Samsung’s Galaxy S series is the top-tier smartphone offering competing with the best smartphone market leaders. Each year, this series has refined its offerings, and this time, it’s the S23 series matching the year of launch numerics. Launch impressions aside, I have been using the Galaxy S23 twins, the S23 and S23+, as my daily drivers for over a month and here are my impressions on living with Samsung’s flagship series.
Premium and sturdy design
This year, Samsung bought the Galaxy S23 Ultra design for the rest of its siblings. It’s a neat design to begin with and a welcome change from the camera island on other phones. The most significant difference between the Galaxy S23 and S23+ is their size and battery life. Everything else remains the same. The S23 has taken a few drops with ease in my usage, and the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection is absolutely on point. Polished metal edges are great for holding the phone and inspire confidence, albeit being a literal fingerprint magnet. Overall build has shown little to no signs of heavy use throughout rigorous testing on flights, destinations and work runs.
When it comes to phones, size matters!
A smartphone is something we carry as our tech pokemon. For large-screen lovers, gaming, multimedia and insane battery life make sense on the Galaxy S23+, and many mistakenly believe it to be the Galaxy S23 Ultra thanks to the sheer size. The Galaxy S23, on the other hand, is a moderately sized 6.1-inch phone, and both these phones have slim symmetrical bezels making the design neat from front to back. I preferred the S23 as my primary and the S23+ as my secondary (mostly gaming/multimedia) smartphone, and the experience was nothing but the peak of current-era smartphone performance. With an improved 3900mAh battery on the S23, the battery life coupled with powerful yet efficient hardware is significantly better than the S22.
Display prowess
Samsung is one of the pioneers of display technology. Both these phones get super bright and dim without any noticeable shift in colour saturation, balance or contrast. Under direct sunlight, the Galaxy S23 series shines with maximum brightness and viewing in any condition was never a problem. In fact, these displays could be categorised as top-tier in their price range. HDR content, high-resolution videos, adaptive S-AMOLED goodness and crisp touch response make these displays a charm to use daily. Both these phones get 120Hz adaptive refresh rate displays with peak brightness similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra at 1750nits!
Performance – Finally, they cured the Achilles’ heel!
Samsung Galaxy S series always had an Achilles heel, the processor. This was addressed in last year’s S22 series, but gen 2 is usually always better than gen 1. The made-for-galaxy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a game-changer for the Samsung S23 series. Most flagship processors tend to heat, throttle and consume more battery, but the tables have turned this year. The custom-made (read overclocked) Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 finally brings a beautiful balance of performance and efficiency. Couple that with LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 / 4.0 blazing fast memories, and the seamless wireless connectivity of WiFi 6E and BT 5.3 standards; these newer Samsung Galaxy S23 series offer nonstop performance with loudspeakers and impressive displays. Haptic feedback, call quality and mic quality are better than most iPhones and professional mics. Samsung has done wonders with the mic on the S23 series. Add water and dust protection with durable materials and wireless charging with reverse wireless charging capabilities, and the S23 series simply works in every situation.
Vibrant memories
The 50MP OIS primary sensor works wonders in day and night conditions. The 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP 3X telephoto also manage decent colour accuracy similar to the primary sensor. The selfie camera is an autofocus 12MP wide angle, and all the sensors are capable of shooting at 4K, while the main sensor can do 8K 30FPS! The Galaxy S23 series has serious improvements in the end results despite almost equivalent hardware as last year, thanks to the improved SoC. 8K and 4K videos maintain frames throughout with no time limits. Memories are captured on point with great details and Samsung level saturation, pleasing most eyes. The camera performance is so good you could keep your mirrorless camera at home for your next travel.
One UI, many updates
Out of the box, the Galaxy S23 and S23+ run Android 13 based on One UI. There is some bloatware, but the memory management is excellent. Apps run flawlessly in the background, and I was surprised when I paused a game in the evening a day before, used the phone for an entire work day and went back to the game, only to find it paused and managed brilliantly by the S23+. The software is dense and filled with customisations, from colour palettes to unique edge panels that house split-screen apps in an instance, always-on display, and many more. Samsung also includes Galaxy stores for adding more customisations and themes and allows you to change fonts; personalisation is available in plenty. Over just a couple of weeks, my review units got four security and software updates.
Flagship justice
Samsung has improved the Galaxy S23 series to become a mature flagship performer, unlike the S series of the past. Over a month of use, the updates have only improved my experience with these flagship siblings. The improved battery life on the newer series with improved hardware has polished the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ experience. Samsung promises four major android updates and five years of security updates. This market has stiff competition, but there is barely a no-compromise smartphone. These are undoubtedly the ones.
I am a fun loving person who loves motorcycles and everything to do with them. I take great pride in punctuality and am always open to experimenting with new things, the latest of which is learning to ride on the racetrack.
Q2. What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
One of the most important subjects aspiring leaders should concentrate on is the willingness to be a good listener. Always be open to feedback and allow your colleagues to express themselves. It’s only when you listen clearly, you can lead clearly.
Q3. One thing you believe is essential for sustained growth.
Attention to detail is critical. It’s the simplest yet most overlooked aspect in a person’s quest for growth.
Q4. One book that you love and the one you’ve bookmarked.
I like “Beyond the Last Blue Mountain”, the biography of Mr JRD Tata. In fact, biographies are one of my favourite genres, and I have recently bookmarked Valentino Rossi: MotoGenius by Mat Oxley and Mick Doohan.
Q5. Leadership quotes that inspire you
“Live Life a little dangerously” – JRD Tata
Q6. What is your unique way of maintaining a work-life balance?
I am the first person to reach the office, so I always start my day slightly early, enabling me to finish on time and leave work to spend time with family.
Q7. Significant learning in the past couple of years?
I come from an automobile background, but I was not riding big bikes until I joined Ducati. I learnt how to ride big bikes in multiple circumstances – I rode to Spiti and back on the Multistrada, started attending track days on the Panigale V4, and sometimes commuted to work on a Scrambler. The idea is to adapt and place myself in the rider’s shoes to understand our clients’ psyches.
Q8. Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
I am old school, so I don’t use many apps except Apple notes and the MS Outlook calendar.
Q9. What is your technology detox?
I love to listen to my favourite music on my Apple + Bose ecosystem. It works wonders for a good night’s sleep.
Q10. If money was not a bar, what piece of tech and automobile would you own?
I would love to buy a Ducati Superleggera V4, a Lamborghini Urus, or a Ferrari Purosangue!
