Tag: Nothing

CMF Watch Pro (Review) – Setting the Bar for Budget Smartwatches

Besides Apple, Nothing is the only brand that’s taking its name literally. First, the brand proved it by introducing a smartphone with funky lights on its transparent back, and now they’ve launched a smartwatch under their sub-brand CMF, which stands for Color, Material, and Finish.

The first smartwatch from the CMF by Nothing stays true to its name, it has a vibrant appeal, sustainable material and stylish design. Let’s begin with the packaging because when everyone is going minimal and classy, CMF decided to go beyond and packed the watch in a kinderjoyish way.

The Watch Pro by CMF arrives in a neatly packed (without compromising on funkiness) DVD-shaped cover, which has 3 small sections inside to hold the body, strap and charging cable of the watch. The cover also shows the strap colour of the watch in a prominent way to avoid confusion.

Design

The Watch Pro has a sleek, boxy, yet rounded design with an aluminium body that shines in the light. The Watch Pro has a physical button on the right side to help you with easy access to its features, along with speakers that work smoothly even when you’re in a crowded place.

The smartwatch is offered in three strap colours – orange, dark grey and just grey. The one we received has an orange-coloured strap, making the watch an attention magnet. The strap features the logo of the CMF on a longer strap that has pin buckles.

The watch weighs only 47g and stays put on the wrist. However, it seems a little uncomfortable and sweaty during high humidity and when wearing tightly. The soft silicone strap is durable and skin-friendly but catches a lot of attention as well as dirt, at least in the case of the orange strap.

Set-up

Like most smartwatches, CMF Watch Pro is pretty straightforward and easy to set up. Download the CMF Watch app from the App Store or the Play Store, allow the app a few required permissions, turn on the Bluetooth for pairing with the smartphone, and you’re ready to go.

Display

The smartwatch boasts a hefty 1.96″ AMOLED (410x502p) display that supports up to 600 nits peak brightness. The quality of the display is incredible as it offers enough brightness to help you read messages, the name of the caller and view notifications from a distance. Even in bright sunlight, the display works fine and shows the content. 

The watch is also loaded with an Always-on display mode for a better user experience. The watch offers about 37 watch faces, and most of them are either monochromatic or dipped in orange-theme. The watch faces are divided into four categories – Multifunction, Analog, Digital, and Creative to show time and your activity stats.

Features

The watch offers a number of smart features such as sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen and stress monitoring, activity tracking and several exercise modes, such as walking, running, cycling, basketball, soccer, yoga, hiking and boxing, to keep you posted about the details. 

Verdict

The watch looks fine on the wrist and offers almost every feature a person could ask for. At the starting price of ₹4,499, the Watch Pro is a great deal as it offers decent features and easily works for as many as 10 days on a single charge with an Always-on display. So, if you’re someone who likes to have products with minimalist design and maximum features, then CMF Watch Pro should be on your wrist.

Ratings

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nothing announces its first-ever Customer Service Center in India

Nothing, the technology company, has unveiled its plans to open its first dedicated Customer Service Centre in Bengaluru, India, ahead of its Phone (2) launch on July 11. Scheduled to open in August, the service centre aims to provide comprehensive customer support and after-sales services to Nothing customers.

Manu Sharma, General Manager and Vice President of Nothing India, expressed the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its customers, stating, “At Nothing, we not only strive to create iconic designs, products, and software experiences, but also prioritize after-sales service to ensure an elevated product experience for our valued customers in India. We are delighted to announce the launch of our exclusive service centre, which will foster trust and establish credibility among our esteemed customers.”

Sources reveal that Nothing has plans to establish an additional five exclusive service centres in different cities by 2023. Looking ahead to 2024, the company has set a goal of establishing 20 more exclusive service centres in various Indian cities.

Nothing will augment its customer service team by 50% to support this initiative. The newly launched service centre in Bengaluru will provide customer support and host periodic service camps for Nothing customers. Additionally, customers can purchase accessories, care packs for accidental/liquid damage, and warranty upgrade packs at these service centres.

