Category: Smart phones

We have the best techies in the industry, personally reviewing smartphones and highlighting their good points, bad points, and ugly aspects. Smartphones are ever-evolving and endless, so keep up with the latest smartphones directly from our office. 

POCO X6 Neo 5G Review: Design, Performance, Camera

POCO recently launched its POCO X6 series, which includes the POCO X6 5G and POCO X6 Pro 5G. Both models have received a lot of attention since their release. Recently, POCO introduced the youngest member of the X6 family in India: the POCO X6 Neo 5G. Price starts from ₹15,999; this smartphone competes in the highly competitive sub-₹20,000 segment.

DESIGN

The POCO X6 Neo is a well-designed smartphone, considering its price. Despite its plastic body, the phone looks impressive due to its slim profile, which gives it a sleek and refined appearance. In addition, the POCO X6 Neo is lightweight at just 175 g, making it comfortable to hold. The back design of the POCO X6 Neo phone looks great, especially in the Martian Orange colour that I received for review. The texture is beautiful, but it’s important to note that the back is made of plastic and can be scratched easily without a protective case. Thankfully, POCO includes a soft black rubber case to protect the phone, but it does hide its beauty. The POCO X6 Neo does not have a pre-applied screen protector. If you want to keep the screen scratch-free, you’ll need to purchase a screen protector separately.

Surprisingly, the device includes a 3.5mm audio jack located on the top. Only a few brands offer this audio jack nowadays. Additionally, there is an infrared blaster to control TVs, ACs, and other electronics. This feature is handy as it eliminates the need for multiple remotes for each electronic device in the house, making it easier to manage.

On the right side, you can find the power and volume buttons that are conveniently placed. At the bottom is a Type-C port that supports up to 33 watts of fast charging and a speaker grill.

The POCO X6 Neo features a flat 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Upon first use, you will notice the thin bezel on the device. Reducing the bezels from all sides gives the phone a more premium and appealing look. POCO has done an impressive job in this aspect.

PERFORMANCE

The POCO X6 Neo is a budget smartphone priced at under ₹20000, and its specifications are decent. It runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor, which offers reliable performance. Recently, budget processors have become so powerful that you won’t notice any lag in everyday usage. Scrolling menus, surfing multiple websites, watching 4K YouTube videos, and Netflix worked without noticeable lag. All thanks to its 12GB abundant RAM, multitasking was a breeze. I could open as many Chrome tabs, and it still performed smoothly.

For those who are interested in benchmark scores, I have run tests on some popular apps. The Antutu Benchmark resulted in a score of 464489. The Geekbench score was 767 in Single-core and 2070 in Multi-core. Additionally, I performed the Wildfire Extreme Stress test, and the phone achieved the best loop score of 371. All of these scores indicate that the phone has a decent level of performance.

The POCO X6 Neo is powered by an MIUI 14 operating system based on Android 13. It features a POCO launcher with a clean and easy-to-use user interface. While there are no significant drawbacks to using Android 13, since it is a new smartphone, it could have been better to run on the latest Android 14 out of the box. However, the company has announced that it will release an Android 14 update for the POCO X6 Neo in the coming months. This means users can expect the device to perform even better with future updates.

One of the major issues with POCO phones is the presence of unnecessary pre-installed apps. Although some apps pre-installed on POCO X6 Neo were useful, many are unnecessary and can make the device feel cluttered. While removing most of these apps is possible, the process is often tedious and time-consuming, which can be frustrating when you’re trying to quickly set up your phone.

Playing games on the POCO X6 Neo is a lot of fun! I’ve tried many different ones, including my favourite BGMI, Call of Duty, and the racing game Asphalt 9. This budget-friendly smartphone runs on a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor with a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. The games run smoothly at an average of 30fps, enough for a decent gaming experience.

The POCO X6 Neo supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, making the device feel smoother when scrolling through your social media feeds on Instagram or Facebook. The phone comes with a 5000mAh battery and supports up to 33-watt fast charging, which can charge the phone fully in approximately 2 hours. With medium usage, the battery lasted a whole day. However, if you’re a heavy user, using intensive games or the camera for extended periods, expect to charge the battery by evening.

During our testing, we performed a battery drain test on the POCO X6 Neo while playing 4K YouTube content on the phone. We monitored the device’s battery level and found that it went from 28% to 20% within a 30-minute period of playing 4K video.

CAMERA

The POCO X6 Neo boasts a dual-camera setup on its back, with a primary sensor of 108 MP and a depth sensor of 2 MP for portrait mode. However, it lacks an ultra-wide or dedicated telephoto camera sensor, which can be expected for this budget.

The 108 MP camera sensor functions as a telephoto and can digitally zoom up to 10X. This phone’s camera can take above-average pictures in various lighting conditions, whether in low-light or well-lit environments. It captures decent shots with reasonable levels of detail and vivid colours. However, the dynamic range can sometimes be inconsistent, making some highlights overexposed and hard to manage. Despite this, it still takes photos that are overall decent. When it comes to close-up photos, the sharpness can be hit-or-miss, resulting in occasional slightly soft images. Overall, the camera does a decent job producing satisfactory images but may struggle in more challenging lighting conditions. Portrait photos are mediocre – the edge detection is not the best, and detail retention could be better. Additionally, the phone tends to overexpose the entire photo in harsh light.

Selfie pictures are of good quality in daylight, but their quality quickly degrades in low-light conditions. Low-light pictures taken with the primary camera often have a lot of noise and lower sharpness.

