Save your cash while rocking out and get into the near premium wireless ear buds market with the new Redmi Buds 3 Pro.

Redmi Buds 3 Pro, made by Xiaomi, come in at just over a hundred bucks and, for the most part, have the same features as more expensive brands.

Connecting to either Android or iOS (Apple) via Bluetooth, you can also have the Redmi Buds 3 Pro connected to a secondary device – so there’s no need to unpair with a phone if you want to connect to a laptop or tablet.

Wirelessly chargeable with the teeny carry / charge case you’ll get 28 hours of life on the go.

The wireless buds themselves will stream you audio, take handsfree calls for up to 6 hours on full. That’s pretty good going given their price tag.

During my time with them I’ve had some days that have fallen short (around 4 hours) to exceeding expectations (8.5 hours).

Given the spectrum of difference I can only put it down to using the buds for differing tasks drains quicker. During the time that I had lesser length of life I had taken a lot of calls and been in a virtual presentation. Whereas for the most part, the buds were used for streaming Spotify and Disney+.

For clarity, definition and focus each Redmi Buds 3 Pro ear bud has a super generous three mics.

Xiaomi didn’t stop there either, they have taken Noise Cancellation up several notches with the use of A.I. which will intelligently adapt to the environment to decrease the background noise.

Simply put, in a noisy place, the Redmi Buds 3 Pro will tune it out and tune you in to your audio.

Audio is powered by 9mm drivers – but here you’ll find their weakness.

While the quality is great, it is lacking any rumble. There just isn’t any low tones or bass.

If you’re someone who doesn’t like your ear canal to vibrate to the beat, shouldn’t worry you.

You have your usual options of touch control. Play, pause, skip, answer and end calls on the side of the bud. I’ll also mention how insanely light and comfortable they are to wear. So much so that you’ll forget you even have them in. I did, more than once.

But hey, they’re waterproof so it’s kinda okay if you go in the shower with them… just don’t submerse in any water though.

As mentioned, the buds can be charged wirelessly on almost any wireless charger – but expect a hefty wait time if your case and ear buds within are dead flat. 3 hours.

And this is actually correct. Usually when reviewing I’ll find variances to the manufacturer’s claim (as I did in this review on the session life span of the buds). But not on charge time. Letting the buds go dead flat and the case, on a wireless charge it was 3.5 hours.

Cabled is a wee bit quicker, but not by much, so I’d put this to 3 hours or slightly under.

Coming in two colours, Glacier Grey and or Graphite Black, the Redmi Buds Pro 3 are an excellent investment though, either as an entry point to wireless buds or as a secondary pair. While they do lack a wee bit on a full audio experience, they most definitely have the goods when it comes to full immersion.

The post Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 Pro Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Unprecedented technology has become a requirement in an unprecedented world.

In a commitment to keeping Kiwis connected, creative and comfortable, PB Tech proudly continues their partnership with global giant Xiaomi, and today announces the latest in True Wireless earphones from the company renowned for innovation and affordability.

As the leading authorised reseller of Xiaomi’s extensive range in New Zealand, PB Tech is excited to share the Redmi Buds 3 Pro – a game-changer in the new work-from-home world.

Juggling the kids and struggling with distraction? Hate wasting time switching Bluetooth connections between your phone and your PC? Need tech that goes the distance, even up to 28 hours on a single charge? With the Redmi Buds 3 Pro, the proof is in the pudding.

“The first things you’ll notice about the Redmi Buds 3 Pro is the eye-catching design, then the incredible active noise cancellation,” says PB Tech’s Headphone Product and Marketing Manager, Nik Turner. “This latest gadget from Xiaomi, the global #2 for True Wireless headphones, is the perfect fit for working from home.”

Turner says a key factor is the Buds’ state-of-the-art AI algorithm, compatible with Xiaomi smartphones, which judges ambient noise level and user habits to tune the depth of noise cancellation. “This means they’ll automatically adjust to one of four ANC modes – Adaptive, Light, Balanced or Deep. The result is up to a 35-decibel reduction in background noise.”

