Category: Smart phones

The Best Phones with 8GB RAM

The smartphone market right now is as saturated with options as the gas station convenience store! If you need a camera-centric device, you can choose from various options. A similar trend goes on for performance-centric and gaming-centric mobile devices. However, when it comes to travelling, people really need to find a device which can best suit their needs. Based on your use case and needs, smartphones can replace a professional camera, flashlight, physical maps, and much more. 

In our travel edition, I wanted to have a look at mobile devices with 8GB RAM. But what does having an 8GB RAM phone have to do with travel you ask? In my understanding of tech, having an 8GB RAM device puts users in the perfect sweet spot of stable and optimal usage. One doesn’t need to necessarily burn a hole in their pocket by spending on an ultra-premium device with 12/16GB RAM while travelling as devices with 8GB RAM can do the job just right. Here are my recommendations for the best 8GB RAM phones for your next travel outing: 

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 

Getting the most expensive device on the list away first! I don’t know how appealing you find Samsung’s ‘Flip’ design, but the compact form factor seals the deal for me. Imagine backpacking in the woods without having to worry about a big phone in your pocket. Once folded, the device adapts a small size which packs in a big surprise with its performance. The device comes with the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 coupled with 8GB RAM which makes it the perfect companion for your next outstation trip. The 3700mAh battery is the only point of concern but the device is capable of 25W fast charging. However, you do not get a charger in the box. 

The QuickShot feature in the Galaxy z Flip4 device allows users to click selfies directly from the cover display. While the device comes with water resistance, it does not allow users to expand storage through a memory card slot. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is currently priced at ₹89,999 for the 8/128Gb model. 

  • Xiaomi 12 Pro 

Xiaomi definitely has a number of offerings in mobile devices in each price segment. The company is known to provide flagship-like features for budget to midrange devices. However, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is the best the company has to offer when it comes to performance and design. The high-end devices at a considerable price, deliver in every aspect. The display of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device also comes with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and a peak brightness of 1500 nits, enabling you to enjoy the movie you like in Full HD on your flight across borders. A big bump in the battery from the Galaxy Z Flip4, Xiaomi 12 Pro comes with a 4600mAh battery capacity. 

Whereas, the device also has powerful 120W charging to power up the device to 100% in 18 minutes. It is available in both 8 and 12GB RAM variants, making it fit your requirements. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor which provides a smooth performance. The Xiaomi 12 Pro is priced at ₹54,999. 

  • OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G 

For me, the last OnePlus device which lived up to the brand’s ‘Never Settle’ tagline was the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G. While I understand that the device doesn’t live up to its brand’s market disruptive history, it was a competitive device, to say the least. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is powered by the octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor, which is the only minus point in my opinion (being a biased Snapdragon loyalist of course). However, it packs an overall punch which makes one consider buying the device. So what does the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G brings to the table? 

It comes with a 90Hz refresh rate 6.40-inch display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It has a pixel density of 409 pixels per inch with an aspect ratio of 20:9. The higher variant of the device comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The camera setup offers a 64-MP primary lens coupled with 8-MP and 2-MP lenses. The front camera setup features a decent 16-MP lens. The 4500mAh battery of the device can be juiced up with the 65W SUPERVOOC charging. The 8/128GB variant of the device is priced at ₹24,999. 

  • Redmi Note 11 Pro 

Another Xiaomi device for the win! The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5g is straight-up a powerful device which provides powerful performance at a reasonable price. The premier attraction of the device for me is the beautiful quad-camera setup which houses the powerful 108-MP main camera. The main camera produces some crystal clear images, whereas the other three 8+2+2-MP lenses provide solid assistance. It comes with a powerful 5000mAh battery which can be charged up to 50% in just 15 minutes with the 67W fast charger. 

The device does not come with 5G capabilities which can be a deal breaker for people looking for future-proof devices. But it should definitely be on your list for the best 8GB RAM phones. The 8/128GB variant of the Redmi Note 11 Pro is priced at ₹20,999. 

  • Vivo V25 Pro 5G 

The 8GB RAM devices carry a ‘Pro’ tag with them in the market. This tag looks justified to me as the smartphones do provide some of the best features without going past the ₹50K mark. The Vivo V25 Pro 5G is one such device. It comes with the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset with 8GB RAM which makes it a complete performer. Whereas, the 64-MP primary camera is the cherry on top. 

