Samsung Galaxy A Series welcomes two new variants, A53 5G and A33 5G. The company launched the smartphones at a special Galaxy Unpacked event. A53 and A33 are the successors of Samsung’s globally most selling phones, A52 and A32, respectively. Both the A33 5G and A55 5G are available reminiscence configurations: 6GB/128 GB and 8GB/256 GB, each additionally having microSD slots for up to 1 TB more. Both smartphones are rated IP67 for dirt and water resistance. They additionally characteristic Gorilla Glass 5 at the front to shield their displays.
Samsung A53 5G
Display and Storage:
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G comes with a 6.5-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O Display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G contains 256GB of onboard storage; this is expandable through a microSD card of as much as 1TB.
Camera:
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G comes with a quad rear camera setup headlined with the aid of using a 64MP primary lens in conjunction with a 12MP ultra-extensive shooter, 5MP intensity sensor, and a 5MP macro shooter. The front of the smartphone sports a 32MP selfie camera.
Processor and Battery:
Powering the tool is an octa-core chipset that has now no longer been special coupled with as much as 8GB of RAM. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G runs on Android 12 with One UI 4.1 on pinnacle and is subsidized with the aid of using a 5,000mAh battery that helps 25W speedy charging.
Samsung A33 5G
Display and Storage:
The Galaxy A33 5G shrinks the display to 6.4” and the refresh rate to 90 Hz. It remains a Super AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution. The phone is powered by an octa-core SoC as correctly paired up with 8GB of RAM. The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G comes with 256GB of internal storage that helps to expand to 1TB through a microSD card.
Camera:
The principle module homes a 48 MP sensor and an f/1.8 lens with OIS. The phone right here has an 8 MP sensor. As for the auxiliary cameras at the back, the macro continues the 5 MP resolution, the depth sensor is 2 MP. The front camera has 13 MP.
Processor and Battery:
Just like the Galaxy A53 5G, the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G comes with an Android 12-primarily based One UI 4.1. The tool is sponsored via a 5,000mAh battery that helps 25W rapid charging as correctly.
Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series was highly anticipated, especially the Ultra model. Samsung bought a welcome surprise in the form of a flagship tablet – the Galaxy Tab S8 series. The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 are offered in 3 variants, each with the Ultra variant commanding their flagship positions.
This new line-up of phones and tablets from Samsung features industry-first 4nm processors. Samsung is yet to confirm which processor is available in India but considering the 4nm information – We anticipate these phones and tablets to feature either Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
Monster specs as usual from these flagship offerings with up to 12GB RAM on phones to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage on the Tab S8 Ultra. Ranging from 6.1 inches on the Galaxy S22 to all the way 14.6 inches on the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, Samsung has raided the android phone and tablet market with unique products this year.
In 2022, Samsung Galaxy S22 sees the return of glass sandwich design with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both front and rear. The camera setup has seen a new addition on all phones, starting from 50MP primary to 108MP primary on the top end. Varying in sizes, the Galaxy S22 series consists of the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The brightness levels have seen a bump from brighter 1500nits on the base model to 1750nits on the flagship phone. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra brings a taste of the Note series by adding a built-in S-Pen that stores neatly and performs better than any Note series thanks to 2.8-ms latency, the best from Samsung yet.
Samsung claims more robust chassis on these phones and offers them in reasonable weight despite their stronger shell. The Galaxy Tab S8 series brings the best of Samsung as a top-of-the-line Android tablet. Samsung barely has any competitors in this space other than the largest-selling tablet from Apple, the iPad.
It’s great to see something similarly powerful offered in a host of offerings starting from 11-inches all the way to 14.6inches, almost knocking the laptop category doorstep. Presented from a TFT display on the Galaxy Tab S8 to SAMOLED on the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, the S-Pen is a standard accessory with each Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series.
These tablets run on similar processors as the phones and should be plenty fast. Samsung claims up to 15 hours of battery life on continuous video viewing on these tablets. We shall wait and watch how efficient these new processors and products from Samsung are in the longer run. Samsung has started this year with a bang, and their new algorithms and hardware claim amazing nighttime photography and much more with the return of the S-Pen on phones. All of these run Android 12 with Samsung’s new One UI 4 that brings a host of privacy features and more. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and the new Galaxy Tab S8 tablets are surely welcomed in a mundane market of look-alikes.
CES is the most influential tech event globally, and just like ordinary people await a new year, tech enthusiasts wait for the CES event, which offers them a head start to begin the new year on a good note. The 2022 edition unveiled numerous out of the box products for which it has been known since its inception. Due to the ongoing Covid situation and fear of new variants like Omicron, many publications (including us) were unable to attend the CES 2022 physically.
However, the technology came in as a rescuer, as most of the publications preferred to participate in the world’s largest electronics expo remotely, making the show kind of Hybrid. The event was vast like always, but we’ve mustered up the things in categories and top picks to make things easier for you. The 52nd edition of the event spotlighted the latest innovations from leading companies such as Google, Qualcomm, Sony, Samsung, LG, BMW, and many more.
