Category: Tech

Review – Noise ColorFit Pulse 2 Max

What could one expect from a smartwatch worth ₹2,799*? Well, not much, as people are running behind high-quality smartwatches only to show off. However, many people want to experience the thrill of a moment and would love to own any smartwatch, even if it offers fewer features. Back in September, India’s no. 1 wearable watch brand, Noise, launched ColorFit Pulse 2, Max, at the price tag of ₹5,999, but during an initial sale, it was offered at a special price of ₹1,999.

Why Noise ColorFit Pulse 2 Max?

Well, the first reason we all know – not everyone can afford the luxury of Apple and Samsung smartwatches. Secondly, Noise is a homegrown brand of the country which has created quite a buzz in the last couple of years. The newly launched ColorFit Pulse 2 Max is a Bluetooth calling smartwatch that features more than 150 cloud-based customisable watch faces and is available in five colour options – Deep Wine, Jet Black, Midnight Blue, Jade Green, and Rose Pink.

Design

Designwise, the watch seems quite average, and there’s nothing to talk about. It comes with a traditional design which features a square-shaped display and a strap with a rubber material. It has a power button on the right side with a noise logo embedded on the button. On the left side, it has speakers, on the strap, it has a tagline of the company – “Listen to the noise within” and on the bottom, it has a biometric sensor and charging pin slot.

Display & Features

The smartwatch features a 1.85-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display with a 240×284 pixel resolution that sports 550 nits of brightness. Swipe up, and you’ll see options like silent mode, tap to search (which helps you to find your phone when you’re not able to find it by yourself), up to 5-levels of brightness options in the name of dimming, DND mode, power saving mode and lastly an option to go into the settings of the smartwatch.

The watch is loaded with a number of smart features, including a heart rate monitor, a SpO2 monitor, a stress monitor for health monitoring, called ID, call blocking, an activity tracker, a step counter, a calorie counter and even a feature that keeps an eye on your menstrual cycles. The watch also allows you to save up to 10 numbers and has Tru Sync technology, which uses Bluetooth v5.3 for connectivity and BlueTooth calling.

Verdict

The watch can be paired with the smartphone only with the NoiseFit app and has a strong battery life which can last up to 10 days. Overall, the watch seems well-made, considering its price, and it can do most of the things you would like to see in a smartwatch. So, if you are one of those people who have a tight budget and haven’t experienced the world of smartwatches yet and wanted to give it a try to it, then go for Noise ColorFit Pulse 2 Max.

5 best DSLR cameras to collect memories

Gone are the days when DSLRs were considered a vital part of a professional photographer’s kit, as owning a DSLR camera is no longer restricted to photographers only. Thanks to apps like Instagram, which helped camera makers earn millions as everybody wants to be a content creator today. Now, out of FOMO, if you are thinking of buying a DSLR, then you’re at the right place. Come on, let’s capture the beautiful moments of life with our list of the top 5 DSLR cameras of 2022.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Back in 2015, I shot my first short film on 5D Mark III, and since then, I’ve been in love with the Canon EOS 5D Mark series. The latest addition (not the latest, as Mark IV was launched in 2016) in the series 5D Mark IV is a fantastic workhorse if you’re into short films, weddings and other events. The Mark IV DSLR camera offers superb image capture functionality, versatility, and robust design, which makes it a heavyweight and well-respected option for professional photographers.

Key Features:

1.62M-dot 3.2″ full-time touchscreen

30.4-MP full-frame sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS AF

DCI 4K 30/24p video using Motion JPEG + 4K Frame Grab

61-point AF system with 41 cross-type sensors

ISO 100-32000 (expandable to 102400)

Nikon D850

Are you one of those who always strive to have a DSLR camera that delivers highly detailed shoots and high-quality video capture? If yes, then Nikon D850 would be a solid choice for you. The camera offers you to shoot at 30, 25 or 24p, and it is the first Nikon DSLR to capture 4K video from the full width of its sensor. The D850 DSLR from the house Nikon is one of the best cameras for landscape, wedding, fashion, sports, or wildlife photography.