“Another common issue is the need for simultaneous Bluetooth connectivity to multiple devices,” says Turner. “You want to be able to answer your phone, listen to music, and then quickly jump into a video call on your PC? Most wireless earphones still require a manual switch. With multipoint connectivity, Redmi Buds 3 Pro users can seamlessly switch between two paired devices.”

The Buds also support wireless charging and fast charging for added convenience – just 10 minutes of charging can give you up to three hours of uninterrupted bliss.

With Xiaomi products now available in more than 90 countries, the tech giant aims to redefine value and increase tech accessibility across the globe.

Turner says that the latest Redmi Buds 3 Pro reflect the company ethos of “innovation for everyone”, to which cost is typically the biggest barrier for many consumers.

“We’re stoked to bring the Redmi Buds 3 Pro to New Zealand at such an affordable price point for such an exceptional product. With smart switching and active soundproofing, they’re designed not just to be incredibly ergonomic – but to simply make your life easier,” Turner says.

Redmi Buds 3 Pro is now available in New Zealand in Glacier Gray and Graphite Black online at the Mi Store, PB Tech, and through click and collect at PB Tech stores nationwide.

The post Love the sound of silence? Xiaomi release Redmi Buds 3 Pro appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

My, that’s a big lens you have… All the better to take Ultra FHD snaps with.

Xiaomi have unleashed their 5G Mi 11 series of smartphones with powerhouse cameras built-in. The series has three variants, mid range Mi 11, top level Mi 11 Pro and the flagship Mi 11 Ultra.

We received the mid range Mi 11 to give it a once over.

Built on Android 11 the specs of the lower cost Mi 11 are a mix of high and mid.

Multitasking and mobile gaming chugs along nicely with the Snapdragon 888 5G processor optimized for both performance, battery consumption and of course 5G.

The 8GB RAM, while now considered to be at the lowly end of specs doesn’t seem to hamper what the Mi 11 is capable of.

Enough storage for most, 256GB internal but if you’re still wielding a microSD card for all of your digital hoarding you’re going to caught short on the Mi 11. There’s no external storage expansion.

Now for that very large lens and it’s accompanying cameras.

Prominent in the rear camera array is a 108 MP (wide). Alongside this is a 13 MP (ultrawide) and a
5 MP (macro) with 30x digital zoom.

The Mi 11 is built for mobile photographers, vloggers and content creators.

Of the varying Xiaomi modes there’s Vlog.

On offer is a series of pre-built vlogger templates, complete with backing music. The Vlog templates are a consistent single shoot of multi-shot short burst videos within a timeline. Thus making super professional short play vlogger video.

Again for those superstar vloggers, Dual Video is another mode where the rear and front cameras are used simultaneously splitting the screen in half, so you can narrate what you’re shooting in person.

Their Night mode almost seemed superfluous – taking a shot in a pitch black environment with or without Night mode didn’t see a whole lot of difference.

Astrological snappers also have a mode; Supermoon. As you’ve likely guessed it takes a super close up of our interstellar friend.

Being in New Zealand, infamously known as the land of the long white cloud meant cloudy, rainy nights every night that I had the Xiaomi Mi 11, so was unable to test this feature.

If you’re just going to use the Mi 11 for general photos and have no desire to be a content creator or vlogger, this handset has you sorted there too.

With bokeh effects your pics are going to be top shelf.

Then there’s the Ultra 108MP mode. This primarily where the larger lens comes in and as you probably already guessed, it’s ultra high fidelity shots.

The front camera comes in at a generous 20MP and this seems to be able to keep up the quality on par with native shots from the rear lens.

The AMOLED 6.8 curved screen has been given the bells and whistles treatment too.

A 120Hz refresh rate, excellent for mobile gaming or media streaming. And gaming I did try.

Call of Duty Mobile, Fortnite and PUBG are my general go to’s. Neither a graphical lag or device heating was experienced. Bare in mind that this is the lower version of Xiaomi’s M11 series.