Vivo V25 Pro 5G comes with a 6.56-inches bezel-less display with a refresh rate of 120hz. It comes with a battery capacity of 4840mAh which can be charged with a 66W fast charging system. It comes with non-expandable 128GB internal storage. The powerful 64Mp camera is backed by an 8-MP wide angle and 2-MP macro lens. Whereas, the 32-MP front camera shoots crisp images. The Vivo V25 Pro 5G is priced at ₹35,999. 

  • OnePlus 10T

Placing the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G above the OnePlus 10T in the list is as shocking to me as it is to you. However, while the flagship offering by OnePlus is definitely one of the devices to consider, it failed to impress me as it has little to no upgrades from its predecessor the OnePlus 10 Pro. In fact, it has a few downgrades like the lack of the Hasselblad branding and the downgraded display resolution. But there are a few plus points to the device which make it an optimal choice for some users. The USP of the device for me is the ultra-fast charging of a whopping 150W which can top up its 4,800mAh battery in mere 20 minutes. 

The OnePlus 10T is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which is the latest and most powerful offering by Qualcomm to this date. The powerful processor is blacked by the 8GB RAM but the storage options are limited to 256GB as it does not support expandable storage. You should also note that the 8GB RAM variant is exclusive to the 128GB storage options. The 256GB storage option is available for the 12/16GB RAM variants. Instead of a Hasselblad camera, the OnePlus 10T comes with a 50-MP main Sony IMX766 lens coupled with an 8-MP Ultrawide camera and 2-MP macro lens camera. Whereas, the selfie camera has EIS support at 16-MP. It is priced at ₹49,999 for the 8/128GB variant. Whereas, the overkill 16GB and 256Gb variant is priced at ₹55,999. 

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

This is personally my favourite device on the list. Having used it for nearly a year before accidentally breaking it off, I do have some experience with the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G which is majorly positive. The only negative point I see for the device is that it was released back in March 2021, making it over a year old in the Indian market which could be a deal breaker for many. However, yesteryear’s flagship device with this year’s midrange prices is not a deal I would like to pass on. 

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G comes with the Snapdragon 865 chip, which might be slightly older, but it is definitely powerful. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5-type RAM which is considerably faster. It comes with Samsung’s flagship staple Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The impressive camera setup includes a 12-MP f/1.8 wide-angle primary camera with an 8-MP telephoto lens and another 12-MP ultra-wide lens. The selfies can be shot with the powerful 32-MP camera which produces some of the best selfie shots. The internal storage can also be extended using a microSD card up to 1TB. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FEis priced at ₹29,999. 

  • Motorola Edge 30 Fusion 

I have used the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion for over two weeks and can confirm that it is a powerful device. Keeping aside a few gripes I had with the device, like the heating issue, the new Moto midrange flagship comes with one of the RAM management features in all of the devices listed here. Getting the drawback out of the line first, it comes with a Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset which is known for its heating issue. While using the device, I noticed it heating up during gaming sessions and charging. But it was not a deal breaker for me. 

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion comes with a 6.55 inches P-OLED display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. The key feature of the device for me is the beautiful 144Hz screen which comes with a partial always-on-display. The camera of the device features a 50-MP wide-angle main lens accompanied by a 13-MP Ultra-wide camera and a 2-MP Macro camera. Motorola has equipped the front of the device with a 32-MP shooter for selfies and video calls. The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is priced at ₹39,999 for the 8/128Gb variants. 

  • Nothing Phone 1 

The Nothing Phone 1’s light-up back is clearly a flex. For years as manufacturers have focussed more and more on the front of the device, Nothing took a different approach and went with a stylised back side which comes with the glyph interface, The transparent backside of the device comes with flashing light strips that beat rhythmically to the beats of a ringtone or other notifications. But, the device is not just a LED light show as it comes with power-packed insides too. 

The Nothing Phone 1 comes with a powerful Snapdragon 778G+ chipset which is far more than just capable of multitasking and gaming. It comes with a powerful dual-lens camera set up with a primary lens of 50-MP and another 50-MP ultra-wide lens. The front of the device is equipped with a 16-MP selfie shooter. The 4500mAh battery is powered by fast charging capabilities. The Nothing Phone 1 can be purchased at ₹33,999 for the 8/128GB variant, whereas, the 8/256GB variant is priced at ₹36,999. The 12GB RAM variant is also available for this one priced at ₹39,999.

