Category: Watches

2022 Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event 

2022 Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event 

Samsung launches 5 new products – Fold 4, Flip 4, Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro and Buds Pro 2

 

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event witnessed the launch of 5 new products from the house of Samsung. An iterative update to the existing line-up of foldable devices, the new Galaxy Fold 4 and Galaxy Flip 4 have improved to match performance and style as per consumer demand. Samsung also announced the updated Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and an exciting take on rugged watches for outdoor use, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Alongside these launches was an improved and innovative Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2. Let’s take a quick look at what has improved compared to their predecessors.

 

Samsung Galaxy Fold 4

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 was well received after their Note series feature, the S-Pen, was introduced as a part of the package. The Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 improves over the Fold 3 in many more minor iterative changes. The most significant change is the reduction in the overall weight of Fold 4, weighing 263 gms compared to 271 gms of Fold 3.

This is Samsung’s lightest Fold series phone since its inception in 2019. The outer construction is aircraft-grade aluminum, while the glass sandwich now consists of Gorilla glass Victus and 18% stronger ultra-thin glass. The dimensions and form factor largely remain identical to the Fold 3, while the hardware leaps in terms of processor, display, camera and software. Running on Android 12 over an improved Samsung One UI, the Fold gets an interesting taskbar with multi-window support and flex mode. 

Starting with the processor, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 gets the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor improving the NPU required to post-process images and videos to a new level. The camera setup is now identical to the Samsung S22 series, and a new 50MP camera with 2.0-micron pixels improves over the Fold 3’s 1.8-micron pixel allowing more light capture. The optical zoom has been enhanced from 2x to 3x, while a digital zoom of 30x improves the Fold 4’s zoom capabilities from 10x on the Fold 3. This also enables Galaxy S22 series Nightography to capture 23% brighter images in low light conditions. The triple-camera setup is further aided by improved NPU enabling AI ISP, OIS and VDIS. With a Veritas certificate of 200K folds, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 improves on the durability of its hinge. An adaptive S-AMOLED display now features a 1-120Hz refresh rate with a maximum brightness of 1300 nits. The Fold 4 continues with a hidden in-display front camera, and wireless and reverse wireless charging. 

Galaxy Z Fold4
Display Main Screen 7.6-inch QXGA+*
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Infinity Flex Display (2176 x 1812, 21.6:18)
120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold4’s Main Screen size is 7.6-inch in the full rectangle and 7.4-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.
Cover Screen 6.2-inch HD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display(2316 x 904, 23.1:9)120Hz adaptive refresh rate (48~120Hz)*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold4’s Cover Screen size is 6.2-inch in a full rectangle and 6.1-inch accounting for the rounded corners. The actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimension & Weight Folded 67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8mm(Hinge) ~ 14.2mm(Sagging)
Unfolded 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3mm
Weight 263g
Camera Cover Camera 10MP Selfie Camera

F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 85˚
Under display camera 4MP Under Display Camera
F1.8, Pixel size: 2.0μm, FOV: 80˚
Rear Triple Camera 12MP Ultra Wide Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚50MP Wide-angle Camera
Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85˚10MP Telephoto Camera
PDAF, F2.4, OIS, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 36˚*30X Space Zoom includes 3x Optical Zoom and 30x digital zoom with AI Super Resolution technology. Zooming in past 3x may cause some image deterioration
AP 4㎚ Octa-Core Processor
Memory 12GB RAM with 1TB internal storage
12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage
12GB RAM with 256GB internal storage

*Availability may vary by market or channel. Actual storage space may vary by market, model, file size and format.
Battery 4,400mAh (typical) dual battery*

*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4275mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging Super Fast Charging* : Up to 50% charge in around 30mins with 25W adapter** or higher
Fast wireless charging 2.0***
Wireless PowerShare*****Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFC. Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter while it has 0% of power remaining, with all the services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors. **25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
***Wireless charging compatible with WPC
****Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with WPC Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10 series, S10 series, S9 series, S8 series, S7 series, S6 series, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch5, Watch5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Buds. May not work with certain accessories, covers, or other brand devices. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
Water Resistance IPX8

*IPX8 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Not dust-resistant.
OS Android 12L
One UI 4.1.1
Network and Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E*** 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth® v5.2

*5G services are only supported in 5G network enabled locations. Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
**Availability of LTE model varies by country and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
***Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection. Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router.
Sensors Capacitive Fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Security Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
SIM Card Up to two Nano SIM* and one eSIM**

*SIM card sold separately. Availability may vary depending on market and carrier.
**eSIM availability may vary depending on software version, region and carrier. Check with your carrier if your mobile network plan supports eSIM.
Colors Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige
[Samsung.com Exclusive] Burgundy* Availability may vary by market.

Samsung Galaxy Flip 4

The teaser site images created an illusion of flat sides on the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4. In-person, the sides are curved and feel more ergonomic to hold. Like the Fold 4, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 gets the newer improved Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and an enhanced Samsung One UI running over Android 12. The Flip 4 also gets an improved display with 18% strengthened ultra-thin glass featuring a brighter 900 nits display with dynamic S-AMOLED switching between 1-120Hz refresh rate. The glass sandwich now features a Haze glass finish for improved ergonomics. A robust set of Samsung Galaxy S21 FE cameras are implemented on the Galaxy Flip 4, significantly improving overall camera performance with 65% brightness in images and videos. Night-photography also comes included on the bold new camera deco. It also gets improved AI ISP, OIS and VDIS. 

The hinges have been reduced by 1.2mm, an engineering marvel from Samsung engineers. The battery capacity has improved to 3700 mAh, a 10% improvement from its predecessor Flip 3. The ultra-thin glass too has improved in strength by 18%. The new Galaxy Flip 4 also gets intuitive multi-angle capture, seamless vlogging mode and a hands-free camera experience. The cover screen gets unique customisations with improved One UI and AI responses. 