VERDICT

Overall, the POCO X6 Neo offers a sleek design and lightweight build, making it ideal for everyday usage. Its slim bezels and bright AMOLED display ensure an immersive visual experience. However, the phone falls short in certain areas, such as having average cameras and pre-installed bloatware apps that can be bothersome. Nonetheless, the question remains: Is the phone worth its price? The answer is yes. This beautifully designed smartphone offers decent performance and supports fast charging, making it a great choice in this price segment.

Check out the more :  Smart Phone  Review 

 

There’s An App For That! Apps for 5 Common Needs

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Have you ever found yourself stuck, wishing to do something or wanting an easy guide? Well, look no further because where there’s the desire to learn, there’s always an app for that. 

Here are some common needs with amazing apps to help you improve your lifestyle or talents! 

Mental Health – Headspace 

Headspace is one of the leading mental health apps out there. Mental health apps have risen in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. What makes Headspace worth recommending is that it offers several ways to improve your mental health, including guided meditation, walking, running, and sessions to focus on your mindfulness, all led by world-class experts. It also provides sleep sounds for those struggling with sleep issues. 

Get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store

Fitness – Nike Training Club

Without the commitment of in-app purchases, Nike Training Club is an easy-access fitness app that prioritises personal, at-home training. The range of fitness regimens makes catering to your needs and goals simple. They work at your own pace and also offer some mindfulness training to balance physical health. Progress is achievable with Nike Training Club’s over 300+ workouts. 

Get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store

Photo-editing – Snapseed

As a free and easy-to-use app, Snapseed is the best photo-editing app for your casual needs. The great adjustment system and variety of filters, with easy localised editing, allow you to bring out the best in your photos. Interestingly, Google also bought Snapseed to get their development team and technology. 

Get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store

Budgeting – Goodbudget

Goodbudget is a proactive budgeting app whose money management and expense tracking do not disappoint. Their key feature is their secure data backup on the cloud as well as their collaborative approach when it comes to household finances. It connects you to others financially easily and intuitively modifies your budgets for you when needed.

Get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store

Water Intake Tracking – Plant Nanny 

Plant Nanny combines self-care and plant care into one app that motivates you to drink daily water for a cute cause. It features an adorable animated plant with expressions and unique looks that you have to take care of by drinking water. While the app isn’t entirely free, their basic app is a great tool that reminds you to hydrate and if you miss a cup, the plant will wither. 

Get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store

These are only a few of the apps for common daily needs that caught our attention. With apps becoming more and more convenient, it is a great partner for our physical and mental wellbeing. We encourage you to improve your lifestyle with these amazing apps that we handpicked. 

moto g04 (Review) – A Trusty Sidekick for Everyday Adventures

Need a smartphone that handles your daily digital dance effortlessly and arrives with a modest starting price of ₹6,999*, then the ‘moto g04’ is worth your attention. The g04 sports a generous 6.56-inch display, up to 8GB RAM for seamless multitasking, a 16-MP primary sensor, a UNISOC T606 processor and a 5000mAh battery. On paper, it looks like a perfect budget smartphone, but is it really the one?

Build

Let’s start with the camera module, where Motorola takes a bold, minimalist stance. Eschewing the clutter of unnecessary sensors, the G04 opts for a single main sensor and a flash, cutting through the gimmicks to deliver pure photographic prowess. With a Type-C charging port and a single speaker grille adorning the bottom, the G04 boasts a layout that’s both intuitive and elegant. 

The volume buttons and side-mounted fingerprint sensor of the g04 seamlessly integrate with the power button, ensuring effortless access to every function. And let’s not forget the beloved 3.5mm headphone jack, strategically perched on top. Weighing in at 178.8 grams and fortified with IP52 water-repellent protection, this phone is as tough as it is stylish. And for those prone to butterfingers, a silicone cover awaits, included right in the box for your peace of mind.

Display

The moto g04 sports a generous 6.56-inch HD+ 90Hz LCD screen with a pixel resolution of 1612 × 720, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a pixel density of approximately 269 PPI. The punch-hole screen of the moto g04 houses a 5-megapixel camera, ensuring crisp selfies with every click. And with up to 537 nits of peak brightness, even the sunniest days won’t dull your display. While the G04 may lack HDR support, it compensates with an array of display options.

Performance

 

With the UNISOC T606 chip and 8GB of RAM at its disposal, multitasking becomes a breeze. You can effortlessly juggle multiple apps without skipping a beat. While it may not boast the bells and whistles of pricier models, the Moto G04 handles the essentials with finesse, whether you’re sending texts or indulging in a round of Sudoku. The moto g04 isn’t designed for gaming and movie experience, but it is amplified by the Dolby Atmos-powered single speaker that produces clear and loud sounds. And with the latest Android 14 onboard, the G04 ensures you’re always ahead of the curve, enjoying the latest features and enhancements with each swipe and tap.

Camera

With familiar Motorola simplicity, the camera UI puts creative control at your fingertips, from adjusting aspect ratios to experimenting with Night Vision and Portrait modes. Daylight scenes burst to life with vibrant colours and impressive dynamic range. Yet, this camera isn’t without its limitations. Lacking an ultra-wide lens or depth sensor, it’s not built for capturing landscapes or intricate details. Still, it holds its own in portrait mode, rendering subjects with a pleasing bokeh effect. And while low-light performance may not rival higher-end devices, it captures the essence of the moment with admirable clarity. 