Initial iPhone 14 Plus sales lower than expected

Tech giant Apple’s recently released iPhone 14 Plus is witnessing low traction. The newly released device is not up to the mark when it comes to demand as it has registered unexpectedly low sales. Apple fanatics and tech enthusiasts can easily pinpoint the reason behind the lack of sales for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. The devices were considerably overshadowed by the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max as they come with a revamped design and a newer fast chip.

iPhone 14 Plus sales disappoint

DigiTimes was the first portal to reveal that the iPhone 14 Plus sales have not kicked off as one would expect with the premium Apple device. People are leaning more toward the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. While there is a sharp difference between the sales performance of iPhone 14 Pro and non-pro devices, the overall shipment of the new devices is the same as those of the iPhone 13 lineup in the second half of 2021.

It is reported that if the sales of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus remain the same then Apple may cut out the orders of parts included in making those devices in the second half of October itself. If Apple decides to cut part orders more aggressively than expected then the total shipment of the iPhone 14 lineup could fall down more as compared to the iPhone 13 series last year. That is an alarming development considering the iPhone 14 Plus was seated by Apple between the sweet spot of the standard iPhone 14 and the 14 Pro models. The device was expected to make a big splash in the market with its larger form factor housing a vibrant 6.7-inch display. The device also offers the best battery life on an iPhone to this date with its large battery capacity.

The picture is quite clear here. Apple fanatics are ready to pay the higher price to get the Pro models if they offer good enough upgrades. The iPhone 14 Pro definitely has new things to offer to its users with the revamped notch ‘Dynamic Island’ design and the 48MP camera capacity. Looking at this development, it will be interesting to see if Apple continues the same trend of reserving specification bumps for the Pro models and the standard variants receive a few tweaks here and there. Looking at Apple’s history, it won’t be an outlandish assumption to make.

Samsung confirms the rollout of Android 13 One UI 5.0 update

Google recently launched Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro with Android 13 out of the box, and now Samsung is about to turn the game with the release of the Android 13 One UI 5.0 update to the Galaxy S22 series. The new firmware will come with a number of features like an improved lock screen, widget stacking, clever multitasking gestures, text recognition in the Gallery, a Privacy Hub and many more.

The firmware, along with the complete roadmap of the OneUI 5 are expected to release by the end of October. Thanks to the firmware, it would make Android 13’s arrival a month faster compared to the previous year’s OneUI 4 update, which came in November. The public rollout will start soon, but it will take time to roll out the update throughout the world, be it an OneUI 5 or the Android 13 update.

Once the beta program ends, the Galaxy S22 users will get the Android 13 and One UI 5.0, maybe around the end of November. Till now, the company has released four beta updates based on One UI 5.0 for the Galaxy S22, and according to trusted tipsters, there could be another beta release before the final version rolls out. 

Along with the Galaxy S22 series,  Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are expected to get Android 13 and One UI 5.0 before 2023.

iPhone 5c to officially become outdated on November 1

Are you an iPhone fanatic who is still holding on to your beloved iPhone 5c? I can surely picture some Apple users holding back on the iPhone 5c to use it as an iPod replacement or straight up as their primary device even after nine years after its launch. Outlandish but possible! Well, it looks like now is the time to bid your iPhone 5c goodbye as Apple is all set to declare it as ‘obsolete’.

Goodbye iPhone 5c

Several reports suggest that the iPhone 5c will soon be declared obsolete by Apple. The device was previously declared ‘vintage’ by the company in 2020. By turning the device Apple obsolete, the company has basically concluded the iPhone 5c’s repairs and other services. This means, if your beloved 5c ends up with a cracked screen, Apple won’t fix it as it will no longer have hardware support for it. The budget iPhone 5c can now be put to rest!

The device was previously listed as vintage by Apple which meant that the company and its service providers could only provide certain repairs for the product, subject to availability. Apple’s official page about such products states, “Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago. Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products.” The iPhone 5c was the first offering from Apple to come in a colorful plastic form factor. It featured colors like blue, green, pink, and yellow which were new to iPhone back then! Besides this, the 2014 version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro is also reported to hit the vintage mark soon.

Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro launched by Google: Everything you need to know

Google has officially launched the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro at an event in New York. The new phones will be making their way to India this time around with pre-orders already kicking off on Flipkart. People keen on getting their hands on the latest Pixel devices will have to shell out Rs84,999 for the Pixel 7 Pro. However, several bank offers can bring the effective price down to Rs69,999. Whereas, the standard Pixel 7 will cost Rs 59,999 in India. Check out all the details about Google’s Pixel 7 series below:

Pixel 7 & 7 Pro details

The standard Pixel 7 comes with a 6.3-inch 1080P screen, slightly smaller than Pixel 6’s 6.4-inch display; Google mentioned that the bezels on the latest device are slimmer than the Pixel 6 but the 90Hz refresh rate remains the same. The 7 Pro on the other hand comes with a hearty 1440P LTPO display with a 6.7-inch form factor and 120HZ refresh rate. Google claims that both these devices’ displays now come with 25% higher brightness than their predecessors.

