Bhavish Aggarwal confirms new details related to Ola Gig and S1 Z e-scooter range
Both e-scooter lineup to be equipped with new Bharat 4680 cell
Availability tipped for April 2025
Ola Electric despite all the hurdles including massively dropping sales and market shares decided to expand it portfolio in India. Just a week ago, the company introduced two new electric scooter lineups called the Ola Gig and the Ola S1 Z. The former is designed to be the last mile ride solution, while the latter is introduced as the affordable urban mobility solution. Both Ola Gig and the S1 Z electric scooter range have already gone up for pre-orders and will be available starting at just Rs. 39,999. Now, Ola Electric’s CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal has revealed a crucial detail related to the new Giz and S1Z e-scooters’ battery cells. Here are the details:
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Ola Electric’s CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal took to microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) to confirm latest developments surrounding the Gig and S1Z e-scooter models. Aggarwal has revealed that both the Ola Gig and S1Z electric scooter lineups will be the first to be powered by the Bharat 4680 cells.
Just for reference, the Bharat 4680 cells are the type of the lithium-ion battery cell that have been developed by Ola Electric. These are high-energy density battery cells which will support faster charging speeds and also offer longer riding range stats.
In the same post on X, Bhavish Aggarwal has revealed that the new e-scooter lineups, i.e., the Ola Gig and the Ola S1 Z electric scooters will be available starting April 2025. The company has already started taking pre-bookings for the latest electric scooters via official website at just Rs. 499.
Finding the perfect laptop that strikes a good balance between work, games, and portability often feel like searching for a unicorn. But when the Asus Vivobook S15 OLED ultrabook landed on my desk, I couldn’t wait to see if it lived up to its promise. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been putting this sleek 15.6-inch laptop through its paces, from tackling demanding work tasks to binge-watching my favorite web-series. Designed to cater to mixed-use users, it comes with a vibrant OLED display, a powerful processor, and surprisingly good audio. Let’s dive in this review and see if it’s the all-rounder it claims to be.
The Asus Vivobook S15 OLED is an elegant looking laptop. It is sleek, modern, and seriously attractive. At just 14.7mm thin and 1.42 Kg, it’s easy to carry around. I have been carrying it daily from Delhi to Gurgaon in my backpack, and guess what? No complaints. I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it was.
The Vivobook S15 feels high-end because to its satin metallic silver color. It has a polished appearance due to its rounded corners. The Asus logo is subtly positioned beneath the screen and is simple and elegantly placed onto the back lid. The display’s overall appearance is improved by the thin bezels surrounding it. It’s not trying to be fancy with a 2-in-1 design or touchscreen, just a solid, no-nonsense laptop.
Ports-wise, you are pretty much sorted. On the left, there’s an HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, a microSD card slot (a nice bonus), and a headphone jack. While the microSD slot is rare these days, a full-sized card reader would’ve been a more practical choice. On the right side, there are two Type-A USB 3.2 ports and LED indicators for power and battery. Overall, the port selection covers most needs, with no glaring omissions.
For meetings or quick video calls, the FHD webcam and built-in mic are surprisingly good. The Vivobook S15 OLED is proof that simplicity and style can go hand-in-hand, and it nails the basics in the best way possible.
Keyboard & Trackpad
Let’s now talk about the keyboard and trackpad because they deserve some serious attention too. The keyboard is not only great to type on but also super quiet. I think it’s perfect for those late-night work sessions. Using the MyAsus app, you can adjust the RGB lighting to fit your mood and add a little flair. Plus, the ambient light sensor makes sure that the backlighting adjusts automatically. The dedicated number pad is a nice addition. However, I find the arrow keys a bit smaller. Overall, the layout is clear and easy to navigate. And the trackpad? Smooth as butter. To be honest, it’s among the largest I’ve seen lately. It feels great to use, is quite responsive, and supports motions.
Display
The display on the Asus Vivobook S15 OLED is amazing. It is one of those screens that uplifts even your desktop background to the status of a work of art. This screen is decently eye-catching, with a 15.6-inch OLED panel with a pixel density of 211.82 PPI and a resolution of 2880 x 1620. The colors are vivid, striking, and utterly dreamlike. You can expect a smooth, lifelike viewing experience when you combine Asus’s color-calibrated profile, adaptive sync, and a refresh rate of 120hz.