Galaxy Z Flip4
Display Main Screen 6.7-inch FHD+*
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Infinity Flex Display (2640 x 1080, 22:9)
120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Flip4’s Main Screen size is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.6-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Cover Screen 1.9-inch Super AMOLED Display*
260 x 512*Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Flip4’s Cover Screen size is 1.9-inch in the full rectangle and 1.8″ with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.
Dimension & Weight Folded 71.9 x 84.9 x 17.1mm (Hinge) – 15.9mm (Sagging)
Unfolded 71.9 x 165.2 x 6.9mm

*The thickness of Galaxy Z Flip4 when unfolded does not include the frame of the Main Screen.
Weight 187g
Camera Front Camera 10MP Selfie Camera
F2.4, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 80˚
Rear Dual Camera 12MP Ultra Wide Camera

F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚
12MP Wide-angle Camera
Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.8μm, FOV: 83˚
AP 4㎚ Octa-Core Processor
Memory 8GB RAM with 512GB internal storage
8GB RAM with 256GB internal storage
8GB RAM with 128GB internal storage

*Availability may vary by market or channel. Actual storage space may vary by market, model, file size and format.
Battery 3,700 mAh (typical) dual battery

*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3595mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging Super Fast Charging*: Up to  50% charge in around 30mins with 25W adapter** or higher
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0***
Wireless PowerShare*****Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFC. Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter while it has 0% of power remaining, with all the services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors. **25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
***Wireless charging compatible with WPC
****Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with WPC Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10 series, S10 series, S9 series, S8 series, S7 series, S6 series, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch5, Watch5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Buds. May not work with certain accessories, covers, or other brand devices. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
Water Resistance IPX8

*IPX8 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Not dust-resistant.
OS Android 12
One UI 4.1.1
Network and Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth® v5.2

*5G services are only supported in 5G network enabled locations. Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
**Availability of LTE model varies by country and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
Sensors Capacitive Fingerprint sensor(side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Security Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
SIM Card One Nano SIM* and one eSIM**

*SIM card sold separately. Availability may vary depending on market and carrier.
**eSIM availability may vary depending on software version, region and carrier. Check with your carrier if your mobile network plan supports eSIM.
Colors Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, Blue
[Bespoke Edition] Front/Back(Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki, Red), Frame(Silver/Black/Gold)* Availability may vary by market.

Samsung Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro

Samsung Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro get a new sensor design, and Samsung promises increased durability. Software enhancements include a digital wheel that acts like a physical wheel and responds to touch on the outer circular bezels. Watch 5 is tuned for all, while the Watch 5 Pro aims to target rough usage outdoors.

A new design also brings curvature and precise body composition tracking. There’s advanced sleep coaching, multi-device experience with other Samsung devices, holistic sleep analysis, advanced sleep coaching and personalised programs on the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro. Samsung has improved the battery life on the Watch 5 by adding a 13% bigger battery with fast-charge capabilities charging the Watch 5 30% faster than the Watch 4. Both these watches are now protected with Sapphire crystal, the second hardest transparent material after diamonds. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro features additional functionality with outdoor data tracking. It also gets an innovative D-buckle strap and a titanium body. Users can share route details, import route files, and enjoy turn-by-turn navigation and trackback functions on the Watch 5 Pro. With 590 mAh, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro battery life claims to last 3 days on normal use and 20 hours with GPS functionality turned on. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2

Samsung makes impressive audio solutions with their TWS. Improving their line-up, they introduced the Galaxy Buds Pro 2, a 15% smaller size compared to the Buds Pro. The ANC levels have improved by 1.4 times on the new pair. Multi-device connectivity enables auto-switch functionality. The added 360-degree sound enabled by Dolby Atmos and tuned by AKG makes this an apt solution for Dolby Atmos-enabled content. The most considerable improvement has come in the form of 24-bit audio inputs transmitted as 24-bit audio outputs. This brings a massive leap in wireless connectivity for music lovers and improves the overall listening experience by a huge margin. The overall battery sits at 515 mAh with the case, while the earbuds get 61 mAh for operations. They can be powered by a USB Type-C port and also support wireless charging. 

Galaxy Buds2 Pro Product Specifications
Color Graphite, White, Bora Purple

*Available colors may vary by market, carrier or retailer.
Dimensions & Weight Earbud: 19.9 x 21.6 x 18.7 mm, 5.5g

Charging Case: 50.1 x 50.2 x 27.7 mm, 43.4g
Speaker Custom Coaxial 2-way (Tweeter + Woofer) peaker
Sound Quality 24bit Hi-Fi*

360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel**

*24-bit Hi-Fi sound requires Samsung Galaxy devices running OneUI 4.0 or higher and Galaxy Buds2 Pro. 24-bit Hi-Fi sound support may vary depending on the application.

**Direct Multi-channel is supported with Android One UI version 4.1.1 or later, 360 Audio Supports One UI 3.1 or later.
ANC & Ambient Sound ANC*+High SNR Microphone (2 outer + 1 inner)**
Ambient Sound
Voice Detect*****With 3 high SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) microphones, Galaxy Buds2 Pro can eliminate small noises by capturing lower level sounds.***Galaxy Buds2 Pro can distinguish between noise and human voices. When you speak, it switches temporarily to Ambient mode and reduces media volume so that you can hear conversations without taking out your earbuds.
Battery Capacity Earbuds: 61mAh (typical)

Charging Case: 515mAh (typical)

 

** The typical capacity has been tested under third party laboratory conditions. The typical capacity is the estimated average capacity considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under the IEC 61960-3 standard. The rated capacity is 58mAh (earbuds), 500mAh (charging case). Actual battery life may vary depending on the network environment, usage patterns, and other factors.
Play Time Up to 5 hours / Total up to 18 hours (ANC on)

Up to 8 hours / Total up to 29 hours (ANC off)

 

*Earbuds provide up to 5hrs play time with ANC on (up to 8 hrs with ANC off), while the case provides up to 18 hours of battery life (up to 29 hours with ANC off) when the case and earbuds are charged to 100%. Based on internal testing. Audio playback time tested by pairing a pre-production Galaxy Buds2 Pro to a recently released Galaxy smartphone with default settings** including ANC on. Actual battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions, settings, number of times charged, Bluetooth signal strength, and other factors

** Default setting refers to the original setting for the Galaxy Buds2 Pro when it was first released, simply with the power turned on.
Talk Time Up to 3.5 hours / Total up to 14h (ANC on)

Up to 4.0 hours / Total up to 15h (ANC off)

 

*Earbuds provide up to 3.5hrs voice call time with ANC on (up to 4 hrs with ANC off), while the case provides up to 14 hours of battery life (up to 15 hours with ANC off) when the case and earbuds are charged to 100%. Based on internal testing.  Voice call time tested by pairing pre-production Galaxy Buds2 Pro to a recently released Galaxy smartphone with default settings including ANC on. Actual battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions, settings, number of times charged, Bluetooth signal strength, and other factors.
Connectivity Bluetooth® 5.3, Auto Switching

Codec: Samsung Seamless Codec HiFi (Samsung Proprietary)

AAC, SBC
Sensor Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Hall, Touch, Voice Pickup Unit (VPU)
Compatibility Android 8.0 or higher with more than 1.5GB of RAM

 

*Some features may not be available on non-Samsung devices. Availability may vary by market, operator or connected device.
Water Resistance IPX7

 

*IPX7 is based on laboratory test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Charging case is not water resistant. If the earbuds are damaged, they are not guaranteed to be water resistant. If the earbuds or your hands are wet, they must be dried thoroughly prior to handling or placing into the charging case.