Battery

With a robust 5000mAh capacity, moto g04 is made to keep pace with your every move, whether you’re binge-watching your favourite series or conquering the digital frontier with dual 4G enabled. Even under the relentless onslaught of heavy usage, the G04 stands tall, delivering a full day of uninterrupted power. The moto g04 ships with a 10W charger in the box, and took about 1 hour and 50 minutes to charge the phone from 0 to 100%.

Verdict

If you’re in the market for an entry-level marvel that won’t break the bank, the Moto G04 is the one you should go for. Whether it’s for the kids, the grandparents, or simply as a trusty sidekick for everyday adventures, the G04 delivers on all fronts. It is one of the most budget-friendly phones currently available in the market, but if your heart yearns for a bit more photographic prowess or the promise of future OS upgrades, then consider options like the Realme Narzo N53 and the Poco C55, each offering its own unique blend of features and innovations. With prices hovering around ₹8,000, the choice is yours to make.

Nothing Phone 2(a) – Nothing does another Nothing

Nothing has been transparent in its products and approach towards bringing the best style and value to any given customer. Just like the Google Pixel (a) series, the Nothing Phone 2 (a) is a budget offering for the masses with the goodness of Nothing OS and Glyph light features in a new design language, one worthy of copying by other manufacturers.

Design

Nothing has been banking on the design and form factor to make their products unique in a sea of similar-looking products. Adhering to the mandate of transparency, the Nothing Phone 2 (a) brings a centre-mounted camera island housing two cameras, a transparent back with 3 glyph lights and a glass back that curves to the edges flowing the design seamlessly in one’s hands. The matte finish metal sides with glossy glass finish at the rear feel unique, and the weight balance, along with the sheer large dimensions, make the Nothing Phone 2 (a) seem like a meticulously crafted smartphone.

Display

A 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED variable refresh rate FHD+ panel with good brightness levels and accurate colour calibration dominates the front fascia. This HDR+ panel supports most industry standards and allows for immersive gameplay and content consumption. The symmetrical bezels make this phone look neat, and despite the 6.7-inch display, it is still physically larger than something like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, sporting a 6.8-inch display. Given the budget pricing, the phone looks way above its price tag thanks to the symmetry and overall neat display design.

Performance

MediaTek SKUs are confusing. Nothing Phone 2 (a) sports a 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro. This Octa-core SOC with 12GB RAM and 256GB fast storage performs way better than most around the similar price bracket. We witnessed 90fps gaming on social games like Call of Duty, and high fidelity in other graphic-intensive games surprising the performance packed inside this budget Nothing offering. The Nothing OS 2.5.x runs on Android 14, and although the chip supports AI features, Nothing has stirred clear of any AI experiments for now. Overall, the UI animations are buttery smooth, the apps run seamlessly, and the experience is definitely worth every single penny. Glyph features along with a composer to make your own glyph patterns, and the additional experimental features also support Apple Airpods natively. Calling and texting with haptics, sound quality and video are impressive with the loads of 5G, tri-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3 goodness.

Camera

The rear camera sensor is similar to the primary camera setup of its predecessor, shooting pixel-binned 12.5MP shots from the 50MP rear camera. The shots are detailed, and crisp and carry good colour calibration and saturation with decent contrast levels from both the primary and ultra-wide cameras. Capped to shoot only 4k 40fps, both the cameras perform great in the video, although focus searching was an issue on our pre-production unit. Night shots, too can be improved as they do over-process the image at times. We hope a software update improves the performance, as has been the track record of Nothing. Overall, the cameras are decent and do the job of capturing memories very well.

Battery and Verdict

Battery life has been above average with our heavy-use scenario. There is no charger included, although fast charge transparent design cable does the aesthetics utmost justice. Nothing has skipped wireless charging, and at the price point, it is understandable. Nothing Phone 2 (a) is just as impressive, if not more as the Pixel (a) series. Along with the competitive pricing and the design, Nothing has bought their A-game to compete in a crowded segment of smartphones. If you are looking for something unique on a budget, the Nothing Phone 2 (a) should glyph your radar.

Specs

6.78-inch variable FHD+ AMOLED HDR
MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro
Nothing OS + Android 14
12GB RAM + 256 ROM

Galaxy S24 Plus – Almost an Ultra, Plus improves

Galaxy S24 series launched at the start of the year, and this year, as usual, there are three phones – S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra. What is unusual, though, are the much-needed upgrades on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus. For years, the Galaxy S series Plus phone has been nothing more than a larger base S series model with significant misses compared to the Ultra. This year, Samsung has evolved its game to the S tier with the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus.

Design

Visually, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus looks similar to its predecessor. The rear panel is still a colourful frost glass matching similar coloured flat metal sides with three similar camera islands at its rear. Banking on the display prowess this time around, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus brings a larger display in the same chassis as last year. This time, there is a 6.8-inch display with symmetrical minimal bezels all around. Samsung is simply following the quote: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The design is tried and tested, minimalistically stunning and well-designed with good weight balance. IP68 ratings and gorilla glass Victus ensure protection is top-tier, too.

Display

A major upgrade to this year’s Galaxy S24 Plus is the inclusion of a QHD+ 120Hz LTPO AMOLED 6.8-inch display. The resolution, peak brightness of 2600nits on HDR content and the PPI count are ironically a little better than its elder sibling, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The added resolution and brightness finally make the Galaxy S24 Plus feel like a worthy large flagship phone.

