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TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G Review: Light It UP

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro 5G is a mid-range smartphone with impressive features, such as a 120Hz AMOLED display, a powerful 108-megapixel primary camera, and a huge 6,000mAh battery with fast charging. The most striking feature is the back panel, which was inspired by a motherboard. The new LED design features over 200 LEDs and 100+ customization options. However, before making a purchase, it’s important to consider a few trade-offs.

DESIGN

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro 5G is a smartphone that strikes a balance between having a powerful battery and a slim design, while also incorporating some eye-catching elements. Despite having a massive 6,000mAh battery, the phone has an impressively slim profile of just 7.88mm. This makes it surprisingly comfortable to hold in one hand, especially when compared to other phones with similar battery capacities. Also, at just 195g, the phone is lightweight and still looks good.

Instead of using the typical glass or plain plastic back design, Tecno has opted for a textured design that looks cool. The phone is available in Comet Green or Meteorite Grey, and the most significant feature apart from the back panel is the customizable LED strip that runs alongside the rear camera module. This strip can light up notifications, charging status, or even while gaming, adding a touch of personalization and a light show. However, it may be seen as gimmicky to some users while others may find it appealing.

The front of the phone sports a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole cutout for the front-facing camera. The bezels are relatively thin, offering an excellent screen-to-body ratio for an immersive viewing experience. The rear camera module houses the triple-lens setup and the LED strip. It protrudes slightly from the back but shouldn’t cause significant wobbling when placed on a flat surface. Surprisingly, the Pova 6 Pro has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is rare to see on a smartphone. There is even a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion.

The phone has an IP53 rating, which means it’s resistant to dust and can withstand light splashes. However, it’s not fully waterproof, so it’s best to avoid using it near pools or in heavy rain.

PERFORMANCE

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro 5G is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor, which works in conjunction with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, depending on the model you choose. This allows for effortless handling of daily activities such as web browsing, social media, and video streaming. App loading times are reasonable, and multitasking is seamless. The base model offers a generous 256GB of storage, which should suffice for most users, but can be further expanded with a microSD card if needed.

Tecno’s HiOS 14 skin, which is layered on top of Android 14, may take some time to get used to for users who are accustomed to standard Android. Although it offers some additional features, it can feel bloated at times. Upgrades may take longer compared to established brands. It even has its own branded store and apps, along with other pre-installed apps that can make the device UI appear cluttered. Fortunately, some of the pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, although it can be a tedious task for a new user.

The phone can handle most casual games like Asphalt 9 without any problems. However, more demanding games like BGMI or Call of Duty Warzone with high graphics settings may experience some frame drops or stutters. If you’re a hardcore gamer, there may be better options available with more powerful processors.

Although benchmarks are not the only indication of processing power, they provide a general idea of a phone’s performance. The Dimensity 6080 scores modestly in benchmarks compared to the latest flagship processors. However, it is comfortably situated within the mid-range segment, offering similar performance to other phones in its price range.

After using the phone for a week, it manages heat dissipation well during everyday tasks. However, under heavy loads like gaming or prolonged video editing using VN editor, the phone may get warm to the touch.

CAMERA

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro 5G is a smartphone equipped with a triple-lens rear camera system. The high-resolution primary sensor is the standout feature with an impressive 108-megapixel. This means that photos taken with this phone should have exceptional detail, particularly in well-lit environments. The primary sensor is accompanied by two 2-megapixel sensors, one for depth information and the other with an unspecified purpose. These additional sensors are typically found in budget phones and do not add much to image quality.

In terms of daylight performance, the 108-megapixel sensor can capture detailed photos with accurate color reproduction, although there may be slight processing issues that result in a loss of sharpness in some areas. As with most mid-range phones, low-light performance can be a challenge. Photos may appear noisy and lacking in detail. Tecno’s night mode can help somewhat, but it is not as effective as high-end phones. The phone can record videos up to 1440p resolution at 30fps, which is sufficient for basic recording.

The 32MP front-facing camera can capture decent selfies with clear details and accurate colors in well-lit environments. However, in low-light situations, the camera may struggle to produce good quality images, resulting in grainy or blurry photos.

VERDICT

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro 5G is an excellent choice for those who are on a budget and want a phone with a long-lasting battery, a smooth display, and a unique techie design. The camera system is good, and the performance is sufficient for most everyday tasks. However, the slightly outdated processor prevent it from being an outstanding phone.

What is 5G and its future in India

I’ve taken you across the seven seas sharing the best cities in the world with 5G coverage. However, while looking over all its might and glory, one can easily lose focus on what a technological marvel it really is! It was not long ago when users could only connect to the internet via a complicated set of instructions via stationary computers. However, in 2022, one can stream a feature-length on their mobile devices using just the cellular network connection. While the use case of this technology is wide and has the potential to transform the world into a much deeper global village, it is important to understand what 5G actually is. For the unversed, here are things you should know about 5G:

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of cellular technology. The fast cellular network is designed to reduce latency, increase speed and improve the coverage of wireless services. Theoretically, 5G has a peak speed of 20Gbps. Whereas, the peak speed of 4G is only 1Gbps. The previous generations of cellular technology focused on ensuring that the coverage is stable. However, 5G takes connectivity to another level with high speed and wide coverage.

How does it work?

Wireless networks are composed of cell sites which are divided into sectors that send data using radio waves. The previous 4G cellular networks required large, power-efficient cell towers that radiate signals over long distances. 5G however, uses a large number of small cell stations that transmit signals. These small cell stations are located in places like light poles and building roofs.