Whether you’re scrolling through social media images or binge-watching action-packed films, the rich colors and deep blacks make everything stand out. I tested it with some good action movies, and the visuals were breathtaking. Additionally, the color accuracy of the display is perfect for content creators, whether you’re editing YouTube videos or smartening up up your social media game.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows (literally). The screen is super reflective and working outdoors can be tricky, especially on a sunny day when those reflections become a bit of a buzzkill. On the bright side, the viewing angles are good. That means sharing your screen with friends or family won’t be a problem. All in all, the Vivobook S15 OLED’s display is one of its strongest highlights. It is perfect for work, play, and everything in between.
Under the hood, the Asus Vivobook S15 OLED runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor. This 12-core chip, clocked at 3.4GHz with a hefty 42MB cache, offers performance that can easily compete with AMD and Intel-powered laptops. During my testing, day-to-day tasks were handled like a breeze, and even photo editing and creating video thumbnails felt seamless.
Gaming? I gave it a shot with a couple of titles, and the experience was decent. Sure, the laptop got a little warm, but it didn’t affect performance. However, some games had limitations, which is something to keep in mind if gaming is a top priority for you.
Now, let’s talk audio. Asus has teamed up with Dolby Atmos and Harman/Kardon to deliver great sound quality. The speakers are clear and even offer a decent number of bass, which I guess is a rarity in laptops. While headphones or external speakers might still be the go-to for audiophiles, the built-in audio on this laptop is surprisingly good.
Whether you’re working, gaming, or streaming your favorite tunes, the Vivobook S15 OLED delivers a performance that doesn’t disappoint! This brings up to the Vivobook S15 OLED’s benchmark performance. We ran Cinebench and Novabench benchmark tests where this notebook performed exceptionally. Starting with the Cinebench, the Vivobook S15 OLED has logged CPU (Multi-core) 5259 pts and CPU (Single Core) 326 pts. Also, it scored 1452 in novabench. This includes 597 CPU score, 157 GPU score, 300 Memory score, and 398 Storage score. We are attaching the performance scores below:
Copilot+
The Asus Vivobook S15 OLED is marketed as a Copilot+ device. It brings a suite of advanced AI-powered features to the table. While we couldn’t test everything fully, some features await a Microsoft update, the lineup already looks promising.
The laptop supports familiar Copilot functions like Studio Effects. Features like Automatic Super Resolution for gaming, live subtitling, and Cocreator that transforms sketches into complete images are aimed to improve productivity and creativity.
Well, Asus didn’t stop there. They’ve added their own AI-powered functionalities, such as StoryCube for organizing media files and an advanced facial detection feature that dims the screen when you look away.
The Copilot+ integration might not yet be fully unleashed, but the foundation it sets is exciting, and it hints at a future where laptops are more intelligent and user-centric than ever.
Connectivity
The Asus Vivobook S15 OLED offers a solid array of connectivity options to keep users satisfied. Both of its USB-C ports support the 4.0 standard and has compatibility with modern accessories. However, I did find myself wishing for an additional USB-C port on the right side, which would have been handy for charging the laptop from either side.
On the plus side, you’ll also get two regular USB-A ports, so there’s no constant need for adapters during everyday use, a big win for convenience. For external displays, the Vivobook has some impressive capabilities. You can connect up to three external monitors with 4K resolution at 60Hz or even two displays at a decent 5K resolution.
While it covers most needs well, a few tweaks like the extra USB-C port could have made the connectivity experience nearly perfect. Still, for everyday work and entertainment, it gets the job done with ease.
Battery
Asus claims its 70WHrs battery can last up to 18+ hours for everyday tasks, but in my experience, it went above and beyond. During my testing, it comfortably hit the 19-hour mark, which is more than enough to get through a few days of office work or back-to-back presentations without hunting for a charger.
Of course, when I switched to binge-watching YouTube or hopping on video calls, the battery life dipped a bit, but that’s totally expected. Even then, it never left me worried about running out of juice at the wrong time.
And here’s the cherry on top: it comes with a fast-charging 90W USB-C adapter that powers it up in no time. So, even if you do need to recharge, you’re back in action quickly.
Giznext’s Final Verdict: Is The Asus Vivobook S15 Right For You?