Under the hood, we have Google’s very own Tensor G2 chipset powering the Pixel 7 series. While the standard Pixel 7 comes with 8GB RAM, the Pixel 7 Pro is coupled with a powerful 12GB RAM. Both devices come with face unlock features on top of an under-display fingerprint sensor. Google has cut some corners with the Pixel 7 as it comes with a 4,355mAh battery, smaller than Pixel 6’s 4,600mAh battery capacity. The Pixel 7 Pro on the other hand houses a big 5,000mAh battery capacity. Both devices offer 128/256GB storage respectively.

Both Pixel 7 devices come with a 50MP primary lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. While the Pixel 7 comes with a dual camera setup, the Pixel 7 Pro sports a triple camera. The only differentiating factor in the camera setup here is the Pixel 7 Pro’s 48MP telephoto lens which is missing in the Pixel 7. The front of the device is a 10.8MP lens for selfies and video calls.

One pretty obvious change here in the Pixel 7 series is the camera bar. While Pixel 6 and 6 Pro used glass to cover the device’s cameras coupled with a metal outline, the Pixel 7 series features 100% recycled aluminum with a matte finish. Finally, on the software side, Google has brought some monumental changes. With the special optimization of the Tensor G2 chipset, users can now unblur older/existing photos to improve their quality. The company claims that Night Sight is now twice as fast as the Pixel 6. Real Tone has been integrated into the Portrait and Night Sight modes. A new accessibility feature has also been added to the selfie camera which allows visually impaired people to stay in frame with the help of haptic and audio signals.

Pre-order the Google Pixel 7/7 Pro from Flipkart – HERE

No TouchID for future flagship iPhones?

Apple stunned the world with its recent launch event introducing the new iPhone 14 series. While Apple’s flagship devices have washed their hands clean off the TouchID, there have been several reports in the past that suggest that it will be making its way back. Ever since Apple moved to FaceID with its flagship offerings, Apple fans have speculated that the company will be implementing an in-screen fingerprint sensor on its devices. Android devices have been sporting the feature for years so fans expecting the same from Apple is only natural. But it looks like Apple has no interest to introduce the in-display fingerprint sensor in iPhones.

TouchID abandoned?

If you ask me, back in the day Apple’s home button with TouchID was its identity. The classic design surely ruled over millions of hearts as it brought a sense of familiarity through years of design retention. It was back in 2017 when Apple decided to move away from the classic design for its flagship offering with the iPhone X which introduced Apple’s FaceID, and of course, the notch. The same year, Apple also introduced the iPhone 8/8 Plus which kept the classic design and home button with TouchID. Cut to 2022, when the tech giant introduced the iPhone 14 lineup, all equipped with notches and FaceID. it’s been half a decade since Apple introduced FaceID and in my opinion, it is time for a change. But the tech giant doesn’t feel the same!

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently shared his latest edition of the Power On newsletter where he shared that Apple has no plans of bringing back the TouchID anytime soon. According to Gurman, and leaks over the internet, Apple tested the under-screen TouchID in recent years. The resources utilized in testing the under-screen TouchID feature surely will not go to waste as Apple might implement it in the future. Will it happen with the iPhone 15 coming next year? Not at all! In fact, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has tweeted that the under-display fingerprint sensor will not make its way to the iPhone even in 2024. This means that we tentatively have over two generations of the iPhone to go before we can possibly see the feature.

But the question to ask here is whether we really need this feature. the answer for me is definitely yes! Android devices have been rocking the in-display fingerprint sensor for years now and it’s only about time that Apple brings this feature to iPhone! Technology moves at a fast pace and Apple has a lot of catching up to do. The company’s obsession to provide quality features at its own pace is commendable for sure but come on hurry up a little!

