Tecno launched the extraordinary Camon 20 smartphone series, a trinity of innovation consisting of the Camon 20, Camon 20 Pro 5G, and Camon 20 5G Premier. Powered by a potent MediaTek SoC and blessed with a massive 5,000mAh battery, they fuel your desires. Capture them in the captivating hues of Predawn Black, Serenity Blue, and Glacier Glow. The prices of the Camon 20 series smartphones start at ₹14,999.
Hammer Pulse X
Hammer launched the Pulse X smartwatch, a true marvel priced at ₹1,699. With its keen senses, it tracks steps, calories, heart rate, and more. Trace your steps and progress with in-app GPS while enjoying the bezel-less 1.83-inch IPS touchscreen glowing at 500 nits. Compatible with iOS and Android, it keeps pace for 2 days on one charge, offering 55+ sports modes and IPX7 protection against water and dust.
Samsung Galaxy F54
Samsung will launch the spectacular Galaxy F54 smartphone in India on June 6, with a starting price of ₹28,499* for the 5G wonder. Brace yourself for a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a refreshing 120Hz rate. The device will arrive with Exynos 1380 chipset under the hood and allow you to capture brilliance with a triple rear camera setup, including a stunning 108-megapixel sensor.
Realme 11 Pro Series 5G
Realme India will launch the Realme 11 Pro 5G series in India on June 8. The 11 Pro series smartphones will arrive with an industry-first 3D woven texture, showcasing durability and style. The 11 Pro and 11 Pro+ are powered by the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processors, have up to 12GBs RAM, and 1TB storage. The devices have a 6.7-inch FHD+ curved AMOLED display and a 200MP Samsung HP3 sensor.
Nikon Z8
Nikon astounded the Indian market by unveiling their pinnacle creation, the Z8 mirrorless marvel. The cutting-edge masterpiece offered swift frame capture and recorded up to 125 minutes in 4K UHD/60p and approximately 90 minutes in 8K UHD/30p. The Z8 boasted incredible features like the revolutionary HLG(HEIF) format for 10-bit stills, High-res zoom, skin softening, portrait impression balance, and an enhanced AI algorithm for Auto-focus.
Moto Razr 40 Ultra and Moto Razr 40
Motorola unleashed its highly anticipated foldable phone duo, Moto Razr 40 and Moto Razr 40 Ultra, in China. The flagship Razr 40 Ultra flaunts a stunning 3.6-inch cover display and a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, while the lower variant Razr 40 sports a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC and a smaller 1.5-inch cover screen. The Razr 40 Ultra boasts a colossal 6.69-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED main display, an innovative hinge structure, and a versatile camera setup. Meanwhile, the Razr 40 offers a 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED screen and a capable Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor.
The festivities of Diwali may have come to an end and I hope you’ve had some of the best times of your life with friends and family. However, when it comes to the smartphone market in India, the festivities never seem to come to an end. Each month brings in a slew of new mobile devices and November is no different. Be it flagship or budget devices, there is definitely a device or two launching to fit each price category! So, without further ado, let’s jump right into the exciting upcoming devices launching in November 2022 in India!
Xiaomi 12T series
Both Xiaomi 12T and 12T Pro made their global debuts back on October 5, 2022. The long-rumored devices are finally expected to make an entry into the Indian market in late November! The 12T sports a 6.67-inch CrystalRes AMOLED display flaunting smart features like AdaptiveSync. The standard variant is powered by the MediaTek 8100 chipset, 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Whereas the 12T pro houses the beast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Both variants are coupled with up to 256GB of storage. While the 12T Pro offers up to 12GB RAM, the standard variant is limited to 8GB. The Xiaomi 12T is expected to be launched in the 50K price category, and the 12T Pro in the 60k price category.
