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Leaked Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date suggests there's still no Nintendo Switch 2 version at launch
Game Reviews

Leaked Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date suggests there’s still no Nintendo Switch 2 version at launch

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will reportedly release on 14th November, 2025, and there’s still no Nintendo Switch 2 release planned.

That’s according to noted and highly reliable Dealabs leaker billbil-kun, who suggests the latest instalment of Activision’s tentpole franchise will be coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series, but will not be available on Switch at launch.

Why Tiktok Thirsts over Call of Duty’s Ghost.Watch on YouTube

We noted Nintendo Switch 2 was notably absent from the launch platform line-up when the game was revealed during Summer Games Fest, running counter to Microsoft’s 10-year promise to launch Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms on “the same day as Xbox, with full feature and content parity” if its gargantuan $69 billion offer to buy Activision Blizzard was approved. Which it was, of course.

At the time, however, sources confirmed to Eurogamer: “We’re committed to getting the franchise on Switch. Both teams [are] working on it. Will share details when ready.”

Dealabs posits that all this release information will be confirmed at next week’s Gamescom, including news of a physical release (with a disc included) and pre-orders set to go live on 20th August, following a reveal the night before at Opening Night Live. While U.S./UK pricing has yet to be leaked or confirmed, the leaker suggests it’ll retail for €79.99 in Europe. Xbox has, of course, previously pledged not to raise prices past $70 USD.

Former Activision Blizzard president Mike Ybarra thinks Battlefield 6 will “boot stomp” Call of Duty this year, and that this will push the CoD series to stop being “lazy”.



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NFT Gaming

Billions in Ethereum Waiting to Be Unstaked Could Add Sell Pressure to ETH: Analyst

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In brief

  • A growing queue to unstake ETH could put sell pressure on Ethereum, according to a Bitwise analyst.
  • Ethereum’s validator exit queue hit 855,158 ETH worth roughly $3.7 billion on Friday. 
  • Ethereum’s price dipped more than 3% on Friday, shortly after the token nearly hit a new all-time high.

Ethereum holders are increasingly lining up to unstake their tokens, a trend that could put significant sell pressure on the cryptocurrency, according to one crypto expert.

The Ethereum blockchain’s validator exit queue hit 855,158 ETH on Friday—the highest it’s ever been, according to validatorqueue.com. The tokens were worth a combined $3.7 billion as of late Friday, according to data provider CoinGecko.

Staking is a process by which digital asset holders lock up their tokens to secure a blockchain network and earn rewards. Stakers may choose to unlock and reclaim their crypto amid uncertain market conditions, transferring them to comparatively risk-off assets or cashing out.

The Ethereum networks limits the amount of ETH that can be unstaked at a given time. The limit is designed to maintain network stability by preventing mass validator exits, which could disrupt the blockchain’s consensus mechanism. Currently, the queue is expected to take 15 days to clear.



The mounting queue of soon-to-be-unstaked ETH could be driving the asset’s recent retracement, Bitwise Senior Investment Strategist Juan Leon told Decrypt. The second-largest crypto asset by market cap has shed hundreds of dollars in recent days after coming close to setting a new all-time high mark.

The unstaked Ethereum queue could negatively affect ETH’s price, particularly if staked ETH trades at a discount to ETH, he explained.

“Tokens like stETH can trade at a discount. That discount reduces their value as collateral, triggering risk cuts, hedges, or even liquidations that lead to spot ETH selling,” Leon said.

He added that some trades may unwind as the unstaking queue grows, particularly if the cost to borrow ETH spikes.

When that occurs, “leveraged ‘stETH loop’ trades via liquidity pools on DeFi protocols stop being profitable,” Leon said. “Traders unwind by exiting positions and selling ETH to repay loans, creating synchronized sell pressure.”

Growing efforts to unstake ETH came shortly after the token on Thursday came within striking distance of its record price of $4,878 hit in November 2021, per data from CoinGecko. Since then, the altcoin has retraced its gains, weighed down by growing geopolitical uncertainty and a hotter-than-expected producer-price-index report from the U.S.

Despite concerns about Ethereum’s validator exit queue, Leon cautioned that a rise in ETH waiting to be unstaked doesn’t necessarily signal that the token’s price will continue to edge down.

“Unstaking doesn’t usually cause a sudden crash, but under stress it can act like a steady tap of new supply,” he said, “pressuring prices lower if it overwhelms new demand for ETH.”

