HP Envy x360 2-in-1: HP’s Obedient Middle Child

Ultrabooks aren’t new in the portable computing device game, and HP is constantly spoiling us with options. One such option is the new HP Envy 15 x360. It perfectly fits between the budget pavilion series and the flagship spectre series of laptops. It starts at ₹92,000, but let’s see if it can justify that hefty price and who it’s for.

Design:

HP has always nailed design, if there’s anyone that competes with the Macbook’s design without blatantly copying them, it’s them. The Envy has a premium metallic finish on the chassis and a glossy screen supported by reassuring hinges. It also passed our 1 hand lift test. Unlike the competition, the included zenvo rechargeable pen fits snugly onto the right side of the frame in its dedicated space using magnets. From the trackpad placement to the tactile keyboard, everything is perfect. The keys are backlit and sized perfectly. Secondly, the 360 degree hinge allows for a lie flat usage scenario. The rechargeable pen is cherry on top for presentations and smooth scrolling. Port Selection is decent but could’ve been better, the only reason I say that is because the 2 type C thunderbolt ports are on the right side, which causes slight hindrance while plugging it in. You get USB-A, USB Type-C, 3.5mm jack, HDMI and an SD card reader.

Display:

4K is the new 1080p

The 15 inch 1080p display is enough but a 4K or atleast QHD offering would have helped set the Envy apart from its competition easily. You can however, get an AMOLED by paying more but then you end up in last year’s spectre territory. That being said, the IMAX Enhanced tuning really helps create an immersive content viewing experience when paired with the B&O speakers. Since the display is touch enabled and the hinge allows for a 360 rotation, the Envy also doubles up as a tablet. Speaking of using it as a tablet, the IR enabled webcam is really crisp, one of the best ones in a windows machine. HP also offers a physical shutter for the camera to create a sense of privacy.

Performance:

This ultrabook does great at what ultrabooks are expected to do and this one even manages to perform decently at tasks that a high performance laptop does best. Essentially, the 13th gen Intel Evo i5-1335U is great at handling multitasking and processor intensive tasks but combined with the Iris Xe graphics I feel it’s not the best for gaming or video editing. The ideal workload for this machine is for apps that have high CPU and high RAM usage but low GPU usage, coding for instance or even the common 20+ tabs open at the same time while making a PPT whilst watching Netflix workload. The speakers deliver crisp and loud audio although no Windows laptop can ever compete with the Macbook’s speakers, which even manages to deliver decent bass with the aforementioned aspects. Allow me to knit-pick for a moment but ultrabooks are all about convenience and nothing screams convenience like a fingerprint scanner, which the Envy misses out on. However, windows hello face recognition partially makes up for this. Oh well, maybe next year’s model will have it.

Battery Life:

Best I’ve seen in an HP. Basic web browsing and content consumption can easily be done for 8-9 hours without plugging in. HP has managed to pack a 55 Wh battery in this slim chassis which makes it one of the few windows machines with exceptional battery life. It also supports fast charging via both thunderbolt ports so you can carry a lighter USB PD charger as an alternative to the bulky type-C 65W adapter that comes in the box.

Verdict:

Anybody who’s top 3 priorities from a work machine are: Portability, a touchscreen display with a pen and good battery life should keep the HP Envy 15 at the top of their list. For folks who want more in terms of performance, I suggest looking at other work horses. For everybody else including avid content watchers and college students, it doesn’t get better than this, unless of course you start looking at the Spectre series.

Rating: ★★★★

Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (G733P) Review: Amazing Performance with Minor Complaints

Let’s get real for a second here, the gaming laptop market is beyond oversaturated! There is a plethora of options for people to consider before they get their hands on their gaming companion. However, it becomes easier to choose a laptop when it packs top-end specifications. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 laptop goes all out with the latest and fastest AMD and Nvidia silicon which simply puts it on top of the gaming laptop food chain. So, should the Strix Scar 17 be your gaming machine in the near future? Find out below –

Design: A Familiar Touch

Asus has focused predominantly on the internal components of the Strix series thus we pretty much get a similar design from the 2022 variant. The highlight of this design has to be the popping LED trim which runs at the front base of the laptop which tenfolds the aesthetic appeal of the laptop. Sadly some flex can be experienced around the keyboard deck which is not a major issue but isn’t acceptable for a laptop at this price.

While the laptop looks sleek, it packs in heavy at nearly 3Kgs coupled with a power brick that is also thick! Hence, carrying it around from office to home was a hassle for me. While we have ample port selection over here, it can only be defined as awkward. Here’s why – you get two USB-A ports coupled with a 3.5mm port on the left whereas all the other ports are placed on the back. There is not a single port on the right side of the laptop which could have been used to at least have a single type-c port. The keyboard here is good consisting of individually backlit keys. The overall build quality here is just passable. It’s basically made entirely of plastic if we exclude the lid which sports an aluminium cover. The keyboard has a flex to it and the display has a little wiggle.

Screen: Visual Treat!

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 rocks a 17.3-inch IPS LCD panel clocked at 2560 x 1440 resolution at a 16:9 aspect ratio. What’s impressive is the high refresh rate of 240Hz which even Asus’ recently introduced Nebula displays lack at this point. The screen is anti-reflective and also supports the Nvidia G-Sync technology and Dolby Vision. Watching films and playing games on this laptop is no less than a visual treat as it is capable of producing some punchy colours. What sits on top of the display is an underwhelming 720P webcam which

Users will enjoy the display the most while playing cinematic games like The Last of Us or Detroit: Become Human. It’s not the brightest of the displays out there having a peak brightness of 330 nits. Thus using the laptop under direct sunlight won’t be a pleasant experience, though this is not the kind of machine one would use outside! Overall, there’s not much to complain about the screen here and users get an immersive display with perfect colour calibration.

Performance: BEAST!

Everything boils down to the performance when it comes to laptops in this segment. I am genuinely not surprised that the Asus Strix Scar 17 2023 performs the way it does. I tested out games like Marvel’s Spider-Man, Detroit: Become Human, The Last of Us, and Red Dead Redemption 2 while testing this one out. As expected, I faced no performance issues while testing these games out. Our review unit was maxed out with the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX SoC coupled with 32GB of DDR5 RAM. In the graphics arena, the laptop sports a GeForce Nvidia RTX 4090 which takes the graphics performance of this laptop to the next level. In the current performance standards, this gaming laptop gives performance output that is at par with any modern gaming desktop.