Key Features:

45.7MP FX-Format BSI CMOS sensor

ISO: 64-25600, extended: 32-102400

180k-pixel RGB Sensor, Focus Shift mode

UHD 4K video capture at up to 30p from full sensor width

7 fps continuous shooting with AE/AF (9 with battery grip and EN-EL18b battery)

Nikon D3500

Just like the line, not every hero wears a cape – not everyone is aware of the depths of the camera world, but if you want to enter it, then Nikon D3500 is the camera for you. The camera was launched in 2018, and since then, it has been a first preference DSLR camera for every newbie photographer. The camera has an inbuilt feature of a handy guide shooting mode from which you get tutorials, and it helps the user on how to use the camera via the LCD screen.

Key Features:

24-MP APS-C CMOS sensor

1080/60 Video Capture

ISO range of 100-25600

11-point autofocus system through the optical viewfinder

Battery rated for 1,550 shots per charge (CIPA)

Canon EOS Rebel T8i

Another one for beginners! The simple APS-C DSLR camera is a lightweight yet powerful device that captures detailed and colourful images. The Canon EOS Rebel T8i offers good image quality even in poorly lit environments, and its autofocus system does an exceptional job during still photography. The camera gets a new, dedicated AF ON button, which we used to get in DSLRs like the EOS 90D and EOS 7D Mark II. The EOS Rebel T8i camera is best if you’re someone who’s into social media content.

Key Features:

DIGIC 8 Image Processor

24.1MP APS-C CMOS Sensor

Digital AF/AE single-lens reflex camera

3.0″ 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen

UHD 4K24p Video, Vertical Video Support

Sony A77 II

Sony A77 was launched in 2014, and yet it is one of the best DSLRs in terms of videography. The camera can record videos at 24p, 60i and 60p modes in AVCHD / MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC H. 264) format and has awe-inspiring video features that will appeal to videographers. The in-camera image stabilisation differentiates Sony from Canon and Nikon DSLRs.

Key Features:

XGA OLED Tru-Finder and Tilting WhiteMagic LCD Screen

24.3MP APS-C Exmor Sensor and BIONZ X Image Processor

12fps continuous shooting with autofocus (up to 60 JPEGs)

1/8000th maximum shutter speed, shutter rated for 150,000 actuation

ISO 100 – 25,600 (Extendable down to 50 and up to 51,200 with multi-image combination)

Instagram has no plans to build an iPad app

Being an iPad user and operating Instagram has always been a frustrating experience. Once you’ve bought the iPad you expect it to be compatible with all the applications present in the iPhone with an even better experience. While that is indeed true for most applications out there, the same cannot be said for Instagram. Being an iPad user myself, it gets frustrating to operate Instagram on a small vertical screen without proper integration of the iPad’s widescreen. Well, it looks like the pains of iPad users are not going to be fixed by Instagram, but there’s a silver lining to this cloud!

iPad Instagram web interface gets better

Our friendly neighborhood tech enthusiasts at The Verge were one of the first people to notice the changes in the web interface of Instagram on the iPad. While there is no specific app design for Instagram on the iPad, a slightly redesigned version of Instagram on the web can be seen. This new design includes a navigation sidebar with links to options like search, explore, notifications, and messages. These options were previously placed unlabelled at the top of the screen.

The Verge received a statement from Meta spokesperson Christine Pai where it was revealed that the company is working on improving the instagram.com web experience for users. The recent changes have been described as updates to ‘modernize’ Instagram web with the inclusion of improved navigation, optimization of video experience, and the introduction of a more ‘immersive’ way to DM.

This surely does not fill the shoes of having a dedicated application designed for the tablet experience but it’s a step in the right direction nonetheless. It was only back in February when Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram had written that creating an iPad-specific Instagram app was not on their priority list. It looks like nothing has changed since then!

