Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro

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Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro
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In this article, we’ll be comparing the Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro. These are some of the best flagships out of Chinese smartphone OEMs at the moment and at the same time some of the best flagship smartphones in general. They are especially interesting to people who want great camera smartphones, actually. Despite both being very compelling, they’re also very different at the same time.

We’ll first be listing their specifications, and will then move to compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. There are some similarities, here, but also quite a few differences. Both phones come in global variants, and those are the models that we’ve used. With that in mind, let’s get to it, shall we?

Specs

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro, respectively

– Screen size:
6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display (curved, adaptive 120Hz, 3,000 nits max brightness)
6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display (curved, adaptive 120Hz, 3,000 nits max brightness)
– Display resolution:
3200 x 1440
2800 x 1260
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
MediaTek Dimensity 9300
– RAM:
16GB (LPDDR5X)
16GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
512GB (UFS 4.0)
512GB (UFS 4.0)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (wide, f/1.6-f/4.0 variable aperture, OIS, multi-directional PDAF, 1.6um pixel size), 50MP (ultrawide, f/1.8 aperture, 122-degree FoV, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF), 50MP (telephoto, f/1.8 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom), 50MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.5 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom)
50MP (f/1.8 aperture, 1.6um pixel size, PDAF, OIS, Laser AF), 50MP (ultrawide, f/2.0 aperture, 119-degree FOV, 0.64um pixel size, 15mm lens), 50MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.5 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, PDAF, 100mm lens)
– Front cameras:
32MP (wide, f/2.0 aperture, 0.7um pixel size)
32MP (wide, f/2.0 aperture, 20mm lens)
– Battery:
5,000mAh
5,400mAh
– Charging:
90W wired, 80W wireless,, 10W reverse wireless (charger included)
100W wired, 50W wireless, reverse wired (charger not included)
– Dimensions:
161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2mm
164.1 x 75.3 x 8.9mm
– Weight:
219.8 grams
225 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.4
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 14 with HyperOS
Android 14 with Funtouch 14
– Price:
€1,499
€1,199
– Buy:
Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Amazon)
Vivo X100 Pro (Vivo)

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro: Design

If you take a look at these two smartphones side by side, you’ll notice some similarities. Both of them not only have curved displays, and a centered display camera hole, but they also have large camera oreo on the back. Let’s take it one step at a time, though. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s corners are slightly more rounded than the ones on the Vivo X100 Pro. Both phones also have physical buttons on the right-hand side, and the placement is also quite similar.

Both phones have a frame made out of aluminum, though a titanium variant of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is available in China. Now, both global variants of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra (black and white) come with a vegan leather backplate. The Vivo X100 Pro combines its aluminum frame with a glass back (at least as far as global models are concerned, there is a vegan leather model in China). The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is more grippy as a result, of course. If we compare the global models alone.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s camera oreo is a bit larger, and it includes one extra camera in comparison. The backplates on both phones are curved towards the edges. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is slightly shorter in comparison, while the two phones have the same width and almost the same thickness. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s global variants weigh 219.8 grams, while the VIvo X100 Pro’s 225 grams. That’s what we’re focusing on here. Some other models in China have different weights, of course.

Both smartphones do offer an IP68 certification, and both feel very premium in the hand. These two handsets are quite large, though, and also quite hefty. Have that in mind before you opt for one.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro: Display

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a 6.73-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. This panel is curved, and it has an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). Dolby Vision is supported, and the same goes for HDR10+ content. This panel goes up to 3,000 nits of brightness at its peak, in theory. The display aspect ratio is 20:9, while the phone’s screen-to-body ratio is around 89%. The Xiaomi Shield Glass protects this display.

AH Vivo X100 Pro Review (14)
Vivo X100 Pro

The Vivo X100 Pro comes with a 6.78-inch 2800 x 1260 display, which is curved. This is an LTPO AMOLED panel which has an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). This panel can project up to 1 billion colors, and it has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, in theory. The display aspect ratio is 20:9, and the screen-to-body ratio is at around 90%. This panel has a slightly lower PPI than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, due to a slightly lower screen resolution.