What is a unicorn startup? The term unicorn refers to privately held companies valued at over $1 billion. India’s startup ecosystem is home to a number of well-known and emerging unicorn startups, out of which Flipkart is the most notable and most successful unicorn startup. The success of Flipkart has been driven by the rapid adoption of online shopping in India and the company’s ability to adapt quickly to the changing market.
Besides Flipkart, there are about 108* unicorn startups in India, but here, we’re only focusing on the 17 unicorns, which are a mix of already emerged and a few emerging ones, as we’re focusing more on the behind-the-scenes stories. Over the last 10-15 years, India’s unicorn startups have not only made a significant impact in their respective sectors but also have become a symbol of the country’s rapidly growing technology and startup ecosystem.
Byju’s
Industry – EdTech
Founded in – 2011
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2018
Tagline – Fall in love with learning
Valuation – $22 billion
Founders – Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath
Parent Organization – Think and Learn Private Ltd
The Story –
Byju Raveendran, a B.Tech graduate from a small town in Kerala, was working in a multinational shipping firm as a service engineer. In 2023, he started helping his friends prepare for the CAT entrance exam, as he had a burning desire to make a difference in the field of learning and teaching. While preparing, out of curiosity, he decided to appear in the exam and scored 100%.
Later, he started conducting free mathematical workshops but realised there had to be a better way to teach and learn. Determined to make a change, Byju and his co-founder wife, Divya Gokulnath, started working on a new learning platform, where he offered interactive video lessons on a wide range of subjects, from mathematics and science to history and geography.
The platform they created was designed to make learning more fun and engaging and to help students easily understand complex concepts. Today we call that platform, Byju’s, and it has over 150 million registered students and is valued at $22 billion. With its strong focus on technology, innovation, and scalability, Byju’s is well-positioned for continued growth in the future.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“Education is the single most powerful tool that can shape the way our youth thinks” – Byju Raveendran
When you’re determined to make your dreams come true, you work tirelessly to build them, and Kunal Shah is one such hard-working individual. He began his career as a software engineer before venturing into the world of entrepreneurship with PaisaBack and FreeCharge. After the acquisition of FreeCharge, he founded CRED in 2018, as he wanted to offer more privileges and benefits to people having good credit scores.
The company was started with a mission to make credit card payments simple and transparent for consumers as the industry was plagued by hidden charges and confusing terms and conditions. CRED was always focused on building a strong brand, and one of the key factors that contributed to the company’s success was its focus on customer experience, which helped the company earn over 7 million users.
What’s next?
To enable a good life for creditworthy individuals.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
‘If you look at history, nobody has been rewarded for paying back on time. We want to fix that.’ – Kunal Shah
Dream11
Industry – Fantasy Sports Platform
Founded in – 2008
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2019
Tagline – Jab Dream bada ho, toh koi akela nahi hota. Dream Big, Dream11!
Valuation – $8 billion
Founders – Bhavit Sheth & Harsh Jain
Parent Organization – Sporta Technologies
The Story –
Every sports fan likes to spend a lot of time discussing their favourite teams and players, but not everyone ends up founding an app for fans to participate in fantasy sports. Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth are two such sport-packed souls who saw an opportunity to create a platform that would allow sports fans to create their own teams and compete against each other for prizes.
Without hesitation, Harsh and Bhavit quit their jobs and started their own company in 2008, Dream11. The company has always ensured that it complies with all laws and regulations related to fantasy sports in the countries it operates, which has helped to build trust with users and regulators. Along with cricket today, the platform allows users to play fantasy hockey, football, kabaddi, basketball, volleyball, etc.
To stay on the success path, Dream11 made strategic partnerships with major sports leagues and teams, such as the Indian Premier League and the Pro Kabaddi League. Currently, the company has a presence in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while the founders have inspired countless individuals to pursue their own dreams of entrepreneurship.
Swiggy
Industry – Online Food Ordering and Delivery Platform
Founded in – 2014
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2018
Tagline – Swiggy karo, phir jo chahe karo!
Valuation – $10.7 billion
Founders – Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy and Rahul Jaimini
Parent Organization – Bundl Technologies
The Story –
By the time you’ve reached here, you might have ordered something on Swiggy, which speaks volumes about its popularity. The start-up was founded in 2014 by Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy, and Rahul Jaimini, who saw a gap in the market for an efficient and reliable food delivery service in India. On one hot summer day, Sriharsha and Nandan realised the need for better online food delivery options in India as the existing options were slow, unreliable, and the food often arrived cold.
They developed a food delivery app and named it ‘Bundl’ in 2013 but decided to shut it down within a year as they wanted to brainstorm more on the delivery process. While brainstorming, they met Rahul Jaimin and decided to start the Start-up with the name Swiggy. The user-friendly app gained a lot of engagement in a short period, made good returns and significantly changed the food delivery industry. Today, besides India, Swiggy is also operational in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
What’s next?
To elevate the quality of life of urban consumers by providing unparalleled convenience.
Some start-ups take a couple of years to achieve what they’re looking for, while some take decades to achieve the same. Fractal Analytics is an AI company that provides consumer packaged goods, insurance, healthcare, life sciences, retail, and technology services. It was founded in 2000 by five graduates from IIM Ahmedabad in Mumbai when the word start-up was less mainstream than it is today. Due to internal conflict, it took Fractal over 20 years to earn a unicorn tag.
In 2005, the company decided to move the business to the US, as the country was home to a massive number of clients. However, in a couple of years, two of the co-founders took an exit from the company. Things took a turn when along with two co-founders, the company lost one of its key clients. The circumstances attempted to stop Fractal from getting a tag of a unicorn for over a decade, but the company continued to evolve over the years and improved its platform until it became a unicorn in 2022.
Tata 1mg
Industry – E-pharmacy Platform
Founded in – 2015
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2022
Tagline – Bringing care to health
Valuation – $1.25 billion
Founders – Prashant Tandon, Gaurav Agarwal and Vikas Chauhan
Parent Organization – Tata Digital Limited
The Story –
Where there’s a will, there’s a TATA, but the backstory of Tata 1mg is something you should know and take notes on. The startup was initially launched as Healthkartplus in 2013, the time when people, especially Indians, started trying their hands at online shopping, be it for books, gadgets, etc. The journey of 1mg began as a consumer awareness platform, helping them learn about their medicines while also comparing prices of the various alternatives for the brand that they were prescribed.