Performance

Performance in the current era of smartphones depends on two major factors – hardware and software. On the hardware side, Samsung has opted for the Exynos 2400, a 4nm SOC with 10 cores. Matching this performance is the 12GB RAM from the base variant with the capability to extend RAM when possible. Together with the better hardware performance comes an Android 14-based One UI software which is loaded pack with Galaxy AI, a version of implementing Google Gemini Pro on the Samsung S series. Samsung plans to bring Galaxy AI features to the S23 series too. Needless to say, the new chip performs like a flagship processor, and although it might fall on sheer benchmarking numbers compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Exynos 2400 holds its own, delivering snappy performance coupled with decent battery life.

Circle to search, live translate, and more AI features work seamlessly, if not perfectly and add a sense of software newness to the entire experience. There are tons of customisations, WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support for multi-channel audio, calling, texting and gaming on this phone has been a charm. No matter what task is thrown at the phone, including some demanding games like GTA San Andreas, Genshin Impact, and Raji, the S24 Plus gamed like a console. The back did feel warm after an hour of gaming but nothing alarming. Samsung is promising 7 years of OS and security updates with the S24 Plus, and we believe the phone will stand the test of time, albeit with a battery replacement.

Camera

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The camera system is the same as last year, which was the same as yesteryear. Samsung has not changed the hardware on the S Plus series since S22! The 50MP primary shooter does a commendable job with auto HDR, the 12MP ultrawide camera still maintains the details and colour science of the primary camera, and the 3x telephoto camera matches the performance overall. The primary camera can shoot 8K footage while all others can do 4K 60fps. The pictures are similar to the S23 series and maintain similar depth of contrast, crispness, saturation and contrast. The selfie camera is similar too. Overall, the tried and tested camera setup is here to stay this year and 9/10 times clicks images and videos worth saving.

What is interestingly noteworthy about S24 Plus is the new image editor and enhancement tools, which are similar to the Pixel 8 pro series. The ability to create slow-motion videos out of regular videos, edit images with a simple AI-generated tap and more make this camera setup feel more usable and creatively user-friendly. Samsung has also enabled apps like Instagram and Snapchat to access their hardware and software camera features, ensuring crisp social media integration.

Battery life and Verdict

With a healthy 4900mAh battery and the capabilities of 45W fast charge, fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus covers all the flagship checkmarks. The Exynos 2400 was performing below average, but a quick software update fixed the issue, and now, it has been consistently delivering above-average battery life. A day’s heavy use or two days of medium usage are sustainable on the S24 Plus.

Samsung has finally added value to the Plus category with a crisper display, better hardware, and, overall, one of the best software implementations and improvements on any series of smartphones. With the Pixel-esque image editing features, the immense capabilities of Galaxy AI powered by Google Gemini Pro and the utmost peace of mind with over half a dozen years of software support, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is almost an Ultra smartphone without the S-Pen or that the multi-digit price tag. We absolutely recommend this year’s Galaxy S24 Plus for a premium large flagship Android experience.

Galaxy S24 Plus Specs

6.8-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED
Exynos 2400
12GB RAM + Expandable
Android 14 + One UI + Galaxy AI
INR 99,999

Honor X9b Review: Rock solid

DESIGN & BUILD

Design is an important factor that impacts your overall experience. The device has a sleek and modern look. Its slim profile and rounded edges make it comfortable to hold. Plus, it’s made from high-quality materials like glass and metal, giving it a sophisticated and elegant vibe.

One thing that stands out about the Honor X9b is its large 6.78-inch edge-to-edge display. It’s perfect for watching videos or playing games, and the minimal bezels make it feel really immersive. The camera module on the back is also really stylish, with a multi-camera setup that’s been carefully designed to look perfectly balanced. The Honor X9b review unit we received has a matte finish on the rear panel, which looks great and helps prevent fingerprints.

Of course, we all know that accidents happen. The Honor X9b has reinforced glass on both the front and back, like Corning Gorilla Glass, to protect against scratches and drops. The metal frame also adds extra toughness while making the phone feel even more premium.

PERFORMANCE

The Honor X9b delivers impressive performance, thanks to its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Gen 3 processor. Both the software and hardware are optimized well. I have used it for a week now, and the X9b is able to effortlessly handle multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications with ease. Whether I’m streaming HD content, navigating through apps, or running intensive tasks, I haven’t noticed any significant lags. However, once I complete a quick task, the device lags a bit. Additionally, the device has advanced cooling technology that prevents it from overheating during prolonged usage sessions, ensuring consistent performance even under heavy workloads.

also read: OnePlus Watch 2 Review: Evolution, Not Revolution

CAMERA

The camera user interface on the Honor X9b is easy to use. It includes modes like Pro mode, Panorama, Super Macro, High-Res, Time-Lapse, Multi-View video and Night mode. The rear camera produces 12MP output after pixel binning, while the front camera images are 16MP in size.

The Honor X9b has a new 108MP sensor that captures daylight shots beautifully. The dynamic range is better with auto HDR. The portrait mode is good, with accurate edge detection, and the 5MP ultra-wide camera is decent, but could have given a better pixel sensor. 

The night mode is helpful but takes a few seconds to process. The 16MP front camera takes decent photos but performs best in good lighting conditions. The portrait shots are good as well.

The Honor X9b is a capable device when it comes to video recording. It can record videos at a maximum frame rate of 4K 30 fps, which is impressive. Additionally, it also supports slow-motion video recording at 720p resolution with a frame rate of 120fps. This means you can capture slow-motion footage with this device, perfect for capturing action shots or creating cinematic effects.

VERDICT

Overall, the Honor X9b is a mid-range smartphone with a stylish design, long battery life, and smooth visuals. However, its inconsistent camera performance, limited software features, and lack of additional functionalities may deter users that prioritize these features.