You’ll be glad to hear that both of these displays are outstanding, though. They’re not only vivid and have great viewing angles, but the touch response is really good, and they also get more than bright enough. That goes for basically all situations that you may find yourself in, including direct sunlight usage. The blacks are also quite deep. Both panels are curved, though, so keep that in mind, just in case you prefer flat displays. The curvature levels are different, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s display has less of a curve to it.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro: Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC fuels the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. That is Qualcomm’s most powerful chip at the moment. The phone also comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM in its global model, and it also utilizes 512GB of UFS 4.0 flash storage. The Vivo X100 Pro is fueled by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC, the best MediaTek has to offer. This phone also includes 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM in its global variant, along with 512GB of UFS 4.0 flash storage.

When it comes to general performance, both of these phones do a great job. They open apps really fast, they’re great for multitasking, and also do a great job with multimedia, browsing, messaging, emails, image processing, and so on. When it comes to regular performance, both do a fantastic job. The experience was very fluid, and the animations the company’s provided only enhanced the experience.

What about gaming? Well, the Vivo X100 Pro did get warmer than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra during a longer gaming session. After an hour of Genshin Impact, it was noticeably warmer, even though the Xiaomi 14 Ultra was warm too. We did measure a higher temperature on the Vivo X100 Pro, though that didn’t affect the gameplay much. The frame rate did drop a little bit in comparison to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but that’s about it. Both can handle even the most demanding games on the platform.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro: Battery

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra includes a 5,000mAh battery. Well, its global model does. In China, the device comes with a 5,300mAh unit. The Vivo X100 Pro, on the other hand, has a 5,400mAh battery regardless of the market. Some of you may think that the Vivo X100 Pro offers better battery life considering it has a larger battery. Well, that’s not exactly the case, at least it wasn’t the case in our experience.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra not only did a bit better in our battery drain test, but it also did a bit better during general usage. With mixed usage, we were able to get around 7-8 hours of screen-on-time on both of these phones (with no gaming involved). It did seem like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra lasted a bit longer, though, about 10% longer. The difference wasn’t really big, but it was noticeable during usage. Your mileage may vary, of course.

When it comes to charging, both of these smartphones are very compelling, to say the least. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra supports 90W wired, 80W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging. The Vivo X100 Pro supports 100W wired, 50W wireless, and reverse wired charging. Do note that out of the two phones, only the Xiaomi 14 Ultra ships with a charger in the retail box. You’ll need to get one separately for the Vivo X100 Pro if you want to take full advantage of its charging capabilities.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Pro: Cameras

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has four 50-megapixel cameras on the back, while the Vivo X100 Pro includes three 50-megapixel units. Xiaomi’s flagship has a 50-megapixel main camera (1-inch sensor, variable aperture), a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit (122-degree FoV), a 50-megapixel telephoto camera (3.2x optical zoom), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (5x optical zoom). Leica’s lenses are used here, and Leica also helped out with the software.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra AM AH 08
Xiaomi 14 Ultra

The Vivo X100 Pro, on the other hand, has a 50-megapixel main camera (1-inch sensor), a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (119-degree FoV), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (4.3x optical zoom). ZEISS is part of the package here, as the company’s anti-reflection coating is applied on the back, and ZEISS also helped out on the software side of things. When it comes to hardware itself, both are quite capable, and the same actually goes for performance itself.

We realized that both of these phones are capable of capturing fantastic photos. They do end up being a bit different, though. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes with Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant modes. The difference is most of the time not that big, but the Authentic mode does mute the colors a bit at times and adds vignetting to images. The Vivo X100 Pro under its default setting leans to warmer images, and it does a great job overall.

Images from both smartphones do provide plenty of details, and they handle HDR situations great too. In low light, both smartphones do a great job of handling light sources, and reflections too. That’s not an easy thing to do, that’s for sure. Their ultrawide cameras are great, though we preferred the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s in low light. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra does offer a bit more versatility when it comes to high-zoom photos.