Elon Musk proposes $8 per month for Twitter blue tick

The new owner of Twitter is ready to shake up how the app works from the ground above. Elon Musk recently took control of Twitter after completing his $44 billion acquisition the past week. A lot has happened ever since Musk took command of Twitter, be it him walking into the headquarters with a sink in his hands or key staff members and the board of directors being shown the front door. While it was expected that Musk will make radical changes to the platform, people were not expecting that there will be a change in how accounts are verified with the blue tick. It looks like users will now have to pay a monthly fee in order to keep their verified status on Twitter!

$8 for blue tick on Twitter

Musk had some strong views to share on Twitter’s verification policy. He described the current system as a ‘lords & peasants system calling it ‘bullshit’. Elon wants to bring a change in the Twitter verification system with it being available only to Twitter Blue subscribers at the price of $8 per month.

A verified tick is not the only feature as Blue members will also get more benefits with the $8 price tag. Twitter won’t be an entirely ad-free experience for Blue users but they will see ‘Half as many ads’. Additionally, Blue members will also get priority in tweet replies, mentions, and search. Another feature catering to creators on the internet is the ability to be able to post longer video and audio content. Twitter Blue will also come with a paywall bypass feature that will directly work with publishers that collab with the platform. According to the Twitter boss, Blue subscription will be differently adjusted by country. Twitter Blue has not been introduced yet in India and it will be interesting to see at what price the subscription is introduced here.

Naturally, the decision has faced a lot of backlash on the platform. Many blue tick verified users have expressed their disappointment over the new rule. However, Elon Musk won’t be backing down from his decision.

 

 

Tech Launches of the Month (November 2022)

Nothing Ear (Stick)

Again, Nothing has something new to offer, this time in the name of Nothing Ear (Stick). The London-based company unveiled new TWS earbuds in a Red and White colour option, which are not precisely similar to the previously launched Nothing Ear (1). Along with the Nothing Ear (Stick), they also launched an app – Nothing X, where you can customise the sound output of the earbuds. The buds will be available in India from November 17 and priced at ₹8,499.

Key Features

  • Bluetooth Version: 5.2
  • Style: Open-fit true wireless earbuds
  • Driver type: Custom-made 12.6mm
  • Weight: 4.4g per earbud, 46.3g charging case
  • Battery life: Up to 7hrs (29hrs including charging case)

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

Asus recently unveiled its first foldable laptop in India – the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, which sports a 17.3” foldable OLED display with 2560 by 1920 resolution. The thin and light foldable laptop from the house of Asus is priced at ₹3,29,290 and has a touchscreen that folds down instantly to a compact 12.5” size. The laptop is powered with a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processor and features a stunning Harman Kardon-certified quad-speaker Dolby Atmos® audio system.

Key Features

  • 5 MP AI camera video calling
  • Multiple screens via ScreenXpert
  • 75 Wh all-day battery life
  • Up to 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor
  • Dolby Atmos quad-speaker with smart amplifier technology

Realme 10

In the last week of October 2022, in a series of tweets, Madhav Seth, CEO of Realme, confirmed the release of the Realme 10 in India. The smartphone will have a punch-hole display with a selfie camera in the upper left corner. Realme 10 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 SoC with up to 8GB of RAM and has a 90Hz Super AMOLED panel. It will pack a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support.

Key Features

  • Colour options – Clash White and Rush Black
  • MediaTek Helio G99 SoC with up to 8GB of RAM
  • 360Hz touch sampling rate and FHD+ resolution
  • 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support
  • 16MP front camera with AI Clear Fusion technology

MediaTek Dimensity 9200

The MediaTek Dimensity 9200 is on its way, and interestingly, it’s getting a launch before its rival, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The successor of the Dimensity 9000 will sport one Cortex-X3 prime core, three Cortex-A715 mid-cores, and four Cortex-A510 cores. The Dimensity 9200 is expected to launch on November 8th and will share a similar architecture with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, as both of them are said to be fabricated on TSMC’s 4nm process.

