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Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 Review: Massy Appeal!

Mass consumption has always been a norm for the current generation but it was never as apparent as it is now. We go to theatres & watch masala entertainers to whistle, scream, and have the time of our lives. The idea is simple – people want their money’s worth in all aspects of their lives be it entertainment or tech and there is nothing wrong with it. This is where the Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 laptop comes into the picture which I believe is the laptop that massy appeal.

Design & Build

I’ve been tasked with testing a lot of Lenovo gaming laptops and the universal design form factor of these laptops is a winner for me. Be it the Legion or LOQ, they share a similar if not identical design which streamlines Lenovo’s product portfolio really well. What we get here is a simple no-nonsense design with familiar touch. Sure, it’s not a metal build and sticks to plastic but complaining about it would be nitpicky at this price point. The outer build’s only metal part is its logo which a good attention to detail. I wouldn’t call this laptop a portable gaming machine as it weighs 2.4Kgs and shuffling between office and home having it in my backpack was not exactly a pleasant experience.

There is ample port selection here with the majority of the ports placed in the rear. On the left side, you get a USB-C coupled with a headphone jack, and on the right side, you get a slow USB 2.0 coupled with a web-cam On/Off switch (a welcoming addition for sure) However, the lack of an SD card and a faster Thunderbolt 4.0 port stings. It has a similar webcam cutout on to the top which most Lenovo gaming laptops boast currently. The hinge is fairly sturdy and the overall build of the LOQ laptop is a clear winner. Lenovo has left no stone unturned to ensure this laptop comes with a solid build that is reflective in its tactile keyboard. There is minimum flex on the keyboard, even better than some premium laptops. However, the backlight RGB cannot be selected per key which is a disappointment, though not a big one. The trackpad placement is kinda off, leaning to the left side. However, it ensures a comfortable palm placement for the user’s right hand; a win-win situation!

Display

There are two display variants for the LOQ 15 with 1080P and 1440P resolutions. My review unit is the latter variant which is the one I would recommend if you’re in the market to get the LOQ. Sure, it is an IPS-grade display which is expected in an entry to mid-segment gaming laptop but the matte finish gives it a premium feel. Visuals are crisp with minimum loss of detail. What makes this display a sureshot winner is the refresh rate clocked at the maximum 165Hz. It’s buttery smooth with an above-average brightness of 380 nits.

I take pleasure in watching vibrant saturated visuals while playing games and watching films. The LOQ 15 laptop delivers in that aspect really well. Be it playing Spider-Man Miles Morales or Starfield, I was mesmerized by the visual output of this machine.

Performance

The Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 comes equipped with the Intel Core i7-13620H processor which sports six performance cores and four efficiency cores. On top of it sits my beloved Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU which makes up for the sweetest combination for casual to intermediate gamers. It also packs 16GB DDR5-5200 RAM and a 512GB M.2 SSD which was sufficient for my usage. I used this laptop as my primary driver for two weeks and did not witness any frame drops or lags. However, the bottom-firing heat dissipation is counterproductive as the laptop gets heated up exactly at that spot & it does get pretty hot. One key aspect of this laptop’s performance is stability. It does not leave you hanging in the middle of an intense gaming session. One can easily call it a reliable machine.

During heavy gaming sessions, the laptop lasts only a meager 60-75 mins. Now, I understand that is normal for a gaming machine but it is never not disappointing. However, the laptop lasts me a good half-day at work as a workstation machine. Overall, the Lenovo LOQ laptop packs a balanced performance for an optimum gaming experience.

Verdict

The Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 is the perfect choice for people looking for a capable gaming machine that does not burn a hole in their pockets. It brings premium hardware components to the mid-range price category enhancing the price-to-performance ratio in the gaming laptop market overall. It’s not just massy, but a balance of mass and class!