Initially, there were just three employees (only the founders), Prashant Tandon, Gaurav Agarwal, and Vikas Chauhan, but today 1mg has over 200 members across multiple locations throughout India. Back then, there were very few trustworthy online pharmacies in India, which helped 1mg become the most trusted name in the industry in a short time. In June 2021, Tata Digital acquired a majority stake in 1mg, and the company got a new name – Tata 1 mg.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“We must learn to survive, and then we will thrive – Prashant Tandon”
LivSpace
Industry – Home Renovation & Interior Designing
Founded in – 2014
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2022
Tagline – Hassle-free dream home interiors for any budget
Valuation – $1.2 billion
Founders – Anuj Srivastava & Ramakant Sharma
The Story –
You might have seen the TVC of Livspace starring Virat Kohli (in a TURBAN) and Anushka Sharma. The story of Livspace began when the founders set out to design their dream homes and discovered the industry needed to be more integrated. The omnichannel home interior and renovation company was founded by a Google veteran, Anuj Srivastava & his IIT-Kanpur classmate Ramakant Sharma in 2014. Shagufta Anurag, the founder of Space Matrix, was also the company’s co-founder.
The start-up saves you from all the hustle and bustle you have to deal with, from carpenters to plumbers and confusing rates to unreliable schedules. The designers at Livspace create a mock-up for the customer using Livspace’s proprietary software, and once accepted by the client, they hire third-party contractors to get the job done. Livspace earned the title of a unicorn when it successfully raised $180 million in a round led by KKR, taking the value of the firm to over 1$ billion.
OYO Rooms
Industry – Hospitality
Founded in – 2013
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2018
Tagline – #AurKyaChahiye
Valuation – $9 billion
Founders – Ritesh Agarwal
Parent Organization – Oravel Stays Limited
The Story –
How often have you stayed at the hotel while on vacation or outing? The chances are at least 10-15 times in your lifetime. Well, the founder of OYO rooms, Ritesh Agarwal, used to travel a lot from the age of 17 and every time he stayed at the hotels, he experienced the scarcity of quality hotels, especially in the budget segment. To help people from having such a horrible experience, he launched Oravel Stays, an online portal for vacation rentals.
The platform collapsed in a short time, but two fortunate things happened. First, the relationships Ritesh had formed with hotel owners helped him a lot and secondly, he got an opportunity of the Thiel Fellowship, a two-year program from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. During his stay fellowship in California, he relaunched Oravel Stays as OYO Hotels & Homes to create India’s largest chain of affordable, standardised hotels.
As soon as he arrived in India, he started reaching out to the hotel owners he had worked with earlier during his days at Oravel Stays. With all the hard work, he managed to acquire rooms in hotels across the country and transformed them into OYO, which boosted the hotel’s occupancy rates from 19% to 90% in the first month only. Today, Oyo rooms are widely distributed all over India, in more than 800 cities, with more than 23,000 hotels and 850,000 rooms.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“Start small, nail it and then make it big – Ritesh Agarwal”
Meesho
Industry – Retail and E-commerce
Founded in – 2015
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2021
Tagline – Not just a homemaker, a Meesho Entrepreneur
Valuation – $4.9 billion
Founders – Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal
Parent Organization – Meesho Inc
The Story –
Another startup co-founded by IITians. Now a unicorn, Meesho started as a reseller platform allowing users to resell products via their social channels such as WhatsApp, Instagram etc. The founders, Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal started the company with the goal of empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs in India. In the early days, the team focused on building a solid product and acquiring users through word-of-mouth and referral marketing.
Within a few months, they realised that their target market was primarily women in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities looking for flexible and low-cost ways to earn income and decided to tailor their product and marketing strategies to serve this demographic better. In 2017, the startup raised $3.4 million in a seed funding round, which allowed them to expand and invest in team, technology and infrastructure. Today, Meesho has over 15 million registered sellers and reaches over 200 million customers.
What’s next?
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“For growth, focus on your customers. Nothing else matters. – Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal”
upGrad
Industry – EdTech
Founded in – 2015
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2021
Tagline – A journey as dynamic as us
Valuation – $2.25 billion
Founders – Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar, Phalgun Kompalli, and Ravijot Chugh
Parent Organization – UpGrad Education Pvt. Ltd
The Story –
We’ve various e-learning options for students, but what about professionals looking to upgrade their careers? Yes, the same thought was the base of upGrad, an EdTech startup founded in 2015 by Ronnie Screwvala, Phalgun Kompalli, Mayank Kumar, and Ravijot Chugh. The journey of upGrad began with the goal of providing quality education to working professionals and students in India looking to upskill and advance their careers.
Like the rest of the startups, upGrad faced several challenges, including a need for more awareness and understanding of online education in India but managed to conquer all the crises that came in way. The company started with just a single program, in digital marketing and within a short while but quickly expanded its offerings to include programs in data science, software engineering, and business management.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“Failure never stopped anybody who didn’t want to be stopped – Ronnie Screwvala”
Zomato
Industry – Online Food Ordering and Delivery Platform
Founded in – 2008
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2015
Tagline – Every meal matters
Valuation – $5.4 Billion
Founders – Deepinder Goyal, Gaurav Gupta, and Pankaj Chaddah
The Story –
Back in the 2000s, writing a food review was rare, as people only used to follow word of mouth instead of looking for the review on the internet. The founders of Zomato were working at Bain & Co in New Delhi when they came up with the idea of Foodiebay, now known as Zomato. At first, it started as a food blog, providing information about restaurants in the Delhi region and by providing restaurant information, including menus, prices, and user reviews, through its website and mobile app.
In only nine months, FoodieBay became Delhi’s most preferred restaurant directory, and the founders decided to start the services in Mumbai and Kolkata. In 2010, the name Foodiebay was officially changed to ‘Zomato’, and since then, the company has grown to become one of the most popular food delivery apps in India and across the globe. The company also faced major hurdles during their decade-long journey and always bounced back with a better solution to thrive the crises.
Info Edge (India) played a huge role in the formation of Zomato as they were the first to invest about US$ 1 million when the startup did not have enough funds to start the app. By 2013, Zomato expanded its business in foreign countries such as Sri Lanka, UAE, Qatar, South Africa, the UK, the Philippines, New Zealand, Turkey, and Brazil. Since 2014, Zomato has acquired Poland’s Gastronauci, Italy’s Cibando, and US-based online table reservation platform NexTable.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“When you are still building an organization, don’t be defensive about your culture – Deepinder Goyal”
Ola Electric
Industry – Automotive
Founded in – 2017
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2019
Tagline – Ready or not, a revolution is coming
Valuation – $5+ Billion
Founders – Bhavish Aggarwal
Parent Organization – Ola Cabs
The Story –
EVs are the key to a sustainable future, and Ola Electric wanted to take the lead. The company was founded by the electric vehicle arm of Indian ride-hailing giant Ola with an aim to make electric mobility accessible and affordable for all by deploying a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) and building a network of charging infrastructure across the country.
