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New Infinix Tablet
Yesterday we talked about Honor MagicPad 2, and today Infinix has already introduced a new tablet called XPAD with an 11-inch screen.
Some technical specifications:
- Screen: 11 inches, IPS LCD, Full HD+ resolution, 440 nits brightness, 90 Hz refresh rate
- Chipset: Helio G99
- Memory: 8 + 256 GB, there is a slot for microSD memory cards
- Cameras: 8 MP (main and front)
- Battery: 7000 mAh, 18 W adapter
- Materials: glass, aluminum frame and back panel
- Dimensions and weight: 257 x 168.6 x 7.6 mm, weight 450 g
- Price: 20,990 rubles for the version with 4G LTE and 19,990 rubles for Wi-Fi
Infinix clearly has trouble launching new categories. They are trying to play it safe. So, last year’s gaming smartphone was a copy of a phone from the main line. With the tablet for gamers and students (as they write in the press release, despite the Helio G99 chipset), they are doing the same.
But it seems that the Russian office of Infinix came to the rescue, offering to use the “revolutionary device” (another quote from the press release) as a media center for the car. And here, probably, all taxi drivers will be delighted. After all, on the 11-inch bright IPS-screen, which will not burn out, it will be very comfortable to take orders and plot a route.
In general, the tablet is worth paying attention to. Infinix makes both smartphones and laptops that work nicely and quickly. Inexpensive, but a good tablet looks appropriate.
Well, there is no point in blaming Helio G99. Now in the “around 20 thousand rubles” segment, devices on Helio G80 and Snapdragon 680 and 695 are sold. So Helio G99 looks pretty good.
Well, it is obvious that the next generation of Infinix tablets will be better. I did not find any mention of accessories in the press release, but perhaps a keyboard case will be available.
Well, I had to remember about Infinix, because these PR masters leaked a video online of a smartphone charging directly under water. The technology is not without meaning, as it will allow you to charge your smartphone if it gets wet. For example, Samsung in a similar situation reports that moisture got into the USB port, and asks to dry the phone first.
If Infinix does bring the technology to market first, it would also be a great way to announce that the brand has waterproof phones. So far, Infinix phones have the highest IP54 rating. And Infinix doesn’t have a true flagship with a top-end chipset yet. So maybe we’ll see soon.
The iPhone Nobody Needs
Surprisingly, the same picture is repeated year after year. Apple shows a new iPhone, everyone ritually sighs that there is nothing new, and then they strive at all costs to be the first to get the coveted phone. In the last couple of years, this scenario has been supplemented by phrases that, in general, using an iPhone is extremely unpatriotic, because Apple demonstratively left Russia.
Apple is gone, but it remains
Regarding Apple’s departure, I would like to put in my two cents, because in my opinion, the company’s behavior is simply exemplary.
Apple very clearly shows that there is nothing personal in the company’s departure from the Russian market, but only business. Accordingly, the departure is presented accordingly. On the one hand, the company left, closed its office, and suspended updating the site.
On the other hand, Apple is responsible for supporting its users, responding to claims from the Russian government by paying fines. It also allows replenishing Apple accounts through mobile operators, so that users can buy applications and pay for subscriptions.
Here, Samsung and Google can be used as a counterweight. For example, Samsung has its own Galaxy Store app store, where prices are listed in rubles, and I am regularly shown various pleasant discounts on apps, but I cannot buy anything. At first, I thought that the problem was only with the Russian card, but it turned out that it was impossible to add a foreign card. Technical support explained to me that all transactions in the Russian Galaxy Store were suspended. The same story with the Google app store. Moreover, the other day they even cut off a transaction that was made on my foreign account (with a foreign phone number and card). I can assume that this is related to the location. By launching the program-that-must-not-be-named, I will be able to make a purchase.
So if Russian lawmakers manage to convince Apple to allow the installation of third-party app stores in Russia (then banks and the ability to pay via NFC will return to the iPhone), the iPhone will become the most convenient smartphone for Russia.
At the same time, I think that it is unpatriotic for officials to use iPhones. However, the same goes for Samsung and TECNO. The ideal Russian official should use domestic products for work: a Lada or Niva car, a smartphone with the Aurora operating system. But for personal matters and weekend trips – please, you can buy an iPhone and any other car. It will be even better this way, because government property must be treated with care.
iPhone as a symbol of luxury
While iPhone users are being accused of lacking patriotism, it is worth noting that it is still a symbol of conspicuous consumption, showing that you are living the right life. And this is happening all over the world.
