Category: Reviews

Vivo X100 Pro Review: Camera Monster

Vivo’s most recent top-of-the-line smartphone, the X100 Pro, has generated a lot of buzz with its triple 50MP camera system and modern specifications. However, with so many smartphones available on the market, does it truly distinguish itself from the rest? Let’s take a deep dive into a thorough review to find out.

CAMERA

Without a doubt, the highlight of the X100 Pro is its camera. The back of the phone has three camera sensors, all of which are 50MP sensors (main, wide, telephoto) that shine in their own way. The Main camera has the Sony IMX989 sensor, which captures stunningly detailed photos with accurate colours and excellent dynamic range. Low-light performance is commendable, thanks to effective noise reduction. The Wide lens captures expansive landscapes or group shots into the frame. However, slight sharpness and colour fringing issues are noticeable. Then comes the Telephoto lens, which offers an impressive 5x optical zoom for close-up shots with minimal loss of detail. In photo mode, the zoom can go up to 60x, where the photo looks grainy but readable.

The Vivo software adds Gimbal Stabilization, further polishing the photography experience. The Astro Mode features the AR Planetarium, a fun addition for astronomy enthusiasts.

However, the X100 Pro has some camera quirks. The ultrawide lens could benefit from better sharpness, and the zoom capability doesn’t quite match the best in the market (like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra). Additionally, while AI processing generally enhances photos, it can sometimes lead to oversaturated colours.

With impressive clarity and stability, the phone can record 8K videos at 30fps and 4K videos at 60fps.

The front camera of the Vivo x100 pro is a 32MP sensor that can take decent selfies, but it is not as impressive as the rear cameras. The selfies tend to look soft and overexposed, and the portrait mode could be more accurate. The front camera can also record 4K videos at 30fps, but the quality could be more impressive.

DESIGN

The X100 Pro stuns with its sleek, curved design and premium materials. The matte glass back features a fluorite anti-glare coating and a Circular camera module, a familiar Vivo X series design. The phone is quite heavy at 225 grams and thick at 8.91mm, but it feels solid and premium in the hand. The phone also has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, a plus point.

DISPLAY

The phone features a large 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. The display is sharp, vibrant, and responsive, offering excellent viewing angles and colour accuracy. It supports HDR10 and HDR10+ but not Dolby Vision. However, the screen has some curvature on the sides, which may cause accidental touches. Nevertheless, it also enhances the immersive viewing experience.

PERFORMANCE

The Vivo x100 Pro has the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset, a 5G-enabled processor that can compete with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. With 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, the phone can easily handle multitasking and store media files. Thanks to its liquid cooling system that prevents overheating and throttling, it provides a smooth and lag-free experience while running any task or game.

The Vivo x100 Pro runs on Android 12 with Funtouch OS 12 on top, which offers a user-friendly and smooth software experience. It has useful features like the Ultra Game Mode, the Smart Split Screen and the Always-on Display. Although the software has some bloatware and ads, which can be irritating, they can be easily deleted with some effort. The phone also has an in-display fingerprint scanner and face unlock that is quick and reliable.

BATTERY LIFE

The Vivo X100 Pro has a 5,000mAh battery that can easily last a full day, even with moderate to heavy usage. Additionally, the phone supports 120W fast charging, which means it can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in just 15 minutes. Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t support wireless charging or reverse wireless charging, which can be a drawback given its price.

VERDICT

The Vivo X100 Pro is undeniably a high-end smartphone with a phenomenal camera system, making it a value-for-money smartphone. Its camera is the phone’s main selling point, and it excels in this department, possessing a versatile and powerful rear camera system that can rival the best in the market. Additionally, the phone has a stunning curved display, fast and smooth performance, and long-lasting battery life with super-fast charging. However, it has some drawbacks, such as the underwhelming selfie camera and unwanted apps/games, but they are not deal-breakers. If you’re looking for a phone that will make you believe in your photography skills, the Vivo X100 Pro is definitely worth considering.