The journey of Ola Electric began with the launch of a pilot project in Nagpur, Maharashtra, in 2017. Ola Electric, which started making two-wheelers in 2021, will introduce the sportiest car ever manufactured in India with an electric vehicle that has a range of more than 500 km and even accelerates from 0-100 in less than 4 seconds.
Ola Electric also entered into a partnership with leading automakers such as Mahindra and Tata Motors to develop and manufacture electric vehicles in India. Today, Ola Electric has a fleet of thousands of electric vehicles on the road and more than 100 charging stations in multiple cities across India and is valued at over $5 billion.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“Don’t take shortcuts while building your company, keep trying for the best – Bhavish Aggarwal”
Bangalore has been a fortress of EdTech platforms, and in the case of Vedantu, it all began with private lessons to a handful of students in their local community. The online tutoring platform was initially founded in 2011 but launched for the public in October 2014. The EdTech platform was founded by four friends from the IITs who were passionate about education and wanted to make a difference in the lives of students – Vamsi Krishna, Pulkit Jain, Saurabh Saxena, and Anand Prakash.
Vedantu provides services to students from grades 4th to 12th for the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) & Central Board of Secondary Education. The EdTec platform uses an innovative Whiteboard Audio Video Education (WAVE) program for their 1-1 student-teacher live sessions. The EdTech company provides education to students with both free and paid classes options and aims to provide test preparation courses for the JEE, NTSE, and PSA exams in the future.
PharmEasy
Industry – Pharmaceutical
Founded in – 2015
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2021
Tagline – Take it easy, PharmEasy
Valuation – $5.6 Billion
Founders: Dharmil Sheth and Dr Dhaval Shah
Parent Organization – API Holdings Private Limited
The Story –
Back in 2014, when people were experiencing door-to-door delivery services from the brands like Zomato, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Amazon, the founders of PharmEasy thought, why not deliver health care items right at the door in the same way? The pharmaceutical industry in our country is one of the poorly organised industries, but no one was complaining about it until you’re travelling hundreds of kilometres to buy one tablet.
Dharmil Sheth and Dr Dhawal Shah co-founded PharmEasy in 2014 with the goal of making healthcare a lot more accessible in India. The duo created a healthcare delivery platform to simplify and modernise the healthcare setup in India. Thanks to the digitisation of the pharmaceutical industry, we can now order our medicines online from the comfort of our homes, without any hustle and with the most budget-friendly rates.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“Your belief in yourself will drive everything around you. – Dharmil Sheth”
Razorpay
Industry – FinTech
Founded in – 2014
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2020
Tagline – #Powering Disruptors
Valuation – $7.5 Billion
Founders: Dharmil Sheth and Dr Dhaval Shah
The Story –
Seeing an Indian company leading the pack is rare, but Razorpay has achieved it in the payment sector. It started as a project to solve the problem of online payments and has since grown into one of the prominent members of the coveted unicorn club. Before co-founding Razorpay, Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar decided to work on a crowdfunding platform, but soon, the duo realised that online payment was a problem for small & medium-sized (SME) businesses, particularly e-commerce platforms.
The founders of Razorpay, Shashank and Harshil, studied Mechanical Engineering at NIT Allahabad and IIT Bombay, respectively. They first met on a train journey, and while conversing, they both got stuck on one question – how to accept payments online. They offered lower fees than their counterparts as they wanted to revolutionise payment options and access to several online payment methods for business entities, including credit & debit cards, net banking, and UPI.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“Throwing things around in the calendar does not help… maintain a to-do list – Harshil Mathur”
Groww
Industry – FinTech
Founded in – 2017
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2021
Tagline – There’s just one right way
Valuation – $5 Billion
Founders: Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal
Parent Organization – Nextbillion Technology
The Story –
Spending time with the right people can take you to the right places. Earlier, when it came to investing, people had to do a lot of paperwork and bank visits and stand in long queues, but now we have various options. Today, with startups like Groww, to begin investing and managing your wealth, you need a few things – a bank account, some disposable income, and a smartphone. Groww is one of several startups that have aroused the curiosity of investors.
The startup was founded in 2016 by four former Flipkart workers, Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal. The platform was started to make investing more accessible to young people by simplifying the process, and it uses technology to reach the right audience, reducing its operational expense. Groww offers various services to consumers by providing investment offerings in mutual funds, stocks, IPO, and digital gold.
A quote from the founder that can change your perspective
“Always try to understand the business first and then the price of the stock – Ishan Bansal”
Urban Company
Industry – Household Services
Founded in – 2014
Entered the Unicorn Club in – 2021
Valuation – $2.1 Billion
Founders: Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Raghav Chandra and Varun Khaitan
Parent Organization – UrbanClap Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.
The Story –
Who empowered professionals from the industries like massage, cleaning and salon? A startup founded by three great minds, Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Raghav Chandra and Varun Khaitan, named Urban Company. Before founding Urban Company, Abhiraj and Varun launched Cinemabox, a service that allowed travellers to stream movies on their phones on planes, trains or buses, which lasted for only 6 months.
Later on, they met Raghav and during one of their intense conversations, they understood the country was lying behind the in-home services market, like finding the right plumber, electrician, or beautician. Right then, they decided to work on the idea and founded Urban Company, formerly UrbanClap, in 2014. Today, it has more than 40,000 service partners across 50+ cities in India, the UAE, Singapore, Australia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
What’s next?
The company plans to expand and train and upskill 5 lakh service partners, of which 2 lakh will be women partners, by 2030.
2023 has begun with a bang. Most major android manufacturers have launched their top-tier flagships at the start of the year. Let’s look at three quintessential brands popular among android phone users. Starting off with the newest handheld machines on the block, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, a refined iteration of the beloved Galaxy S22 Ultra with a similar camera design for the entire line-up. OnePlus 11, the latest and greatest from OnePlus, adheres to all last year’s issues and updates hardware and software to match their potential buyers outside China. The Google Pixel 7Pro is also known as the smartest android phone money can buy, making its software reign over hardware.
Design & Specs
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series
Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+ and the S23 Ultra are iterative updates to their predecessors. We know these are flagship units from each manufacturer and hence are priced accordingly. Considering flagships from all the companies, let’s compare the top-tier Samsung S23 Ultra, arguably a better Note series from Samsung. Maybe the Note name is kindly reserved for something that matches the name? The Ultra now has a redesigned chassis with a more rounded rectangle design that fits the hands confidently and brings significant camera improvements. On the other hand, the Galaxy lower S23 series is more like a refreshed update bringing Ultra design to the Galaxy S23 and the S23+.
