Apple Sets New Record in India, Sells Over 4 Million Units in Q3 2024

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 15-Nov-2024

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Key Highlights:

• Apple's Record Quarter: Apple sold around 4 million units in India during Q3 2024, with strong sales driven by the iPhone 13 and iPhone 15.
• Market Leadership: Vivo maintained its lead in India’s smartphone market, capturing 15.8% of the share, while Oppo posted the highest growth, up 40% year-over-year.
• 5G Surge: The 5G smartphone segment saw a significant rise, with shipments up 83% compared to last year, while premium phones ($600-$800) grew by 86%.

Apple Hits Milestone in India's Growing Smartphone Market

In Q3 2024, Apple marked a historic achievement in India, recording its highest-ever quarterly shipments, with approximately 4 million units sold. The surge in sales was primarily driven by the popularity of models like the iPhone 13 and the newer iPhone 15 series. This performance comes amid a broader growth trend in the Indian smartphone market, which expanded by 5.6% year-over-year, as reported by the International Data Corporation (IDC).

India's Smartphone Market Performance in Q3 2024

India's smartphone market saw a healthy total shipment of 46 million units during the third quarter. The market's growth is driven by both the budget and premium segments. In particular, smartphones priced between $200-$400 contributed significantly to the overall growth, accounting for about 42% of the year-over-year rise.

Top Performers: Vivo and Oppo

While Vivo retained its position as the top smartphone brand in India, commanding 15.8% of the market share, Oppo registered the highest year-on-year growth, selling 40% more units than the same period last year. The surge in Oppo’s sales points to a strengthening of its position in the budget and mid-range segments, which continue to see high demand.

Smartphone Segment Breakdown (Q3 2024)

Shifting Trends in the Smartphone Market

The premium smartphone segment has experienced notable growth, driven largely by continued demand for iPhones and high-end Android models like the Galaxy S23 and OnePlus 12. Devices in the $600-$800 range, including the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15, led the surge, increasing by 86%.

Simultaneously, 5G adoption in India is accelerating, with 5G phones now accounting for 83% of total shipments, compared to 57% last year. Particularly notable is the rise in mass budget 5G smartphones priced between $100 to $200, where sales nearly doubled.

Future Outlook: Continued Growth Expected

Looking ahead, the Indian smartphone market is projected to see continued growth, with double-digit increases expected in 2025, driven by strong demand for entry-level devices. Companies are expected to heavily invest in Gen AI features in their marketing to attract consumers, making next year even more competitive.

This optimistic outlook comes despite potential "cyclic dips" in demand following the festive season, but the market is expected to remain resilient with innovations in affordable 5G and premium smartphone offerings.

Poco F7 Series: Expected Features Ahead of Launch

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 26-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights:

• The Poco F7 series, which may have been renamed from Redmi smartphones, could include three models: the Poco F7, F7 Pro, and F7 Ultra.
• The Poco F7 may have a 7,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging, a 1.5K LTPS AMOLED display, and a Snapdragon 8s Elite CPU.
• It is anticipated to come to India in April 2025 and cost ₹29,999, which is comparable to the Poco F6.

With reports suggesting amazing specifications and features, the Poco F7 series creates excitement. The Poco F7, Poco F7 Pro, and Poco F7 Ultra are the three models that are anticipated to be part of the series; they may be rebranded versions of Redmi's well-known gadgets.

Expected Specifications and Features

According to leaks, the Poco F7 might be equipped with:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8s Elite chipset, positioned between Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3.
• Display: 1.5K LTPS AMOLED display for vivid visuals.
• Battery: A massive 7,000mAh capacity supporting 90W fast charging.
• Connectivity: 5G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC, as revealed by certifications.

Key Specifications of Poco F7

Launch and Pricing Details

BIS (India) and IMDA (Singapore) have already certified the Poco F7, suggesting a probable launch. It is anticipated to make its Indian debut by April 2025, with a starting price of about ₹29,999, similar to that of the Poco F6, which was introduced earlier this year.