Finally battery life.

The Mi 11 comes with a 4600 mAh battery that I got up to 3 days of everyday usage from, from full charge.

Gaming chipped that a bit, Call of Duty Mobile being the worst offender where after a two hour play 15% of a full charge was gobbled.

Xiaomi haven’t just provided a smartphone that’s going to last the distance, the Mi 11 can also be wirelessly charged and features both quick and reverse charge.

For what would otherwise be coined as a mid-range phone the Mi 11 redefines that category on several levels. It has created a new normal for the middle range smartphone.

Ultimately targeted for content creators the Mi 11 doesn’t exclude the average smartphone user out either.

Xiaomi’s Mi 11 leaves some of the more pricier flagship smartphones in the dust.

It exceeded my expectations and then some.

The post Xiaomi Mi 11 Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Xiaomi, the world’s third largest smartphone provider, has just launched its premium flagship smartphone, the Mi 11 Ultra in New Zealand, a showcase of Xiaomi’s expertise in engineering and innovation.

Mi 11 Ultra is heralded as the pinnacle of smartphone photography and videography for Xiaomi.

Placed at number one in total score ranking in the DXOMARK rankings, the Mi 11 Ultra is a prime example of Xiaomi’s capability to produce high-end, premium smartphones.

The pro-grade triple camera array features ultra-powerful hardware which, combined with advanced software, takes crisp images that compete with the main cameras of most smartphones currently on the market.

Xiaomi’s industry-leading 50MP main camera is equipped with a next-generation super sensor. In a world first, the Mi 11 Ultra combines the powers of both Xiaomi and Samsung to create the all new GN2 50MP primary camera image sensor – the largest in a smartphone – and the first in the world to reach 1/1.12” in size.  Impressively, the Dual Pixel Pro technology enabled on the main camera provides laser-sharp focus and captures incredibly detailed 8K videos.

The Mi 11 Ultra offers an effortlessly responsive viewing experience with its top-of-the-line 120Hz 6.81” AMOLED display. Also, in an innovative advancement, the device also has a rear 1.1’ AMOLED enabling further customisation and allowing users to take selfies with the rear cameras. It’s always-on display showing notifications, and more.

The Mi 11 Ultra operating system runs Android 11 alongside Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 and is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile platform – one of the strongest processors in the 5G era.

Despite global shortages and overwhelming worldwide demand the Mi Oceania team has fought to bring the best mobile tech to New Zealand, says Mi Oceania, spokesperson Eric Chang.

“We have had an enormous number of requests for Mi 11 Ultra from our die-hard Kiwi Mi fans and we are very pleased to have secured a limited run of Mi 11 Ultra for New Zealand so we can officially introduce its ultimate performance and photography capabilities to New Zealanders.”

In comparison to other Mi products, sits at a premium price tier reflective of its incredible cutting-edge technology. Notably, when it comes to cost, Xiaomi prides itself on marking up products with very limited margins on key hardware.

“Stock is limited, so we are extremely proud to be able to acquire some for the New Zealand market and we’re excited to see the response to this incredible new product,” says Chang.

The launch follows the release of Xiaomi’s Mi 11 and is part of the flagship series.

The Mi 11 features similarly exceptional hardware and is well-equipped in virtually every department.

The Mi 11 model has rapid processing with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset underneath its HDR10+, 6.81-inch, 1440p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate AMOLED display. The triple rear camera has a 108MP primary sensor and also features cutting-edge cinematic software to offer a variety of creative, yet easy-to-use, videography features.

It also has dual hi-res audio-certified speakers tuned by Harman Kardon. While the Mi 11 Ultra remains a distinctively weighted phone, the Mi 11 is a lighter and thinner model compared to its Mi 11 Ultra counterpart.

The Mi 11 Ultra is available now exclusively at Mi Store Sylvia Park and online at www.mi-store.co.nz. Mi 11 Ultra is exclusive to Mi Store. Stock remains limited but there is an opportunity to open the product up to more channels in the coming months as supply increases. The Mi 11 Ultra comes in ceramic black with a 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration.