The design is clean overall, and the display is curved upfront while looking symmetrically beautiful at the rear. The camera housing for individual sensors is carried on with the entire line-up this year. The outer glass is now industry-leading Gorilla Glass Vitcus 2 on both ends, with armour-grade aluminium for the chassis for better fall protection. Overall the changes on the outside are minor, but there’s better hardware this time around. Newer to the device is the new Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor, slightly overclocked for Samsung devices with a brighter 6.8-inch Dynamic SAMOLED 2K 120hz panel with HDR10+ supporting 1750nits of brightness in scenarios necessary. It still retains all the good parts like an IP68 rating, 45W charging with a 5000mAh battery, standard and reverse wireless charging, WiFi 6E, BT 5.3 and one of the fastest in-display fingerprint sensors. This is an apt design for someone who wants a sophisticated, premium, and functional flagship phone. The S-Pen is retained with all the necessary sensors. Pen hardware and software are still crisp and work as well as the earlier editions. Samsung One UI 5.1 brings goodies of Android 13, S-Pen features and updated apps like Samsung Pay with a multitude of features. Improved 200MP OIS primary wide with 10MP OIS (10X) periscopic zoom, 10MP OIS (3x) optical zoom, and 12MP EIS Ultrawide cameras complete the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera setup. The new 16MP front camera, as opposed to the 40MP earlier, has better AI algorithms (that may take some OTA updates to get better) for better colour tones and 4K capabilities. At the same time, the rear can shoot 8K 30FPS, but the file size would require Galaxy-level storage.
OnePlus 11
The OnePlus 11 was launched in China many months ago and has finally landed in India with Oxygen OS 13 based on Android 13. The most considerable improvements include a newer Hasselblad camera design with improved AI and hardware. Exterior design improvements bring back the alert slider and retain the matte finish sandstone rear glass. Like most phones on the market, this is a large phone with a nice balance, but it feels dense despite its slim circumference. Unlike the newer Samsung Galaxy S23 series glass, the OnePlus 11 features gen 1 Gorilla glass Victus upfront and Gorilla glass 5 at its rear.
Hasselblad computation has improved on the 50MP OIS primary camera sensor with 32MP (2x) telephoto lens, 48MP ultrawide sensor and an improved 16MP autofocus front camera. Despite the lower pixel counts upfront, the algorithm has improved. A new LTPO3 E4 2K AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and 1300nits max HDR 10+ brings software support for Dolby Vision, 8K 24FPS capabilities limiting FHD for the front camera, BT 5.3, WiFi 7 are welcome generational update.
Google Pixel 7Pro
The Pixel design by Google is exciting and flagship-grade, to say the least. It includes a similar glass setup to the OnePlus 11 and was launched last year, but it is safely the most intuitive android phone to use. This is authentic vanilla android as cooked by Google. The software is the main king compared to the hardware. Hardware is no slouch at 6.7-inch LTPO 2K AMOLED 1500nits max bright panel with excellent touch response. The Tensor SOC is no match to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 of the others, but this time around is much more balanced for all the multitasking expected out of a flagship device.
It gets an IP68 rating for water and dust protection like Samsung and Apple devices with similar wireless and reverses wireless charging despite no charger in the retail box. This is the only phone among the lot with low UFS 3.1 storage compared to UFS 4.0 on others despite LDDR5 RAM on all of the contenders. The most impressive feature on Pixel devices, apart from the fantastic ML AI algorithms throughout the UI, must be the 50MP OIS primary camera, 48MP OIS (5x) telephoto and 12MP ultrawide camera with an autofocusing 4K recording 10.8MP front camera. The battery on the Pixel 7Pro is 5000mAh, and WiFi 6E makes it apt for heavy users.
Display
We consumed some media, and honestly, there is nothing as impressive as a Samsung display. No wonder iPhones get their displays from Samsung. Isolated, the OnePlus and Pixel 7Pro bring a large, crisp, colour-rich display viewing experience. Outdoor viewing was never an issue on any phone while being the best on the S23 Ultra. The colour balance in dim conditions showed some flaws on the OnePlus 11 and Pixel 7Pro. No such issues with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Camera
The camera setup on all the phones is interesting and different in their own hardware and algorithms. Here are some camera samples clicked in auto from the same distance as the other phones. 10X samples, ultrawide, front camera samples and more for your perusal. The Ultra wins hands down in the portrait department with a clean cut out on my hair. The Pixel algorithm has a mind of its own at times and selects colours it likes that are far from reality. Samsung and Pixel perform great at video stabilisation, while the OnePlus 11 struggles to maintain stability. Night photography is more than satisfactory on all the phones, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 11 being marginally better than the Pixel 7Pro.
In night photography, the OnePlus Hasselblad setup works wonders, followed by S23 Ultra, and then the Pixel makes things appear as it wants. Pixel photos look great outdoors, but the OnePlus and Samsung somehow manage better details in photos and videos. Let us know in the comments which would be your phone of choice for capturing memorable moments.
Performance and Processors
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is finally catching up with Apple’s processing power. Both the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the OnePlus 11 eat up any task thrown at them. Gaming at the highest fidelity is no problem for both phones, but the Pixel 7Pro struggles on max settings. We noticed considerable frame drops, and while most games play flawlessly on all three devices, demanding titles will struggle on the Pixel 7Pro. We set a tie for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the OnePlus 11 regarding sheer flagship performance. Regular tasks and straining downloads were not an issue on either device. Speaking of performance, the software cannot be ignored. While the Samsung and OnePlus devices make a strong case on paper, the Pixel 7Pro is a software king among the lot. The purest form of android with all permissions running flawlessly and ML AI built inside, like most iPhones, the Pixel 7Pro flies miles above any other android device when it comes to phone UI and app usage. This year, Samsung has a trick up its sleeve with social media platforms, especially Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok (where it’s still not banned). The collaboration allows these apps to use the Samsung camera algorithms inside their apps, allowing them to shoot at full fidelity offered by the improved Samsung Galaxy S23 series camera setup. Battery life on all these phones is more than adequate for a typical work day and then some with all sporting ultra battering saving modes.
Which one should you buy?