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Lenovo Legion Slim 5i Review: Balance Between Work & Play

We’re living in times when affordable gaming machines are catching up to high-end ones. Gaming itself has garnered mainstream popularity in recent years and manufacturers have been riding this new wave by introducing one gaming laptop after another and saturating the market. The basic idea of a gaming laptop is that it is a bulky and heavy machine that is barely portable but is definitely power-hungry. This is where the new Lenovo Legion Slim 5i laptop comes which doubles down as both an everyday PC and a capable gaming machine. I tested the laptop as my daily driver and can conclude that this is the perfect laptop for people who strike a balance between work and gaming. Check out the full review of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i below –

Design

The Legion laptop has a similar design aesthetics which has been maintained with the Legion Slim 5i. The dark grey look of the laptop with subtle Legion branding on the upper right of the back panel is a distinctive style statement. Readers should note that while it is called Legion ‘Slim’ 5i, it is bulky in comparison to business laptops. The ‘Slim’ aspect of this laptop can only be contextualized when compared to other gaming laptops which are tediously heavy in general. The lid and bottom covers are made out of an aluminum alloy coupled with a plastic keyboard. Yes, there is a noticeable flex in the keyboard but not as offensive as I’ve noticed in other gaming laptops. The trackpad is pretty big and comfortable to use.

The port selection is neat with two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports on the left. The right side gets an SD card reader and a switch to turn on/off the webcam. The rear of the laptop hosts a power connector, a gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI 2.1, and 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports. The air vents on the side and the back are designed such that they add to the overall aesthetic of the device. Overall, the design of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is a winner.

Display

A vibrant 16-inch display with a matte finish instantly grabs your attention when using the laptop for the first time. The screen offers a smooth refresh rate of 165Hz and users can switch between 60, 82.50, and 165Hz respectively. There’s also support for Dolby Vision, Nvidia G-Sync, and X-Rite Pantone certification. The display is capable of producing some sharp and vibrant colors standing tall on Lenovo’s claims of 100 percent coverage of the sRGB color gamut. Watching movies and series is fun on this display and the fun is doubles while playing graphic-intensive games. High-quality HDR video content is also a treat to watch on this laptop with 2560 x 1600 resolution. The display experience is overall enhanced with the inclusion of a raised section in the middle enabling users to quickly lift open the laptop. Overall, Lenovo Legion SLim 5i’s display does not disappoint.

Performance

The Legion Slim 5i I tested is powered by the Intel 13th-Gen Core i7 – 13700H processor. The 13th Gen i5 variant is also available in this lineup. The CPU is paired with 16GB of DDR5 RAM which is capable of handling much of what you throw at it. The variant I reviewed had a small 512GB PCle Gen 4 SSD which is underwhelming in today’s time. I think manufacturers should consider abandoning the 512GB storage variants at least for gaming laptops. In the graphics arena, you get the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 with 6GB of VRAM which supports all the latest DLSS 3 and ray tracing. With a strong hardware assembly in place, the Lenovo Legion SLim 5i did not disappoint both as a daily PC and as a gaming PC. The duality of this laptop makes it stand out from the crowd and it’s able to pull some strong punches when it comes to gaming performance. I played games like Cyberpunk 2077, Apex Legends, Detroit: Become Human, and The Last of Us 2 on this laptop and barely witnessed it struggling to make ends meet.

The thermal management of the laptop is also done well as I never witnessed the laptop getting abnormally heated during extended gaming sessions. It does get warm but nothing alarming. It features a dual-stereo speaker setup which is not loud but has a passable performance. It was good to see Lenovo include a 1080P web camera as most manufacturers opt for a 720P one.

Verdict

The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is a well-balanced machine that doubles down as both a gaming and everyday PC. Users looking for a portable gaming machine that does not weigh them down with a heavy form factor should definitely go for this one.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

OnePlus Pad Go: GO and GET it!

I’ve been observing OnePlus’s moves since they first surfaced in 2013. They have a proven track record of releasing great products at a great price right from the start. 10 years later and things haven’t changed much, except for a few competitors sprouting up. The OnePlus Pad Go is a new budget tablet which is very reminiscent of its elder sibling, The OnePlus Pad. With differences in aspects like the processor, camera, battery and charging, let’s find out if it’s worth the 19,999 price tag that’s almost half when compared to its predecessor.

Display:

The first display aspect that caught my eye was the crisp 2.4K resolution IPS screen which combined with the sharp and vibrant calibration provides a very immersive content viewing and gaming experience. I highly trust that this helps the OnePlus Pad Go shine in its segment. The only minor inconvenience that came to my geeky attention was the refresh rate being at 90Hz instead of 120Hz but to people who don’t bother much for refresh rates, this shouldn’t be of much concern.