 

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked brings improvements to the entire line-up of current generation Fold 4 and Flip 4. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro with Sapphire Crystal are almost 90% stronger and more durable than their predecessor. Software enhancements charm these devices, making them a perfect blend of suitable hardware and better software. With a smaller size, better audio latency and bit rate, the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 promises a significant leap in audio nirvana. What are your thoughts on these launches? Let us know in the comments below. 

 

16 Tech Gadgets to Gift Your Loved Ones this Christmas or New Year

Bose Frames – Price: ₹21,900

 

Since the last couple of years, we have witnessed many top-notch companies launching their audio sunglasses, which ultimately helped the audio sunglasses section to grow and have a category of their own. The original Bose Frames delivered surprisingly pure sound, and with the arrival of three new models, Tempo, Tenor, and Soprano, Bose stands tall in the audio sunglasses market. Bose Tempo is a sporty looking gadget, while the other two, Rectangular shaped Tenor and Cat Eye shaped Soprano, are best for everyday use. The company has done a lot to improve the sound quality, which helps the sunglasses to deliver crisp and clear sound. The audio sunglasses are the best gift option for the person who likes listening to music while riding a bike, resting by the pool/beach, walking, running, or hiking.

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack – Price: ₹10,900

Apple is one of the top-ranked smartphone manufacturing companies in the world, but at the same time, it is infamous for its battery backup. However, the company has understood the issue and has come up with a solution in the form of an Apple MagSafe battery pack. The rectangle-shaped and white coloured MagSafe battery pack fits perfectly on the back and is compatible with iPhone 12 series and iPhone 13 series. The slim and sturdy battery pack is small enough to slide into a pocket or bag. The MagSafe Battery Pack offers a 1,460mAh capacity which sounds low, but the numbers are deceiving as the battery pack easily adds a few hours of use to your iPhone. If you have experienced frequent cries related to battery backup from your loved one who uses an iPhone, then the MagSafe battery pack is a must-buy gift option.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) – Price: ₹13,999

Amazon has been a leading company in manufacturing smart speaker displays over the years, and its recent launch, the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen), is the best smart display in the lineup. The 2nd gen Echo Show 8 offers a superior  13-megapixel wide-angle camera for enhanced video calls along with a faster processor and an auto-framing feature, which lets the device pan and zoom automatically to adjust the frame while making video calls. The Echo Show 8’s sound output is way better than the top trim Echo Show 10, but the flagship smart home device Echo Show 10 steals the show when it comes to other features. If the person you’re planning to gift this Christmas is a newcomer to the smart home space, then Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) would be a great gift choice.

Ember Mug² – 

Price: Various options available from ₹16,000* on amazon.in or get it from ember.com for $129.95 USD

 

The winter is coming, and all we need to survive the chilliness is a cup of hot tea or coffee by the table, but every time we plan to enjoy the hot drink, it turns cold before we finish it and ruins our mood. Well, if you know someone who is a big-time hot tea or coffee lover, then gift them the Ember Mug² temperature control smart mug, and it will never let their tea or coffee go cold again, at least for up to 1.5 hours with Ember Mug² 10 oz and up to 80 minutes with the Ember Mug² 14 oz. The smart mug is designed for home or office use, and it allows you to set an exact drinking temperature so your coffee is never too hot or cold. The washable smart mug allows you to set and control your prefered temperature with your smartphone via the dedicated Ember app.

Beats Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds – Price: ₹14,499

Apple purchased Beats in 2014, and since then, every product Beats launched was somehow tied up with the Apple ecosystem. Then Beats decided to ditch the traditional Apple H1 and W1 chips and launched Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds with MediaTek chipset. The change in the chip helped Beats to go beyond its competitors and suit Android phones along with Apple devices. The Beats Studio Buds are Beats’ smallest earbuds to date and the best-sounding earbuds Beats has ever manufactured. The wireless noise-cancelling earbuds fit perfectly in the ear, and the solid grip makes sure they’ll not fall out even during intense workouts. So, if you’re looking for a gadget to gift your gym-addict friend, then these stand-out earbuds are the perfect little thing.

GoPro Hero10 Black Action Camera – Price: ₹54,500

GoPro recently launched the new Hero10 Black, with a new faster custom processor. The Hero10 Black sports a 2.27-inch touch screen main display on the back and a 1.4-inch display on the front. It arrives with Incredible video stabilization and a new GP2 chipset, enabling new slow-motion frame rates, faster transfer speeds, and improved image quality. The camera can record smoother videos up to 5.3K @ 60fps, and for slow-mo videos, it can go up to 4K @ 120fps and 2.7K @ 240fps. The waterproof Hero 10 Black is powered by a GP2 sensor and packs a 1,720mAh battery. The GoPro Hero10 Black could be the best gift option if your loved ones are travel enthusiasts, vloggers or into adventure sports.

WD My Passport Go Portable SSD – Price: ₹11,469* (for 1TB on flipkart.com)

SSDs (Solid State Drives) are faster and more power-efficient than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), and that’s the reason they’re always in demand. WD is one of the most popular SSD and HDD-making companies globally, and their recent addition, WD My Passport Go portable SSD, is one in a million kinds of devices. The My Passport Go portable drive has a shock-absorbing rubber bumper and no moving parts, making it drop-resistant up to 2 meters. The square-shaped, rugged SSD is 2 times faster than typical portable hard disk drives and compatible with both Windows PC and Mac computers. The Pocket-sized drive has a built-in cable for convenient portability and is available in three variants, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. You can gift the SSD to the person who never feels satisfied with the in-built storage of their respective devices.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro – Price: ₹10,990*

Samsung has tasted success with the launch of exceptionally built Galaxy Buds Plus and failure with the launch of not so excellent Galaxy Buds Live, which helped the South Korean tech giant analyse the segment well and come back hard with the Galaxy Buds Pro, the best true wireless earbuds that the company has ever made. The Buds Pro includes active noise cancellation, wireless charging, speech detection mode, and support for the Scalable advanced Bluetooth codec. When paired with a Samsung smartphone or tablet, the earbuds offer the best sound quality and go beyond these key features. The Buds Pro also offers IPX7 water and sweat resistance features along with improved mic performance. So, if you’ve someone who owns a Samsung smartphone or tablet and likes to play along with music and calls, then go for these earbuds and make your loved ones happy.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen) – Price: ₹10,999

E-book readers are reliable and handy instead of the traditional paper-based books because e-book readers offer thousands of books in one gadget, and when it comes to choosing the best e-book reader in the market, you’ll never find anything better than Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen). The waterproof e-reader has a 6-inch e-ink display, and it is available in different variants that range from 8GB to 32GB of storage. The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the most popular e-readers on the market with good battery life, and if you have someone in your friend circle who’s an avid book reader, then this 10th Gen Kindle Paperwhite could easily replace your place in your friend’s life.

