Gaming Phones Under Rs 30,000: If you want a gaming smartphone without spending too much, there are plenty of good options available today. Many phones under Rs 30,000 now offer strong performance, suitable for gaming. Below are some options one can consider: OnePlus Nord CE 5 (Rs 24,999-Rs 28,999) This gaming-focused smartphone comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset and an Arm G615 MC6 GPU. It features a 6.77-inch display with a 2392×1080 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1430 nits peak brightness. It is available in three variants: 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, and 12GB+256GB. It comes with a 7100mAh lithium-ion polymer battery that supports 80W SUPERVOOC charging. Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G (Rs 26,999 onwards) Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra chipset with a Mali-G615 GPU, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G is available in two variants: 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB. It gets a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 2772×1280 resolution and a refresh rate up to 120Hz. It offers up to 3200 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The 6580mAh battery supports 45W turbo charging. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source iQoo Neo 10R (Rs 26,999-Rs 30,999) It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor and an Adreno 735 GPU. Available in three variants – 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, and 12GB+256GB – the smartphone gets a 6043mm² canopy VC liquid cooling system. The 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display has a 2800×1260 pixel resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate and 4500 nits peak brightness. It houses a 6400mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging. Oppo F31 Pro 5G (Rs 26,999-Rs 30,999) The Oppo F31 Pro 5G features a 6.5-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a MediaTek processor and comes in three variants: 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, and 12GB+256GB. It features a Dual-Engine Smoothness System with 72-month Fluency Certification and a vapour chamber up to 5,219 mm² for thermal management. It comes with a 7000mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC charging.  Other options under Rs 30,000 for a gaming include Vivo T4 Pro, Realme 15T and CMF Phone 2 Pro by Nothing.

Samsung Galaxy F70 Details: Samsung announced the launch of the all-new Galaxy F70 series in India. The first smartphone from the Galaxy F70 series will launch in February in the 10-15K segment, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Samsung’s Galaxy F series portfolio. Samsung claimed that the Galaxy F70 series is designed for young consumers who want to express themselves.  The company, in an official statement, said, “For today’s generation, content is not just communication; it shapes how people remember them. Every photo, story and post carries an intent-whether to express a mood, capture a moment or make a statement. The Galaxy F70 series places the camera at the centre of the smartphone experience.” “The smartphone camera has evolved into the creative voice for young users to communicate, connect and build digital presence,” it said, adding “The Galaxy F70 series will bring a combination of strong hardware specs and innovative AI-powered features.” The Galaxy F70 series will cater to the mid/affordable segment (<INR 30K). Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Apart from the Galaxy F70 series, Samsung will also launch the new Galaxy A07 5G in the first week of February. The smartphone features a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh. The screen is also protected by a 2-step tempered glass for added durability.  The Galaxy A07 5G gets a dual-camera setup on the back, comprising a 50MP main camera with an F1.8 aperture for high-quality images and a 2MP camera for depth perception. On the front, it has an 8MP camera. The Galaxy A07 5G features a 6000mAh battery, 20% larger than its predecessor, providing a day-long use. It supports 25W fast charging.

New Delhi: As the government prepares for India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Economic Survey 2025–26, tabled in Parliament on Thursday, presents artificial intelligence (AI) as a practical economic tool rather than a race for technological prestige.   The Survey explains how AI is reshaping the global economy and lays out a realistic and development-focused strategy for India in a time of fast technological change and global uncertainty. “AI adoption in India should be rooted in economic needs and social responsibility,” it said. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source “Instead of relying on large, centralised systems, it supports a bottom-up approach where different sectors develop AI solutions suited to their specific problems,” as per the survey tabled by Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman. The Survey highlights the importance of open and interoperable systems that encourage collaboration and shared innovation. “This approach aligns well with India’s strengths, including its large pool of skilled workers, diverse data, and strong institutional networks,” it said. The Survey notes that India’s growing demand for AI is driven by real-world challenges rather than experimental or luxury technologies. It points to practical uses of AI in healthcare, agriculture, education, urban planning, disaster management, and public services. Examples include early disease detection, better water management, improved access to markets for farmers, classroom performance analysis, and AI tools in regional languages. “These solutions are designed to work on low-cost hardware and in limited-resource settings, making them affordable and scalable,” according to the Survey. “Such application-focused AI can lower costs and help overcome long-standing structural issues,” it added. Keeping in mind India’s realities such as limited capital, energy constraints, and varying institutional capacity, the Survey emphasises that AI choices must support long-term growth and avoid creating new dependencies. It also recognises that global AI development is uneven, with some countries having greater access to computing power, finance, data, and influence over global standards. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, the Survey uses it to shape a more realistic policy direction for India.