Realme 10 4G
While 5G has become a common feature for even budget to midrange devices in India, Realme is sticking to its guns with 4G launching the Realme 10 4G this month. The company has officially revealed that will be hosting the Realme 10 launch event this month but the exact date of the same is still under wraps. Leaks around the internet claim that the upcoming device will feature a 6.5-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen. The refresh rate of the device is still unknown. It will be backed by the MediaTek Helio G99 SoC and sport a 50MP camera coupled with a 2MP macro sensor. The front of the device is expected to rock a 16MP shooter. It will pack a 5000 mAh battery and support 33W fast charging. The expected price of this device is said to be between 17K to 19K thus putting it in competition with the likes of Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G and Moto G72 in India.
iQoo Neo 7
Vivo’s sub-brand iQoo has just recently launched the iQoo Neo 7, the successor to the previously launched neo 6. It is equipped with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with HDR 10+ certification with Full HD+ capabilities and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The device runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC paired with up to 12GB of RAM. It rocks a Sony IMX766V 50MP camera lens with optical image stabilization coupled with an 8 MP ultrawide and a 2 MP macro lens. The 5000 mAh battery of Neo 7 can be juiced up quickly thanks to its 120W charging support. Neo 7’s top model with 12GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage is priced in China at approx Rs 37,000. While the device is right now available only in China, it will be making its global launch in the coming month.
OnePlus Nord 3
OnePlus’ Nord brand has quickly become one of the front liners in the smartphone market in the midrange section. Doubling down on its Nord branding, OnePlus has unveiled the Nord N300 in the US. The budget smartphone comes with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. The device sports a waterdrop notch which is a first for the OnePlus brand. It comes with a 48MP main camera and a 2MP depth lens. It has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. The 5000 mAh battery of the Nord N300 can be juiced up with 33W fast charging support. It runs on the Oxygen OS based on Android 13 sporting 4GB RAM and 64GB storage options. There is not much choice here when it comes to colors as it comes in only one shade – Midnight Jade. It is priced in the US at $228, which is roughly 19K in India. If released at the same price in India, it will make the OnePlus Nord 3 the cheapest offering by the company in the country. The new OnePlus device is expected to be launched in India in the fourth week of November.
Redmi Note 12 Series
Redmi fans are all set to receive yet another treat from the company with the launch of the Redmi 12 series. The series has officially launched in China in three variants, namely, Redmi 12, Note 12 Pro, and Note 12 Pro+. As one would expect, all three devices come with different features and are placed at different price points. The standard Redmi Note 12 comes with the latest Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, whereas the Pro and Pro+ variants house a Dimensity 1080 chipset. Another difference between the three is that the standard Note 12 houses a 48MP primary shooter, whereas the 12 Pro sports a 50MP primary camera with OIS, and the 12 Pro+ flaunts a massive 200MP beast of a camera. The Redmi 12 series is expected to be launched in multiple price points starting at Rs 13.5K up to 25K.
Moto Edge 30 Neo
Moto will be adding yet another device to its successful Edge series with the Edge 30 Neo. The device is already available in the UK and US and now it’s time for it to shine in the Indian market. It is expected to house a Snapdragon 695 coupled with 8GB RAM and an internal memory of 128GB. The device will flaunt a P-OLD 6.28 inches display with 1080P resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The dual camera setup of the device features a 64-MP lens and a 13-MP secondary lens. In the front, the device houses a 32-MP lens. It is expected to launch in the 25k to 30K price segments in India in November.
Motorola is back again with yet another Edge series device. This time around, the Moto Edge 30 Fusion. This device is being called by the company as ‘world’s most elegant powerhouse’ and looking at the device’s beautifully curved display I would take that argument into consideration. However, does the device have anything new to offer besides the ‘elegant’ display? Surely!
Heating Concern
The Moto Edge 30 Fusion comes with the Snapdragon 888+ SoC which is one of its biggest drawbacks in my opinion. The chipset is famously known to have heating issues, however, Motorola claims that they have been tackled. The device now comes with a vapour cooling chamber that allows the device to stay cool for longer periods of extensive gaming and other heavy tasks. During my testing of the device, I experienced some warmth at the back of the device during the first extended Call of duty session which quickly turned into the device heating up considerably. The camera module was a point of concern for me as it would heat up much more than the device during extensive gaming.
Impressive Camera
During my extensive testing of the device I could see that while the camera produced vivid and punchy images, it has some improvement to do in noise reduction. I am hoping that the overtly noisy images from the main sensor are rectified through a software update down the line. The camera can shoot up to 8K videos but there is little to no stabilization trying to shoot one.
Beautiful Display
The colours produced by the display are vivid and the brightness at 1100 NITS is just right. Overall, no complaints about the display. The integration of edge light notifications gives the display yet another plus point! And the option to customize the Edge Light notifications is just the cherry on top of the cake.
