Category: Tech Reviews

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

reMarkable 2 Review: Digital Canvas for Elites

Writing on paper or slate may seem outdated in this modern age of technology. However, occasionally, we may feel nostalgic about writing our notes on paper with a pen. The problem with this is that saving those pages digitally can be complicated. We recently had the opportunity to try out the reMarkable 2 tablet, its stylus, and keyboard. This unique tablet prioritizes a paper-like experience for note-taking, sketching, and reading. We’re curious to see if it will replace our current note-taking tablet, so we’ll be putting it to the test.

DESIGN AND BUILD

The reMarkable 2 tablet is a standout device for its carefully designed exterior, which is both sleek and minimalistic. It offers a writing experience similar to writing on paper with its E-Ink display. The tablet is lightweight and durable, making it easy to carry around. The tablet’s ergonomic design ensures comfortable usage for extended periods without getting fatigued. Meanwhile, the stylus improves the writing experience, making it natural and intuitive. The tablet’s front is an almost-perfect imitation of writing on paper. The low-friction, textured surface feels like paper, and the stylus provides a satisfying tactile experience that surpasses most other tablets, including Apple iPad paired with Pencil.

FUNCTIONALITY

The reMarkable 2 tablet is a simple device that eliminates distractions and facilitates note-taking, reading, and drawing. Unlike other tablets loaded with various apps and notifications, the reMarkable 2 is specifically intended for those who value the art of handwriting and want to use it for brainstorming, document annotation, and note-taking. The tablet offers a paper-like experience and a distraction-free environment that can be highly beneficial for users. Its pressure-sensitive pen and textured surface make it an excellent tool for sketching, drawing, and taking creative notes. The device also has features like folders, tags, and notebooks to help users organize their work. With 8GB of storage, the reMarkable 2 can store all notes, sketches, and drawings. However, the storage space is more than sufficient since it can only store notes and drawings. Users can also sync all their work on the cloud, ensuring that their notes and documents are accessible across multiple devices.

However, unlike iPads or Android tablets, the reMarkable 2 lacks basic functionalities like web browsing, email, or media consumption. This might be a dealbreaker for users seeking a more versatile device, especially given its price.

BATTERY

One of the standout features of this device is its impressive battery life, which can last for several weeks on a single charge, unlike other devices that require frequent charging. This makes it an ideal choice for users who need a reliable device for extended use, whether for work or personal use, without worrying about running out of battery power.

also read: Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405MA)

VERDICT

Overall, the reMarkable 2 is a specialized device that caters to those people who value a distraction-free, paper-like experience when it comes to note-taking, sketching, and reading. This device provides a nostalgic writing experience and a long battery life. However, it comes with a premium price tag and has limited functionality compared to traditional tablets. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully evaluate your needs and budget before deciding if the reMarkable 2 is the right fit for you.

Price: 43,999/-

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405MA) Review: Stylish Powerhouse

The 2024 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a newly updated laptop with a compact design and a stunning OLED display. Despite its small size, the laptop packs impressive specs. The unit I received for review isn’t a higher-tier configuration but has an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and 32GB RAM.

BUILD & DISPLAY

Asus has maintained its reputation for crafting premium laptops with the Zenbook 14 OLED. The metal chassis is sturdy, and the design is sleek and sophisticated. Weighing just 1.21 kg, it’s easy to carry to meetings and events. Thanks to its thin and light design, the Zenbook 14 OLED is ideal for professionals who need to work on the go. The main highlight of the ASUS Zenbook OLED is its 14-inch OLED panel with a 3K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and vibrant colours. Thanks to the OLED display, it offered stunning visuals for work, creative tasks, and even entertainment. Additionally, the Zenbook 14 OLED has a touch screen that makes navigating the Windows 11 operating system easy. The touchscreen features Corning Gorilla Glass, which enhances scratch resistance and reduces scratch visibility.