Budget Gifts (Below ₹10,000)

 

LG XBOOM Go PL2 Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Price: ₹7,990

The LG XBOOM Go PL2 is the smallest and least expensive portable Bluetooth speaker from the PL range of speakers. The IPX5 water-resistant portable speaker offers a Sound Boost mode, USB-C charging, stereo pairing, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The PL2 speaker can be controlled with your smartphone’s voice assistant and can make any party fun in no time. The rounded design, compact and lightweight speaker has a good build quality and is best suited for travel enthusiasts. If you know someone who is a travel addict and likes to do weekend campaigning by the lake or hill, then LG XBOOM Go PL2 portable speakers can be a good companion for such personalities.

Oral-B Pro 2 2000N Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush – Price: ₹4,199

Technology has evolved our daily needs from smart home devices to electric toothbrushes. A decade ago, Oral-B was making regular manual toothbrushes, but then the company decided to take a look at the big picture and started manufacturing electric toothbrushes to cope up with the new age of connected tech. The Oral-B Pro 2 2000 electric rechargeable toothbrush offers only the necessary features for your dental health and works without any app support. The electric toothbrush helps you to remove more plaque and leave gums healthier than a manual toothbrush. The Oral-B Pro 2 200 electric toothbrush features two brushing modes and a pressure sensor, making it the simplest yet elegant electric toothbrush. It can be an excellent gift for people with sensitive teeth who have never experimented with an electric toothbrush.

Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller – Price: ₹9,321* on amazon.in

Everyone has their own choice, and not all people want a regular PlayStation or Xbox controller. Some people go beyond the ordinary world and prefer exciting gadgets such as Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller, which offers a seemingly lag-free gaming experience on the phone. The go-to mobile gaming controller has a split apart design, and it can connect directly through the USB-C charging port. The Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller fits most smartphone devices and offers a solid grip that lets the gamer have great control over a device. If you’re friends with someone who follows mobile gaming like a devotion, in that case, you should consider gifting Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller to them this Christmas as this killer gadget will not only please them mentally but will permanently change their mobile gaming experience.

Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device with Alexa Voice Remote – Price: ₹5,999

Amazon has acquired almost all crucial markets, from online shopping to smart house gadgets to streaming services and even streaming devices. The business strategies and tough competition in the market have made consumers’ lives easy as many widgets are available at affordable prices, and the list includes 4K streaming devices. Since the Fire TV Stick 4K launch, Amazon has emerged in this market, and the latest Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K includes the Alexa voice remote in the box. The latest 4K stick offers improved performance and is slightly larger than the standard Fire TV Stick but has the same colour and texture. The latest 4K stick features a guide button that can quickly take you to live TV and offer Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG like the standard stick. If you’re looking for a budget gift this Christmas, then the Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote could be a perfect one.

Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case – Price: from $68 to $88 (including $9 express shipping charges)

We often see people, mainly Indians having a 50 or 100 rupees/dollars note on the back of their smartphone cover. Some even put their credit or debit cards on the back of their smartphone cover, and when asked, they defend themselves in the name of emergency needs. Well, Australian accessories making brand Bellroy decided to provide a stylish look to the regular habit and created a multi-functional smartphone wallet case that holds up to 3 cards, slots devoted to a SIM tool and SIM card. The professional-looking case has a smooth, barely textured premium leather sheath covering the back panel, and you can even use the card compartment door as a kickstand to watch videos. So, if you know someone who prefers a luxury lifestyle and owns an iPhone from 12-series or 13-series, then Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case will be a great gift and add a style statement to their life. Though the case is only available on the official website of Bellroy, if you want to purchase one, hurry up because it will take a few days or even a week to ship in India.

Noise ColorFit Pro 3 – Price: ₹3,999

Noise, India’s homegrown brand, has already acquired the top position in India’s wearables market. The budget smartwatch, Noise Colorfit 3 Pro, comes with many features and specifications, such as a SpO2 monitor for blood oxygen monitoring, a stress level monitor, and a bigger-better display. The lightweight smartwatch sports a 1.5-inch HD touchscreen colour display and follows the subtle design language like an Apple watch. The water-resistant smartwatch features about 14 workout modes, including Outdoor Walking, Outdoor Running, Outdoor Cycling, Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Cricket, Hiking, Yoga and Workout. The Noise Colorfit Pro 3 comes in 6 colours and offers several high-end features, which we usually find on Apple & Samsung smartwatches. So, if you’re looking for a budget Christmas or new year gift, then Noise Colorfit 3 Pro could do the math.

Wagr’s GPS & Fitness Tracker for Dogs – Price: ₹3,499

The world is getting smarter with smart wearables, and along with us, our very canine best friend also needs smart wearables because about 6 lacs dogs get lost every year in India. The pain of losing our pooch friend can cause severe sickness to dog parents, and this thought made IIT alumnus Advaith Mohan and two of his friends, Siddharth Darbha and Ajith Kochery, come up with a solution. The trio created a dog wearable Wagr, India’s first GPS tracker for dogs which tracks the dog using high-precision GPS and even allows you to create safe zones. Once you attach the Wagr tracker to your pup’s collar, it will help you track your dog’s activity, walks, safe zones, and it will also alert you when they leave the safe zone you’ve created. If you have a dog of your own or someone from your friend’s circle who owns a dog, then Wagr’s location & fitness tracker is a must-have gadget.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Series: New Beginnings For Samsung

Honestly, watches for Android smartphones are not even a bit attractive in terms of features and looks, when compared to what Apple does with its accessories. Who other than Google is to be blamed for not creating a competitor to Apple watch and missing a perfect opportunity. 