OnePlus 12 vs OnePlus 12R: What fits your Pocket

Deciding between the OnePlus 12 and the OnePlus 12R can be challenging. Both phones are powerful, but the question is, which one is the perfect match for you? Fear not, as we have got you covered. We’ll go into the key differences between these two smartphones so you can confidently decide.

DESIGN

The moment you hold the phone, you’ll notice that the OnePlus 12R is lighter than the OnePlus 12, weighing nearly 13 grams less. Not only that, but the camera bump on the OnePlus 12 is slightly bigger and thicker than the OnePlus 12R. However, the OnePlus 12’s Flowy Emerald design looks more premium than the OnePlus 12R’s Cool Blue design. Overall, the OnePlus 12 has a more high-end feel compared to the OnePlus 12R. 

DISPLAY

Both phones displays are similar, but the OnePlus 12 has a slightly larger and crisper display than the OnePlus 12R. What’s more, the OnePlus 12 has a smoother 120Hz refresh rate, which is perfect for gamers and content creators. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 12R offers a respectable 90Hz refresh rate, ensuring a generally fluid experience. If you love watching content on your phone, the viewing experience is much better on the OnePlus 12. 

PROCESSOR

Both phones are fast, but the OnePlus 12’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor is slightly faster than the OnePlus 12R’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Although there is no noticeable difference in day-to-day activities, the OnePlus 12 is faster on paper. Additionally, the OnePlus 12 comes with up to 16GB of RAM and a 512GB storage option, while the OnePlus 12R only has a maximum of 16GB of RAM and a 256GB storage option.

CAMERA

The OnePlus 12 is known for its impressive camera capabilities. It features a 50MP primary camera, a 64MP periscope lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 48MP macro camera, making for a more versatile triple-lens setup co-developed with Hasselblad. In contrast, the OnePlus 12R has a 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The OnePlus 12 can zoom up to 120x, while the OnePlus 12R only goes up to 10x. However, if you love taking selfies, the OnePlus 12 can capture better photos with its 32MP sensor. In contrast, the OnePlus 12R can only take pictures with a 16MP sensor.

BATTERY & CHARGING:

Both phones have large batteries, but the 12R has a slightly larger capacity. However, the 12 boasts faster 80W wired charging, which allows you to quickly recharge your phone compared to the 65W charging of the 12R. The OnePlus 12 can also be charged wirelessly. It can charge any wireless charging-enabled device like an iPhone, while the OnePlus 12R can only be charged through a cable.

PRICING

The OnePlus 12R has a significantly lower price tag than the OnePlus 12, making it a tempting budget option. However, remember that a lower price often means trade-offs.

VERDICT

Ultimately, the decision comes down to your priorities. If you value cutting-edge performance, top-tier cameras, and the fastest charging, the OnePlus 12 is the way to go. However, if you’re on a budget and can live with slight performance and camera downgrades, the OnePlus 12R delivers excellent value for money.

Also read: Realme 12 Pro Review

Realme 12 Pro Review: Looking Like a Wow

Realme has announced the launch of two new devices – the Realme 12 Pro and Realme 12 Pro Plus. Both devices are the successors of the Realme 11 Pro. Realme is known for its commitment to providing the best technology and stylish design at affordable prices. We recently got our hands on the latest Realme 12 Pro and we’re excited to share our thoughts on it.

DESIGN

Design is one of the appealing features of the Realme 12 Pro series. Like its predecessor, Realme 12 Pro offers the same design but with some design improvements. Realme 12 Pro has a vegan leather finish with a camera module ring in gold colour. A golden line extends from the camera module and divides the panel into two halves, adding an elegant touch. The leather finish at the rear makes the device less slippery. Although it is not prone to fingerprints, it may accumulate visible smudges over time if used with dirty hands. You can easily clean it with a soft cloth. It’s important to keep the phone away from sharp objects like keys as they may damage the leather surface.

Moving to the front panel, the phone features a curved display with slim bezels that offers an immersive viewing experience. The punch-hole cutout on the front houses the selfie camera. The phone has a gold frame, which gives a golden aesthetic to the device.

DISPLAY

The Realme 12 Pro has a stunning 6.7-inch AMOLED curved display with minimal bezels and impressive image quality, making it perfect for watching movies and playing games. The screen brightness is decent, reaching 950 nits, lower than other devices like the OPPO Reno11 Pro. However, it’s still bright enough to use even in direct sunlight. One of the best features of the display is its touch-haptic response. When interacting with the power, back, and menu options, it feels like pressing a physical button and provides gentle vibration or feedback, especially when gesture control is enabled. This adds realism and immersion to the experience. The haptic feedback is particularly impressive when playing high-octane games, as it provides a feel for the impact and responsiveness in your hands.

PERFORMANCE

Realme 12 Pro has impressed with its design and display, but a smartphone’s performance matters in the end. Unlike Realme 11 Pro, Realme 12 Pro shifted towards the Qualcomm processor. The realme 12 Pro has a budget Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, on paper it is a mid-budget processor. Testing the Realme 12 Pro in day-to-day activities, the device performed well in various tasks like watching videos, listening to music, playing games, and using popular messaging and social media apps. Even after one week of usage, there were no noticeable lags or slowdowns in day-to-day usage. The phone did not have any heating issues except when the camera app was open for an extended period.

I had a decent gaming experience on the Realme 12 Pro. The phone remained smooth at standard settings; going to ultra settings gives noticeable lags. In standard settings, I encountered no stutters even after long gaming sessions. In benchmarking, the Realme 12 Pro performed well, achieving a single-core score of 941 and a multi-core score of 2667 on Geekbench 6.