Top TVs at CES 2022
CES is known as a battleground for TV makers, and every year the show floor looks packed with several top-notch TVs, and this year was no different. Amongst the top TVs revealed at CES, the one that grabbed our attention was the Sony A95K QD-OLED, world’s first consumer QD-OLED TV which can display the full spectrum of colours even in the brightest settings.
Though, the display panel of A95K is made by none other than Samsung. We expected Samsung might come up with QD-OLED 4K TV, but the South Korean tech giant had other plans. Samsung launched its 65″ QD-Display TV with quantum dots that combines a groundbreaking new QD-OLED display. The decision went well as the TV won the Best of Innovation award at CES 2022.
Besides Sony and Samsung, LG TVs were the ones that held our attention. The company presented a number of 8K and 4K OLEDs, several new QNED mini-LED TVs, and even a MicroLED TV at CES 2022 to compete with its rivals. Along with these companies, Panasonic announces a sound-focused OLED TV to attract all the audiophiles out there.
Top Laptops at CES 2022
CES 2022 introduced several new top-notch laptops, which means the year is going to be a busy one in terms of laptop launches. The 2022 event of CES witnessed a vast number of laptops with full-HD (1080p) webcams, thanks to the work-from-home culture. The event also became a launching platform for new components like Intel (12th Gen CPUs) and Nvidia (GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti laptop GPUs).
Design is the first thing we notice when looking at the techie things, and Dell XPS 13Plus is something else in terms of design. The futuristic laptop has a remarkable design, decent specs, and it directly competes with the MacBook Air lineup. The minimalist laptop comes with the OLED touchscreen option and offers snappy performance, making it more premium than ever.
The next one on the list is Acer Predator Triton 500 SE, which has a roomy 16-inch high-refresh display, and it comes with 12th Generation Intel Core i9 processors and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU. The top tier gaming laptop offers a 2,560 by 1,600 pixel resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate and a wide-colour-gamut panel with 550 nits of brightness.
TCL, a company known for its TV’s launched itself in the laptop industry with its first laptop called the TCL Book 14 Go. The Windows 11 laptop is packed with 12-hour battery life, 4G LTE connectivity, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c platform. The entry-level laptop offers a 720p video camera, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage and stereo speakers, along with a built-in microphone.
Top Audio Gears at CES 2022
CES is not all about big players; sometimes, a few underdogs create hype and amaze everyone. One such company is Noveto, which launched the N1 3D Audio Smart Speaker, a device with built-in Alexa intelligence and Noveto’s proprietary innovative audio beaming technology. The speciality of N1 soundbar is that it offers spatial 3D audio, and only the listener can hear the music.
HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the most favourite headphones of gamers, and CES 2022 unveiled the wireless version of it with a massive battery said to last for a whopping 300 hours of use, which means you don’t have to worry about charging anymore. We’re not sure whether 300-hours is a marketing strategy or not, but even if it works 50% of what is promised, it would be a great move.
If you’re one of such people who own an iPhone and an Android phone but find it challenging to carry different earbuds for each of them, Belkin has something for you in-store to make your life easier. Belkin launched Belkin SOUNDFORM Immerse Noise-Cancelling Earbuds at CES 2022, which has three mics to shush the world and 8 hours of playtime for the earbuds plus 28 hours in the charging case.
Top Car-tech at CES 2022
BMW knows how to cure boredom, and that’s why they created a colour-changing car, to keep us sane from the boredom of having one coloured vehicle. The BMX iX fully electric car debuted at CES 2022, and it has body panels made from E Ink displays. The vehicle comes with luxurious features, an elegant design, and an impressive estimated 450-480 km range.
Following the footsteps of EV culture, Sony introduced their all-electric vehicle, Sony Vision-S-02. The company stated in a blog post that they will establish an operating company, ‘Sony Mobility Inc.’ in the spring of 2022, which means Sony could take on Tesla with its EV’s. The car allows you to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home; what more could you ask for in a car?
Top Wearable at CES 2022
CES 2022 was marked as a launching platform for many wearables, but only a few exciting launches stayed with us even after the event. The subtle looking Garmin Venu 2 Plus was launched at the event, an updated version of the Venu 2. The watch is compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby, and it is the first Garmin watch with a microphone, allowing you to make and take calls from the wrist.
Along with the Venu 2 Plus, Garmin launched a minimalist looking Garmin Vivomove Sport, which comes in various colours, has a five-day battery life, and offers plenty of fitness and health tracking features. Besides Garmin, Skagen launched a special limited edition version of Fossil gen 6 X Razer with three unique watch faces. It has a 1.28-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon Wear 4100+ and 8GB of storage.