While pushing the laptop to play graphic-intensive games, the laptop does not get too loud. It is undoubtedly quieter than most of the gaming laptops in the market thanks to Asus’ updated Arc Flow Fans. Asus uses a vapor chamber design for heat dissipation which works just alright. On the software side, users get ample customization and Asus Armory Crate remains the best centralized control software for any gaming laptop in the market.

Verdict

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 gaming laptop is one of the best gaming laptops you can buy right now. It comes with the best hardware specifications coupled with high-end performance and a sleek design making a complete package. The 720P webcam and overuse of plastic stains the otherwise premium gaming machine, however, these nitpicks can be easily overlooked due to its heavy-duty performance.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sleek, Smart, and Supercharged – Introducing the Galaxy Tab S9 Lineup

At the highly anticipated Samsung Unpacked 2023 event, technology enthusiasts and consumers alike were treated to a spectacular showcase of the latest cutting-edge devices. Among the standout stars of the event were the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9+, and Tab S Ultra – three tablets that are set to redefine the standard for power, performance, and innovation in the tablet market. Samsung has long been a trailblazer in the world of mobile technology, consistently pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. With the Galaxy Tab S9 series, the South Korean tech giant has once again delivered a trio of devices that cater to a wide range of users, from casual media consumers to productivity-driven professionals. Let’s delve into the highlights of each model.

Galaxy Tab S9: Power and Portability Refined

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 boasts a sleek and ultra-portable design, measuring just 5.9mm thick and weighing a mere 498 grams. Despite its slender profile, the device packs an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering stunning visuals with a refresh rate range between 60Hz to 120Hz for smooth and immersive experiences. Under the hood, the Tab S9 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, ensuring blazing-fast performance and seamless multitasking. Users can choose between two configurations: 8GB of RAM with 128GB of internal storage or 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. The microSD card slot with support for up to 1TB of external storage also provides ample room for media and files. Photography fanatics will appreciate the 13MP rear camera and a 12MP ultra-wide front camera, capable of capturing stunning images and videos. To enhance the entertainment experience, the Tab S9 comes equipped with Quad Stereo Speakers tuned by AKG and Dolby Atmos, delivering immersive sound while streaming movies or playing games. The inclusion of the S Pen (BLE-enabled) in the box further expands the device’s capabilities, making it an ideal tool for creative expression and productivity on the go. Accessories like the Book Cover Keyboard, Smart Book Cover, and Outdoor Cover add versatility, protection, and convenience to the Tab S9 experience.

Price

128 GB – WiFi – ₹72,999 128 GB – 5G – ₹85,999 256 GB – WiFi – ₹83,999 256 GB – 5G – ₹96,999

Galaxy Tab S9+: Bigger Screen, Bolder Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ is the perfect choice for users who crave a larger canvas. Sporting a stunning 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with the same refresh rate range as its sibling, this tablet delivers an even more immersive visual experience. With a weight of 581 grams and a slim profile of 5.7mm, the Tab S9+ offers a perfect balance of portability and functionality. Like the Tab S9, it runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, ensuring powerful performance for all your tasks and entertainment needs. The Tab S9+ offers two configurations: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage or an impressive 12GB of RAM with 512GB of storage. Moreover, the microSD card slot supports expansion up to 1TB, giving users the flexibility to store vast amounts of content without worry. The Tab S9+ features a dual-camera system on the back, consisting of a 13MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The 12MP ultra-wide front camera further enhances video calling and selfie capabilities. As with the Tab S9, the S Pen (BLE-enabled) is also included with the Tab S9+, encouraging creativity and productivity. Users can pair the tablet with accessories like the Book Cover Keyboard and Smart Book Cover to enhance its capabilities further.

Price

256 GB – WiFi – ₹90,999 256 GB – 5G – ₹104,999

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: Monumental Performance in a Massive Package

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the flagship of the series, boasting an enormous 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with the same impressive refresh rate range as its siblings. Despite its larger screen, the tablet maintains a slim 5.5mm profile and weighs 732 grams. The Tab S9 Ultra is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, coupled with a choice of 12GB or a massive 16GB of RAM. Users can select between 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, or go all out with the 1TB option – providing an unprecedented amount of space for your apps, media, and files. The camera setup on the Tab S9 Ultra mirrors that of the Tab S9+, offering a combination of a 13MP main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide lens on the back, as well as a 12MP dual-camera setup on the front for superior selfies and video calls. With its enormous display and processing power, the Tab S9 Ultra is perfect for users who demand a tablet that can replace their laptop, enabling productivity tasks and creative work like never before. Of course, the tablet supports the versatile S Pen (BLE-enabled) and a range of compatible accessories, making it a formidable tool for professionals on the go. Whether you’re a media enthusiast seeking top-tier visuals, a multitasking professional needing a portable workstation, or a creative individual expressing your ideas, the Galaxy Tab S9 series has got you covered. As these tablets hit the shelves, they are bound to shape the future of mobile productivity and entertainment, proving why Samsung remains at the forefront of technological innovation.

Price

256 GB – WiFi – ₹108,999 256 GB – 5G – ₹122,999 512 GB – WiFi – ₹119,999 512 GB – 5G – ₹133,999

Top 17-inch laptops of 2023

Earlier, 17-inch laptops were criticised for being large and bulky, but today they are one of the most sought-after laptops in the market. The 17-inch laptops offer a significantly larger screen and can easily replace your desktops, making a decent space for a cup of coffee on your table. They are made for content creators and people who’re into streaming TV shows and spend a lot of time working with multiple spreadsheets.

Alienware m17 R5 (AMD Advantage)

Launched in July 2022, Alienware m17 R5 is the best gaming laptop in the 17-inch segment. The company teams up with AMD to make one of the excellent laptops of the decade. The powerful laptop offers excellent performance with its 32GB of RAM Ryzen 9 6900XT processor, Radeon RX 6850 XT GPU graphics with 12GB of VRAM, a 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, and a 3840 x 2160 display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900XT

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6850 XT/AMD Radeon Graphics

RAM: 32GB

Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

Reasons to buy –

Solid battery life
Great gaming and overall performance

Reasons to avoid –

Expensive
720p webcam

Dell XPS 17

The Dell XPS 17 is a high-end laptop designed for individuals and professionals. The 17” laptop features a sleek design and powerful hardware, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a premium computing experience. The laptop boasts a high resolution of 3840×2400, making it perfect for watching movies, playing games, or working on creative projects. Along with a touch-sensitive option, the laptop offers a great balance of performance, versatility, and style.

CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H

GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

RAM: 32GB

Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe

Reasons to buy –

Excellent Speakers
Extra Thunderbolt ports

Reasons to avoid –

Display
Battery Life

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is the best foldable laptop available currently. The laptop combines the versatility of a tablet with the performance of a traditional laptop. The Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED provides vivid and accurate colour reproduction, deep blacks, and high contrast. Intel Core i7-1250U powers the laptop and will handle demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming with ease.

CPU: Intel Core i7-1250U

GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics

RAM: 16GB

Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD

Reasons to buy –

Stylish design
Easy-to-use modes

Reasons to avoid –

Expensive
Below-average battery life

LG Gram 17

The high-end laptop boasts a sleek, lightweight design and stands out for its large, 17-inch display and long battery life, making it an excellent choice for anyone who needs a portable and powerful computing solution. The surprisingly lightweight laptop is perfect for watching movies, playing games, or working on a creative project. Along with all the features, it also offers a 2560 x 160 anti-glare, non-reflective display with 16 GB of memory and a 5200 Mhz clock speed.

CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7

GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics

RAM: 16GB

Storage: 1TB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD

Reasons to buy –

Super lightweight
Great battery life

Reasons to avoid –

No touchscreen
Keyboard layout

MSI GE76 Raider UH10

The MSI GE76 Raider UH10 is a high-performance gaming laptop. The gaming-oriented laptop features a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, and up to 64GB of RAM, delivering exceptional performance and smooth gameplay. The laptop offers a smooth and immersive gaming experience along with advanced cooling technology, ensuring that the laptop remains cool even during intense gaming sessions.

CPU: Intel Core i9

GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU

RAM: Up to 64GB

Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD

Reasons to buy –

Gaming performance
Lightning-fast transfer speeds

Reasons to avoid –

Dull display
Spongy Keyboard

Asus unveiled the stunning ROG Zephyrus gaming laptops at CES 2023

CES 2023 is just a day away, and brands are flooding the market with press releases. Maybe, every major brand is following the famous slogan – why wait for the right time when you can do it now? And Asus is the latest brand that enters the early launches camp.

Asus unveiled its new Republic of Gamers (ROG) laptop lineup at CES 2023 with entirely new CPUs and GPUs from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA. The lineup includes models such as the Strix SCAR family, Zephyrus lineup, Flow X13, XG Mobile, and more.

Let’s look at Asus’ most loved lineup – the Zephyrus lineup.

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16

The new Zephyrus M16 laptop will arrive with a 16-inch display that offers a Quad HD+ resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. The Zephyrus M16 laptops will be powered by an Intel Core i9-13900H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GDDR6 16 GB GPU. The upcoming laptop is equipped with up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, up to 2TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, 4 x woofers with Smart Amp technology, 2 x tweeters, Dolby Atmos, and Hi-Res Audio.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16

The new Zephyrus G16 laptops are offered in two options – a 16″ Nebula Display variant with a Quad HD+ resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, and 16″ Full HD+ resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. The G16 series laptops have up to 48 GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 2 GB of PCIe 4.0 storage along with up to a 240Hz/3ms QHD panel, featuring a 16:10 aspect and 94% screen-to-body ratio.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Ever since its launch in 2020, the Zephyrus G14 laptop has been loved by all, and now they’re back again to steal your attention. G14 laptops already had an excellent screen with 2500 x 1600 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, but this time, the company has added an option for a mini-LED panel, a great move to add more value to the already adored laptop. The mini LEDs are part of Asus’ Nebula HDR program, and we will see more of it in the upcoming Asus gaming laptops.

2022 Rewind: best tablets of the year

While smartphones cater to your everyday needs and laptops cover your functionality and professional needs, tablets are a different ball game altogether. Not everyone needs a tablet but can surely benefit from one. One really does not need to blow up past the 1 or 2 lakh price point in today’s age in order to get the best performance from a computing device and tablets are definitely the optimum choice. Lighter than a laptop and a larger screen as compared to your mobile devices, tablets sit at the sweet middle point between the two device categories.

The trend of work-from-home and homeschooling might have come to an end as a sense of normalcy returns to the world post-pandemic. However, tablets have continued to go from strength to strength offering power-packed performance at a relatively low cost. Here are the best tablets in 2022 –

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5

Starting off with what I believe to be the best value-for-money tablet in 2022, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5. This tablet packs an 11-inch 2K LCD display, 6GB of RAM, and the powerful Snapdragon 870 processor all at a price of just under Rs 30K. The Mi Pad 5 also comes with a 13MP primary camera and an 8MP front camera that is good enough for your video call needs. It packs a massive 8720 mAh battery and fast charging support to juice up the device in no time. The base variant sports 128GB of storage which cannot be expanded via an SD card. The only gripe with this tablet is the missing 3.5 mm audio jack. The Xiaomi Pad 5 is priced at Rs 26,999 for the base variant.

Snapdragon 860
11-inch IPS LCD 2K display
13MP Primary & 8MP Front Camera
120Hz refresh rate
8720mAh battery

Apple iPad Air 2022

One cannot talk about tablets and miss out on Apple’s iPad offering. The Apple iPad Air 2022 is no less than a powerful laptop as it comes with the Apple M1 chip that powers the company’s flagship MacBooks. Besides a powerful chip, the iPad Air 2022 comes with a 10.9 inches IPS LCD screen coupled with a 12MP primary and 12MP front camera. While it supports USB Type-C charging, it does not come with fast charging which could be a deal breaker for many. The cellular variant of the Apple iPad Air 2022 comes with 5G support. The Apple iPad Air 2022 is priced at Rs 52,999 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only variant.

Liquid Retina IPS LCD Display
Apple M1 chipset
8GB RAM
Fingerprint sensor
USB Type-C charging

Realme Pad X

The Realme Pad X was yet another gem in this year’s best tablets. This tablet is powered by the capable Qualcomm 695 chipset which is 5G-capable. It packs a massive 10.95-inches TFT LCD full-view display and an 8340mAh battery that can be charged up with a 33W dart charger. It features a 105-degree wide-angle camera that is powered by machine-learning algorithms that keep you in the centre of the frame during video calls. The 6+128GB variant of the Realme Pad X is priced at Rs 27,999.

