Hero MotoCorp is gearing up to expand its premium motorcycle lineup with the much-anticipated Hero Xtreme 250R. Spotted during a TVC shoot in Delhi-NCR, the upcoming bike has created a buzz with its aggressive design and performance-oriented features. Slated to be the company’s first big launch of 2025, the Xtreme 250R aims to compete with rivals such as the KTM 250 Duke, bringing a new contender to the growing 250cc streetfighter segment.

Bold and aggressive design

The Hero Xtreme 250R boasts a striking streetfighter aesthetic, starting with its uniquely designed LED headlamp that enhances its aggressive front profile. A beefy fuel tank, adorned with sharp character lines and tank extensions, adds to the bike’s muscular appearance. The seamless integration of the side panels and tail section into a single unit further amplifies its sharp and cohesive design. The bike will also feature eye-catching graphics and will be available in three color options, offering a stylish edge.

Advanced frame and suspension setup

Built on a steel trellis frame, the Xtreme 250R ensures both rigidity and agility. The frame is supported by a 43mm USD (Upside Down) fork at the front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear, providing a balanced and comfortable riding experience. Braking duties are handled by disc brakes at both ends, paired with switchable ABS for enhanced safety. The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, ensuring superior handling and grip.

Packed with features

The Xtreme 250R comes equipped with a fully digital instrument cluster, delivering crucial information to the rider in a clear and user-friendly format. This feature-laden cluster is expected to include multiple connectivity options, making it a technologically advanced offering in its segment.

Performance and powertrain

At the core of the Hero Xtreme 250R is a 250cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. Tuned to deliver 30 bhp at 9,250 rpm and 25 Nm of peak torque at 7,250 rpm, this powerhouse promises spirited performance. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox, ensuring smooth and precise gear shifts. Notably, this engine platform will also power the upcoming Hero XMR 250, a fully faired sibling of the Xtreme 250R, marking a rare addition to Hero’s lineup.

Competing in a competitive segment

Once launched, the Hero Xtreme 250R will enter a fiercely competitive market dominated by models like the KTM 250 Duke. However, with its aggressive design, advanced features, and promising performance, the Xtreme 250R is poised to carve its own niche among Indian motorcycling enthusiasts.

As Hero MotoCorp ventures further into the premium motorcycle segment, the Xtreme 250R stands as a testament to the brand’s commitment to innovation and performance. Stay tuned for the official launch, as this machine is set to make waves in the Indian two-wheeler market.

OnePlus has unveiled an exciting new initiative for customers in India with a free 180-day replacement policy for the recently launched OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R smartphones. This offer, available to those who purchase the devices before February 13, 2025, is part of OnePlus’s Rs 6,000 crore “Project Starlight.” The program aims to improve product durability and customer service, offering a seamless experience for buyers.

Key details of the replacement program

OnePlus’s new program promises a no-questions-asked, free replacement for any hardware-related issues during the first 180 days of owning the device. This replacement covers major components such as screens, back covers, batteries, and motherboards, ensuring peace of mind for users.

The offer will be available to buyers from January 10 to February 13, 2025. After this period, customers can opt for an optional paid protection plan priced at Rs 2,599 for the OnePlus 13 and Rs 2,299 for the OnePlus 13R. This plan extends coverage for an additional three months, providing continued security for users even after the initial 180-day window.

Robin Liu, CEO of OnePlus India, emphasized the company’s commitment to quality, stating, “The 180-day phone replacement plan for the OnePlus 13 series reflects our confidence in the reliability of our products and our ongoing care for users. We are proud to introduce this protection plan, further enhancing the user experience.”

A quick review of the OnePlus 13 series

Launched just days ago, the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R have made waves in the smartphone market with their premium features and specifications. Whether you are looking for the best in performance or a budget-friendly option, the OnePlus 13 series has something for everyone. Here’s a quick look at what makes these smartphones standout:

Performance: The OnePlus 13 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, paired with up to 24GB of RAM for top-tier performance. On the other hand, the OnePlus 13R boasts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, offering solid performance for budget-conscious buyers.

Display: Both the OnePlus 13 and 13R come with vibrant AMOLED displays. The OnePlus 13 features a 120Hz ProXDR AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 4500 nits. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13R offers a 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display that also supports 120Hz refresh rates and delivers a peak brightness of 4,500 nits for fluid visuals.