Audio

You will find stereo speakers on both of these smartphones. Those speakers are more than loud enough, and the general output is rich enough. You’ll even notice some bass on both sets of speakers.

What you will not get on either phone is an audio jack. They both include a Type-C port at the bottom. So, you can hook up your headphones that way, a dongle will be required, though. In terms of wireless audio connectivity, both smartphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.4.


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Amazon unveils affordable grocery delivery subscription in US

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Amazon unveils affordable grocery delivery subscription in US
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Amazon launched a new grocery delivery subscription in the US today. The new plan will cater to Prime members and EBT cardholders in over 3500 cities nationwide.

The new grocery delivery subscription caters to Prime members and SNAP beneficiaries

Prime members can get unlimited grocery delivery at just $9.99 per month with the new subscription. However, this comes with a condition, the total order value must exceed $35. The new plan is applicable if customers order from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Markets. Amazon also mentioned that subscribers can order groceries from local grocery and specialty retailers on their website.

Amazon’s new grocery delivery subscription is even more beneficial for registered EBT cardholders in the United States. The company is offering the same benefits to the customers enrolled in SNAP at just $4.99 per month. It is worth noting that the EBT card is issued to low-income citizens who rely on the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The company says that with this move it extends support to customers in low-income classes. Not to forget, EBT card-holding customers can avail of the benefit even if they haven’t subscribed to the Prime subscription. Amazon also includes a 30-day free trial so that customers get an idea of how the subscription works initially.

The company earlier trialed the delivery subscription

Well, it’s not that Amazon launched this grocery delivery subscription all of a sudden. Before the official unveiling, the company launched the same plan late last year as a trial in the capital of three states including Ohio, Colorado, and California. Amazon says that the feedback from 85% of customers enrolled in the plan was extremely positive leading to the official announcement.

The recent move is Amazon’s effort to solidify its existence in the market already occupied by some familiar names like Walmart and Target. Both offer a paid membership plan for grocery delivery. For reference, Walmart charges $12.95 per month to its customers who order groceries with a “Plus” plan. So, a low-cost grocery delivery subscription might work in favor of Amazon.


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Google’s new Pixel Watch Warranty Helper tool simplifies claims

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Google’s new Pixel Watch Warranty Helper tool simplifies claims
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Google just launched the “Pixel Watch Warranty Helper” program to facilitate warranty claims. The new tool seeks to offer more automation to a process that previously could be a bit complex.

Perhaps you’ve gone through the frustrating situation where your device is completely damaged to such a level that it cannot be repaired. In those cases, you only have the option of requesting a replacement if the damage is covered by the warranty. However, the process for making these types of claims is not always simple.

Google made it especially complicated with the Pixel Watch series replacement service. With this method, requesting the replacement of a Pixel Watch 2 required a cumbersome and inconvenient process of up to 8 steps.

Pixel Watch Warranty Helper makes the warranty claims process more convenient

However, it seems that Google realized that it could improve on that. Its answer is the new Pixel Watch Warranty Helper program. The basis of the new system is an interactive questionnaire where you can select the appropriate option according to the problem you have.

As expected, the Pixel Watch Warranty Helper is associated with your Google account. This means that once logged in, you can easily see a list of your Google devices. The tool brings together a good set of options to check everything you need to know about the warranty status of your products. Of course, you can also request repairs or replacements from there.

The tool shows useful information about the device you choose. For example, it will show you its start and expiration dates for warranty, even if the return window is active. There are also other options for additional help for all your devices. Basically, it is a “hub” to centralize everything you need regarding repairs or warranty claims.

It is curious that the tool is called “Pixel Watch Warranty Helper.” Once you access it, you will notice that it is not only compatible with Google smartwatches. In fact, the list includes all of the company’s devices. However, ignoring the naming choice, the launch of the tool is good news for Google device owners.