Design:

Whether it’s the metallic finish, the tactile buttons or even the overall sturdiness of this device, I like it. The glossy strip of plastic near the camera module adds a level of freshness to the age-old tablet design i.e the industry standard. Audio enthusiasts will also appreciate its quad speakers that provide ample bass, well balanced mids and clear treble. Movies, music and frequent video calls are handled really well by the OnePlus Pad Go.

However, nothing comes perfect in our imperfect world and what that means here is no 3.5mm headphone jack. For a device that positions itself as a media machine, this is a small disappointment. The seamless bluetooth 5.2 connectivity does try to make up for it but wired users will have to resort to a dongle.

While we are on the topic of missing basic features, there’s no fingerprint scanner which means you’ll have to rely on the face unlock. Come on OnePlus, it’s 2023, everybody prefers biometric authentication over gimmicky facial recognition.

Camera:

The camera performs decently in fair to good lighting conditions. The 8MP resolution both in the front and back is sufficient. You won’t find yourself complaining during zoom calls or the occasional tablet photography session. I was a little surprised to see the omission of a flash in the rear camera module, but I guess they have to cut costs somewhere.

Performance:

It performs best when presented with everyday tasks but falls short when pushed to its limit in heavy games and other processor intensive tasks. The Helio G99 is definitely capable of handling all games but not so much if you like playing them on the highest settings for long periods of time. That said, navigating through multiple apps or browsing the web is as seemless as it gets.

Battery and Charging:

With a 33W adaptor and an 8,000 mAh Li-Poly battery, the Pad Go shines in this department. A solid 2+ day life is easily expected and a respectable 1.5 day life if you decide to really push it.

Software:

What I really enjoyed in the software department is the ease with which I was able to navigate, multitask and get things done in general. OnePlus seems to have customized Oxygen OS and made it more user friendly on a larger screen. I hope they add the option for using a split keyboard soon though, this addition will make it a complete experience.

Verdict:

The OnePlus Pad Go excels in several key areas, including its high-resolution display, versatile audio capabilities, tactile buttons, multitasking optimization, and premium build quality, making it a compelling choice in the slow Android tablet market. It’s a great choice for a younger family member or an avid OTT enthusiast all while proving worthy for individuals who love multitasking.

Rating: ★★★★

Review / Honor 90 – Almost an Honourable Return

A couple of years back, Honor was one of the most innovative and emerging brands in India. Then, in 2020, due to geopolitical tensions, the sub-brand of Huawei left India, and now, after a three-year hiatus, they made a comeback to India with the launch of a new smartphone, the Honor 90.

Design

The highlight of the Honor 90 is its display, and it makes you think twice – is it really an Honor device? Yes, it’s damn good. After the display, the camera module will catch your attention as it is something unique but looks pathetic compared to the overall body language of the device. The design of the Honor 90 seems premium and feels like a feathery soft. It has regular offerings such as volume and power rockers on the right profile, a USB-C slot, a SIM slot and speakers at the bottom profile. The Honor 90 offers a curved body, and one can easily operate the device with one hand.

Display

The display of the Honor 90 is something beyond expectations. The 6.7-inch OLED display offers a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz and can get up to 1,600 nits bright to make your outdoor outings effortless. The sharp display of Honor 90 has a high resolution of 1200×2664 pixels, referred to as 1.5K. When it comes to the display resolutions, the Honor 90 unveils a remarkable feature that sets it apart from the rest. The device allows you to choose your preferred display resolution from a selection of flawlessly crafted options but also possesses the remarkable ability to adapt itself seamlessly.

The Honor 90 emerges as a star of technological brilliance, especially in the High Dynamic Range (HDR) segment. It boasts HDR10+ hardware support for its display, unlocking a world of visual splendour that is nothing short of cinematic. In terms of software, the Honor 90 flexes its decoding prowess with the ability to decipher HLG, HDR10, and the coveted HDR10+ formats, ensuring that your content is delivered with unprecedented clarity and vibrancy. Honor takes the battle against eye strain to a new level with a groundbreaking 3840Hz PWM dimming rate; it’s the Usain Bolt of dimming rates in the industry!