4/6GB RAM options
64/128GB storage options (Expandable up to 512GB)
10.95-inches 2000 x 1200
8340mAh battery with 33W Dart Charge
Reverse charging support

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Samsung has also established its strong footing in the tablet market with its Tab S series. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 builds upon a successful lineup of tablets by offering the best Android has to offer. It houses a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that is more powerful than you need for your daily digital activities. It also houses a 12MP camera with 4K recording capabilities to shoot crisp videos for your YouTube vlogs. Your entertainment will be taken care of effectively with the Tab S8 as it comes with a quad-speaker setup with Dolby atmos and a vibrant 2560 x 1600 LTPS TFT screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The 128GB Wi-Fi + 5G variant of the Galaxy Tab S8 is priced at Rs 75,890.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8GB RAM
11-inch 120Hz refresh rate
13MP + 6MP dual primary camera
12MP front camera
8000mAh battery

Special mentions –

Nokia T20 Tab
Realme Tab 4
Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus Tablet

Best Tablets of 2022 – Performance Galore!

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5

Starting off with what I believe to be the best value-for-money tablet in 2022, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5. This tablet packs an 11-inch 2K LCD display, 6GB of RAM, and the powerful Snapdragon 870 processor all at a price of just under Rs 30K. The Mi Pad 5 also comes with a 13MP primary camera and an 8MP front camera that is good enough for your video call needs. It packs a massive 8720 mAh battery and fast charging support to juice up the device in no time. The base variant sports 128GB of storage which cannot be expanded via an SD card. The only gripe with this tablet is the missing a 3.5 mm audio jack. The Xiaomi Pad 5 is priced at Rs 26,999 for the base variant.

Snapdragon 860
11-inch IPS LCD 2K display
13MP Primary & 8MP Front Camera
120Hz refresh rate
8720mAh battery

Apple iPad Air 2022

Liquid Retina IPS LCD Display
Apple M1 chipset
8GB RAM
Fingerprint sensor
USB Type-C charging

Realme Pad X

4/6GB RAM options
64/128GB storage options (Expandable up to 512GB)
10.95-inches 2000 x 1200
8340mAh battery with 33W Dart Charge
Reverse charging support

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8GB RAM
11-inch 120Hz refresh rate
13MP + 6MP dual primary camera
12MP front camera
8000mAh battery

Special mentions –

Nokia T20 Tab
Realme Tab 4
Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus Tablet

IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15IAH7 Review – Budget Gaming At Its Best!

With the influx of gaming content creators flooding the internet and video game plays garnering millions of views across multiple portals, it is not a surprise to see a number of gaming laptops making their way to the market. While the premium gaming experience is limited to expensive laptops that can make you cash out up to Rs 5 lakhs and more, there are some capable computers that provide a considerable gaming performance at a cheaper price point. Lenovo is one such company that is offering gaming laptops at both a premium and a mid-range price point and we are here to review the latter. Before we jump on the detailed review of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15IAH7, here is a quick conclusion for those who do not have time – It is amazing! (for the price)

Design and Display

While buying a gaming laptop, it is only natural for people to assume that it’ll come with the best display. Well, that’s not the case here. The 15.6-inch variant of the IdeaPad 3i comes with an FHD IPS display with a 165Hz refresh rate. There is no 2K or 4K display here but rather a 1080P display which is vibrant for its limitations. The design of this machine is especially eye candy that does not comes with aggressive branding all over. There’s subtle Lenovo branding on the top and the base of the laptop which gives it a sophisticated look. One additional point to Lenovo for adding ample ports to the IdeaPad Gaming 3i that include USB Type-A ports on either side coupled with major ports including a Type-C at the rear of the laptop. It comes with a vibrant 1080P webcam that was more than just good enough to attend zoom calls.

Connectivity

The IdeaPad Gaming 3i’s connectivity proved ample options ranging from Wi-Fi 6 to Bluetooth 5.0. I was easily able to connect and disconnect from Bluetooth devices experiencing little to no delay while gaming on Bluetooth earbuds. The Wi-Fi performance was top-notch having no issues in loading high-quality videos and downloading heavy files from the internet.

Keyboard and trackpad

Being a content writer, I spend my days typing away a thousand words daily. While using the IdeaPad Gaming 3i as my daily driver, I found no issues while typing on the keyboard as it is evenly spaced out making for a seamless typing experience. While I understand that the RGB-lit keyboard is the current trend and it differentiates gaming laptops from others, I found myself keeping the keyboard lights shut down as they were more of a distraction at times. While I was provided with the IdeaPad gaming mouse which was an amazing experience, I made sure to spend a long chunk of my gaming hours on the trackpad. There were no issues while using the trackpad that was worth noting.

Performance

Now, jumping on the big gun! How does this budget gaming laptop actually perform? During my extensive testing of this gaming laptop I played Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered in its entirety along with some Fortnite and Valorant sprinkled on the side. With the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti and Intel i7 12th Gen working hand-in-hand, the laptop was capable of producing some engaging gaming performance. While the lack of a 4K screen was dearly missed, the vibrancy of the display and the smooth performance made up for it. The 170W charger provided was quick to juice up the laptop during extended gaming sessions, however, I found the battery to drop too quickly while playing games for my liking.

Verdict

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is an ideal gaming machine that strikes the perfect balance between pricing, performance, and even portability with its lightweight form factor. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop that does not burn a hole in your pocket then this is definitely the one for you!

Rating – ★★★★

ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED Review: Double The Fun!

When I was handed the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED for a review, I was taken aback by its elegant display, or should I say, displays! This ‘Duo’ laptop series by Asus comes with a secondary display sitting right above the keyboard for additional functionality. But is that all? Having a second display surely sets the product apart from the market but is it enough for users to jump on and grab it at the earliest? The answer is quite complicated!

We’re reviewing the maxed-out UX8402Z version of the laptop which houses the powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX3050Ti graphics card inside. This itself makes it one of the best gaming laptops in the market. It comes with Intel 12th gen i9 processor and a dynamic 32GB RAM coupled with 1TB SSD. In my usage of nearly two weeks, I did not face any issues with the laptop’s performance as one would expect with its impressive specifications. However, the drawing factor here is the displays which left me thinking if we’re already in the future!