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Microsoft is testing a Game Pass ad for Windows Insiders

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Microsoft is testing a Game Pass ad for Windows Insiders
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Microsoft rolled out the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3500 to the Beta Channel towards the end of last week. The build has several new features. It includes a new account manager within the Start menu and support for Gmail through Windows Share.

Some Windows 11 Insiders get to see a Game Pass ad

However, aside from focusing on improving its AI capabilities that aim to improve the user experience, the company is also introducing adverts in Windows. The latest build for Windows Insiders offers a new Game Pass ad within the Settings app. “We are introducing a new Game Pass recommendation card on the Settings homepage,” said Microsoft.

Notably this new Game Pass ad won’t bother every user. The recommendation card on the Settings Homepage shows up for users who actively play games on their PC. “As a reminder – the Settings homepage will be shown only on the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 and if you’re signed into Windows with your Microsoft account,” the company added. So, none except the Windows 11 Home and Pro users will have to see the Game Pass ad.

Microsoft has added ‘recommendations’ to Windows 11 before. Alongside placing a Game Pass ad inside the Settings app on Windows, the company is reportedly trying out adding some in the Start menu’s ‘recommended’ section. However, it’s important to mention that the latest addition doesn’t look intrusive. As TechRadar noted, “Microsoft is really trying to blur the line between what’s an ad and what it claims are just friendly recommendations.”

An advert or just another helpful recommendation?

Many people also seem to be okay with the ads as the company is advertising its products and services like the Game Pass to people who might benefit from an improved user experience. Notably, there are also users who do not seem to like the idea even if they are from Microsoft themselves, and are not intrusive.

Not to mention they won’t be happy about recommendations of third-party services inside Windows. It’s like the UI is the digital space for the users’ work or entertainment. The addition of adverts or recommendations into the space may make it look like a billboard where the recommended products or services have nothing to do with the core user experience.

Nonetheless, we will have to see how many ads or recommendations Windows gets in the future, and more importantly, how friendly they remain.


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Google ad for Facebook redirects to scam

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Google ad for Facebook redirects to scam
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Today, we are looking at a malicious ad campaign targeting Facebook users via Google search. It is well-known that tech support scammers attract new victims by buying ads for certain keywords related to their audience.

What is perhaps less known is how it is even possible to impersonate top brands and get away with it. We will try to respond to the ‘how they do it’ and the ‘why is Google allowing this’ questions.

Such malvertising attacks are not new and the damage they cause to consumers is growing every day. There is no one way to stop all of them, but public reporting will hopefully drive the point home that this needs to be addressed just like other types of fraud or malware.

We have reported the malicious advertiser to Google, but at the time of publishing this campaign was still on.

Malicious ad campaign for Facebook

Justin Poliachik did what many people would do, he opened up a Google search, typed facebook and clicked on the top result. In the video below, he summarizes what happened next:

Thanks to Justin for the shoutout to our blog and explaining what went down! Not sure if Justin was joking, but we don’t believe AI is going to fix malvertising, at least not for the next little while. Instead, we are going to look into more details about one particular technique. In our view, this is actually where the abuse happens the most, and where things could be improved.

Two paths make cloaking

As we said, Google seems to have a problem with brand impersonation that may not be easy to solve. We have reported such cases several times before with pretty much the same techniques.

How can Google differentiate a legitimate affiliate from a malicious actor? There are a number of data points about the advertiser via their account: user profile, payment method, budget, etc. We are not privy to those details, but they can certainly help when it comes to fraud.

More importantly, there is the ad itself: vanity URL, display text, tracking template, final URL. What happens when you click on the ad? Are you actually redirected to the URL claimed in the ad? This is a feature that appears to be so easy to abuse, and yet remains unfixed.

In the video below, we walk you through the classic tale of cloaking:

Cloaking is an old technique and in many ways can be used for legitimate purposes. After all, one needs to be able to detect real humans and not bots or crawlers for their hard-earned ad dollars budget.

Threat actors have long identified such services as very helpful tools for their malicious campaigns. True, they, like others don’t want robots, but they also don’t want Google’s scanners or security researchers to expose their malicious schemes.