The only downside of 5G I see is that its deployment has taken a slower start in India as compared to other countries. While we wait for ultra-fast 5g to hit our major cities with considerably affordable prices, here are some of the benefits of the 5th Gen cellular network:

Higher Frequency
Higher Bandwidth
Fast Mobile Internet Speed
High Data Rates
4K Streaming and Near Real-Time 5G VR Streaming
Real-Time Analytics
Effective Communication with Devices
Accurate Location Tracking
Stable Wireless Connection

While 5G has been an important development in cellular technology which has the potential to change the world, It surely has been caught up in its web of conspiracy theories. If you were using WhatsApp during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, you must have noticed a number of 5G network conspiracy theories floating around. The phenomenon of the 5g conspiracy theory was not only limited to India but also around the world as believers had even torched a number of 5G towers in the UK last year. Here’s a look at the crazy conspiracy theory related to 5G and the COVID-19 outbreak:

The Theory

There are two sides to the conspiracy theory surrounding 5G. While one says that the 5G network is responsible for the spread of COVID-19, another one claims that the new network was deployed under the cover-up of the pandemic. While both these conspiracy theories are wild, to say the least, believers were voicing their opinion about the same on mainstream social media platforms. The conspiracy theories around 5G being linked to COVID-19 were spreading faster than the pandemic itself.

The theories ran wild and soon to an ugly turn when various phone network masts were put on fire by believers. The fire to the fuel were various influencers from around the world with thousands of followers claiming the conspiracy theory to be true. These theories were detailed back being rooted in Facebook posts back from January 2020, around the time the first COVID-19 cases started to emerge. The theories later started suggesting that 5G can suppress the immune system, making people vulnerable to catching the virus. Another theory also suggested that the virus can be transmitted through the use of 5G.

The conspiracy theory around 5G spread like wildfire in India where the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) warned the public not to believe them. The department also urged the citizens to check if the 5G waves emitted in the future will be within the government’s permissible levels. DoT had also cleared out any conspiracy theories stating that mobile towers emit non-ionizing radio frequencies which are incapable of causing harm to any living cells including human beings.

Future of 5G in India

We’ve been across the world and learned about 5G and the conspiracy theories around it. But it would unfair to end this piece without talking about the future of the latest cellular network technology in India. It was back in August 2022 when Reliance Industrial Limited (RIL) held its annual general meeting. The 5G rollout date was made official during this meeting.

As per recent developments, the next-generation mobile network will begin to roll out as early as Diwali 2022. The company also plans to bring more affordable 5G phones to the market in partnership with the tech giant Google. The company stated that it will be available in the metropolitan cities of the country like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in the first rollout. However, a nationwide rollout of 5G is also expected by December 2023 from the Jio network.

In his keynote address, Mukesh Ambani stated that he believes that digital freedom is the birthright of every Indian. Hence, 5G cannot be exclusive to just a few privileged people in society or those who live in larger cities. The RIL Chairman furthermore added that to build its pan-India True 5G network, the company has committed a total investment of Rs 2 Lakh Crores.

Readers must note that Jio 5G will use a standalone 5G as opposed to the non-standalone version of the connection which requires 4G to provide connectivity. This directly results in faster connectivity speed and reduces latency. Ambani also noted that the goal of the 5G connectivity is not to be out of reach of the masses. The company wishes to bring 5G at a rate more affordable than Jio 4G!

With such interesting developments in the 5G arena in the country, It won’t be wrong to say that Indian cities might soon start having better 5G connectivity than some international cities. With 5G being the next big tech development in India, Would you be interested in trying it out?

These Cities Fly High With Ultra Fast 5G!

If you’ve been in the market to buy a premium mobile device in India, you know that the 5G hype is real! While the fast cellular network connectivity has just made its debut in India, phones with future-proof 5G capabilities have been soaring in sales. India might not yet boast an extensive 5G coverage but sure will in the near future, as early as 2023. But, we have to swallow the sour pill of our country not being there just yet! While the future of 5G connectivity in India looks bright enough to buy a 5G-supported device right away, it has already made a solid impression around the world.

In our travel edition, we wanted to touch upon how emerging cellular network technology has left its mark around the world. Here are some of the techiest cities in the world that are basking in the glory of the 5G speed!

Cities with the best 5G

While India waits its turn to see the launch of the new generation network technology – 5G, there are over 72 countries and 1947 cities that are connected with the 5G network. The COVID-19 pandemic brought upon a slowdown of sorts in the tech world globally but that did not stop 5G from adding one city to its coverage every two days! The second half of 2022 itself saw an expansion of 5G networks in places like Kenya, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Malta, and Mauritius. However, the leading in the list of 72 countries is China and the USA.

While South Korea was the first one to adapt to the 5G network, China and USA were the ones to expand it to most cities. Reports suggest that China supports 5G coverage in a whopping 356 cities in total. Whereas, the United States is gradually catching up with a coverage of 296 cities. Surprisingly, the third in the spot of 5G coverage is the Philippines with a total of 98 cities covered. Check out some of the best 5G cities below:

I don’t think any technologically sound person wouldn’t be shocked to know that China leads the race in 5G deployment. The country currently has 5G base stations in all its major cities and urban areas which is an achievement, to say the least. In early 2022, China’s official Academy of Information and Communication released the 5G deployment report of the previous year. The report stated that 5G mobile phone shipments in the Chinese market hit the 266 million units mark. This showcased the adaptability of the 5G network among the general public as it was a 63.5% increase compared to 2020. The country has over 800,000 shared 5G base stations and more than 2,300 5G industry virtual private networks. Amongst the ever-increasing nature of China’s 5G connectivity, also consists of its financial capital, Shanghai.

