsung, can run up to 6 hours of playback. It brings a wireless charging case that increases the play-back time even more by up to seven more hours. Today’s Amazon deal lists the Galaxy Buds at $79 with free delivery and free returns.

Use Android Smart Text Selection and Convert Units on the Go With Just a Few Taps

Smart Text Selection learns to convert metrics
Image Courtesy: Android Police

Google has recently rolled out a utility feature for Android users. The already convenient Android Smart Text Selection has worked like a charm. For instance, Android pastes a phone number on your dialer whenever you copy one. Additionally, it also allows you to search the internet with a specific word. Surprisingly, it now has the ability to do unit conversions.

If you select a unit of measurement, Google would stick-select the number and unit, offering you a button for conversion. It actually asks the Google App on your smartphone to make a Google search with the selected metric to convert it. Think it as an automatic Google search for conversion. In use, it works with all units that Google is aware of, including distance, time and even currency. Before this, Google has launched multiple add ons to increase the usability of Android devices. A new Text Preview was also tested recently by Google.

Android Smart Text Selection learns to do metric conversions

Android Smart Text Selection would be useful for people who have to deal with different metrics on a daily basis. Instead of manually typing the units, copying them on the Google App, just tap and hold and click on convert. It would not only save time but also rescues people with a short memory. However, nobody knows when this feature was actually added to Smart Text Selection. Android Police recently tested out this feature, click here to read the report.

One UI 3.0 With Android 11 Starts Rolling Out on Galaxy Phones, Here’s What New Features it Brings

One UI 3.0 With Android 11 Starts Rolling Out on Galaxy Phones, Here's What New Features It Brings

Last month, Samsung rolled out the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 beta update on Galaxy S20 devices. After months of testing, the company officially announced its launch earlier this month and revealed which devices would receive One UI 3.0. Now, after weeks of waiting, Samsung has finally started pushing the One UI 3.0 update for select Galaxy phones globally. We previously had talked about how the new OS upgrade takes the user experience of Galaxy phones to a new level. But, as some smartphones have received One UI 3.0 now, we have hands-on with these new features.

Based on Android 11, the One UI brings almost all features of the latest Android OS, but Samsung’s Android skin adds some new features and design tweaks. For those of you who are already on the One UI 2.5, you’re unfortunately not going to feel any major difference. Although the One UI 3.0 brings some very new things, the look and feel of the OS remains similar. But if you’re eagerly waiting to receive and try out the latest One UI 3.0, here we have rounded up all that you should expect. 

Samsung One UI 3.0 New Features

Since all the new Android 11 features are included in the Samsung software upgrade, we won’t be covering those here. Here we list all the new features which are exclusive to One UI that the latest Samsung’s custom skin brings.

Revamped Notifications

One UI 3.0 With Android 11 Starts Rolling Out on Galaxy Phones, Here's What New Features It Brings
Image courtesy: Sam Mobile

In Android 11, one of the biggest areas where Google has focused on is notifications. The latest version of the stock Android OS arrives with major changes and tweaks to notifications shade and how Android notifications work on phones. Following Google’s footsteps, Samsung has also stressed a lot on the notification shade in One UI 3.0. By adding a new light grey color and a new fade-in notification, the South Korean smartphone brand has updated the entire look of the notification shade. It is now more organized, smooth, and classy in its looks.

Though the One UI 3.0 reflects the most notable changes that are instituted by Android 11, the Samsung skin has removed some things to reduce the clutter. Like the power button has now disappeared from the upper right corner. Also, the update has moved the music player out of the notification area and inserted it into the Quick Tiles section. Further, notifications are organized under different headings depending on their importance. Long-pressing of any notification works as usual.