You get two OLED screens here; a 14.5-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) display and a smaller 12.7-inch (2880 x 864) as the secondary display. Both of these screens are a treat to look at. Asus has not cut any corners when it comes to the displays as the primary screen comes with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a peak HDR brightness of 500 nits. Also, did I mention both the displays are touchscreen? The displays are simply vibrant, and crisp, and produce bright colors. A deal breaker for some could be the matte finish over the secondary display which honestly, felt aesthetic to me. The main 2.8K display is a stunner, watching content on this screen makes it an immersive experience thanks to the OLED display technology.

The smaller 12.7-inch screen is housed right above the keyboard and certainly has an impact on the laptop as the keyboard is pushed right into the front of it. The keyboard’s form factor has been minimized which requires some getting used to. Whereas, the touchpad and its associated buttons are pushed into the extreme right corner which does cause some accessibility issues. It is up to you to decide if this compromise is worth it for the secondary display. With the entire lower frame of the laptop used to the teeth with the secondary display and the keyboard, there is no space for you to rest your wrist. The laptop is equipped with physical buttons which allow you to quickly switch between the primary and the secondary screen, adding functionality.

Even though it sports dual screens, the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo weighs only 1.75Kg, making it relatively thinner and lighter for a gaming-capable laptop. It comes with dark-blue refined magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis and a dimension of 323.5 x 224.7 x 19.6mm when shut close. The port selection is limited for a laptop in the premium segment. It comes with one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, one HDMI 2.1 port, a memory card slot, two Thunderbolt 4 Type C ports, and finally, a 3.5mm headphone jack. The webcam placed right above the primary display has a 720P resolution. A laptop sleeve is also included in the box which is added delight!

Performance

I was sent the laptop with best-in-class specifications which proved to be more powerful than I need for my day-to-day tasks. I felt like Jim Carrey from Bruce Almighty just moments away from singing the ‘I Got The Power!’ song in my office. My daily line of work includes churning out research-based articles and scripts which do not require much processing power. I was expecting my chrome browsers to not lag at any given point and that’s what I got. However, I did install Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered for PC to get a taste of gaming on this laptop, and as one would expect, it did not disappoint. The laptop handled the game like a champ giving high refresh rates consistently. The secondary display worked its charm as a music video screen while I was working on my daily tasks throughout the day. The touchscreen capabilities of both displays are a plus point! The battery life of this laptop is decent even with both displays on the entire time. I could get through my 8-hour shift easily with just one charge, however, the mileage may vary if you’re a heavy user.

The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is no doubt a capable laptop, it has one of if not the best displays to offer in the market right now. But it is hard to recommend to everyone. If you’re a creator having a detailed eye for the color accuracy of your photos/videos, then this definitely is the laptop for you. This is a laptop for seasoned creators who know their way around Adobe’s apps like PhotoShop or Premiere Pro. If you’re an everyday user who browses the internet or streams YouTube/Netflix, there are ample options for you in the market!

Verdict

There is a novelty, then there is pricing! The maxed-out i9 version of this laptop which I used is priced at a whopping Rs 2,24,990. If you ask me, sure, the laptop is worth shelling out that much as it comes with multiple features which justify the pricing. But this might not be the case for everyone. If you’re not a heavy user, you can opt for the i5 variant of the laptop which is priced at Rs 1,44,990.

Good

Vibrant Primary OLED screen

Bad

No Wrist Support

Ugly

Touchpad Placement

Rating – 4/5

Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED Specifications:

14.5-inch 2.8K OLED display
Intel 12th Gen i9 processor with Nvidia RTX3050Ti
32GB RAM
1TB PCIe SSD
Windows 11

2022 Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event

Samsung launches 5 new products – Fold 4, Flip 4, Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro and Buds Pro 2

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event witnessed the launch of 5 new products from the house of Samsung. An iterative update to the existing line-up of foldable devices, the new Galaxy Fold 4 and Galaxy Flip 4 have improved to match performance and style as per consumer demand. Samsung also announced the updated Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and an exciting take on rugged watches for outdoor use, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Alongside these launches was an improved and innovative Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2. Let’s take a quick look at what has improved compared to their predecessors.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 4

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 was well received after their Note series feature, the S-Pen, was introduced as a part of the package. The Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 improves over the Fold 3 in many more minor iterative changes. The most significant change is the reduction in the overall weight of Fold 4, weighing 263 gms compared to 271 gms of Fold 3.

This is Samsung’s lightest Fold series phone since its inception in 2019. The outer construction is aircraft-grade aluminum, while the glass sandwich now consists of Gorilla glass Victus and 18% stronger ultra-thin glass. The dimensions and form factor largely remain identical to the Fold 3, while the hardware leaps in terms of processor, display, camera and software. Running on Android 12 over an improved Samsung One UI, the Fold gets an interesting taskbar with multi-window support and flex mode.

Starting with the processor, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 gets the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor improving the NPU required to post-process images and videos to a new level. The camera setup is now identical to the Samsung S22 series, and a new 50MP camera with 2.0-micron pixels improves over the Fold 3’s 1.8-micron pixel allowing more light capture. The optical zoom has been enhanced from 2x to 3x, while a digital zoom of 30x improves the Fold 4’s zoom capabilities from 10x on the Fold 3. This also enables Galaxy S22 series Nightography to capture 23% brighter images in low light conditions. The triple-camera setup is further aided by improved NPU enabling AI ISP, OIS and VDIS. With a Veritas certificate of 200K folds, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 improves on the durability of its hinge. An adaptive S-AMOLED display now features a 1-120Hz refresh rate with a maximum brightness of 1300 nits. The Fold 4 continues with a hidden in-display front camera, and wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Galaxy Z Fold4
Display	Main Screen	7.6-inch QXGA+* Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display (2176 x 1812, 21.6:18) 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold4’s Main Screen size is 7.6-inch in the full rectangle and 7.4-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.
	Cover Screen	6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display(2316 x 904, 23.1:9)120Hz adaptive refresh rate (48~120Hz)*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold4’s Cover Screen size is 6.2-inch in a full rectangle and 6.1-inch accounting for the rounded corners. The actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimension & Weight	Folded	67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8mm(Hinge) ~ 14.2mm(Sagging)
	Unfolded	130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3mm
	Weight	263g
Camera	Cover Camera	10MP Selfie Camera F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 85˚
	Under display camera	4MP Under Display Camera F1.8, Pixel size: 2.0μm, FOV: 80˚
	Rear Triple Camera	12MP Ultra Wide Camera F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚50MP Wide-angle Camera Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85˚10MP Telephoto Camera PDAF, F2.4, OIS, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 36˚*30X Space Zoom includes 3x Optical Zoom and 30x digital zoom with AI Super Resolution technology. Zooming in past 3x may cause some image deterioration
AP	4㎚ Octa-Core Processor
Memory	12GB RAM with 1TB internal storage 12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage 12GB RAM with 256GB internal storage *Availability may vary by market or channel. Actual storage space may vary by market, model, file size and format.
Battery	4,400mAh (typical) dual battery* *Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4275mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging	Super Fast Charging* : Up to 50% charge in around 30mins with 25W adapter or higher Fast wireless charging 2.0* Wireless PowerShare***Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFC. Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter while it has 0% of power remaining, with all the services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors. 25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. *Wireless charging compatible with WPC **Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with WPC Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10 series, S10 series, S9 series, S8 series, S7 series, S6 series, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch5, Watch5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Buds. May not work with certain accessories, covers, or other brand devices. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
Water Resistance	IPX8 *IPX8 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Not dust-resistant.
OS	Android 12L One UI 4.1.1
Network and Connectivity	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E** 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth® v5.2 5G services are only supported in 5G network enabled locations. Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. Availability of LTE model varies by country and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. **Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection. Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router.
Sensors	Capacitive Fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Security	Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
SIM Card	Up to two Nano SIM* and one eSIM** SIM card sold separately. Availability may vary depending on market and carrier. *eSIM availability may vary depending on software version, region and carrier. Check with your carrier if your mobile network plan supports eSIM.
Colors	Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige [Samsung.com Exclusive] Burgundy* Availability may vary by market.