Shanghai, China

China’s financial hub, Shanghai had deployed 51,716 5G base stations by the end of April 2022. This amounted to a 20.8 5G base per 10,000 residents. As per reports, Shanghai has showcased an exceptional growth rate of over 65% in recent years. According to Shanghai Communications highspeed Administration, the technologically advanced city had built 8.2 5G base stations per square kilometre. China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom are some of the key players in providing 5G connectivity in China. The three operators had reported that Shanghai saw a cumulative increase of over 9.3 million 5G phone users in the city which amounts to a massive 21.3% of total 5G users in the country.

China’s 5G coverage spreads across all major urban cities, over 98% county-level urban areas and over 80% township-level urban areas! It was only back in February 2022 when Nokia and MediaTek announced that they have achieved the record of the highest 5G speed ever recorded in Shanghai. The test created a record by clocking in the standalone speed of 3Gbps on a 5G mobile device, being a tech enthusiast, it does make me wonder if getting Gbps speeds in India through a 5G network is only a few years away!

Shenzhen, China

Shenzhen caused a major FOMO around the world when it declared that it was the first city in the world to have full 5G coverage. However, it did not come as a surprise as Shenzhen was already touted as the technological capital of China for a long time. The fourth-most populous city in the country is also known as the Silicon Valley of China. While it has now been dethroned by Shanghai, Shenzhen once held the record for having the most numbers of 5G base stations with a number higher than 46,000 back in 2020.

Besides being one of the widest 5G covering cities in the world, Shenzhen is also home to various global tech giants. It was once known as the ‘Factory of the world’ and houses various tech companies like Tencent (PUBG, WeChat), and smartphone and equipment manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE. The tech-forward city also houses the world’s largest drone company – DJI.

Beijing, China

One cannot talk about China’s 5G prowess and leave out Beijing. The capital city of China was the second city to have full 5G coverage in the country. While it has an impressive 5G coverage, what’s interesting is the implementation of the fast network technology. Beijing surprised the world during the 2022 Winter Olympics Games by showcasing its 5G capabilities. The event was the first Winter Olympics with full 5G coverage.

The most interesting 5G implementation was that of the 5G cloud-based broadcast technology. This enabled people to enjoy the Beijing Games event on any device synchronously as COVID-19 kept audiences outside the stadium. 5G smart ambulance was also an impressive addition to the event. Along with monitors and defibrillators, the 5G ambulances were also equipped with data collection techs like cameras and emergency gateways. 5G was used by the ambulance medical staff to transfer data and relevant information to the emergency centre. Allowing real-time updates and data sharing. The

5G railway was a welcoming experience for people trying to Livestream ultra HD videos at a speed of 350 kilometres per hour! China is currently expecting to have over 530 million users by 2023.

Now, let’s move on to the home of K-Pop, South Korea. Besides carving its place in mainstream pop culture through its music, films and TV shows, South Korea is also a hub for 5G connectivity. The Korean government played a crucial role in the global acceptance of 5GF by being the first country in the world to launch it back in 2019. The country has reportedly spent nearly $20 billion to boost connection speeds via network upgrades, resulting in over 45% of the population now using 5G.

Seoul, South Korea

Next time you’re in the capital of South Korea to attend the concert of your favourite k-Pop band, do make sure to check the 5G speed there (well, if you have a 5G device, of course!) Opensignal, the independent global standard for studying consumer mobile experience has recently reported that the average download speed through a 5G device in Seoul was clocking in at a massive 453.1 Mbps. This was faster than Kuala Lumpur which clocked in at 376.1 Mbps. When it comes to uploading speeds in Seoul, it comes in at an impressive 40.6Mbps. The fastest 5G upload speeds are enjoyed by Kuala Lumpur users at 52.8Mbps. The availability of 5G is also widespread in the South Korean capital. Users were able to access 5G in Seoul at a 43.4% rate.

South Korea is currently at a critical point in the advancement of technology. The country has proven to become an economic juggernaut having technological prowess. Seoul sits at the crux of this development being the capital, it implements a number of technological wonders which are backed by the ever-growing 5G capability.

Now, let’s jump on to the United States! Home to well-known carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon and Mint, USA is a prominent player when it comes to 5G expansion. T-Mobile 5G download speeds have clocked up at 171 Mbps in the USA. While not as fast as China’s average of 295 Mbps, it is still a competitive speed. All the major USA carriers have launched 5G and working tirelessly to expand the network nationwide. While some carriers millimetre-wave (mmWave0 technology to provide ultra-fast speeds, other carriers use a lower-band spectrum to cover a larger area. While the USA has been a hub for the growth of 5G, it has also been the hub for rather amusing conspiracy theories based on the fast-speed network. From 5g causing COVID-19 to 5G causing ‘Vaccinated People to Explode’, we’ve heard it all. We’ll explore the strangely funny conspiracy theories around 5G towards the end of this topic.