The Asus Vivobook S15 OLED is a well-rounded ultrabook with a decent OLED display, solid everyday performance, and decent speakers. While it excels in design and usability, its reflective screen can struggle outdoors. It further handles everyday tasks smoothly, and for the curious minds, the CoPilot button might just add a bit of extra utility.
The real question is: Are you ready to invest over Rs. 1 lakh for a stylish, capable ultrabook for daily use? If you are after a sleek design, top-notch display, and reliable performance, the Vivobook S15 OLED is definitely worth considering.
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Next-gen Bajaj Chetak electric scooter launching soon
Debut set for this month itself
Will follow same design approach as the outgoing model
To be built on a new chassis
Bajaj Auto started its venture into the E2W segment with the iconic Chetak electric scooter’s launch. The company had introduced the first model back in 2020 and has seen a successful run until now. To strive through the tough competition, Bajaj recently revealed its plan to introduce a new Chetak electric scooter. The timeline is also revealed as to when the upgraded Chetak electric scooter finally breaks covers in India.
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Updated Bajaj Chetak E-Scooter India Launch This Month
Bajaj is all set for the launch of the updated Chetak electric scooter this month. The company is expected to add the Chetak 2903 e-scooter model to its portfolio. This upcoming Chetak e-scooter model will be positioned above the Chetak 2901 e-scooter model and is expected to feature multiple upgrades in terms of hardware and features.
Bajaj had earlier clarified that it’s developing a new platform for the upcoming Chetak e-scooter. This platform will be powering the Chetak 2903 and will allow the company to use a new chassis. The Chetak 2903 e-scooter is also expected to come equipped with a bigger battery pack compared to the Chetak 2901 variant. However, the capacity and other details are under the wraps at this point.
Just for reference, the outgoing Chetak e-scooter lineup offers a riding range between 123 to 137 km per charge (range as per the variants). The upcoming 2903 variant might deliver slightly higher range figures if it equips a bigger battery pack than the existing models.
Reports indicate that the Chetak 2903 e-scooter might not come with any major design overhaul. That’s considering the Chetak’s design is widely accepted as practical and modern. It might, however, introduced with new color options.
Bajaj Chetak 2903 Electric Scooter Expected Pricing And Availability In India
Currently, Bajaj has not revealed the launch date or the delivery timeline for the Chetak 2903 e-scooter. However, its official debut is expected sometime around mid or late December 2023. The price range could fall within the bracket of Rs. 1 lakh – Rs. 1.20 lakh.
To offer premium servicing experience to its customers
First centre inaugurated in Nashik
Ather Gold service centers will also offer luxurious amenities
Ather Energy is ramping up its process of providing a class-leading experience with electric scooter services and maintenance. Just a while ago, the E2W startup launched Ather Care service packages for the 450 and Rizta electric scooter owners. And Now, the brand has come up with another premium servicing expereince for its customers. Called Ather Gold, the latest service centers will be providing a premium experience to all Rizta and 450 series consumers. What all are the benefits the new premium Ather Gold service centres will offer to the masses? Let’s find out:
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Ather Gold Service Centers: Special Benefits For Ather 450, Rizta E-Scooter Customers
Ather Energy has launched its latest chain of service centers called ‘Ather Gold’. This new service chain is introduced to offer premium services to the customers. Customers will be able to avail multiple high-end services such as upgraded processes for repairs and complete servicing within just 60 minutes.
Ather not only is aiming to provide a fast and efficient servicing experience with these Gold service centers but an overall enhanced customer experience. All Ather Gold service centers will have highly trained staff. Ather will get their training done by the professionals of its core team in Bengaluru. Ather will be keeping a strong check on both soft skills and technical guidance for these staff members.
Ather has revealed that the customers visiting the Gold service centers will be able to get their e-scooters serviced within 60-minutes. This will be a part of the upgraded ‘ExpressCare” process. Additionally, Ather will be offering all the luxurious amenities ranging from a theme-based comfortable customer lounge and more.
Ather Energy has kicked off the premium service network from Nashik. The company has not yet revealed the list of the cities where it plans to open more Gold service centre chains. But the developments are likely to be clear going forward.