Apple iPad Pro (2022)

Apple launched iPad Pro 2022, the new and updated iPad Pro refresh with the company’s M2 chipset. The design of the new powerful tablets remains the same, except for the home button, which is removed. The tablets are available in two size options – 11-inch and 12.9-inch, both with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. The larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro comes with a mini-LED display panel, while the 11-inch iPad has a normal LCD display panel.

Key Features

  • RAM – 8GB/16GB
  • Storage – 128GB/256GB/512GB / 1TB/2TB
  • Chip – Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
  • Video Recording – 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps (Wide)
  • Camera – Dual 12MP wide + 10MP ultra-wide, 2x optical/5x digital, Smart HDR 4

Apple TV 4K

Apple introduces the powerful next-generation Apple TV 4K, which will be available from 4th November. The TV is said to be more powerful, entertaining, and affordable than ever and features the A15 Bionic chip, adds HDR10+, and gets the best of Apple to the biggest screen in the home. The TV is available in two configurations: Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi), which offers 64GB of storage, and Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet), which provides support for Gigabit Ethernet along with twice storage.

Key Features

  • 4K screen resolution
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • Up to 128GB Storage
  • A15 Bionic chip
  • Siri remote with USB-C connector

Truly Intelligent – Noise IntelliBuds Review

When I was first handed the Noise IntelliBuds for review, I was skeptical about the promised gesture control features & voice commands of this TWS. It looked more like a gimmick than a feature that could actually work seamlessly without lags. Boy was I wrong! The Noise IntelliBuds took me by surprise and these intelligent TWS should be on your list if you’re in the market for a good wireless music experience. 

Design and Features 

When it comes to the case and earbuds design, the intelliBuds do not experiment much. The 45 grams charging case is much of a standard affair with its rectangular design. Whereas the in-ear design of the earbuds with 6mm drivers is also nothing out of the ordinary. It is the features where this TWS zooms past a lot of its competitors. Noise has partnered with the known audio company Bragi to deliver the feature-rich IntelliBuds. There are an array of features here like voice commands, gesture controls, transparency mode, and much more. 

The IntelliBuds’ gesture controls are backed by a powerful AI neural network. The company claims that the AI has been trained rigorously for weeks to detect accidental and intentional head movements. During my testing of the gesture controls on Intellibuds, the device was able to detect the movement 9 times out of 10 which is impressive. Another standout feature here is the ‘Hot Voice Commands’ where a user can simply say ‘Hey headphones’ followed by a command. For example, ‘Hey headphones, Next’, this feature also worked as one would expect and I did not face any issues with voice commands on the IntelliBuds. One thing to note here is that all these features are backed by the ‘NoiseFit Smart’ application. Users first need to download the application and calibrate the earbuds before they can start using the features. I made the rookie mistake of not downloading the app and expecting the features to work right out of the box, only to be disappointed. 

The IntelliBuds also come with the support of music sharing. The feature-heavy TWS goes a mile ahead by adding a customizable equalizer that allows users to tune the earbuds according to their liking. Some preset equalizer modes like Rock, Pop, etc. are also present here. Noise cancelation is also present here and the transparency mode works just fine. The audio output with its customizable features is overall a good experience. The audio is crisp and does not feel harsh on high volumes. A few times, the IntelliBuds would disconnect themselves and connect again which was odd, but it happened too few times to take into consideration. 

Battery

Once the earbuds are connected to the NoiseFit Smart app then they can be used to click photos and enable fast mute. The IntelliBuds are powered by a 600mAh battery case that is capable of charging up the earbuds three times. While the company claims that the earbuds last up to nine hours on a single charge, my extensive testing resulted in them lasting up to six and a half hours at full volume without transparency mode being turned on. The earbuds do take a hit on the battery performance when you’re using the gesture and voice commands regularly. Ultimately, the Noise IntelliBuds priced at Rs 4,999 is one of the best TWS in the market in that price category. 

Verdict 

At Rs 4,999 the Noise IntellBuds are one of the best TWS to buy. The smart features of the earbuds make them stand out among the bunch. The voice commands and gesture controls are a delight to use. 