We’re in the first month of the year, and it’s gonna be a busy month as many tech giants are waiting to launch their best smartphones and have already lined up in the queue. Due to the pandemic, the previous two years were one of the worst years for tech launches, particularly for smartphones. Nevertheless, the companies managed to launch their smartphones, but they dealt with some losses too, which they would like to detour in 2022.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Set to launch today in India, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, the successor to the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, has been available for pre-order in India through Samsung India’s official website. The exact pricing details of the phone are not available yet, but it could be priced around 48k-52k. The smartphone sports a 6.4-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with a 120Hz refresh rate and runs on Android 12-based One UI 4. Galaxy S21 FE 5G arrives with the Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 SoC and is available in four colours- Graphite, Lavender, Olive, and White. The phone is available in up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, and if you pre-order it now, you’ll get a Galaxy SmartTag free.
Xiaomi 11i Series 5G
This week another smartphone set to be available in India is the Xiaomi 11i Series 5G, whose Hypercharge variant offers a full charge in just 15 minutes and is advertised as Indias fastest charging smartphone. The regular variant, Xiaomi 11i, has 67W fast charging support, not bad, but you can get 120W fast charging if you’re ready to put a few more thousands. The series has a 6.67-inch full HD+ display with 1080×2400 pixel resolution and offers a 120Hz refresh rate. In terms of camera, it has a triple camera setup with a 108MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide shooter and 2MP macro shooter. The sale of the 11i Series smartphones will begin on 12th Jan at 12 PM on Flipkart.
OnePlus 10 Pro
Whenever discussing the upcoming launches, we should always begin with the one who’s confirmed or at least have vast chances to appear soon, which makes us put the OnePlus 10 Pro on top of the list. The flagship smartphone is expected to arrive in January 2022, with an LTPO OLED display, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. A recently launched teaser of the phone shows it will have a redesigned camera module but in a new layout.
Xiaomi 12 & Xiaomi 12 Pro
Nobody likes to stay behind, especially in terms of business and to tackle the situation, Xiaomi has decided to launch their flagship smartphone Xiaomi 12, a little later in 2022, possibly in March 2022. Along with Xiaomi 12, the Chinese smartphone making giant also plans to launch Xiaomi 12 Pro, with a 2K AMOLED display. Both the smartphones would be a few of the first smartphones to come up with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphone series, Galaxy S22, is already the talk of the town, but the one device that is grabbing the most attention is Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The upcoming smartphone S22 Ultra is expected to have a minimum of 12GB RAM, while the other 2-phone from the series will start from 8GB of RAM. As per the insiders, the S22 Ultra will include an S Pen slot, while some reports also suggest the S22 models will come with two variant options, an Exynos 2200 chip and the new Qualcomm 8 Gen 1.
Apple iPhone SE 3rd-Gen
Apple launched one of the most awaited smartphones of the company, the iPhone SE, in 2020, and the phone gained a lot of praise from critics and audiences, which made sure Apple would come up with the next generation. According to industry analysts, Apple might launch the third-gen iPhone SE by March 2022. The affordable smartphone will have Apple’s speedy A15 chip, but again, it might arrive with the home button and bezel styling of the 2nd-gen SE or with a notched display. Let’s hope for the best.
Asus ROG Phone 6
Asus ROG Phone 5 was launched in India somewhere around the last week of March 2021, and it created a lot of hype. Since then, the hardcore gamers have been dreaming about experiencing Asus ROG Phone 6, which has been stimulating rumours all over the internet. The recent hypotheses showcased the possible design of the ROG Phone 6, and according to them, the handset flaunts the prominent gamer-esque look, similar to Asus ROG Phone 5. The sketch also reveals that it might feature a small display at the back and is expected to come with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.
Realme GT 2 & GT 2 Pro
Realme recently launched its flagship smartphones, Realme GT 2 and GT 2 Pro, in China with the Snapdragon 888 5G Processor and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, respectively. The GT 2 Pro arrives with a 2K LTPO AMOLED screen, runs on pre-installed realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12 OS, and is backed by a 5000mAh battery. On the other hand, the GT 2 comes with almost similar features to GT 2 Pro, including design, battery, realme UI 3.0 and RAM. The GT 2-series handsets are available in four colour variants- Paper White, Paper Green, Steel Black and Titanium Blue.
Vivo X80 Series
Being one of the most trusted brands in the world, Vivo has entered a game of flagship smartphones in the last couple of years and wants to expand a little more into it. The Chinese smartphone giant is expected to launch three devices- X80, X80 Pro and X80 Pro Plus, as part of the X80 series in the first quarter of 2022. The X80 series smartphones will guarantee a faster and lag-free performance while watching videos and playing intense graphics games, thanks to the Octa-core Processor.
Apple iPhone 14
Now, it’s been like a tradition that Apple will unwrap a fresh batch of next-generation iPhones every year around the third quarter of the year and we’re addicted to it. We’re only in the first month of the year, and the buzz around iPhone 14 has already begun. The upcoming flagship iPhone 14 will bring an iOS 16 chipset, and it is also expected to come up with a 120Hz refresh rate and hole-punch display. Also, the iPhone 14 family is likely to drop the mini version because people didn’t show much interest in buying the mini versions of the previous iPhones.