Flight safety rules: One of the most common instructions you are given while travelling on a flight is, “Everyone, please switch on airplane mode on your phone.” Airlines across the world ask passengers to switch their mobile phones to airplane mode before take-off and during the flight. While many travellers see this as a routine instruction, aviation experts say the rule is linked to safety, communication clarity, and network management, rather than fear of an immediate crash. Airplane mode turns off a phone’s cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections, preventing it from sending or receiving signals from mobile towers on the ground. At high altitudes, phones constantly search for networks and may try to connect to multiple cell towers at once, which creates interference. According to aviation authorities, a single phone may not cause a problem, but multiple active devices can create signal noise that may interfere with aircraft communication systems, especially during take-off and landing, which are the most critical phases of a flight. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Does it affect aircraft systems? Modern aircraft are well shielded, and experts say phones are unlikely to cause serious damage to navigation or control systems. However, pilots have reported audio interference in headsets when several passengers forget to enable airplane mode. This interference can distort communication between pilots and air traffic control. Even minor disruptions are taken seriously in aviation, where clear communication is essential for safety. (Also Read: Redmi Note 15 Pro, Note 15 Pro+ launched in India; Check display, camera, battery, processor, pre-booking offer and other specs) Impact on mobile networks Leaving airplane mode off also affects ground mobile networks. At high speeds and at altitude, a phone can overload cell towers by switching rapidly between them. This can reduce service quality for users on the ground. To prevent this, aviation regulators and telecom authorities recommend disabling cellular signals during flights. Are there penalties for not following this? In most cases, passengers are reminded by cabin crew to switch on airplane mode. Repeated refusal to follow crew instructions can be treated as non-compliance with safety rules, which may lead to warnings or, in rare cases, legal action after landing. Flight wi-fi Many airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi, which works through satellite systems and is approved for use during cruising altitude. Passengers can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while keeping cellular networks turned off. Not turning on airplane mode may not cause an accident, but it can interfere with communication, strain mobile networks, and violate aviation safety rules. That is why airlines continue to enforce this important instruction for passengers.

WhatsApp Strict Account Settings Feature: Just hours after WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart pushed back against Elon Musk for sharing what he described as “totally false” claims about WhatsApp’s security, the Meta-owned messaging platform rolled out a new safety feature for users. WhatsApp has rolled out a Strict Account Settings, a lockdown-style security option designed to protect accounts from some of the most sophisticated cyber threats. The move comes as privacy and platform safety return to the centre of global debate. The feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming weeks and is expected to be especially useful for journalists, activists and public figures, who are often at higher risk of targeted cyberattacks.  Add Zee News as a Preferred Source WhatsApp Strict Account Settings Feature: How it works  The feature adds several safety restrictions to reduce the risk of cyber threats. Media files and attachments from unknown senders are automatically blocked, and calls from unknown numbers are silenced. Link previews are also turned off, and WhatsApp enables its system to block a high volume of unknown messages. Once the setting is turned on, two-step verification is enabled by default. Security notifications are also switched on to alert users if the security code of a chat changes. In addition, WhatsApp limits access to personal details such as last seen, online status, profile photo and About information to contacts only. Links on the profile are also restricted. With this added protection layer, only contacts or selected people from the contact list can add a user to WhatsApp groups.  WhatsApp announces strict account settings for iOS and Android users! WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that helps users activate the strongest security protections with a single toggle.https://t.co/nfCRta2U7M pic.twitter.com/6RiqRT7iin — WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) January 27, 2026 WhatsApp Strict Account Settings Feature: How to turn on  Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your phone and go to Settings. Step 2: Tap on Privacy from the menu. Step 3: Scroll down and select Advanced. Step 4: Turn on Strict Account Settings to enable the feature.  Meta-owned platform WhatsApp says the Strict Account Settings feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming weeks. Meta added that users can enable or change this setting only from their primary device, and not through companion platforms such as WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp for Windows. 