This is a tricky question, especially with such amazing products from all the brands. All the phones are amazing packages. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra brings unique functionality to people who want the S-Pen along with hardware and software that surpass most spec sheets on any smartphone. The OnePlus 11 is a tough competition, but the hardware and software package cuts corners, acceptable for the price. Speaking of which, the Google flagship Pixel 7Pro still proves to be the best software package with amazing AI and ML capabilities on the hardware and HDR-rich images. One cannot go wrong with either phone, and all the phone manufacturers make the Android phone market better than ever. If the price was not a bar, there is nothing in a clamshell design that matches the sheer functionality, self-charging S-Pen, premium experience and a well-rounded flagship like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. If money does a concern, the S23 series, OnePlus 11 and, to some extent, even the Pixel 7Pro are great options. All offer ad-free user experience and flagship-grade performance in daily use. Our winner among these Android flagships is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. OnePlus 11 offers good functionality but misses out on some essential features that make flagship phones desirable, but the cameras are much better than predecessors. Google’s Pixel 7Pro is up for an update, but the overall Android UI with intelligent features like whispering “stop” to stop an alarm make it the smartest Android phone in the Indian market.
Mercedes has been a leader in the luxury car segment in India for a long time. Challengers like BMW and Audi have always been close seconds. Despite the sales chart buzz, the only 7-seater car in Mercedes-Benz India has been the Mercedes GLS. The GLS demands and commands a presence, but its sheer size and price could be intimidating. A glimpse of Mercedes-Benz’s positive sales figures in India comes from their immense pool of over 7000 pre-orders, including a sold-out GLC.
Not only is this company successful at making luxury cars, but it also commands one of the largest fleets of premium SUVs. Adding versatility, Mercedes has launched a new platform. Bringing back the B series cars, meet the new Mercedes-Benz EQB and GLB. For the first time in India, Mercedes offers a modular 7-seater platform in three fuel types and multiple SKUs.
Mini-GLS and Mini-EQS
Mercedes-Benz does not shy away from admitting the B segment launches are highly inspired by the S series. The GLB is also globally termed as the mini-GLS for the design elements, while the EQB looks similar to the global EQS SUV. What’s missing is the sheer size of their elder sibling inspirations. Both these cars are substantial in presence, almost as long as the best-selling GLC. The front fascia might look different on both cars, giving them a unique identity. The side panels on both vehicles are more or less the same, encompassing an overall length of 4,646mm, liberating a healthy 2,829mm wheelbase. The GLB also gets an optional AMG Kit accessory allowing 19-inch AMG rims with AMG steering wheel, Alcantara goodness, metal pedals and more. Thanks to the elder siblings, the GLB and EQB look friendly and welcoming without the domineer dimensions.
While the GLB follows the GLS split lamp design with neat-looking DRLs similar to the GLS, the EQB is unmistakably an EQ platform from Mercedes-Benz with a connected LED design front and rear. Sharing platforms, the EQB and GLB share the interior design with subtle changes based on the model. Our first drive cars were the top-of-the-line GLB 220d 4-Matic and EQB 300 4-Matic. Featuring AMG-styled flat-bottom steering wheels, turbine-styled AC vents, an ambient lighting package, Alcantara seats with lumbar-lateral support and more, these cars are loaded to the brim considering the segment. Based on the A-series limousine platform also featured on the GLA, the GLB and EQB stand longer than most of its competitors, including the Audi Q5!
Familiarly Merc on the inside
Mercedes-Benz uses different quality materials and textures with soft-touch leather, metal accents and LED elements on hard plastic, albeit in better quality. The centre console features a floating 10.25” touch infotainment system loaded with MBUX (connected car features and voice commands – Hey Mercedes) and a 4-Matic info-clad 10.25” MID. The functional centre column also brings rollable shutters to reveal a wireless charging pad, 12V connector, USB Type-C port, drive select metal knobs, HVAC controls in see-through design, a touch panel with wrist rest and a deep powered pocket that doubles as the arm-rest. There are multiple bottle holders, and the cabin feels functional yet sumptuous, thanks to the quality materials and ambient LED treatment. The GLB gets a matte aluminium finish on the AC vents, while the EQB features a body-coloured matte finish on the front AC vents.
The middle-row and third-row seats get USB Type-C charging ports with additional recline angles and adjustments for leg space on the middle row. The middle-row armrest also houses rollable cup holders in a 40,20,40 split-seat configuration. The 50-50 third-row seats are best suited for preteens and pets when required. With all the seats up, the powered tailgate liberates 130L boot space, 500L on folding the third row and up to 1055L on folding both rear rows. Limited by space, Mercedes includes a puncture repair kit instead of a spare wheel for emergencies. Breathing more space into the interiors is a two-way panoramic sunroof.
Impressive when steady and rolling
Safety first, the entire line-up gets seven airbags, with curtain extensions for the third-row passengers. Apart from a 5-star global NCAP rating, these cars also feature TPMS, HAC, lane keep, brake and driving assists with two high-resolution cameras. Mercedes offers the GLB in 200(P), 220d(D) and 220d 4-Matic(D) + AMG Kit. The EQB 300 receives the top-tier GLB treatments as standard for the electric powertrain. The 1332cc Petrol engine churns 163HP and 250Nm mated to a 6-Speed AT in front-wheel drive. The 2.0L Diesel variants 220d and 4-Matic bring healthy 400Nm and 190HP on tap for a livelier driving experience. The GLB 220d sprints 0-100Km/h in 7.6 secs while the EQB achieves the same in 8 secs despite the battery weight gains.
Drivers can choose from Eco, Sport, Comfort and Individual settings. We prefer the Individual settings as it allows versatile setup, like setting the engine and steering response to Sport mode, while the suspensions soak bad roads in Comfort mode. The seats are positioned in a commanding position, and the split A-pillar adds a good view of the road. While the GLB offers a round steering wheel, our top-tier unit featured the AMG flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, a standard on the EQB. Shifts are precise on the GLB 220d, while the exact change between various recuperation options on the EQB. The suspensions and ground clearance of 155mm make the drive comfortable and relatively carefree in normal driving conditions.
The GLB 220d like to be ringed around, and the satisfactory performance is on tap throughout the rev bands. There is some body roll movement, but the overall rigid architecture of the chassis allows for reasonable body control. Despite the additional weight of 469 kg batteries, the EQB with single-gear ASM on the front wheels and PSM driving the rear wheels churns a healthy 229HP and 390Nm of relatively instant torque compared to the GLB. Compare this figure with a better centre of gravity due to the batteries in the floor; the EQB feels nimble.
Mercedes-Benz has bought one of their B series best NVH levels on the market. The GLB gets audible when driven enthusiastically, but the engine and cabin are satisfactorily refined. The EQB gets additional motor insulation, cabin insulation and noise-reduction tyres to make the electric cabin feel silent enough to meditate. What also helps relax are the tonnes of advanced driver assistance features on both the GLB and EQB. From lane keep assist to emergency braking and more, the driving assist feature list can easily rival cars boasting an ADAS level 2 system. The EQB’s 66.5kWh battery is rated up to 423 Km (WLTP) range. Driving the EQB through twisties and highways, it has decent regenerative capabilities, and real-world figures will easily touch upwards of 350 km. This car also supports 100kW DC and 11kW AC charging. Mercedes provide the latter as a complementary accessory for initial buyers. Mercedes claims a 10-80% charge at 100kW in 32 mins. Expect our 50kW chargers to charge this car to the same levels in about an hour. An 11kW AC charger will charge the car from 10-100% in 6 hours and 25 mins. Not bad!