Dolby Power
The device comes with Dolby branding on top of it which is weird, to say the least. However, I can understand why Moto decided to do that. The Edge 30 Fusion comes with a loud stereo speaker set-up that gives a multi-dimensional stereo sound. When it comes to connectivity, the device houses all 13 5G bands and WIFI 6E integration. Bluetooth 5.2 is also present here.
Clean Software Experience
The software side has been Motorola’s strong suit as they have always delivered a near-stock Android experience for its users. The device comes with Android 12 out of the box and the company has assured that it will get Android 13 and 14 updates down the line along with 3 years of security updates.
The back of the device looks ‘elegant’ as claimed by the company. It comes with a polished sandblasted aluminium frame which is fingerprint-proof. The device seriously feels premium in hand if used without a cover. But Motorola has provided a case in the box for this one. Edge 30 Fusion comes with a 4400 mAh battery which can be powered by a 68-watt charger in the box. The device heated up the first time I charged it using the 68-watt charger, but that was only just that one time.
Verdict
In conclusion, I would like to say that this is a device which should be in your consideration if you’re in the market for a mid-premium phone. While it does not come with the latest Snapdragon 8 + Gen 1 SoC, it comes with a stylish design and enough prowess to power through your day.
Rating – 3/5
8 GB RAM | 128 GB ROM
16.64 cm (6.55 inch) Full HD+ Display
50MP + 13MP + 2MP | 32MP Front Camera
4400 mAh Lithium Battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 + Processor
Good – Beautiful Edge Display, Near android Stock Experience, Premium Feel, Loud Stereo Set Up
The smartphone market right now is as saturated with options as the gas station convenience store! If you need a camera-centric device, you can choose from various options. A similar trend goes on for performance-centric and gaming-centric mobile devices. However, when it comes to travelling, people really need to find a device which can best suit their needs. Based on your use case and needs, smartphones can replace a professional camera, flashlight, physical maps, and much more.
In our travel edition, I wanted to have a look at mobile devices with 8GB RAM. But what does having an 8GB RAM phone have to do with travel you ask? In my understanding of tech, having an 8GB RAM device puts users in the perfect sweet spot of stable and optimal usage. One doesn’t need to necessarily burn a hole in their pocket by spending on an ultra-premium device with 12/16GB RAM while travelling as devices with 8GB RAM can do the job just right. Here are my recommendations for the best 8GB RAM phones for your next travel outing:
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
Getting the most expensive device on the list away first! I don’t know how appealing you find Samsung’s ‘Flip’ design, but the compact form factor seals the deal for me. Imagine backpacking in the woods without having to worry about a big phone in your pocket. Once folded, the device adapts a small size which packs in a big surprise with its performance. The device comes with the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 coupled with 8GB RAM which makes it the perfect companion for your next outstation trip. The 3700mAh battery is the only point of concern but the device is capable of 25W fast charging. However, you do not get a charger in the box.
The QuickShot feature in the Galaxy z Flip4 device allows users to click selfies directly from the cover display. While the device comes with water resistance, it does not allow users to expand storage through a memory card slot. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is currently priced at ₹89,999 for the 8/128Gb model.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Xiaomi definitely has a number of offerings in mobile devices in each price segment. The company is known to provide flagship-like features for budget to midrange devices. However, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is the best the company has to offer when it comes to performance and design. The high-end devices at a considerable price, deliver in every aspect. The display of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device also comes with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and a peak brightness of 1500 nits, enabling you to enjoy the movie you like in Full HD on your flight across borders. A big bump in the battery from the Galaxy Z Flip4, Xiaomi 12 Pro comes with a 4600mAh battery capacity.
Whereas, the device also has powerful 120W charging to power up the device to 100% in 18 minutes. It is available in both 8 and 12GB RAM variants, making it fit your requirements. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor which provides a smooth performance. The Xiaomi 12 Pro is priced at ₹54,999.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G
For me, the last OnePlus device which lived up to the brand’s ‘Never Settle’ tagline was the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G. While I understand that the device doesn’t live up to its brand’s market disruptive history, it was a competitive device, to say the least. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is powered by the octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor, which is the only minus point in my opinion (being a biased Snapdragon loyalist of course). However, it packs an overall punch which makes one consider buying the device. So what does the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G brings to the table?
It comes with a 90Hz refresh rate 6.40-inch display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It has a pixel density of 409 pixels per inch with an aspect ratio of 20:9. The higher variant of the device comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The camera setup offers a 64-MP primary lens coupled with 8-MP and 2-MP lenses. The front camera setup features a decent 16-MP lens. The 4500mAh battery of the device can be juiced up with the 65W SUPERVOOC charging. The 8/128GB variant of the device is priced at ₹24,999.