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Gaming Gear

Beelink’s $1,985 GTR9 Pro packs AMD AI 395 power, dual 10GbE ports, and 128GB RAM in a compact metal body

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  • Beelink GTR9 Pro combines AMD’s AI Max+ 395 with powerful cooling in a small chassis
  • Dual 10GbE ports and USB4 enable ultra-fast networking and high-capacity data transfers
  • A 16-core Zen 5 CPU and Radeon 8060S GPU deliver workstation-grade performance

Beelink has introduced the GTR9 Pro, a mini PC positioned as a Windows alternative to Apple’s Mac Studio.

Now available for preorder at $1,985, the system features the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor and up to 128GB of LPDDR5X-8000 memory.

The company says it can operate as a business PC, a workstation PC, or even an AI computing hub, but its real-world positioning remains to be seen.


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Quad 8K output offers expansive workspace options

The GTR9 Pro features a 16-core Zen 5 CPU paired with the Radeon 8060S integrated GPU and the XDNA 2 NPU, delivering 126 TOPS of AI performance.

Beelink says the system maintains a 140W TDP under load while remaining near-silent at 32 dB, thanks to a dual-turbine fan setup and a vapor chamber cooling system.

The system also includes two 10GbE LAN ports and dual USB4 interfaces, a configuration aimed at high-speed networking and AI server clustering.

In terms of storage, the Beelink GTR9 Pro supports dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots with a maximum of 8TB capacity, but the retail configuration offers a 2TB SSD rated at up to 7,000MB/s.

The GTR9 Pro supports up to four 8K displays through HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and the USB4 ports, suggesting suitability for expansive work setups or professional-grade media production.

Integrated dual speakers and a microphone array with AI-driven voice processing are also included, aimed at conferencing and voice interaction.

The chassis is made from metal with an internal aluminum frame, housing an integrated 230W power supply.

Beelink claims industrial-grade durability and a clean aesthetic, but such durability assertions will require long-term use to verify.

At 180mm in width and depth and 90.8mm in height, the system is compact compared to many workstation PC options, although cooling efficiency in a smaller enclosure under prolonged heavy loads remains a question.

Currently, the GTR9 Pro appears to be available primarily in China, with no firm global release date announced.

Beelink has historically followed domestic launches with broader distribution, but until confirmed, international buyers may need to wait or import the system at additional cost.

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Esports

Volkswagen gates a new vehicle’s full horsepower behind monthly subscription

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Volkswagen’s ID3 Pro and Pro S vehicles are some of their latest car models, and, while they look like a typical car the iconic vehicle manufacturer would deliver, there’s a secret under the hood.

For both of these models, the maximum horsepower is listed at 228bhp (brake horsepower). However, driving the vehicle normally, you can only push it to 201bhp. In order to get that extra power out of it, you’ll have to pay extra.

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At around $20 a month, $200 a year, or a lump sum payment of roughly $760 dollars, you can get that full horsepower.

And, while it’s difficult to imagine why the ID3 models are limiting themselves and forcing a paywall for users who want to put the pedal to the metal, Volkswagen explained their reasoning behind the change.

Volkswagen explains horsepower subscription service

The way that the sub works for their ID3 vehicles is incredibly bizarre. Rather than it being tied to any one driver, the sub is tied to the vehicle. So, for instance, if someone were to pay the full price of buying that power boost for life and they were to sell their ID3 secondhand, whoever got the car next wouldn’t have to pay for it.

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Volkswagen views the service as a way to offer people more power under the hood without having to sell them a new car.

“Offering more power to customers is nothing new – historically many petrol and diesel vehicles have been offered with engines of the same size, but with the possibility of choosing one with more potency. These traditionally are higher up in the product range, with more specification and a higher list price,” reads a statement sourced from Autoexpress UK.

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Volkswagen has released a vehicle that gates its full horsepower behind a paid subscription

Users have to pay a monthly fee of around $20 to drive the car at top speed pic.twitter.com/TMCh3748pb

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) August 17, 2025

“If customers wish to have an even sportier driving experience, they now have an option to do so, within the life of the vehicle, rather than committing from the outset with a higher initial purchase price. The car is presented on the configurator with [201bhp], with the option made very clear to customers.”

And, in all fairness to Volkswagen, it’s pretty rare that the average driver will have to push their car to the limit. However, there’s a great deal of backlash from potential buyers who would have to purchase the vehicle and then have to pay even more to unlock its full potential.

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However, Volkswagen’s business ventures aren’t all this contentious. They’ve started selling sausages and managed to sell more sausages than cars in 2024.





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Volatility crashing across asset classes (TradingView)
GameFi Guides

Volatility Meltdown Everywhere as Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech Looms

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A pervasive calm has taken hold of asset classes as traders look forward to Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech at the annual Jackson Hole Symposium, scheduled for Aug. 21-23.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) 30-day implied volatility, as measured by Volmex’s BVIV and Deribit’s DVOL index, has declined sharply in recent months, hovering near two-year lows of around 36% last week, according to TradingView data.