Camera

The Honor 90 boasts an impressive 200MP primary camera featuring the Samsung ISOCELL HP3 sensor. The sensor boasts a Tetra pixel arrangement, 0.56 µm pixels, and an expansive 1/1.4″ sensor size. Along with the sensor, it has a robust Quad Phase Detection AutoFocus (QPD PDAF), all tucked behind an f/1.9 lens. In optimal daylight conditions, the primary camera of the Honor 90 captures photos with accurate colours and respectable dynamic range, though it may not outshine the competition. However, when zooming in, you might notice a slight drop in fine details, but overall, it delivers photos well-suited for social media sharing.

The Honor 90’s camera delivers sub-par results in low-light scenarios. In low light, it tends to oversaturate images and struggles with colour accuracy. Accompanying the primary camera is a 12MP ultrawide lens with a wide 112-degree field of view and an f/2.2 aperture. Notably, the ultrawide lens supports autofocus, allowing it to double as a macro camera when needed. The 50MP selfie camera on the Honor 90 impressively captures selfies at 12.5MP resolution, delivering images with excellent detail and texture. It excels in rendering natural skin tones and exhibits competent colour reproduction, resulting in high-quality self-portraits. Besides the display, the selfie camera is the second-best feature on the Honor 90.

Performance

The Honor 90 graces us with Android 13 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset adorned in the finery of Honor’s exquisite MagicOS 7.1 skin. Yet, the tale takes a twist as we traverse the realm of updates and security. Honor only offers two major Android updates and a mere three years of security patches for the Honor 90. An offering that pales against the generous support bestowed by titans like Samsung and Google in this price echelon.

The shadow of Android 14 looms, casting uncertainty upon the Honor 90’s update journey, for the first of its two updates draws close, sooner than one would desire. Historically, the software domain has been Honor’s Achilles’ heel, and alas, the Honor 90 tracks a familiar path. But don’t let the familiarity deceive you; Honor sprinkles delightful surprises in the mix.

Thoughtful gestures dance before your fingertips, like the art of double-knocking to summon a screenshot or a screen recording. A side panel emerges with a sly swipe, unveiling the magic of windowed apps, letting you multitask with the grace of a magician. It’s a device that doesn’t just keep up with the times but almost dances ahead of them, inviting you to join in the celebration of innovation and sophistication.

Verdict

Honor 90 radiates to those who cherish uniqueness, solid battery life and demand nothing short of an exquisite screen. If your heart beats to the rhythm of unconventional design, and your soul craves a device that will accompany you from sunrise to sunset without faltering, then the Honor 90 is your destined companion. However, if your desires tread a different path, one that meanders through the hallowed halls of regular software updates and the promise of a perfect camera, you should look elsewhere.

Ratings ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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: ★★★★

OPPO Find N3 Flip Review: New Standard for Flip Phones?

Whether you like it or not, flip phones are here to stay! These devices are not just your typical phones but also extend to be a part of your style statement, building up to your ‘aesthetic’ as the young folks say now. However, there is one visible issue with all of the folding and flipping devices, the crease! The ugly visible crease on folding devices has been keeping me from having one as a daily driver but OPPO has gotten close to solving that issue. Not entirely, but it is a step in the right direction. So, how good is the latest flipping phone – OPPO Find N3 Flip? Let’s find out –

Design

This is a rather early rendition of flip phones in the market which limits all flip devices to pretty much look the same when it comes to the form factor. How well a manufacturer designs the upper cover element sets the device apart from all the similar-looking devices. The Find N3 Flip has a clear win in this department with the circular camera cutout called the ‘Cosmos Ring’ which compliments the overall design with flying colors. Special mention to the curved back here which OPPO claims is the most curved glass back panel among flip phones. It looks premium and gives a good in-hand feel. There’s also an alert slider here at the top left of the device which is sturdy and has a nice click to it. The vertical cover screen is a hit or miss as I would rather have a bigger screen on the cover than a small rectangular one. Overall, the design of the OPPO Find N3 Flip screams premium and is sure to attract a few eyeballs unless you decide to hide all that beauty under a pretty boring cover provided inside the box.

Displays

The cover screen of the OPPO Find 3 Flip is not criminally bad in its own right but falls short in comparison to the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. Once you’ve used a cover screen that spans across the entirety of the back cover and also allows you to operate all applications as you would on the front screen, it is difficult to go back to a vertical cover screen. Granted, this is the only flip phone equipped with a triple camera and a telephoto camera which takes up the real estate at the back but it is still underwhelming, also due to the presence of limited app support and slower refresh rate. What’s not disappointing is the 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen which stuns with its visuals. It is a vibrant screen that makes up for what is lost on the cover screen. What’s also impressive is how well OPPO has handled the crease management. We cannot have a flip device without any visible crease as of now but it’s not as apparent or offensive as other flip devices. Overall, the front display is a treat, and the cover display less much to be desired.