As of now, T-Mobile is the widest 5G network carrier in the USA. It switched to the nationwide network back in December 2019 which allowed it to have a winning edge over the other 5G carriers in the country. T-Mobile 5G networks cover 5,000 cities and over 200 million people. The carrier also provides an ‘Ultra Capacity’ connection which offers millimetre-wave coverage. Though, it is far more limited as compared to standard extended-range capacity networks. It was only back in June 2022 when T-Mobile announced the launch of commercial Voice-over-5G in limited areas of Portland and Salt Lake City. Let’s have a look at the techiest 5G cities in the USA:

Seattle

I know, when it comes to America, we all think of New York or California as leading tech cities, but Seattle takes the cake here! The city has cemented itself as a superstar tech hub as it houses global tech players like Amazon, Microsoft and Nintendo. It also houses a number of heavily funded homegrown startups adding more to its technological prowess.

Fun Fact: Seattle is also known as a world centre for coffee roasting, making it a somewhat coffee capital of the USA. The city houses numerous coffeehouses having a widespread coffee culture. If you ever happen to visit Seattle, don’t forget to try the delicious coffee at world-famous coffeehouses like ‘Sound and Fog’ or ‘Caffe Ladro’. And of course, the 5G download speeds in this city have clocked up to 760.9Mbps. You won’t face any network issues while trying to post Instagram stories from the said coffeehouses!

New York

“Concrete Jungle Where Dreams are Made of..” who doesn’t wanna visit New York? If you ask me, I cannot wait to stroll around the city, be it walking around Central Park or trying out the $1 pizza slice. I wanna do it all, but won’t it all be so much fun if I get access to a fast 5G connection to make it easier for me to commute through the hustling and bustling city?

Among the 30 major cities around the world, New York topped the list of cities having the highest 5G coverage. However, the city does not have an ultra-fast 5G connection. The city has an average download speed of 119.8Mbps, which surely is fast enough! Another interesting thing with the development of 5G in New York is the city’s plan to roll out 5G connectivity in the Subway transit system!

Los Angeles

Hollywood’s home, celebrities to spot in the wild, multiple tourist attractions and ultra-fast 5G, Los Angeles has it all! It was only back in February 2022 when T-Mobile had extended its coverage across the city with a big investment of $100 million. The mobile network company now covers nearly 95% of its user with the ultra-fast 5G. T-Mobile installed a state-of-the-art 5G System during the 2022 Superbowl to give users a taste of its ultra-fast 5G. The network had clocked in peak download speeds of a whopping 1.5Gbps.

Best 5G Smartphones under INR 30,000

Nowadays, all leading smartphone brands are offering 5G ready devices. Not only do these smartphones make your network access faster and better, their greater bandwidth and lower latency compared to 4G and 3G networks often translate into redefining the way all of us live, work and play. While many may assume that 5G ready devices are exorbitantly expensive owing to their excellent features and 5G support, nothing can be farther from the truth. You can grab a 5G phone with Avantgarde features for as little as INR 30,000. Let us have a look at some of the best 5G Smartphones under INR 30,000 available today.

OPPO Reno6 5G: Taking the smartphone videography benchmark a notch ahead OPPO recently announced the launch of the most awaited Reno series, the OPPO Reno6 Pro 5G and Reno6 5G along with Enco X True Wireless Noise Cancelling earphones in a new blue colour variant. The Reno6 5G would be available on Flipkart at INR 29,990.

The phone has a 6.5-inch 3D curved display with a 90Hz refresh rate and up to 180Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring a smooth feel and comfortable viewing experience. The display is HDR10+ certified for a more vivid visual experience. Paired with this display is 360-degree Light-Sensing enabled by two ambient light sensors, which improve the accuracy of auto-brightness adjustments, making the viewing experience more comfortable. The display is also Netflix HD and Amazon Prime Video HD/HDR certified for high-quality visual content. Like its predecessors, the OPPO Reno6 series continues with a trendy, thin, and lightweight design.

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: The smartphone boasts a 6.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor with two cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six cores clocked at 1.8GHz. It comes with 6GB of RAM and runs Android 11. A 4500mAh battery powers the phone. In terms of the camera, the phone rear packs a 64-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture; a 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The rear camera setup has autofocus. It sports a 32-megapixel camera on the front for selfies with an f/2.2 aperture. It offers 128GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via a microSD card (up to 1000GB). The phone is humbly priced at INR 26,499.

VIVO V21 5G: This smartphone comes with a 6.44-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080×2404 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. Vivo V21 5G is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor, and it has 8GB of RAM. The Vivo V21 5G runs Android 11 and is powered by a 4000mAh battery. The Vivo V21 5G also boasts proprietary fast charging. In terms of camera, the phone on the rear packs a 64-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.79 aperture, an 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 2-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture.

The rear camera setup has autofocus. It sports a 44-megapixel camera on the front for selfies with an f/2.0 aperture. It runs on Funtouch OS 11.1, based on Android 11 and packs 128GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via microSD card (up to 1000GB) with a specific slot. Vivo V21 5G price in India starts at INR 29,990.

Realme X7 Max 5G: The device comes with a 6.43-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. An octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor powers Realme X7 Max. It comes with 8GB of RAM. The phone runs Android 11 and is powered by a 4500mAh battery. The Realme X7 Max is equipped with proprietary fast charging. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Realme X7 Max on the backpacks a 64-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture; an 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.3 aperture, and a 2-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The rear camera setup has autofocus.

It sports a 16-megapixel camera on the front for selfies with an f/2.5 aperture. The Realme X7 Max runs Realme UI 2.0, is based on Android 11, and packs 128GB of inbuilt storage. The Realme X7 Max measures 158.50 x 73.30 x 8.40mm (height x width x thickness) and weighs 179.00 grams. Available colour variants are Asteroid Black, Mercury Silver, and Milky Way colours. Realme X7 Max costs INR 26,999.