But I think I might have to change my perspective for the better now. Google and Samsung have joined forces to rebuild the WearOS from the ground up. It seems like Samsung’s Galaxy series of smartwatches is bearing all the weight of the company’s ambitions to produce competitive wearables in the market. 

Dubbed ‘WearOS by Samsung’, Samsung Galaxy watch 4 series will be the smartwatches to run the latest WearOS 3 version. I got my hands on one of the Galaxy Watch 4 series and here are my first impressions:

Design and Aesthetics

Samsung is hyping up the latest Galaxy Watch 4 like anything. And honestly, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has got one of the most timeless designs ever. It can go perfectly with any outfit you wear, be it formals, casuals, or leisure. 

The watch fits perfectly on the wrist and never gives you the impression that you are wearing a smartwatch. The watch 4 series got a slight unexpected upgrade in its screen. The larger version devices now have a 1.4-inch screen running at 450 x 450, while the smaller models have 1.2-inch panels. The watch 4 has a touch-sensitive ring. 

This Samsung box includes a 20mm strap which can be swapped later to your convenience. 

WearOS 3

Samsung conveniently switched from their Tizen operating system to One UI3, a customised version of Google’s Wear Os 3 that they co-developed. 

 Unlike the other Wear Os watches, one cannot use the Galaxy Watch 4 with an iPhone, since many of the advanced features, such as ECG function requires a Samsung phone. It has its Galaxy wearable app to pair, and connect, and manage settings. 

Battery Life

The  W920 Exynos chip in Galaxy watch4 is 20% faster with a 10 % improved graphic performance than their predecessors. The watch feels faster and Much smoother than most wear OS watches, but not quite up to the rapid experience that Apple’s watch series 6 offers. 

We found the Galaxy Watch 4 requires a daily charge to power features like an always-on display and routine fitness tracking. The watch works up to 40 hours a day but that might differ with the purpose of use.

Additional Features

The Galaxy Watch 4 series is powered by the Exynos W920 dual-core processor clocked at 1.18GHz. It has 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. There is support for Bluetooth 5, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and four satellite navigation systems. The Watch 4 Classic is IP68 rated for water resistance up to 5ATM.

For few days, I’ve been tracking the activities through this watch. The Galaxy Watch 4 provides audible and vibration updates on mileage, and also a brief activity summary every 30 minutes.

Mi Band 6 Overview: Enhanced Health Indicators

It’s MY band. A band that can keep me health conscious. The way health consciousness has captured the world is interesting. And, why won’t it be considering that one single virus and its constant and notorious mutation has clearly brought frustrations? Now, you just can’t open an e-Commerce store and order some heavy machines to use at home. Hence, you need something lightweight and easy to carry and track your health profile. For this purpose, the new Mi Band 6 can help you out. To know more about this new wristband, Exhibit is ready to take you on a Mi Band 6 overview.

Color Funk & Display

Jony Ive’s perception about colors in the movie JOBS and bringing them into the real world was correct. And, Mi Band 6 correctly follows this principle. This new band can offer you a wide range of color variants (a total of six). So, you can choose the choice that renders the funk quotient through olive, black, blue, orange, yellow, and ivory. All these colors comply with the latest styles. In addition to this, Mi Band 6 has a larger AMOLED display of 326 PPI (50% more than Mi Band 5). This display helps you to set a background theme. Pick a picture that you want to see every day whenever you wear this smart band.

SpO₂ Tracking

Economics tracks inflation in the form of demand and supply. The price of anything can go up if the demand increases or the supply goes down. And, humanity never thought that oxygen could become a part of economics. The way the second wave hit and brought the gigantic catastrophe, you would have understood the importance of oxygen. But, the new Mi Band 6 has taken care of this by providing appropriate biological sensors that can track SpO₂ is commendable. 

Breathing When You Sleep

Breathing is important. Don’t you think? Ask Hrithik Roshan, who survived scuba diving in ZNMD. Well, Mi Band 6 has worked a lot on your breathing monitoring. Even when you are sleeping? What? Yeah, this new band can track your breathing during your sleep and evaluate your breathing score.

I Know When My Heart Rate is Pumping More

That’s just amazing, considering how the sensors and other equipment in this gadget can check out what you are doing. Before going to bed, you can check when the heartbeat rate was more compared to other times when it was low. For all these things, you can give credit to its activity intelligence feature.

MY Band is MY Trainer

Ohh Yes. If this is what you are looking for, Mi Band 6 is the perfect option. This new band has acquired the power of 30 fitness modes. If you think of Zumba, HIIT, pilates, etc., you get them here apart from normal exercises. Mi Band 6 can shrink the world of many trainers who are there out on YouTube and other platforms. In addition to this, the technology inducted in this gadget can automatically track your six fitness modes.

Stylish Design, Advanced Health Monitoring System, and Sophistication are the most crucial elements of Mi Band 6.

Water Resistance & Stroke Recognition

Al Pacino, you are no more El classico. Why? Mi Band 6. This new band has a 5 ATM waterproofing rating. What does it mean? It means if you are in Goa, Florida, or Gold Coast, buy this band and get ready for your swimming experience on beaches. Apart from this, it helps to track your swimming time as well due to stroke recognition.

Magnetic Charging

Mi Band 6 comes with magnetic charging. In addition to this, the battery that Mi has added to it is simply commendable. It is because it can have a battery life of 5 days after heavy use. That’s a whopping figure for sure. Get ready to give a standing ovation to this 125mAh Lithium polymer battery.

Launch Date & Price

If you are not a curious cat but a human, you must have started opening a new tab in your browser to check its release date. Well, hurry up. Set a reminder on your smartphone for tomorrow. Ohh! Great. 12 July is the date when this new band will hit the Indian market. But wait? Can price hit you badly? No, not at all. It’s just INR 4490/-.

Mi Band 6 Overview – Conclusion

That is something cool coming out. Well, such a rich set of features can enlarge the eyes of this band’s competitors. So, till the time, nothing new comes out, Mi Band 6 will have the monopoly due to features and traits.

5 Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Smartwatch!

Just a few years ago, people used to walk around malls-showrooms to gaze at luxury watches, some of them were secretly saving money to buy one of the watches, and then the real gangster arrived, in the form of Smartwatches and changed the world of wearables. 

With every new launch, their popularity increases, be it fitness or a style statement, and people started looking at smartwatches more than ever since but buying a smartwatch that suits you the best is still a headache. And that’s why I’ve come up with five things you need to know before buying a smartwatch! Roll it out before you spend your hard-earned money on them.