Hero MotoCorp has expanded the Vida e-scooter range with the launch of V2 series in India. The latest lineup brings along three variants featuring similar performance output and design but different top speed. Hero has launched the successor to the Vida V1 series with a starting price of Rs. 96,000 in the country. Let’s take a look at the top highlights of the latest Vida V2 e-scooter range:
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Hero Vida V2 Series: Variants, Powertrain, And Fetaures
Variant
Hero Vida V2 Lite
Hero Vida V2 Plus
Hero Vida V2 Pro
Power
8 bhp
8 bhp
8 bhp
Torque
25 Nm
25 Nm
25 Nm
Battery
2.2 kWh
3.44 kWh
3.94 kWh
Range
94 km
143 km
165 km
Top Speed
69 kmph
85 kmph
90 kmph
As tipped earlier, Hero MotoCorp has launched three variants of the Vida V2 namely the Vida V2 Lite, Vida V2 Plus, and the Vida V2 Pro. The Vida V2 Lite is the low-end variant in the new lineup which has been equipped with a 2.2 kWh battery pack.
This variant offers an IDC-claimed range of up to 94 km on a single charge with the battery pack taking 3.3 hours for a 0- 80 percent refuel. The Vida V2 Lite also happens to the lightest variant in the new series weighing at just 116 kg and offers Eco and Ride.
On the Other hand, the V2 Plus which is the mid trim equips a slightly bigger 3.44 kWh battery pack and delivers a better range of 143 km per charge (IDC range). This model will take 5.15 hours to get a charge from 0- 80 percent. It is also heavier than the Vida V2 Lite at 124 kg. Riding modes offered by the Vida V2 Plus are Eco, Ride, and Sport.
Coming to the top-end variant, the Vida V2 Pro, it gets the largest battery pack of 3.94 kWh and offers a rage of 165 km (IDC-claimed). The battery pack of this variant will take 5.15 hours for a 0-80 percent charge. Top-speed of all three models also vary with the base model offering a 69 kmph, the mid and top trims delivering 85 kmph and 90 kmph top speeds respectively.
Hero Vida V2 Lite, Vida V2 Plus, Vida 2 Pro Price In India
The Hero Vida V2 is the most affordable variant in the new series priced at Rs. 96,000 (ex showroom), while the Vida V2 Plus is priced at Rs. 1.15 lakh (ex showroom). The Vida V2 Pro is the top-end variant which is priced at Rs. 1.35 lakh (ex showroom).
Event starts on January 17th and will end on January 22nd
Hyundai, MG, Maruti EV models confirmed to be showcased at the event
Bharat Mobility Global expo, the annual auto mobility show is all set to. kick start from next month in India. The grand event will be the centerstage for some of the popular auto brands to showcase their latest models. And since EV is the future of mobility, we expect multiple new electric two and four wheelers to break covers during the upcoming Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. Here are some of the confirmed and expected EV models that are getting showcased at the event.
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MG Motors is amongst the confirmed exhibitors which will be showcasing its most powerful electric four wheeler. The MG Cyberster electric convertible sports car will be debuting at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo as confirmed by the brand itself. This upcoming sports electric car could be introduced with a 64 kWh battery and an AWD drivetrain option.
Another upcoming electric SUV which is highly anticipated getting showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 event is the Tata Sierra EV. This iconic SUV is getting revived finally in an all electric avatar. A while ago, reports suggesting its delayed launch surfaced online but seems like we will get the glimpse of the production-ready unit at the event.
Maruti Suzuki is also expected to showcase the eVitara electric SUV at the Bharat Mobility global expo. This is the eVX concept whose eVitara badging was confirmed recently. The eVitara is expected to come equipped with a 49 kWh and a 61 kWh battery pack options and both single motor and dual motor AWD setup.
Hyundai is also expected to showcase its upcoming electric SUV. The brand’s first mid-size eSUV, the Creta EV is due for 2025 launch in India and is expected to be showcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025.
The 2025 Bharat Global Mobility Expo will be commencing next month from January 17. This will be a five day long event that will conclude on January 22, 2025. The event is scheduled to take place at Baharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Excessive smartphone use causes conflicts between parents and children
Both want more family time and less screen use
Kids are more aware of the impact of phone use
Concerns regarding smartphones’ effects on family connections are intensifying as they become more integrated into our daily lives. Vivo and CyberMedia Research (CMR) have conducted a study that clarifies the ways in which excessive smartphone use is impacting parent-child relationships. The Switch Off study’s sixth edition’s results highlight the pressing need for healthier smartphone practices and offer startling new information. Here are some of the study’s main conclusions.