Performance

As one would expect with any flip device in 2023, the OPPO Find N3 Flip also comes with a flagship-grade processor. It is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 and I did not face any performance issues with the device during my testing. Shuttling between applications, clicking photos, watching videos, playing games, and more was a seamless experience without any hiccups which is also expected from a device with this chipset. What’s annoying is the inclusion of lockscreen wallpaper services and bloatware applications which actually hamper the user experience on the software side. One would expect at least premium-grade phones won’t be bombarded with bloatware but that’s certainly not the case here. This is one of the biggest batteries present in a flip device with 4300mAH capacity which can be juiced up with a 44W SUPERVOOC charger. The overall battery life of the Find N3 Flip is balanced. I could easily get through the day with moderate usage on a single charge and heavy users might have the same experience. The camera department is where this device shines and stands true to the OPPO legacy. It features a 50MP primary SONY IMX890 lens coupled with a 48MP ultra-wide and 32MP portrait cameras. It is capable of clicking some awesome shots with minimal loss of detail. Additionally, the FlexForm capture which allows users to capture selfies and shoot videos using the main camera setup is also a treat. The selfie camera here is a 32MP Sony IMX709 sensor which is capable of clicking some vibrant shots. However, OPPO continues to use beautification filters by default on their devices which should not be the case. Overall, the OPPO Find N3 Flip is one of the best flip devices launched this year.

Verdict

OPPO Find N3 Flip strikes a balance between performance and aesthetics. It is a dependable device with a top-of-the-line chipset which ensures smooth performance. The software experience requires to be finessed out as the users who’ll pay the premium price should not be subjected to bloat applications.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐ ½

ViewSonic Omni VX2728J Gaming Monitor Review: Great Visuals and Budget Pricing!

If you’re in the market to build a capable gaming desktop PC then you end up spending a bomb. There are multiple components involved in building a powerhouse PC and one of the most important part of the setup is having a good monitor. Sure, you can spend as much as over a lakh for a good display but what if you can find a capable display at just ₹16,499? This is where the ViewSonic Omni VX2728J gaming monitor comes into the picture. Check out the full review of this efficient monitor below –

ViewSonic Omni VX2728J Gaming Monitor Design

The design of the VX2728J is pretty much a standard affair. It is a simple and effective design packed and parcelled under a sleek form factor. There’s not much to complain about the design of this monitor except for the clicking buttons placed at the bottom right. The buttons and the OSD interface that pops on clicking them will remind you of yesteryear monitors. However, the design truly screams premium with a solid build quality. The minimalistic design factor of the monitor works really well. It sports a flat-screen display at 27 inches coupled with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Setting up the monitor was not an issue as it comes with a simple VESA mount. The metal arm and stand the monitor rests on are sturdy. The overall bezels of this monitor are slim barring the bottom bezel which is slightly thicker. I wish there was a better cable management option here as the clip provided to the metal arm is not really effective.

ViewSonic Omni VX2728J Gaming Monitor Performance

Gaming monitors are expected to be 2K or 4K in the current scenario given how far PC gaming has come. However, the ViewSonic Omni VX2728J is a 1080P display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. It has a high refresh rate of 165Hz and peak brightness of 250 nits coupled with a quick response time of 0.5ms. Even at 1080P resolution, the monitor is capable of producing some immersive visuals.

The monitor sports the AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA Adaptive Sync technologies which collaborate to make up a lag-free gaming experience. The lack of 4K resolution is salvaged by the presence of AMD FreeSync and VESA Adaptive Sync but if you’re a pro gamer then this monitor will leave you asking for more, a higher resolution would have made this display an easy recommendation. Even with limitations, the VX2728J performs with flying colors. While we’re talking about colors, this display sports a wide color gamut and supports a wide range of 16.7 million colors. The color production of this monitor is a treat to look at.

I spent a big chunk of my time testing this monitor binge-watching shows on Netflix and the monitor did not disappoint when it comes to picture quality. There are a few color profiles you can choose from through settings but I found myself sticking to the ‘Standard’ mode by default. What disappoints is the speaker setup. The monitor comes with a 2×2-watt integrated speaker setup which is definitely better than some of the monitors I’ve tested recently but still underwhelming. The support for HDR10 is appreciated given the price range.