Google Pixel 6a
In the world of the smartphone industry, Google phones are best known for their cameras as they’re unmatchable. Google launched their anticipated smartphones, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, back in October 2021, but unfortunately, they didn’t launch these phones in India due to chip shortage, which disappointed their Indian fan base. But according to the recent rumours, Google is planning to launch Pixel 6a in India, and that too with a few exciting changes in design, chipset, and other specs. The upcoming Pixel 6a might have a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate along with a 4800mAh battery and similar camera specs like Pixel 5a.
iQOO 9 & iQOO 9 Pro
The Chinese smartphone brand recently launched the iQOO 9 Series lineup in China. It is powered by the recently launched Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, the same chipset that powers devices like the Xiaomi 12 Pro and Realme GT 2 Pro. The lineup has two devices – the iQOO 9 and the iQOO 9 Pro, paired with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB inbuilt storage. iQOO 9 sports a 6.78-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels), while the pro model features 6.78-inch Quad-HD+ (3,200×1,440 pixels) display with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
CES is the most influential tech event globally, and just like ordinary people awaits a new year, tech enthusiasts wait for the CES event, which offers them a head start to begin the new year on a good note. The event is underway and has unveiled numerous out of the box products for which it is known. Due to the ongoing pandemic and fear of new variants like Omicron, many publications, including us, are not physically attending the CES 2022, making the show kind of Hybrid. However, after spending many months in lockdown, we’re now getting used to the new normal.
BMW iX – The Color Changing Car
Invention arises directly from idleness, sometimes out of laziness to save oneself from troubles, and that’s human nature, which BMW grasped and created a colour-changing car, which will keep you sane from the boredom of having one coloured vehicle. The BMX iX fully electric car debuted at CES 2022, and it has body panels made from E Ink displays, similar to the ones we find on the screen of a Kindle e-reader. The demo version only allows two colour-changing patterns, Black and White, but more colours will be added to excite the customers in the future.
Freestyle TV Projector by Samsung
Drive-in theatres were one of the fascinating approaches towards entertainment as they allowed people to enjoy the cinema from the comfort of their car. Unfortunately, it lapsed out from our lives, but if you’re one of those people who likes to stay on the road and enjoy movies on the go, particularly on big screens, then Samsung has launched something for you, the all-new Freestyle TV projector, which weighs less than a kilogram and comes with a 180-degree cradle stand. Get an additional USB-C battery, a waterproof case, lens caps, and the projector allows you to project anything onto walls, screens or anywhere else from 30 to 100 inches.
LG Omnipod – World on Wheels
LG has always been a company that introduced humanity to many unbelievable products and ensured we would stay on the line of innovation. Micro apartments are already creating hype worldwide due to the shortage of space and ever-rising prices. And now, to make things easier for us, LG has introduced an Omnipod – a connected car concept that blurs the distinction between home and car. Fundamentally, it is an entire world on wheels with lights, windows and even seems to have a driver’s seat. The Omnipod has a refrigerator, drink dispensers, TV panels, a virtual assistant “Reah” to help you and access Metaverse via the giant floor-to-ceiling screen.
Noveto N1 – Invisible headphones
We often find people exaggerating the size of the headphones or even earbuds, and to cure that problem, Noveto has launched N1, an audio device with built-in Alexa intelligence and Noveto’s proprietary innovative audio beaming technology. The premium soundbar works on ultrasonic waves and offers a headphone-like experience with spatial 3D audio, and the speciality of N1 is only the listener can hear the music. The company has recorded up to 90% (20dB) audio drop when it is 1 meter away from the listener means only 10 per cent of the N1’s audio can be heard beyond 1 metre, more like a whisper.
Sony Vision-S-02 EV
The one conference that surprised everyone was Sony, as they bring a reasonable interest in their electric vehicle, the Vision-S, and its further development and production. The company stated in a blog post that they will establish an operating company, ‘Sony Mobility Inc.’ in the spring of 2022, which means Sony could take on Tesla with its EV’s. The newly introduced all-electric SUV model, Sony Vision-S-02, is definitely for a future commercial release. Along with advanced sensors and safety systems, it allows you to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home; what more you could ask for in a car?