Redmi Note 11 Pro
Another Xiaomi device for the win! The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5g is straight-up a powerful device which provides powerful performance at a reasonable price. The premier attraction of the device for me is the beautiful quad-camera setup which houses the powerful 108-MP main camera. The main camera produces some crystal clear images, whereas the other three 8+2+2-MP lenses provide solid assistance. It comes with a powerful 5000mAh battery which can be charged up to 50% in just 15 minutes with the 67W fast charger.
The device does not come with 5G capabilities which can be a deal breaker for people looking for future-proof devices. But it should definitely be on your list for the best 8GB RAM phones. The 8/128GB variant of the Redmi Note 11 Pro is priced at ₹20,999.
Vivo V25 Pro 5G
The 8GB RAM devices carry a ‘Pro’ tag with them in the market. This tag looks justified to me as the smartphones do provide some of the best features without going past the ₹50K mark. The Vivo V25 Pro 5G is one such device. It comes with the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset with 8GB RAM which makes it a complete performer. Whereas, the 64-MP primary camera is the cherry on top.
Vivo V25 Pro 5G comes with a 6.56-inches bezel-less display with a refresh rate of 120hz. It comes with a battery capacity of 4840mAh which can be charged with a 66W fast charging system. It comes with non-expandable 128GB internal storage. The powerful 64Mp camera is backed by an 8-MP wide angle and 2-MP macro lens. Whereas, the 32-MP front camera shoots crisp images. The Vivo V25 Pro 5G is priced at ₹35,999.
OnePlus 10T
Placing the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G above the OnePlus 10T in the list is as shocking to me as it is to you. However, while the flagship offering by OnePlus is definitely one of the devices to consider, it failed to impress me as it has little to no upgrades from its predecessor the OnePlus 10 Pro. In fact, it has a few downgrades like the lack of the Hasselblad branding and the downgraded display resolution. But there are a few plus points to the device which make it an optimal choice for some users. The USP of the device for me is the ultra-fast charging of a whopping 150W which can top up its 4,800mAh battery in mere 20 minutes.
The OnePlus 10T is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which is the latest and most powerful offering by Qualcomm to this date. The powerful processor is blacked by the 8GB RAM but the storage options are limited to 256GB as it does not support expandable storage. You should also note that the 8GB RAM variant is exclusive to the 128GB storage options. The 256GB storage option is available for the 12/16GB RAM variants. Instead of a Hasselblad camera, the OnePlus 10T comes with a 50-MP main Sony IMX766 lens coupled with an 8-MP Ultrawide camera and 2-MP macro lens camera. Whereas, the selfie camera has EIS support at 16-MP. It is priced at ₹49,999 for the 8/128GB variant. Whereas, the overkill 16GB and 256Gb variant is priced at ₹55,999.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
This is personally my favourite device on the list. Having used it for nearly a year before accidentally breaking it off, I do have some experience with the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G which is majorly positive. The only negative point I see for the device is that it was released back in March 2021, making it over a year old in the Indian market which could be a deal breaker for many. However, yesteryear’s flagship device with this year’s midrange prices is not a deal I would like to pass on.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G comes with the Snapdragon 865 chip, which might be slightly older, but it is definitely powerful. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5-type RAM which is considerably faster. It comes with Samsung’s flagship staple Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The impressive camera setup includes a 12-MP f/1.8 wide-angle primary camera with an 8-MP telephoto lens and another 12-MP ultra-wide lens. The selfies can be shot with the powerful 32-MP camera which produces some of the best selfie shots. The internal storage can also be extended using a microSD card up to 1TB. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FEis priced at ₹29,999.
Motorola Edge 30 Fusion
I have used the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion for over two weeks and can confirm that it is a powerful device. Keeping aside a few gripes I had with the device, like the heating issue, the new Moto midrange flagship comes with one of the RAM management features in all of the devices listed here. Getting the drawback out of the line first, it comes with a Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset which is known for its heating issue. While using the device, I noticed it heating up during gaming sessions and charging. But it was not a deal breaker for me.