The post Xiaomi Releases Mi 11 Ultra appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Jumping on the 5G wagon is no longer going to cost you the equivalent of a small nations gross economy with Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9T 5G.

The all-screen 6.5 inch LCD display weighs in at 1080 x 2340 pixels. It’s bright, vibrant and super responsive.

Powering the Redmi Note 9T 5G is a medium level Octa-Core Max crunching the numbers at 2.4GHz. For the multi-taskers or light mobile gamers out there the 4GB RAM (memory) should see you right.

True, compared to higher brands, this is on the low side, but the Redmi Note 9T 5G is not Xiaomi’s flagship device, it is their more affordable solution for 5G networks.

Camera smarts are impressive.

The rear triple camera housing comprises of 48MP main wide, 2MP macro and 2MP depth lenses.

Snapping pics you can opt to use 48MP mode or standard. Xiaomi have also included some fun stuff, especially for Vloggers.

Short burst video or short video with Vlogger templates with visual camera effects. I had a good play with these and can see mobile videographers that just want to point and shoot without a high price tag getting a Redmi Note 9T 5G just for these enhancements.

The Redmi Note 9T 5G will record video at 4K 1080p both 30 and 60fps.

The selfie camera is not to be sniffed at either at 13MP.

Xiaomi have pulled a whopping punch against their market competitors with the Redmi Note 9T 5G for what it can do at it’s pricing tier of being under $400 NZD.

Looking sharp with a coloured textured backing the Redmi Note 9T 5G has one more killer feature – the 5,000 mAh battery with quick charge feature.

Recording video or playing light mobile games for up to an hour hardly puts a dent on the battery at full charge.

For light to moderate use you’re likely to get up to two full days use from full to empty.

The Redmi Note 9T 5G runs Android 10 and Xiaomi have held back from over-doing the reskin of Android or adding bloatware.

Usually I use a flagship high spec’d smartphone on a daily basis. Having been using the Redmi Note 9T 5G for over a week fulltime there I found that the phone runs real smooth, no lag and handles 5G speeds like a pro.

If you’re keen to grasp the future of mobile network with 5G and do not need a super-computer of a smartdevice to get you through your connected life the Redmi Note 9T 5G is the one.

The post Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

As the 5G rollout ramps up around New Zealand, Kiwis need look no further than the Redmi Note 9T 5G – New Zealand’s most affordable 5G smartphone, to make the most of the eye-wateringly high-speeds on offer.

The third largest smartphone provider in the world, global technology company Xiaomi has been redefining what value means in the world of phones since 2010.

Their ethos is “innovation for everyone”, to which cost is the biggest barrier for many consumers.

The Redmi Note 9T 5G is the latest device in Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9 series, which has amassed 20,000,000 users globally. When Xiaomi asked its users what they most wanted in their next Redmi Note smartphone, the results had a strong common theme – 5G capability.

Enter Redmi Note’s first ever 5G smartphone, the Redmi Note 9T.

With a price point of only $399, the Redmi Note 9T is New Zealand’s most affordable smartphone with 5G capability. Mi Oceania, spokesperson, Eric Chang, says they’re excited to show New Zealanders a more accessible entry-point for 5G.

“Kiwis do not want to pay five times the price for a smartphone with 5G capability. While Xiaomi is still a bit of an underdog in the New Zealand market, everything it makes is high-quality, well-designed and at a low cost, with the company committed to no more than 5% of profit margins on key hardware lines to achieve this. With the Note 9T, Kiwis do not have to compromise quality features to access to the latest technology.”

Redmi Note 9T’s speed is about smooth connectivity, ready to give users unparalleled speed, advanced connectivity with dual SIM 5G. With two different 5G networks, users can maximise network coverage to get a 5G connection that is always on in areas that it is available.

The Redmi Note 9T 5G is available from Friday 26th February 2021, and is available in Nightfall Black and Daybreak Purple for $399 NZD in a 4GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration from Mi Store Sylvia Park, online at mi-store.co.nz and at all PB Tech stores nationwide.