However, the Realme 12 Pro has some drawbacks, and one of them is its software experience. The phone comes with Realme UI 5.0, which has a lot of bloatware that makes the home screen cluttered and confusing. There are pre-loaded apps that are unnecessary and unwanted.

Realme should address the bloatware issue and provide a cleaner, more streamlined software experience that allows users to choose the apps they want instead of bombarding them with not-so-useful apps. The focus should be on providing a better user experience without overwhelming notifications and pre-installed clutter.

BATTERY

The Realme 12 Pro has a 5000mAh battery and comes with a 100W fast charger. To test the battery, I played a 4K HDR video from YouTube. During the test, the phone’s battery went from 28% to 18% in just 22 minutes of playing the video. Surprisingly, the phone was only slightly warm, which is impressive considering the device’s curved display.

In my everyday use, the phone lasted a full day on a single charge with no issues. The included fast charger came in handy, as it was able to refill the battery by approximately 25% in just five minutes of charging. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the Realme 12 Pro’s battery performance.

CAMERA

It was surprising to see that the Realme 12 Pro has a 50-megapixel primary camera sensor, which is lower than the predecessor Realme 11 Pro’s 100-megapixel sensor. However, it’s essential to note that the number of megapixels doesn’t guarantee better picture quality. Despite being a mid-range phone, the Realme 12 Pro’s highlight is its 32-megapixel telephoto sensor. The device also has an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 16-megapixel sensor for selfies.

Let’s discuss the camera’s performance in different scenarios. In good lighting conditions, the Realme 12 Pro takes impressive daylight shots. The images are vibrant, with rich colours and intricate details. You can appreciate the clarity and sharpness, even when zooming in to explore finer textures. Whether you’re taking photos of expansive landscapes or getting close to objects, the camera does an excellent job. For instance, the picture of the bunch of orange flowers showcases vivid and accurate colours, making the image visually captivating.

However, the camera struggles in dimly lit indoor environments. When taken to a restaurant with softer lighting, it had difficulty dealing with the direct lights facing the camera. As a result, some low-light images appeared grainy, especially when using the 20x zoom. In contrast, the camera performs better when there’s ample lighting available. The macro lens, in particular, shines in outdoor settings. The close-up image of the orange flower showcases vibrant colours and intricate details, making it quite impressive.

It’s worth noting that any subject can be zoomed very closely. The phone can capture tiny grain from a Relax case of my iPhone 15. You can achieve good image quality by zooming in on objects, giving you added flexibility to capture close-up shots without relying solely on the macro lens.

The Realme 12 Pro features a 32-megapixel telephoto 2x Optical zoom lens. Although the 2X is optical zoom, it can go up to 20X digital zoom. However, the quality of the picture degrades the more you zoom. My experience with the Zoom mode was underwhelming. However, it is a helpful feature that Realme still packs on a budget smartphone.

Realme 12 Pro 20x

Realme 12 Pro 0.6x
Realme 12 Pro 20x

Another issue I encountered is that even when I thought I had captured the image perfectly, it turned out blurry after processing. This was especially noticeable in low-light settings. The camera struggles to maintain sharpness and clarity in challenging lighting conditions.

VERDICT

The Realme 12 Pro is a device that offers a lot to its users. It has a visually stunning design, an immersive display, and reliable performance. The device offers a smooth user experience across various tasks, including multimedia consumption and gaming, without any noticeable lags or slowdowns. The battery life is impressive and can easily last a full day, and the included fast charger adds to the convenience. However, the camera performance of the Realme 12 Pro is a mixed bag. While it excels in capturing vibrant and detailed images in good lighting conditions, it struggles in dimly-lit environments. Additionally, the software experience falls short with Realme UI 5.0, as it is cluttered with bloatware and unwanted notifications, which can affect the overall user experience. Despite these shortcomings, the Realme 12 Pro still manages to impress with its attractive design and reliable performance. It is a solid mid-range option for users looking for a visually appealing device with satisfactory performance.

 

moto g24 power (Review) – Budget Breakthrough

The POWER series of Motorola has made a triumphant comeback in India with the launch of moto g24 power. The successor to the moto g23 promises a slew of enhancements, boasting a 90Hz screen, and the colossal 6000mAh battery that has become synonymous with the Power series. After a three-year hiatus since the g10 power launch in 2021, anticipation is high – could this be the reigning champion among 4G smartphones below the 10k price spectrum?

Display & Design

The moto g24 power captivates from the get-go with its expansive 6.56-inch HD+ 90Hz LCD screen, delivering a pixel-rich resolution of 1600 × 720 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display’s vibrancy and brightness, reaching up to 537 nits peak brightness, offer an immersive visual experience. The phone features a punch-hole screen housing a 16-megapixel camera and a top earpiece that doubles as a secondary speaker.

Despite missing HDR support, the phone compensates with a variety of colour adjustment options. The moto g24 power’s matte finish and IP52 dust and water resistance ratings add a touch of sophistication to its slim 8.99mm frame. The clever integration of a fingerprint scanner into the power button, along with strategic button placements and thoughtful design elements, contribute to an overall user-friendly and stylish package.

Camera

The camera of the moto g24 power includes Night Vision, Portrait, Panorama, Scan, Slow Motion, and Timelapse. Daylight shots exhibit commendable dynamic range, utilising Quad Pixel technology to deliver crisp 12.5MP output. While lacking an ultra-wide lens, the 2MP macro camera provides serviceable close-ups. Portrait mode showcases impressive edge detection, and the 16MP main camera captures striking images. Video recording at 1080p/30fps with EIS ensures smooth footage, complemented by the Slow Motion option and the ability to shoot 720p videos with the 2MP camera.

