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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: ★★★★

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

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.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Review: A True Companion

2023 is definitely the year where Samsung does not bring in any major upgrades to its existing lineup. First were the Galaxy Flip and Fold 5 which refined the design factor with the devices finally closing without a gap in between. Now, Samsung’s Watch 6 is the latest device to hop on the minor update trend and redefine what the best of Android smartwatch looks and feels like. We’ve been testing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 44mm LTE (SM-R945F) for nearly a week now and it graciously falls into the ‘Easy To Recommend’ category of devices. This might not be a monumental upgrade from the Galaxy Watch 5 but it undoubtedly is one of the best smartwatches you can buy right now! Jump right in for the full review of the Galaxy Watch 6 –

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Design

The Galaxy Watch 6 pretty much keeps the same design as last year’s Galaxy Watch 5. There’s the staple two size options here – 40 & 44 mm. I tested out the 44 mm LTE version of the watch with a silver strap. The Watch 6 also gets an interesting Gold colour variant which screams extravagance. Samsung might not have made major changes to the design of the Galaxy Watch 6 but there really is nothing to complain about it either. It is a known form factor which works well & is also comfortable. Even with the 44mm size, users will not feel the watch to be bulky or heavy on their wrists. A good indication of a comfortable smartwatch is when I do not have to remove it while typing my hours away at work, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 excels in that arena. The in-box silicon strap looks premium and feels comfortable.

While the design factor remains the same, Samsung has now introduced a ‘One-Click’ solution to swap the strap. Users just need to hold the button placed at the base of the band and pull it to remove the strap. While the general user will most likely not swap the silicon bands often, it is a welcome addition to the smartwatch lineup.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Display

Smartwatch displays are pretty much a standard affair. The pack and parcel of the smaller displays include users having to cover the screen with their hands in order to see the finer details under direct sunlight. Samsung fixes this issue and goes miles ahead by 2,000 nits of peak brightness with the Watch 6. The previous iteration only featured 1,000 nits of peak brightness making the Watch 6 a notable upgrade in that aspect. Mumbai’s September bipolar weather sports both heavy rains & bright sunny days; I did not witness any issues while using the watch outdoors in either of those weather conditions.

The Galaxy Watch 6 series uses a Super AMOLED panel across the lineup. However, the size and resolution of these displays are not the same. The 44mm model sports a 1.5-inch 480 x 480 screen whereas the smaller 40mm model rocks a 432 x 432 screen at 1.3-inch. There is nothing but a small 0.1-inch difference between the Watch 5 and Watch 6 but it makes a bigger difference when it comes to a small display. You can scroll around the bezels of the smartwatch which will never NOT be cool!

Performance & Health Features

There is a plethora of health features on the Galaxy Watch 6. Samsung uses an activity tracking UI which is similar to Apple. Three rings which count your steps, active time, and calories close up every day, and in all honesty, it is fun and simple to follow. Samsung has gone all out when it comes to health features of the Watch 6, including a temperature sensor which automatically measures your skin temperature while you sleep. I tested out the sleep features more than the fitness tracking features on this watch as I am at least consistent with sleeping as opposed to hitting the gym.

The Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor allows users to scan their skeletal muscle, body water & fat, BMI, basal metabolic rate, and fat mass. It is crazy how far technology has come where we can find complex information about our bodies with just a few clicks on a smartwatch. The automatic workout detection feature remains my favourite feature of this watch. Besides this, Watch 6 offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, cycle tracking, blood oxygen tracking, ECG, and much more. Samsung Health application allows us to streamline all these features really well.

It runs on the Exynos W930 dual-core processor clocking in with 1.4GHz speed. The performance here is reliable without any lags or jitters. It is running on Wear OS 4.0 with the prowess of Samsung’s One UI 5.0 layered on top of it. I did not face any problems in the overall UI experience of the Watch 6. Be it notifications or the vibration motor, everything works as expected. Receiving and making calls on the Watch 6 is also smooth sailing. Users can also pair their Galaxy devices with the smartwatch to get a preview of their camera, a feature which came in handy for me while clicking a picture of my dog without alarming her!