Samsung Galaxy Flip 4

The teaser site images created an illusion of flat sides on the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4. In-person, the sides are curved and feel more ergonomic to hold. Like the Fold 4, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 gets the newer improved Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and an enhanced Samsung One UI running over Android 12. The Flip 4 also gets an improved display with 18% strengthened ultra-thin glass featuring a brighter 900 nits display with dynamic S-AMOLED switching between 1-120Hz refresh rate. The glass sandwich now features a Haze glass finish for improved ergonomics. A robust set of Samsung Galaxy S21 FE cameras are implemented on the Galaxy Flip 4, significantly improving overall camera performance with 65% brightness in images and videos. Night-photography also comes included on the bold new camera deco. It also gets improved AI ISP, OIS and VDIS.

The hinges have been reduced by 1.2mm, an engineering marvel from Samsung engineers. The battery capacity has improved to 3700 mAh, a 10% improvement from its predecessor Flip 3. The ultra-thin glass too has improved in strength by 18%. The new Galaxy Flip 4 also gets intuitive multi-angle capture, seamless vlogging mode and a hands-free camera experience. The cover screen gets unique customisations with improved One UI and AI responses.

Galaxy Z Flip4
Display	Main Screen	6.7-inch FHD+* Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display (2640 x 1080, 22:9) 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Flip4’s Main Screen size is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.6-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
	Cover Screen	1.9-inch Super AMOLED Display* 260 x 512*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Flip4’s Cover Screen size is 1.9-inch in the full rectangle and 1.8″ with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.
Dimension & Weight	Folded	71.9 x 84.9 x 17.1mm (Hinge) – 15.9mm (Sagging)
	Unfolded	71.9 x 165.2 x 6.9mm *The thickness of Galaxy Z Flip4 when unfolded does not include the frame of the Main Screen.
	Weight	187g
Camera	Front Camera	10MP Selfie Camera F2.4, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 80˚
	Rear Dual Camera	12MP Ultra Wide Camera F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚
		12MP Wide-angle Camera Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.8μm, FOV: 83˚
AP	4㎚ Octa-Core Processor
Memory	8GB RAM with 512GB internal storage 8GB RAM with 256GB internal storage 8GB RAM with 128GB internal storage *Availability may vary by market or channel. Actual storage space may vary by market, model, file size and format.
Battery	3,700 mAh (typical) dual battery *Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3595mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging	Super Fast Charging: Up to 50% charge in around 30mins with 25W adapter* or higher Fast Wireless Charging 2.0* Wireless PowerShare*Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFC. Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter while it has 0% of power remaining, with all the services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors. 25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. *Wireless charging compatible with WPC **Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with WPC Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10 series, S10 series, S9 series, S8 series, S7 series, S6 series, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch5, Watch5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Buds. May not work with certain accessories, covers, or other brand devices. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
Water Resistance	IPX8 *IPX8 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Not dust-resistant.
OS	Android 12 One UI 4.1.1
Network and Connectivity	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth® v5.2 5G services are only supported in 5G network enabled locations. Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. **Availability of LTE model varies by country and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
Sensors	Capacitive Fingerprint sensor(side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Security	Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
SIM Card	One Nano SIM* and one eSIM** SIM card sold separately. Availability may vary depending on market and carrier. *eSIM availability may vary depending on software version, region and carrier. Check with your carrier if your mobile network plan supports eSIM.
Colors	Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, Blue [Bespoke Edition] Front/Back(Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki, Red), Frame(Silver/Black/Gold)* Availability may vary by market.

Samsung Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro

Samsung Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro get a new sensor design, and Samsung promises increased durability. Software enhancements include a digital wheel that acts like a physical wheel and responds to touch on the outer circular bezels. Watch 5 is tuned for all, while the Watch 5 Pro aims to target rough usage outdoors.

A new design also brings curvature and precise body composition tracking. There’s advanced sleep coaching, multi-device experience with other Samsung devices, holistic sleep analysis, advanced sleep coaching and personalised programs on the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro. Samsung has improved the battery life on the Watch 5 by adding a 13% bigger battery with fast-charge capabilities charging the Watch 5 30% faster than the Watch 4. Both these watches are now protected with Sapphire crystal, the second hardest transparent material after diamonds.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro features additional functionality with outdoor data tracking. It also gets an innovative D-buckle strap and a titanium body. Users can share route details, import route files, and enjoy turn-by-turn navigation and trackback functions on the Watch 5 Pro. With 590 mAh, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro battery life claims to last 3 days on normal use and 20 hours with GPS functionality turned on.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2

Samsung makes impressive audio solutions with their TWS. Improving their line-up, they introduced the Galaxy Buds Pro 2, a 15% smaller size compared to the Buds Pro. The ANC levels have improved by 1.4 times on the new pair. Multi-device connectivity enables auto-switch functionality. The added 360-degree sound enabled by Dolby Atmos and tuned by AKG makes this an apt solution for Dolby Atmos-enabled content. The most considerable improvement has come in the form of 24-bit audio inputs transmitted as 24-bit audio outputs. This brings a massive leap in wireless connectivity for music lovers and improves the overall listening experience by a huge margin. The overall battery sits at 515 mAh with the case, while the earbuds get 61 mAh for operations. They can be powered by a USB Type-C port and also support wireless charging.