Performance

Under the hood, the moto g24 power is fueled by the robust MediaTek Helio G85 Octa-Core SoC, a powerhouse crafted on the 12nm architecture. Featuring Dual 2GHz Cortex-A75 + Hexa 2GHz 6x Cortex-A55 CPUs, this chip seamlessly manages day-to-day tasks, from social media perusal to document handling and smooth YouTube video playback. While multitasking with numerous background apps might encounter a slight hiccup, the Helio G85 excels in casual gaming. 

Battery Life

The moto g24 power boasts a colossal 6000mAh battery – a standout feature in its price bracket. Even under the duress of dual 4G connectivity and multimedia indulgence, the phone guarantees a full day’s endurance, extending beyond two days with moderate use. The 33W fast charging capability proves its mettle, reviving the device from 0 to 100% in a brisk 1 hour and 40 minutes, with an impressive 0 to 50% charge achieved in just 45 minutes using the bundled 33W fast charger.

Verdict

Priced at Rs. 8,999*, the moto g24 power is a budget gem that checks nearly every essential box. Boasting a spacious HD+ 90Hz display, a capable processor, impressive daylight camera performance, stereo speakers, and enduring battery life, it delivers a compelling package. The processor might not break speed records, and the weight leans towards the heftier side, but these nuances are overshadowed by its overall commendable and manageable features. In the budget segment, the moto g24 power emerges as a solid contender, offering a satisfying blend of performance and affordability.

Pros

  • Android 14 out of the box
  • Good build quality
  • Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos

Cons

  • Helio G85 SoC

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Samsung reclaimed the throne of best-selling smartphone maker in India

In a dramatic turn of events, Samsung has reclaimed its throne as the smartphone king in India for 2023, toppling Xiaomi’s six-year reign. Despite this, Xiaomi showcased remarkable resilience by maintaining its supremacy in Q4 with an impressive 18.3% market share, courtesy of Redmi and Poco brands.

The overall smartphone shipments for 2023 stagnated at approximately 152 million units. The industry faced a challenging first half, but a spirited recovery in the second half, fueled by 5G upgrades and robust festive sales, breathed life into the market. Notably, Apple achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 10 million shipments in India.

Samsung’s resurgence was attributed to aggressive offline marketing and stellar performance from the A series, while the premium segment adopted a focused strategy. Vivo secured the second spot with its innovative CMF design approach, prominently featuring the vivo V29 series and achieving success with the T series in the offline segment.

Xiaomi maintained its edge in the final quarter by introducing 5G phones in the affordable segment and streamlining its portfolio, avoiding duplication and consumer confusion. The premium smartphone market in India experienced a staggering 64% YoY growth, propelled by financing schemes that enabled more customers to embrace higher-priced smartphones.

As the industry looks ahead, the forecast for the upcoming year anticipates a surge in demand for devices supporting Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and Generative AI. Foldables are poised for a prosperous future, with Counterpoint predicting the segment will surpass 1 million shipments in 2024.

OnePlus 12 Review: Flagship For Masses

Price: 64999
Rating:

The OnePlus 12 is a much-awaited smartphone that is popular for offering high-quality features at an affordable price. However, in recent years, OnePlus has swayed from its path and lost its position as the best in the market. With the OnePlus 11, the company made a comeback. But can the OnePlus 12 set a new benchmark for flagship performance? Let’s discover.

Design

Let’s begin with the design. The OnePlus 12 5G is almost identical to its predecessor, the OnePlus 12. However, there are some minor upgrades. The camera ring is bigger and thicker, and a new pattern finish feels very similar to the Oppo Reno11 Pro which we reviewed recently. The phone has a premium look and feel, with a glass-metal fusion and a green matte finish that resists fingerprints. The glossy metal chassis that meets the circular camera module provides more structure to the design.

In terms of buttons and ports, the OnePlus 12 5G has an IR camera on the top, power button and volume rockers on the right side, alert slider on the left, and the SIM card slot, USB Type-C charging port, and speaker system at the bottom. The phone comes with a case and a screen guard in the box.

Display

The OnePlus 12 5G has a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a dynamic screen refresh rate of 120Hz, 1440 x 3168 pixels resolution, and a peak brightness of 4500 nits. It supports HDR10+ technology and has an in-display fingerprint sensor. The display is bright and accurate, even in harsh sunlight, and the fingerprint sensor is quick and reliable.

Camera

Moving on to the camera, the OnePlus 12 has a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 64MP periscopic lens. The front camera is a 32MP selfie camera. The primary camera performs well in bright outdoor light, with vibrant colours, ample depth, and detail. In indoor lighting, the images are slightly warmer in tone. The periscope lens has 3x optical zoom, but digital zoom maxes out at 120x, compromising details. The selfie camera produces natural-looking images but misses out on depth and details when multiple subjects are in the image.

Performance

The OnePlus 12 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 system-on-chip (SoC), which offers a smooth and lag-free experience. It runs on the latest Android 14-based OxygenOS 14.0, which has an easy-to-use interface but comes with a few bloatware apps like Netflix. The phone can handle daily tasks, as well as streaming movies and shows, without any lag.

Battery

The OnePlus 12 5G has a 5400mAh battery and supports 100W SuperVOOC and 45W AirVOOC fast charging technology. The battery lasts a day or more with everyday usage, including answering calls, emails, and messages, and four to five hours of OTT and social media time. It takes only 30 minutes to charge the phone completely.