Since the last couple of years, we have witnessed many top-notch companies launching their audio sunglasses, which ultimately helped the audio sunglasses section to grow and have a category of their own. The original Bose Frames delivered surprisingly pure sound, and with the arrival of three new models, Tempo, Tenor, and Soprano, Bose stands tall in the audio sunglasses market. Bose Tempo is a sporty looking gadget, while the other two, Rectangular shaped Tenor and Cat Eye shaped Soprano, are best for everyday use. The company has done a lot to improve the sound quality, which helps the sunglasses to deliver crisp and clear sound. The audio sunglasses are the best gift option for the person who likes listening to music while riding a bike, resting by the pool/beach, walking, running, or hiking.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack – Price: ₹10,900
Apple is one of the top-ranked smartphone manufacturing companies in the world, but at the same time, it is infamous for its battery backup. However, the company has understood the issue and has come up with a solution in the form of an Apple MagSafe battery pack. The rectangle-shaped and white coloured MagSafe battery pack fits perfectly on the back and is compatible with iPhone 12 series and iPhone 13 series. The slim and sturdy battery pack is small enough to slide into a pocket or bag. The MagSafe Battery Pack offers a 1,460mAh capacity which sounds low, but the numbers are deceiving as the battery pack easily adds a few hours of use to your iPhone. If you have experienced frequent cries related to battery backup from your loved one who uses an iPhone, then the MagSafe battery pack is a must-buy gift option.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) – Price: ₹13,999
Amazon has been a leading company in manufacturing smart speaker displays over the years, and its recent launch, the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen), is the best smart display in the lineup. The 2nd gen Echo Show 8 offers a superior 13-megapixel wide-angle camera for enhanced video calls along with a faster processor and an auto-framing feature, which lets the device pan and zoom automatically to adjust the frame while making video calls. The Echo Show 8’s sound output is way better than the top trim Echo Show 10, but the flagship smart home device Echo Show 10 steals the show when it comes to other features. If the person you’re planning to gift this Christmas is a newcomer to the smart home space, then Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) would be a great gift choice.
Ember Mug² –
Price: Various options available from ₹16,000* on amazon.in or get it from ember.com for $129.95 USD
The winter is coming, and all we need to survive the chilliness is a cup of hot tea or coffee by the table, but every time we plan to enjoy the hot drink, it turns cold before we finish it and ruins our mood. Well, if you know someone who is a big-time hot tea or coffee lover, then gift them the Ember Mug² temperature control smart mug, and it will never let their tea or coffee go cold again, at least for up to 1.5 hours with Ember Mug² 10 oz and up to 80 minutes with the Ember Mug² 14 oz. The smart mug is designed for home or office use, and it allows you to set an exact drinking temperature so your coffee is never too hot or cold. The washable smart mug allows you to set and control your prefered temperature with your smartphone via the dedicated Ember app.
Beats Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds – Price: ₹14,499
Apple purchased Beats in 2014, and since then, every product Beats launched was somehow tied up with the Apple ecosystem. Then Beats decided to ditch the traditional Apple H1 and W1 chips and launched Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds with MediaTek chipset. The change in the chip helped Beats to go beyond its competitors and suit Android phones along with Apple devices. The Beats Studio Buds are Beats’ smallest earbuds to date and the best-sounding earbuds Beats has ever manufactured. The wireless noise-cancelling earbuds fit perfectly in the ear, and the solid grip makes sure they’ll not fall out even during intense workouts. So, if you’re looking for a gadget to gift your gym-addict friend, then these stand-out earbuds are the perfect little thing.
GoPro Hero10 Black Action Camera – Price: ₹54,500
GoPro recently launched the new Hero10 Black, with a new faster custom processor. The Hero10 Black sports a 2.27-inch touch screen main display on the back and a 1.4-inch display on the front. It arrives with Incredible video stabilization and a new GP2 chipset, enabling new slow-motion frame rates, faster transfer speeds, and improved image quality. The camera can record smoother videos up to 5.3K @ 60fps, and for slow-mo videos, it can go up to 4K @ 120fps and 2.7K @ 240fps. The waterproof Hero 10 Black is powered by a GP2 sensor and packs a 1,720mAh battery. The GoPro Hero10 Black could be the best gift option if your loved ones are travel enthusiasts, vloggers or into adventure sports.
WD My Passport Go Portable SSD – Price: ₹11,469* (for 1TB on flipkart.com)
SSDs (Solid State Drives) are faster and more power-efficient than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), and that’s the reason they’re always in demand. WD is one of the most popular SSD and HDD-making companies globally, and their recent addition, WD My Passport Go portable SSD, is one in a million kinds of devices. The My Passport Go portable drive has a shock-absorbing rubber bumper and no moving parts, making it drop-resistant up to 2 meters. The square-shaped, rugged SSD is 2 times faster than typical portable hard disk drives and compatible with both Windows PC and Mac computers. The Pocket-sized drive has a built-in cable for convenient portability and is available in three variants, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. You can gift the SSD to the person who never feels satisfied with the in-built storage of their respective devices.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro – Price: ₹10,990*
Samsung has tasted success with the launch of exceptionally built Galaxy Buds Plus and failure with the launch of not so excellent Galaxy Buds Live, which helped the South Korean tech giant analyse the segment well and come back hard with the Galaxy Buds Pro, the best true wireless earbuds that the company has ever made. The Buds Pro includes active noise cancellation, wireless charging, speech detection mode, and support for the Scalable advanced Bluetooth codec. When paired with a Samsung smartphone or tablet, the earbuds offer the best sound quality and go beyond these key features. The Buds Pro also offers IPX7 water and sweat resistance features along with improved mic performance. So, if you’ve someone who owns a Samsung smartphone or tablet and likes to play along with music and calls, then go for these earbuds and make your loved ones happy.