Phone Compatibility & Operating System

 

All the smartwatches are designed to serve as companions to a smartphone, but compatibility plays a significant role in choosing the right one. For example, if you’re eying for an Apple smartwatch, you should know one thing: Apple Watches only works with iPhones.

So, the first thing you should check is whether the smartwatch you’re planning to buy is compatible with your existing smartphone or not. Furthermore, you should know, there are mainly three types of OS in smartwatches:

  1. WatchOS, which is the operating system used only by the Apple Watch.
  2. Tizen OS, which runs on Samsung Galaxy smartwatches.
  3. WearOS, which belongs to Google and supports Android as well as iPhones devices. To know whether your smartphone is compatible with WearOS, just go to g.co/WearCheck from your smartphone browser.

WearOS by Google works fine with smartwatches from Fossil, LG, Huawei and others. Notably, it works well with iPhones too, but with limited features only. Bottom line, Fitbit smartwatches are also compatible with both Android devices and iPhones.

Display

In our eyes, an average wristwatch enhances into a smartwatch when it substitutes its familiar face and routine hands with a touch screen, and for that matter, the display becomes a crucial factor. 

Most smartwatch makers use a colourful LCD screen or AMOLED display, which let you access photos, apps and other content in more elegant colour and tend to be livelier but shortens the battery life. Meanwhile, OLED displays are found in the Apple Watch as well as in the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Some smartwatch makers use OLED displays instead of LCD; it obviously increases the price but unloads an extra weight from your wrist.

Battery Life

A Smartphone’s battery is an essential feature one should inspect before buying a smartwatch as battery life still remains one of the biggest complaints about smartwatches. However, smartwatch makers are trying hard to develop the solution and improve the devices’ efficiency; I hope they’ll soon come up with a good one. 

Most Apple Watches and WearOS devices last for two days, while other smartwatches can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower-quality displays. So, analyze your everyday usage and basic needs along with battery consumption, then decide which one is better for you.

Features

Preferring a touchscreen smartwatch over a touchless one ultimately depends on one’s choice but opting for a touchscreen has its limitations, as it can be difficult to select items on a smaller touch display. Apple smartwatches land with a dual approach, as they provide a touch display, a digital crown and a side button on the right side, which makes them one of the most relevant watches. If you’re buying a smartwatch with WearOS, then be prepared to spend some extra time swiping to get to other apps. 

Some smartwatches can serve as an extension of your phone, while the rest are marketed as health-focused devices, like the Fitbit Versa 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 3. If fitness and daily activities are on top of your list, you should look for which smartwatch offers a heart rate monitor, GPS (to track your runs), and sleep monitoring features. 

Furthermore, look for customized and pre-loaded apps to get the most out of your smartwatch. However, keep in mind that using GPS will have a substantial impact on battery life. Many smartwatches have NFC chips inside, which means you can use them to pay for your things; Apple has Apple Pay, whereas WearOS has Android Pay (only available in a few smartwatches). Also, Samsung has its self developed mobile payment system, Samsung Pay, which works on all of its newest models; consider all these features before buying a smartwatch.

Most smartwatch makers offer a customization option, choice of straps and swappable bands to keep you updated with fashion and style. For example, Apple smartwatches allow you to choose your preferred dial shape, band colour and face colour before purchasing. 

Watches like the Apple Watch Series 4 or later offer a fall detection feature, where if the watch senses you take a hard fall and don’t get up, then a pre-selected person and the emergency services will be informed automatically, caretaker at your wrist.

Pricing

The best smartwatches generally cost between ₹25,000 to ₹45,000, while mid-range smartwatches cost between ₹10,000 to ₹20,000. With high price comes advanced fitness, music and communications features, and some of them come with onboard GPS, music storage, and NFC, which budget devices generally lack. 

If you’re looking for an entry-level smartwatch, companies like Realme have a very affordable smartwatch range that starts under ₹4,000. Also, Boat is coming up with its Xplorer edition, which offers plenty of features on a pocket-friendly budget. Ultimately, everything depends on your preference, choice and, of course, the budget.

 

Realme Watch S Review: Best Affordable Smartwatch Under Rs. 5k?

Realme continues to expand its presence in the domain of smartphones as well as smartwatches. The Chinese tech manufacturer took advantage of the fact that a smartwatch is no longer a luxury but a necessity and successfully introduced its own product dubbed the Realme watch last year. Following the success of their first wearable tech product, Realme released its second smartwatch series, Realme Watch S and Realme Watch S pro, in late December 2020. 

I tested the watch over a period of three weeks and here’s my detailed review of the Realme Watch S.

Realme Watch S

What’s In The Box?


Inside the box, you get the Realme Watch S, a Magnetic charging base and a user guide.

Design

The first thing you notice after wearing the watch is that it’s extremely lightweight as it only weighs 48 grams. After a few hours of use, you will forget it is even on your wrist. The Realme Watch S has a 1.3-inch LCD which is a decent size for a smartwatch.

I have slim hands and the watch does not look bulky or huge on my wrist, your experience may vary if you have a bigger wrist. Fitness tracking works very well and the watch has 16 different sports mode that comes in handy if you’re into fitness.

Realme Watch S Setup

Realme has an app called Realme Link which connects all of its smart wearable devices. The app is quite intuitive and can be used to simultaneously connect to multiple Realme smart devices.

To set up your smartwatch

–  Download the app
–  Fill in your details and create your account.
 –  Scan the QR code on the smartwatch and you are good to go. 

Specifications

  • Display: 1.3-inch display with 360 x 360 pixel IPS LCD with auto-brightness and a 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3
  • Monitoring Systems: heart rate monitor, Blood Oxygen level monitor, Sleep Tracking, Sports Tracking, Step Counter, Meditation.
  • Special features:  Smart notifications, Idle Alert, Drink Reminder, Phone Finder, Weather Forecast, Music and Camera Control
  • Sports Modes: Outdoor Run, Indoor Run, Walk, Outdoor Cycle, Strength Training, Football, Basketball, Yoga, Cricket, Aerobic Capacity, Badminton, Indoor Cycle, Stationary Bike, Elliptical, Rowing Machine and Table Tennis
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Compatible with Android 4.0+
  • Sensors: SpO2 sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, PPG optical heart rate sensor, Rotor Vibration Motor, Photosensitive Sensor
  • Battery: 390 mAh
  • Weight: 48 grams
  • Straps: Silicon straps, 22mm width, 164-208mm adjustable length with 3 colours  Black, Orange, and Green

Performance And Usage

The Realme Watch S has a better and responsive screen than its predecessor. It automatically adjusts its brightness levels, furthermore, you can also manually set it between 5 levels, which is a major improvement over its predecessor. For better protection, the screen is made up of Gorilla Glass 3.