Verdict
Overall, the use of materials, utility options, insulation, and driving dynamics on the 7-seater Mercedes GLB and EQB make them a surprising addition to the already populated Mercedes SUV line-up. Mercedes-Benz India provides an eight-year warranty on the batteries of EQB and the engine + transmission of the GLB series. This warranty is also transferable, and this platform, offered in petrol, diesel and electric, seems like a good filler in the 7-seater luxury car segment. Indian units will be imported from Mexico and sold as CBU. We expect pricing for the GLB and EQB to start from 65L, and despite that price tag, the GLB and EQB are unique value luxury propositions.
Audio is an essential part of our experience, apologies to those unable to listen to the beauties of art by humans and nature. Our home entertainment setup is complete with a set of good-quality audio solutions. As much as most of us desire the best of the best, with amplifiers, mixers, and optical audio cable mess to enjoy the creator’s audio source to the best of our human ability, most of us love the cleaner, simpler solutions. Would that be a compromise?
Thanks to development in technology over the years, the compromises are definitely reduced with better-quality audio solutions. Audio quality becomes a subject of desire the moment you listen to audio solutions like speakers, headphones or earphones better than anything you have ever experienced. Simple audio solutions keep the cable mess at bay and are great additions to many homes, available in multiple shades, shapes and sizes.
Desire a minimalist home theatre solution?
The craze for 5.1 and 7.1 audio speaker solutions seems immortal. Thanks to most of our OTT services and amazing television technology supporting the best of Dolby Atmos, DTS-X and more audio solutions, it makes sense to invest in a full-blown theatrics audio experience when consuming media on your comfortable sofa. Something like a sound bar with three audio channels, two wireless surround sound satellites and wireless sub-thumping lows add to the overall experience; audio solutions can be minimalistic. Add to the fact that most of these are nowadays available in white, and a soundbar and sub-based solutions amplify the audio experience a home needs.
What’s the best minimalistic audio solution?
Sometimes, you listen to and enjoy music, don’t you? We all do. While many speakers around the room offer a great movie and series-watching experience, music is best enjoyed on quality bookshelf speakers. It may sound weird that how can a pair of speakers be better than multiple speakers spread across the room? Powered bookshelf speakers have had a technological leap by the time you read this line. Not only are they relatively minor in size, defying their size versus audio quality and volume, but they also are great minimalistic audio solutions for every room in your house. They are not limited to the main entertainment area around your largest television. Stereo speakers with good audio quality are sometimes the most optimal, minimalistic audio nirvana required to uplift your home entertainment.
Invest in quality audio solutions. And remember, there is always the best in your budget, but sometimes, just like your television, audio solutions are once in many years investment. An investment in quality home audio entertainment with multiple audio source connectivity, wireless connectivity and, most importantly, excellent audio quality is a must-experience.
The stunning Vivo V25 5G is the company’s new V-series smartphone priced under the 30k bracket. With a bold and vibrant colour-changing design, its performance orientation and advanced camera work just like its doppelganger Sibling, the Vivo “V25 Pro”. The Stylish V-series comes with a 90Hz AMOLED screen, a 5G-capable MediaTek chipset, and fast 44W charging. Moreover, it’s pretty comfortable to hold with its non-curvy edge.
First Impression:
Vivo V25, with its eye-catching Colour changing design, is attracting a lot of attention for the right reasons. With its broad edges, the handset is very easy to hold and ensures a firm grip. The display screen manages to reflect Colour from different angles making it very appealing to the eye. This Smartphone is fingerprint resistant. It has a matte finish with an enormous yet visually appealing rectangular-shaped camera module at the back. The Smartphone comes with a transparent phone case, which not only enhances the look of the phone but also protects against any chances of damage since the phone edges are very sharp. Another amazing feature of this Smartphone is its slender frame, which makes the phone as light as 180 grams. What’s inside the box? Well, the Vivo V25 bags a USB Type C Charging port and a hybrid dual SIM card slot. The switch on and off button is adjacent to the volume raiser, and a single speaker unit is at the bottom of the phone. Though, unlike the other units that we have tested with a fingerprint scan, this one has no glitches. It works just fine.
Design & Display:
As for the design & display of the phone is a concern, it did really give me a good sense of money worth. The Vivo V25 comes with a 6.44-inch AMOLED display with FHD resolution that reflects a refresh rate of 90Hz. The display offers decent viewing angles and has a scope to offer ample brightness to negate the direct sunlight, which usually objects to viewing the phone from side angles. The display comes with 1300 nits of dense brightness and 10+ HDR support, which is also Widevine L1 certified. The phone comes equipped with an amazing theme to choose from the theme store, and my personal favourite was the Ninja Girl, which really makes the display, when turned on, stand out.
Chipset & Performance & Battery:
We took the Vivo V25 through a regress performance & battery task while we were on a drive to the southern countryside of India. The Battery life of the phone was just impeccable, a 4500 mAH battery that can last up to 48 hours depending upon the usage of the phone. While we did put the phone through the regress at no charge throughout the day with the navigation on display, the battery life really impressed us. That being said, the phone is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 900 chipset with 8GB of RAM, Android 12 OS and Funtouch OS 12 interface.
Camera:
Vivo V25 5G bags a 50 MP HD Selfie camera that produces a 50MP phone in HD mode, and the pixel mat differs in the shooting mode. The Main Camera is equipped with Triple Led Flashlight and a 64MP primary sensor with/1.8 wide & 0.7UM OIS. Also, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor accompanies this with 120-degree FOV and a 2MP macro sensor. The phone has a night mode feature which enables capturing good images in low light. The primary sensor does a great job of capturing details and colors, even in low light. It manages to capture good facial detailing and accurate skin tone. But after a couple of shots, we did manage to get some. This is why Vivo pushes its buyer towards flagship loyalty.
Verdict:
Overall the phone offers tons of tech specs and is priced in India at Rs 27,999 for the 8GB RAM variant, while the 12GB RAM option is priced at Rs 31,999. While the competitors in the mid-space segment smartphones, such as Nothing Phone 1, iQOO Neo 6, and OPPO Reno 8 5G, offer a little more than what Vivo V25 is offering. I feel that the Smartphone has missed a couple of check-lists. The handset could have featured better speakers, a 120Hz refresh rate screen, and a faster chipset. From its eye-catching color-changing design to reliable performance, vibrant screen, decent cameras and battery life, the Vivo V25 5G ticks most boxes.