Similarly, the CME Gold Volatility Index (GVZ), which estimates the expected 30-day volatility of returns for the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), has more than halved over the past four months, dropping to 15.22%—its lowest level since January.

The MOVE index, which tracks the 30-day implied volatility of Treasury notes, has also declined in recent months, reaching a 3.5-year low of 76%.

Meanwhile, the VIX, widely regarded as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” fell below 14% last week, down substantially from its early April highs near 45%. A similar vol compression is seen in FX majors such as the EUR/USD.

Rates are ‘still high’

The pronounced slide in volatility across major assets comes as central banks, particularly the Fed, are expected to deliver rate cuts from restrictive territory, rather than amid a crisis.

“Most major economies are not easing from ultra-low or emergency levels like we saw after the financial crisis or during COVID. They’re cutting from restrictive territory, meaning rates are still high enough to slow growth, and in many cases, real rates, adjusted for inflation, are still positive. That’s a big shift from the last easing cycles, and it changes how the next phase plays out,” pseudonymous observer Endgame Macro noted on X, explaining the bull run in all assets, including cryptocurrencies and stock markets.

According to the CME’s FedWatch tool, the Fed is expected to cut rates by 25 basis points in September, resuming the easing cycle after an eight-month pause. Investment banking giant JPMorgan expects the benchmark borrowing cost to drop to 3.25%-3.5% by the end of the first quarter of 2026, a 100-basis-point decrease from the current 4.25%.

Per some observers, Powell could lay the groundwork for fresh easing during this Jackson Hole speech.

“The path to rate cuts may be uneven, as we have seen over the last two years, where markets have been eager for rate cuts and sometimes disappointed that the Fed has not delivered them. But we believe the direction of travel for rates is likely to remain lower,” Angelo Kourkafas, a senior global investment strategist at Edward Jones, said in a blog post on Friday.

“With inflation treading water and labour-market strains becoming more pronounced, the balance of risks may soon tip toward action. Chair Powell’s upcoming remarks at Jackson Hole could validate the now-high expectations that, after a seven-month pause, rate cuts will resume in September,” Jones added.

In other words, the decline in volatility across asset classes likely reflects expectations for easy monetary policy and economic stability.

Markets too complacent?

However, contrarians may view it as a sign that markets are too complacent, as President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs threaten to weigh on economic growth, and the latest data points to sticky inflation.

Just take a look at the price levels for most assets, including BTC and gold: They are all at record highs.

Prosper Trading Academy’s Scott Bauer argued last week during an interview with Schwab Network that volatility is too low following the recent round of economic data, with more uncertainty on the horizon.

The argument for market complacency gains credence when viewed against the backdrop of bond markets, where corporate bond spreads hit their lowest since 2007. That prompted analysts at Goldman Sachs to warn clients against complacency and take hedges.

“There are enough sources of downside risks to warrant keeping some hedges on in portfolios,” Goldman strategists led by Lotfi Karoui wrote in a note dated July 31, according to Bloomberg.

“Growth could surprise further to the downside,” dis-inflationary pressures could fade or renewed concerns over Fed independence may fuel a sharp selloff in long-dated yields.

In any case, volatility is mean-reverting, meaning periods of low volatility typically set the stage for a return to more turbulent conditions.



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Battlefield 6 Beta Gets High Marks From Digital Foundry
Game Updates

Battlefield 6 Beta Gets High Marks From Digital Foundry

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The Battlefield 6 open beta is currently in its second weekend, and players are still adsorbing the latest entry to the franchise. Meanwhile, Digital Foundry has shared its technical breakdown from the first weekend of Battlefield 6’s open beta, and the early verdict is very good.

That’s not to say that the open beta was flawless. In the opening minutes alone, DF broke down some of the issues with the destructible environments. There are occasional glitches, including pieces of rubble floating in air without being connected to the structure around them. Battlefield 6’s buildings appear to fall apart using a state-based system rather than registering unique damage or breaking points. Yet it’s still an improvement over Battlefield 2049 and Battlefield 5.

Visually, DF saw the best results when running the SSGI option on PC, which allowed for more natural lighting, and suggested that this feature should be included for PlayStation 5 Pro. Unsurprisingly, the PS5 Pro performed better than the standard PS5, but the gap wasn’t as great as it was between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S. In a side-by-side comparison, the S noticeably struggled to keep up with the on-screen details that the X handled more smoothly.