E-book readers are reliable and handy instead of the traditional paper-based books because e-book readers offer thousands of books in one gadget, and when it comes to choosing the best e-book reader in the market, you’ll never find anything better than Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen). The waterproof e-reader has a 6-inch e-ink display, and it is available in different variants that range from 8GB to 32GB of storage. The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the most popular e-readers on the market with good battery life, and if you have someone in your friend circle who’s an avid book reader, then this 10th Gen Kindle Paperwhite could easily replace your place in your friend’s life.
Budget Gifts (Below ₹10,000)
LG XBOOM Go PL2 Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Price: ₹7,990
The LG XBOOM Go PL2 is the smallest and least expensive portable Bluetooth speaker from the PL range of speakers. The IPX5 water-resistant portable speaker offers a Sound Boost mode, USB-C charging, stereo pairing, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The PL2 speaker can be controlled with your smartphone’s voice assistant and can make any party fun in no time. The rounded design, compact and lightweight speaker has a good build quality and is best suited for travel enthusiasts. If you know someone who is a travel addict and likes to do weekend campaigning by the lake or hill, then LG XBOOM Go PL2 portable speakers can be a good companion for such personalities.
Oral-B Pro 2 2000N Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush – Price: ₹4,199
Technology has evolved our daily needs from smart home devices to electric toothbrushes. A decade ago, Oral-B was making regular manual toothbrushes, but then the company decided to take a look at the big picture and started manufacturing electric toothbrushes to cope up with the new age of connected tech. The Oral-B Pro 2 2000 electric rechargeable toothbrush offers only the necessary features for your dental health and works without any app support. The electric toothbrush helps you to remove more plaque and leave gums healthier than a manual toothbrush. The Oral-B Pro 2 200 electric toothbrush features two brushing modes and a pressure sensor, making it the simplest yet elegant electric toothbrush. It can be an excellent gift for people with sensitive teeth who have never experimented with an electric toothbrush.
Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller – Price: ₹9,321* on amazon.in
Everyone has their own choice, and not all people want a regular PlayStation or Xbox controller. Some people go beyond the ordinary world and prefer exciting gadgets such as Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller, which offers a seemingly lag-free gaming experience on the phone. The go-to mobile gaming controller has a split apart design, and it can connect directly through the USB-C charging port. The Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller fits most smartphone devices and offers a solid grip that lets the gamer have great control over a device. If you’re friends with someone who follows mobile gaming like a devotion, in that case, you should consider gifting Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller to them this Christmas as this killer gadget will not only please them mentally but will permanently change their mobile gaming experience.
Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device with Alexa Voice Remote – Price: ₹5,999
Amazon has acquired almost all crucial markets, from online shopping to smart house gadgets to streaming services and even streaming devices. The business strategies and tough competition in the market have made consumers’ lives easy as many widgets are available at affordable prices, and the list includes 4K streaming devices. Since the Fire TV Stick 4K launch, Amazon has emerged in this market, and the latest Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K includes the Alexa voice remote in the box. The latest 4K stick offers improved performance and is slightly larger than the standard Fire TV Stick but has the same colour and texture. The latest 4K stick features a guide button that can quickly take you to live TV and offer Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG like the standard stick. If you’re looking for a budget gift this Christmas, then the Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote could be a perfect one.
Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case – Price: from $68 to $88 (including $9 express shipping charges)
We often see people, mainly Indians having a 50 or 100 rupees/dollars note on the back of their smartphone cover. Some even put their credit or debit cards on the back of their smartphone cover, and when asked, they defend themselves in the name of emergency needs. Well, Australian accessories making brand Bellroy decided to provide a stylish look to the regular habit and created a multi-functional smartphone wallet case that holds up to 3 cards, slots devoted to a SIM tool and SIM card. The professional-looking case has a smooth, barely textured premium leather sheath covering the back panel, and you can even use the card compartment door as a kickstand to watch videos. So, if you know someone who prefers a luxury lifestyle and owns an iPhone from 12-series or 13-series, then Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case will be a great gift and add a style statement to their life. Though the case is only available on the official website of Bellroy, if you want to purchase one, hurry up because it will take a few days or even a week to ship in India.
Noise ColorFit Pro 3 – Price: ₹3,999
Noise, India’s homegrown brand, has already acquired the top position in India’s wearables market. The budget smartwatch, Noise Colorfit 3 Pro, comes with many features and specifications, such as a SpO2 monitor for blood oxygen monitoring, a stress level monitor, and a bigger-better display. The lightweight smartwatch sports a 1.5-inch HD touchscreen colour display and follows the subtle design language like an Apple watch. The water-resistant smartwatch features about 14 workout modes, including Outdoor Walking, Outdoor Running, Outdoor Cycling, Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Cricket, Hiking, Yoga and Workout. The Noise Colorfit Pro 3 comes in 6 colours and offers several high-end features, which we usually find on Apple & Samsung smartwatches. So, if you’re looking for a budget Christmas or new year gift, then Noise Colorfit 3 Pro could do the math.