The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion comes with a 6.55 inches P-OLED display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. The key feature of the device for me is the beautiful 144Hz screen which comes with a partial always-on-display. The camera of the device features a 50-MP wide-angle main lens accompanied by a 13-MP Ultra-wide camera and a 2-MP Macro camera. Motorola has equipped the front of the device with a 32-MP shooter for selfies and video calls. The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is priced at ₹39,999 for the 8/128Gb variants.
Nothing Phone 1
The Nothing Phone 1’s light-up back is clearly a flex. For years as manufacturers have focussed more and more on the front of the device, Nothing took a different approach and went with a stylised back side which comes with the glyph interface, The transparent backside of the device comes with flashing light strips that beat rhythmically to the beats of a ringtone or other notifications. But, the device is not just a LED light show as it comes with power-packed insides too.
The Nothing Phone 1 comes with a powerful Snapdragon 778G+ chipset which is far more than just capable of multitasking and gaming. It comes with a powerful dual-lens camera set up with a primary lens of 50-MP and another 50-MP ultra-wide lens. The front of the device is equipped with a 16-MP selfie shooter. The 4500mAh battery is powered by fast charging capabilities. The Nothing Phone 1 can be purchased at ₹33,999 for the 8/128GB variant, whereas, the 8/256GB variant is priced at ₹36,999. The 12GB RAM variant is also available for this one priced at ₹39,999.
Motorola has added a new affordable and budget-friendly smartphone to the famous G series called the Moto g22. The smartphone comes with a price tag of Rs 9,999 and packs a near-Stock Android 12.
The device comes with a 6.5 inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and offers a 20W TurboPower charger. Moto g22 has a quad-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, an 8Mp ultra-wide camera, and a 16 MP front or selfie camera.
The smartphone is powered by a 5000 mAh battery with a 20W TurboPower charger. Moto g22 weighs around 185gm which is quite light and is 8.4 mm thin and has a flatbed design. It is also backed by MediaTek Helio G37 processor with 4GB RAM for efficient performance. Other major features include a water-repellent design, a side Fingerprint scanner, and a Face Unlock sensor.
Availability and Pricing
Moto g22 will come in two colour variants – Iceberg Blue and Cosmic Black. The third colour Mint Green will release soon. The smartphone will be available on Flipkart between 13th and 14th April on limited stocks for a price of Rs 9,999.
Motorola recently announced its latest budget smartphone and the newest addition to the Moto e family, the e7 Power. While it was embargoed before launch, I got a chance to spend some time with the smartphone and test out some of its capabilities. While it does not pack a benchmark-setting performance, it has its share of pros and cons. Here’s my review of the Moto e7 power.
First impressions
Simply holding the phone is sufficient to remind you it is a Motorola. Sturdy build quality, sleek aesthetics and flashy colours: everything that defines Motorola is present in the e7 power. Coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, the smartphone offers decent performance via its MediaTek Helio G25 octa-core SoC. However, it could do better if provided with higher specs, at least as an option.
The Moto e7 power displays all its contents on a 6.5-inch HD+ screen with 720 x 1600 pixels. It runs on Android 10 OS that offers a smooth and intuitive interface as usual. It offers a Panda glass for protection, which somewhat compromises the viewing angle and overall brightness of the phone.
Usage
The 13 MP primary rear camera is assisted by a 2 MP macro camera that works in tandem to click decent photos. The 5 MP selfie camera also surprisingly offers a wide array of options, including a manual mode, something that most smartphones lack. As mentioned before, the phone should have gotten a higher-spec variant than the 4GB + 64GB variant that it comes with. Instead, Motorola offers a lower variant with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The phone also uses eMCP type flash storage instead of the conventional eMMC format, implying a faster and more responsive interface.
The most significant parameter of this phone, however, is its massive 5000mAh battery. As per company claims, the phone can easily last for two whole days on a full charge. Realistically, the phone lasts almost two days, but the reduction in time is acceptable considering the way I used it for testing. However, there is no doubt that the Moto e7 Power will be a serious competitor when it comes to battery life.
Verdict
The phone is neither too heavy to handle, weighing in at 200 gms, nor is too bulky, being 9.2mm thick. The matte finish also ensures that the phone does not become a fingerprint magnet, while the buttons are easy to locate and use. I like the Google Assistant button since it is placed out of the usual holding position. This means you won’t tap the button unnecessarily, though a few mistaps might take place inside that tight jeans pocket. Nevertheless, the Moto e7 power is a pretty promising option at Rs 8,299.