Even in the beta’s current state, DF said that Battlefield 6 “is very shippable at the moment” and added that it has “a level of mechanical polish that feels top-notch.” However, DF added that the game could really use some raytracing embellishments and that it doesn’t feel innovative in the way that some of the previous titles have.

Among players, one of the current complaints is that the size of the 12v12 Rush mode is too small, but the final game’s bigger maps may solve that issue. Regardless, Battlefield 6’s beta has already passed Call of Duty’s concurrent-player record, as well as the record of the previous Battlefield games on Steam. The second Battlefield 6 open beta will conclude on August 17.



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Blackview BV7300
Product Reviews

Blackview BV7300 rugged phone review

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Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Blackview BV7300: 30-second review

Blackview is a thriving technology brand that initially specialised in rugged outdoor phones designed to support rugged lifestyles and survive demanding and challenging environments. Over the years, Blackview has expanded its product range to include mainstream smartphones, smartwatches, earphones, tablets, and laptops.

The Blackview BV7300 is a rugged smartphone designed for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals who need a durable and reliable device. It features a reinforced frame and textured back for a secure grip, making it both tough and stylish. The BV7300 is equipped with dual camping lights and a 20MP night vision camera, ensuring safety and visibility in low-light conditions. Its super-large 15000mAh battery supports 45W fast charging, providing long-lasting power for extended use.

The device runs on Android 14 with DokeOS 4.0, offering a smooth and personalised user experience. With up to 18GB RAM and 256GB ROM, the BV7300 delivers powerful performance for various tasks. Additionally, it boasts IP68 and IP69K ratings for water and dust resistance, as well as MIL-STD-810H certification for durability in extreme environments.

The BV7300’s weaknesses include an odd low-resolution screen and a limitation to 4G comms, not 5G. And at 528g, this is a bulky phone to use for everyday use.

It is unlikely to be our top choice for rugged smartphones, but it offers excellent value for those who occasionally venture into challenging environments.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Blackview BV7300: price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $280/£166
  • When is it out? Available globally
  • Where can you get it? Direct from the maker or via an online retailer

Available directly from the maker’s own shop, the asking price is £166 in the UK and $279.99 for US customers, making it a substantially better deal in those countries that don’t apply tariffs to Chinese goods.

If bought via Amazon.com and with a coupon applied, it can be had for only $219.99, but the standard price is $249.99. UK customers can get it via Amazon for £170.

For those willing to wait for AliExpress to deliver, it can be found for less than £150 or $195.

Typically, I’d mention another phone that uses the same platform as the BV7300, but alas, it’s almost unique to this device. The only other Android device using the G81 SoC is the Oukitel RT3 Pro tablet.

Based on the specification, this is a decent phone for what is the bargain basement end of recent rugged phones

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Blackview BV7300: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Item

Spec

Model

BV7300

Processor (SoC)

MediaTek Helio G81 (12nm), Octa-core (2×2.0GHz Cortex-A75 + 6×1.8GHz Cortex-A55)

GPU

Mali-G52 MC2

RAM

6GB (expandable up to 18GB with virtual RAM)

Storage

256GB eMMC 5.1

Expandable Storage

microSDXC (up to 2TB, shared SIM slot)

Display

6.67″ IPS LCD, 720×1604 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 700 nits brightness

Rear Cameras

50MP (Samsung S5KJN1, f/1.8, PDAF) + 20MP (Sony IMX376 night vision, f/2.0)

Front Camera

32MP Galaxycore GC32E1

Video Recording

1080p @ 30fps (front and rear)

Operating System

Android 14 with DokeOS 4.0

Connectivity

Dual SIM (Nano), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, FM radio

Wireless Networking

Dual Bands: 2.4G/5.0GHz,802.11 ab/g’n/ac, BT 5.3

2G Bands

850/900/1800900(B2/B3/B5/88)

3G Bands

WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8

4G Bands LTE-FDD

81/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B19/B20B26/B28A/B28B/B66

4G Bands LTE-TTD

B40/B41/B38

Ports

USB Type-C (no 3.5mm headphone jack)

Sensors

Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Flashlight

800-lumen dedicated flood flashlight

Battery

15,000mAh Li-Po, 45W wired charging, 7W reverse wired charging

Durability

IP68/IP69K water and dust resistance, MIL-STD-810H compliant

Build Materials

Polycarbonate, TPU, Aluminium alloy

Dimensions

186.2 × 85 × 24 mm

Weight

528g

Blackview BV7300: design

  • Built to last
  • Large camping light
  • No headphone jack

Blackview devices often feature sharp lines, reinforced corners, and textured surfaces that evoke a tool-like toughness. They look like they belong in a toolbox as much as a backpack. And, the BV7300 is no exception.