New Alerts and Android 11 Bubble Support

One UI 3.0 With Android 11 Starts Rolling Out on Galaxy Phones, Here's What New Features It Brings
Image courtesy: Android Authority

With a major change to notification alerts, Samsung has reduced the size of the alert pop-up. Earlier, in Android 10, the notification appeared as a large alert in the top quarter of the screen with shortcuts to app features such as reply, delete, ignore, mark as read, etc. One UI 3.0 makes the alert much smaller and simpler by removing all those shortcuts from the pop-up. Now, when a notification alert pops up on your screen, tapping it opens up the conversation within the app itself.

The smaller alert now makes it less obtrusive when users are working on their smartphones. However, if you ignore the notification alert, it moves to the notification shade and displays all those shortcuts and interactions. The good thing is that One UI 3.0 provides you the option to bring back the ‘bigger’ notifications by heading to notification settings, in case you don’t like this change.

Additionally, the update brings the support for chat bubbles, which, of course, is a feature of Android 11. Samsung phones will also now support chat bubbles, and users can choose which apps will see a bubble alert. Alternatively, if you don’t want them, you can turn them off by heading to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Floating Notifications.

Larger Volume Controls With Key Info

One UI 3.0 With Android 11 Starts Rolling Out on Galaxy Phones, Here's What New Features It Brings
Image courtesy: Sam Mobile

Samsung’s One UI 3.0 has received a revamped volume control slider, bigger in size, with added information within the slider. For example, you can now see which device you are currently controlling the volume of. Further, if you tap the three-dot expansion icon at the top of the volume slider, there appears a full volume panel, which looks a lot different from the previous one. It takes up a larger portion of your phone screen and allows you to alter various volumes of your phone. Like, you can control volume for notifications, media, ringer, alarms, etc. From there, you can also quickly toggle on or off Google’s Live Caption

Tweaks to Always-on Display and Lock Screen

According to the official changelog of One UI 3.0, the company has improved the always-on display widgets. Samsung offers various customization options, including design, colors, and even animated GIFs. It also allows users to adjust which alerts appear on their AOD. Though there are no visible changes to AOD widgets, and it’s unclear what those improvements are, we believe they’re now more power efficient or so.

One UI 3.0 With Android 11 Starts Rolling Out on Galaxy Phones, Here's What New Features It Brings
Image courtesy: Sam Mobile

Apart from this, Samsung has also improved the lock screen widgets. Users can now keep track of things on their lock screen. For example, you can add the new Digital Wellbeing widget that will allow you to keep tabs on your phone usage — without having to unlock your phone. Additionally, the dynamic lock screen option has also been updated with more categories. This feature changes the look of your lock screen with wallpapers based on certain categories, automatically. Now there are more categories that you can choose your lock screen wallpapers from.

Fast Access to Widgets

One UI 3.0 With Android 11 Starts Rolling Out on Galaxy Phones, Here's What New Features It Brings
Image courtesy: Android Authority

Android widgets have finally been revamped, at least by Samsung, with One UI 3.0. You can now directly see an app’s widgets by long-pressing an application within the app drawer or home screen. A widgets button appears when you long-press an app and tapping on it pops up a menu that allows you to scroll through the widgets. Just select the one you like and instantly add it to your home screen, simple. Note that this does not work for Widgets on the always-on display or lock screen that we earlier talked about.

Samsung Free: New Aggregator in One UI 3.0

The -1 home screen panel now does not come with Google Discover or Bixby Home or Samsung Daily, or any other systems that Samsung previously placed there. Now, Samsung has debuted a new system called Samsung Free for the left panel of the main home screen. Like the others, it is also an aggregator that brings you an easily scrollable feed with news and other related information.

Samsung Free Toggle On/Off
Image courtesy: Android Authority

Though it’s similar to Bixby Home and Samsung Daily, it mostly focuses on news only and a few app suggestions from Galaxy Store. It’s good to see that you can turn Samsung Free off if you don’t like it. To do so, long-press any blank space on your home screen and turn off the Samsung Free toggle by swiping left.