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The post Xiaomi Releases NZ’s most affordable 5G smartphone appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

After the launch of its freshest branding that highlights “Gaming is Real”, the cutting-edge gaming technology company, Black Shark proudly announces the arrival of its newest gaming device on the Chinese market, the world’s first 5G gaming smartphone series: Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro.

Black Shark aims to provide the unmatched and unique gaming experience by its hardware, software and services, and create the best gaming world with global gamers. With the new Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro, Black Shark once again leads the industry trends with extraordinary R&D innovation capacity.

The Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro are the first wave of gaming smartphone to be equipped with the most up-to-date flagship SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, delivering the best performance with 5th generation AI engine and Elite Gaming.

Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro support both SA and NSA 5G architecture, the first of its kind to enable gaming under 5G network and are built with a “Sandwich” liquid cooling system.

This cutting-edge 4th generation liquid cooling system has an innovative “sandwich” structure, implying the long-shaped cooling pipes on both sides of the main board. Being the leader of liquid cooling technology, Black Shark became the first manufacturer to implement liquid cooling system into a smartphone, the most creative “sandwich structure” is built for keeping the core cool and enable the Snapdragon 865 to run at its best state, providing stably high performance during serious gameplay.

The Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro feature a dual battery with 65W hyper charge.

The world’s 1st dual battery with series charging and parallel discharging are mounted both on Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro. The series charging of the two batteries enables 65W super-fast charging speed, while the parallel discharging allows a longer and more stable battery life.

The R&D test records shows that Black Shark 3 with 4,720 mAh battery and Black Shark 3 Pro with 5,000 mAh battery take only 12 minutes for 50% charge and 38 minutes for a full charge.

For a superior gaming experience, Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro uses UFS 3.0 RAM and LPDDR 5 ROM to ensure the smoothest and fastest data transfer. Enabling swift game loading and switching between scenes and inherited from the Black Shark design language, the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro own the upgraded X-shape antenna design with a dual “X” on its back.

This recognition is not only to symbolize Black Shark’s feature design, but also to ensure no signal block in horizonal handheld position.

But wait, there’s more…

Front Facing Symmetry Stereo Speakers are located on both rims of the Black Shark 3 and 3 Pro which provide even volume during gameplay.

Thanks to the front-facing design, the sounds will not be obstructed in handheld position, enabling more immersive stereo audio experience. The 3.5mm headphone jack is also returned to echo global gamers’ longing request.

Apart from the traditional USB Type-C charging, there are 4 magnetic charging contacts on the rear panel, supporting 18W fast charge, gamers are able to charge the phone when gaming with more comfortable handheld position. Black Shark 3 and 3 Pro shares the same triple camera setup, consisting a 64MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide snapper, and a 5MP camera for bokeh.

The super night mode in RAW Domain provides a clear and vivid shot at night. The x-axis linear motor only in Black Shark 3 Pro massively improves the tactile experience. The different vibrations for different gaming scenarios add a new communication dimension in mobile gaming.

The most gaming-centric mechanical design only on Black Shark 3 Pro – Master Button.

These pop-up buttons on the shoulder-side which can be customized as hot key and could be taken good advantage in multitype of games, uplifts a whole new level to mobile gaming.

With the world leading 270Hz Touch Reporting Rate, Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro have the world’s lowest screen touch latency of 24ms, which breaks the world’s record again and makes Black Shark keep ranking the first place.

The sensitive screen and lowest latency refer to faster bullet, swifter reaction and promising game win.

By upgrading the Master Touch to the 3.0 version, Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro are equipped with 4 pressure sensitive sensors, which allow the press zone becoming 48% larger than before. Also, it is more sensitive to various levels of press.

Screen specs:

• 7.1” AMOLED 2K Display with 3,120×1,440 resolution for Black Shark 3 Pro and 6.67” FHD+ AMOLED Screen for Black Shark 3 provide a promising vivid gaming world to gamers.