Camera Setup: The OnePlus 13 series is all about photography, with the flagship OnePlus 13 equipped with the fifth-generation Hasselblad camera system. This setup includes a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP 3x telephoto lens with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The OnePlus 13R also offers impressive photo quality with a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultrawide camera.

Battery Life: Both phones are equipped with a substantial 6,000mAh battery that promises long-lasting power. The OnePlus 13 features faster charging capabilities, allowing users to get more done without waiting long for a recharge.

Design: The OnePlus 13 sports a sleek, premium design with a glass back and several color options, including Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn, and Black Eclipse. Both the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R are also rated for water and dust resistance with IP69+ and IP68 ratings, making them suitable for everyday use.

Software Experience: The OnePlus 13 series runs on OxygenOS 15, a refined software experience designed to enhance multitasking, battery management, and privacy. OxygenOS 15 adds to the seamless experience that OnePlus phones are known for.

Gaming & Performance: With their powerful processors and enhanced cooling systems, both phones excel at gaming. The OnePlus 13, for instance, features a Cryo-velocity cooler to maintain optimal temperatures even during demanding gaming sessions.

Pricing: The OnePlus 13 is available in three storage variants: 12GB RAM with 256GB storage (Rs 69,999), 16GB RAM with 512GB storage (Rs 76,999), and 24GB RAM with 1TB storage (Rs 89,999). The OnePlus 13R is priced more affordably, starting at Rs 42,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB variant and Rs 49,999 for the 16GB RAM + 512GB storage version.

The 180-day free replacement program is a bold move by OnePlus to enhance customer satisfaction and product reliability in India. This initiative complements the advanced features of the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R, making them highly attractive options for users seeking a premium yet affordable smartphone experience.

For anyone looking to upgrade their phone, the OnePlus 13 series is worth considering, especially with the added peace of mind that comes with this replacement offer.

At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nvidia introduced a groundbreaking innovation — the “Project Digits” mini PC, a device designed to deliver supercomputer-like power in a compact form that can easily fit in your bag. This new mini desktop offers an impressive one petaFLOP of processing power, enabling local artificial intelligence (AI) and data science tasks that once required cloud-based data centers.

A breakthrough in computing power

Project Digits is aimed at developers, researchers, students, and data scientists working with AI, promising to enhance their ability to run complex models without relying on remote servers. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, showcased the mini PC, which, while still in the design phase, will be small enough to comfortably sit on a desk or be transported in a bag.

The device is powered by the Nvidia GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, an advanced processor that combines multiple components into a single chip. This innovation reduces the time needed to move data between components, enhancing efficiency. The superchip houses the Nvidia Blackwell graphics card and the Nvidia Grace processor, supported by 128GB of memory and 4TB of SSD storage.

In terms of raw power, Project Digits is approximately 1,000 times more powerful than the average laptop, setting a new standard for portable computing.

A new era for AI research

Nvidia’s new mini PC is expected to revolutionize the way researchers work with robotics, computer vision, and autonomous systems. “Nvidia’s Project Digits enables researchers to experiment, fine-tune, and scale solutions faster than ever — all while fitting on your desk,” said Raquel Urtasun, a computer science professor at the University of Toronto and founder of Waabi, a self-driving car company. Waabi, which utilizes Nvidia technology in its fleet of self-driving trucks, looks forward to the potential breakthroughs Project Digits could bring.

Supercomputing power is typically measured in floating-point operations per second (FLOPS). While the world’s most powerful supercomputers can achieve a little over 1,000 petaFLOPS, Project Digits offers a powerful 1 petaFLOP — far beyond the capabilities of most desktop PCs or laptops.

Unprecedented power for AI models

Thanks to its processing power, Project Digits can handle large-scale AI models, such as generative tools like ChatGPT, which require significant computing resources. It can run models with up to 200 billion parameters, and connecting two units could support models with up to 405 billion parameters. For comparison, GPT-3.5, which powered ChatGPT when it debuted in November 2022, had 175 billion parameters.

Availability and pricing

Though the product design is not yet finalized, Nvidia announced that Project Digits is expected to launch in May 2025, with a price tag of approximately $3,000. Those interested in purchasing the device can register in advance to secure their unit.

With the launch of Project Digits, Nvidia is pushing the boundaries of what is possible with portable computing, making powerful AI processing available on a much smaller scale. As more industries look to harness the power of AI, this device could play a significant role in accelerating research and development across various fields.