 

Performance Phone On A Budget? POCO X6 Pro Is A Sheer Performer And A Gamer’s Delight.

POCO, as a brand, has been densely packing the most value in their smartphones. Adhering to the legacy of providing similar value is the POCO X6 Pro. This is one of many SKUs in the X6 series by POCO. Priced competitively, our unit kept impressing until the last minute writing this sentence.

Display

The POCO X6 Pro features an impressive, crisp 6.67” AMOLED 1.5K HDR 10+ 120Hz display. The content looks natural on the panel, and viewing angles with peak brightness sitting at 1800nits allow great display fidelity. Thanks to the entire Doly Atmos and Vision support, AV content and games genuinely come to life on this panel. The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast, and overall, with the tonnes of display customisation in settings, the original colour PRO setting suits the best for viewing content as the creator intended.

Design

The design of the POCO X6 Pro is a matte-finished flat metal side, a flat display and a curved glossy back. The symmetrical speaker cut-outs and IR blaster make the design seem clean, while the camera setup island protrudes and allows the phone to not wobble on a flat surface when in use. The phone feels densely packed with a healthy battery size and weight balance.

Cameras

The 64MP OIS primary shooter on the X6 Pro clicks sharp images in all lighting conditions and consistently performs above average through our tests. The colour science and saturation are spot on, and the videos, although capped at 4K 30fps, have good stability, crisp audio and vibrant videos. The 8MP ultrawide is decent, and although the software algorithms maintain the colour science, sharpness is below average. The same applies to the 2MP macro shooter. HDR photos and videos maintain excellent HDR range and impress each shot.

Performance

Performance is POCO X6 Pro’s forte. Powered by a 4nm Dimensity 8300 Ultra with 4 performance cores clocked at 3.35Ghz, 512GB UFS 4.0 Storage, 12GB blazing fast RAM with expandable options and Xiaomi Hyper OS running on Android 14 make the POCO X6 Pro a true value performer. Games run at their maximum fidelity with BGMI support for 90fps and CODM support for 120fps. The gameplay, too, is smooth, with no heating issues. Android 14 bells and whistles feel familiar thanks to Hyper OS, which has UI features equivalent to its predecessor, MIUI 14. Overall, calls, camera performance, downloads, connectivity, app quality and performance is one of the best for the price category of the X6 Pro. Complementing the whole package are great set of stereo speakers and the 1.5K fast OLED panel. This phone absolutely defies the price to performance ratio in current smartphones, period!

Battery

POCO X6 Pro has a 5000mAh battery and paired with the 4nm SOC, it performs above average. The phone supports and comes packed with a 67W charger. The phone charges fast, depletes like a marathon runner and overall is an apt phone for mobile gamers and heavy users.

Verdict

POCO X6 Pro is priced competitively and packed to the gills with hardware and software superiority. Android 14 goodness with the newness of Hyper OS and the blazing fast SoC with one of the fastest memory onboard, the POCO markets this phone as the ultimate predator. Consider the POCO X6 Pro to be a sleeper performance car. It may look subtle and just like any other smartphone, but it very well performs like flagships of the realm at a mid-range price. We recommend this to anyone who wants a no-nonsense performance smartphone.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ vs Motorola Edge 40 | Edge to be noted!

Xiaomi is magnanimous in the Indian market with its products of absolute value, starting with Xiaomi smartphones. The Redmi Note series has witnessed many takers, and Xiaomi boasts a sales figure of upwards of 30 million units. Targeting a pie of the market share, Motorola has been consistently offering good products. You get the gist: we are comparing Redmi Note 13 Pro + against the similarly priced Motorola Edge 40. Let’s find out about Xiaomi’s new Redmi Note 13 series.