WhatsApp Privacy Controversy: The debate around Meta-owned WhatsApp’s privacy claims is growing louder. Fresh accusations, a major lawsuit, and criticism from rival tech leaders are putting the messaging app’s end-to-end encryption promises under pressure, sparking strong reactions across the tech industry. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov added fuel to the fire, saying one would have to be “braindead to believe WhatsApp is secure.” In a post on X, Pavel Durov said Telegram had previously analysed WhatsApp’s encryption system and found “multiple attack vectors.” According to him, this showed that the platform was never as secure as users were led to believe. “You’d have to be braindead to believe WhatsApp is secure in 2026,” he wrote, using unusually harsh language even by his standards. You’d have to be braindead to believe WhatsApp is secure in 2026. When we analyzed how WhatsApp implemented its “encryption”, we found multiple attack vectors. https://t.co/BC1TWFAIlc — Pavel Durov (@durov) January 26, 2026 Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The controversy has also drawn billionaire Elon Musk into the privacy debate. The Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared a post on X, writing, “WhatsApp is not secure. Even Signal is questionable. Use X Chat.” Musk was responding to a post by DogeDesigner that quoted a Bloomberg report on the lawsuit. WhatsApp is not secure. Even Signal is questionable. Use Chat. https://t.co/MWXCOmkbTD — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2026 As concerns grow over whether WhatsApp messages are as private as claimed, other high-profile figures have also criticised Meta on X (formerly Twitter). Among them is Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, who said that when a business relies on ads driven by user behaviour, privacy can never be the top priority. As a general principle, when you rely on ads based on user habits, privacy can never be the first priority. The conflict of interest is real and serious. Combine that with public market pressure for ever greater profit to justify astronomical valuations (“wealth creation” is… https://t.co/EK17W9k8YX — Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) January 27, 2026 (Also Read: iQOO 15R India launch date officially confirmed; Check expected display, camera, battery, processor, price and other features) The Bloomberg report detailed a new lawsuit filed against Meta Platforms, WhatsApp’s parent company, in a US District Court in San Francisco. The case accuses Meta of misleading users about WhatsApp’s privacy practices and its end-to-end encryption claims. A recent legal filing by an international group of plaintiffs alleges that Meta misled billions of users by claiming WhatsApp messages are visible only to the sender and the receiver, not the company itself. WhatsApp response  WhatsApp head Will Cathcart responded to the allegations in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Rejecting the claims, he wrote, “This is totally false. WhatsApp can’t read messages because the encryption keys are stored on your phone and we don’t have access to them. This is a no-merit, headline-seeking lawsuit brought by the very same firm defending NSO after their spyware attacked journalists and government officials.”  WhatsApp’s long-standing promise of end-to-end encryption   As we all know that the end-to-end encryption has always been the backbone of WhatsApp’s promise to its users. Meta has repeatedly assured WhatsApp users that this technology keeps messages visible only to the sender and the receiver, shutting out everyone else, including WhatsApp and its parent company. That message is reinforced inside the app itself. At the top of every chat, WhatsApp tells users that only the people in the conversation can read, listen to, or share the messages. The feature is turned on by default, a reminder that appears each time a new chat begins, according to a Bloomberg report.   Global users sue Meta over WhatsApp message privacy claims  The plaintiffs claim that Meta can access many WhatsApp messages that users believe are private. They also accuse the company and its senior executives of misleading billions of users around the world. According to the lawsuit, Meta stores users’ messages and allows its employees to view them.  The plaintiffs come from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa, and say their claims are backed by information from whistleblowers. Their lawyers have asked the court to allow the case to proceed as a class-action lawsuit. Meanwhile, Meta has rejected the allegations. In a response to Bloomberg, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone told the publication described the lawsuit as “frivolous” and said Meta plans to seek sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers.  Past lawsuit fuels fresh questions over WhatsApp privacy concerns  Meta has faced similar legal trouble in the past. In September last year, the company was sued by its former head of security, Attaullah Baig. He alleged that WhatsApp had “systemic cybersecurity failures” that could put user privacy at risk. (Also Read: OpenAI launches new AI tool Prism for scientists and researchers: Check features and is it free to use?) Baig also claimed that he discovered around 1,500 WhatsApp engineers had unrestricted access to user data, including sensitive personal information. According to him, employees could move or even steal this data without being detected or leaving an audit trail. 