As a casual gamer and a film addict, the ViewSonic Omni VX2728J Gaming Monitor is beyond just a usable monitor. It’s capable of producing good picture quality with vibrant colors. There are some screen bleeding issues but it’s not out of the ordinary for monitors in this price category.

Verdict

One of the few complaints I could find about the ViewSonic Omni VX2728J Gaming Monitor has to be its display resolution. 1080P resolution on a 27-inch monitor does not really work even when the display is capable of producing punchy colors. However, if you can look past the resolution limitation then ViewSonic Omni VX2728J Gaming Monitor is one of the best monitors you can right now. It is a sound choice for people who do not wish to spend over 20K on their gaming monitor. The AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA Adaptive Sync technologies make this monitor a well-performing all-rounder.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐ ½

BenQ PD2725U Monitor Review: A Boon for Creative Professionals

Be it projectors or monitors, BenQ is a trustworthy name when it comes to digital solutions. This was the very first time I got to try a BenQ monitor and it surprised me in various aspects. The BenQ PD2725U is touted as a monitor for creators i.e. for graphic designers, video editors, and more. As someone who is neither of the two, I got my hands on the monitor with some scepticism as I feared I wouldn’t be able to tap into the entire potential of this monitor. The solution – I handed it to my video editor who plugged it in using a Mac Mini and took his initial thoughts on it. Additionally, I tested the monitor as my daily driver for writing content, watching videos, playing games, etc. Here is the detailed review of the BenQ PD2725U Designer Monitor –

Design

benQ PD2725U’s design is perhaps one of its best features. The base of this monitor is exceptionally large and takes up a lot of space. However, the form factor of this base is thin so users can place their desktop companions like an action figure or more making that space usable. The monitor sports a minimal design which makes it a treat to look at, it definitely is aesthetically pleasing. The screen bezels are neither criminally big nor exceptionally slim. The screen real estate here is well-balanced for this 27-inch monitor.

One issue that I’ve witnessed in the past while reviewing monitors is the lack of connectivity options. Luckily, the PD2725U does not have any such issues providing a wide option of connectivity ports. There are two HDMI ports, and a USB 3.0 hub, coupled with a 3.5 mm jack. You also get the convenience of Thunderbolt 3 here which sure is appreciable but Thunderbolt 4 would’ve been better. One of my favourite features of this monitor has to be the external hotkey puck which allows users to simply switch between features and manage the brightness.

Performance

The BenQ PD2725U is powered by an IPS-grade panel with a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160. It’s got the support of 100% sRGB/Rec. 709 and 95% DCI-P3 colour gamuts coupled with a vast colour palette of 1.07 billion colours. All the technical jargon basically translates to the monitor delivering solid visuals and colour accuracy. It is equipped with a 4ms response time which ensures that there are minimal inaccuracies in the colour reproduction.

It sports a peak brightness of 300 nits using DR10 VESA display technology. It is capable of producing some sharply contrasted images and deep details. During our video editing test of the monitor, our in-house editor was impressed with the colour accuracy of the display vowing it to be one of the best displays he’s worked on. The display is capable of producing some immersive visuals which can be easily adjusted thanks to the hotkey puck and the buttons placed under the bottom bezel. It is important to note that this monitor comes with an in-built speaker which is beyond underwhelming. It is not a substitute for your desktop speakers in any shape or form given its low sound output. The speakers and the absence of a Thunderbolt 4 port are some of the biggest weaknesses of this monitor which is placed at the premium ₹ 67,990.00 price.

Verdict

BenQ PD2725U is definitely one of the best monitors you can buy right now. It exceeded expectations for an IPS-grade monitor during our testing when it comes to producing a crisp and immersive visual experience. it provides an extensive connectivity hub which eases the job for creative professionals. The lack of a good speaker output leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐½

Infinix Zero 30 5G Long Term Review: Underrated Champion!