One Plus Nord CE 5G: The OnePlus Nord CE retains the Nord’s 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display. It gets a pixel density of 410ppi, a 20:9 aspect ratio and a screen resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The smartphone offers a refresh rate of 90Hz, which translates to smooth app run and gaming. A 30W fast charging enabled powerful battery ensures that the device is always on. It features a triple rear camera with a foray into the 64-megapixel smartphone arena. An 8-megapixel sensor backs the primary camera with an f/2.25 ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel mono sensor with an f/2.4 lens. At the front, it offers a 16-megapixel Sony IMX471 selfie camera with an f/2.45 lens and EIS support.

The device is powered by Snapdragon 750G 5G SoC at its core. Comparing the phone to its predecessor, the One Plus Nord CE 5G weighs surprisingly low at 170gms with a 4500 mAh battery under the hood.

Samsung & Vivo Emerged As The Worlds Fastest-Growing 5G Smartphone Brands In Q1-2021

Samsung and Vivo emerged as the world’s fastest-growing 5G smartphone brands in the first quarter (January to March) of 2021, with 17 million and 19.4 million shipments, respectively. The latest research done by Strategy Analytics shows that Samsung grew by 79%, and Vivo grew by 62% in 5G smartphone shipments compared to the last quarter (Q4 2020), which includes a cycle from October to December.

Vendor	Q4 2020 shipments (million)	Q4 2020 Market share	Q1 2021 shipments (million)	Q1 2021 Market share	Quarterly growth
Apple	52.2	40.7	40.4	29.8%	-23%
Oppo	13.9	10.9%	21.5	15.8%	55%
Vivo	12.0	9.4%	19.4	14.3%	62%
Samsung	9.5	7.4%	17.0	12.5%	79%
Xiaomi	11.8	9.2%	16.6	12.2%	41%
Others	28.7	22.4%	20.8	15.3%	-28%
Total	128.1	100.00%	135.7	100.00%	6%

“Global 5G smartphone shipments grew a healthy 6% quarter-on-quarter and hit a record 136 million units during the first quarter of 2021.” quoted Ken Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics, during a statement. The demand for 5G smartphones is on another level, particularly in China, United States, and Western Europe and by the end of 2021, the shipments will reach a record 624 million units, Hyers added further.

Samsung’s growth was pushed by significant demand for the Galaxy S21 series across South Korea, the US, and Europe. At the same time, Vivo emerges as the second fastest-growing 5G brand, with strongholds over China and Europe. The success of Vivo was driven by its iQOO U3 5G and U7 5G smartphones.

Oppo, with a 55% increase and Xiaomi with a 41% increase, complete the top-four makers’ list; both of these companies grew dramatically due to solid hold in China. There’s no doubt, Samsung and Vivo have topped the Quarterly growth based on shipment percentage, but Apple still holds the lead with total shipments of 40.4 million.

Apple dipped with -23% quarter-on-quarter, following a spree during last quarter’s holiday period where the new 5G iPhone was wildly popular. However, the American tech giant still stands strong with a 29.8% market share in Q1 2021, and it will soon bounce back in the percentage of the shipment.

Unfold the future: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 reviewed

It might seem that we have seen it all this year. Highs and lows, latest in tech and automobile and whatnot. But just when we thought we had seen it all, Samsung dropped a spectacular piece of the future. Why do I say that? Because anybody who has used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 will agree that it does not belong to this century. Well, here is my review of the latest smartphone from the Korean giant.

Touch and Feel:

The experience of using the Galaxy Z Fold 2 begins right out of the box. Quite literally. The box includes a pamphlet that says, “Change the shape of the future” and rightly so. There is also an extremely important and unmissable care instruction pamphlet, which I went through in spite of reminding myself to be absolutely careful.

The box offers a sleekly unfolded piece inside, along with the standard accessories of a 25W charger, USB cable with C-type plugs on both sides, and USB C-type earphones from AKG. Obviously, the phone is the highlight of the box and it feels lavish in the hand even before booting it up.

What’s new and what’s newer:

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a considerable upgrade over its predecessor. Its hinge has a lesser gap when folded and it now offers better structural rigidity. It also contributes to something that Samsung calls “The Flex Mode”, but more on that later. Samsung also mentions an “advanced engineering marvel,” which is essentially a brand-new internal mechanism that employs advanced elastics and a cam design. The hinge also features an internal bristle layer, which keeps it free from any foreign contaminants. Talk about being a stickler for cleanliness!

Samsung has also redesigned the phone to make it look boxier with straight-cut lines as opposed to the curvier design of the previous generation. The Z Fold 2 is also offered in a better colour palette, in a manner of speaking. The main body comes in two options that include Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. The hinge can also be customized in different colours, including Mystic Black, Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold, Metallic Red and Metallic Blue. However, choosing that option could delay delivery.

Display(s) galore!:

Needless to say, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is incomparable with regards to the display. Look at it one way and it feels like a mini foldable tablet in your palms. Look at it in another way, and you would get the feel of using three phones simultaneously! Well, that’s considering you use the main screen in split mode.

The 6.23-inch front cover display is protected well by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus finish, while the back panel along with the main camera module gets Gorilla Glass 6 protection. Regardless, the phone is relatively fragile but that is understandable given the intricacy of design and the minuscule components.