Under the hood

This part is a little more technical, but integral in understanding how malvertising works. As mentioned in the video above, cloaking allows to deliver two different experiences. Genuine humans can be detected from a number of factors: IP address, browser fingerprinting, etc.

A click tracking service can be used to analyze traffic, collect data, etc. All in all, such services are useful in and of themselves, but they can also easily be abused by bad actors. Within the Google ad ecosystem, advertisers will place their URL as a tracking template, and the rest will be handled outside of Google.

One thing that’s interesting is how scammers will abuse the click tracking service as well! All they have to do is redirect to another “legitimate” domain they control and from there decide on the final destination URL.

We can see in the image below that final redirect, which is either the scam page or the actual Facebook site:

Safeguarding your online experience

We have seen these malicious ads for years and years. It would be unfair to say that no action has ever been taken, but there is room for improvement. Individual reports from victims are not always actioned based on our experience and that of others. This is frustrating because it appears as if those individual experiences do not matter in the grander scheme of things.

Security vendors also struggle with these scams. Chasing infrastructure from one host to the next or having trouble blocking URLs that abuse legitimate providers is a real thing.

As a user you can protect yourself in various ways:

  • Beware of sponsored results
  • Block ads altogether
  • Recognize scam pages as fake

If you want the piece of mind and have all this covered for you, download our Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension available for different browsers.


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Gemini for Android may get seamless multitasking and other features

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Gemini for Android may get seamless multitasking and other features
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Android users who rely on Gemini for daily tasks and information may soon be in for a multitasking treat. According to PiunikaWeb, Google is working on a significant update that will make your AI assistant more helpful, seamless, and packed with features that bring it closer to the familiar Google Assistant.

Currently, using Gemini on Android can be a bit jarring. The assistant opens a new screen whenever you ask a question, interrupting your workflow and forcing you to jump between apps. However, a future update may change all that. Gemini will soon respond to your queries in a convenient floating window directly on top of your current app. This means you can get quick answers, insights, or instructions from Gemini without ever leaving the current app you’re working in.

Check out the screenshots below (or this Google Drive video) for an overview of the multitasking feature in Gemini for Android. The app in the background is X, formerly Twitter, while Gemini is responding to queries in the foreground.

Gemini may also get faster with real-time responses

In addition to responding on top of your current app, Google is also working on a “real-time responses” feature that will let Gemini process and display information as it’s being generated. This means you can monitor calculations, summaries, or translations in progress without having to wait for an entire response to load.

Despite the mixed reactions, Google isn’t leaving Gemini Advanced behind, with reports that support for uploading any file type is also coming soon. This functionality (already available on the web version) removes a major limitation, allowing you to share documents, spreadsheets, or even creative files with Gemini for storage or analysis. Additionally, a “select text” option is joining the standard “copy text” tool, giving you greater control when working with blocks of text within the Gemini interface.

The Evolution of Gemini on Android

These exciting new features aren’t just a coincidence — they showcase Google’s continued investment in building a robust AI assistant experience for Android users. Code sleuths have dug into the latest development builds and confirmed these capabilities are in their advanced stages of testing. While we don’t have an exact release date, it’s safe to expect seamless multitasking, real-time responses, and other improvements to arrive within the coming weeks or months.

With the addition of multitasking and other features, the future looks bright for Gemini on Android. It’s clear that Google is striving for a user experience that’s not only powerful but also intuitive and integrated into your existing workflow. This looks like just the beginning, so you can expect even more innovative features as Gemini continues to evolve.


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The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion gets a glow-up in new video

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The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion gets a glow-up in new video
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Motorola is showing the virtues of the Edge 50 Fusion in a new video. The device, which arrived a week ago alongside the Edge 50 Pro and Edge 50 Ultra, stands as one of the most exciting options in the mid-range segment. The new video highlights some of its most attractive points.

This device seeks to attract the attention of the mass public. The ad makes this quite clear by highlighting important sections for anyone, including those who are not tech-savvy. It’s 30 seconds of teasing the design, battery life, fast charging support, cameras, and even water resistance.