A strong competitor in the market for mid-range smartphones is the Poco F7 series. Stay tuned for formal announcements soon.

iPad 11 Likely to Launch Early 2025: Here's What We Know

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 26-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights

• Apple may launch the iPad 11 early in 2025, possibly in January, alongside iPadOS 18.3.
• The tablet might feature Apple’s custom modem for Wi-Fi and 5G and could use the A17 Pro chipset.
• Earlier reports suggested a March 2025 release, but new information suggests a sooner launch.

Apple is reportedly gearing up to release its entry-level iPad 11 earlier than expected. According to fresh reports, the tablet could hit the market in January 2025, alongside the iPadOS 18.3 update. This marks a shift from earlier predictions of a March 2025 launch.

Expected Features

The iPad 11 may introduce Apple’s in-house modem, supporting Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity. It’s also rumored to be powered by the A17 Pro chipset, offering a performance boost over its predecessor. Here’s a quick comparison:

What’s New in iPadOS 18.3?

The iPadOS 18.3 update is expected to launch alongside the new tablet. Apple has already released the beta version to developers, hinting at upcoming features and improvements. This update is anticipated to bring advanced AI-powered features to enhance the user experience.

iPad Updates

Apple has already updated its other tablet models in 2024:

• iPad Mini (2024): Features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, A17 Pro chipset, and multiple storage options.
• iPad Pro (2024): Introduced earlier in the year with improved performance and design tweaks.
• iPad Air (2024): Received upgrades to stay competitive in the mid-range segment.

Earlier Reports

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously claimed that the iPad 11 would arrive in March 2025. However, the new timeline suggests that Apple could surprise fans with a January release, making it one of the first big tech launches of the year.

Musk's xAI Launches Beta Grok Chatbot App for iOS, Secures $6 Billion in Funding

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 24-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights:

• Elon Musk's xAI launches a beta version of its Grok chatbot app for iOS, expanding accessibility.
• The company has secured $6 billion in Series C funding with participation from major investors like NVIDIA, AMD, and Sequoia Capital.
• Grok offers AI features like real-time web browsing, image generation, and text summarization, now free for users on X and via the app.

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is making significant strides with the launch of its standalone iOS app for the Grok chatbot. Previously available exclusively on the Musk-owned app, the app brings Grok’s AI capabilities to iPhone users in Australia and select other countries, while offering the service free of charge.

The launch coincides with xAI’s announcement of a successful $6 billion Series C funding round, positioning the company as a major competitor in the AI space alongside OpenAI and Anthropic.

Grok Chatbot Goes Mobile

The Grok chatbot app, now listed on the Apple App Store, allows users to access xAI’s advanced AI model, Grok 2. The app offers features such as real-time web browsing, text summarization, image generation, and Q&A capabilities. Users can also upload pictures to receive detailed insights.

Promotional materials for the app showcase how Grok enables learning, productivity, and creativity, with capabilities such as:

• Generating text and images.
• Summarizing long articles.
• Accessing real-time information through X.

Grok remains free for users, offering 10 prompts and 10 image generations every two hours.

Massive Funding Secured

On December 23, xAI announced the completion of its $6 billion Series C funding round. Investors in this round include prominent firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, BlackRock, Fidelity, NVIDIA, AMD, and Sequoia Capital.

In total, 97 investors participated, with a minimum contribution of $77,593 each. The funding brings xAI’s total capital raised to $12 billion, which the company plans to use to develop a cutting-edge supercomputer in Memphis and scale its AI infrastructure rapidly.

Growing AI

Musk’s xAI aims to challenge established players like OpenAI, which Musk co-founded before leaving in 2018. OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model has sparked legal disputes and public criticism between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Meanwhile, xAI continues to innovate. Recent developments include:

• Grok 2 Update (Dec 14, 2024): An upgraded version of the chatbot, three times faster than before.
• Free Access (Dec 7, 2024): Grok was made free, increasing user engagement.