Wagr’s GPS & Fitness Tracker for Dogs – Price: ₹3,499
The world is getting smarter with smart wearables, and along with us, our very canine best friend also needs smart wearables because about 6 lacs dogs get lost every year in India. The pain of losing our pooch friend can cause severe sickness to dog parents, and this thought made IIT alumnus Advaith Mohan and two of his friends, Siddharth Darbha and Ajith Kochery, come up with a solution. The trio created a dog wearable Wagr, India’s first GPS tracker for dogs which tracks the dog using high-precision GPS and even allows you to create safe zones. Once you attach the Wagr tracker to your pup’s collar, it will help you track your dog’s activity, walks, safe zones, and it will also alert you when they leave the safe zone you’ve created. If you have a dog of your own or someone from your friend’s circle who owns a dog, then Wagr’s location & fitness tracker is a must-have gadget.
Black Friday has slowly become a global phenomenon, and the deals have already kicked off online markets across the globe, and we don’t want you to miss some of the top smartphone deals. So, if you’re looking to grab a smartphone with a huge discount or if you have missed the recent festival sale, then Flipkart is offering another opportunity to you in the name of the Black Friday sale. We have handpicked a list of the top 5 Black Friday smartphone deals on Flipkart, and we hope you’ll get what you missed at the previous sale.
Realme GT Master Edition (6GB)
Sale Price: ₹21,999*
The mid-range master Realme GT Master Edition is priced at ₹26,999, but the Black Friday deal allows you to purchase the phone from as low as ₹21,999*, and it appears like one of the best smartphone deals available on Flipkart today. The smartphone is one of the first phones in India that arrive with the new Snapdragon 778G processor. The smartphone offers a high-quality Super AMOLED display and a battery that charges up from zero to 100 per cent in about 35 minutes. The device packs in a 120Hz AMOLED display, 65W fast charging, 64MP triple camera setup, and is labelled one of the top-notch smartphones under ₹30,000.
Oppo Reno6 5G
Sale Price: ₹29,990
Oppo Reno6 5G is perhaps one of the most beautiful smartphones manufactured in recent years. The successor of the Reno 5 Pro is available priced initially at ₹35,990, but thanks to the Black Friday deals, you can get the smartphone for just ₹29,990. The smartphone carries almost all the features of its bigger sibling with some exceptions, such as it comes with flat edges and a matte-finished metal frame design. The iPhone 12 look-a-like smartphone sports a 6.43-inch full HD+ display, triple rear camera setup, 32MP selfie camera, and an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor paired with 8GB of RAM.
iPhone 12 Mini
Sale Price: ₹46,990
Vivo recently launched the X70 Pro and X70 Pro+ smartphones in the market and expanded its premium smartphone range. The X70 Pro+ has already been competing with the likes of iPhone 13 Pro and Galaxy S21 Ultra in terms of camera features. While the X70 Pro isn’t just a half-baked refresh of its predecessor X60 Pro but an updated version of the X60 Pro+ with a better AMOLED display and an improved camera system. The smartphone boasts a 6.56-inch full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by MediaTek MT6893 Dimensity 1200 5G. The smartphone supports a 44W Flash Charge adapter which offers 60% of battery in just 30 minutes.
iPhone 12 Mini
Sale Price: ₹42,999*
Apple launched the iPhone 12 Mini in India last year. It is an affordable and compact yet powerful flagship phone the company has produced ever. If you’re one of those people who have been dreaming of a small phone but don’t want to compromise on quality, then iPhone 12 Mini is the best option out there for you. The phone offers a versatile camera, fabulous display, added benefits of 5G and MagSafe battery pack. Since its launch, it has been a favourite phone of many people as it sports almost all the features of the iPhone 12, and at the same time, it consumes a tiny space of your pocket.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro
Sale Price: ₹34,999
Motorola Edge 20 Pro is Motorola’s top-notch flagship model of 2021, which features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset and 12GB of RAM.
The smartphone arrives with an impressive 144Hz display and clean near-stock Android. The Edge 20 Pro offers certain flagship features such as a periscope camera for greater camera zoom range, a bigger battery and an improved chipset. The sleek and slim Moto phone boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with HDR10+ support with a camera hole at the top centre and thin bezels all around. The smartphone is powerful enough to run almost anything you throw at it on the performance front without any hiccups.
Honestly, watches for Android smartphones are not even a bit attractive in terms of features and looks, when compared to what Apple does with its accessories. Who other than Google is to be blamed for not creating a competitor to Apple watch and missing a perfect opportunity.
But I think I might have to change my perspective for the better now. Google and Samsung have joined forces to rebuild the WearOS from the ground up. It seems like Samsung’s Galaxy series of smartwatches is bearing all the weight of the company’s ambitions to produce competitive wearables in the market.