Parental Controls: 8 out of 10 children call for ‘parental controls’ for parents’ smartphone usage, showing a need for mutual responsibility.
Creating Phone-Free Zones: 56 percent of parents support designated phone-free areas like dining tables and living rooms.
Switch Off Day: By designating December 20 as Switch Off Day, Vivo is promoting responsible gadget use and encouraging families to unplug and spend time together.
The Switch Off campaign encourages parents and kids to use smartphones responsibly in order to build stronger, more meaningful bonds.
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Finally, Apple Music Replay 2024 is here. This will provide music enthusiasts with a fun and detailed summary of their listening preferences for the past year. This year’s Replay offers exciting new features that make it more entertaining than ever for Apple Music users worldwide, ranging from your favorite artists and tracks to unexpected new trends.
Pop music ruled the charts this year with Sabrina Carpenter and Kendrick Lamar as fan favorites. Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ and Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ were among the most-streamed songs globally. Even older hits, like Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer,’ found their way into the top five, proving their timeless appeal.
Rising Stars In The Spotlight
Newcomers like Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, and Shaboozey gained immense popularity. Their breakout performances across genres highlight a fresh wave of talent captivating audiences worldwide.
New Features
In-App Replay Access: iPhone users with iOS 18.1 or later can now view their Replay directly in the Apple Music app, while others can use the website.
Replay for Artists: Musicians now get insights into their fans, including top listener cities, Shazam data, and song discovery stats.
Top Listeners Rankings: For their favorite bands or genres, users can see where they stand in the top 500 or 1,000 listeners.
Streaks: Find out how many days in a row you have listened to Apple Music the most.
Date Of First Play
A brand-new feature, ‘Date of First Play,’ lets users track the exact date they first discovered a song, album, or artist. It’s a nostalgic way to relive the magic of your musical discoveries.
Trends In Music
This year saw the growing influence of female artists on global charts and a strong presence of rising talent. Replay 2024 captures these shifts, offering a glimpse into the evolving music landscape.
To see your customized report, you have to simply launch the Apple Music app (iOS 18.1 or later) or go to the Replay website. Remember to listen to your playlists and share it with your friends to know what you think are the best.
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Ownership experience going haywire is seems to be the new trouble for E2W customers. And its not just Ola that’s taking all the heat. Another popular brand, Ather Energy has also been scrutinized consistently for bad after sale services and unwanted breakdowns. In one such recent incident, an Ather customer took matters in his own hands setting up his electric scooter on fire right outside the showroom. Here’s what happened:
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A disgruntled #ElectricScooter owner set his vehicle on fire in front of a showroom in #Ambattur, #Chennai, on Wednesday, alleging improper servicing of repeated complaints.
We have came across numerous reports where e-scooter owners have been dissatisfied with post-sale services. This specifically has been the case with Ola where the brand has even received notice from the CCPA authority. But Ather Energy has also been following closely where its customers have routed to social media platforms numerous times to narrate their bad experiences with scooter breakdowns and after sales services.
In the latest scenario, the customer hailing from Thirumullaivayal set up his Ather electric scooter on flames right outside the showroom. The customer reportedly has been experiencing issues with after sales services without any proper resolution or fix being provided for the e-scooter.
The customer named Parthasarathy, stated that he was forced to visit service centers multiple times for the same issues which persisted right from the begining of the e-scooter’s purchase. Even after several attempts and visit to the service center, there was no fixed resolution that was given to the customer.
Upon getting no solution for the issues despite frequent service centre visit, the customer finally took his e-scooter outside Ather showroom in Ambattu, Chennai and set it on flames. However, the bypassers alarmed due to the situation took matters in their own hands and extinguished the fire. The video of the incidence has been doing rounds online since then highlighting the troubles an E2W owner has to go through after the purchase.
While there is no direct response from Ather on the matter yet, the showroom staff was prompt to address the issue on the scenario. The e-scooter was apparently taken for an inspection to asses the damages.
The Global Handset Model Sales Tracker for Q3 2024 by Counterpoint Research is here. It states that Apple continues to dominate the premium smartphone market. The iPhone 15 emerged as the best-selling smartphone of the quarter, followed closely by the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro. Here are the key Insights from the report.
Apple’s strong performance highlights a shift toward premium smartphones, while Samsung and Xiaomi continue to shine with competitive pricing and feature-packed devices.
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