Galaxy Buds2 Pro Product Specifications
Color	Graphite, White, Bora Purple *Available colors may vary by market, carrier or retailer.
Dimensions & Weight	Earbud: 19.9 x 21.6 x 18.7 mm, 5.5g Charging Case: 50.1 x 50.2 x 27.7 mm, 43.4g
Speaker	Custom Coaxial 2-way (Tweeter + Woofer) peaker
Sound Quality	24bit Hi-Fi* 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel** 24-bit Hi-Fi sound requires Samsung Galaxy devices running OneUI 4.0 or higher and Galaxy Buds2 Pro. 24-bit Hi-Fi sound support may vary depending on the application. *Direct Multi-channel is supported with Android One UI version 4.1.1 or later, 360 Audio Supports One UI 3.1 or later.
ANC & Ambient Sound	ANC+High SNR Microphone (2 outer + 1 inner)* Ambient Sound Voice Detect***With 3 high SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) microphones, Galaxy Buds2 Pro can eliminate small noises by capturing lower level sounds.*Galaxy Buds2 Pro can distinguish between noise and human voices. When you speak, it switches temporarily to Ambient mode and reduces media volume so that you can hear conversations without taking out your earbuds.
Battery Capacity	Earbuds: 61mAh (typical) Charging Case: 515mAh (typical) ** The typical capacity has been tested under third party laboratory conditions. The typical capacity is the estimated average capacity considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under the IEC 61960-3 standard. The rated capacity is 58mAh (earbuds), 500mAh (charging case). Actual battery life may vary depending on the network environment, usage patterns, and other factors.
Play Time	Up to 5 hours / Total up to 18 hours (ANC on) Up to 8 hours / Total up to 29 hours (ANC off) Earbuds provide up to 5hrs play time with ANC on (up to 8 hrs with ANC off), while the case provides up to 18 hours of battery life (up to 29 hours with ANC off) when the case and earbuds are charged to 100%. Based on internal testing. Audio playback time tested by pairing a pre-production Galaxy Buds2 Pro to a recently released Galaxy smartphone with default settings* including ANC on. Actual battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions, settings, number of times charged, Bluetooth signal strength, and other factors ** Default setting refers to the original setting for the Galaxy Buds2 Pro when it was first released, simply with the power turned on.
Talk Time	Up to 3.5 hours / Total up to 14h (ANC on) Up to 4.0 hours / Total up to 15h (ANC off) *Earbuds provide up to 3.5hrs voice call time with ANC on (up to 4 hrs with ANC off), while the case provides up to 14 hours of battery life (up to 15 hours with ANC off) when the case and earbuds are charged to 100%. Based on internal testing. Voice call time tested by pairing pre-production Galaxy Buds2 Pro to a recently released Galaxy smartphone with default settings including ANC on. Actual battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions, settings, number of times charged, Bluetooth signal strength, and other factors.
Connectivity	Bluetooth® 5.3, Auto Switching Codec: Samsung Seamless Codec HiFi (Samsung Proprietary) AAC, SBC
Sensor	Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Hall, Touch, Voice Pickup Unit (VPU)
Compatibility	Android 8.0 or higher with more than 1.5GB of RAM *Some features may not be available on non-Samsung devices. Availability may vary by market, operator or connected device.
Water Resistance	IPX7 *IPX7 is based on laboratory test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Charging case is not water resistant. If the earbuds are damaged, they are not guaranteed to be water resistant. If the earbuds or your hands are wet, they must be dried thoroughly prior to handling or placing into the charging case.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked brings improvements to the entire line-up of current generation Fold 4 and Flip 4. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro with Sapphire Crystal are almost 90% stronger and more durable than their predecessor. Software enhancements charm these devices, making them a perfect blend of suitable hardware and better software. With a smaller size, better audio latency and bit rate, the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 promises a significant leap in audio nirvana. What are your thoughts on these launches? Let us know in the comments below.

ASUS Vivobook 16X | Budget Workhorse

Buying a 16-inch budget laptop seems to be a cynical question these days and to answer just that, ASUS has launched the 2022 variant of its most preferred series of Vivobook laptops. Starting at only ₹54,990, this is by far the most affordable 16-inch laptop in the market with more than decent specs and clearly targets a demography which prefers bigger screens but don’t want to end up spending a lot.

These new ASUS Vivobook laptops which are updated for 2022 now do pack in considerate performance while still being affordable which we feel is a great stint by the Taiwanese giant.

Powered by the last-gen AMD Ryzen 5000H processors, which even in 2022, we feel is a good one to use on budgeted Windows laptops and here it’s the 45W drawing powerful Ryzen 5 5600H variant. The model we tested is the ₹59,990 version with 16GB RAM.

Design and Formfactor

At a first glance, the Vivobook 16X will give you a premium vibe even though it’s made up of plastic. The blue color used on the surface makes it look a bit more upmarket than its price range. Even though it weighs almost 1.8Kg, it doesn’t feel bulky enough to carry along with you.

However, ASUS has made this laptop very solid from the outside and the body has very little flex even though it’s a plastic one.

It doesn’t use a metal lid but it’s better than a lot of other laptops you see on the market for the same price and the 16-inch chassis. The hinge is also strong enough to hold this big display, which can even lay flat at 180 degrees, and the body’s build quality is adequate enough to get through your entire day of work or play. Overall, considering the price range and being a 16-inch laptop, the design is clean & minimalistic while the build quality is decent, cannot ask for more honestly.

Performance

On the performance front, the ASUS Vivobook 16X is powered by the 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor that does give significant performance bumps thanks to the increased TDP. In this price range though, having this APU does help in giving out a good performance on a daily usage basis.

This AMD processor is coupled with a 16GB RAM which is undoubtedly great for light office use, educational purpose or even casual light gaming as the iGPU is capable enough to handle 720p triple-A gaming and 1080p battle royal games. The bigger screen size ensures the utilization of most of its performance.