Rating – ★★★

Key Specifications 

  • Speaker Driver: 6 mm
  • BT: 5.0 
  • Wireless Range: Up to 10m
  • Hot Voice Commands 
  • Smart Gesture Controls 
  • Transparency Mode

Lights up your life! – Epson LS12000B Projector Review

Let’s be real, projectors are much of a specialty product in the Indian market as they’re usually placed either in school or office settings. Only a few true cinephiles in the country set up projectors in their home setting to get the best cinematic experience and picture quality. When I was told to review Epson’s beefy beast LS12000B projector, I was taken back to my school days when going to the A/V room was something every student looked forward to. So, does this heavy-duty offering by Epson deserve to be your next home projector? To put it simply, YES! However, there are other aspects of this device one needs to consider before making a purchase as it does not come with a cheap price tag. 

Design and Functionality

The LS12000B is not really a lightweight product, it weighs over 20Kgs which makes it a rather stationary product. It is meant to be placed in one spot in your home and let rest there for the entirety of its lifetime unless you want to carry the stone of a projector around a lot. It comes with a powerful 3LCD system inside which allows it to project content even in a well-lit room without missing out on details. The picture doesn’t struggle much in a brightly lit room, but it surely stands out when the ambiance is turned dark. The design of the projector is pretty straightforward. The matte layer on top of it is truly beautiful. One standout design feature here is the powered lens cover that slides open when the projector is turned on and shuts back when it’s powered off. This allows for keeping the lens clean and also gives off a futuristic vibe. 

There is a lot of flexibility here with features like zoom, lens shift, keystone controls, and focus. If you already have a destined spot to place your projector then you won’t need to change it as the projector can adapt to the room thanks to its optical zoom. Epson has managed to tick off all the right spots with the LS12000B’s 4K HDR visuals that are crisp and vivid. I played a few action scenes from Cameron’s Avatar and was surely taken aback by its visuals. The projector is capable of scaling up to 300 inches and down to 50 inches which gives more flexibility to its users. One key aspect to note for a projector is how bright it can get and Epson is clearly not playing around here as the LS12000B is rated for 2,700 lumens. Make sure your curiosity doesn’t make you peep right into the projector lens while it’s on!

Pricing

The LS12000B is surely an expensive affair. It is priced at Rs 6 lakhs in the Indian market which puts it in the luxury tech category. However, even with that heavy price tag, it does not come with smart TV features. That issue can be quickly resolved with the help of a firestick so it’s not a grave concern.  On the other hand, there is also no speaker output here. Simply put, the LS12000B is awesome, but it is just a display. Ultimately, the LS12000B is targeted to the most indulgent cinephiles amongst us and if you’re one of them then this is definitely worth the price for you! 

Verdict 

The LS12000B is a luxury product meant for true cinephiles. While it misses out on Smart TV features and speakers, it makes up with crisp and eye-pleasing picture quality. If you want to make the perfect home theatre setup with the best quality then this is the projector for you.

Rating – ★★★★

Tech this week

What time is it? It’s time for some tech news. Did you know that Google, the name is actually a product of a hasty spelling mistake? Larry and Sean aimed to register Googol, a mathematical term for the number 1 followed by a hundred zeros. Sean accidentally registers the word Google, and it is what it is. Let’s get to the news. 

Elon finally bought Twitter

On Thursday night, Elon Musk finally bought Twitter, and reports say many top management authorities at Twitter are now searching for new jobs. These include the CEO, CFO, people who mislead the number of bots on the platform and the one authorizing Donal Trump’s account ban. The hip entrepreneur entered the Twitter office with a bathroom sink, symbolizing the term “let that sink in” and also twitted “ the bird is freed”. 