Russia is no exception. It is especially important to get your hands on the coveted phone among the first. Year after year, I watch as the boss, telling how bad the iPhone is, is the first to post that he already has a smartphone. There is still a pre-order on the MTS website, and in our Telegram channel there is already a post with a photo comparison in the style of “like, the phone is a piece of cake, but work requires it, otherwise I would never buy it in my life.” By the way, if you do not read us on Telegram, then by all means read us. The content does not duplicate what is on the website.
And while this is happening, Apple is strong, and the iPhone is a cult product. When the iPhone comes out, goes on sale, and only a short news note is published about it, then it will mean that the “amazing aura” has faded.
iPhone sales flop
In Russia, following iPhone sales is pointless. With current prices, it is not a smartphone, but a luxury item that only a few can afford. They used to like to talk about iPhones on credit, but with current prices and loan rates, you have to be very confident in your financial situation to buy a phone.
However, worldwide sales of the iPhone 16 line were lower than analysts had predicted. Thus, in the first weekend, pre-orders amounted to “only” 37 million units, which is almost 13% less than a year earlier.
In my opinion, this state of affairs is absolutely normal. The thing is that at the current stage, manufacturers cannot offer their customers something worth upgrading their phone for. For example, my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is exactly as good as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The smartphone recently received all the AI updates that were exclusive to the S24 line for some time. Yes, the S24 Ultra has slightly higher performance and a better camera. As a conditionally objective assessment, you can take the DXOMARK rating. The S23 Ultra scored 140 points, the S24 Ultra – as much as 144 points, that is, the difference in picture quality, as seen by the DXOMARK laboratory, is 2.8%. And the difference in performance is completely illusory, since Android simply does not have such demanding applications.
And it probably never will be, because Android flagships occupy a tiny market share, and most users have inexpensive phones. So developers will not artificially limit themselves when releasing games or software. In case you are curious, premium smartphones, that is, phones over $ 600 (these are not even real flagships), occupy 25% of the market. At the same time, 75% of the premium market is the iPhone, that is, 7% of all smartphone sales are Android smartphones over $ 600.
And looking at the leaks about the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I don’t see any reason to upgrade yet. Or, for example, I’m still happily exploring the HONOR Magic6 Pro, which positively impresses me with its performance and camera capabilities. However, this is not enough for me to want to spend money on replacing my last year’s flagship with this year’s flagship.
iPhone users have a similar situation, with the caveat that iPhones have looked the same for the last 3-4 years. Apparently, Apple is so afraid of changing anything that it has banned designers from changing the shape, preferring to play with colors and materials.
However, the conservation of design can also be perceived as a sign of the times. It can be perceived as a kind of statement that form does not matter. A smartphone is a terminal for accessing online services, and if it fits comfortably in the hand, and its screen is easy to read even in the sun, then what is there to talk about at all.
In conclusion, the current situation means that consumers are waiting for new technology that will radically change their user experience. The emergence of AI that will rewrite a message for you is nice, but not necessary. But until there are no breakthrough technologies, there is no point in upgrading phones. It is much better to spend this money on travel or health.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the current situation is that Samsung is not trying to play on Apple’s weaknesses. For example, it was clear months ago that the new iPhones would be almost like the old ones. However, Samsung only minimally updated its smartphones with a flexible screen, introduced in the summer. And leaks indicate that the Galaxy S25 line will be a cosmetic upgrade.
Conclusion
One company published an interesting study in which they surveyed 5,000 people of different ages on the subject of confidence in their digital literacy. Example of answers for people under 34 years old.
In short, only the 69+ group said that they do not understand modern technologies very well. But all those who are younger confidently indicate that they understand everything well. Perhaps this is due to the specifics of the company’s work, so the sample of respondents turned out to be peculiar. But it seems to me that people tend to overestimate themselves. For example, in a survey conducted by the automobile portal “Drom”, 78% of participants noted that their driving skills are above average, another 19% called themselves average drivers, and only 3% said that they drive poorly. It is quite possible that the situation with technical literacy is similar.
How do you rate your computer literacy? For example, can you make a neural network generate a picture as you imagine it in your head, and do you have any skills in working with neural networks? Can you buy cryptocurrency, have you ever bought or paid for anything with cryptocurrency? Can you bypass Internet censorship? And finally, can you reinstall Windows and reflash Android?
I can say about myself that I now need a certain effort to delve into new technologies. For example, I initially ignored neural networks, considering them a hobby. Through effort, I figured out the structure, types of neural networks and how to make promts, and now I consider them a very useful tool.
Source: mobile-review.com