The Galaxy Watch 6 has an exceptionally good battery life for a device which packs in this many features. I am not entirely a fan of always on display on smartwatches as they tend to become a distraction. However, the AOD on the Watch 6 is subtle and does not beg for your attention all the time. I was easily able to get through the day with the AOD feature with 30-40% battery remaining. The watch was connected to my Galaxy S23 throughout the entire testing period and the battery life was simply dependable. The charging experience is also a smooth sail. Ultimately, there is a lot to love and virtually nothing to complain about the Galaxy Watch 6.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is the best smartwatch for Android users right now. Its extensive health features and simple design make it an easy pick.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

LG S95QR Soundbar Review: Sets a New Benchmark in Surround Sound

What comes into your mind when you think about a soundbar? If you ask me, it is a singular wide bar that does not have a style aesthetic but is designed to produce optimum sound. LG looked at this traditional design language of the soundbar and said “Nah, we’re not doing that” with the LG S95QR as it just might be the most aesthetically pleasing soundbar to have launched in the Indian market. LG has a good reputation in the audio market which the LG S95QR Soundbar not only maintains but goes beyond to deliver an immersive sound experience.

Design

The LG S95QR soundbar sports a unique 9.1.5 configuration coupled with a dedicated wireless subwoofer and two wireless rear speakers. This makes it an out & out home theatre system as opposed to just a soundbar. What you get in the box is one soundbar, one wireless subwoofer, two wireless rear speakers, one HDMI cable, four AC power cables and one remote. On the design front, the soundbar itself maintains a slim form factor that sits below your TV without being obstructive. The highlight of the soundbar design has to be the three grilled circular up-firing speakers on the top edge which compliments the overall aesthetic of the system really well. The design is both futuristic and minimalistic. This is the first time that we’ve seen a soundbar feature three top-edge drivers, most soundbars feature just two. The rear speakers, wireless subwoofer, and the in-box remote are pretty much a standard affair when it comes to the design.

Performance

The LG S95QR takes the high road when it comes to the channel count claiming a massive 9.1.5 channel experience. During our time with the system, we watched a number of movies like Top Gun: Maverick & Avengers: Infinity War where the surround sound experience was truly ecstatic. LG is clearly not focused on creating a clear surround sound with the S95QR but has gone a step further to make an immersive experience that wraps the audience in a ‘Meridian’ of sound.

The humongous 810W of claimed power is shared amongst the drivers of this system which was more than enough to rock the entire room during our testing. LG’s flagship soundbar is capable of playing both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats which are standard to the current audio formats in home entertainment. The soundbar as a standalone act also ended up creating an immersive experience in my small room. The massive range of format support options like Dolby Vision HDR (through compatible TV), HDMI eARC & Lossless Dolby Atmos or DTS:X is a treat for cine and audiophiles alike.

Verdict

The LG S95QR soundbar is one of the best in the premium segment for both music and movies. It’s a versatile system that delivers an immersive experience through its 9.1.5 channel.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ASUS ROG ALLY Review: Your True Gaming Ally

I remember the time when the PSP was an aspirational piece of tech. The handheld gaming market may have been revived by the Nintendo Switch but it was during my testing of the ASUS ROG Ally is when the nostalgia hit me hard. The ROG Ally is going up against two main beasts i.e. Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck, so how well does it hold its own? Here’s what we found out during our time with the ASUS ROG Ally –

Design

ASUS has managed to cramp in a whole Windows PC at lightweight 608 grams. It fits extremely well in hand. Being a first-time user of a handheld gaming PC, It didn’t take me a long time to figure out how the controls work. We get a familiar ABXY button pad coupled with a D-Pad on the left. One gripe would be the absence of a touchpad, however, the ample button choice makes up for it.