Dubbed ‘WearOS by Samsung’, Samsung Galaxy watch 4 series will be the smartwatches to run the latest WearOS 3 version. I got my hands on one of the Galaxy Watch 4 series and here are my first impressions:
Design and Aesthetics
Samsung is hyping up the latest Galaxy Watch 4 like anything. And honestly, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has got one of the most timeless designs ever. It can go perfectly with any outfit you wear, be it formals, casuals, or leisure.
The watch fits perfectly on the wrist and never gives you the impression that you are wearing a smartwatch. The watch 4 series got a slight unexpected upgrade in its screen. The larger version devices now have a 1.4-inch screen running at 450 x 450, while the smaller models have 1.2-inch panels. The watch 4 has a touch-sensitive ring.
This Samsung box includes a 20mm strap which can be swapped later to your convenience.
WearOS 3
Samsung conveniently switched from their Tizen operating system to One UI3, a customised version of Google’s Wear Os 3 that they co-developed.
Unlike the other Wear Os watches, one cannot use the Galaxy Watch 4 with an iPhone, since many of the advanced features, such as ECG function requires a Samsung phone. It has its Galaxy wearable app to pair, and connect, and manage settings.
Battery Life
The W920 Exynos chip in Galaxy watch4 is 20% faster with a 10 % improved graphic performance than their predecessors. The watch feels faster and Much smoother than most wear OS watches, but not quite up to the rapid experience that Apple’s watch series 6 offers.
We found the Galaxy Watch 4 requires a daily charge to power features like an always-on display and routine fitness tracking. The watch works up to 40 hours a day but that might differ with the purpose of use.
Additional Features
The Galaxy Watch 4 series is powered by the Exynos W920 dual-core processor clocked at 1.18GHz. It has 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. There is support for Bluetooth 5, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and four satellite navigation systems. The Watch 4 Classic is IP68 rated for water resistance up to 5ATM.
For few days, I’ve been tracking the activities through this watch. The Galaxy Watch 4 provides audible and vibration updates on mileage, and also a brief activity summary every 30 minutes.
The support page of the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G smartphone has gone live on the company’s official website. Previously, the leaked images and specifications of the phone have appeared multiple times on different websites, but now the handset with model number M-M526B/DS has popped up on Samsung India’s official website, which means the device will soon hit the Indian markets.
The Samsung M series is one of the most loved series by the Indian audience, and they’ve been waiting for the launch of the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G for a long time. Smartphone companies create phone support pages when the phones are about to launch, but sadly, the company hasn’t revealed any details about the launch date, price and specifications on the support page.
The yet-to-be-launched smartphone has passed through several certification websites, including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website and Bluetooth SIG. According to trusted insiders, the smartphone is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 778G chipset and the latest One UI 3.1 based on Android 11.
The smartphone is expected to feature a big 6.7-inch full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O display and a screen resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. On the camera front, the smartphone is said to have a triple camera setup with a 64 MP primary camera, 12 MP ultra-wide sensor and a 5MP depth sensor. It may sport a 32 MP selfie camera and come with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection.
The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is tipped to have a 7,000 mAh battery, just like its predecessor, Galaxy M51, and it is expected to come with a 15W fast charging feature. According to the Geekbench listing, the smartphone may arrive with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. M52 5G’s predecessor, Galaxy M51, is currently priced at ₹21,999 on Amazon, which means M52 5G might arrive with a starting price of more than₹22k.
People were and still are fascinated about buying an iPhone one day, and with more and more EMI options and discounts, the dream of getting an iPhone has become an easy ride now. However, at the same time, there are a considerable number of people who are moving from iPhones/iPads to Androids, or particularly to Samsung smartphones, and they’ve their reasons which we’re not going to discuss here.
If you’re one of those people who want to shift their primary device from iOS to Samsung but are worried about how to transfer your WhatsApp account information, profile photo, individual chats, group chats, and settings, then calm down, WhatsApp has unveiled plans in a blog post to support moving chat history from iOS to Samsung devices running Android 10 or 11, but you can only migrate your details during the initial setup of your new Samsung device.
WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, and for the very first time, the Facebook-owned company has offered an option to transfer chats from one device to another even if they’re based on diverse operating systems. The recently added transfer feature has been live now, and the entire process is secured by end-to-end encryption by WhatsApp, which means your voice messages, photos, and videos stays completely secure.
There are certain things that you will need to transfer your WhatsApp chat history from iPhone to a Samsung phone. First, you must use the same phone number on the new device as the old device and secondly, you will need to have a USB-C to Lightning cable as the transfer process requires it.
Then, you should have an iPhone with WhatsApp iOS version 2.21.160.17 or greater and a Samsung device with WhatsApp version 2.21.16.20 or greater to transfer the chat history without any hassle. All the details you need to transfer WhatsApp chat history from iPhone to Samsung are here. According to WhatsApp, the transfer feature will soon be available for more Android devices.
