Two tech stories are making headlines today: leaks surrounding the upcoming Realme GT 7 and a critical review of Apple's new iPhone 16e.
Realme GT 7 Spotted on Geekbench
The Realme GT 7, anticipated as the successor to the popular Realme GT 6, has been spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking platform. This appearance offers a sneak peek into what we can expect from the upcoming smartphone.
According to the Geekbench listing, the Realme GT 7 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm chipset, heavily speculated to be from the Snapdragon 8 Elite series. The phone is also expected to boast a whopping 16GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and performance for demanding applications. The model number associated with the device is RMX5090.
While official details are scarce, this Geekbench appearance suggests that Realme is gearing up for a launch soon. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset promises significant performance improvements, potentially making the GT 7 a strong contender in the flagship smartphone market.
iPhone 16e: A Step Backwards?
Apple's iPhone 16e is drawing criticism for a controversial design choice: the removal of MagSafe. This feature, introduced with the iPhone 12, revolutionized wireless charging by providing a seamless and convenient experience. A recent review from Macworld highlights the frustration of losing this functionality.
The reviewer notes, "MagSafe is one of those features that showcases Apple at its best: it takes a small inconvenience and sands it away so frictionlessly that you forget the small inconvenience ever existed. Not including it in a 2025 iPhone is not a nice thing to do."
The absence of MagSafe is seen as a deliberate move by Apple to differentiate its product line and encourage customers to upgrade to higher-end models. Other cost-cutting measures, such as a single rear camera and limited color options, further contribute to this perception.
While a MagSafe case can be used as a workaround, it doesn't offer the same charging speeds or seamless integration. The reviewer concludes that the lack of MagSafe is "an odd strategy, reminding customers how good a feature is by removing it from a new product."
Qualcomm's 5G Advances
In related news, Qualcomm has unveiled its new X85 5G modem, promising impressive download speeds of up to 12.5 Gbps. This modem also integrates AI features and aims to deliver better battery life. The X85 is expected to power a range of devices, from Android phones to PCs and IoT devices. This advancement underscores Qualcomm's commitment to pushing the boundaries of mobile communication technology.
The X85 modem boasts 3.7 Gbps upload speeds and 400MHz bandwidth, showcasing its potential to significantly enhance the mobile internet experience.
The contrasting news of the Realme GT 7's promising specs and the iPhone 16e's controversial omission highlight the diverse landscape of the tech industry. While Realme aims to deliver cutting-edge performance, Apple appears to be prioritizing product segmentation, leading to mixed reactions from consumers.