Infinix is not exactly the brand people consider when in the market to buy a new smartphone. I too am guilty of this prejudice however after using the Inifix Zero 30 5G as my daily driver for the past month, my opinions have drastically changed about the brand and its devices. Sure, Infinix delivers some of the best value devices in the Indian market at the budget segment but its latest Zero 30 5G has proven the company’s ability to compete in the mid-premium segment too. It’s not a perfect phone (none of them are) and there are some hiccups here and there but that does not take away from the fact that it delivers a value-for-money experience. Here’s my full review of the Infinix Zero 30 5G –

Design

This is easily the best part of this device as it looks at par or even better than many premium devices. It is available in two colour options – Golden Hour and Rome Green. I used the Golden Hour variant which has an aesthetic appeal to it. The device is sure to grab some eyeballs as you walk around with it. The Rome Green variant comes with a vegan leather back which adds more value to your money. The phone stands slim at only 7.9mm and weighs light at 182 grams. The volume rocker and lock buttons placed on the right of the device also have a good click to them and feel tactile. You get an in-display fingerprint sensor which is quick and snappy. It has an IP53 rating protecting the device from dust and splashes of water. The camera cutout is HUGE on this device and looks good on the Golden Hour variant as the cutout is golden colour too. However, the cutout is golden even for the green variant which is a bold decision from Infinix. The main attraction of the device is the curved AMOLED display but the overall aesthetic design language supporting it makes up for a great-looking and feeling device. Infinix hits the ball out of the park with the Zero 30 5G design in the sub-25K price category.

Display

The Infinix Zero 30 5G sports a premium-looking curved 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display. The bezel situation is pretty neat as they are slim on the sides and slightly thicker on top and bottom. It has a 144Hz refresh rate which can be switched between 60, 120, 144, and Auto options. The 144Hz refresh rate is addressed as ‘extreme’ in the phone settings and that’s exactly how I’d describe using the display, it’s extremely pleasing. The display produces some vibrant colours and it comes with Widevine L1 support so watching OTT in HD resolution will not be an issue. It has a peak brightness of 950 nits which means users will not have an issue in using the device under direct sunlight.

Performance

Infinix Zero 30 5G sports a Dimensity 8020 SoC coupled with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM which can be extended up to an additional 9GB of RAM (21GB total) using the virtual RAM option. I did not add up any virtual RAM during my testing of the device as 12GB is more than enough for SoC it houses. The device comes with 256GB of UFS3.1 storage which is standard across the 8GB and 12GB variants of the device. Having 256GB as the standard storage option across the lineup is applaudable, but having an expandable storage option would seal the deal entirely. We could talk about GeekBench and AnTuTu scorecards where the device definitely scores higher than the majority of the devices in the price category but I’d let readers know how the device performs on a daily basis.

I’ve been using the device as my daily work phone for the past month which means attending constant calls, virtual meetings, approving video content, working on Google apps and much more. I was taken aback by how flawlessly the device took over all the tasks without any hiccups. I’ve been using the OnePlus Nord CE3 5G along with the Zero 30 5G which are comparable devices in many arenas, the latter always emerged better in both performance and user experience. Playing games like BGMI for extended periods of time was not an issue but the device did heat up considerably during my testing.

The UI experience is certainly improved from the previous Infinix devices I’ve used in the past. The experience is much more refined and visually pleasing. Yes, there are some bloatware and third-party applications here but not as annoying as some phones in this price category. What could be a deal breaker for many is that the company only provides one major Android update and 2 years of security patches.

It features a big 5,000 mAh battery with 68W fast charging support. You can get a day out of this battery easily and charge it up in nearly 50 minutes which is not bad by any standards.

Camera

Inifnix Zero 30 5G boasts a decent camera setup. You get a 108MP Samsung ISOCELL HM6 primary camera with IOS, a 13Mp ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro lens which I thoroughly believe brands should omit. There is a Samsung 50MP ISOCELL JN1 sensor which is capable of shooting crisp selfies. It is an AI-enhanced camera setup which is capable of shooting 4K at 60FPS on both the front and rear. The front camera is accompanied by a flash which is a surprising addition. It works well only if you can manage to not get blindsided by the front flash! Overall, it is a decent camera setup which is reliable under well-lit conditions and loses its ground under darker settings.

Verdict

The Infinix Zero 30 5G is a competitive mid-range smartphone that is definitely worth the money. The standout design coupled with a curved AMOLED display makes up for a good package itself. However, the cherry on the top is it being a well-performing and dependable device. Low light camera performance can be improved but besides that, it is a solid device!

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.