Best phones to buy under Rs 75K in India

As you know, the festive season sales are upon us. Not just Flipkart and Amazon, but various other individual brands will also be hosting their festive sales and offering big discounts on smartphones across the market. Be it Samsung or the iPhone, users have a number of options to choose from. The festive season brings a reason to spend the big bucks for smartphones on your wishlist, hence we wanted to look at the premium segment of phones. Here are the best phones to buy in India under Rs 75K during this festive season:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Cannot talk about flagship devices and leave the Z Flip 4 hanging. The device comes usually comes at a price of Rs 89,990 but is selling under 75K during the festive season. The selling point of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is surely the folding dynamics of the device, but that’s not all there is as it comes with a powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The display has a resolution of 2640 x 1080 coupled with a 120Hz refresh rate. Another main attraction of the device is the smaller 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display at the back of the device which allows users to check notifications and click pictures whenever the device is folded. Check out five reasons to go for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 – HERE

You can buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 from Amazon – HERE

Apple iPhone 13

Apple iPhone 13’s 128GB variant was being sold on Flipkart for under Rs 50K during the first few days of the Big Billion Days sale. However, right now the same device is being sold at Rs 60K. But since we’re looking at devices under Rs75K, recommending the 256GB variant of the iPhone 13 is an easy task. It is a powerful device that comes with Apple’s flagship A15 bionic chip. The same chip currently powers the iPhone 14’s standard variants. The device comes with two 12MP cameras with the primary lens offering OIS and the secondary being an ultra-wide lens. People looking for a camera-centric device can definitely go for the iPhone 13.

You can buy the Apple iPhone 13 from Flipkart – HERE

iQOO 9 Pro 5G

Move over Samsung and Apple cause iQOO is not playing around with the iQOO 9 Pro 5G! The device comes packed with Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. The processor is backed by 12GB RAM and 256GB storage coupled with a sharp HDR 10+ compliant AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200 x 1400. While these specifications are enough for some users to jump on and buy the device, it also comes with a 120W ‘FlashCharge’ support which can juice up the device from 0 to 100 in 20 minutes. The device also comes with support for 50W wireless charging. The device is packed with a 50MP primary lens which comes with Gimbal OIS and another 50MP camera with an ultra-wide lens. A 16MP telephoto lens with OIS is also present here.

You can buy the iQOO 9 Pro 5G from Amazon – HERE

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G

Any Samsung device with a Snapdragon processor is easy to recommend. Samsung’s built quality coupled with the power of Snapdragon chipsets makes it the perfect combination which delivers the best performance to the user. The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is now available on Amazon at a price of just over 60K for the 128GB variant. Being a flagship device, it comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. It runs on Android 12 out of the box with Samsung’s One UI 4.1.  Camera-centric users will have a lot to play around with as it comes with a 50MP primary camera with dual pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera is also present here with Super-Steady video support, and a 10MP telephoto lens. It can record videos up to 8K in resolution. The only minus point of the device is the 3700mAh battery which can be quickly charged with  25W support.

You can buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 5GT – HERE

 

 

 

 

First iPhone 14 Pro Bug Found as Users Complain of Shaking Camera

The iPhone 14 lineup was recently launched during Apple’s ‘Far out’ event and the devices have now started reaching people who pre-booked the devices. Users who were first to jump onto the bandwagon of the latest iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max have now been taken back by a surprise. In today’s social media savvy generation, It is expected of people to download apps like Instagram and Snapchat in order to share stories, posts and more. However, users who are using the new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max were left baffled when they witnessed the new devices having an uncontrollable lens movement. Read below to know more;

iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max Lens Movement

Several videos posted across social media by users of the newly launched iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max showcase the device having a strange issue. The users shared that their iPhone 14 Pro camera shakes and makes an audible grinding sound when trying to use it on third-party apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and more. Luke Miani, a reputed Apple YouTube content creator was one of the first to share this issue on his Twitter. In the linked video, you can see that the iPhone 14 Pro Max camera vibrates when using Snapchat also making a buzzing/rattling sound. This will be the first time Apple’s cameras have faced such a bug. In a different Tweet, Luke also shared another video of the device encountering the same issue.

As of now, the bug is only limited to third-party apps and not iPhone’s Camera App, which is definitely a relief! It can be assumed that this is not Apple’s hardware issue but something that can be solved through software updates specifically for the iPhone 14 Pro. On the other hand, it is not confirmed whether Apple itself is aware of the bug as it is fairly new. Affected users will have to wait for a near-future fix before they can use the third-party app camera option in the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max models.

Next iPhone and Mac lineup to feature advanced TSMC chips

Apple only recently introduced the iPhone 14 lineup and rumour mills have started reporting that the work for the iPhone 15 lineup has already commenced. The latest iPhone series did bring some refreshing changes but kept them exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max models. This has fueled rumours that next year, even the standard iPhone 15 lineup will include Pro Features like Dynamic Island and the latest chip. While the rumours cannot be confirmed or denied as they are not officially clarified, some reports suggest that Apple is planning to use updated 3nm chipsets from Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC in next year’s iPhones and Macbooks.