Oppo A5 Pro Appears on Geekbench Ahead of its Launch, Revealing Key Features

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 24-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights:

• Oppo A5 Pro has been spotted on Geekbench ahead of its official launch.
• Expected features include a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, 12GB RAM, and Android 15-based ColorOS 15.
• The phone may offer a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, a 50MP main camera, and a 6,000mAh battery.
• It will likely come in Quartz White, Rock Black, and Sandstone Purple colors.

The upcoming Oppo A5 Pro has surfaced on Geekbench, offering a glimpse into its potential specifications ahead of its anticipated launch in China. Oppo has already unveiled some details about the phone’s design, color variants, and operating system, with the Geekbench listing now shedding light on its performance and hardware.

Geekbench Performance

The Oppo A5 Pro, identified by the model number PKP110, scored 1,053 points in single-core and 3,052 points in multi-core tests on Geekbench. The listing reveals an octa-core chipset with four cores clocked at 2.50GHz and four at 2.00GHz, suggesting it could feature the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 or Dimensity 7300 Energy SoC.

The phone is confirmed to run Android 15-based ColorOS 15 and will support up to 12GB of RAM. It will also offer virtual RAM expansion of an additional 12GB and onboard storage options of up to 512 GB.

Oppo A5 Pro: Expected Specifications at a Glance

Design and Colors

Oppo has confirmed that the A5 Pro will be available in three color variants: Quartz White, Rock Black, and Sandstone Purple. The phone is expected to feature a patterned, glossy back panel and may come with an IP68 or IP69 rating for dust and water resistance.

Expected Features

Leaked details suggest the Oppo A5 Pro will sport a 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display. It is likely to be offered in two RAM configurations, 8GB and 12GB, paired with 256GB or 512GB storage options.

The phone is rumored to include a dual-camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor. A 16-megapixel front camera is expected for selfies and video calls. Other features may include an in-display fingerprint sensor for added security and a large 6,000mAh battery.

The device is said to measure 161.5 x 74.85 x 7.67mm and weigh approximately 186g.

Apple Nears Historic $4 Trillion Valuation Surpassing Nvidia and Microsoft

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 24-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights:

• Apple is nearing a historic $4 trillion valuation, boosted by advancements in AI and rising iPhone sales expectations.
• Its shares have jumped 16% since November, adding $500 billion to its market cap.
• Despite past criticism for being slow in AI, Apple is now integrating ChatGPT and AI across its apps.
• Analysts predict stronger iPhone demand and revenue growth in 2025.

A $4 trillion market capitalization is about to be achieved by Apple, making it the first business to do so. Thanks to optimism for its artificial intelligence (AI) breakthroughs, the tech giant's stock has risen 16% since November, increasing its market value by $500 billion.

Investors are encouraged by the company's recent AI advancements, such as the incorporation of OpenAI's ChatGPT into its devices and app suite. According to analysts, these improvements might trigger a significant "supercycle" of iPhone updates, which would increase sales in the future.

Currently valued at $3.85 trillion, Apple surpasses the combined stock market values of Germany and Switzerland. While its growth pace has lagged behind AI-focused companies like Nvidia, which saw an 800% stock increase in the past two years, Apple is catching up by bringing more AI-powered features to its products.

Challenges and Outlook

Apple has faced criticism for being slower than competitors like Microsoft and Alphabet in adopting AI. However, analysts expect iPhone revenues to bounce back in 2025 as Apple broadens AI features and increases availability in new regions.

Despite concerns over high valuations, many investors remain optimistic about Apple’s growth. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has reduced its Apple holdings this year, citing valuation concerns, but others believe the company's long-term prospects justify its current price.

Potential risks include global trade tensions and economic factors like tariffs, but analysts expect Apple to navigate these challenges effectively, as it has in the past.

Looking Ahead

Apple’s dominance in the tech world and its ability to innovate are key reasons it is approaching this historic milestone. The company’s focus on AI could play a pivotal role in shaping its future growth.