Design

Motorola Edge 40 claims to be the slimmest phone in its category, with a leatherette back. It lives up to the claim with a sleek design, curved display and unique Pantone colours. Xiaomi has offered the Redmi Note 13 series in 3 different personas. While the classic Note 13 and the Note 13 Pro are flat-screen phones, the Pro+ has a curved display and different choices of materials. The leatherette back on the Redmi is not as natural to touch as Motorola’s faux but real leather feel. Overall, both these phones are handsome, and the curves bring out a sleek design with nice metal soft touch flat side housing. Both these phones are IP68 compliant and bring good built quality. This is great to see on budget mid-range smartphones.

Display

At peak brightness, there is barely any difference in the illumination, crispness, saturation and contrast, and impressive HDR depth. These phones bring 6.67FHD+ pOLED panels with Motorola, allowing a 3-step version of LTPO technology on their pOLED panel up to 120hz or the option for 144hz fast display. Redmi Note 13 Pro + keeps it simple with auto and the option to select either 60hz or 120hz. Colours can be adjusted on both of these phones for personal preference. Motorola Edge 40 sports a more vibrant display, while the Redmi Note 13 Pro + provides the best Gorilla Glass Victus protection on a budget. Viewing angles are impressive on both of these phones.

Cameras

Redmi Note 13 features the tried and tested 108 MP primary shooter, while the Note 13 Pro and Pro+ feature a 200 MP primary sensor with other sensors supporting ultrawide and zoom capabilities. The 200 MP camera on the Note 13 Pro+ functions differently than the Note 13 Pro. 4K video is offered in 24fps or 30fps unlike only 30fps on the Note 13 Pro. Motorola Edge 40 on the other hand features a 50 MP primary shooter and is capable of shooting 4k 60fps. The 200 MP camera of the Note 13 Pro+ also offers full fidelity like the ultra-res 50 MP shooter on the Edge 40 but the details are more prominent on the Edge 40. That said, there are differences in details, colours, saturation, etc. While the Edge 40 manages crisp details, it enhances the image to make it pop on the display while the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ captures almost true to life colours and is the better camera among the two in pure comparison.

Performance

Running on Android 13, both these phones feature different OS. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ runs all the ads, bells and whistles of MIUI 14 while awaiting an update for Hyper OS. Motorola Edge 40 runs a rather clean UI with close to stock Android features and Moto gestures we have come to love. The hardware is a mixed bag as both these phones feature 12GB + expandable RAM, 256gb fast memory running on Mediatek Dimensity processors. The Edge 40 packs a Dimensity 8020 SOC while the Note 13 Pro+ is powered by Dimensity 7200 Ultra. The latter is specialized for Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and thus gets additional performance boost in comparison to Edge 40. For eg. Games feature 90fps and hold higher frames as compared to the Edge 40. In day to day task, both are amazing performers and its a Mediatek issue where some apps crash. Hope both these manufacturers roll out patches to bring more stability. Call quality was excellent on both these phones with nice stereo speakers supporting Dolby Atmos. WiFi connections on the Edge 40 sports a winning edge over the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ on the same network.

Battery

Slimness comes at a cost since the Motorola Edge 40 features a 4400mAh battery while the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boasts almost another 1K more mAh and thus performs much better. The Edge 40 does bring wireless charging to its slim profile with 65W wired charging. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ packs a 120W charger and needless to say, juices up quick, performs longer and is a good compromise. NFC capabilities are available on both these phones too.

Verdict

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a great evolution to the Note series. The prices though are a concern. What was once an affordable series is now competing with some amazing products, sometimes priced more competitively. The Motorola Edge 40 is a classic example. Thanks to the new IP68 and other IP ratings on the other Note series, the Redmi Note series is finally ready to take on competition and regain its charm.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon – 13IRP8 Review

In the realm of laptops, Lenovo made a laptop that is as thin as a folding smartphone without compromising specs and style. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, with its sleek carbon chassis, vibrant display options, and powerful processor, can be preferred when buying the next laptop. Lenovo even added a mechanical switch to disconnect the webcam. The laptop is so thin Lenovo decided to include two USB-C ports instead of regular USB ports. It even comes in two colour options, Storm Grey and Moon White, which we got in for a review and looks gorgeous.