Open the phone and a 7.6-inch display greets you. It is a Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that offers bright colours and a crystal clear display. Its brightness is also pretty significant and using it on full brightness could make your eyes water after a while. This time around, Samsung has incorporated “glass-like” materials, which although offer better durability, make the screen sensitive to pointy objects. The main screen offers 120Hz refresh rate, while the outside screen maxes out at 60Hz.

Display settings can be altered between two modes- the default “Vivid” mode or a “Natural” mode. Users can also alter intricate parameters separately using advanced sliders. The phone also has full HDR10+ support, though it is limited to the main screen only. Samsung also got the device Widevine L1 certified, implying that apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime can offer their fullest HDR quality!

Samsung has also reinforced the screens with a soft protective layer on top of both the displays, though it is a simple external protector and not an integration of the screen itself. This, in turn, leads to trails and grooves being left behind from fingernails, which potential buyers should understand. It also leads to a little more finger traction while sliding across the screen, unlike a smooth and glossy glass finish that you would expect.

Z Fold 2’s Flex (Mode)

Coming to the aforementioned Flex Mode, it allows you to prop the phone up like a laptop and use it so. Naturally, it won’t replace the feel of using an actual laptop, but it does come with its set of UI and UX solutions. A growing number of apps are also offering extensive support for the use of the Flex Mode, but that still left me wanting for more. I would much rather prefer propping up the phone while it is entirely unfolded, a feat that I am yet to achieve. That said, the Flex Mode also allows you to use the external display for content consumption, while the rest of the phone acting as a stand.

But using the Flex Mode does call for some sacrifices. There is no way of propping the phone in a way that exposes both the main cameras as well as the outside display, in case you ever need to click a high-definition selfie. This can only be achieved if the phone is fully open, which makes it impossible to fit in a majority of the gimbals or selfie stick rigs. It is also cumbersome to hold it in that manner for a long period of time.

UI and UX:

Given that the Z Fold 2 is Samsung’s latest product, it also runs on the company’s latest One UI 2.5 Android, based on the core of Android 10. This, coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage implies the phone is not only a beauty but also a beast. There is virtually no force that can stop or even slow down the phone and it can handle the heaviest of apps or tasks without breaking a sweat. Well, extensive gaming will heat the phone up slightly, but that is a universal problem that smartphone manufacturers are yet to resolve. First things first, I was greeted with Samsung’s Always-On display feature, albeit in a slightly altered manner. Now, users get the option of glancing at the display only after double-tapping on it, while its usual features of setting up a daily schedule and choosing different clock styles remain unchanged.

The home screen and app drawer are both a class apart and can be accessed from either the front screen or the main screen. As mentioned earlier, this gives the feeling of using multiple phones at once! Then there is the Bixby feed which is just a left-swipe away at all times.

Talking about dual screens, the phone has an innate ability to offer split-screen options for every application possible. This can either be had in a horizontal position or vertically.

Buttons and hardware:

When folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will feel quite familiar in your hand. It has the usual volume rockers on the right side, just below which is the lock button and the fingerprint scanner. Speaking of, it has a lightning-fast response and reads my finger accurately even at the slightest touch. It is also a nice change from the usual Ultrasonic under-display scanners that most Samsung flagships currently have. Honestly, I prefer the one in the Z Fold 2 over under-display scanners any day. The phone gets a single tray for the nano-SIM card and while the phone offers full 5G support, it is obviously a long-shot in India as 5G is yet to be fully established.

The speakers are also present on one side of the phone which can get troublesome while holding the phone in one manner. However, it is easily rectifiable by simply flipping the phone over. The sound output is benchmark-setting and the phone speakers alone are capable of giving you a full surround sound effect. At full volume, there is hardly any noise that can dim the output of the Z Fold 2, sans a loud ruckus or a heavy-duty speaker. The speakers complement the main screen perfectly and both combine to offer an almost theatre-like experience. That is saying something, considering it is what every modern phone aims to achieve.

Camera quality:

While the Z Fold 2 is a leader in almost all aspects of a smartphone, it slightly lacks in the camera department. Not that there is anything to with for, of course, but it borrows its camera setup from other phones in the family. The main snapper is a 12MP unit that gets Dual Pixel Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). It is accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide lens, as well as a 12MP telephoto lens. The telephoto lens offers 2x optical zoom, along with PDAF and OIS. These goodies have been lifted straight from the Galaxy S20 though, and hence are not unique to the Z Fold 2.

However, what the phone does have unique to itself is the wide range of options available to click your perfect photograph. Not just for selfies and landscapes, but also for food photography and the likes. What’s more, the AR zone has a dedicated makeup mode with official products from leading manufacturers like Maybelline, which will allow women to preempt their perfect look without even owning the product! There is also food photography to allow you to click the perfect plate shot without letting the food go cold!

Talking about the selfie camera is easy, as there are two dedicated 10MP units for the same. One is on the cover display while the other is on the main, foldable panel. Both are housed inside snug punch holes which do not interfere with either display. They are nothing out-of-the-box but do a pretty decent job.

Power core (Battery):

Talking about the battery is a tricky one since it is basically split into two parts. Both halves of the phone have a battery pack, which totals up to roughly 4500mAh. Using the main screen for a significant amount of time on 120Hz will take a toll on the battery, but that is nothing to be concerned about. The phone lasts throughout the day regardless of the extent of the usage and lowering the settings or using battery saving options will only increase the duration.

The Z Fold 2 supports 25W fast charging, as well as 11W wireless charging. This means even if the battery somehow drains out, it won’t take long to juice right back up! The phone took slightly more than half an hour to charge up to 30% from nil, while it crossed the halfway mark within the hour. The phone will be completely charged and ready to go within a couple of hours, meaning you can binge-watch any series all night long and still go to the office with enough juice the next day.