Display

The most prominent USP of the ASUS Vivobook 16X has to be its large 16-inch display which enables a bigger & better 16:10 aspect ratio. With its ultra-slim bezels, it is more of a 15.6-inch chassis which has a 16-inch display being neatly packed into it.

Previously, at this price getting a 16-inch FHD+ display was never heard about, obviously, there are certain 14-inch and 15-inch displays to compete with but we feel this one has a special appeal for those who always prefer a larger display. The matte finish screen does eliminate a lot of reflection but again, being a budget friendly laptop you cannot ask for everything and so the ASUS Vivobook 16X’s display is not the best out there and if you are looking for a more colour-accurate one refer to the OLED displays from ASUS. However, the specs offered by this display are ok but always that 16-inch form factor along with a 16:10 aspect ratio is a highlight of the laptop.

I/O & Connectivity

Coming to the I/O and connectivity features of the Vivobook 16X, there are actually a lot of ports because of a bigger shell of the laptop which opens up the horizon to accommodate a lot of them. You get one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port on the right-hand side where you will see the maximum number of the ports. Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports – one on the left and one on the right, along with a USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, and an audio combo jack. It isn’t surprising enough to see ASUS use the latest connectivity options on the Vivobook 16X as you have both the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Connectivity is seamless and we didn’t face any trouble while connecting the laptop to the internet or connecting other devices to it.

Keyboard & Trackpad

Having a bigger chassis means you do get a bigger full-size backlit keyboard with a numeric pad which is indeed a big deal for a laptop at this price range to have. Obviously, these are plastic keycaps, but the overall rigidity is confidence inspiring to type. The tactility is on-spot with the kind of feedback it delivers while typing fast. The large trackpad provides a larger surface area for you to fiddle around with the scroller.

Audio & Webcam

ASUS boasts to have great speakers on the Vivobook 16X, however, it isn’t the best in the market. Not to complain, but the loudness is decent looking at the price point you’re getting this laptop for. While the webcam is a 720p one making it usable enough for the pricing and it’s good to see ASUS using a privacy shutter so that you can block your webcam when not in use. Something which for students is a boon.

Battery Life

ASUS claims that the 50WHrs battery used inside this Vivobook 16X will last up to 8 hours which isn’t deceiving at all. As we noticed in the actual usage, one can expect around 6-7 hours of battery life while light working, which again is very respectable for the price and can stretch up to 8 hours with smart usage.

Verdict

This is a very well-balanced all-rounder laptop by ASUS and at a starting price point of only ₹54,990, it can be summed up to be a revolutionary product which should not be neglected while choosing one. However, the target audience for this big laptop is people who love bigger displays and do use them for work or play and even for students who love the 16-inch form factor yet aren’t willing to spend a lot.

MSI Vector GP76 Is it a game-changer or a deal-breaker!

Starting nearly above a couple of lakhs, the Vector GP76 hosts a massive 17.3-inch, 1080p display with a 360Hz refresh rate which is phenomenal. An Intel Core i7 CPU paired with a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and 16GB of RAM.

It’s an enticing collection of specs at this price point, but that’s not nearly enough to land you with the best gaming laptop. While there are some serious caveats to consider before you pick one up.

Stealth looking!

If DC comics were to design this laptop, the MSI Vector GP76 would likely be the Batman. While the MSI GS76 earns that name with its “discreet yet stealth design,” that would be a fitting name for the Vector.

Blacked out and with a robust metal finish and from the prominently raised hinges to the angled vents on the back and sides of the laptop, it gives the otherwise minimalistic laptop an aggressive look. The matte black lid is only broken by MSI’s dragon logo, which is also in black, but it draws the eye thanks to its glossy finish. There’s no flashy exterior lighting to make the Vector scream that it is a gaming laptop, yet its bulky form, makes it look like it’s meant to do some serious stuff.

The Display everyone’s been talking about!

The MSI Vector GP76’s display definitely prioritizes speed over the resolution with its 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 screen delivering a blisteringly fast 360Hz of refresh rate that will overwhelm pro-gamers that favour fast-twitch FPS titles or racing games.

The colours are excellent with their brightness and HDR capabilities. The solid performance of the RTX 3070 Ti with its 150-watt TGP is also reflected in gaming. All games run at high FPS. Even at maximum settings and with a corresponding external monitor, 4K resolutions are flawless.

Can take a good beating!

Typing on the Vector GP76 is a pleasure with the RGB-backlit keys offering solid key travel and a springy response which is both comfortable and quick to type on. The tactile feedback is confidence-inspiring and fast typing is as buttery smooth as it can get. For gamers, the rigidity will make sure that the keyboard can take a good beating.

The keys are generally well-spaced, with the exception of the cursor keys on the right.

You have complete control over the per-key RGB lighting from the aforementioned Steelseries GG app and it allows sample light to get through the keys without excessive light bleed at the edges.

Is it a Gamers delight?

The specs make it clear, that the Vector GP76 is real gamers’ delight with its 360 Hz display and super-fast response times. In addition, the Core i7-12700H has double the power of the CPU in its predecessor and another highlight is the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti with a real power consumption of 150 watts.

The MSI Vector GP76 gives gamers a lot of what they want with outstanding performance, a great sturdy keyboard and an incredible 360Hz refresh rate display, but the painfully poor battery life and overall poor thermal performance make it dicey to recommend over some of its competition.

Now if you never, or rarely, use your laptop away from a charger and you do all of your gaming with a headset on, that changes the equation significantly. But acknowledging a few drawbacks, the rest of the package offered is solid and unquestionably delivers an excellent gaming experience.

Star Rating – 4

Good

Near class-leading performance and graphics with 360Hz refresh rate

Bad

Loud fans and excessive heat

Ugly

Weak battery life

Specs

MSI Vector GP76 12UGS-434 (GP76 Series)

Processor : Intel Core i7-12700H 14 x 1.7 – 4.7 GHz

Graphics adapter : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU – 8192 MB, Core: 1585 MHz,

Memory: 1750 MHz, 150 W TDP ( including 15 W Dynamic Boost), GDDR6, Nvidia 512.15, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs

Memory: 16384 MB, Dual Channel DDR4-3200

Display : 17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AUO B173HAN05.4, IPS, glossy: no, 360Hz

Mainboard: Intel Alder Lake-P PCH

Storage: Micron 2450 1TB MTFDKBA1T0TFK, 1024 GB , 867 GB free

Weight: 2.85 kg

Price: Rs. 2,23,000/- (Prices may vary online)