Design and Display

The Yoga Slim 7’s lightweight and ultra-thin design embodies elegance, making it an ideal companion for on-the-go productivity. Crafted from carbon fiber and magnesium-aluminium, the laptop exudes a luxurious feel and boasts a remarkable degree of durability.

The Yoga Slim 7’s display options cater to diverse preferences. For those seeking exceptional clarity and detail, the QHD+ IPS touchscreen delivers stunning visuals and wide viewing angles, making even the most mundane tasks a visual delight.

Performance

Powered by the latest Intel Core i71360P processors, the Yoga Slim 7 easily handles even the most demanding tasks. Whether multitasking between multiple applications, editing high-resolution videos, or indulging in intensive games, the Yoga Slim 7 delivers a smooth and responsive experience.

Furthermore, the Yoga Slim 7 has 16GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 5200 MHz and storage 1TB SSD, ensuring you can store and access your files seamlessly. Its quick-booting SSD further enhances The laptop’s responsiveness, allowing you to jumpstart your day without delays.

Battery Life

The Yoga Slim 7’s exceptional battery life distinguishes it from many competitors. With up to 14 hours of continuous usage on a single charge, you can confidently venture out without worrying about power outlets. Whether working on a lengthy project, streaming your favourite shows, or catching up on emails, the Yoga Slim 7 keeps you going throughout the day.

Additional Features

Beyond its core functionalities, the Yoga Slim 7 offers a host of convenient features that enhance your overall experience. The backlit keyboard ensures effortless typing in dimly lit environments, while the E-shutter switch mechanically disconnects the webcam for privacy.

For those who value immersive sound, the Yoga Slim 7’s Dolby Atmos speakers deliver rich and captivating audio that brings your entertainment to life. Additionally, the laptop’s versatile connectivity options, including USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, ensure seamless compatibility with a wide range of peripherals.

Verdict

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon emerges as a compelling choice for those seeking a laptop that combines style and performance. Its sleek design, vibrant display, and long-lasting battery life make it an ideal companion for everyday productivity and entertainment. Whether you’re a student, professional, or tech enthusiast seeking a versatile device, the Yoga Slim 7 Carbon will surely impress.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Optoma L1+ 4K Projector | A 4K projector for design enthusiasts?

With the Cricket world cup being all that’s buzzing right now, people love going to stadiums but if you dislike being in large open spaces with thousands of other people, then you have to find the best alternative i.e project the match and watch it with your loved ones in a cozy space. Well that’s where short throw projectors come in.

A home projector with an ultra-short throw that aims to replace your television is the Optoma L1+. It is lightweight, tiny, and requires no more area than a modest TV set for the living room. To configure it, simply connect it to a power supply and a content source. Although the L1+ comes with its own Android dongle that allows you to access content, the review unit was not included. Customers must purchase this individually as well, however it may not be necessary given that the majority of us already own an Amazon Fire TV dongle at home.

Design and Setup

Optomo is really big on design, they’ve made the L1+ in such a way that would fit right into modern home decor. Whether it’s the colour selection, the materials used or even the fit and finish. Top notch quality.

As with most modern projectors, setup is simple. If you’re not happy with the image, you may easily adjust the focus settings to acquire the desired result. There are no physical buttons on this gadget, thus the remote is incredibly helpful for whatever you want to accomplish here. For connectivity, there are three HDMI ports, one S/PDIF port, and an audio out port.

Speakers

Better speakers than most televisions are a feature of Optoma projectors, which is helpful. Additionally, projectors have advanced significantly in this area over time. A few years ago, people had to utilise an additional computer speaker system for projectors. Or even purchase a soundbar for it.

The Optoma L1+ comes with so many settings inside that you can get every aspect of the projection exactly as you want it. I liked the ability to adjust the digital zoom. Also, you can change aspect ratio to a wide angle mode, too, if you have access to such content.