It has metal sides and buttons that, together with the rubberised bumpers, reinforce the rugged identity. These style aspects aren’t just decorative; they are a signal of durability, and this phone was made to operate in harsh environments.

The button layout is by-the-numbers, with the volume rockers and fingerprint-reading power button on the right, and the user-definable function button on the left.

In addition, the left side is also where the SIM tray resides, and it’s one where you can use two Nano SIMs or one and a MicroSD card for additional storage.

The rear mounts the two cameras near the top and relatively central, making them easy to aim, but the majority of the back is taken up with a substantial camping LED.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

To diverge for a moment, many phones these days come with a substantial metal label stuck to them. This details the model, spec, IMEI number, serial number and various standards that the maker wishes to acknowledge. Do you leave these on, or do you peel them off?

Until now, I’ve always left them on, as the information might be necessary at some point and locating it could be crucial.

Why am I mentioning this? On the BV7300, the label is slapped over half of the camping LED, and therefore, it needs to be removed if you want to use that feature. I chose to leave it in place for my photographs, but if I were to use this device in anger, it would need to be removed.

The use of the back with the dual-element LED lamp also negates the possibility of wireless charging, but with a battery this big, that probably wasn’t a possibility.

What this design lacks is a headphone jack, although you could use an adapter with the USB-C port if you own one.

As is often the case with Blackview hardware, the BV7300 sells its robust credentials confidently and doesn’t stray away from the feature set that most of its customers expect.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Design score: 4/5

Blackview BV7300: hardware

  • MediaTek Dimensity 7300
  • Odd resolution display
  • 15000 mAh battery

The MediaTek Helio G81 is a mid-range SoC introduced in August 2024, designed primarily for budget-friendly Android smartphones with a focus on gaming and multimedia performance.

It has an older brother, the G80, that has basic AI features, and this chip added Enhanced AI (MediaTek NeuroPilot, Android NNAPI support), allegedly. It also sports  EIS (electronic image stabilisation), along with support for a 120Hz display. The makers, Mediatek, have also added the Helio G85, which is remarkably similar to the G81 used in this phone.

All the G8X series use dual A75 performance cores combined with six A55 efficiency cores to deliver both power and long battery life. They also all use the Mali-G52 MP2 GPU, which isn’t especially powerful, but is good enough for smooth video playback.

It’s a solid choice for rugged phones and budget gaming handsets, offering a good balance of efficiency and features without pushing into premium territory.

One potential improvement could be that this chip uses a 12nm FinFET (TSMC), whereas the latest Dimensity chips use 6nm and even 4nm. That limits how far its efficiency can go, and it also has a capped bandwidth by using LPDDR4x 1800Mhz memory.

But this chip does support a screen with a 2520 x 1080 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, but unfortunately, that wasn’t what Blackview gave the BV7300.

The 6.67-inch IPS LCD has the curious resolution of 720 x 1604 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate and a 700 nits brightness. That means it can’t display 1080p video at its full quality, and that includes the video captured by the primary camera.

If neither the screen nor the SoC are the star of this show, what is? Possibly the battery, which has a capacity of 15000mAh, is mostly responsible for this phone weighing more than 500g.

If you aren’t put off by such a bulky device, that’s plenty of battery capacity, and it can be shared with other devices using reverse charging.

When we get to the benchmarking, it will become evident that those comments are foreshadowing, in many respects.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Blackview BV7300: cameras

  • 50MP and 20MP sensors on the rear
  • 32MP on the front
  • Three cameras in total

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The Blackview BV7300 has three cameras:

Rear camera: 50MP Samsung JN1 primary, 20MP Sony IMX376 Night Vision
Front camera: 32MP Galaxycore GC32E1-WA1XA

I wasn’t expecting much considering the cost of this camera and its inevitably tight production budget. But the 50MP Samsung JN1 primary is a workmanlike sensor that, in good lighting conditions, can deliver some decent quality images.

I’d recommend that, unlike me, you disable the AI and HDR functionality, as it tends to oversaturate the colours to the point of making some captures pop-art.

The JN1 is a decent, if now slightly old, Samsung sensor that uses pixel-binning to create generally good 13MP captures from its 50MP source data.

Its limitation is that it isn’t great in low-light conditions, resulting in blurry and grainy results. Blackview’s answer to that was to make the second sensor the 20MP Sony IMX376, which is a specialist Night Vision camera.

What’s mildly confusing is that within the Android camera app, there are ‘Night’ and ‘Night Vision’ modes, with the first being an AI-enhanced EIS mode that uses the Samsung JN1 but longer exposure times.

Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) is a technology used in the context of the MediaTek Helio G81 System on Chip (SoC) to reduce blurriness and shakiness in videos and images. EIS works by using software algorithms to compensate for small movements and vibrations during video recording or photography. This is particularly useful for handheld shooting, where even slight hand movements can cause noticeable shake in the footage.

While EIS helps, it’s not the same as optical stabilisation, and the results are a bit mixed. If you truly want to take images in low light, the MX376 is a much better choice as it uses IR flash to bathe even the darkest locations in light that the sensor can see and generate an image from. It’s only B&W, and the images are in 20.2MP resolution.

Using this mode, you should be able to capture nocturnal creatures if you turn the screen brightness down and stay quiet enough that your presence isn’t an issue.

As a camera system, the BV7300 is better than I expected, but it’s also worth noting that it is a budget device. So you get a Pro mode, panoramas, time-lapse, document shooting and even AR stickers. But equally, the best video resolution is ‘high’, which translates into 1080p when you’ve recorded something.

When you consider that the Samsung ISOCELL JN1 is capable of 4K at 30fps, that’s an intentional omission.

It’s normal at this point in my phone reviews to moan that the makers only support Widevine L3 video encryption, reducing the quality of streaming to only 480P from most of the big streaming brands.

However, since the best resolution this display can support is only 720p, it’s probably not an issue in the greater scheme of things.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Blackview BV7300 Camera samples

Image 1 of 16

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Blackview BV7300: performance

  • Not 3D game-friendly GPU
  • Decent battery performance

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Phone

Header Cell – Column 1

Blackview BV7300

Doogee Fire 6 Power

SoC

Row 0 – Cell 1

Mediaktek Helio G81

Unisoc T606

GPU

Row 1 – Cell 1

Mali-G52 MP2

Mali G57 MP1

Mem

Row 2 – Cell 1

N/A

N/A

NPU

Row 3 – Cell 1

6GB/256GB

8GB/256GB

Weight

Row 4 – Cell 1

528g

430g

Battery

Row 5 – Cell 1

15000

15500

Geekbench

Single

446

391

Row 7 – Cell 0

Multi

1469

1368

Row 8 – Cell 0

OpenCL

218

460

Row 9 – Cell 0

Vulkan

361

461

GFX

Aztec Open Normal

5.5

5.5

Row 11 – Cell 0

Aztec Vulkan Norm.

4.8

4.8

Row 12 – Cell 0

Car Chase

3.2

5.4

Row 13 – Cell 0

Manhattan 3.1

4.9

8.8

PCMark

3.0 Score

7391

7790

Row 15 – Cell 0

Battery

30h 40m

31h 18m

Charge 30

%

16

13

Passmark

Score

6767

6289

Row 18 – Cell 0

CPU

3268

2947

3DMark

Slingshot OGL

789

1479

Row 20 – Cell 0

Slingshot Ex. OGL

490

985

Row 21 – Cell 0

Slingshot Ex. Vulkan

504

976

Row 22 – Cell 0

Wildlife

226

432

Row 23 – Cell 0

Nomad Lite

N/A

49

It wasn’t easy to find a phone I’d reviewed recently that was comparable to the BV7300, because most that use the Helio G99 or one of the Dimensity series MediaTek SoCs are significantly more powerful than the G81 used here.

Eventually, I chose the Doogee Fire 6 Power, and its underwhelming Unisoc T606 SoC to be something to compare.

Performance-wise, these phones are closely matched, both in CPU and GPU speeds, and neither is a phone you would pick to play 3D games on.

What ultimately divides them is that the BV7300 only comes with 6GB of RAM, and the Nomad Lite test refuses to run with less than 8GB. And, I did try RAM expansion mode, and that 3D Mark test wants real memory, not mapped storage.

Where both phones excel is in respect of battery capacity and running time, with the Fire 6 being a little better because it has 500mAh more battery at its disposal. I worked out the running time per mAh, and the Blackview has a tiny advantage, although it’s also nearly 100g heavier for that win.

Overall, this isn’t a phone that anyone wanting high performance would gravitate towards, but if you want a rugged phone that can take reasonable pictures and last at least four working days without a recharge, then the Blackview BV7300 might be for you.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Blackview BV7300: Final verdict

Looking for an affordable phone that can withstand some abuse, whether on holiday, a building site, or in the jungle? Then the Blackview BV7300 might fit the bill.

There isn’t much about this phone that stands out, other than perhaps the battery life and the price, but for some, having a phone that can get wet and be dropped and still work is the critical requirement.

The BV7300 ticks that box, even if it makes it less than lightweight, and in a company scenario, you are unlikely to take flak for going over-budget.