Verdict

The OnePlus 12 is a top-of-the-line smartphone that offers a range of premium features at an attractive price point – a hallmark of the company since its inception. The phone boasts a bright display with an in-display fingerprint sensor, capable cameras, and a smooth user interface. It also looks and feels luxurious, delivering flagship-level performance for Rs 64,999. While the camera could improve, the OnePlus 12 5G remains an excellent choice for anyone searching for high-end performance.

Samsung Launched Galaxy S24 series unpacked with Galaxy AI

Samsung has just released three new mobile devices – the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24. These phones offer new mobile experiences with the help of Galaxy AI. The Galaxy S series is set to change how mobile devices empower users. With AI integrated into nearly every experience on the Galaxy S24 series, it enables barrier-free communication with intelligent text and call translations.

TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, said,

The Galaxy S24 series transforms our connection with the world and ignites the next decade of mobile innovation. Galaxy AI is built on our innovation heritage and deep understanding of how people use their phones. We’re excited to see how our users around the world empower their everyday lives with Galaxy AI to open up new possibilities.

Galaxy AI brings intelligent technology to enhance every part of life, especially communication. Galaxy S24 makes it easier than ever to overcome language barriers. You can chat with someone from another country or book a reservation while on vacation in another country with Live Translate – two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls within the native app. It doesn’t require any third-party apps, and on-device AI ensures conversations are kept private.

With Interpreter, live conversations can be instantly translated on a split-screen view so people standing opposite can read a text transcription of the other person’s words. It even works without cellular data or Wi-Fi.

Chat Assist can help perfect conversational tones for messages and other apps to ensure communication sounds as intended, like a polite message to a coworker or a catchy phrase for a social media caption. AI built into Samsung Keyboard can also translate messages in real-time in 13 languages. In the car, Android Auto will automatically summarize incoming messages and suggest relevant replies and actions, like sending someone your ETA, so you can stay connected while staying focused on the road.

The organization also gets a big boost with Note Assist in Samsung Notes, featuring AI-generated summaries, template creation that streamlines notes with pre-made formats, and cover creation to make notes easy to spot with a brief preview. For voice recordings, even with multiple speakers, Transcript Assist uses AI and Speech-to-Text technology to transcribe, summarize and even translate recordings.

The Galaxy S24 series takes the fundamental benefits of the phone into the future with online search. The phone marks a milestone in search history as the first phone to debut an intuitive, gesture-driven Circle to Search with Google. With a long press on the home button, users can circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on the Galaxy S24’s screen to see helpful, high-quality search results. Users can ask more complex and nuanced questions, and generative AI-powered overviews can provide helpful information and context pulled together from across the web.

Galaxy S24 series’s ProVisual Engine is a comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools that transforms image-capturing abilities and maximizes creative freedom at every step, from setting up a shot to sharing it on social media. Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Quad Tele System, with a new 5x optical zoom lens, works with the 50MP sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x, 3x, and 5x to 10x magnification thanks to the Adaptive Pixel Sensor. Images also show crystal clear results at 100x with enhanced digital zoom.

With upgraded Nightography capabilities, photos and videos shot on Galaxy S24 Space Zoom can capture brilliant pictures in any condition, even when zoomed in. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a larger pixel size that captures more light in dim conditions, now 1.4 μm, which is 60% bigger than the previous model. Blur is reduced on Galaxy S24 Ultra with wider optical image stabilizer (OIS) angles and enhanced handshake compensation. When recording videos, both front and rear cameras are equipped with Dedicated ISP Blocks for noise reduction, and Galaxy S24 analyzes gyro information to distinguish between the filmer’s movement and the subject’s. This allows for more effective noise removal and clear videos even in the dark and far away.

The Galaxy S24 offers an incredible smartphone experience with an improved chipset, display, and other aspects. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform is equipped in every Galaxy S24 Ultra and is optimized for Galaxy users. The chipset provides better NPU improvement for AI processing. All three models of the Galaxy S24 have a 1-120 Hz adaptive refresh rate that improves performance efficiency. The Galaxy gaming experience is also more powerful due to hardware and software improvements. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has an optimal thermal control system with a 1.9 times larger vapour chamber, which improves device surface temperature and maximizes sustained performance power. Ray tracing features enable life-like visuals with superior shadow and reflection effects. The Galaxy display is the brightest ever, reaching a peak brightness of 2,600nit and delivering improved outdoor visibility with Vision Booster. The Galaxy S24 series also has design enhancements, with slimmer and even bezels. The Galaxy S24+ has a 6.7-inch display, and the Galaxy S24 has a 6.2-inch display, with larger screen sizes within nearly the same specifications. The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 6.8-inch flatter display and now supports the same level of QHD+ found on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S24: As the most affordable variant, the base S24 has 6.2-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 8GB RAM, 128/256/512GB storage, 4000mAh battery with 25W charging, and a versatile triple camera headlined by a detailed 50MP main sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S24+: Sitting in the middle, the S24+ has a roomy 6.7-inch QHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 12GB RAM, 256/512GB storage, 4900mAh battery with 45W charging, and the same triple camera array as the S24.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Living up to its name, the S24 Ultra is the utmost premium model with a huge 6.8-inch QHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 12GB RAM, 256/512GB/1TB storage, 5000mAh battery with 45W charging, and quad camera topped by an upgraded 200MP primary wide camera sensor paired with both 10MP and 50MP telephoto zooms.

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