Global price increase 

Apple is silently increasing its hardware and software solution prices. Subscription services have seen an inflation in their charges across Apple services, including Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple One. Some countries have also witnessed price increases on iPads and Macs. Nothing ear (1), the first product from Nothing, has also seen as much as a 50% price increase in some markets right before the launch of their Nothing ear stick, a relatively new and affordable variant with a different form factor. I hope they stick to the pricing in the future. Steam, a popular gaming service, has also increased its regional pricing in some parts of the world to almost 450% hike in game prices. As if PC gaming was not an expensive hobby with insane GPU prices! Global price increase needs to be combated with a global pay increase. Share this with your company heads. After blocking 4K content on Youtube to Premium users, Youtube has increased the prices of Youtube Premium subscriptions in some countries. What is happening to the world? 

WTF? There’s a new Nvidia 3060

After the backlash on RTX 4080 and Nvidia pulling out in time, RTX 4090 has witnessed some insane claims. One of the only cards to enable high fidelity 4K and 8K gaming, the power connector cannot handle the amount of power required to juice tasty frame rates from the 4090, burning some connectors across the globe. Nvidia has addressed a couple of buyers who posted this on social media, but a 1.55 lakh rupee card with burnt connectors is not cool. In another news from Nvidia, some countries witnessed a soft launch of Nvidia’s popular 3060 variants with an 8GB VRAM 128-bit bus rate instead of the usual 12GB 192-bit bus rate. This move comes as competition to Intel’s newest ARC GPU releases earlier this month or maybe an offering to gamers on a budget. Whatever it is, thank you, Intel! 

Shutterstock partners with OpenAI DallE 2 

Did you know that Gettyimages recently banned the use of AI-generated images? Contrary to their move, Shutterstock has partnered with OpenAI DallE 2, and soon users will be able to generate images based on text commands. Shutterstock has also agreed to pay creators a certain sum of money for training the AI when creating newer images. Not too long ago, a similar AI won an award for the best image creation on a platform, and now it is time for Shutterstock to come up with crazy DallE2-created images. What is your take on AI-generated art? Is it still art if thousands of algorithms created it?

Gaming improves cognitive performance in kids

A recent study on the JAMA network performed by ABCD Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development on 2217 children has shown that kids who regularly play video games are better at problem-solving, memory management, impulse reactions and many other tasks, including academic achievements, as compared to kids who do not play video games. Allowing kids to play video games and other games profoundly impacts their brain development. Only if this study were done during childhood would we not be scolded as much over gaming. Kids watching this video, share this news with your parents. 

Xbox Series S – Limiting frame rates for everyone 

Some game developers are not happy developing games for the Xbox Series S. According to them; the limited capabilities are hindering them from providing more performance in games being developed for the Xbox Series S. Microsoft has made it mandatory for developers to make games compatible with both the Series X and S. Gotham Knights is a prime example of this shortcoming, as the developers clearly stated in a tweet that the game runs on 30FPS even on the more powerful Series X only to ensure compatibility with the Series S. What’s the point of upgrading to a having a massive 4K high refresh rate display when the games are being limited by one puny console?

Photonic chip – the fastest internet chip as of now

A single photonic chip has made a world record by transferring 1.84 petabytes of data per second over a 7.9Km fibre optic cable. That’s like moving all the files across the globe in less than 10 mins! I am still stuck with a few hundred megabytes per second here in India. Researchers from Japan, Denmark and Sweden, managed to split infrared signals into multiple light sources and then combine them together as one on the receiving end.

Amazon data centres in the UK and Ireland get new diesel generators.

Following an energy crisis in UK and Ireland, Amazon data centres in Dublin are installing 105 high-power diesel generators as backups. It is estimated that this data centre is responsible for over 14% power consumption of the entire Dublin. 

Intel’s 13th generation i9 breaks an 8-year-old frequency world record 

AMD FX 8370 set a world record back in 2014 by overclocking to an insane 8722.78Mhz. Intel’s latest i9-13900K managed to set a new world record by overclocking to a mind-bending 8812.85Mhz, nearly double the core clock speed offered in the retail packaging. Finally, after taking a beating from similar retail-priced AMD competition, Intel has managed to garner a win in some departments. Good job, Intel, on making something such powerful and power-hungry. 