This short video quickly shows off key aspects of the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion

Starting with the design, the video of the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion shows the “Marshmallow Blue” color with a vegan leather rear finish. However, the device stands out aesthetically by offering different finishes in each of its colors. While the “Hot Pink” variant uses vegan suede, the “Forest Blue” model uses a smooth matte finish.

As for battery life, the smartphone includes a pretty decent 5,000 mAh cell. In addition, the 65W fast charging support will allow you, according to the company, to charge 50% of the battery in just 15 minutes. The camera section seems solvent thanks to its 50 MP main sensor assisted by OIS. The device also includes a 13 MP ultra wide camera (FOV 120˚). Motorola went the Nothing route by removing unnecessary sensors. Selfie lovers will be happy with its 32 MP front camera, too.

The resistance of the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is at the high-end level. It is one of the few in its segment that can boast IP68 certification. This makes it even submersible in water (for a certain time and to a certain depth). Meanwhile, its screen is covered by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for better protection.

With the Edge 50 Fusion, Motorola achieved a very well-rounded mid-range device. Its competitive price also positions it well in the market. It could be a strong rival to phones like the Samsung Galaxy A55. For now, the device family is available in Europe, with no US launch date yet.


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The Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses now have multimodal AI

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The Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses now have multimodal AI
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Not too long ago, we received the news that Meta was going to implement AI technology into its line of Ray-Ban smart glasses. Well, it appears that day has finally arrived. Not only do the Meta Smart Glasses have AI implemented in them, but they also have multimodal AI.

In case you don’t know what the Meta Smart Glasses are, there are a line of glasses that come equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker. They’re able to take images, listen for hot words, and play audio. All this comes in a very seamless package that looks just like a typical pair of glasses.

We recently got the news that Meta was planning on adding AI technology to the glasses. This will allow them to use a chatbot just like ChatGPT to answer questions and observe the world. This is impressive, as it doesn’t seem like they were originally designed for this technology. That’s just a testament to their versatility.

The Meta Smart Glasses now have multimodal AI

Shortly after Meta launched these glasses, the company started doing some early testing of AI implementation. The testing has been going on for several months with only a limited number of people able to try it out.  Now, however, this functionality is rolling out widely.

The overall experience, according to the Verge, seems to be pretty decent. We are at the dawn of wearable AI, so companies are still working on successfully implementing AI into a portable form factor. The Humane AI Pin looks like it is a commercial flop, and we are still waiting to see how the Rabbit R1 will fare.

However, the Meta Smart Glasses have proven to be pretty good at identifying objects. There is always the chance that it will falsely identify objects. However, we have to remember that this is a very small camera. We can’t expect it to have the sort of image clarity or reach that smartphone cameras have.

In any case, along with scanning objects, you can also speak into the glasses to get spoken answers about any sort of question. The Meta Smart Glasses offer the sort of experience you would get from something like the AI Pin, but they’re much more affordable and convenient to use.

If you are planning on picking up a pair of Meta Smart Glasses, they start at $299.99.


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Samsung VR gear patent application hints at fitness and gaming

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Samsung VR gear patent application hints at fitness and gaming
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Samsung could be readying a VR (Virtual Reality) headset aimed at fitness and gaming. The South Korean tech giant could be going up against the Apple Vision Pro. Interestingly, the patent application suggests much more than a VR headset.

Samsung VR headset to work with other wearables

Apple prefers to call its Vision Pro a “Spatial Computer”. The VR headset does have a complete computing unit. It works without being tethered to any Mac or PC. The VR headset doesn’t even need controllers as it relies on hand movements that are tracked by onboard cameras.

Samsung recently filed a patent with the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The patent is meant for, “Communication methods and apparatus utilizing avatars in virtual space.” It seems Samsung has taken an interesting approach to Virtual Reality.

The headset can reportedly display virtual avatars to the user, by using multiple sensors to collect information from surroundings. The patent application indicates Samsung’s VR gear will work with other wearable products such as Samsung Galaxy Watch, headphones, and more.