Performance

The Optoma L1+ has great specs on paper with DLP 8K UHD that packs 8.3 million pixels on screen and enables HDR, low lag gaming mode with 240Hz smooth motion and 3D. All of this translates to stunning viewing on the wall, even when it is daytime. Yes, this is among the best-performing projectors I have used during the day, and that means this is an actual TV replacement if you are considering it.

The Optoma L1+ comes with so many settings inside that you can get every aspect of the projection exactly as you want it. I liked the ability to adjust the digital zoom. Also, you can change aspect ratio to a wide angle mode, too, if you have access to such content.

Verdict

The Optoma L1+ at Rs 2,80,000 lakh, may be too costly for many people to contemplate replacing their television, especially considering that the greatest TVs are still just half as expensive. However, this is undoubtedly one of the easiest and finest solutions available if you are designing a space just for your entertainment needs. Offices and educational institutions may also think about using this as a backup option because of its versatility. If you are very picky about the design of the spaces around you, the L1+ will cater to your aesthetic needs fully.

MOTOROLA EDGE 40 NEO – Masterstroke!

The Motorola Edge 40 Neo has been the talk of the town, especially during the festive sale season in India. The device was selling like hotcakes and getting sold out in minutes. Whenever any device is hyped up to this level it brings a certain level of scepticism. After having used the device for nearly a month I can confirm that the newest addition to the Edge lineup is a worthy piece of tech. Find out whether the Edge 40 Neo stands its ground in the oversaturated 25K price category –

DESIGN

The design element of the Edge 40 Neo sets it apart from the crowd. Phones in this price segment tend to be big bricks whereas this one has a much more poised and elegant form factor. The colour scheme here has been inspired by the Pantone catalogue and the version we used is named ‘Caneel Bay’ The vegan leather finish at the back made up for a good grip but I predominantly used it with the cover provided in the box. The curved screen panel reminds you of some of the premium devices. I used the OnePlus Nord CE3 5G and the Motorola Edge 40 Neo as my two daily drivers and often found myself jumping on to the Neo as it felt more premium even though the OnePlus is priced a little higher.

DISPLAY

Another great aspect of this device is the display which offers a higher refresh rate than the competition at 144Hz. It shares the same display as the standard Moto Edge 40 with HDR10+ support and a max touch sampling rate of 360Hz. But how well does that translate in real-life usage? The display is simply immersive. A curved display with 144Hz at Moto’s standard POLED quality is something to feast your eyes on. It produces warm and punchy colours.

PERFORMANCE

With Dimensity 7020 SoC under the hood, the Moto Edge 40 Neo is designed for a balanced performance. It runs on nearstock Android, an added benefit of buying Moto devices. For an average consumer who uses their phone for social media browsing, watching content, and playing casual games, this device is more than what you’d expect. It is not designed to handle heavy games but still puts up a respectable performance during extended gaming sessions with minimal heating. The camera performance is balanced here though night photography is not exactly its cup of tea. With a 5,000 mAh battery and a bundled 68W charger, the Edge 40 Neo is a dependable device.

VERDICT

The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is one of the most balanced devices you can get your hands on in the current smartphone market. It boasts a premium design and a powerful chipset which make up for a reputable overall experience.

Ratings – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Google Pixel 8 Pro (Review) – Shaping Tomorrow, Today

Sometimes, I think even companies have the same twisted fate as ordinary people. Mr XYZ wanted to become an astronaut, but due to family pressure, he became a CA. Same with Pixel phones, they wanted to become a camera, but you know, society came in between. The company launched the Google Pixel 8 Pro along with the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel Watch 2 on 4th October 2023.

I’ve been living with the Pixel 8 Pro for the last couple of weeks, and so far, it has been a tremendous experience. When we received the Google Pixel 8 Pro, it seemed like an ordinary phone due to its basic user interface. But once you spend a few hours with the phone and check out the features it has to offer, it becomes the beast you have been looking for for years, and then there’s no going back.