The eagerly awaited launch of the Nothing Phone (2) will begin tonight at 8:30 PM IST, and enthusiasts can tune in to the live stream on the company’s official social media platforms and YouTube channel. Serving as the successor to the Phone (1), this second-generation smartphone is being unveiled nearly a year after the launch of its predecessor. Packed with enhancements, the latest offering from Nothing boasts an upgraded design, a powerful flagship processor, and numerous other improvements.

Nothing Phone (2) – All Set to Dazzle the World on July 11

Nothing, a company led by the visionary Carl Pei, is preparing to unveil its highly anticipated second smartphone, the Nothing Phone (2), in India and worldwide, including the esteemed United States market, on July 11. Serving as the successor to the company’s successful debut with the Phone (1), this new device is poised to captivate consumers.

The Nothing Phone (2) is anticipated to retain the distinctive design elements of its predecessor, boasting a transparent back panel and a mesmerizing Glyph interface. After building anticipation through teasers, the company has finally confirmed the long-awaited launch date, solidifying the excitement surrounding this upcoming release.

Earlier this month, Manu Sharma, the esteemed Vice President and General Manager of Nothing India, announced that the Nothing Phone (2) manufacturing would take place within India. The grand unveiling of the Nothing Phone (2) is scheduled for July 11 at 8:30 PM IST, and, akin to its predecessor, the event will be conducted online, inviting tech enthusiasts from around the globe to witness this momentous occasion.

While the official launch of the Nothing Phone (2) is still weeks away, some specifications of the device have already surfaced online through leaks. The Nothing Phone (2) is anticipated to showcase a generously sized 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display on its front, captivating users with its immersive visual experience. Furthermore, the device has been confirmed to be powered by the formidable Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and may offer a substantial 12GB of RAM, ensuring impressive performance capabilities.

In terms of endurance, the Nothing Phone (2) is projected to be equipped with a robust 4,700mAh battery, supporting fast charging for added convenience. Notably, this device is slated to receive three years of Android updates and an impressive four years of security updates, promising a future-proof experience. Further details regarding the device, such as its pricing and availability in the Indian market, are expected to be unveiled in the forthcoming weeks, leaving enthusiasts eager to uncover the complete picture of this remarkable smartphone.

Nothing Ear (2) Review: Cool Looks & Balanced Sound

What is your criteria when it comes to buying a pair of TWS? For me, it will always be the comfort and sound quality. Over the years I’ve used a number of wireless earbuds that are barely comfortable to wear for an extended period of time while giving an optimum sound experience. Thus, my scepticism while trying out the latest Nothing Ear (2) was soaring high. Nothing’s new addition to its product lineup surely leaves an amazing first impression thanks to its futuristic looks but there’s more to everything than what meets the eye. So, how good is Nothing Ear (2)? let’s find out –

Design

The design arena is where Nothing Ear (2) marks its elegance. However, the design is ‘nothing’ to get excited about as it is heavily borrowed from the first iteration of the TWS with minor tweaks here and there. There is an addition of a tiny metal plate for pressure-sensitive controls along with the ‘Ear (2)’ branding which is new for this iteration. Besides that, the looks remain unchanged. The futuristic aesthetic coupled with a plain white form factor makes the Ear (2) stand out from its competitors in the design aspect.

While the design of the buds is top-notch, they do not tend to stick around in your ears during extended hours of music streaming or binge-watching. I had to plug the buds in from time to time while watching films as they would simply pop out which prompted me to not even risk working out while wearing them. The earbuds come with IP54 dust and water resistance which is an upgrade from the previous IPX4-rated Ear (1). The earbuds case is not any different from the first generation except for a slightly smaller form factor.

Audio and ANC

The most important aspect of any TWS is how good they sound. Companies often get lost in the sauce of delivering visually appealing earbuds at the cost of losing out on sound quality. Nothing Ear (2) does not fall into that trap and only gets better from the previous iteration. The previous Nothing Ear TWS featured powerful bass but lacked mids and treble which resulted in a muffled sound experience. However, Nothing Ear (2) strikes a beautiful balance between the three bringing in a much improved sound experience. Ear (2) does not obsess with high bass and delivers clear mids and highs making up for an overall enhanced listening experience. It features LDHC 5.0 which is refreshing to see in midrange earbuds.