The VR headset would rely on the sensors inside the wearables to gather data. Some examples mentioned include heart rate and calories burned.

The VR headset could pack sensors such as accelerometer, gyroscope, camera module, infrared sensor, etc. These sensors help track user movements and positions in real-time.

The patent mentions the collected and processed data would be displayed on an interactive Graphic User Interface (GUI).

Samsung has categorically noted that its VR system would allow users to view a digital avatar and interact with their surroundings. Users could also share their workouts and exercise details with other people in real-time.

Is Samsung readying an entire VR Gear ecosystem?

The patent is quite broad in its description and possible applications. Interestingly, the patent does not mention the word headset. The document refers to wearable gadgets.

Although Samsung could be developing a VR headset, the recently filed patent seems to suggest the company is going for an entire ecosystem. The Samsung VR gear could include a VR headset that has multiple cameras and sensors for tracking head and hand movements.

The patent does indicate Samsung could embed a navigation system, and include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.

With such hardware, it is possible that Samsung would offer a head-mountable wearable computer with a dedicated CPU, GPU, and RAM. The Samsung VR headset would have a rechargeable battery, but the patent doesn’t indicate its location, size, or capacity.

Samsung hasn’t offered any indication about an upcoming VR headset or an integrated VR ecosystem. Moreover, companies regularly file patents, some of which seem quite outlandish.

Regardless, Samsung seems to be exploring a relatively new and perhaps uncharted territory. Samsung may position its upcoming VR gear as a health and fitness gadget. As the company already makes smartwatches and other premium wearables, its mystery VR headset would have a ready ecosystem if or when it launches.


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Oura partners with Target as Galaxy Ring launch looms

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Oura partners with Target as Galaxy Ring launch looms
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Oura, the company behind the popular health-tracking Oura Ring, is aggressively expanding its retail footprint in the US with the help of giant retailer, Target. Starting April 22, consumers can find the smart ring in select Target locations nationwide and on Target.com. This news follows on the heels of Oura’s recent partnerships with Best Buy and Amazon.

Oura’s Chief Marketing Officer, Doug Sweeny, highlights the synergy between the brands. He calls Target a haven for “design-forward, innovative brands.” Sweeny also emphasizes Oura’s commitment to women’s health and making the Oura Ring more accessible to this often-overlooked market.

The partnership offers shoppers an enhanced buying experience. Customers visiting Target stores can use a unique in-store sizing setup to find their perfect Oura Ring fit. This allows for immediate purchase. Those who prefer shopping from home can order a sizing kit from Target.com. To spice things up, they’ll receive a $10 gift card for a future Target purchase (including the ring itself).

Oura’s move may seem like desperation, but it isn’t

Oura’s expansion may seem like a preemptive strike. The upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring poses a significant challenge. It’s possible Samsung’s massive brand power and the anticipation surrounding the Galaxy Ring’s integration with its popular smartphones could disrupt the smart ring market.

Tech outlet SamMobile paints Oura’s move with a hint of desperation. They speculate that Samsung’s entry with the Galaxy Ring has pushed Oura to ramp up sales and form partnerships it may have previously resisted, such as selling on Amazon. The article predicts that Samsung could dominate the market, projecting sales of half a million Galaxy Rings in its first year.

Oura has carved out a distinct niche focusing on accurate health tracking and commitment to women’s health. Whether the company can weather the storm of Samsung’s entry remains to be seen. The good thing is consumers looking for smart rings now have more options than ever. Making the Oura Ring available in major retailers like Target is a smart move to stay competitive.

While Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is a threat, Oura’s increased accessibility and focus on women’s health could carve out a loyal niche in the market. The in-store experience will allow customers to try the ring on for size and comfort, addressing a potential hurdle for online-only sales.

As tech enthusiasts eagerly await the Galaxy Ring launch, the smart ring wearable market competition is escalating. Oura’s commitment to wider availability and strategic partnerships ensures that its ring remains within reach for a broader audience of health-conscious consumers.


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