Should I buy a Blackview BV7300?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyBlackview BV7300 Score Card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Cheap and chunky

4/5

Design

Heavy, but designed to take abuse

4/5

Hardware

MediaTek Helio G81, odd screen, big battery

4/5

Camera

Two rear sensors but only 1080p video

3.5/5

Performance

Budget phone performance but good battery life

3.5/5

Overall

A practical device if you don’t mind the weight

4/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also Consider

For more durable devices, we’ve reviewed all the best rugged tablets, the best rugged laptops, and the best rugged hard drives

Blackview BV7300: Price Comparison



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A character blocks another one's kick.
Game Reviews

How Long Is The Story?

by admin


The latest game in the AI: Somnium Files series arrived last month, and it’s shorter than the previous ones. No Sleep for Kaname Date is actually a spin-off that takes place between the first two games, AI: The Somnium Files and AI: The Somnium Files -Nirvana Initiative-, as well as sees the return of our original protagonist, Kaname Date.

This time around, Kaname Date must save our favorite idol Iris after she gets abducted by a UFO and is forced to play various escape games to survive. Directed by Kazuya Yamada supervised by original series creator Uchikoshi, No Sleep for Kaname Date implements escape room puzzles similar to that of the Zero Escape series, which Uchikoshi also created. These escape room scenarios help pad out No Sleep for Kaname Date despite its much shorter length.

How long is No Sleep for Kaname Date?

No Sleep for Kaname has five chapters for you to play through, along with multiple “dead-end” endings.

In the game, you’ll have to go through “Somniums” (different from the escape rooms) which are pseudo puzzles that you’ll need to solve in order to progress the story. During these Somnium investigations, you’ll be on a timer, so you won’t have time to examine every item. But examining every item unlocks “eyeballs,” which are in-game currency that lets you unlock bonus content for after you’ve beaten the main story (don’t worry, there are no real-world microtransactions). You can also earn more eyeballs by finding collectibles throughout the game.

Some of the bonuses you can unlock include concept art and extra endings called “alternate alternate endings.” They cost a certain amount of eyeballs to unlock, and some of the bonuses may not appear until you’ve reached certain alternate endings in the story.

© Screenshot: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.

You will have to replay certain chapters, Somniums, and escape room puzzles to find the alternate endings, but thankfully, the game’s flowchart notes which chapters have them. That way, you won’t have to blindly search for them.

That being said, a full playthrough of No Sleep for Kaname Date should take you about 12-15 hours to complete, depending on how good you are at solving escape puzzles.

How many Achievements does No Sleep for Kaname Date have?

No Sleep for Kaname Date is available for Switch and Steam. While the former doesn’t have an achievement system, the latter does. Since this game is much shorter than the others, you’re looking at about an extra five hours to unlock all of the achievements.

Is No Sleep for Kaname Date on PlayStation or Xbox?

Right now, No Sleep for Kaname Date is only on Switch and Steam. While the previous two games are on all platforms, including PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox, No Sleep for Kaname Date has not been announced for PlayStation and Xbox.

© Screenshot: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.

However, that doesn’t mean that developer Spike Chunsoft won’t bring them over later. 2023’s Master Detective Archives: Rain Code was a Switch exclusive until it came to all other platforms a little over a year later. Given AI: The Somnium Files, it’s definitely possible that No Sleep for Kaname Date will arrive on other platforms in the future.

No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files launches on July 25 for Switch/Switch 2 and PC.



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(Source: NBIM, K33 Research via X)
NFT Gaming

Brevan Howard, Goldman Sachs and Harvard Lead Billions in Bitcoin ETF Buying Spree

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Wall Street ramped up its exposure to bitcoin in the second quarter, adding positions not only in spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) but also in U.S. stocks closely tied to the cryptocurrency’s price, according to new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Brevan Howard nearly doubled its position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) during the second quarter, according to a securities filing. The macro-focused hedge fund held 37.9 million shares at the end of June, up from about 21.5 million in March.

The stake was worth more than $2.6 billion based on IBIT’s closing price on June 28, making Brevan Howard one of the largest reported institutional holders of IBIT alongside Goldman Sachs, which boosted its position to $3.3 billion in IBIT and Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust (FBTC). The banking giant also held $489 million worth of the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), according to a filing.

Goldman’s ownership of the ETFs isn’t necessarily a direct wager by its trading desk on bitcoin’s price; rather, it more likely represents positions held by Goldman Sachs Asset Management on behalf of its clients.

Brevan Howard, best known for macro trading, however, has long been active in the crypto space and operates a dedicated digital asset division called BH Digital. The unit manages billions in assets and invests in blockchain infrastructure, decentralized finance and related technologies.