Verdict:

While the Z Fold 2 will definitely burn a big hole in your pocket, there is hardly any other smartphone that can be considered a worthy alternative. Among all other accolades, it is the display and the sound setup that takes the biggest trophy. There is only one alternative in the form of the Huawei Mate Xs, but since both phones cost almost the same, it would be wiser to stick with the Z Fold 2.

With a price tag of ₹1,50,000, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has to be an option to ponder over for some time. But after shelling out the bucks, it is definitely worth the price.

What is 5G? How does 5G technology work?

There is so much talk about 5G across the globe. It has been in the tech news for quite some time but a lot of us still don’t know all the details. What is this 5G technology? How does it work? Let’s decode this next-gen tech and see how it will revolutionize forthcoming mobile phone generations.

For a simple start, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is an evolution of the current 4th generation LTE networks. With the growing connectivity in the world, imagine billions of devices connected to each other with a network and mind of their own. The existing 4G network is fast enough already. Now imagine something faster than that, that too with a faster response time. Sounds cool! Doesn’t it? Now let’s see how all of it works.

First, let’s understand a term called latency. It is the time taken by devices to respond to each other over a wireless network. Now if you thought all the celebration and hype around 5G isn’t worth your while, check this out:

3G network response time – 100 milliseconds.
4G network response time – 30 milliseconds.
5G network response time – 1 millisecond.

Read that again. 1 MILLISECOND. Imagine an almost zero wait time, zero lag and everything happening in actual real time.

So what will this ultra small wait time help us with?

Internet of Things! Machine to machine communication will become unbelievably fast and imagine a whole world of machines interacting with each other without any human intervention!
Unbelievably reliable low latency communications.
Enhanced mobile broadband.

Imagine a world of smart farms, cities, schools, villages. 5G is about to shrink the world further and it seems to provide comfort to lives, businesses and communities like one has never imagined before.

Now with so much to offer, how do 5G networks work?

Initially, 5G networks will have to work with 4G networks to ensure a continuous connectivity.

Getting deeper into the technical aspects; a mobile network has two main components, the ‘Radio Access Network’ and the ‘Core Network’.

The Radio Access Network –

It comprises of an array of facilities that include small cells, towers, masts and home systems that connect mobile users and wireless devices to the main core network.

Small cells are a major feature of 5G networks especially at the new millimetre wave (mmWave) frequencies. Here, the connection range is very short. Small cells will be distributed in clusters to provide a continuous connection.

5G Macro Cells will use MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennae which have multiple connections in order to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to us is that more people can connect to the network at the same time while getting the same, rich output.

The Core Network

This is the mobile exchange and data network which has the job of managing all of the mobile voice, data and internet connections. Most of the advanced features of 5G including network slicing for various applications and services will be managed in the core.

Network Slicing

This enables a smart way to segment the network for a particular business or application.

Network Function Virtualization (NVF)

This is the ability to instantiate network functions in real time for any location within the operator’s cloud platform. Network functions that used to run on dedicated hardware will now be able to operate on software on a virtual machine. NVF is extremely important for speed efficiency to support new business applications.

This is all the basic tech that goes into operations of 5G networks.

Now imagine a world where you don’t have to wait for a page to load. That’s just the tip of the iceberg and that’s the least of the best that 5G can do for you. Let our imagination dream big. Now imagine a world where you don’t have to operate anything in your house and all of those machines work on their own as and when needed. That’s what we’re talking about. Maybe even bigger and better things are in store for us with 5G. Only time will tell if it’s a boon or a bane. After all, we are all going to become super lazy with so much tech at our disposal. However, with all those perks, we aren’t really complaining. Are we?

Is 5G Responsible For COVID-19?

5G has been in works for quite a while but it is still to be known when it will come into force completely. It is the next generation of mobile internet connectivity that will offer faster speeds and more reliable connections.

This faster network will bring about a huge change in the way we use smartphones and other gadgets. Consumers will get to experience internet speeds like never before, with average download speeds of about 1Gbps.

5G network deployment has already begun in a few countries like the US, UK, South Korea and China. But India is still too far away from 5G rollout.

Network transitions like these require time and infrastructure. For instance, 4G phones appeared much before 4G networks were made available for consumer use. This is the reason why the smartphone industry has shifted its focus towards bringing 5G ready devices to the consumers.

There’s a lot of confusion around 5G and its future. Also, several theories have originated from 5G and Coronavirus. So let’s dive in to clear the air around.

What is 5G?

5G is the next-generation wireless network that will replace the existing 4G LTE connection. It will offer extremely fast download, upload speeds and more reliable connections. We will see a multitude of tech products that will be quicker and smarter than ever before. These networks will work in conjunction with existing 4G networks before transforming into completely standalone networks. 5G will completely reshape how we work and live our lives today.

How 5G works?

A 5G network system consists of two main components

Radio Access network
Core network

Radio Access network

A Radio Access Network includes 5G Small Cells and Macro Cells that form the core of the 5G wireless technology as well as the systems that connect the mobile devices to the core network. The 5G Small Cells have to be available in large numbers cause millimetre wave frequencies can only travel over short distances. These Small Cells help Macro Cells in wider coverage.

The Macro Cells use MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) antennas which offer multiple connections to send and receive large amounts of data.