As said before, Samsung One UI 3.0 brings most of the new features of Android 11, but there are some things that Samsung has not included. One such thing is the omission of smart controls with the power menu. In stock Android 11, holding down the power button reveals a whole new, full-screen interface with ‘smart’ controls. From there, you can quickly turn on or off your smart lights, select your credit card to make payments, etc. The usual power buttons that allow you to power off or restart your phone also lie there.

Samsung Power Menu
Image courtesy: Android Authority

However, Samsung didn’t add this new Android 11 feature in its update but carries the one from the One UI 2.5 without any changes. Also, you will find that One UI 3.0 has replaced the native Android screen recorder with its Samsung Capture. The update has already started rolling out for select Galaxy devices, and you should get to see it in the coming days.

Take Stunning Photos with Google Camera 8.1 Mod

Google Camera 8.1 Mod clicks stunning photographs on non-Pixel devices
Image Courtesy: XDA Developers

Pixel devices are known for their image processing capabilities. With the launch of Google Pixel 5, Google released its new and updated camera application. It included a slightly new interface and a couple of new features – the Google Cam 8.0. Whether on a Pixel device or on any other Android device, photographs clicked using the Google Cam are probably the best. Thanks to Google’s excellent computational photography. Well guess what, XDA Developers recently launched the latest Google Camera 8.1 mod. For all the users who click pictures mainly through their smartphone, the Google Camera 8.1 mod is a blessing. Even on a non-Pixel device, the application provides top-notch image processing, getting the best out of your shots.

Google recently announced that it would discontinue the unlimited storage option for Pixel users. With that came the ‘Storage Saver’ feature. It essentially compresses the photo and video, subsequently causing a little downgrade in the quality. In the same way, Google Camera 8.1 mod would also be able to use this feature.

Google Camera 8.1 mod
Image Courtesy: The Custom Droid

Here is a list of tweaks in the latest Google Cam

  • Colour Transform to fix colour intensity and saturation
  • Option to disable tracking focus
  • Additional button to turn the auto white balance on/off
  • Option to disable motion photos
  • Option to chose from Google Pixel 2, Pixel 3, IMX686 and IMX586 photo signature
  • An EIS fix through the addition of OPModes
  • Option to disable auto night mode

Google keeps adding new modes to its application. The latest Google Camera 8.1 mod would work with most Android devices. However, some Samsung and OnePlus would not be supported. Finally, downloading and running this mod on your smartphone would instantly improve the quality of the picture, colour accuracy, dynamic range and contrast. Basically, it would use all the brains behind Pixel cameras for beautiful results. Download the latest mod here.

Smartphone Listed on 3C Website, Alleged to be Oppo Reno 5 Lite

oppo reno 5 lite 5g listed on 3c
Image Courtesy: NDTV Gadgets 360

The China Compulsory Certification recently listed a smartphone with 30W fast charging. According to experts, it might be the Oppo Reno 5 Lite 5g. The upcoming smartphone is supposed to be a sidekick for the Reno 5 series. Oppo has already launched Reno 5 5G, Reno 5 Pro and Reno 5 Pro 5G in China. While all these phones focus on the budget-flagship segment, Reno 5 Lite might be a budget-oriented phone.

Here are the details

Reports also mention the model number of the smartphone listed on 3C website to be PELM00. The China-based certification enterprise also says that the device will be bundled with a 30W VOOC 4.0 charger. MyFixGuide also claims this smartphone to be the Reno 5 Lite 5G. Seems like after OnePlus coming up with NORD, other companies are also focussing on making a ‘Lite’ version of their flagship lineup.

The popular website GSMArena reports that Oppo is planning to diversify the Reno 5 series over different price points. From a budget smartphone to a flagship, user get all options. However, it should be kept in mind that this is just a speculation, and there is no official word from Oppo, for Reno 5 Lite 5g.