• TÜV-certified for Eye Comfort – Utilize the Pixelworks fifth generation visual processor and software, featuring its unique motion processing, Always-HDR mode and auto-adaptive display technology with Active DC Dimming, Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro enabling superior visual quality in all viewing conditions. The Black Shark 3 smartphone is also TÜV-certified for Eye Comfort.

• Thanks to the MEMC technology by the independent image chipset, both Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro can upgrade the video frame rate from 25Hz to 90Hz.

On the same day of the new Black Shark 3 series launch to the Chinese market, Black Shark also introduced a new Bluetooth gaming earbuds, Black Shark Bluetooth Earphones 2 (Black Shark Ophidian Gaming Earbuds) on the well-known crowdfund platform Indiegogo.

With the world’s lowest latency of 50ms, this new innovation is enabling users to listen to the sound of battle and shootouts as instant as when it happens on the screen.

With the world-renowned Knowles balanced armature drivers, a 10mm moving coil, and LHDC with a bandwidth that is 3x larger than most Bluetooth earphones deliver a premium listening experience.

Black Shark Ophidian was designed with looks and comfort in mind. At only 22g, the ergonomic bullet-style earbuds have a sleek design that’s complemented by bright and saturated RGB lights, making them fit perfectly with any gaming setup.

Earbuds can be recharged to 100% through the USB-C connector in 90 minutes to enjoy 14 hours of playback time without RGB lights.

There is no word yet as to whether the Earbuds, Black Shark 3 or Black Shark 3 Pro will be releasing in western territories. We certainly hope they do.

The post Black Shark Unveiled the World First 5G Gaming Smartphone appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Intel has been powering always-connected PCs since their inception, and continues to innovate with our partners to deliver the next wave of personal computing devices that are always powerful, always rich with the newest experiences, and always connected for today’s generation and beyond.

New devices, were launched at CES 2018, and join the lineup of always-connected PCs available to people today – from Google Pixelbook with Instant Tethering to Samsung’s Galaxy Book 12 via Verizon in the U.S. and Xiaomi’s Mi Notebook Air in China.

Google Pixelbook

All these devices offer an optimal, always-connected PC experience. And because of the outstanding performance powered by Intel Core processors, users will enjoy immersive entertainment, a seamless and trusted Windows experience enabling productivity in the office or while on the go with all the favorite apps, world-class connectivity, uncompromised battery life, and sleek, thin and light designs.

In opening remarks during his 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) keynote on Monday, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich also addressed the industry regarding the recently reported security research findings. Krzanich said:

“Today is a day when we all come together to celebrate the lifeblood of our amazing industry – and that’s really about innovation. But before we start, I want to take a moment to thank the industry for coming together for another purpose – to address the recent security research findings reported as “Meltdown” and “Spectre.”

“The collaboration among so many companies to address this industry-wide issue across several different processor architectures has been truly remarkable. Security is job number one for Intel and our industry. So, the primary focus of our decisions and our discussions have been to keep our customer’s data safe.

“As of now, we have not received any information that these exploits have been used to obtain customer data. And we are working tirelessly on these issues to ensure it stays that way. The best thing you can do to make sure your data remains safe is to apply any updates from your operating system vendor and system manufacturer as soon as they become available.

Brian Krzanich – Intel CEO

“For our processors, products introduced in the past five years, Intel expects to issue updates for more than 90 percent of them within a week and the remaining by the end of January. We believe the performance impact of these updates is highly workload-dependent. As a result, we expect some workloads may have a larger impact than others, so we will continue working with the industry to minimize the impact on those workloads over time.

“When we come together like this, there are endless possibilities. And I’d like to share some of those possibilities now with you. So, if you’ll indulge me, I’d love nothing more than to simply put my phone away and take this evening to truly celebrate innovation with you.”

Pricing and availability of the Google Pixelbook, Samsung Galaxy Book 12 and Xiaomi’s Mi Notebook  are yet to be determined.

The post Intel CEO Addresses Security Research Findings @ CES 2018 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.