Design

The Pixel 8 Pro is a visual stunner, setting a new standard for Google’s smartphone design. Swapping the glossy rear glass for a frosted matte finish, the rear side of the phone not only exudes sophistication but also enhances grip, ensuring one-handed use is effortless. The design continues to impress, with glossy aluminium rails seamlessly merging with the visor-style camera bar on the back. Each iteration refines this aesthetic, making it more rounded and integrated into the device’s build.

The Pixel 8 Pro has shed the squared-off corners of its predecessor for a more pleasingly rounded and comfortable feel. The curved display is replaced with a flat 6.7-inch screen, offering a user-friendly experience. Exploring the device’s edges, you’ll discover a USB-C port and a sim tray at the bottom, with power and volume keys conveniently positioned on the right edge. Unlike some Android devices, there’s no fingerprint sensor on the lock button – it’s cleverly tucked beneath the screen.

Display

The latest flagship device from the house of Google boasts a miraculous display like Maxwell’s 201* vs Afghanistan in ODI Mens CWC’2023. Google showcases its hardware prowess with the Pixel 8 Pro’s exceptional display. The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 2992 x 1344 pixel resolution, featuring noteworthy upgrades. The 120Hz refresh rate offers seamless scrolling and smooth animations, with a remarkable ability to scale down to 1Hz, conserving energy for various tasks. The brightness levels are impressive, reaching up to 1,600 nits for HDR content and 2,400 nits at peak brightness, surpassing even the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Whether in the bustling streets of Mumbai or the tranquil sunsets of Goa, the Pixel 8 Pro’s screen remains effortlessly visible. It may not show a stark difference compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but Google’s attention to detail ensures you never need to think about it. Furthermore, the screen’s ability to dim significantly is a welcome feature, ideal for using the phone in a dark room without disturbing a sleeping partner. Beyond the enhanced refresh rate and brightness, the Pixel 8 Pro’s screen impresses with its sharpness, vibrant colours, and perfectly symmetrical bezels. 

Performance

During my initial days with the Google Pixel 8 Pro, I hinted at potential disaster due to the troubled history of Google’s Tensor chips. However, the game has changed with Tensor G3, the powerhouse within the Pixel 8 Pro. In my extensive hands-on experience with the Pixel 8 Pro, I’ve pushed it to the limits—gaming, multitasking, streaming 5G videos, and snapping photos. So far, Tensor G3 emerged as a true champion, effortlessly handling every task without breaking a sweat.

The dreaded overheating problem that haunted earlier Tensor chips seems to be a thing of the past. Sure, there was a brief moment of warmth during an intense gaming session over a shaky 5G connection, but it was a rarity. The Pixel 8 Pro’s thermal performance has been commendable, with only occasional warmth during heavy usage, a far cry from the discomfort of its predecessors. Tensor, it seems, has finally found its stride.

Camera

The 50MP main camera, with an f/1.68 aperture, boasts 21% more light sensitivity and 2x optical zoom. The 48MP ultrawide camera, featuring an f/1.95 aperture, offers a 105% increase in light sensitivity and an enhanced macro mode, allowing shots from 2 centimetres away. The telephoto camera, now at 48MP, enjoys a 56% boost in light sensitivity and retains its 5x optical zoom.

The Pixel 8 Pro captures outstanding shots effortlessly, whether it’s a well-lit scene or a dimly lit ambience. The 5x telephoto camera may not reach the heights of a 10x optical zoom, but its quality shines through, delivering detailed images with consistent colours. The Pixel 8 Pro ensures that in 2023, the legacy of exceptional Pixel photography remains unshaken. Just point, tap, and confidently expect a stellar image.

AI Photo Editing

Google Pixel 8 Pro offers premium-level AI photo editing features such as Best Take, a standout feature that rescues imperfect group photos. It’s not face recreation; it’s face perfection. The Pixel 8 Pro empowers you to sculpt your photographic narrative effortlessly with the realm of the Magic Editor. The tool transforms Google Photos into an AI-powered Photoshop, allowing you to erase, move objects, alter the sky, and more.