Samsung has started development on a smart ring.

Smart wearables come in all shapes and sizes. Samsung is currently developing a smart ring with all the necessary features of a fitness tracker snuggly packaged in a neat ring. Be careful to accept a proposal as a smart ring, as it could spike your heart rates and trigger an emergency service SOS. Would you wear a ring when the occasion calls for dressing neat, well time shall reveal. 

Stadia’s service ended, but the gaming did not. 

After Google announced that they were pulling the plug on Stadia streaming services, people playing games on the platform are backed by game developers. As a piece of good news, game developers are offering free copies with free save backups for everyone playing their games on Stadia as a platform. These free copies are provided to all the Stadia gamers based on their choice of gaming platform, and also cloud saves are offered as transferable entities to continue gaming on the platform of your choice. Do we even trust Google with anything with the rate at which they keep shutting down services? 

These were all the happenings of the week. Let us know what you think about the tech happenings across the globe. Stay tuned as we bring more tech news next week. 

 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Apple Watch Ultra

Samsung and Apple have been going against each other for many years. While Apple has the iPhone series, Samsung has the Galaxy S series of smartphones. Similarly, while Apple has the Apple Watch series, Samsung strongly contends with its powerful Samsung Watch series. In 2022, we’re in the 5th generation of the Samsung watch. The Samsung Watch 5 Pro is a direct contender to the Apple Watch Ultra as the two are the best smartwatches the companies have to offer. However, while the Apple Watch Ultra can make you shell out up to 90K which is nearly a lakh, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro with its ‘Pro’ power costs 45K, that’s half the price as compared to the ‘Ultra’ Apple Watch. So, is going for the Samsung Watch 5 Pro at 45K worth it? Or should you go for the Apple Watch Ultra? 

Functionality 

Both the Ultra and Pro come with a rugged design. The Galaxy Watch 5 pro has a 45mm titanium case with a sapphire crystal display. Whereas, the Apple Watch Ultra comes with a bigger 49mm titanium case and a sapphire glass screen. The Apple Watch takes the cake here when it comes to durability. The watch can be taken for a dive! It has water resistance up to the depths of 100m and IPX6 dust resistance. Besides, the Ultra watch can also survive temperatures below zero up to 130 degrees. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch Ultra only comes with an IP68 rating, meaning it is water resistant up to 50 meters and is not suitable for high-pressure activities. Another additional point to the Apple Watch Ultra for its 86 decibels siren which can be heard from 180m away. One gripe with the Samsung Watch 5 Pro is that it misses out on the rotating dial which was staple to the previous gen Samsung watches. Due to its big form factor, the Apple Watch Ultra registers a lot of accidental touches which could be an issue for many. 

Battery 

Here, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro gets a point for longer battery life with its large 590mAh battery. Samsung claims that the watch can last a user up to 80 hours of typical use. On the other hand, the Ultra battery life is limited to merely 36 hours, and 60 hours with the low power settings activated. If you’re someone who likes to get lost in the wilderness without having to worry about charging your watch then the Samsung Watch 5 pro is the best option for you! While Apple claims that the Watch Ultra comes with a 36-hour battery life, our extended testing of the device resulted in an overall usage of under 24 hours. 

Battle of the OS

One cannot skip the software while comparing Samsung and Apple devices. The Watch 5 Pro is powered by Google Wear OS while the Ultra operates on Apple’s own WatchOS, as one would expect. Here, Apple’s boat floats to the shore as WearOS is just not there yet as compared to the Apple experience. The Apple Watch Ultra has better app support as it comes with a far more developed app library as compared to the Wear OS by Google. The WatchOS comes with a slew of fitness and music apps at its disposal and Google’s WearOS has a lot of catching up to you. 