Redmi Note 15 Pro series India launch date: Xiaomi is gearing up to launch the Redmi Note 15 Pro series in India on January 29, following the recent debut of the Redmi Note 15 earlier this month. The upcoming lineup is expected to include two smartphones, the Redmi Note 15 Pro and the Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus.  While the Pro series has already made its global debut earlier this month and was launched in China last year, its India launch is now confirmed. The new smartphones will feature Xiaomi’s Redmi Titan Structure, which the company claims provides 10 times higher resistance to impact, making the devices more durable.   Redmi Note 15 Pro series (Expected) Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The Redmi Note 15 Pro series is expected to feature a large 6.83-inch AMOLED display offering up to 3,200 nits of peak brightness. The screen will come with TUV eye care certification and Hydro Touch 2.0 technology, which improves touch responsiveness even when the phone is used with wet hands.  The smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, paired with up to 12GB of RAM for smooth performance. The devices are likely to pack a massive 6,500mAh battery with support for 100W HyperCharge fast charging and 22.5W reverse charging.  According to Redmi, the battery is designed to deliver reliable performance for up to five years.  You call it a long day. Your battery calls it light work.  Thanks to the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G, with 2-day battery life from a 6500mAh Silicon-Carbon Battery. pic.twitter.com/GAaXTsZYh5 — Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) January 23, 2026 On the camera front, the Redmi Note 15 Pro series is expected to sport a 200MP MasterPixel primary camera with HDR support. The smartphones will also offer several AI-powered features, including AI Writing, AI Speech Recognition, and AI Interpreter. In terms of durability, the series is expected to carry IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings for dust and water resistance, along with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.  Redmi Note 15 Pro Series Price In India (Expected) The REDMI Note 15 Pro series is likely to land in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment. The smartphone will be sold on Amazon.in, in addition to mi.com and offline stores, after the launch.  

Washington: The US and the UAE have reaffirmed support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor while deepening cooperation on trade, investment, and artificial intelligence at their latest Economic Policy Dialogue held in Abu Dhabi early this month. The two sides said the corridor, known as IMEC, is a priority for boosting regional connectivity, with a focus on expanding port and rail capacity linking India to Europe through the Middle East. The eleventh U.S.-UAE Economic Policy Dialogue took place on January 15 and was co-chaired by UAE Minister of State Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, according to a joint statement released Tuesday. Officials stressed the strategic importance of bilateral trade and investment. They noted that the UAE is the largest U.S. trade partner in the Gulf region, a position it has held for nearly two decades. The US maintains a significant trade surplus with the UAE. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Both sides said open markets and clear regulatory pathways have helped make trade and investment more productive for both economies. They highlighted growing cooperation in critical minerals, advanced technology, energy, manufacturing, and life sciences. The delegations reiterated the UAE’s commitment to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next decade. The pledge reinforces the UAE’s position as America’s largest regional economic partner. Al Hajeri highlighted the scale of economic ties. He said the total non-oil trade between the two countries surpassed $38 billion in 2024. Preliminary data for 2025 showed bilateral non-oil trade of $19.3 billion in the first half of the year. That reflected year-on-year growth of 3.4 per cent and supported U.S. industries such as energy, aviation, and technology. Helberg emphasised the need to strengthen economic security and secure trusted supply chains. He highlighted shared interests in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, energy abundance, and digital infrastructure. He said these areas can strengthen alignment between the economy and national security. The delegations agreed to explore areas of cooperation among I2U2 countries. These include energy security, critical minerals, and water security.