Verdict

The Pixel 8 Pro is a harmonious blend of style, comfort, and functionality, undoubtedly one of the best Android smartphones of the year. Google has elevated its hardware game, offering an unparalleled software experience. So, the Pixel 8 Pro stands tall amongst all its rivals. It’s not just a phone; it’s a triumph.

Ratings – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Formovie V10 4K Projector: High end alternative to traditional TV?

With recreational tech evolving so rapidly, reinvention in TVs has been stagnant for a while now. After the introduction of the Android operating system to a TV, not much has caused a major market shift. 

Well, Formovie is here in collaboration with Mi hoping to make that shift with their new projector, the V10 4K  .

I highly admired Formovie’s commitment to serving Indian customers by including an Amazon Fire TV Stick with the V10. On the other hand, I feel this move was more of a “need” than a “want” because a few elements in the inbuilt UI are in Mandarin, regardless of switching the language to English. This is mostly limited to native content homescreen, the settings are in simple and direct english.

Design and Features: A 360° premium immersion.


It’s essentially an entire home theater packaged into a compact and cylindrical premium feeling enclosure. The Dolby audio enabled speakers manage to provide a surround sound experience but still feels like a smart home speaker and cannot compete with a dedicated home theater speaker setup. 

Another smart feature that amused me was the projector remote doubling up to control the fire TV stick. It happened coincidentally when I picked up the formovie remote instead of the fire TV one and a small dialogue box appeared saying, “The back key is now used to control the connected device. 

Performance: Silently impressive! 

The Formovie V10 4K stands out because of its minimal fan noise and efficient heat dissipation capabilities. These noises are barely intrusive even when I was sitting right beside the projector. The colours are fairly accurate and did not seem off or washed out. However, with multiple picture modes like Vivid, standard, movie, office and more, you can always tweak it as per your needs. Multiple inbuilt streaming apps along with the ability to Sideload apps adds to it’s pros.

There’s also auto adjustment that starts working right after you fire it up. It does a decent job at sizing and position except you have to make micro adjustments sometimes. 

With a rated 2500 ANSI lumens and 4K projection capabilities, the V10 leaves no visual area to be knit picky about. It has two 7.5W speakers along with a 15W subwoofer. Having inbuilt speakers in a projector is a real game changer in my opinion, especially when it’s trying to be portable. That’s right, I said “trying” because with a weight of 3.8Kg and bulky power supply adapter, the V10 is not exactly portable. You could carry it to your vacation home over the weekend paired with a gaming console or just the included fire TV stick.

Verdict: 

If you’re someone who’s looking for minimum hassle, inbuilt high quality speakers, a quick set up process and basic amount of portability then the Formovie V10 4K is the right pick for you. It’s the perfect secondary media machine but can’t replace a TV in an average Indian household. 

Rating: ★★★½

 

CMF Watch Pro (Review) – Setting the Bar for Budget Smartwatches

Besides Apple, Nothing is the only brand that’s taking its name literally. First, the brand proved it by introducing a smartphone with funky lights on its transparent back, and now they’ve launched a smartwatch under their sub-brand CMF, which stands for Color, Material, and Finish.

The first smartwatch from the CMF by Nothing stays true to its name, it has a vibrant appeal, sustainable material and stylish design. Let’s begin with the packaging because when everyone is going minimal and classy, CMF decided to go beyond and packed the watch in a kinderjoyish way.

The Watch Pro by CMF arrives in a neatly packed (without compromising on funkiness) DVD-shaped cover, which has 3 small sections inside to hold the body, strap and charging cable of the watch. The cover also shows the strap colour of the watch in a prominent way to avoid confusion.

Design

The Watch Pro has a sleek, boxy, yet rounded design with an aluminium body that shines in the light. The Watch Pro has a physical button on the right side to help you with easy access to its features, along with speakers that work smoothly even when you’re in a crowded place.