Core Network

The Core network is responsible for the management of data and internet connections for the 5G network. It is designed to integrate with internet and cloud-based services. Moving further, features like network virtualization and network slicing for different applications is also managed by the core.

4G vs 5G

Speed

Speed is a major differentiator between two different generations of networks. 5G is expected to be 100 times faster than 4G. Meaning movie download times would reduce to secs from minutes. Streaming movies or games will not be a pain anymore.

Speeds like those are possible because most 5G networks are built upon super high-frequency airwaves, also known as high band spectrum.

But these high-frequency waves cannot travel long distances and can be easily barred by hard objects, buildings, walls, etc. In order to overcome this challenge, a large number of Small Cells are installed in close proximity to one another.

Latency

Latency is the time taken by devices to communicate with each other. For instance, the time difference between sending a signal and it is received on the other end is latency. 4G network service offers low latency but with 5G there will be almost no latency at all. Lower latency will benefit technologies like autonomous driving, cloud gaming and more.

Capacity

A lot of devices connected to a network can cause congestion. Which results in slower data speeds and longer lag times while watching videos or downloads.

With 5G we can expect significantly higher capacity than 4G. Which means more devices can be connected together without compromising with data speeds.

Myths around 5G and Coronavirus

The Coronavirus is spreading like a wildfire and with that is the misinformation surrounding it. One such myth gaining lots of traction is that 5G is spreading Coronavirus.

Several social media posts, tweets are claiming that 5G is the sole reason for the outbreak of Coronavirus. While some other theories on the internet say that 5G technology brings Coronavirus by sucking human oxygen. But all these claims are false as radio waves do not carry viruses that cause COVID-19.

The outbreak of Coronavirus started from the city of Wuhan in China, somewhere around December last year. And a month before that China had begun 5G operations in the same region. Which has led to beliefs like these?

Keri Hilson an American singer made several tweets which attempted to relate 5G and Coronavirus. She wrote: “People have been trying to warn us about 5G for YEARS. Petitions, organizations, studies…what we’re going through is the effects of radiation. 5G launched in China. Nov 1, 2019. People dropped dead.” Keri’s theories were questioned by people and she was unable to justify her wild claims. Soon after which her management team stepped in and asked her to delete the tweet.

A post in a Facebook group called ‘Stop 5G UK’ said that 5G tech weakens the immune system of a person, and Wuhan people tend to be the first ones that experienced this viral disease as they are the ones that got the first access to 5G.

5G health concerns?

5G is new to the tech industry and concerns are being expressed about the technology’s effect on people’s health. These concerns are valid too, as a version of 5G runs on very high-frequency radio waves called millimetre wave. Millimetre waves cannot travel long distances, which requires more no towers to be placed in close vicinity. There are concerns that radio waves could produce harmful radiation resulting in brain cancer, reduced fertility and other illnesses.

The FDA and FCC say there’s nothing to be worried about. Most studies haven’t found a link between radio frequency signals from cellphones or cell towers and disease, the agencies say. But because 5G is so new, there’s no definitive way to know if it will cause long-term health problems.

“It’s a ridiculous concept,” said John Bucher, a senior scientist with the National Toxicology Program, a US Health and Human Services interagency program dedicated to testing and evaluating substances in our environment. “Each year, you get a new strain of flu that goes around. That’s what viruses do – mutate and move around that way, probably as long as there’s been life.”

As per Coronavirus is concerned it is a virus that spreads from physical contact. It doesn’t travel through radio waves. So you will not get it by using your smartphone, TV or FM radios.

Is India Ready For 5G?

It is about time India gets into the 5G race, similar when 2G, 3G and 4G had arrived. With the arrival of 5G, it would enable massive commercial deployment of technologies like IoT, AI, AR/VR, RPA etc which would facilitate use across many industries like automotive, media and entertainment, healthcare, retail, manufacturing and agriculture to name a few.

Not only this, but 5G implementation would also have major applications in Smart Cities which ultimately would spread the use of IoT applications.
The rollout of 5G in India is expected to create an economic impact of 1 trillion USD in India by 2035.

With new connected devices being launched, it would require the existing wireless infrastructure to be enhanced as well as an advanced operating model of operating 5G networks in India.

While 5G will require a huge level of transformation, the Indian mobile network operators will need to form skills, competence and operating models, as well as an entirely new ecosystem, has to be developed for the implementation.

In recent times, service providers are facing massive challenges and huge debts due to crashing markets, delayed payments to DoT, crashing rupee and rising oil prices along with a cut-throat competition among the telcos. Right now only JIO, Airtel, BSNL and Vodafone Idea are the active operators India who are fighting hard for survival. While Vodafone merged with Idea to save themselves, Airtel is having a hard time keeping up. BSNL and MTNL are on the verge of being dissolved and Vodafone is also contemplating to quit the Indian market.

This has made credit acquisition difficult for the telcos as banks are no longer offering loans to the bootstrapped companies leading to more losses and exiting from telecom business. It is calculated that an approximate amount of 60-70 billion US dollars will be required to seamlessly implement 5G network infrastructure in India.

While the industry is gearing towards providing the service platform, delivery model and logistics support, it has to be seen if the government is truly interested in an upgrade to 5G soon as it has to go about 5G spectrum auctions which will allow them to raise finances for improving the infrastructure.

The telecom ministry has to take bold steps to improve the financial condition of the service providers. Last but not least, will the consumer demand be enough to justify these huge investments?

These are some real issues which have to be addressed before India can experience 5G rollout. In fact, these real issues and their solutions will determine if India would be running 5G in the years to come.