Rating: 3/5-5 *
KEY SPECS:
Colour Changing GLASS that changes with sunlight and another source of UV ( Fluorite AG GLASS Design)
Camera: 64MP OIS NIGHT Camera | 8MP Super Wide Angle Camera | 2MP Super Macro Camera | 50MP Eye AF Selfie Video
8GB Expandable RAM
AMOLED 90Hz
44W Flash Charger | 4500mAH Battery Cell
Up To 1300 nits Brightness
Game Boost Mode | Liquid Cooling System | 4DGame Vibration
Game on! September has arrived with many gaming updates and high-profile launches like iPhone 14 lineup, Apple Ultra Watch and many more. It’s high time to play games seriously, as the gaming industry is about to clock $200 billion by the end of 2022, and there is no chance we’re going to miss the opportunity to have a conversation with legendary gamers like Jonathan, Clutchgod, Ghatak, Neyoo, ZGod and Mortal.
The September 2022 Issue features:
Reviews:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
OnePlus Nord Buds CE
Google Pixel 6A
LG G2 OLED
Auto Reviews:
Suzuki V-Strom SX – The Independence Ride
Porsche Macan
Toyota Hyryder
Aston Martin DBX 707
Mercedes AMG EQS 53 4Matic+
Tech & Lifestyle:
IFA 2022 Berlin
How Big is GTA?
History and Evolution of Gaming Consoles
Why do people romanticize hustle culture?
The Nippon Effect
The past, present and future of Virtual Reality gaming
While I’m struggling to write an intro for the article, two of my colleagues are having the time of their life. We have been playing games for ages, as it has always been a favourite pastime of human beings. Now, tell me, from where do we learn the tactics to combat crisis-like situations? Of course, through the games, they prepare our minds on how to tackle real-life problems, block our fears, and, most importantly, how to have a winning attitude.
Since smartphone gaming came into existence, the amount of time spent playing video games has increased drastically. I’ve often heard the management scolding the employees cause they were playing games, but the management should understand one critical factor of playing games – gaming in the workplace help us create social bonds and make learning more engaging. Also, it profoundly evokes multiple areas of their brains and develops coping mechanisms for difficult situations.
When someone indulges themselves completely in the game, their brain releases dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter. Being a gamer helps you to get your mind going, as gaming involves a lot of thinking and decision-making. When you’re playing a game like PUBG, where 100s of players are involved at one time, you have to think on a different tangent, strategize, and analyze quickly, otherwise, you won’t have a chance to shout out loud, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.
Gaming is just a software form of life, where for a specific time, we live in a world of uncertainty and fight for our goals. When you win the game, it brings a lot of satisfaction and helps you have better mental health, and having a happy-satisfied employee is quite rare in current times. Allow the gamers to play their favourite games for at least half an hour a day, and they’ll do wonders in their assigned work, as getting a specific gaming hour during work is already a win-win situation for them.
The leaders and managers don’t realize that a dopamine boost in your employees’ brains only benefits the company, as gaming in the workplace eventually increases productivity. Just think of a scenario, what your mind asks for after lunch? A quick nap, right? Well, when you work for 3-4 hours, it’s obvious you’ll become tired by noon, and it needs instant energy. At such times, a quick game sounds good over a nap. So, let it be, allow your employees to play games, and you’ll soon witness magic in their work.
Being born in the 90s has its perks. We’ve lived happily in a time of no mobile phones or huge desktops and witnessed the evolution of smartphones or slim laptops throughout our teenage years. Thankfully, we’re probably the last generation who spend more time playing outside than inside, but we’re also the first ones who played video games, which makes us guileless culprits.
Super Mario Bros.
As adults, we can go through every difficulty to save our beloved person, but where do we learn these tactics for dealing with the complications? Of course, from our favourite Italian-American plumber Mario, who goes through every level dealing with different enemies on the way, only to save his princess. Thanks to Mario and his fraternal twin brother Luigi, who helped every sibling to have a happening childhood.
Contra
I’ve seen siblings fighting over while playing Super Mario Bros, but I’ve seen the same siblings teaming over while playing Contra, and the reason, you know it. Set in the 27th century, the game was a story about two soldiers named Bill Rizer and Lance Bea going to war against the alien invaders seeking to destroy the Earth. The series debuted in February 1987 and had a lot of young fans during its peak.
Virtua Cop 2
I remember the day I bought my first computer and eagerly awaited to install Virtua Cop 2, one of my favourite games to date. The game features three levels where you’ve to kill many opponents of the E.V.I.L. Inc. organisation without taking hits or shooting hostages (who react in a hilarious way). Every level ends with a boss battle and one extra final boss battle. Those were the days!
Duck Hunt
The shooter game was quite trendy in India during the mid-2000s, and kids used to fake cry in front of their parents only to have a Duck Hunt cassette in their homes. The video game was developed and published by Nintendo for the first time in 1984, and it was one of the first video games that came with a physical gun called – the NES Zapper to help you shoot ducks that appear on the screen.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, or, in short, GTA: Vice City, is the game that influenced school kids to bunk school and brought them to the nearest cyber cafes. The fourth main entry in the GTA series was an adventure ride set in 1986 within the fictional Vice City and follows the rise to power journey of the mobster Tommy Vercetti. Thanks to the cheat codes, which always came in handy whenever we were in trouble.
Cricket 07
Back then, the craze of cricket was not limited to the T20s. When we were kids, we played cricket outdoors and indoors, thanks to EA Sports, who developed and published the game. The game was massively popular among the cricket-playing nations as it offered many spectacular features like creating a new player with attributes, limited overs matches (50, 20, 10 or 5 overs), 4-day first-class matches and full-length test matches.
Road Rash
Born in the 90s and haven’t played Road Rash yet? Only a fool will fall into the trap of your words. Road Rash was one of the best motorcycle racing video games of the 20th century as the game offers to punch, kick and steal weapons while racing and how could you forget the epic battle between racer and patrol police? The last game of the series was released in 2009, Road Rash (Java), and with that, the epic racing journey halted for good.
Project IGI – I’m Going In
Nowadays, every kid is obsessed with PUBg, but back then, it was Project IGI. The tactical first-person shooter video game was popular among teenagers but received mixed reviews from critics due to poorly programmed A.I. and the lack of multiplayer features. The game was loved by the players for its sound design and graphics, thanks to the game engine software.