TSMC chips in iPhone and Mac

A recent report revealed that Apple is planning to use the Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC’s latest chip for the upcoming iPhones and Macbooks. The A17 mobile processor, expected to power the iPhone 15 lineup is currently under development. It will reportedly be mass-produced using TSMC’s N3E chipmaking tech. However, there hasn’t been any confirmation from Apple about the same. TSMC chipmaker controls 54% of the global market for contractually produced chips. They supply to multiple tech firms including Apple and Qualcomm.

The news of Apple using TSMC chips for its next big iPhone and Mac lineup comes around the time when Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has warned the world that the semiconductor industry faces volatile challenges. Taiwan is home to TSMC which is the world’s largest chipmaker. It is also a prominent producer of semiconductors used in cellphones, data centres, washing machines, etc.

Tsai did not clarify what challenges the industry is currently facing but since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage of chips has been a major problem. The shortage of chips hampered the production of cars and many consumer electronics. The Taiwanese chip manufacturing firms have also taken a hit from the soaring inflation, recession fears and the impact of the war in Ukraine. However, the President is adamant that Taiwan stays the leader in advanced chips.

Samsung Z Fold4 (Review) – A foldable’s London expedition

If you are holding the Galaxy Z Fold3 in your hand, you might be convinced that upgrading to the Z Fold4 might not be required by the end of this review. It’s lighter, the camera is bumped up, and the hinged mechanism is more refined and well-integrated. There is no comparison that can be thrown in since it’s a segment blurring the lines between a tablet and a smartphone. The whole gist of this version of the Z Fold – Lots of things are a little nicer; nothing is radically better.

Take, for instance, the screens; the hinge and bezels are a little smaller than on the Fold3, making the 6.2-inch cover screen more operationally practical. It has a 2316 x 904 resolution and a 23.1:9 aspect ratio – a little wider than the Fold 3’s 2268 x 832 display with a 24.5:9 ratio. Texting and typing on the keyboard require a lot more concentration, and if I kept hitting the wrong keys, I would blame my wider thumb.

The main screen still measures 7.6 inches like last year’s, now with a 2176 x 1812 resolution and 21.6:18 aspect ratio compared to 2208 x 1768 and 22.5:18. The screen is humongous from smartphone standards, and a slight shift in aspect ratio really doesn’t make any big difference. All the screens (inner & outer) offer up to 120Hz refresh rates, so scrolling is very smooth and refined.

 

The ZFold 4 has a 4400mAh battery and lasts a whole day easily with heavy usage, but more than a day is asking for trouble. There’s no change to wired charging speeds at 25W, but wireless charging has been fastened at 15W versus 11W. There is a small catch though you will have to use Samsung’s own fast wireless chargers. To be honest, for a serious multitasking folding phone, this is the only game in town and is a unique proposition.

Powering the Galaxy Z Fold 4 across all regions is Qualcomm’s new 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset. There isn’t a version of the device with an Exynos alternative, a change from Samsung’s release strategy with S-series phones, and that’s a good thing. Gorilla glass Victus+ and 18% stronger flexible glass are welcome additions.


Overall, the phone has 5 cameras with an in-display 4MP camera as well, but the main 50MP camera has innate capabilities both during day and night. The 12MP Ultrawide sensor and 10MP telephoto, this time with OIS like the primary camera, bring 3x optical and 30x digital zoom. The improved camera algorithms similar to something named Ultra at the end brings improved camera performance in all lighting conditions.

One UI running on 12GB DDR5 RAM based on Android 12L brings software enhancements like no other phone. While operating, what is intuitive is a desktop-style taskbar that stacks up all the most commonly used apps and sits at the bottom of the screen. It can also be pulled up when you’re in other apps, allowing you to open multiple apps simultaneously without jumping back to the home screen.

Weight-wise, it’s not too bulky; though it looks like a heavier gadget, it still holds a brag factor at the dinner table, and you will always proudly keep it in the centre of everyone’s attention. If you’ve been sitting on the bench and waiting to dive into the fold revolution, then it’s a good time to do that with the ZFold4, or maybe wait for it to come out with another iteration and hopefully with a wider screen for ease of typing without folding out. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted, and plonking down Rs 1,54,999/- means you are already living a life!

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