Oppo Reno 5 Lite 5g listen on 3C
Image Courtesy: Firstpost

Other smartphones in the Reno 5 series

The Reno 5 Pro 5G is powered by the new Dimensity 1000+, an octa-core chipset, which runs on a 7nm architecture. With a quad-camera setup and a 90Hz display, the device is definitely an all-in-one package for its price (3,999 CNY). In terms of looks, the Reno series is probably one of the most beautiful smartphone lineups out there. The Reno series earned its name for the exceptional camera performance. Check out this post for further information on other Reno 5 devices.

Xiaomi Launched MI 11 in China – Here is all you Need to Know

MI 11 launched in China
Image Courtesy: Mi Blog

Earlier this month, Xiaomi declared the MI 11. They did it just after the launch of Snapdragon 888 chipset. It made their intentions of making the first smartphone with Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor clear. As of 28rth December 2020, Asian tech giant Xiaomi has launched the MI 11 in China.

Loads of features

MI 11 is not only the first smartphone to flaunt the most powerful Android processor, it is also the first 2021 flagship. From what appears, Xiaomi has gone all-in with this one. With an aim to be the best, MI 11 is loaded with features like 6.81″ 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. With a maximum brightness of 1500 nits, the screen shines bright in direct sunlight. On top of that, gamers will love the 480Hz touch-sampling rate.

Best-in-class Camera and Storage

A 108MP primary camera is capable of recording stunning 8K videos. Additionally, the camera application supports some creative video formations, which would be very helpful for bloggers or photographers. The LPDDR5 RAM, couple with UFS 3.1 provides for an excellent read and write speeds. While we did post an early article about MI 11 launch, read the official report here.

Xioami Launched MI 11 in China
Image Courtesy: Mi Blog

The device supports fast wireless charging

Looking at some unboxing videos out there on the internet, the device appears very elegant when held in hand. The slim 8.06mm chassis houses a 4,600mAh battery. The Xiaomi MI 11 charges from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes, thanks to the 55W wired TurboCharge technology. It also supports 50W wireless charging. Surprising enough, Xiaomi would not supply in-box chargers with their latest flagship. Xiaomi has launched the MI 11 in China, before any other company, which might turn into their advantage.

Xioami MI 11 launched with 108MP camera
Image Courtesy: Mi Blog

The rear camera design is a bit odd

However, I am a little concerned about the looks of the rear camera module. While in the front, MI 11 sports a punch-hole display, they have tried a new design on the rear panel. It is slightly unpleasant to my eye, as the camera bump catches too much attention. Other than that, the MI 11 is definitely the best bang for the buck device so far. If we convert the launch price, the base variant costs around 45,000 INR. Although, based on previous trends, the device might be priced around 57,000 INR when it launches in India. While Indian reviewers will import the smartphone, we might see an official launch soon.

Google ‘At A Glance’ Widget To Display Critical Weather Alerts

Google 'At a Glance' to display weather alerts
Image Courtesy: Android Authority

The Google ‘At A Glance’ Widget would inform users about severe weather conditions and other weather alerts. The Google App on Pixel Launcher always receives the latest and the best from Google. Whenever there is a weather alert available, Google Glance Widget would take up two lines to display the same. The first line would display the warning message, the second would display the name of the organization that has issues the warning.

Pixel Launcher to display weather alerts
Image Courtesy: 9to5Google

While this might be an to the utility, some users still prefer viewing the conventional date and time at a glance. The warnings remain until the organization who issues them withdraws the alert. It is not a part of regular notifications from Google App. Other than the weather alerts, calendar events and work profile can also be added as a part of ‘At a Glance’ feature. You can customize the information you want your device to display in the preferences menu. Google has always had the upper hand when it comes to first-party widgets. Although, there are a couple of other widgets that you might like.

This addition has been done sometime in the previous month, as it was a report from 9to5google that made people aware of it. Google ‘At A Glance’ to display weather alerts in many pixel devices. With or without the weather notifications, the widget itself is a part of the Google App. However, it is still unknown whether this new feature is available on other devices that provide stock Android experience. If not, this might be a Pixel only feature. An interesting thing to note here is that this add-on was not covered in detail in the recent Google changelogs.