Tech NewsWrap: Motorola Edge 2021 launched… and more

Motorola Edge 2021 launched with Snapdragon 778 SoC

Motorola has launched a new Motorola Edge 2021 globally. The smartphone comes as a successor to Edge smartphone that was unveiled last year. It comes with more features and improved specifications than its predecessor. This time, the Lenovo-owned brand comes with a flat screen with slim bezels on the sides, but a thicker chin. The latest device has a 144Hz refresh rate display and 6.8-inch IPS FHD+ LCD screen with 8GB of RAM. Motorola Edge 2021 is priced at $699 (approx. Rs 52,000) for the sole 8GB RAM + 256GB storage model.

Indian smartphone market breaks record with 173 million units in 2021

The Indian smartphone market is growing rapidly. According to Counterpoint Research, it is set to hit a record high of 173 million units in 2021, growing at 14 per cent year-on-year. More than 100 million mobile phones are expected to be shipped in the second half of the year, it said. Since the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the region has experienced a surge in demand for smartphones. Additionally, the sales momentum which has thrived from July is expected to continue along the festive season in India, from August to November 2021.

WhatsApp launches Beta Program for its desktop app

WhatsApp has launched a public beta program for WhatsApp Desktop app. WABetaInfo showed that users can also initiate beta testing on WhatsApp for Desktop, which will let them try out new features before they release for general WhatsApp users. The instant messaging app is already testing a very useful feature on beta version 2.2133.1 of WhatsApp for Desktop. Now users can easily sign up for WhatsApp Desktop beta users on iOS and Android.

Xiaomi teases the Mi TV 5X for Indian market

Xiaomi is currently teasing an event called ‘Smarter Living 2022’, slated to launch its next-generation TV model Mi TV 5X on August 26. The latest Smart TV series follows the Mi TV 4X generation of TVs that the company has sold in India so far. Mi TV 5X will have narrow bezels with a metal finish, fine-tuned visuals, a new generation of PatchWall interface, and more. The company has also confirmed to launch Mi Band 6 and Mi Notebook at the event.

Google discontinues Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5

Google has confirmed that it has discontinued its Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 smartphones. Both the phones are out of stock on the Google Store in the US and they are expected to go out of stock at other retailers soon. The decision to discontinue these devices makes sense after the company launched the model’s successor – Pixel 5a 5G, but the tech giant is yet to launch a successor to the Pixel 5 which the company has discontinued long before the arrival of Pixel 6 this fall.