The smartwatch is offered in three strap colours – orange, dark grey and just grey. The one we received has an orange-coloured strap, making the watch an attention magnet. The strap features the logo of the CMF on a longer strap that has pin buckles.

The watch weighs only 47g and stays put on the wrist. However, it seems a little uncomfortable and sweaty during high humidity and when wearing tightly. The soft silicone strap is durable and skin-friendly but catches a lot of attention as well as dirt, at least in the case of the orange strap.

Set-up

Like most smartwatches, CMF Watch Pro is pretty straightforward and easy to set up. Download the CMF Watch app from the App Store or the Play Store, allow the app a few required permissions, turn on the Bluetooth for pairing with the smartphone, and you’re ready to go.

Display

The smartwatch boasts a hefty 1.96″ AMOLED (410x502p) display that supports up to 600 nits peak brightness. The quality of the display is incredible as it offers enough brightness to help you read messages, the name of the caller and view notifications from a distance. Even in bright sunlight, the display works fine and shows the content. 

The watch is also loaded with an Always-on display mode for a better user experience. The watch offers about 37 watch faces, and most of them are either monochromatic or dipped in orange-theme. The watch faces are divided into four categories – Multifunction, Analog, Digital, and Creative to show time and your activity stats.

Features

The watch offers a number of smart features such as sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen and stress monitoring, activity tracking and several exercise modes, such as walking, running, cycling, basketball, soccer, yoga, hiking and boxing, to keep you posted about the details. 

Verdict

The watch looks fine on the wrist and offers almost every feature a person could ask for. At the starting price of ₹4,499, the Watch Pro is a great deal as it offers decent features and easily works for as many as 10 days on a single charge with an Always-on display. So, if you’re someone who likes to have products with minimalist design and maximum features, then CMF Watch Pro should be on your wrist.

Ratings

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Samsung Portable SSD T9 Review: Rapid as Lightning!

Samsung portable SSD T series has been nothing but a delight over the years. I had previously tested the T7 Shield SSD which brought fast data transfer speeds in a rugged form factor. The latest Portable SSD T9 builds upon the strong base set by the T7 Shield and also takes a giant leap ahead. A revamped shell design, faster data transfer, and lightweight form factor have ensured the SSD T9 is one of the best storage options in the market right now. Let’s dive deep into its features and performance – 

Design

The T9 comes out of the box in an impressive compact design which is sure to grab some eyeballs. It is light to hold and fits in your palms easily. The newly textured rubberized outer covering is the highlight of this SSD in my opinion. It allows users to have a study grip on the SSD. However, I must mention that the new design is a dust magnet. The rubberized form factor of the SSD traps dust on its body which is hard to get rid of. The minimalist design language of the SSD T9 extends to its sides where on the top end you get a single USB Type-C port. Samsung provides USB C to USB C and USB C to USB A in the box. Samsung claims that the rubberized exterior makes the SSD shock-resistant to drops up to 9.8 feet. We were not harsh during our drop test of the SSD where it was dropped from merely 6 feet resulting in zero damages, it is sturdy for sure! 

Performance

The T9 SSD comes equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20 Gbps interface which can be unlocked to its truest potential only when you have a supporting device. If you have a system that does not support the Gen 2×2 interface then the SSD defaults to 10Gbps Gen 2 mode, which is fast enough in itself. When it comes to file transfer speeds, the SSD T9 is the superhero Flash brought to life! I transferred a lot of data from my Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop to the SSD and vice versa; I was always surprised at how quickly this SSD can handle anything you throw at it. 

Transferring files over 400GB took me around 389 seconds which is bonkers. There were also no heating issues witnessed during my testing of the SSD even when it was pushed to its limits. Overall, it is a dependable SSD which is a little on the expensive side but well worth its price. 

Verdict

The Samsung SSD T9 is a crucial upgrade in the entire T-series lineup. It is sleek and stylish but also pulls its punches really well when it comes to performance.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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