The power button also doubles up as a fingerprint sensor which works well and is reliable. The top of the Ally also rocks a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-C port, a microSD card reader, and a Gen 2 display port. The white and black colour aesthetic of the ASUS ROG Ally is eye candy!

Performance

This is where scepticism rises as I did not expect a handheld gaming PC to hold up this well. The entirety of our office spent considerable time with the ROG Ally as each one of my team members wanted to try it out. We played titles like The Witcher 3, COD, Asphalt 9, Paladins, and Moving Out. Extended periods of gaming did not result in a drop in performance. The 7-inch 1080P display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate is a treat to look at. While it would be good to have an AMOLED display here, it can be excused as the display is vibrant and punchy.

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip is backed by 16GB LPDDR5 RAM which results in top-notch performance overall. The battery life of the ROG Ally is disappointing as it lasted us only an hour while playing graphic extensive games. Whereas, playing lighter games also did not get us past the three-hour mark. The haptic response and sound quality of the ROG Ally is simply phenomenal.

Verdict

Being a first-gen product, the ROG Ally does all things right when it comes to gaming performance. The battery life could have been better but the handheld gaming PC does not disappoint.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐

ViewSonic LS610HDHE Projector Review: Sets a New Standard!

It was only at the start of this year that I reviewed ViewSonic’s X2 projector. It took me by surprise to how many features that projector managed to pack in a small form factor. When I was tasked to review the ViewSonic LS610HDHE projector, the excitement went above the roof as I was expecting another smart Android-based projector from the company. However, to my disappointment, the LS610HDHE projector is a pretty standard affair which does not cramp up features. It takes a different approach of being a projector suited for classrooms, boardrooms, and similar settings. So, is the ViewSonic LS610HDHE not worth exploring? I beg to differ as it definitely stands in a league of its own when it comes to picture quality.

Design & Features

ViewSonic LS610HDHE is rated to produce 4,500 ANSI lumens and comes with Full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080. For a business and education projector, it weighs pretty light and it won’t be an issue for users to move this one around. It also boasts some high-end features like HDR, HLG and 4K signal support. When it comes to the design, the ViewSonic LS610HDHE does not innovate in any sense but presents a known design aesthetic which was not an issue for me in any way.

What comes with the 4,500 ANSI lumens is the capacity for the projector to cut through ambience lighting and present some sharp images even in the brightest settings. Testing the projector out in a dark room was a grave mistake I made as its brightness prowess nearly blinded me for a second. What users also get here is a maintenance-free sealed light engine which keeps dust and moisture away from the lens.

Performance: Beyond Impressive

One of the few reasons why people opt for projectors is to get the best picture quality out of their films and series. On the performance side, the ViewSonic LS610HDHE is one of the best projectors you can buy right now. It not just produces a sharp picture quality but takes it a notch further by allowing users to choose between multiple color modes. Users get to choose between Brightest, Standard, Photo, Movie, User 1 and User 2 options. The ‘Brightest’ color mode has a green tint to it and is suitable only for ambiences with plenty of light. I found myself sticking to either standard or movie mode during my testing of the projector.

LS610HDHE houses a standard control panel on the top which allows users to quickly play around with the settings. It houses a power button and keystone buttons coupled with color mode, menu, source, and more. There is also a handheld remote control which gets the job done with ease.

The projector also houses a standard 10W speaker system which works well enough given it’s not the premium Harman Kardon speaker system which the X2 boasted. The projector can handle 4K content generally but downscales it to 1080P. I watched films like Avatar: The Way of Water & Spider-Man: No Way Home during my testing of the projector and I was glued to the superior picture quality of it.

Verdict

If you’re in the market looking for a capable projector and do not obsess over smart Android features which modern projectors offer then the ViewSonic LS610HDHE is definitely the one for you. It produces some punchy colours which can be enhanced furthermore using the color management features.