A swipe from the top will bring up your notifications, while a right swipe will give you access to the quick toggles menu. Meanwhile, the left swipe gives you information about weather, sleep data and daily exercise statistics.

As mentioned, the Realme Watch has 16 sports modes, which in my opinion, are aplenty. I used all the sports modes but I was most impressed by the Cycling mode as it helped me to analyse my workout routine quite thoroughly.

The watch’s GPS tracking has a tiny margin of error, but it can easily be overlooked, especially at this price range. One noticeable con is that you cannot switch from any sports mode before ending the workout to check notifications.

Realme Watch S sometimes disconnects from the Realme Link app, as a result, I stopped receiving notifications until I reconnect it again. I also noticed a slight lag with messages being shown on my phone vs the watch. I had to manually sync through the app to get all the notifications.

You can read each message individually and then scroll to the bottom to delete all received notifications. You cannot reply to the notifications but Realme is working on a quick reply function. I tested the sleep tracking and it too has some issues. Mostly, the watch was unable to detect when I fell asleep and woke up accurately. 

On the bright side, the music control feature impressed me a lot. You can use it to pause and play YouTube videos without reaching for your phone, as it’s all there on your watch.

The Power saver mode switches off all unnecessary features leaving only the display time ON. It saves a ton of battery life, especially when I am travelling.

The battery life of Realme Watch S exceeded my expectations. The Watch has a claimed 14 days worth of battery life and during my use, I went without charging for 16 days with 2% charge remaining.

Verdict

For Rs. 4,999, The Realme Watch S packs with a lot of features. It does everything right from tracking your workouts, heart rate, etc. The Watch’s data lacks accuracy but it is still within a small margin of error.

The Watch also has a sleek, stylish and premium look with an easy to use UI which is best in the segment. The 14 days worth of battery life is impressive. The Realme Watch S is certainly better than its predecessor, the Realme Watch, and offers a lot more exclusive features at this price point.

Timex iConnect Premium Active Smartwatch review: Budget luxury or expensive mediocrity?

American watchmaker Timex has established itself as a premium yet affordable brand with a plethora of watches to choose from. Recently it entered the smartwatch segment with iConnect Premium Active, whose Rose Gold coloured, metal-strapped version we got a chance to review. So, is it budget luxury or expensive mediocrity? Read on.

First impressions:

Right off the bat, the watch bears a strong resemblance to Apple iWatch. Intentional? Probably. Intimidating? Not quite. The watch does feel like a bit of a rip-off, but it has a premium appeal nonetheless. It offers all the basic features present in a smartwatch but fails to stand out among the competition. It is also available with a soft silicone strap, though the flexible stainless steel mesh band looks professional and suave as compared to the alternative. The soft silicone option is available in black as well as pink colour while the stainless steel mesh band is offered in silver or gold finishes. It is claimed to be IP68 water-resistant and displays its data on a 36mm rectangular dial. It has rounded corners for a softer finish and also is complete touchscreen. 

 

Features and usage:

Users can connect the smartwatch to their smartphone via the iConnect by Timex 2 app. The app displays all the data that is collected by the smartwatch. Timex has programmed the iConnect Premium Active Smartwatch with a heart rate sensor, sedentary reminders, activity tracking, sleep tracking, and music playback controls as well. The smartwatch also gives direct notifications for calls, texts, and calendar events. It is charged magnetically via a pair of pogo pins that are placed just beside the heart rate sensor.

While using the smartwatch is not an extraordinary experience, it does its job well, with no complaints there. However, it loses its ground due to the fact that the entire navigation system on the watch is controlled by one button, as opposed to the swipe-based touch function available on other smartwatches. The giveaway is thick bezels and a touch button, sans which it could have looked sleeker. Its measurements aren’t accurate either and tend to miscount the steps and the watch also has a slight lag when measuring the heart rate, though I give it the benefit of doubt there. The sleep tracker, too, feels out of place and a rather forced addition than a genuine accessory. The battery life, however, sticks to its promise of lasting for almost five days, albeit with normal to minimum usage. Then again, what are the chances that you will spend the entire day just operating the smartwatch?

Verdict:

Despite the lag and error in calculation, Timex iConnect Active Premium does its job well, although it will be difficult to justify the price tag of Rs 7295, especially when compared to the much cheaper, yet equally feature-packed alternatives. However, if you are a Timex loyalist or just like to splurge and look fancy, this one is for you!

Survive in Style! Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 Watch Review

Often luxury is confused with comfort and survival is mistaken to be bare-boned. Well, Swiss luxury watchmaker Luminox seems to be adamant on changing that notion. It recently collaborated with survival expert and everything-eater Bear Grylls to debut a series of new Bear Grylls-branded watches. Called the “Bear Grylls Survival” series, it comes in six varieties based on Luminox’s Land, Sea, and Master series ranges. I got a chance to review the Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 watch and this is how it went:

First impressions:

Okay, practically speaking, there are hardly any chances that a person who buys a watch north of Rs 70,000 will ever find him/herself on a deserted island, in the middle of nowhere or just stranded in general. Nevertheless, Luminox has ensured that even if such a disaster occurs, you are well-equipped to face it. Right from basis SOS Codes to Bear Grylls’ signature statement of “never give up”, everything has been smartly yet artistically inscribed on the watch. Such is the inclusion of Grylls in the watch design that I felt that the former British SAS agent would swoop in anytime and whisk me away on an adventure!

I might have exaggerated there a little, but there is no exaggeration in the opulence of the Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 Watch. Yes, that is a long name and still, I feel like using it in its entirety. The bright orange strap that has been produced from natural rubber hold the watch firmly on your wrist but does not make it uncomfortable. Wearing the watch for the whole day and going for outdoor activities didn’t bother me much, and that is saying something as I can sometimes get extremely sweaty.

Usage:

Being an office-goer and living right in the heart of Mumbai means you don’t find much adventure around (unless you count travelling in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day as an adventure!) Nevertheless, I found many small bits of useful tech on the watch to increase your chances of survival. I was enamoured by the watch dial itself, which glows in the night. Despite being 45mm wide and 14mm thick, I did not feel its weight on my wrist at all. Even its 24mm wide straps did not cause trouble, which I was frankly surprised by. One of the main contributing factors to this was the lightweight of 98 grams, thanks to “Carbonox”, a special type of forged carbon material from Luminox.