The ANC and EQ settings sit tight in the NothingX application which offers a number of personalization options to the user. My favourite feature of Nothing Ear (2) has to be its Personalised ANC option which calibrates the level of ANC based on the user’s hearing sensitivity. The app offers a hearing test for users and fine-tunes the sound profile of the earbuds based on the test. During my testing, the sound experience did get better once I switched to personalised ANC.

The noise cancellation features here are not beyond anything other earbuds offer at this price range. It is pretty much a standard ANC experience which neither overwhelms nor disappoints.

Performance

At its core, Nothing Ear (2) comes off as capable everyday listening earbuds. I wouldn’t recommend using them during extensive physical activities as they tend to fall off easily even if you’ve got an ‘Ear Tip Fit Test’ done through the NothingX app. The music experience is well-rounded here and the earbuds do a fantastic job of operating the highs, lows, and mids of any given track. They support hi-res audio with only a limited bunch of Android devices. The call quality is amazing here. However, one gripe with the earbuds has to be their battery life. Nothing Ear (2) does not come with an impressive battery performance as they lose out on a big chunk of power within just two hours of usage with ANC turned on. While the charging case offers an additional 18-20 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, it is still underwhelming.

Verdict

Nothing Ear (2) build upon a solid foundation laid out by its predecessor and excels where Nothing Ear (1) lacked plenty. The balanced sound quality coupled with futuristic looks make up for a solid overall package for your audio needs. If your smartphone device comes with Hi-res audio support then the deal becomes a little sweeter, however the same cannot be said for an universal experience with the Nothing Ear (2). Ultimately, Nothing Ear (2) is a balanced upgrade which can be considered for your audio needs.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tech Launches of the Month (November 2022)

Nothing Ear (Stick)

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

Key Features

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

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

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

Key Features

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

Realme 10

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

Key Features

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

MediaTek Dimensity 9200

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

Apple iPad Pro (2022)

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

Key Features

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

Apple TV 4K

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

Key Features

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

Aimed at Apple, Nothing announced its first smartphone “Phone 1”

When Nothing launched Nothing Ear (1) earbuds in September 2021 at the price of ₹5,999, it grabbed a lot of attention, mainly due to its standout design (which looks as iconic as Apple’s AirPods) and marketing strategies. Now, the same company is planning to debut its first smartphone in the market this summer, which would be a second product from the London-based tech company.

The first Nothing smartphone was announced at a global event last evening. The phone will be called the Phone 1, which will run on an Android-based operating system Nothing OS and be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. While talking about the upcoming smartphone, Nothing CEO and Co-founder Carl Pei cited, “the idea is to take on Apple, not OnePlus”.

Nothing OS is built on an open and seamless ecosystem that will effortlessly connect and integrate Nothing products and products from other world-leading brands. Nothing OS is designed to deliver a fast, smooth and personal experience. It captures the best features of pure Android, distilling the operating system to just the essentials, where every byte has a purpose.

“Having raised $144M, and secured support from trusted partners like Qualcomm Technologies, Inc, we are ready for phone (1) to mark the start of change for the sleepy smartphone market,” said Carl Pei. “We are also doing a new $10M round of community investment, so that our supporters get the chance to be part of our journey going head to head against the giants of the industry.”

Furthermore, he mentioned, Nothing aims to be “the most compelling alternative to Apple” with products that connect and perform seamlessly. The short teaser trailer suggests that the Nothing smartphone could have a series of light strips with a transparent back design built into its back. As per the trusted tipsters, the phone will get its components from key suppliers such as Samsung, Sony and Visionox.

The Nothing Phone (1) is on the verge of the launch days, but the company deliberately avoided mentioning any specifications of the upcoming smartphone or even a price. The first-ever product from the Nothing – Nothing Ear (1) was hyped marvellously before the launch, but it basically had Nothing to satisfy. Hope the upcoming Phone (1) will do the job and clear the path for Nothing.

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