PERFORMANCE

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is a high-performance laptop that comes equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155-H processor with Intel Arc graphics. This processor has 16 cores and 22 threads and can reach speeds of up to 4.8GHz. Using this laptop for everyday office tasks is a breeze, and it can handle even the most demanding workloads with ease. I have personally opened over 40 Chrome tabs on this laptop, and it didn’t even lag a bit. I could also edit photos and create shorts/reels without any issues. The fast and efficient Intel Core Ultra 7 155-H processor and 32GB LPDDR5x RAM ensured everything ran smoothly.

In terms of storage, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED comes with 1TB NVMe SSD, which is incredibly fast and provides plenty of space for a travel laptop. You can store all your important files, including movies and software, without worrying about running out of space.

BATTERY

With its efficient components and low-power OLED display, the Zenbook 14 OLED stands out as a laptop with impressive battery life. It comes with a sizable 75Whrs battery, allowing you to work uninterrupted for an entire workday without worrying about running out of power. However, the battery depletes more quickly when performing graphics-intensive tasks or rendering. The laptop also supports 65W fast charging, providing quick battery power whenever needed. Whether you need a reliable laptop for long work sessions or are working on the go, the Zenbook 14 OLED’s battery life will surely impress.

also read: Zebronics Pro Series Z (Review) – Just Another Gen Z Kid

VERDICT

Overall, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a top-tier laptop offering a stunning display, powerful performance, and exceptional battery life. However, its limited port selection and premium price tag might deter some users. Before deciding whether the Zenbook 14 OLED suits you, consider your needs and priorities carefully.

SPECS:

  • 14-inch 3K OLED display
  • Intel core Ultra 7 155-H processor
  • 32GB LPDDR5x RAM
  • 1TB NVMe SSD
  • 75Whr Battery

Rating: 4.5/5

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.

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.

 

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.

HP Omen 16-xf0060AX Gaming Laptop Review: A Powerful Performer

Price: INR 1,34,999/-

HP continues to refine its gaming laptop lineup with the Omen 16, a big-screen but streamlined mobile gaming rig in the middle of the price/performance spectrum. Our review configuration is an all-AMD affair with a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor and NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, making it a great choice for serious gamers. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider before you pull the trigger on this purchase.

Design and Build Quality

The HP Omen 16 has a sleek and professional design that is not too flashy. Its matte black chassis is fingerprint-resistant and looks great. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, and the RGB lighting adds a nice touch. The trackpad is also large and responsive.

In terms of build quality, the OMEN 16 feels sturdy and the hinges are tight. I am confident that this laptop can withstand a few bumps and bruises.

Display

The HP Omen 16 boasts a 16.1-inch FHD display with a refresh rate of 165Hz. The colours are accurately represented, and the viewing angles are satisfactory. However, the display’s resolution is below average for a laptop of this specs. It would have been better if it offered at least a QHD display. Additionally, the screen’s brightness is on the lower side, with just 300 nits. This may make it difficult to see the screen clearly in a well-lit room, and one may have to turn up the brightness level all the way.

Performance

Let’s start with the positive aspect of this laptop: its performance. It’s a powerhouse, capable of running demanding games like Call of Duty: Warzone at max settings with Ray Tracing ON and still getting over 60 FPS. The Omen 16 also handled Battlefield 2042 and Grand Theft Auto 6 without issues. Even games like PUBG and Fortnite run smoothly on this machine.

The Ryzen 7 7840HS processor is a real workhorse with a maximum clock speed of up to 5.1 GHz. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM makes multitasking a breeze. I could open over 30 Chrome tabs and play games without experiencing any lag. The RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is a decent-budget-level card that provides excellent gaming and creative work performance.

Battery Life

It’s important to note that the Omen 16’s battery life isn’t optimal for serious gaming, lasting approximately 3 hours in our battery life test. While this is typical for most gaming laptops, playing less graphic demanding tiles will ensure a little longer battery life on the go.

VERDICT

The HP Omen gaming laptop powered by AMD is a highly capable machine that can run even the most demanding games smoothly. However, the display’s low brightness and the short battery life may be a letdown for some users. While the Omen 16 is a decent option for a gaming laptop, there are better choices available in the market.

RATINGS: 3 out of 5 stars

Pros:

  • Powerful performance
  • Sleek and professional design
  • Excellent build quality
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Good selection of ports

Cons:

  • Low resolution display
  • Short battery life

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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