The case is not only water-resistant to 300 metres, but it is also protected by an anti-reflective (AR)-coated sapphire crystal. The dial is surrounded by a uni-directional Carbonox-made rotating bezel and gets a protected tritium gas tube at the midnight position. This, along with self-illuminating tritium gas tubes on the hands and hour markers accounts for the effortless and sufficient nighttime illumination.

The dial itself is quite easy to read and the chronograph subdials are not at all intrusive. The watch runs on a Swiss-made RONDA 5030.D analogue quartz movement. It includes the time, date, and 12-hour chronograph that also gets a split-second function. The watch offers over 50 months of battery life, meaning you don’t have to worry about it faltering for quite a while.

Conclusion:

The Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 isn’t a watch for everyone, but then again, not everyone will be able to afford it. For those who do, I recommend you try it out first, especially if you have a smaller wrist. Considering its sheer features, it has a justifiably large size as compared to usual watches and might look odd on the wrong wrist. Also, it will be a value for money deal only if you are an ardent adventurer or just like the look of rugged things on your person. Nevertheless, Luminox watches are a delight to use and the Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 is no exception.

Specifications:

| Origin | Swiss Made |

| Always Visible | Constant glow for up to 25 years |

| Size/Diameter | 45mm |

| Water Resistance | 300 meters, 30 ATM, 1000 feet |

| Movement | Ronda 5030.D |

| Case material | CARBONOX™+ |

| Bezel | CARBONOX™+, uni-directional turning, count-up and compass |

| Case back | 316L stainless steel, screw-in |

| Crystal | Sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating |

| Crown | 316L stainless steel, screw-on |

| Case Height | 14mm |

| Weight | 98g |

| Standard Strap | Orange rubber EPDM strap, stainless steel buckle |

Advertisement Feature: Garmin India brings more joy to this festival with the all-new Venu SQ Smartwatch

Garmin India, a unit of Garmin Ltd. today launched their pocket-friendly yet feature-loaded latest GPS smartwatch: Venu Sq and the Venu Sq Music Edition. The Venu Sq is built with bright colour display, sleek design and best suited for every part of your day while keeping a track of your health and fitness activities.
The new Venu Sq series boasts over 20 built-in indoor and outdoor sports apps including Pilates, yoga, strength training, running, pool swimming, cycling, golf and many more supporting its users with extensive workout required to inspire movement. Adding more to it, the Music edition features on-device music storage for phone-free listening.


Apart from the sports app, the smartwatch also comes loaded with health monitoring features including advanced sleep with Pulse Ox2, respiration tracking, abnormal heart rate alerts (high and low), menstrual cycle tracking, stress tracking with relax reminders, hydration tracking and more. Bringing more convenience to the users, the Venu Sq supports battery life of up to six days in smartwatch mode and up to 14 hours in GPS mode.
Ali Rizvi, Director of Garmin India said, “We at Garmin have always focused on fulfilling the needs of our customers with the best of quality products and high-end technological innovations. Today, with the launch of Venu Sq, we are now entering into a new market segment under which people can buy a Garmin smartwatch at a competitive price with premium features including 20 built-in sports apps, on-device music storage, advanced sleep with Pulse Ox2 with the broadest range of 24/7 monitoring features available on the market.”


Venu Sq’s robust suite of workout options also includes preloaded workouts on the watch, preset workouts available to download from Garmin Connect, and “create your own” customizable workouts. Whether training for a 5K or something longer, the Venu Sq is compatible with Garmin Coach, free training plans adapted to a runner’s goals and performance, complete with a virtual personal trainer for added motivation.
Innovative Body Battery energy monitoring also lets users monitor their energy level which can help with scheduling workouts, rest times and sleep. The Venu Sq series provides all-day connection and convenience with a host of smart features including notifications, music storage, safety and tracking, and more.
The new series of Venu Sq will be available for ₹ 21,090 and the Venu Sq Music will be available for ₹26,290.

Want a free Harley Davidson? Just purchase this watch!

Sometimes it is necessary for you to match your wrist watch to your vehicle. While most owners make do with aesthetic similarities, Swiss watchmaker Carl F. Bucherer has taken it one step ahead. Collaborating with American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson, the company has created the ‘Bucherer Blue’ watch.

The watch is based on the manufacturer’s Patravi TravelTec II and gets a rose gold finished case with a black bezel and a blue face. Its front has a sapphire anti-reflective face while its back sports a transparent window. Its rubber strap is also designed as a tyre tread. The watch runs on CFB 1901.1 calibre automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve. Apart from the hour, minute and second dials, it also shows a date counter and three different time zones.

The owner of this watch will probably get the world’s most expensive watch holder. It is a customized Harley Davidson Softail Slim S which is called the Blue Edition. It has two armoured glass domes inside its fuel tank, which hold the watch and a solitaire ring. The holder, which is insulated with silicone rings to absorb the motorcycle’s vibrations, also doubles up as a watch winder. This charges the watch while it is sitting in the box.

Harley Davidson roped in chop-shop specialists Bundnerbike to complete their project. The basis for this bike is the Harley-Davidson Softail Slim from 2017, which was rebuilt in detail. Even the smallest parts, including bolts, were made by hand and given a high-quality finish. The wheels were specially designed for the Blue Bike, and the saddle is also hand-stitched – made in Switzerland.

 

The motorcycle is also embedded with heat-resistant LEDs on the inside that illuminate the various gold-plated components of the motorcycle. The tank doubles up as the watch holder, as well as the holder of a six-prong solitaire ring with a 5.4 carat diamond.

Mechanically, the motorcycle remains unchanged and carries forward its 107cu.in. (1753cc) V-twin engine that makes 92HP of maximum power and 145Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

Patrick Graf, Chief Commercial Officer at Bucherer says, “We are delighted to be able to take advantage of our many years of experience and our close relationships with our partners to create exquisite, one-of-a-kind watches and products as part of the Bucherer BLUE collection, which are available for purchase exclusively at Bucherer.”

The iridescent paint job of the motorcycle was achieved after an elaborate process of silver plating the motorcycle completely. It was then painted with six coats of different colours, that has resulted in the rich, deep blue colour.

As expected, this luxury comes with an incredible price of Rs 15 crore (when converted) of which almost Rs 12 crore go towards the costing of the motorcycle, making it the most expensive one in the world! Still, Rs 3 crore for a wrist watch is quite a fancy deal, don’t you think? Naturally, it is safe to assume that the Harley Davidson Softail S Blue Edition will definitely not be an everyday sight.

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