Harvard, Wells Fargo and more

Other major IBIT investors include Harvard University, which reported a $1.9 billion stake in the ETF, and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, which continues to hold $681 million.

In terms of U.S. banks, Wells Fargo nearly quadrupled its holdings of IBIT to $160 million, up from $26 million in the previous quarter, while maintaining a $200,000 stake in the Grayscale Bitcoin Fund (GBTC).

Cantor Fitzgerald also boosted its holdings to over $250 million while also increasing stakes in crypto-related stocks, including Strategy (MSTR), Coinbase (COIN) and Robinhood (HOOD), among others.

Trading firm Jane Street revealed holding a $1.46 billion stake in IBIT, which represents the largest single position in its portfolio after Tesla (TSLA) at $1.41 billion. It increased its stake in MSTR while reducing its holdings of FBTC.

Spot bitcoin ETFs like IBIT, which launched in January, allow investors to gain exposure to bitcoin’s price without directly holding the cryptocurrency. That structure offers traditional institutions an avenue to participate in the crypto market through familiar brokerage accounts and custodial arrangements.

Norway buys more

For some overseas entities, gaining exposure to bitcoin is easier through U.S.-listed companies that hold large amounts of BTC on their balance sheets.

That’s the approach being taken by Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, along with several other European state-backed investors, which are opting for equity stakes in crypto-adjacent firms rather than holding the crypto directly.

Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), the investment arm of the Norwegian central bank and the entity that manages the country’s $2 trillion pension fund, now indirectly holds 7,161 BTC, according to a new note from K33 Research. That figure is up 192% from 2,446 BTC a year ago, and up 87% from the 3,821 BTC it held at the end of 2024.

(Source: NBIM, K33 Research via X)

The largest portion of its exposure — 3,005 BTC — comes through shares in Strategy. The rest is spread across companies like Marathon Digital, Coinbase, Block, and Metaplanet. K33 also counted GME (GameStop) and several smaller holdings as contributing to the total.

Still, the exposure remains tiny in context. Norway’s fund owns stakes in thousands of companies across global markets, and the value of its bitcoin-linked investments is a fraction of its total holdings. At a current market price of $117,502 per BTC, the fund’s 7,161 BTC is worth around $841 million — or less than 0.05% of the $2 trillion portfolio.

The sharp increase over the past year may signal growing institutional comfort with the asset class, but it doesn’t represent a major strategic shift—yet.



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Can Monero’s XMR price surge 40% and revisit all-time high?
Crypto Trends

Kraken freezes Monero deposits, Qubic grabs 51% hashrate

by admin



Kraken suspended Monero deposits after detecting that a single mining pool gained majority control of the network’s hashrate.

The exchange cited security concerns following what appears to be a successful 51% attack on the privacy-focused blockchain.

“As a security precaution, we have paused Monero (XMR) deposits after detecting that a single mining pool has gained more than 50% of the network’s total hashing power,” Kraken announced Friday.

The exchange added that the concentration of mining power poses a potential risk to the network’s integrity.

Source: Kraken announcement

Qubic, an AI-focused blockchain and mining pool, claimed it achieved 51% hashrate dominance over Monero following a month-long technical confrontation.

“After a month-long, high-stakes technical confrontation, Qubic reached 51% of Monero’s hashrate dominance, successfully reorganizing the blockchain,” Qubic representatives announced Tuesday.

Pool survives denial of service counterattack

While Monero community members initially denied the attack claims, mining pool statistics now confirm Qubic as the dominant Monero miner.

Qubic faced resistance during its takeover attempt, briefly falling to seventh place among Monero miners. On August 4, the pool suffered a denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, which significantly reduced its computational power.

The DDoS attack dropped Qubic’s hashrate from 2.6 gigahashes per second to just 0.8 GH/s, according to Sergey Ivancheglo, who claimed responsibility for the 51% attack. Denial-of-service attacks flood networks with fake traffic, disrupting legitimate operations.

Despite the counterattack, Qubic recovered its hashing power and accumulated enough computational resources to control majority network operations. Current mining statistics confirm Qubic’s position as the top Monero mining pool.

Kraken’s deposit suspension aims to prevent potential losses from double-spending attacks while the network remains compromised.

Other exchanges may implement similar measures until normal mining distribution resumes.

A 51% attack allows attackers to spend the same coins multiple times by reversing confirmed transactions. Exchanges become primary targets in such attacks since they handle large transaction volumes and hold significant cryptocurrency reserves.

The Monero network’s proof-of-work consensus mechanism requires majority hashrate control to validate transactions. Qubic’s dominance theoretically gives it the power to reorganize blocks and censor transactions on the network.



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