Pricing 

We’ve already discussed the pricing of both of these devices so it ends up being your decision which one you want to go for. The 90K Apple Watch Ultra could be an expensive affair for many to spend on a watch, but Apple has not targeted this product to the everyday joe but for the extreme sports enthusiast. The Watch 5 pro on the other hand is not just for sports enthusiasts but for everyone at a price of 45K. 

For the Apple Watch Ultra, buyers shell out an additional 45K. For the bumped up price, users get a dual-frequency GPS and Bluetooth 5.3. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro comes with Bluetooth 5.2. Of course, there is also the brand value of Apple that comes along with the Apple Watch Ultra which is enough for many to go for it! 

Conclusion

Both the Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Watch Pro 5 are some of the best wearable devices in the market right now. However, it ultimately comes down to the user’s preference. The Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly the one for heavy users who work up an appetite on the sports ground. Targeted towards extreme sports enthusiasts, the device can prove to be an asset to people who spend majority of their time outdoors. On the other hand, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro with its stylish design is surely a treat to the eyes. The Apple Watch Ultra is a clear winner in this comparison with its extensive features. Whereas, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro is well suited for people looking for a cheaper smart wearable.

Little Bit of Everything – OnePlus Nord Watch Review

If you’re in the market to buy a smartwatch in the 5K price range then you’ve got a number of options to choose from. But if that watch comes from the OnePlus brand then it is the cherry on top! The company has now managed to build a strong sub-brand with its Nord line of products and the OnePlus Nord Watch definitely delivers when it comes to functionality and usability. But does this watch stand out from all the others in the saturated budget smartwatch segment? Almost! 

Design 

The OnePlus Nord Watch comes in a rectangular form factor with curved corners as opposed to the OnePlus watch with its circular dial. The watch comes with a vibrant AMOLED display which is the first standout feature of this device. The display produces punchy colors in a 1.78-inch size at a 60Hz refresh rate that makes it a treat to the eyes. As one would expect, the device also comes with a button placed at the side that can be used to navigate through the watch. The button is also capable of rotating but it doesn’t do anything on the functional side. It makes me wonder why OnePlus decided to add a rotating button as opposed to a fixed one. Anyways, the body of the watch is made of a combination of zinc alloy and plastic which surely comes off as premium. I was handed the ‘Deep Blue’ color of the watch which looks pretty, to say the least, and also attracts eyeballs. The strap of this watch is easily detachable which makes it easier for users to swap it out but the one provided by OnePlus is surely good. 

Performance 

If you’re the kinda user who likes to install third-party apps on your smartwatch then this one is not for you. The OnePlus Nord Watch runs on a Real-Time operating system which prevents third-party apps to be installed. The performance aspect is where this smart device takes a back seat as it misses out on a few features that its competitors flaunt. It does not have Bluetooth calling and an always-on display which are some of the most prominent features for people looking for a smartwatch. I am not fond of watches but was wearing this one during my extensive testing and showed it around to my pals. Most of them were surprised about the fact that it does not come with a Bluetooth calling feature.  Additionally, it also does not come with built-in GPS so your outdoor workouts cannot be tracked with this watch. 

Keeping the gripes aside, the Nord watch does have a beautiful interface with 100+ customizable watch faces. While it misses out on an always-on display, the rise-to-wake feature works reasonably fine. There are also over 105 sports modes built-in the device that is surprisingly accurate in tracking. The built=in sensors to track sleep, steps, stress, and Sp02 work seamlessly. The addition of women’s health tracking is also something OnePlus deserves a point for. 

The OnePlus Nord watch deserves applause for its battery prowess. It features a 230mAh battery that can keep the device juiced up for 10 days. In my testing of the device, it was certainly powered up over 10 days on moderate usage. The N-Health app designed to work with the Nord watch also works perfectly with little to no issues. 

Verdict 

While missing out on key features like Bluetooth calling and always-on display, the OnePlus Nord watch makes up for it with its powerful battery backup. It is a good purchase for people with tight budgets as it certainly does not come off as cheap looking. It is heavy on features while light on the pocket making it an overall performer as your next smartwatch.

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